in 2008, la city council approved a year long ban upon new fast food restaurants being built in south la. while intentions were good, the most important piece of the movement was clearly left out; replacing the potential fast food spaces with new health conscious options. the urban kitchen looks to remedy this missed opportunity by introducing a healthy eating centered, multi-use housing project, right along the fast food highway that is crenshaw blvd. through the three step process of growing, cooking, and dining, the project looks to serve as a tri-fold example of a healthy and sustainable future in the heart of the problem.
the first step of this process, growing, is addressed by "the garden lofts." the garden lofts contain 43 one bedroom units which feature individual planting spaces where residents will grow a variety of fruits and vegetables. this works to promote home gardening in a direct way as an every day activity, essential to a healthy, sustainable future. the complex also embraces its multi-unit nature, encouraging community through communal dining and cooking spaces.
the second step of this process, cooking, is addressed by "the urban kitchen." the urban kitchen consists of a small culinary school providing valuable education in healthy food preperation to people in the surrounding area, as well as a wing of housing. this wing is intended to house both resident cooks teaching at the urban kitchen, as well as those interested in further advancing their culinary development at the urban kitchen.
finally, the third step, dining, is addressed by "homegrown." homegrown is a cafe, serving the community and the increased pedestrian traffic brought forth by the new metro station adjacent to the site. homegrown looks to serve as a resource and example for healthy eating in a very practical way. the cafe will provide healthy dining options, largely utilizing produce grown on the urban kitchen campus, and will also house smaller reading spaces where customers can read information on healthy eating and other ways to develop a more healthy lifestyle.
