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Center City is almost certainly better (I've never been to Philly, but the town looks great). How could it not be? It has insane history, and it's the undisputed heart of the city. It's just that DTLA has such scary potential, it's hard not to get stoked. LA with a great downtown?!! Thats a sign of the end isn't it?
I've been VERY guarded in my optimism for the future of DTLA all of my life. However, I was Downtown LA Friday night for the opening of an exhibit at MOCA, part of the Pacific Standard Time collaboration. I go there all the time for work, but it had been awhile since my last evening visit. The increase in foot-traffic and establishments opened in just the last year was noticeable. This is even more surprising because this trend has continued through this crap economy. There's now an energy that has been missing for decades. I'm sure some reader of this will say he/she recently visited and it was Podunk. Others will say it'll never be "City X". Well, its not and never will be. But its arc over the over the last 10-20 years is simply amazing, particularly to someone acutely aware of the long-held, blind, suburbian fear of this particular downtown. Sometimes its the journey, not the destination, that brings excitement.
Downtown is poised for greatness. Projects like the Grand Avenue project, Farmers Field, the Figueroa Corridor and the Wilshire Tower (1250 ft skyscraper To be completed in 2015) will add even more credibility to the area. Once the economy improves, the place will explode.
Do you have any proposed pictures of the Grand Ave Project? How long will it take to be completed if you know? And once (if) the Wilshire Tower is built that'll be the tallest in L.A right?
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Originally Posted by 18Montclair
To live, Id pick an environment like Center City over an environment like Downtown LA. It is just a bit more refined to my personal taste. However Im very pleased to see all the positive improvements taking place in Downtown LA.
I agree with this.
To answer the question I'd have to go with (based off pictures alone) Center City. Even though I never went to Center City, yet, I can tell it's more urban. L.A, to me seem like a different type of urban. I haven't been to San Francisco yet either but I can tell it's more urban than L.A. at the core if anything. & this is solely off pictures so correct me if I'm wrong.
Just been to Philly once, the downtown reminds me of a more urban Downtown Boston. It seemed very livable, has all those historic landmarks, great amenities, we stayed in a great hotel.
To me, Downtown LA is much grittier particularly east of San Pedro St. As stated before, Farmer's Field, Downtown Connector and Expo Line, Grand Project will all really enhance the area. Also, the amazing stock of mid-rise office buildings (ever played LA Noire? Most of those buildings are still there man!) are just sitting there waiting to be re-used. By some stroke of luck LA didn't tear these buildings down, going against every idea they had in the 60s to 80s. They have some work to do and a bunch of them have cheap stores at street level retail (I actually don't know, are most of the buildings empty in the upper levels?) but some like Clifton's Cafeteria and The Orpheum have or are great landmarks and have been renovated. (Cliftons just closed to start remodeling)
Anyways, I voted LA cause I know more about it, plus it was losing But Philadelphia is better right now; in fifteen - twenty years, we'll see.
Downtown Los Angeles is very scary. I was walking the streets and everyone was looking at me like they wanted to rob me. Remind me next time to ditch the Gucci and raid a salvation army consignment bin the next time business brings me back to that dump again.
Do you have something against people who shop at consignment stores? Get off your high horse.
To me, Downtown LA is much grittier particularly east of San Pedro St. As stated before, Farmer's Field, Downtown Connector and Expo Line, Grand Project will all really enhance the area. Also, the amazing stock of mid-rise office buildings (ever played LA Noire? Most of those buildings are still there man!) are just sitting there waiting to be re-used. By some stroke of luck LA didn't tear these buildings down, going against every idea they had in the 60s to 80s.
My understanding is those blocks remained intact because the city fathers and the investors who owned them decided to relocate the financial district to Bunker Hill, and razed the Victorians there instead. The destruction of that residential area was a loss (and largely motivated by antipathy to the brown people and native americans living there), but it also spared the old financial core.
Last edited by kidphilly; 10-05-2011 at 01:48 PM..
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Wish I spent more time in CC
But Philadelphia is better right now; in fifteen - twenty years, we'll see.
