Background

University of Southern California(USC) has been struggling with gentrification in surrounding neighborhood for decades. With such drastic contrast and social division between the school and local communities, USC tried to address it with $700 million worth of investment into purchasing and renovating an entire block into building a “USC Village” where restaurants and shops such as Trader Joes occupy first floors of dorm buildings. Although the school proposed that the Village will be available to both communities, the system of locking out everyone without a school ID after 9 pm caused the locals to still feel like intruders, and the goal of merging two communities did not resolve as expected.

My approach

My alternative proposal to alleviate the hostile atmosphere from gentrification surrounding USC would be to utilize a public space that is near the school. The Exposition Rose Garden has been one of the historic sites of gathering for the LA county since the 1900s, but it is now neglected and quiet. I proposed that the LA County replace the center fountain with a platform where student groups from USC Thornton School of Music could host weekly concerts with music genres that could appeal to the local demographic, mainly consisting of of Latin heritages to build a more passive and connection through common enjoyment between the neighborhood and the school community.