On Saturday February 29th, over 2,000 community residents, business owners, and artists came together to attend Destination Crenshaw's groundbreaking for the 1.3-mile-long "cultural experience" to celebrate Black Los Angeles along Crenshaw Blvd. The project will transform sidewalks, storefronts, and various other structures with permanent and rotating art installations. 10 pocket parks will also be introduced as part of the project in addition to culturally-themes street and landscaping interventions.

“Destination Crenshaw has been entirely driven by the community itself, and honors not just the neighborhood as a creative hub, but also Black L.A.’s impact on popular culture and social change. Our role as architects is to translate, through design, the very real, very significant voices and energy of Black L.A,” said Zena Howard, Lead Architect and Art Curator at Perkins and Will in a statement. 

This project will preserve over 200 years of Black history in Los Angeles. The 1.3 mile project is divided into four thematically-based sections. The first, at W. Slauson Ave, builds on the theme of "improvisation" and focuses on the resourcefulness of the community. Next, at 54th Street, the theme of "Firsts" honors past and present African-American pioneers. "Dreams" begins at 50th Street and celebrates the community's spatial identity. And lastly, at W Vernon Ave., the theme of "Togetherness" captures and highlights the area's important cultural infrastructure.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, actress Issa Rae, presented and spoke about her pride surrounding this project. Other major figures on the project team include owner of 1619 Exhibits Larry Earl; community activist Ron Finley; deputy director and chief curator of the California African American Museum, Naima Keith; and the late Nipsey Hussle. 

Additionally, Destination Crenshaw is working with Studio-MLA, MPR Group, RAW International, Bridge Street, Terry A. Hayes and Associates, and Artemis Events Company, all women and minority-owned organizations.