Westchester
The following is an independent student report, not directly produced by The Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles.
May 15, 2003
Paul Dia
Dr. Marks
Westchester: An Example of the General Trend in Urban Development
PART OF THE L.A. City Council District 11, Westchester is home to Loyola Marymount University and neighbor to the Playa Vista development. With its close proximity to Playa Vista, the community is divided about whether or not the development will have a positive impact on the area. Even though a majority of residents surveyed were wary of Playa Vista’s impact on their community, an even greater majority planned on using the development’s various public amenities.
Although Westchester is part of the City of Los Angeles, it does not reflect citywide census data. Compared to city figures, Westchester residents are wealthier and more educated. While only about 30% of the entire city’s population is comprised of White residents, the White population in Westchester is a strong 76.3%. The median household income of the city is $37,000 while 63% of Westchester residents surveyed had incomes greater than $55,000. Unsurprisingly, a higher level of education supports the higher level of income. 85% of Westchester residents have some college education, 70% of which are college graduates — compared to the city value of 16%. Furthermore, while 61% of the city’s residents do not own their home, a majority of Westchester’s residents do (73.2%). Regardless of the disparity of wealth and education between Westchester and Los Angeles, the majority of residents within the Greater LA area recognize the need for the availability of affordable housing.
Just beneath Loyola’s bluffs is the largest real-estate project currently under construction in America — Playa Vista. The communities surrounding LMU, including Westchester, will definitely be impacted by this development. Whether the impact will be a positive one is still unclear, however. From the surveyed residents, only 41.8% believe that Playa Vista will have a positive impact on their quality of life (Figure 1).
Figure 1 — Westchester: Will Playa Vista Have a Positive Impact?
Despite the environmental controversy surrounding the project and a majority of residents disagreeing with the possibility that Playa Vista would have a positive impact, an even greater majority of those surveyed planned on supporting the completed development by patronizing its various shops and recreational facilities. Figures 2 through 4 show the results to the following topics posed,
o Likelihood to use parks, walking paths and bike trails in Playa Vista (Figure 2)
o Likelihood to use shops and restaurants in Playa Vista (Figure 3)
o Likelihood to use Farmer’s Market in Playa Vista (Figure 4)
Figure 2 — Likelihood to Use Park
Figure 3 — Likelihood to Shop and Dine at Playa Vista
Figure 4 — Likelihood to Shop at the Farmer’s Market at Playa Vista
Perhaps it was the NIMBY type of attitude that prompted the majority of the surveyed residents to feel negatively towards the Playa Vista developments. Just as with other new developments, especially large ones such as the Ahmanson Ranch, it is only the natural order in urban development controversy for neighboring residents to be opposed to projects that threaten to change their quality of life and the landscape of the area. When three students were asked about how each would feel if a gasoline service station was to be built right next to their home, all three were opposed to the idea. When posed the question if they would patronize the station once it was opened, however, all three were in favor of purchasing gasoline and snacks at that station. Because the Playa Vista developments are right next door to Westchester, it is not uncommon for nearby residents to feel wary of such a large project — a project that would virtually change the landscape of the Ballona wetlands and increase pollution, traffic, crime rates and the general population of the area. It is with these threats, which are most commonly associated with urban areas, that Westchester residents have reason to doubt the impact that Playa Vista will have on their quality of life. But due to the selection of amenities available and its close proximity to Westchester, an even larger majority of those surveyed felt that it would be rather convenient to shop and dine at Playa Vista upon its opening. Such an effect has yet to be seen with the Ahmanson Ranch developments. Just like Playa Vista, Ahmanson Ranch threatens to change the landscape of its immediate area. Unsurprisingly,
Even though the social characteristics of Westchester differ from those of the entire City of Los Angeles, residents in general are not always as welcome to new developments especially when they are slated in an area right next to their homes. But with the right services geared towards the community, neighboring residents to the development will adapt to and maybe even welcome the changes. Perhaps, it is with this thought that the majority of Westchester residents felt that their neighborhood is headed in the right direction (Figure 5) and also served as an encouragement for Steve Soboroff to run with Playa Vista.
Figure 5 — Feel Things in Westchester are Headed in the Right Direction?