Meet our BID

Our mission is to improve the quality of life of residents, property and business owners in Downtown LA’s Historic Core through clean, safe, and enterprise programs.

The Historic Core is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in the City of Los Angeles.

Our community is made up of nearly 1:1 market rate and low income housing. The Historic Core was the epicenter of residential growth during the early 2000s with the adaptive reuse ordinance, where previously abandoned or underutilized office and manufacturing was converted to housing. Along with the new units, under the 2005 Residential Hotel Ordinance, thousands of units of low income and permanent supportive housing were preserved.

What we do

We partner with Block by Block, is commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant community, one block at a time. Through grassroots efforts, neighborhood events, and collaborative projects, we aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where residents, business owners, and visitors alike can thrive.

 

These dedicated men and women work diligently every day sweeping, emptying trash, and ​washing down sidewalks. Often the first to notice local problems like graffiti, illegal dumping, and ​maintenance deficiencies,​ their ​concern​ for the community is invaluable.

The Historic Downtown Farmers Market was developed and launched in 2012 by the HCBID as Downtown’s first weekend farmers market. It ensures locals have easy, affordable access to healthy food while creating a public space for the community to gather on Sunday mornings. Our market is the only one to offer EBT, and we also host a Market Match program for qualified recipients, which has broken records for engagement.

We provide beautification services with public parklets, planters, decorations, and other street amenities. We host community-based forums whereby the residents and small businesses educate themselves on citywide programs, initiatives, laws, and concerns, and ultimately, have a voice in local issues which affect them. We host neighborhood watch walks with local law enforcement. This year (2016) we opened Downtown’s first ground floor visitor’s center. Ultimately, our vendors and service personnel strive each and every day to serve as outreach for those in need, and ambassadors to a beautifully diverse and rapidly growing district.

Patrol Solutions supplies the Historic Core with a conscientious team of officers trained to patrol by bike, foot beat, and segway. They serve the community 24 hours a day every day by often being first responders and liaisons between the community and other city agencies. We also have personnel dedicated to outreach purposes to local unsheltered people. Considering the number of service providers just blocks from our district, it makes sense to coordinate with non-profit experts in the field.

Our 24-hour hotline is 213-239-8336.

Trespassing form: shorturl.at/npQWY

We provide some of the most sophisticated and popular marketing and social media in Downtown. Our focus is art, culture, fashion, retail, food , beverage, hospitality, and numerous special events that highlight our district.​ Find us @historiccore.

Best Business Improvement District, 2014
LA Downtown News Best of Downtown

Best Farmers Market, Runner-up, 2014
LA Downtown News Best of Downtown

Public Space Use Merit Award, 2014
International Downtown Association

Best Business Improvement District, 2013
LA Downtown News Best of Downtown

Best Business Improvement District, 2012
LA Downtown News Best of Downtown

Civilian of the Year, 2014 (Blair Besten, Executive Director)
Los Angeles Police Department

California State Award, 2013 (Blair Besten, Executive Director)
California Peace Officers Association

What we do

Renewal

Clean Team

We partner with Chrysalis, a non profit dedicated to employing individuals w​h​o​ may have suffered from chronic homelessness or other economic disadvantages.​ ​ These dedicated men and women work diligently every day sweeping, emptying trash, and ​washing down sidewalks. Often the first to notice local problems like graffiti, illegal dumping, and ​maintenance deficiencies,​ their ​concern​ for the community is invaluable.

Community Support

The Historic Downtown Farmers Market was developed and launched in 2012 by the HCBID as Downtown’s first weekend farmers market. It ensures locals have easy, affordable access to healthy food while creating a public space for the community to gather on Sunday mornings. Our market is the only one to offer EBT, and we also host a Market Match program for qualified recipients, which has broken records for engagement.

We provide beautification services with public parklets, planters, decorations, and other street amenities. We host community-based forums whereby the residents and small businesses educate themselves on citywide programs, initiatives, laws, and concerns, and ultimately, have a voice in local issues which affect them. We host neighborhood watch walks with local law enforcement. In 2016 we opened Downtown’s first ground floor visitor’s center. Ultimately, our vendors and service personnel strive each and every day to serve as outreach for those in need, and ambassadors to a beautifully diverse and rapidly growing district.

Public Safety

Safety Solutions supplies the Historic Core with a conscientious team of officers trained to patrol by bike, foot beat, and segway. They serve the community 24 hours a day every day by often being first responders and liaisons between the community and other city agencies. We also have personnel dedicated to outreach purposes to local unsheltered people. Considering the number of service providers just blocks from our district, it makes sense to coordinate with non-profit experts in the field.

Our 24-hour hotline is 213-239-8336.

Awards

Best Business Improvement District, 2014
LA Downtown News Best of Downtown

Best Farmers Market, Runner-up, 2014
LA Downtown News Best of Downtown

Public Space Use Merit Award, 2014
International Downtown Association

Best Business Improvement District, 2013
LA Downtown News Best of Downtown

Best Business Improvement District, 2012
LA Downtown News Best of Downtown

Civilian of the Year, 2014 (Blair Besten, Executive Director)
Los Angeles Police Department

California State Award, 2013 (Blair Besten, Executive Director)
California Peace Officers Association

Our People

Executive Director

Blair Besten
[email protected]

Administrative & Marketing Coordinator

Zina Brown
[email protected]

Boris Mayzels
President
Barnes Enterprises

Richard Shamooilian
Vice President
King’s Arch

Cedd Moses
Secretary
Pouring with Heart

Kayce Hawk
Treasurer
Rising Realty Partners

Marcus Brown
Broadway Innovation House

Eric Schomof
Shomof Group

Paul Su
Bemans

Micael Hellen
Downtown Management

Ryan Afari
Broadway & 8th Investments

Hamid Behdad
CCDG

Neighborhood Promotion

We provide some of the most sophisticated and popular marketing and social media in Downtown. Our focus is art, culture, fashion, retail, food , beverage, hospitality, and numerous special events that highlight our district.​ Find us @historiccore.

District Boundaries

Our People

Executive Director

Blair Besten
[email protected]

Operations Manager

Jose Pacheco
[email protected]

Administrative & Marketing Coordinator

Zina Brown
[email protected]

Board of Directors

President

Boris Mayzels
Barnes Enterprises

Vice President

Richard Shamooilian
King’s Arch

Secretary

Cedd Moses
Pouring with Heart

Treasurer

Kayce Hawk
Rising Realty Partners

Michael Delijani
Delson Company

Eric Schomof
Shomof Group

Paul Su
Bemans

Michael Hellen
Downtown Management

Hamid Behdad
CCDG

Nejdeh Avedian
Los Angeles United Investment Company

Marcus Brown
Broadway Innovation House