By Maria Patiño Gutierrez

October 23, 2025

This morning, the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA) voted to declare the former Bethune Public Library in South L.A. as surplus land. For decades, this 34,000-square-foot-parcel of land at 3685 S. Vermont Avenue has sat vacant and unused. The library building opened in 1975, but was demolished in 2010 when the branch was moved to nearby Expo Park. 

This morning’s decision opens the site up to be developed for much-needed affordable housing. The site is located in Council District 8, where 63% of residents spend over 30% of their income on housing and 39% of residents spend over half their income on housing.

SAJE, along with South L.A. community members and other members of the UNIDAD coalition, who have been fighting for this outcome for the past five years, were there to give public comments in support of a “yes” vote. As a result, the CRA/LA agreed to extend the length of the notice and negotiation periods for affordable housing developers interested in the site.

Here’s what happens next: 

• The CRA/LA will send out a notice of availability on January 2, 2026
• Affordable housing developers will have 120 days to reply (extending the typical 60-day period)
• Affordable housing developers will have 180 days to negotiate terms (extending the typical 90-day period)

We look forward to next steps, including ensuring the South L.A. community is involved in decision making around how this land is developed.

To read more about our fight to ensure Bethune is used for the public good, click here.