CRA Update
by Jim Berg
Jerry Belcher and Carmen Kane are ending their tenure heading up the North Hollywood redevelopment project of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The CRA is undergoing a major reorganization to better serve those areas hardest hit by the riots last year. As a result, Jerry and Carmen are being reassigned within the agency.
Their tenure here in North Hollywood has been very successful. Perhaps the most notable achievement of the CRA is the Academy development, which has brought the Academy of Television Arts and Science, the Academy Business and Entertainment Center and the Academy Village. Other notable achievements are the Hewlett-Packard building (southwest corner of Magnolia and Lankershim), which is no longer occupied by HP, but a French software company, Dassault Systems will be moving in, and the Vineland/Magnolia shopping center. Also of particular significance is the CRA funding of the renovation of the El Portal Theatre, which will be the Valley’s largest professional theatre venue.
While the achievements of the CRA to date have for the most part been positive, there is reason to give pause for the future plans of the CRA. The current Academy development is only phase one of a multi-phase development plan which ultimately aspires to office towers on Lankershim Boulevard.
Office towers with their attendant parking structures and traffic is not very conducive to a sense of community, particularly a sensitive artistic community. Under the current development plan, the Art of the Dance Academy will be evicted to make room for a parking structure and condos. This is a scary trade-off.
At the moment, the development plan is stalled. The state of the economy has prevented private developers from putting together the financing to move the project forward. Perhaps this is an opportunity to reflect on the plans for the future. The NoHo Arts District is a new idea that didn’t exist at the time the plans were drawn up for the Academy development. Perhaps some thought should be given to this grassroots cultural movement in future planning.
NoHo Magazine would like to wish Jerry Belcher and Carmen Kane the best of luck in their new positions. Also a word of thanks for the Academy Plaza Music Series ad which helped tremendously in getting the magazine started.♦