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Oh, thanks for clearing that up. I really thought Downtown LA was dead.
Aside from the office areas during work hours and Broadway and the Fashion District on weekends during the day, it really was dead until just a few years ago. 6 years ago you could be downtown on a Saturday night and very few businesses would be open. A few restaurants would be open, but you probably wouldn't see people walking to them. But even then downtown was undergoing a renaissance. I posted in this thread last year about how much things had changed and it's only continued since then. Everything is open, people are walking everywhere, young people, older people, restaurants, bars, retail, etc. Anyone that was last in downtown 2 or 3 years ago would hardly recognize it. It's been quite drastic.
And if anything the pace is picking up. It's still not on the level of more well-known (and in some cases less well-known) downtowns, but it really could be in just a few more years. I never would have believed it.
Aside from the office areas during work hours and Broadway and the Fashion District on weekends during the day, it really was dead until just a few years ago. 6 years ago you could be downtown on a Saturday night and very few businesses would be open. A few restaurants would be open, but you probably wouldn't see people walking to them. But even then downtown was undergoing a renaissance. I posted in this thread last year about how much things had changed and it's only continued since then. Everything is open, people are walking everywhere, young people, older people, restaurants, bars, retail, etc. Anyone that was last in downtown 2 or 3 years ago would hardly recognize it. It's been quite drastic.
And if anything the pace is picking up. It's still not on the level of more well-known (and in some cases less well-known) downtowns, but it really could be in just a few more years. I never would have believed it.
The thing that always held DTLA back was the overwhelming latino vendors and shoppers and add in drug addicts/bums and no one from the westside or "more affluent" areas ever wanted to come down to DTLA. DTLA was never dead it just didn't have any "affluent desirability", now that's all changing and now the yuppies are starting to move in and the homeless are getting chased away by the lapd in to south central, gentrification at its best, however when every corner has a starbucks, pinkberry, and a gap it will make it very generic so be cautious what you wish for
Aside from the office areas during work hours and Broadway and the Fashion District on weekends during the day, it really was dead until just a few years ago. 6 years ago you could be downtown on a Saturday night and very few businesses would be open. A few restaurants would be open, but you probably wouldn't see people walking to them. But even then downtown was undergoing a renaissance. I posted in this thread last year about how much things had changed and it's only continued since then. Everything is open, people are walking everywhere, young people, older people, restaurants, bars, retail, etc. Anyone that was last in downtown 2 or 3 years ago would hardly recognize it. It's been quite drastic.
And if anything the pace is picking up. It's still not on the level of more well-known (and in some cases less well-known) downtowns, but it really could be in just a few more years. I never would have believed it.
I thought Downtown LA wasn't vibrant. (According to what I've heard from the people that live in LA)
Its not. Atleast not after work hours. I've been to LA more than a few times. Judging the vibrancy of a city by google map images is fools gold as LA and Houston do not have the same climate. A great percentage of people and workers in DT Houston use the tunnels to escape the heat and humidity. Ofcourse, these thousands of people won't show up on random google searches. The first time on business in LA; I opted to stay downtown it was a major let down. IMO, DT Houston is similar to DT LA but Houston is far more vibrant when it comes to downtown nightlife. Theres more to do and see.
The thing that always held DTLA back was the overwhelming latino vendors and shoppers and add in drug addicts/bums and no one from the westside or "more affluent" areas ever wanted to come down to DTLA. DTLA was never dead it just didn't have any "affluent desirability", now that's all changing and now the yuppies are starting to move in and the homeless are getting chased away by the lapd in to south central, gentrification at its best, however when every corner has a starbucks, pinkberry, and a gap it will make it very generic so be cautious what you wish for
Its not. Atleast not after work hours. I've been to LA more than a few times. Judging the vibrancy of a city by google map images is fools gold as LA and Houston do not have the same climate. A great percentage of people and workers in DT Houston use the tunnels to escape the heat and humidity. Ofcourse, these thousands of people won't show up on random google searches. The first time on business in LA; I opted to stay downtown it was a major let down. IMO, DT Houston is similar to DT LA but Houston is far more vibrant when it comes to downtown nightlife. Theres more to do and see.
There must be some serious vibrancy in Houston's tunnels then.
