This collection documents work of the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (LBRDA) to promote economic renewal in local neighborhoods. The Agency was formed in 1961 and dissolved by state law in 2012.  The collection includes approximately 23,700 35mm slides as well as many photographic prints, negatives, digital files, oversized aerial photographs, maps, and documents.  These items show neighborhoods both before and after the completion of LBRDA projects. They portray changes in Downtown Long Beach, West Beach, Central Long Beach, the Poly High Neighborhood, North Long Beach, Bixby Knolls, Los Altos, the Westside, and in other parts of the city.

The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (LBRDA) was established in 1961 to promote economic renewal in local neighborhoods. Its work changed city streetscapes by altering various residential areas and commercial corridors. The City of Long Beach’s first focus of Redevelopment was the “Jungle,” an area of small apartments and motels built around 1900 along the beach, west of Downtown. Subsequent LBRDA projects included Downtown Long Beach, Long Beach Boulevard, Pine Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, the Westside, Central Long Beach, the Poly High School neighborhood, Los Altos, Bixby Knolls, North Long Beach, and “brownfields project” areas with industrial or petroleum pollution, among others. In short, the LBRDA’s work affected many areas of the City of Long Beach. The LBRDA was dissolved in 2012 through legislation by the State of California. At that time, it controlled 40% of the City’s land, and millions of property tax dollars.

Approximately 102 linear ft., 126 boxes + 4 drawers of oversized materials.

All requests for permission to publish photographs or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of the Historical Society of Long Beach. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Historical Society of Long Beach as the owner of the physical items, and does not include permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

There are no access restrictions on this collection.