Our Mission
We make strategic investments to create economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for the people who live and work in our neighborhoods.

A Catalyst for Economic Development
The Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) is a public agency that serves as a catalyst for community growth and prosperity. We lay the groundwork and provide the preconditions that enable private investors to revitalize neglected communities. Our work is authorized by California Community Redevelopment Law (California Health and Safety Code).

Since our founding in 1948, we have brought new hope to residents, business owners and others who dream of seeing their communities share in the City’s prosperity. We continue to develop innovative responses to changing economic conditions, with the goal of creating a better quality of life today and for future generations.

Our Projects
Our projects include building affordable housing, creating living-wage jobs, developing commercial and industrial sites, making public improvements, and helping neighborhoods become greener and pedestrian friendly.

Our Project Areas We focus on 32 communities throughout Los Angeles that have been designated by the City Council as redevelopment project areas. These communities are organized into seven regions: 

• Downtown  • Eastside • East Valley

• West Valley  • Hollywood & Central  • South Los Angeles  • Watts & Harbor

For each project area, we develop a comprehensive redevelopment plan. It provides goals, strategies and timetables for revitalizing neglected neighborhoods, and generating growth and new opportunities.

Our Financing
Redevelopment is financed primarily through tax increment revenue — additional funds generated by the increased assessed value of properties in a redevelopment project area. Tax increment funds new projects and repays the bonds that funded redevelopment activities. We set aside 25 percent of tax increment revenue from each project area for affordable housing.

Our Community Partnerships
To ensure that we understand the needs and concerns of the areas we serve, we stay in close contact with neighborhood and homeowner groups, business and labor organizations, and elected officials and City departments. We foster alliances with advocates for affordable housing, environmental issues and community and economic development. And we hold forums and public meetings to attract the widest possible community input.