Jordan Downs Marks 10 Years of Revitalization, Watts Residents Join Leaders to Chart Next Phase
Watts, Los Angeles, CA — On Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 8:15 AM, Watts residents will join with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), and partners The Michaels Organization, BRIDGE Housing, Primestor, and nearly 30 federal, state and local leaders to commemorate a decade of revitalization at Jordan Downs. This first 10-years of development has brought $664 million in new investment to Watts resulting in the construction of 787 new affordable homes, 120,000 square feet of new retail, and four new parks.
The morning gathering will feature a walking tour of new housing, parks, and retail space that create housing stability for Watts residents, new jobs, and strengthens the economy. During the guided walking tour, HACLA will announce the recent Board approval of $6.1M for the new Children’s Park (construction to begin in November) and share findings in a recent study on the benefits of redevelopment.
Following the tour, attendees will participate in a closed-door roundtable discussion with residents, federal, state, civic, business, and philanthropic leaders about the final phase of development. The insights and guidance gathered during the meeting will be compiled into a new report.
WHAT:
Tour and media availability celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Jordan Downs revitalization project.
WHO:
Lourdes Castro Ramirez, President & CEO, HACLA
Julian Castro, CEO, Latino Community Foundation & Former HUD Secretary
Meena Bavan, HUD, Los Angeles Director
Maria Salinas, President & CEO, LA Area Chamber of Commerce
Josh Fryday, Director, CA Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement
Trey Reffett, Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Transportation, CA Governor’s Office of Housing and Homelessness
Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, Interim Dean, UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Tiena Johnson Hall, General Manager, LA Housing Department
Abigail Marquez, General Manager, LA Community Investment For Families Department
Sierra Atilano, Chief Real Estate Officer, BRIDGE Housing
Raoul Amescua, Senior Vice President, The Michaels Organization
Leandro Tyberg, President & Co-Founder, Primestor Development Inc.
Watts Residents
WHEN:
Thursday, September 25, 2025
8:15 – 9:15 a.m.: Guided Walking Tour and Media Interviews (Open to Press)
9:15 – 9:30 a.m.: Media Interviews
11:00 – 11:30 a.m.: Post-Roundtable Interviews
WHERE:
Walking Tour: Freedom Plaza, 9901 S. Alameda Street, Watts
Media Interviews: Kalmia Rose Community Center, 9808 S. Kalmia Street, Watts
VISUALS:
Opportunity for photos and video of the completed revitalization projects and community tour.
Media RSVP/Contact: Media.Relations@hacla.org
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About HACLA
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA), established in 1938, provides affordable housing, rental assistance, and supportive services to more than 200,000 Angelenos. Its administrative portfolio includes 164 properties - 13 of which are public housing developments - totaling over 12,000 units, along with more than 60,000 Housing Vouchers and Certificates through the Section 8 program. For more information, visit www.hacla.org.
About The Michaels Organization
Michaels is a national leader in residential real estate, offering full-service capabilities in development, property and asset management, construction, and investment. Serving more than 200,000 residents in more than 600 communities across 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity, and to creating Communities That Lift Lives. https://tmo.com/
About BRIDGE Housing
BRIDGE Housing Corporation is a leading nonprofit owner, developer, and manager of high-quality affordable housing on the West Coast, with a mission to strengthen communities and improve lives. Founded in 1983, BRIDGE Housing has participated in the creation of more than 22,000 affordable homes in California, Oregon and Washington, with a total development cost of $6 billion. Its current $4 billion portfolio totals more than 14,500 apartments that are home to more than 30,000 residents, with more than 10,000 additional units in the development and acquisition pipelines. For more information, visit https://bridgehousing.com/.
About Primestor
Primestor is a leading real estate investment, development, and management company focused on creating community-centric retail and mixed-use projects across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas. With a portfolio valued at over $1 billion and more than 3.5 million square feet of leasable area, Primestor transforms underinvested neighborhoods into vibrant hubs that blend commerce, culture, and community. The company also manages a development pipeline exceeding $1.5 billion and oversees a discretionary SEC-registered Social Impact Equity Fund of over $215 million dedicated to investing in underserved, undersupplied, and underrepresented communities. In partnership with community stakeholders, non-profits, local residents, municipalities, and institutional investors, Primestor delivers projects that become regional and local gathering spaces, driving long-term economic growth and social impact. For more information, visit https://primestor.com/.
