Woo Wants Changes in Hollywood Renewal

"Lashing out at what he called 'lackluster management' of Hollywood's $922-million redevelopment plan, Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo on Friday proposed sweeping changes in the way the city's Community Redevelopment Agency handles the project and vowed to increase the voice of residents and small merchants in Hollywood planning decisions."

"Woo unveiled a seven-point proposal for bolstering the controversial project, including an expansion of the 25-member citizens committee responsible for reviewing commercial developments. Woo said he plans to add six seats to the committee, primarily to provide places for apartment renters, small-business owners and homeowners in the Hollywood Hills who are under-represented on the advisory panel."

"In addition to expanding the committee, Woo announced plans to give the Hollywood community an appointed seat on the Community Redevelopment Agency board of directors, which oversees redevelopment projects citywide, and to increase the clout of Hollywood citizens groups responsible for planning social programs and architectural-design standards for new buildings."

Los Angeles City Councilman Michael Woo criticized the Community Redevelopment Agency's management of Hollywood's $922-million redevelopment project and introduced a seven-point proposal for reform. The proposal includes expanding the 25-member citizens committee by six seats to better represent apartment renters, small-business owners, and Hollywood Hills homeowners. Woo also proposed giving the Hollywood community an appointed seat on the Community Redevelopment Agency board, increasing citizen groups' influence over planning and architectural standards, creating a nonprofit corporation for low-cost housing development, and requiring committee members to file financial-disclosure statements. These changes address concerns about business interests dominating the advisory panel and benefiting financially from lucrative high-rise zoning standards that increased land values by up to $2 million per acre.

Read at Los Angeles Times