INGLEWOOD – Metro’s proposed specific plan adjacent to its Compton station brings the Compton mayor’s reelection campaign fundraiser in Inglewood into focus.
Compton Mayor Emma Sharif’s campaign committee has scheduled an October 4 campaign fundraiser in Inglewood, which features Mayor James T. Butts Jr., who is a member of the transit agency’s Board of Directors.
2 Urban Girls pondered whether the campaign fundraiser, which is seeking up to $25,000 from donors labeled “Champions” was attached to a planned Metro project.
The campaign committee’s “Compton Next” tagline is a reference to the website called www.nextstopcompton.org, which discusses the Transit Oriented Development plan in detail.
In 2022, Compton kicked off the environmental review period for the new Compton Station TOD Specific Plan, which would encompass more than 570 acres of land centered on the at-grade Metro stop located at Willowbrook Avenue and Compton Boulevard. The station, which abuts the Compton Civic Center, sees approximately 3,400 daily boardings, and is abutted by a number of large shopping centers and empty lots which could be candidates for redevelopment.
The Specific Plan focuses its rezoning effort on three key “Downtown” areas within Compton.
- The Civic Center, anchored by MLK Memorial Plaza, would be retained in its existing form. However, zoning could accommodate the construction of new buildings between 3 and 10 stories in height at selected sites, with maximum densities of up to 175 residential units per acre.
- The Commercial Core, consisting of the Compton Renaissance Center and Towne Center shopping center,s as well as MLK Transit Plaza and other areas abutting the A Line stop, would be rezoned to permit similar 3-to-10-story buildings with densities of up to 175 residential units per acre.
- Historic Core/Compton Boulevard East, stretching along Compton Boulevard from Alameda Street to Santa Fe Avenue, would be rezoned to allow buildings between 3 and 6 stories in height, with a maximum density of 100 units per acre.
The zoning proposed by the specific plan, if enacted, is expected to result in the construction of more than 2,400 new homes, nearly 140,000 square feet of offices, and a 150-key hotel by the year 2024. While much of that total consists of future projects, it partially reflects one development already in the pipeline.
A real estate developer that was attached to the project, and was slated to develop 300 apartments and retail space on two sites located at 501 and 601 E. Compton Boulevard, at the far east end of the specific plan area, was thwarted by City Hall.
These plans are more crucial than ever now that Metro has extended the Metro A (Blue) Line to Pomona.
As gentrification appears to be accelerating in Compton, under the leadership of Mayor Sharif, it is no wonder fireworks have erupted between her and Compton City Attorney Eric Perrodin, as well as her council colleagues challenging her reelection – Compton native and District 2 Councilman Andre Spicer and District 3 Councilman Jonathan Bowers.
It is unclear how the council will handle the pushing out of longtime Compton residents in favor of redevelopment.
Inglewood should be a reference point of what’s to come. An Inglewood theatre coined the term “Next Stop Inglewood” and now Compton got next!