The City Council Friday is set to vote on a motion calling for the redevelopment of the former Lincoln Heights Jail to possibly create a mixed-use facility that would include housing.
Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who represents the 1st District, which includes Lincoln Heights, introduced the motion in May after a prior proposal for the property -- located at 401 N. Avenue 19 -- fell through.
The motion would direct relevant city departments to report back within 120 days to move forward with plans for the nearly 147,000 square-foot property, as well identify possible funding sources for the project.
Hernandez is also calling for community input to help form the plans.
Built in 1931, the former jail was designed to hold 625 people. It was decommissioned in 1965 due to overcrowding issues and maintenance costs.
Until 2014, the space was used to house city departments, as well as the Bilingual Foundation of the Arts, which supports Hispanic/Latino literary culture. An L.A. Department of Transportation yard on the property vacated the premises in the summer.
"As it stands now, the property is an environmental hazard, with immediate remediation efforts being required," the motion states. "It currently has lead in the ground, two tanks 30 feet below the ground level that contain petroleum ... and the interior contains asbestos."
The city has already conducted environmental assessments and other work over the last five years to remediate and assess the land. According to Hernandez's office, the city is in a "unique position" to redevelop the property with more community engagement and an "eye toward healing the environment and social harm" the building has brought to the Lincoln Heights community.
The council's three-member Trade, Travel and Tourism Committee, at its Oct. 3 meeting, recommended approval of the motion.
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