Community Revitalization Project

Neighborhood Legal Services Pacoima Town Center - 020080

Abstract Number: 020080

September 2002

Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) of Los Angeles County partnered with other community members, business owners, elected officials, and community organizations to spearhead a three million dollar economic revitalization of the Pacoima community, a low-income community in Los Angeles. Funds for this project resulted from the city's Targeted Neighborhood Initiative (TNI), an economic development project committed to rejuvenating Los Angeles.

Realizing that successful economic development occurs when the local community is fully mobilized, invested, and committed to the successful implementation of the project, NLS established a community partnership to ensure that the community had maximum control over funds and could determine how the funds would be used in the community. Consequently, the city turned the money over to the Pacoima Town Center Partners (PTCP). NLS played a very important role in revitalizing the Pacoima community by performing the following functions:

• NLS set-up the PTCP, a partnership established to ensure that the community would determine the use of the city funds.
• NLS provided advice and expertise to community groups.
• NLS negotiated contracts on behalf of the partnership.

The PTCP decided to pursue a Main Street approach, which entails making historic and traditional commercial buildings and districts viable once again. This community revitalization project includes a beautification component but that extends beyond simple aesthetic changes. In fact, NLS sees beautification coupled with promotion as a means to make struggling businesses more appealing thereby supporting their survival and success. The PTCP have taken a four-pronged approach to revitalize Pacoima:

• Organization - focuses on building a framework for sensible volunteer-driven programming and organizational structure that matches the community's assets and potential.
• Promotion - involves marketing the town center's unique characteristics to shoppers, investors, new businesses and others.
• Design - contributes to improving the town center's image by enhancing its physical appearance.
• Economic Development - means strengthening the existing economic base of the town center while diversifying it.

To date, PTCP has made a great deal of progress in improving the Pacoima Town Center. Streets and sidewalks in Pacoima were repaved, over 200 new trees were planted, and commercial facades were improved. In addition, Pacoima recently held a street fair to celebrate the community. To learn more about this project, access the documents below as PDF files.

Contact Information:

Becky Villaseor
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
13327 Van Nuys Boulevard
Pacoima, CA 91331-3099
Phone: (818) 492-5215
Fax: (818) 896-6647
becky@nls-la.org

Caron Caines
Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County
13327 Van Nuys Boulevard
Pacoima, CA 91331-3099
Phone: (818) 334-7512
Fax: (818) 896-6647
ccaines@nls-la.org

Additional Information:

• Pacoima Town Center Partners: A Community Concept ( 530k)
• Pacoima Town Center Flyer ( 52k)
• Business Survey ( 82k)
• Property Owner Survey ( 20k)

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