central avenue
historic business improvement district
About CAHD
Hernandez
Steven Hernandez , Member
Property Owner
Priscilla Al Ugdah, Member
Clara Muhammad School National Alumni Association
The Central Avenue Historic Business Improvement District (CAHD) will strive to improve the economic vitality for each individual assessed parcel in the district. The goal is to celebrate the rich cultural and urban enterprise history of the neighborhood, promote cultural events along the corridor, such as the annual Central Avenue Jazz Festival, to create a clean and safe environment for the community and to attract consumers and pedestrians to the businesses operating on the individually assessed parcels within the district boundaries.
The district includes the commercial parcels of land affronting Central Avenue from Washington Boulevard to Vernon Avenue stretching 1.56 miles, as well as the side street frontage of corner properties. CAHD will provide continued improvements and activities, including:
- Clean Streets Services Team,
- Safety Ambassadors,
- Parking Demand Management Services,
- Branding and Marketing, and
- Community Engagement Events
There was an 18-month formation process from May 2014 to October 2015. A hearing was held on 10/27/15 at the Los Angeles City Council Meeting. The ballots were counted at the Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk immediately following the hearing. The final vote equated to a 78.65% yes vote from all ballots properly cast. The ordinance establishing the Central Avenue Historic BID was adopted by the Los Angeles City Council on 10/28/15 and signed by Mayor Eric Garcetti on 11/3/15. It became effective on 12/6/15.
The CAHD is a Property Based Business Improvement District authorized to operate for a period of 5 years commencing in 2016. It comprises 130 property owners and 188 individually assessed parcels of land on Central Avenue between the south side of Vernon Avenue and south side of Washington Boulevard in Los Angeles totaling 1.56 miles.
During Year 1, assessments will be billed and collected by the City of Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk. Assessments in Years 2-5 will be billed and collected by the County of Los Angeles Tax Assessor. The Year 1 total assessment of collective individual property owners is $419,564. CAHD will only commit to expenditures equal to the amount of fees actually collected by the City Clerk. The total assessment is expected to escalate by 4% annually. The assessment calculations of each individual parcel are detailed in the Central Avenue Historic Business Improvement District Management Plan and Engineer’s Report which can be downloaded from the Los Angeles City Clerk’s website here:
http://clerk.lacity.org/businessimprovementdistricts/index.htm
Board of Directors
The Vision
In recognition and appreciation of the important history, rich culture, and diverse businesses, residents and visitors in the Central Avenue Historic District, the stakeholders envision a thriving, healthy and attractive business and residential district that supports and sustains the kind of neighborhood everyone wants to do business in, live in and visit: clean, safe, bustling with commerce and positive community interaction; a cultural treasure, an attractive destination, and a place where young people can grow up safe and strong, where businesses can prosper, and where we honor the past, invest in the present, and manifest a bright and beautiful future.
The Mission
Through mutual cooperation, forward thinking, and timely action, the stakeholders of the Central Avenue Historic District are committed to investing in ongoing thoughtful improvement and development of the neighborhood; and initiatives that promote and sustain cleanliness, safety, aesthetic beauty and continuity, cultural richness and diversity, environmental health, and an overall atmosphere of well-being that is inclusive and invites prosperity, community involvement, and positive interaction among all peoples.
Clent Bowers, Member
Trustee, Bowers Retail Complex
Kenneth M. Orduña, PhD, Member
Vice President of Business Development
Central Neighborhood Health Foundation
Shaker
Dani Shaker, Treasurer
Historic Lincoln Savings Properties
Noreen McClendon, Member
Executive Director, Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles
Mbeguere
Monica Mbeguere , Member
Alfred Smith Property
Vision & Mission
The Central Avenue Historic Business Improvement Board of Directors currently consist of 12 members representing the following entity types as per the bylaws: 5 property owners, 3 non-profit organizations, 1 institutional representative, 2 businesses and 1 member of the original Business Improvement District Formation Steering Committee. There is 1 vacancy for a property owner representative.