The Marathon Continues: The Crenshaw Corridor Transformation

The Crenshaw Corridor is at the nexus of transit infrastructure, transit-oriented development, and economic developmentIt. It is home to deep-rooted residents, characterized by community pride, and threatened by widespread displacement due to accelerating costs and land use and housing policy that struggles to keep up with rapid changes.

What happens when a light-rail line is built in the middle of a historically African American community, making it the epicenter of large-scale investment and gentrification? This is the key question facing the Crenshaw Corridor; resident activists, equity-minded planners, and culture-bearers are grappling with the associated issues and opportunities.They are attempting to steer toward social justice and reparative planning.

Delve into the neighborhood context and learn about the major policies and projects influencing the convergence of different stakeholder priorities. Find out about the tools — both helpful and inadequate — that are being applied to steer development toward positive, long-term resident outcomes. Major projects highlighted include: Metro K Line, Destination Crenshaw, Downtown Crenshaw Total Marketplace, cooperative purchase of various significant parcels by local Black-owned entrepreneurs and activists, and closing Liquor Bank after its designation as a nuisance business.