Whats Wrong With Downtown L.A. (Los Angeles, San Jose: apartments, construction, subsidized)

[CamaroGuy]

Originally Posted by yowps3

Unlike other cities, downtown LA is not the core of Los Angeles.. LA is a vast city..

Quite true.

[K 22]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

The O.P. was not referring to the Skid Row area. He/She referred to the Bradbury Building in another post later in the thread. The area referenced was Broadway and Historic Core in general.

Spring Street between roughly 3rd and 8th has been completely transformed. Not many vacant buildings there anymore. 24/7 activity is becoming the norm.

Broadway is SLOWLY getting fixed up with new investments in the old building stock. Give it another 5 years and it will start to look a lot nicer.

I was thinking about this the other day.

Is that huge empty lot at around 2nd and Hill still there? Are there any plans for it yet?

I'm asking because that would make for a pretty nice multi-use development - especially with the downtown light rail subway coming (there's going to be a stop at 2nd and Broadway) and you can have a possible connection to the existing subway station at 1st and Hill.

[SalParadise]

I believe that site (2nd and Broadway) is owned by the U.S. Government. It has been a proposed site of a new federal courthouse in downtown LA for YEARS. But the last I heard the Republican leadership in congress wanted to sell the site to the highest bidder.

Federal courthouse plan in Los Angeles meets opposition - Los Angeles Times

The builiding across the street is attempting to get approvals for more bars/restaurants and creative office space (including recording studios).
Big Dreams for the North End of Broadway :: blogdowntown

[SalParadise]

As was mentioned before, Clifton's cafeteria on Broadway near 7th is undergoing a $2.5 million dollar renovation including a new bar on the 3rd floor.

The Fiagaro french bistro in Los Feliz is planning to open a new bistro on Broadway near 6th Street in this gem of a historic building.
Historic Broadway Cafeteria to be Revived as French Bistro :: blogdowntown

Aslo, a Famima store (the Japanese-based "upscale" 7-11 style convenience store) will be opening on Broadway (near 5th) in 2012.

Positive changes are already on their way.

[NYTraveler1983]

What are the safe areas to live in DLA? (if there are any)

[nslander]

Originally Posted by SalParadise

I believe that site (2nd and Broadway) is owned by the U.S. Government. It has been a proposed site of a new federal courthouse in downtown LA for YEARS. But the last I heard the Republican leadership in congress wanted to sell the site to the highest bidder.

I believe the footprint for the site was determined to be too small to accommodate a Federal Courthouse. Federal buildings have long been designed to have considerable set-backs, well before the OKC bombing.

[JohnG72]

Originally Posted by NYTraveler1983

What are the safe areas to live in DLA? (if there are any)

Almost all of it.

[SalParadise]

Originally Posted by nslander

I believe the footprint for the site was determined to be too small to accommodate a Federal Courthouse. Federal buildings have long been designed to have considerable set-backs, well before the OKC bombing.

I didn't realize that. That site is approx. 3.7 acres so i am surprised that is not big enough for an urban courthouse.

With the donwotn connector coming as well as the current momentum on broadway, the site would generate a lot of interest from private developer's for a mixed-use project.

[rack of lamb]

Originally Posted by yowps3

Unlike other cities, downtown LA is not the core of Los Angeles.. LA is a vast city..

That's so true, but it's like a very, very glamourous version of San Jose with a beach, glamour and a nice skyline. It could've been worst: San Jose, Calif!

[yowps3]

Originally Posted by rack of lamb

That's so true, but it's like a very, very glamourous version of San Jose with a beach, glamour and a nice skyline. It could've been worst: San Jose, Calif!

San Jose is good place to live..