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From: "Architexturez." <interface.services@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 19:50:58 +0530
Where a Porn Palace Stood
Down-at-the-heels neighborhoods are spiffing up for success.
By Douglas Johnson, Douglas Johnson is a fellow at the Rose Institute of
State and Local Government at Claremont McKenna College.
July 30, 2006
THERE'S AN INVIGORATING wave of revitalization sweeping through many
communities in Los Angeles County. Housing that is affordable to the
middle class is springing up in Pasadena and Long Beach, Venice and
downtown, Silver Lake and MacArthur Park, Echo Park and Eagle Rock.
Windows that were once boarded up are reopening. Abandoned buildings are
filling up with residents. Art galleries are attracting young and old.
Restaurants and nightclubs are bustling, and streets once avoided at
night because of crime are crammed with customers.
What could be bad about that? New retail business is generating sales
taxes. New homes are producing property taxes. These revenues, in turn,
pay for new public safety efforts, new parks, new community cleanup work
and improved roads.
Call it gentrification or call it revitalization. The result is
undeniably positive for a community.
cont'd....
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-johnson30jul30,0,2345842.story?coll=la-opinion-center