I stand by what I said, I am not contradicting myself because what I meant by held back is the negative stereotype DTLA had and though it was a very grimy, gritty, drug infested area for the most part everything back then was one of a kind, mom and pops, not so much chains, that's what I am going to miss, I remember having to weed out the imitation to get the good bargains on genuine merchandise, buying illegal weaponry such as ninja stars, weed pipes and bongs, these are the type of things that get lost when gentrification happens, what once took $50 to buy some nice pants at a bargain and a meal for 2 will eventually turn in to $150, I'm all for DTLA becoming more desirable for everyone but some of that "I wonder what I will find today" mystique will be gone.
It is. At night I find dt LA way more vibrant than dt Houston. One big reason; many more dt residents. Along Spring, Hill and Main there are many condos/apts with bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and night clubs with more on the way. I've also notice things like pet stores, dvd rental/sales store, a new fancy liquor store, Bigman Bakes Cupcakes and the new Artisan House restaurant and market. Along 7th new restaurants and even new retail stores have popped up with more coming soon signs. To the southend we have LA Live which is pretty live most if not every night. To the north is the Music Center where you can see a play, the opera or the LA Philharmonic. And during the summer live latin music and salsa dancing in front of the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion on Friday and Saturday nights. Next to Disney Hall the new Broad Museum of Modern Art will open next year. Grand Performances at California Plaza has free concerts under the stars in the summer. Did I mention all the downtown subway stations with a new line opening in a couple of weeks? Broadway is a diamond in the rough and after decades of swap meet junk is finally seeing new life with at least 6 new restaurants coming and a new Ross is coming to the old Woolworth building. That's all for now.
It is. At night I find dt LA way more vibrant than dt Houston. One big reason; many more dt residents. Along Spring, Hill and Main there are many condos/apts with bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and night clubs with more on the way. I've also notice things like pet stores, dvd rental/sales store, a new fancy liquor store, Bigman Bakes Cupcakes and the new Artisan House restaurant and market. Along 7th new restaurants and even new retail stores have popped up with more coming soon signs. To the southend we have LA Live which is pretty live most if not every night. To the north is the Music Center where you can see a play, the opera or the LA Philharmonic. And during the summer live latin music and salsa dancing in front of the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion on Friday and Saturday nights. Next to Disney Hall the new Broad Museum of Modern Art will open next year. Grand Performances at California Plaza has free concerts under the stars in the summer. Did I mention all the downtown subway stations with a new line opening in a couple of weeks? Broadway is a diamond in the rough and after decades of swap meet junk is finally seeing new life with at least 6 new restaurants coming and a new Ross is coming to the old Woolworth building. That's all for now.
I've never been in Houston before, all I know is that from pictures I have seen it looks very spread out and not much pedestrian activity, it does have some nice skyscrapers though
It is. At night I find dt LA way more vibrant than dt Houston. One big reason; many more dt residents. Along Spring, Hill and Main there are many condos/apts with bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and night clubs with more on the way. I've also notice things like pet stores, dvd rental/sales store, a new fancy liquor store, Bigman Bakes Cupcakes and the new Artisan House restaurant and market. Along 7th new restaurants and even new retail stores have popped up with more coming soon signs. To the southend we have LA Live which is pretty live most if not every night. To the north is the Music Center where you can see a play, the opera or the LA Philharmonic. And during the summer live latin music and salsa dancing in front of the Dorothy Chandler Pavillion on Friday and Saturday nights. Next to Disney Hall the new Broad Museum of Modern Art will open next year. Grand Performances at California Plaza has free concerts under the stars in the summer. Did I mention all the downtown subway stations with a new line opening in a couple of weeks? Broadway is a diamond in the rough and after decades of swap meet junk is finally seeing new life with at least 6 new restaurants coming and a new Ross is coming to the old Woolworth building. That's all for now.
The Regional Connector's environmental documents were released early and are now in the public comment stage: Executive Summary Part1 of 3
This bodes well for the quick construction (I believe 2018 is the goal) and will add 4 more subway stops downtown. This will establish downtown as an even stronger transit center and allow for one seat trips from East LA to Santa Monica and Long Beach to Pasadena.
Other exciting transit news is that with the building of the One Santa Fe mixed use complex in the Arts District, the Red Line will be extended to the East Side of downtown. It's a part of the city I have really wanted to explore but there are no transit options that are time efficient enough, but once this gets put in I will definitely check it out.
There is no doubt that it is exciting times for downtown LA.
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