The LGBTQ+ Cultural District can receive lights, plaques, murals and more within two years.
Long Beach has completed its visioning process for the creation of the LGBTQ+ Cultural District, and the City Council voted Tuesday to move into the implementation phase.
The City decided in June 2022 to designate the Broadway corridor from Alamitos to Temple Avenues as an LGBTQ+ Cultural District to honor the historical significance the LGBTQ community has had in that area. The district will also serve to support LGBTQ-owned businesses and ensure the community continues to thrive, according to staff reports.
“I’m so glad to be part of a council who embraces our LGBTQ+ community because that’s not so in a lot of the cities …’ Councilmember Mary Zendejas said. “I think this particular corridor has been our LGBTQ+ Cultural District for a very very long time … but with this we’re actually making it official and that really excites me.’
With $1 million of Measure A funds already set aside, the Community Development Department has identified short and long-term goals to begin implementing in the area:
Actions that can be taken within 1-2 years:
- String lights across the streets
- Historical plaques
- Educational concrete murals
- Artistic murals
- Neon wall art
- Street light post banners
Actions that can be taken within 2-4 years, but require additional funding from other departments:
- $450,000 worth of street trees that can be planted every 20 to 30 feet for a 1-mile stretch along Broadway
- Bike parking
Actions that the City needs additional resources and funding for:
- Decorative crosswalks
- Utility box wrap art
- Facade uplighting
- Additional pedestrian lights
- Gateway signage
- A historical monument
These ideas were gathered over the past year and a half through community meetings, town halls, meetings with business owners and advisory committees. City staff also collected over 1,000 responses from residents, the majority of which identified as part of the LGBTQ community.
Other features suggested by the community includes gateways on both ends of the district, art installations, safe bike routes, fruit trees and more business development to fill up empty retail buildings, either in the form of a permanent business or rotating temporary pop-ups.
Community Development Director Christopher Koontz said City staff will create a historical context statement to help prioritize what parts of Long Beach’s LGBTQ history will be highlighted through the plaques.
I feel like we’re in a growing phase right now in Long Beach where we’re giving real identities and adding in the history of who we are and where we come from into these places,” Councilmember Suely Saro said. “That’s why it’s so significant that we do have an LGBTQ Cultural District, it’s to be able to lift all that up.”
View the full LGBTQ+ Cultural District Strategic Improvement plan here.
