Villaraigosa meets with Jordan Downs community group

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa answered questions from the Jordan Downs Community Advisory Committee on Wednesday about the proposed $1-billion redevelopment of the housing project in Watts.

“I just want to say how important it is for me to hear from you, what your vision for the future here is,” Villaraigosa said before taking questions from the committee composed of Jordan Downs residents, police, housing officials and other community leaders.

Villaraigosa responded to questions and said he was committed to improving Jordan High School. He announced plans to again try this year to have the campus join his Partnership for Los Angeles Schools -- and also said he would bring an African American construction apprenticeship program and other work sources to the redeveloped project.

City officials want to replace the project’s 700 units with as many as 2,100 units in “mixed-use” buildings that would house both low-income residents and those paying market rates. The officials hope a major redevelopment could attract businesses to the complex and would help reduce the influence of gangs and violence there. They also want to renovate Jordan High School.

Los Angeles officials have purchased a 21-acre parcel adjacent to Jordan Downs for $31 million on which they plan to expand the complex and have earmarked millions more for planning. But it remains to be seen if Los Angeles and its housing authority can carry out such an ambitious transformation.

“How will you help us develop college opportunities for youth from the community,” asked 17-year-old resident Martha Fausto. She and other residents had worked for about three weeks preparing a list of eight questions to ask the mayor.

“I would like to know when will you return? How often? And what should we expect when you return?” asked Cassandra Savage, 54, who lived in Jordan Downs for 40 years and recently moved.

“How will you contribute to our goal of green jobs and other job opportunities, including training for young adults?” another resident asked.

Jordan Downs is home to about 2,300 residents who live on an average annual income of about $15,500 and pay 30% of their income in rent.

Some leaders have recently warned the city and Villaraigosa that in order to complete the project, it would be necessary to reach out to all residents and the surrounding community, not just the advisory committee.

“I am pleased that the mayor called to say he would . . . engage in outreach efforts with the residents of Jordan Downs. In addition to today’s meeting with the advisory committee, he committed to a second larger meeting with residents there,” said U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) in a written statement. She chairs the House subcommittee that oversees redevelopment projects.

John Hernandez, who serves on the advisory committee and is an organizer with the Watts/Century Latino Organization, said there were not enough residents from Jordan Downs and the surrounding community present at the meeting, and he wished it had been more “inclusive”.

“This is not only going to just affect the residents, we’re talking about the entire community of Watts,” Hernandez said. “There needs to be more of a broader approach.”

ari.bloomekatz@latimes.com