South Central Los Angeles Regional Center Celebrates the Groundbreaking of New Headquarters at the Historic Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building [Los Angeles Sentinel (CA)]

On August 23, 2013, Community Impact Development II (CID II) and Friends of SCLARC (FoS) hosted more than 175 community partners who witnessed the groundbreaking on Legacy Plaza-the future headquarters for South Central Los Angeles Regional Center (SCLARC)

"As the Executive Director of South Central Los Angeles Regional Center, I can tell you we are very excited to see this project come to fruition Legacy Plaza forever joins SCLARC's legacy to that of Golden State Mutual's. Both organizations, past and present, have served this community well," said Dexter A. Henderson, SCLARC Executive Director.

FoS was established in 1984 by a concerned group of volunteers who joined together to promote public awareness about developmental disabilities and raise funds for SCLARC and its consumers. It also solicits charitable organizations and foundations for grants and donations as well as develops housing and housing opportunities on behalf of those whom SCLARC serves. CID II is a partnership working to revitalize the community. The partnership between Friends of SCLARC, Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation and Morgan Stanley formed in 2009. Together, the organizations acquired property within SCLARC's service area that would allow our agency to create a self-contained campus environment with adequate space for SCLARC's 250 employees, 100 consultants and more than 11,000 consumers and their families.

"Friends of SCLARC's mission is to support South Central Los Angeles Regional Center I can't think of any better way to do that than through Legacy Plaza, SCLARC's new headquarters. We are proud to be an integral partner in this project and a supporting partner to everything SCLARC is accomplishing in our community," said Malcolm Bennett, Friends of SCLARC Board President.

As planned, Legacy Plaza will encompass the historic Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building (GSM) that was designed by Paul R. Williams, the first African American Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA). According to the Paul Williams Project, Williams designed the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Building, which opened in 1949, around "how it would operate." He included a 400-seat auditorium with state-ofthe-art media systems that included special lighting controls, a cafeteria for 150, and a medical department with examination and recuperation rooms. He also designed the space to encompass a library, printing facilities, and training rooms for the agents. The five-story building provided a generous workflow for 300 employees and also allowed for future growth of the company that was, at that time, the seventh largest African American insurance company in the United States.

South Central Los Angeles Regional Center has also designed its plans for Legacy Plaza based on how it will operate. A new office complex will be built on the parking lot north of GSM, which will be called the SCLARC Legacy Building. Together, the dual structures will provide office space for SCLARC's present and future staffing and community needs. Legacy Plaza will be utilized by community residents and business people alike and both stakeholder groups will have access to the facility's state-of-the-art video conferencing center, meeting rooms and a semi-subterranean parking structure.

SCLARC is a private, non-profit community-based organization and is one of 21 regional centers that serve communities throughout California. The agency measures its success by the quality of life our clients are able to enjoy. Our consumers are developmentally disabled persons who have been diagnosed with autism, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and other conditions that occur during the developmental period of life.

Taking pride in the fact that they are in partnership with the families and community they serve, SCLARC's staff members' first priority is to provide the highest quality services possible. Since 1974, SCLARC has provided essential services to persons with developmental disabilities and their families. The agency is a central service delivery organization for individuals with developmental disabilities to receive coordinated services.

SCLARC's mandate is to provide assessment, diagnosis, intake, information and referrals, advocacy, prevention services and lifelong case management support to individuals with special needs and those who are at-risk of a developmental disability. Additionally, SCLARC has received ancillary program support funding from the Los Angeles County Department of Alcohol and Drugs, LA Care Health Plan, Inc., the Department of Developmental Services' Wellness Program, and private contributions. South Central Los Angeles Regional Center is committed to the provision of culturally and ethnically sensitive services which enable its stakeholders to lead more independent and productive lives.

"SCLARC is so proud of Legacy Plaza and we are indebted to our development partners who have worked with our agency to build a permanent home so we may continue to deliver the highest quality services to our stakeholders," said Lisa Sanchez, SCLARC Board President.

The Legacy Plaza Development team is comprised of a team of AE3 Partners, Steinberg Architects, Genesis LA, KSJ Contractors, Morgan Stanley and Primestor Development Inc.AE3 Partners is an integrated practice that provides architecture, engineering, construction management and real estate services. The company currently consists of a 17-person practice with offices in San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Kansas City and Atlanta. Their core practice areas include Civic and Commercial, educational, healthcare, infrastructure and Sustainable Design. Working in association with AE3 Partners, is Steinberg Architects a third-generation architectural firm founded in Silicon Valley with offices throughout California and China, which blends sustainable initiatives with a thoughtful, innovative approach to design. With a focus in public interest, education and urban mixed-use projects, we create environments that sculpt space and shape life.

Genesis LA brings capital and capacity to inner-city neighborhoods in Los Angeles County. As a real estate-based investor that directs its capital to projects where market-based financing is either inadequate or simply non-existent, Genesis LA has developed strategic partnerships that have allowed them to leverage more than $450 million of investments into nearly 40 projects KSJ Contractors is a full-service, minority-owned contractor specializing in infrastructure, retail, entertainment, educational, healthcare, parking, office, hospitality, and multi-family projects. With an emphasis on successfully managing a project's quality, schedule, and budget- KSJ is an industry leader.

Morgan Stanley has served as the preeminent financial advisor to companies, governments and investors from around the world since 1935. Morgan Stanley is committed to being a strong, reliable partner to our communities. As part of their commitment, they are focused on creating and preserving affordable housing, and promoting economic development and opportunity for individuals and neighborhoods in need. Primestor Development Ine 's expertise with assets under management, development and construction has been exemplified in its 25-year history. The firm oversees a diverse portfolio in excess of $450 million which includes residential units, office buildings, community retail centers, industrial properties, and open space.

Legacy Plaza will be a major office development constructed in the Historic West Adams Corridor. It is anticipated that the local economy will derive added benefit as a result of SCLARC's employee population base, stakeholder visitors to this location, and the commitment of SCLARC to help stimulate economic development in the community. Legacy Plaza will be utilized by community residents and business people alike. The visibility of Legacy Plaza in the Adams/Western Corridor will increase public awareness regarding special needs and give SCLARC added opportunity to outreach to the community while also reflecting the regional center's core values of fostering an open and inclusive environment.

If you would like to learn more about the Legacy Plaza project, visit www.friendsofsclarc.org.

LEGACY PLAZA PARTNERS Pictured, from left, are the Legacy Plaza development partners who have worked for five years to bring this exciting new construction and development project to fruition. The team includes Friends of SCALRC, Steinberg Architects, Primestor Development Inc., Genesis LA, AE3,KSJ, Community Impact Development II and South Central Los Angeles Regional Center