Merchants, Artists Form Citizen Group
About 300 business owners and artists are forming a community association to improve security and aesthetics in the eastern section of the Downtown area.
The Los Angeles River Artists and Business Assn. will represent the area bordered by the Hollywood (101) and Santa Monica (10) freeways, Alameda Street and the Los Angeles River. The mostly industrial area, with a significant artists’ population, has traditionally lacked an organization of its own and has been left out of other groups, said a founder.
“Our area has no community group like this right now,” said Al Taira, a developer whose office is on South Santa Fe Avenue. “We’re kind of an isolated community here.”
Taira said the group hopes to provide a voice for the more than 1,000 artists who live and work in lofts in the area.
Founding members met last week to form a board of directors. The group plans to hold an official meeting for all members in January.
Goals of the association include forming Neighborhood Watch groups to help curb crime, cleaning and beautifying streets.
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