How long do you think it'll take until Downtown LA is "solid"? (San Diego: hotels, neighborhood)

[destroycreate]

What I mean by that is no more gaps in development, shoddy areas, or huge parking lots interrupting the walking experience. Do you think in the next 10 years we'll see DTLA something more like Downtown SF, with consistent development and vibrance? Or do you think it'll always be a somewhat so-so area?

[Paranormal Chaser]

I’d say another 3 decades. DTLA can feel dead and empty on weekends when there isn’t any major event going on. Even on weekdays after working hours. There’s still a feeling of this city being car orientated suburbia. Most of the time the light rail system here takes 3 times longer than if you were to drive. Also the metro area is so sprawled out that it’s impossible to cover every single job center and residential neighborhood. And then there’s Skidrow which is another story completely however that will always haunt downtown.

I’m a millennial Angeleno and everyone I know can’t wait to save up for a car and begin driving. Those who take public transportation usually do so because they finanally can not afford the various expenses to own and maintain an automobile.

If DTLA could merge with Koreatown along Wilshire and cap those freeways, that’d be great. Like I said I think we’re still 30 years off until that point. Sleepy downtown San Diego has a better chance of becoming ultra dense at a more rapid pace due to ocean geographic boundaries and the hills on the opposite side forcing development to be dense.

[Pro1000]

7-8 more years in my opinion.. I've been to downtown Chicago, Manhattan, SF, etc. And even in those cities not every block is teaming with people, shops, restaurants, bars, etc. Yes those are world class downtowns especially Chicago and Manhattan but its like with DTLA people expect every nook, cranny, and every block has to be phenomenal in every aspect of urban vitality overnight. Yes the homeless situation needs to improve and there needs to be more affordable housing for the middle class but DTLA is definitively on its way. Also these other major cities with exceptional downtowns don't have competition from a Hollywood, Santa Monica, West LA, Century City, Culver City, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, etc.

[ryanst530]

Downtown could go away completely and I'd be happy.

If I want tall buildings and "urban vitality" I'd go to SF, Chicago, or NY...

[jm1982]

The big issue is skid row being right there . All the SRO buildings are zoned for SRO permanently . I don’t see the missions going anywhere either . As long as you have such a high concentration of homeless with the number growing I don’t see things changing for the better in terms of sketchiness .
Only way I see things changing would be some big policy change but I don’t see that maybe for decades if ever .

The homeless problem in SF is pretty bad as well it’s a big issue and some of the candidates for mayor have been talking about taking a more aggressive approach.

L.A is a different type of city than SF as SF is tiny .

It’s 47 Square miles while L.A is 503 . NYC with all the boroughs is 304 and Manhattan is 22.82

[saybanana]

Currently it is really hard to predict. I wouldnt count in the next 10 years. Way too soon. Maybe 20 years.
There are way too many parking lots and too little local population to make it connected and vibrant.

Despite the development over the past 20 years, there are still way too many parking lots in the core areas like across Target or up at bunker hill, or FIDM, Ace Hotel, Chinatown, Hotel figueroa, Grand Central Market, etc.

[OptimusPrime69]

The sheer amount of homeless people alone make DTLA a place that is never going to be "solid"..... It's quite sad and honestly, quite gross... to see such a massive amount of homeless in and around DTLA. It is for that reason, I avoid it like the plague. DTLA will never be a Manhattan or even a downtown Chicago...or even a Philly!

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by saybanana

Currently it is really hard to predict. I wouldnt count in the next 10 years. Way too soon. Maybe 20 years.
There are way too many parking lots and too little local population to make it connected and vibrant.

Despite the development over the past 20 years, there are still way too many parking lots in the core areas like across Target or up at bunker hill, or FIDM, Ace Hotel, Chinatown, Hotel figueroa, Grand Central Market, etc.

But there are still a lot of parking lots because there is still demand for people wanting to drive in L.A even downtown . Or think if you are going to the jewelry market and buying a diamond ring would you want to walk around with it and travel on the redline ?

People going to those hotels generally want to drive too .

People will only take the subway / public transit once it makes no sense to drive like in NY . People take it in L.A of course but nothing like NYC

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by OptimusPrime69

The sheer amount of homeless people alone make DTLA a place that is never going to be "solid"..... It's quite sad and honestly, quite gross... to see such a massive amount of homeless in and around DTLA. It is for that reason, I avoid it like the plague. DTLA will never be a Manhattan or even a downtown Chicago...or even a Philly!

Skid Row has been there 100 years and likely ain’t going anywhere .

If skid row and the missions and SROs were relocated downtown would be totally different . Prices would go up even more than now . There is a ton of building going on now of course .

The sketchiness of the area though makes the area harder to enjoy . Which is a shame as it has great potential to be a “world class” downtown . A ton of interesting and good restaurants and places there these days . But you gotta put up with 3rd world type conditions .

[Csonka]

I would think they will have it cleaned up by the Olympics in 2028 but then the homeless will probably just return afterwards