Controversy Surrounds Development of Los Angeles Art Park

A vacant lot near Los Angeles City Hall is being transformed into an ‘art park,’ sparking discontent among some downtown residents and a prominent union. The nonprofit AltaMed Health Services has secured a lease with the city for $175,000, allowing them to utilize the two-acre space on 1st Street and Broadway until next February. The project, dubbed ‘El Corazón Art Park,’ will feature an art gallery dedicated to Mexican and Chicano works, 30 boxed trees, a health center, and a 20-foot video screen.

The unveiling of the plan was met with backlash from community members who felt excluded from the decision-making process. Promises of a city-owned and operated park were made long ago, and there is concern that AltaMed has long-term intentions for the site. Jens Midthun, head of the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, expressed disappointment over the lack of community involvement, stating, ‘We want the people who are going to use the park to be a part of the process.’

AltaMed, which operates over 40 medical centers in Southern California with nearly 6,000 employees, focuses on serving Latino and multi-ethnic communities. Cástulo de la Rocha, AltaMed’s CEO, was part of Mayor Karen Bass’ transition team and contributed to her campaign, sparking additional debate. Despite this, Mayor Bass supports the project, highlighting its community benefits. AltaMed claims that the park will offer free cultural programming without burdening taxpayers and asserts that they engaged with local residents and organizations during planning.

However, opposition comes not only from residents but also from Service Employee International Union, Local 721. Representing over 100,000 public sector employees in Southern California, the union supported a public park at the site. Questions regarding the environmental review process, the potential cost of events, and the long-term lease remain unanswered. SEIU 721 also questioned the inclusion of health services and a digital billboard for sponsors and cultural content.

AltaMed’s creation of the art park continues a complex history that began after the 1971 Sylmar earthquake caused severe damage to the former California State Building at the site. The city acquired the land in 2013 for $10 million, aiming to create a park under the ’50 Parks Initiative.’ However, the plan stalled due to funding constraints, redirecting the $20 million budget towards other projects.

Recently released emails suggest AltaMed had been in discussions about the site as early as 2024, proposing a long-term lease. Initial plans evolved into a temporary art park, approved by the Board of Recreation and Parks in February, aligning with the city’s broader events but running independently of taxpayer funds.

Councilmember Ysabel Jurado, whose district includes the site, supports the temporary art park with conditions of transparency for future decisions. Nevertheless, the Downtown Los Angeles Residents Assn. remains wary of the temporary arrangement morphing into a permanent scenario without public input. Despite SEIU 721’s appeal, the City Council moved forward, affirming AltaMed’s plans for the immediate future.

Cassy Horton of the residents association emphasizes the importance of a transparent process, though she admits the park space is preferable to an empty lot. The community’s concerns about funding redirection and unmet promises reflect ongoing tensions about public space development in downtown Los Angeles.