The Watts House Project (WHP) is inspired by the iconic Watts Towers built by Simon Rodia and the history of the neighborhood in which they exist. WHP understands that art and architecture can play a fundamental role in community and economic development in the immediate Watts Towers community, and seeks to enact the shared visions of neighborhood families by:
+ focusing on the renovation of exis
ting housing, including the improvement of residential landscaping by partnering families with artists and architects
+ facilitating partnerships with existing city-wide resources to meet the needs of families in the project area
+ reducing the ecological footprint, maintenance and operating costs of area properties; and
+ attracting reinvestment in the Watts Tower neighborhood area
WHP does not dictate a vision for the neighborhood, but sees itself as an open conversation among creative professionals, families, and local stakeholders. WHP is a process for working with many disparate groups, and is primarily a connector and facilitator. Some immediate pressing concerns voiced by residents that WHP is currently addressing include eliminating parking obstacles that diminish financial resources; creating passive and active recreation spaces; and establishing spaces that attract and increase tourism that will financially benefit the community at large.
