Before his death in March, Hussle has plans for an opportunity zone investment fund that would ensure the community wouldn’t lose out in the development process.

Angel Jennings reports on rapper Nipsey Hussle’s plans for economic development in South Los Angeles. In March, Hussle was killed in front of his clothing store and the building he had purchased with David Gross, his development partner, in the Hyde Park neighborhood.
Jennings says Hussle and Gross wanted to take advantage of the federal opportunity zones tax benefits to spur projects in Hyde Park:
The tax incentive that Gross and Hussle were planning to tap was promoted by [Sen. Tim] Scott and included in President Trump’s 2017 overhaul of the federal tax code. It offers potentially large tax breaks to investors who are willing to pour much needed capital into rebuilding poor and sometimes up-and-coming communities that have been designated as "opportunity zones."
Critics have argued that the status of some designated opportunity zones as economically disadvantaged is questionable. In addition, advocates are concerned about the gentrification and displacement effects of these investments. Hussle's plan sought to address these issues through partnerships with community organizations and city leaders to ensure local residents benefited from development in the area.
Hussle, who grew up in South Los Angeles, was behind several development projects, including a co-working space and STEM center. When Hyde Park was designated an opportunity zone, he worked with Gross on a plan for the neighborhood, writes Jennings:
Hussle and Gross wanted to build on the L-shape strip mall — home of the Marathon Clothing — which they bought in January. They were going to add 80 units of apartments and condos on top of shops with healthy food options. Like with the larger investment fund, the duo wanted to make their neighbors their business partners. They were going to set aside 20% of the housing units for residents of the neighborhood, and invest with them so they could own their homes, Gross said.
Before Hussle's death, he and Gross had started meeting with lawmakers and investors about the "Our Opportunity" investment fund. "The plan was to crowdfund from each community and give residents an ownership stake in every project created in their neighborhood," says Jennings.
FULL STORY: Nipsey Hussle had a plan to beat gentrification — in South L.A. and across the U.S.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie