How can we minimize displacement pressures in Frogtown as investment grows in the LA River while simultaneously giving us, the researchers, the ability to try different approaches to creating together?

The client

LA-Más staff project funded through a neighbor donation.

The Work

Futuro de Frogtown was a ten-month co-visioning process to understand what community members in Frogtown – both new and long-term- wanted to see (or not see!) in their neighborhood. LA-Más convened neighbors in six workshops that took place in untraditional meeting locations where community members already gather. The workshops were designed to be both educational and thought-provoking on various real estate development topics, so that neighbors could provide recommendations directly. In addition to the six workshops, LA-Más hosted a biweekly learning space and an online archive where neighbors could access summaries and all resources from previous workshops to keep those who may have missed a meeting informed.

I co-conceptualized the structure and content of each workshop with Helen Leung. I also designed all the boards illustrating speculative design objects, flyers, web graphics, and a final report synthesizing the insights. This process informed the local zoning code – specifically the “Q Conditions” adopted by the City in late 2015. Please visit LA Review of Books for more information about Frogtown and Futuro de Frogtown.