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Originally Posted by sopas ej
Well, my point was to convey how what's been considered LA's "downtown area" has actually expanded in area over time. That intersection of 7th and Figueroa was actually a quiet residential section on the edge of town in 1900. In the 1920s and 1930s, LA's main commercial, business and financial districts were still mainly east of this intersection; much of south Figueroa at this point apparently was all warehouses and car dealerships, so, there wouldn't have been much pedestrian activity in this area back then anyway. When you think about it, the car dealerships and old warehouse-type buildings that exist today further south on Figueroa are vestiges of what used to exist along more of Figueroa.
If you look at old photos of what used to exist in the area of where the Convention Center is now, you'd see that there were lots of old 2-story brick apartment buildings that used to exist there, mixed in among warehouses. People lived in that area, but back then, it wasn't considered downtown; they wouldn't have been considered downtown residents. I remember when the Convention Center expansion was built--- whole blocks and streets were obliterated to build the expansion, as well as Staples Center.
It's funny to me that some people now are considering the USC area as part of downtown.
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It's natural for "downtown" or "urban core" areas to expand and LA is going through that process now. I usually say "greater downtown" for the area that includes Westlake, Ktown, University Park, east to the River, and much of Silverlake and Echo Park. What distinguishes it in my mind is that it has historic architecture (including many mid-rises), a tradition of streetlife and walking. Most importantly people actually want to live there, which means that there will be an organic process of creating greater density. The current mixed uses will allow this change to occur more rapidly than other areas of town.
Eventually LA's "urban core" will be huge. Not really downtown, but part of a greater urban area.
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