What is a LARABA?

THE LOS ANGELES RIVER ARTISTS AND BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
L.A.R.A.B.A.

The Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association (LARABA) is a 501 c4 non-profit that has represented the Downtown Arts District––located between 1st street, 7th street, Alameda, and the Los Angeles River–– since 1991.

In what was considered an abandoned warehouse district, residents and business owners needed a voice.

The late Little Tokyo developer Al Tiara and long-time Arts District resident Drew Lesso founded the organization to coordinate the redevelopment of the neighborhood then home to 5,000 artists and number of businesses.

LARABA actively opposed the demolition of the Santa Fe outbound terminal, once planned to be converted into a LAUSD warehouse and kitchen facility that would have added 800 trucks a day to overcrowded streets. Then the organization sponsored an international design competition for the location, and that led to SCI-Arc to renovate and occupy the old terminal.

LARABA handles smaller details as well. The neighborhood advocacy group sponsored tree plantings on Traction Ave, Vignes Street and East 3rd Street. Over fifty trees, many now in a mature stage, became an important first step in the greening of the neighborhood.

Just as important is maintaining the character of the neighborhood mix of early 20th Century warehouses.

This preservation of the older industrial buildings helped the the Arts District become a draw for developments like the Molino St. Lofts, The Barker Block, Toy Factory Lofts, and Biscuit Lofts. They took on the neighborhood's character of an eclectic and creative enclave.

The development and defining the character of the Arts District came from two LARABA-sponsored urban planning workshops called ”Uncommon Ground” held in 2002 and again in 2006. It was there that the character of the growing neighborhood was discussed and developed by its own growing community.

Under LARABA, and the late Joel Bloom, the Arts District Neighborhood Watch Walk began in 2000, and is considered the longest running walk of its kind.

The Arts District/Little Tokyo Farmers Market began in 2002 at Traction and 3rd St, then moved to Little Tokyo's Weller Court in 2004. By 2006, it opened to its new location, the south lawn of City Hall where is still runs every Thursday from 11am -2pm.

With the industrial area a popular film location, and the rise in residents in the last 25 years, LARABA helped establish Special Use Conditions for filming in the Arts District, forming a strong relationship between the neighborhood and filming.

Donations from film companies and modest profits from the Farmers' Market allow LARABA and the 2005 spin-off, the Los Angeles Downtown Arts District Space (LADADspace) to join resources for another goal -- to build a community art center that will include a 99-seat theater and art gallery / community meeting space.

LARABA continues its interest in the betterment of the community at large, and welcome stakeholders to participate and influence the shared urban potential inherent in this uncommon ground.

Monthly board meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at ARTSHARE LA (801 E. 4th Place) at 6:30pm.