James Butts is committed to turning Inglewood around, with economic investment and property development now on the rise.
Working to realize his vision of the city as a business-friendly entertainment hub that will one day attract tech campuses, Mayor Butts has successfully brought major players to the table—after just three years in office and with the recession barely in hindsight. The historic Inglewood Forum venue has undergone a $100 million renovation and is now operated by Madison Square Garden. An ambitious residential development is in progress, and proposals are under consideration for a significant TOD site. Rumors suggest that an NFL team may relocate to Inglewood.
Mayor Butts discussed the significance of these projects with The Planning Report, explaining how attracting entertainment anchors and encouraging development fit into broader efforts to spur job growth and reduce crime.
Butts noted: "Right now, the City of Inglewood is exploiting its blessings, combined with something that comes along very rarely: a unified government that gets it. Business is not something to be reviled and taken advantage of, but is a necessary component of a prosperous city—meaning, prosperous for the residents."
FULL STORY: A Success Story: Inglewood Mayor James Butts
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UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
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Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research