Los Angeles Eco-Village Overview

Year Started

January 1993

Sponsor

LAEV is sponsored by CRSP, a nonprofit 501.c.3 community development organization founded in 1980 which is a resource center for small ecological cooperative communities. It is located in the LA Eco-Village neighborhood.

Purpose

Eco-Villagers demonstrate the processes for creating a healthy neighborhood ecologically, socially, and economically. We try to reduce our environmental impacts while raising the quality of neighborhood life. We are a public demonstration of sustainable community development sharing our processes, strategies and techniques with others through tours, talks, workshops, conferences, public advocacy and the media.

Location and Size

We are approximately 3 miles west of downtown on Bimini and White House Place, one block east of one of L.A.'s most auto congested traffic corridors, Vermont Avenue. We are a two block neighborhood, approximately 11 acres. We are in 3 of the city's special planning districts, including the Wilshire Center/Koreatown Redevelopment Area, the East Hollywood Targeted Neighborhood Initiative, and the Station Neighborhood Area Plan (SNAP).

Public Transit

LAEV is within a 2 to 15 minute walk of 20 bus lines and 2 Metro Red Line subway stops.

Neighborhood Profile

The two block mixed use working class neighborhood has a rich geological and social history. Home of the historic Bimini Baths from 1901 to 1951, the Bimini Slough also wended its way around the neighborhood. The old red trolley car, destroyed in the 50's, had its turn-around on Bimini Place as well. Approximately 500 persons live in 13 historically significant apartment buildings consisting of 164 units of housing. An alcohol and drug recovery home serving approximately 100 persons is also located on the block, along with two auto repair shops, a K-2 public school, the Bresee Foundation, the Mijoo Peace Church and a public adult school for English as a Second Language.

Building Ownership, Finance and Rehab

CRSP owns two buildings consisting of 48 units of housing. CRSP's Ecological Revolving Loan Fund (ELF), a community development loan fund, is the source of funds for these acquisitions. ELF accepts loans from those interested in socially and environmentally responsible investments. ELF monies are also being used for basic rehabilitation and ecological retrofitting of the buildings. The LAEV intentional community is in the process of creating a new legal entity to acquire the buildings from CRSP for permanently affordable cooperative ownership (2005).   Rental cash flow from the buildings is sufficient to maintain the properties. The buildings are being ecologically retrofitted, little by little..

Demographics of the two block neighborhood

Overall demographics of the neighborhood include approximately 15 ethnic groups. Incomes are primarily very low to moderate with some middle income households. Household composition is diverse, including singles, couples, single parents, nuclear families, room mates, and extended families. Ages range from infancy to the elderly. Of 500 neighbors in the 2 block area, about 75 now participate in some Eco-Village activities.

Intentional Community

Approximately 35 neighbors from diverse backgrounds and income levels have moved to the neighborhood intentionally to learn, share their knowledge and to demonstrate Eco-Village processes. Many attend regular community potluck dinners, community meetings, workshops on permaculture approaches to sustainable urban living, community work parties, and provide a variety of public services to the neighborhood and the city at large on a broad range of sustainability areas. About one-half no longer own cars, and a few are starting small ecological cooperative neighborhood based businesses. Some households which do not own cars receive a $20 per month discount on their rent. While about 35 neighbors have moved to Eco-Village intentionally, we share the buildings and the neighborhood with many pre-existing neighbors and others that have moved to the neighborhood after LAEV started..