Downtown LA (Los Angeles, Pasadena, Alameda: loft, condo, hotels)

[LArenter]

I agree with you The One, there are several decent places to eat and relax in DT including 7Grand, Caseys, Library Bar, the Standard, Wokano, Palms, Roys, Nick and Stefs, Patina, Liberty Grill, etc.

7Grand is awesome; one of the best whiskey bars in LA IMO. I've gone on weekends as well - live band, always really crowded.

I think the reason why people hate on DT so much is because if you don't live in DT, there are plenty of other commuting area where you will have a greater variety of choices for dinner/lounges in a smaller concentrated area. Throw in some sketchy side streets and I can see how people don't want to come into DT.

Until, or even if, the Grand Project or Park 5th every materialize, I think trying to convince people to come to DT will be a hard sell.

[Angelinochihuahua]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

I don't understand why out of town people think that downtown LA is some kind of desirable place to be. Most of us LA residents never go downtown and do everything we can to avoid it, and are usually successful. People want to live in affluent areas, not areas where bums are shooting up and pissing right on the sidewalk. You've got LA confused with NYC. We LA residents want to live in suburbia and downtown is urbia. We avoid the place.

I would disagree with that. Downtown has interesting things to do every day and night of the week. It isn't for everyone but anyone who likes city life would find something redeemable and beautiful in the area around the central library and standard hotel.

[greggd]

Originally Posted by the one

the "most LA residents dont go Downtown" mentality is ridiculous. i and many people i know have been going to DT all our lives.

Broadway for shopping
Garment District for fabric
Staples for games(not all our lives obviously)
Fig for drinks
Orpheum for shows
cliftons for tradition

etc etc

the problem is that people are still afraid of downtown. im an urban dweller who has ran the streets of LA and i am in DT just about every week. there are plenty of places to go and they offer quite a variety. gay, straight, dive, snooty, old, young, business, cazzzz, its there alright.

there is stuff to do and either way you will be driving around the whole city whether you are partyin in SaMo, DT, HllyWd, etc. this is a driving town unfortunately.

born and raised angelino speakin here. the majority of my folks are to and we all party DT. HAVE been for years. and yes, its the older 20's to early 40's crowd mostly in DT. nothing wrong there.

Exactly right.

[prim2007]

I lived downtown at The Piero for a few months since it was so close to work and it wasn't bad. There's a Ralph's and several restaurants, fitness clubs, and shopping venues, the Standard is still happening...all downtown. There are still homeless people that will beg you for money but nothing too scary. They are actually more prevalent during the weekday when you're heading to lunch than on the weekends. You're starting to see a twenty-something, early 30's crowd making the area their home (places like The Pegasus). Most of the nicer apartments are $2000+ for 1BR or $2500+ for 2BR plus parking. A friend of mine that lives in Weho thought the same thing about how miserable it would be to live downtown but he came over to "housesit" at my apartment for me and stayed a couple months because it was better than he expected plus the Piero has a lot of upscale amenities. Still, it's not worth plopping down $700K+ for one of those "live,play,work" downtown condos. You would enjoy an area like Pasadena much better and I find the commute to be pretty convenient to downtown.

[straight outta camden]

I'm not against downtown at all, but it's a bad idea to buy a condo there right now, and a worse idea to buy a condo pretty much in the heart of Skid Row, which is where the Tokyo Lofts are. Skid Row has been cleaned up a little over the past year but it will never disappear (or even shrink much) because that is where the missions are.

[xyzxyz]

Originally Posted by Dan25

I'm looking at buying a loft downtown. Would it be very fun to live down there yet or is that still to come? Specifically im looking at Little Tokyo Lofts.

My friend rents a loft downtown for about $3500 a month. He likes the loft, but despises the area. He can't even get his friends to stay after dark. You can't go out after dark because the winos and crazies are everywhere. My friend is moving in the fall when his lease is up.

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by Dan25

I'm looking at buying a loft downtown. Would it be very fun to live down there yet or is that still to come? Specifically im looking at Little Tokyo Lofts.

They are NOT in Little Tokyo. I have a friend who bought into it (actually, its the old Westinghouse Building). Though only a block or two away, Little Tokyo may as well be a world away.

[nickdahammer]

Originally Posted by Angelinochihuahua

I would disagree with that. Downtown has interesting things to do every day and night of the week. It isn't for everyone but anyone who likes city life would find something redeemable and beautiful in the area around the central library and standard hotel.

Agreed. I have yet to see a bum **** at the Music Center, the Central Library or the Bonaventure. Skid Row, sure. But downtown is so much more than that.

[Meruca]

My step daughter just moved to the corner of 7th and Alameda. Is this unsafe?

[JohnnyTheDonny]

LA downtown is a disgrace to America. Who the heck would want to live there