Urban Alchemy / 1710 North Cherokee Avenue, Suite A / Crisis and Incident Response through Community-led Engagement (CIRCLE) Program / Lease Agreement

Council File 26-1327

Under review — the city is working to secure a new lease space for Urban Alchemy's CIRCLE program, which provides unarmed response services for unhoused individuals. The proposal is currently with the Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee.

Introduced: 2026-09-15
Last changed: 2026-09-15
Status: open
Expires: 2028-09-15
Committee: Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee
Mover: HUGO SOTO-MARTÍNEZ
Second: MONICA RODRIGUEZ
References: Related Council File: 21-0875

Brief

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez introduced a motion on September 15, 2026, to authorize a lease agreement between the City of Los Angeles and Urban Alchemy for a Crisis and Incident Response through Community-led Engagement (CIRCLE) program at 1710 North Cherokee Avenue, Suite A. The motion was seconded by Monica Rodriguez and referred to the Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee, where it remains pending. The file relates to an earlier matter (Council File 21-0875) and is set to expire in September 2028.

Full summary

The CIRCLE program is the City's full-time unarmed response service, deploying trained teams to handle calls related to unhoused individuals. Launched as a pilot in January 2022, the program has expanded citywide. Urban Alchemy, the nonprofit currently running CIRCLE, previously operated out of Suite B at the City-owned retail space within the 1710 N. Cherokee Ave parking structure under a no-cost lease that expired on March 31, 2026, when their service contract ended. To continue providing CIRCLE services, Urban Alchemy needs a new lease at the same location. This motion, introduced by Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez (13th District) and seconded by Councilmember Monica Rodriguez, directs the Department of General Services — with support from the City Attorney and the City Administrative Officer — to negotiate a new no-cost nonprofit lease with Urban Alchemy for Suite A rather than Suite B. Suite A is slightly larger than the previously occupied Suite B and is also vacant, giving the program the potential to expand its operations, provided that extensive renovations are not required. The motion was referred to the Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee on September 15, 2026, where it currently sits pending review. This file is linked to Council File 21-0875, which appears to represent the original CIRCLE program authorization. No further committee or Council action has been recorded to date. The file expires in September 2028 if not acted upon.

Activity (1)

2026-09-15 Motion referred to Arts, Parks, and City Facilities Committee.

Documents (1)

2026-09-15 Motion · motion

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