Sample Proposal

Project Description

Playa del Rey is part of the Westchester Playa del Rey Community Plan and is located in the far western and northwestern portion of the Plan area.  Most of the commercial uses are located along Culver Boulevard, Pershing Drive and Manchester Avenue. These commercial areas are neighborhood serving in nature and characterized by smaller, individually owned lots.  This “Village” form of development provides opportunities for smaller, locally operated businesses. 

Within Council District 11 boundaries, there are five Community Design Overlays (CDO’s).  The Lincoln CDO is in Venice, the West Pico CDO is in West LA and the West Wilshire CDO is in West LA and Brentwood. The downtown Westchester and Loyola Village CDOs are in the Weschester Playa del Rey Community Plan area.

The purpose of a CDO is to increase pedestrian activity and to improve design and enhance the existing character of the area.  CDO guidelines and standards, for example, require orientation of buildings toward the major commercial street and that every building shall have a pedestrian entrance on the major commercial street.  The community plan states that a CDO would be a major opportunity for the area for encouraging enhanced design.

The Client project would consist of working with the council office, the Planning Department, the Westchester/Playa Neighborhood Council and other community groups in the writing and formulation of the CDO.  Using examples from other CDOs in the area, the student would begin by documenting the current uses and setting through pictures, words and maps and then formulate, with the community and council office, the goals and objectives of the CDO.  The student would work with the community and council office on community outreach and meetings, and would write the CDO with the assistance of the council office, community and Planning Department.

The interested student should look at the current CDOs and determine if he/she is interested in the project. The link is http://cityplanning.lacity.org/ [1].  On the left side of the page, there is a General Plan Tab. Under that tab, click on Community Plans tab and then on the area of the City where the CDO is located.

Please contact (Name, Contact Information) for additional information.