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If Detroit doesn't scare the believin' Jesus outta you, then you're on crack.
Completely ridiculous. People are (as usual per: here) using stereotypes and not actual experiences. Detroit does in fact have good bones, and it is rebounding a bit with some actually-smart programs that are drawing young professionals back into town. You won't get gunned down just for hanging out downtown for f'sakes. At the same time, Detroit's downtown right now is not in the same league as LA's in terms of foot traffic and energy. Detroit is no longer a true power broker in the way LA is currently, but the downtown could certainly rebound - so many beautiful buildings there in a unique arrangement.
Conversely, for the 2nd largest city in the most powerful country in the world, LA does in fact have an extremely disappointing downtown. Regardless of any and all factors that led to this, I have to seriously doubt any first-time visitors to the city would disagree.
Detroit: Devastated but on a slow rebound; great bones.
LA: Due to whatever factors, a very disappointing downtown; still a great American city, there are many factors outside of "skyline" that go into a great city.
For all of the uninformed posters that like to use stereotypes, downtown Detroit is not like it was even a few years ago. The occupancy rate for residential places downtown is at nearly 100%. The average rent has skyrocketed in and around downtown and so has the activity and amenities. Detroit is on a slow rebound, hopefully it will pick up steam after this bankruptcy is over.
On the other hand I've been hearing good things about downtown LA as well and it seemed pretty cool when I went a few years ago. But I expected more for a city as big as LA is.
But let's be real here, while Detroit and LA are both auto centric areas and had a reputation for having a disappointing downtown for their size which are now improving by large margins, were comparing downtown's where one metro area is 5.7 million and the other is 18 MILLION. This is as dumb of a comparison as downtown Chicago vs Manhattan, who do you think is going to win?
Library Bar would not even make my top 20 list of best bars in DTLA. Honestly, have you spent any time in DTLA in the past decade?
And 'palm trees'? If you spent 5 minutes here you'd know that unlike the rest of LA, downtown has mostly ficuses, not palms. With every sentence you type, you make it clearer that you're talking out of your rear.
In terms of LA Live, what did that have to do with our city planners? LA Live was a private venture on the part of AEG. Our planners had nothing do with it. And I don't think anyone here thinks its a substitute for a walkable, urban neighborhood. LA Live is a self contained entertainment and sports complex. For an authentic, walkable 24/7 neighborhood, you go to downtown's historic core. Everyone knows that.
But in terms of LA Live's catalytic effect, we could have done worse. There's now around $5 billion of highrise development in the pipeline that will fill in the gap between LA Live and the Historic Core. In 5 years, South Park is going to resemble downtown Vancouver and LA Live isn't going to be so separated from the more lively parts of DTLA.
In terms of what our planners are doing now that LA Live has been such a success: lots. Planning a streetcar line between LA Live and the Historic Core for one. They're also making the main drag past LA Live (Figueroa St) multimodal by removing auto lanes, widening the sidewalk, and adding cycletracks.
DistrictDirt, it appears the general premise of my post was lost on you. I'm not arguing that I am savant on LA, but I certainly know enough about it to make an informed opinion and post it on a message board. (and wtf do you care if I like the Library Bar? Do I have to sample the other 20 whatever bars to have credibility? That said, I'd like to know your other 20.)
Anyway, interesting information on LA Live. I did notice new infill on Figueroa. A streetcar line could work well, make the area more pedestrian friendly and make a better tie into the core. The streets surrounding LA Live (at least on two sides) are pretty busy and tough to traverse. I will say there seems to be a number of projects making LA a more enticing downtown area.
Completely ridiculous. People are (as usual per: here) using stereotypes and not actual experiences. Detroit does in fact have good bones, and it is rebounding a bit with some actually-smart programs that are drawing young professionals back into town. You won't get gunned down just for hanging out downtown for f'sakes. At the same time, Detroit's downtown right now is not in the same league as LA's in terms of foot traffic and energy. Detroit is no longer a true power broker in the way LA is currently, but the downtown could certainly rebound - so many beautiful buildings there in a unique arrangement.
Conversely, for the 2nd largest city in the most powerful country in the world, LA does in fact have an extremely disappointing downtown. Regardless of any and all factors that led to this, I have to seriously doubt any first-time visitors to the city would disagree.
Detroit: Devastated but on a slow rebound; great bones. LA: Due to whatever factors, a very disappointing downtown; still a great American city, there are many factors outside of "skyline" that go into a great city.
Nor does a "skyline" make a downtown. A downtown is made by great buildings with activity, etc.
Downtown LA is an interesting and unique urban core with multiple districts that appeal to a variety of sensibilities. Yes, it is a "work in progress" but it is far from disappointing.
I noticed over the past couple of years companies have been leaving the Detroit suburbs and moving to downtown Detroit. Quicken Loans moving 1500, Blue Cross Blue Shield moving 3400 employees downtown, Title Source moving 1500 employees along with quite a few others. Has anyone in Detroit noticed the impact these moves have done to downtown Detroit?
DTLA still has it's bad parts but com'on f-ing Detroit? Get real man.
The thing that is a joke here is that you have never been to Detroit, let alone recently, and feel free to give an opinion; although I guess you are not alone on this forum. since there are alot of people who sit by the computer giving opinions without having traveled to the places they are putting down.
Downtown Detroit has turned out to be fantastic, compared to what it was, and the architecture there is way more interesting than anything in downtown LA. Now you have ballparks in walking distance of the Greek town casinos, and the restaurants of Greek town and the general area, within walking distance of he river. I love to travel there to see the progress year to year, and am glad that there were so many votes for it on this post. That downtown is finally getting alot of traction, and I hope it keeps on going; I hope it can spread to the areas that need a complete overhaul.
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