Who says L.A. doesn't have an active downtown? (Los Angeles: home, live)

[Lafferty Daniel]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

Your pictures really tell the story. LA has one of the most beautiful downtowns in the US. This has been the case for many years and it keeps getting better and better........ looking. There just aren't many people there, day or night, except Mexicans, many of whom are probably illegal. It has been said many times before but LA's true downtown is still Beverly Hills.

I thought it was Century City?

And do you have any proof that there aren't many people Downtown....especially in the daytime? Same goes for your illegal comment, do you have proof? Thanks.

[SlowMotionApocalypse]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

just wait till the sun goes down

Yeah, if I get out of a place further south I still prefer to walk to Temple and Hill to catch the bus. Bright as day.

[BluSpark]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

Your pictures really tell the story. LA has one of the most beautiful downtowns in the US. This has been the case for many years and it keeps getting better and better........ looking. There just aren't many people there, day or night, except Mexicans, many of whom are probably illegal. It has been said many times before but LA's true downtown is still Beverly Hills.

Actually, I think you came up with that one.

I have heard it said before that: 1) LA has multiple Downtowns; or 2)that WILSHIRE BLVD is LA's "Main Street".

That said, you sound like you poked your head out on Broadway and jumped back in your car as you headed back to BH or wherever you came. I think JETHRO needs to get back downtown because he's not very informed.

The Downtown Business Improvement District did a study of downtown's demographics in 2008. As of 2008, there were about 40,000 residents in downtown (about twice the number in 2000).

http://www.downtownla.com/files/DCBI...ve-Summary.pdf

Moreover, the ethnic breakdown of the new residents of downtown according to the study:

-White (Non-Latino): 53.8%
-Asian/Pac. Islander: 20.9%
-Latino: 17.4%
-Black: 8.3%

Also, the EDUCATION level of downtown residents is 78% with a bachelor's degree or higher, far higher than the Countywide average (of about 25% or so).

True, downtown LA is very much still a work in progress, esp. compared to other 24/7 downtowns in other cities. Downtown LA currently has 40,000 residents but it probably has the capacity for 80,000 residents (or even more).

The good news is that even in this bad economy MORE people are moving in and new buildings are leasing up. So in due time, more and more blocks of downtown will become active with residents and supporting retail.

[fatmancomics]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

Your pictures really tell the story. LA has one of the most beautiful downtowns in the US. This has been the case for many years and it keeps getting better and better........ looking. There just aren't many people there, day or night, except Mexicans, many of whom are probably illegal. It has been said many times before but LA's true downtown is still Beverly Hills.

Beverly Hills has always been boring. Nothing to do there except walk around, shop and eat. Anything more fun requires you to go to the surrounding cities like Hollywood or Century City.

While I grant you that most of the people in the downtown area are hispanic during the day (hey, what can I tell you, we're addicted to cheap retail), downtown at night is extremely different that it was 10 years ago. The saying used to be "there's nothing to do downtown after 5 o' clock" and you would only find fun and interesting things in the downtown area if you were "in the know". I can tell you stories of a few out of this world parties that I went to in the artist district back in the late 90s and early 00s or of some great bars I found hidden in China Town.

Now there are more and more interesting restaurants and bars downtown and you have places that have always been there like the Music Center along with new ones like LA Live.

Knock downtown all you want but this isn't the movies and Beverly Hills has never been as vibrant as Pretty Woman or Beverly Hills Cop made it out to be.

By the way, don't bother responding to my post. It's not here for you but for the folks who want to keep the LA forums positive.

[majoun]

Originally Posted by bryson662001

Your pictures really tell the story. LA has one of the most beautiful downtowns in the US. This has been the case for many years and it keeps getting better and better........ looking. There just aren't many people there, day or night, except Mexicans, many of whom are probably illegal. It has been said many times before but LA's true downtown is still Beverly Hills.

How long has it been since you've been in downtown L.A.? There are MANY people there now at all hours.

Beverly Hills has NEVER been a "true downtown" or anything like it, perhaps Century City or the Sunset Strip both of which are next to Beverly Hills but not BH itself, but neither one would be considered a "downtown" IMO. And, coincidentally, downtown is the new Strip, given that the Strip has descended into being a dull upscale tourist trap.

[bryson662001]

To all those who criticized my post: What do you think I just make this stuff up to push your buttons? I only speak from personal observations after numerous trips through downtown (although the last time I brought an out of town visitor they noticed it right away) Otherwise how would I know how beautiful it actually is? As for the BH comment I read it years ago in LA magazine but thought it made a lot of sense, then and now. L.A. has much to be proud of and no place is perfect but wearing blinders really doesn't accomplish anything.

[BRinSM]

downtown la is definitely an activity center for the city and region, but as someone else mentioned, it is one of many. beverly hills has a nice little downtown in the 'golden triangle', but i've never heard anyone mention it as the true downtown of la.

[MathieuL]

Great pictures

[Bunjee]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

downtown la is definitely an activity center for the city and region, but as someone else mentioned, it is one of many. beverly hills has a nice little downtown in the 'golden triangle', but i've never heard anyone mention it as the true downtown of la.

Even downtown has different "downtowns" so when I hear people speaking broadly about its lack I wonder what part they went to, or if they just cruised past Disney Hall and thereafter deem themselves experts.

[Curmudgeon]

I'm impressed. It ain't New York but it looks a lot better than I remember from the last time I was there over 15 years ago. Add to that the significant drop in violent crime and L.A. appears to be on the mend, despite the lousy economy. Good to see!