West Angeles Community Development Corporation Debuts New Community-Helping Project

By Alex Girda, Associate Editor

A brand new development was recently unveiled in the Crenshaw Corridor, bringing the spotlight to an area of the city that has been in serious need of a makeover. The $8.5 million investment was handled by the West Angeles Community Development Corporation and Union Bank and is located at 3501 Jefferson Boulevard.

The West Angeles Plaza development includes 15,000 square feet of grocery space, a 4,500 square-foot Union Bank, as well as 5,000 square feet of retail, commercial and community space. The development is paramount for the Crenshaw Corridor, and the West Angeles Community Development Corporation had an important role in the financing project, attracting $2 million from the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, CIM Group and other sources.

The project was supported by a number of local authorities and according to Los Angeles City Council President, Herb Wesson, “the development is also an economic shot in the arm bringing as many as 150 construction-related jobs, 50 grocer-related jobs, 25 bank jobs, and possibly as many as 30 office jobs in addition to attracting additional small businesses.” The project is reportedly relevant to local policies and its success is driving the empowerment given to community economic development.

The West Angeles Community Development Corporation was created in 1994 as an outreach program of West Angeles Church of God in Christ. At the time, with a 15,000-strong congregation, the church created the CDC to expand its operation in an attempt to fight the rising poverty in L.A.’s Crenshaw District.

Rendering courtesy of cimgroup.com