Davenport Institute

Research Reports

---

Common Paths: Connecting Metropolitan Inner City Opportunities

Thomas Tseng

May 1999

V. LOOKING AND MOVING AHEAD

There is no single "silver bullet" approach for revitalizing inner-city communities. Nor can any one sector of society-government, business, or nonprofit-hope to pursue initiatives successfully on its own. Inner-city revitalization requires a collaborative, cross-sector approach that allows each stakeholder to leverage its unique resources and strengths. Revitalization must be multipronged in its approach and multidimensional in its outlook. This necessitates the pursuit of integrated public, private, and community sector strategies that must be sustained and nurtured over the long haul.

The renewal effort has a long way to go, but measurable progress is attainable. New economic opportunities and assets are being discovered in urban communities all across South Los Angeles. These assets not only form the building blocks upon which renewal must occur, they also debunk popular misperceptions about South Los Angeles communities while at the same time providing evidence supporting the economic, social, and civic viability of these neighborhoods.

Throughout South LA, a growing network of community development organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs are recognizing the importance of the area's assets. They see the value of investing in individuals, associations, and institutions that are rooted in South LA's physical and human infrastructure. Moreover, they are fostering strategies that strengthen and build upon these assets and opportunities, many of which are not discussed in this report.

In order for these efforts to have meaningful, long-term impacts, the strategies adopted by these various groups must be integrated under a collaborative approach. Across the state, collaborative regional initiatives led by civic entrepreneurs are emerging as a compelling movement to address regional concerns.⁴⁷ In Los Angeles, regional collaborative approaches have emerged in the San Fernando Valley, San Gabriel Valley, Gateway Cities, and the South Bay. These partnerships are cultivating various strategies to enhance their communities' economic base, labor force, and quality of life.

A similar opportunity exists for South Los Angeles. A regional collaborative approach should engage a diverse array of people from across the area-small businesses, manufacturers, churches, community organizations, labor unions, neighborhood associations, government, and others-to develop a shared vision and promote a regional agenda. Only under a collaborative framework can the stakeholders and concerned citizens of South Los Angeles create the social capital necessary to enhance the area's unique identity, viability, and capacity for growth.

Collaboration will be essential for bridging the gaps between inner-city communities and the broader region. The next stage of urban renewal must nurture a comprehensive vision, encompassing the shared concerns among communities across the metropolitan region and inner-city communities. As growth challenges demonstrate, the two move along a shared trajectory and walk forth on common paths.

In sum, the continued revitalization of South Los Angeles and other inner-city areas in the greater region should include the following guiding principles:

Revitalization must contain a regional dimension that takes into account regional economic trends and development patterns. Business, labor, and political leadership across the region must recognize the immense opportunity that inner-city communities like South LA represent for economic development. Suburban leaders, in particular, need to see how inner-city development is a viable growth alternative to unwanted sprawl.

Revitalization must recognize and build upon the rich and growing economic, social, cultural, institutional, and physical assets that already exist in South LA. Because of these assets, South Los Angeles is uniquely positioned in the Southern California region. The capacity of the abundant storehouse that is South LA must be explored, strengthened, and promoted, then leveraged to regional opportunities.

Revitalization must also support neighborhood-level, community economic development strategies that strengthen and vivify the human and social capital of disadvantaged communities. The groups that comprise these efforts are an invaluable foundation for renewal.

Revitalization should seek collaborative approaches involving a wide range of stakeholders-residents; businesses; civic associations; nonprofit, community-based organizations; labor unions, churches; and others. In contrast to a top-down approach, collaborative models should be based on strong, equitable partnerships across sectors-private, public, and nonprofit sectors.

Revitalization should adopt a comprehensive approach that fosters a diverse economy. To achieve this, South Los Angeles must form a strong vision. The greatest responsibility lies with the communities, leaders, and institutions of South Los Angeles. It is they, first and foremost, who must form a vision for building a viable economic base, one that meets needs locally but also competes in the global economy.