The WCBID is working with the Young Oak Kim Academy and People For Parks on supporting the YOKA Community Schools Park (CSP). The YOKA CSP features enrichment programming from LAUSD staff who focus on outdoor activities including organized games and craft projects and events that foster a strong sense of community. When a child, parent or community member arrives, they can join in on an ongoing basketball, soccer or street hockey game. They can start an arts and crafts project, run laps or simply engage in free play on the playground.
The effects on the neighborhood have been inspiring. Parents and school staff tell us that since the YOKA CSP has opened, they feel safer and more connected. They link drops in vandalism and other unwelcome behavior to the increased presence of parents at school and the sense of ownership that community members have taken over their CSP. The YOKA Community School Park is currently open to the public from 10AM-2PM on Saturdays. The WCBID will continue working with People for Parks to transform local schoolyards into Community School Parks (CSPs), which are safe play spaces open to the public on weekends
Fixing Sidewalks
The City of Los Angeles has made a historic commitment to invest $1.4 billion over 30 years to fix sidewalks around the city and make them accessible to everyone. People with a mobility disability, or someone reporting on their behalf, who encounter physical barriers such as broken sidewalks, missing/broken curb ramps or other barriers in the public right of way can request sidewalk repairs through the Access Request Program.
The City is also offering a limited-time rebate to any property owner willing to pay for their own sidewalk repair through our Rebate Program. To report any other sidewalk issues, go to https://myla311.lacity.org and click on Report a Sidewalk Problem.
People requesting city services (pothole repair, pickup of bulky items, graffiti removal, etc.) can call 311 or access the free smart phone application, MyLA311. With MyLA311 people can take a picture of the problem and send it with the application for service.
For more on the Wilshire Center BID please visit us on Facebook at facebook.com/wilshirecenter.
Other News
Century West Partners, a Los Angeles-based developer of apartment communities, completed the "topping off" at its NEXT on Sixth apartment community currently under development at 6th and Virgil. The topping off of NEXT on Sixth is a milestone celebration of the newest community to grace the District and was hosted by Century West Partners.
Construction on NEXT on Sixth, one of dozens of major new developments on the way to the District, is nearly finished. Once complete, the seven-story mixed use building at Sixth and Virgil will include 399 market-rate apartments, with amenities such as a pool, private massage room, fitness center, coffee bar, screening room, and simulated golf range.
Most exciting to area residents will probably be the 22,000 square foot Target opening up on the ground floor. The new Target store will include groceries, apparel, accessories, and electronics, along with a pharmacy and mobile phone display. NEXT on Sixth broke ground in May last year and is expected to be open by November. For more info about the project and leasing visit http://nextonsixth.com.
Last quarter, the district safety team assisted the City in getting over 784 bulky items picked up, made 114 calls to the City for street services, assisted in getting 700 graffiti tags cleaned up, and 27 potholes were reported and fixed. The team responded to 115 calls for assists to the LAPD and others. They issued 10 illegal vendor warnings and assisted 68 homeless individuals. The district dafety team removed 484 illegal signs, addressed the subject of 43 belligerent transients and 13 drinking in public. The team captain attended 5 LAPD crime control meetings and attended the quarterly WC/K Business Watch meeting.
