Location
Adopted in 1994 after the Northridge earthquake, the Pacoima/Panorama City Project (also known as the Earthquake Disaster Assistance Project for Portions of Council District 7*) is located in the northeast San Fernando Valley. The 2,914-acre Project Area is generally bounded by the San Diego Freeway on the west, Foothill Freeway on the north and east, and Victory Boulevard on the south.
Cities within the Project Area include portions of Arleta, Lakeview Terrace, Mission Hills, North Hills, North Hollywood, Pacoima, Panorama City, Sun Valley, Sylmar, and Van Nuys. (*Due to changes in council district boundaries since 1994, the Project Area also includes portions of Council Districts 2 and 6.)
Project Goals
To provide financial and technical assistance to owners and tenants of residential and commercial property damaged as a result of the earthquake;
To replace and improve housing for all income and age groups, including low- and moderate-income households;
To retain as many existing businesses as possible;
To promote and encourage new businesses serving community needs;
To preserve the existing employment base and restore local job opportunities; and
To encourage new investment in the area.
Conditions at Time of Adoption
At the time the Redevelopment Project was adopted, the Project Area displayed serious signs of deterioration, including:
• Much structural damage to buildings as a result of the earthquake
• Many old, poorly constructed buildings that had become dilapidated
• High population and overcrowding, with families living in unimproved garages
• Major streets in disrepair and without adequate lighting
• Lack of adequate fire and police facilities to assist the community in times of crises
• A lack of private investment in the area
Our Key Accomplishments
Housing. The Project Area has completed construction of 174 affordable, multi-family rental units. An additional 407 units are in construction or in the planning stages. Forty ownership units for households earning up to moderate incomes are under construction or in pre-development. CRA/LA will offer purchase assistance loans up to $200,000 to qualified buyers of these units.
In addition, the East Valley Region Homeownership Opportunity Program was created to provide up to $75,000 to first-time homebuyers throughout Councils Districts 6 and 7.
Plaza Pacoima. This 209,000-square-foot retail center, which will include Costco and Best Buy stores, is being built on a formerly contaminated industrial (brownfield) site. Plaza Pacoima is the first LEED® Silver Certified retail project approved by the CRA/LA Board. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an environmental sustainable rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. Completion is expected in 2010.
Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). We facilitated the formation of two BIDs, in Sylmar and Panorama City, and we are in the process of facilitating a third in Pacoima. BIDs provide services, such as street cleaning and security, beyond those currently provided by the City.
Public improvements. Along commercial streets, new crosswalks and other features are improving pedestrian access. Most recently, a sidewalk improvement project has begun in various locations throughout the Project Area (El Dorado Avenue, Tupper Street, Carl Street and Borden Avenue) with the goal of creating safe and pedestrian-friendly environments.
Pacoima Neighborhood Constituent Services Center. Currently under construction, the 12,400-square-foot center on West Van Nuys Boulevard will house the offices of City services as well as retail businesses that serve the neighborhood.
Planning for the future. The Strategic Plan/Visioning 2015 Project will involve outreach to the Project Area community to define a vision for the future that will guide our work.
Five-Year Goals
Between 2009 and 2014, CRA/LA plans to further improve Pacoima/Panorama City neighborhoods by:
• Completing housing units under construction or in the planning phase;
• Continuing the East Valley Region Homeownership Opportunity Program,
• Completing Plaza Pacoima;
• Promoting and encouraging new and existing businesses serving the needs of the community;
• Improving the quality of life through planned streetscape projects (trees, landscaped medians, banners, etc.) and other public improvements; and
• Launching the Strategic Plan/Visioning 2015 Project.
