LOS ANGELES | Politics, Economics, and Business Development

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by Radio5

I get what you're saying, but during the Garcetti years, there definitely was excitement and momentum because there was so much happening and it seemed limitless. We do have some big infrastructure/museums coming online which is great, but at street level it still seems stale. Hoping it changes in 2026 with new leadership.

I'll never forget being at a real estate private equity conference in 2017 and someone from a big NYC investment group that was anti-LA begrudgingly said, "yeah, LA is really having a moment". The crazy thing is, Garcetti really didn't do anything to boost the city, and in fact was also actively harmful - he instituted the "linkage fee" that charges $15,000 per unit in places like DTLA and $23,000 per unit in the Westside (while charging 1/3rd of that for non-residential development - somehow this was supposed to be an "affordable housing strategy"?). But generally the stars were still aligning for LA back then.

The good news is we absolutely can get back there. If we all vote for people that are pro market, pro development, pro growth, pro development, pro transit, LA could absolutely boom better than in the Garcetti years. It just takes the political will to get there.

[LA21st]

I think Caruso will win in 2026. Bass is likely gonna head out soon because the stuff keeps piling up. I dont see LA electing anyone like her again.

[ocman_]

Huge news. California finally rolled back elements of CEQA. Maybe we'll finally jump start housing....outside of LA at least because leadership is too cowardly to speak up against the mansion tax.

[citywatch]

• Video Link

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was joined by a sea of volunteers and community leaders for the Shine LA event aimed at revitalizing Downtown L.A.

Not only did the event strive to physically beautify the city, but it also stood as a declaration of unity against attempts to divide the community. The Mayor's website encourages locals to sign up for future Shine LA events, a testament to the ongoing dedication to take care proactively of the city's image and spirit.

With just over a year before L.A. hosts international visitors for the FIFA World Cup, events like Shine LA aim to ensure the city is not only presentable but exemplary of the strength and unity of its diverse population.

^ Talk is regrettably cheap....I just watched an interview of a devlpr based in NYC who claimed that a billion dollar proj he worked on for dtla didn't get any support from LA city govnt. No details were given but he implied he had to give up. A lot of projs depend on good faith...personal connections. Ppl's return on investment is rarely so strong that a proposed devlpt is similar to buying a gold mine or oil well. If it were, ppl would be lining up to invest in dtla.

The backers of proj like this depend on funders who know they won't get back their $$ for yrs, decades, maybe never. So it's you rub my back, I'll rub yours....

https://www.youtube.com/@alp-angelslandingtv/videos

[LA21st]

We desperarately need new leadership. I know they have defenders here but you are risking the city's growth with keeping those people here. They dont care about downtown getting better because they think its gentrification.
They need to go and have made everything worse.

We can't do this. Whats more important? The city/downtowns future or some poltiical allegiance?

Its interesting NYC might get their own version of this. God speed NYC. God speed.

[citywatch]

Projs in dtla like this depend on funders willing to lay out billions of $$ they know they won't get back for yrs, decades. So investors need to have confidence in a city....& personal ties created by local govnt & local businesses & other investors already in LA.


designboom.com

https://www.angelslandingdtla.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@alp-angelslandingtv

I saw an interview of a major devlpr based in NYC & he said a billion dollar proj he had been working on for dtla didn't get much support from LA city govnt so he implied he had to drop out....he didn't give details, so not sure how committed he really was. But funding is based on friendships & personal interests in a city.

[caligrad]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/califo...d=51456d3633b14510a867eaf32f29e1c3&ei=35

Under Assembly Bill 130, housing projects of fewer than 20 acres located in incorporated communities and unincorporated urban areas will generally no longer have to conduct environmental reviews required by the CEQA.

Now THIS is what Downtown needed ( not to mention the host of useless laws/fees/rules that needs to be gutted), I know folks use the word "Gamechanger" loosely for even a facade change but this here is going to do wonders for LA, Nimbys will have to work harder to block projects in court and so will folks like the Weinstein at the aids foundation and others.

[citywatch]

Too bad projs like angels landing won't be underway before events like the olympics. Right now I think the colburn school auditorium proj at 2nd & Hill & this one in little tokyo are the only active devlpmt sites in dtla.


urbanizela.com

^ nothing better than seeing parking lots in dt finally removed & replaced with new devlpt. Last wk I drove by the newer apt bldgs on Hill St near Chinatown across from the ft moore waterfall...I recall when it used to look out over large parking lots.

[Illithid Dude]

Apparently Cole's downtown is closing. Unless there is a drastic change in our leadership I am giving up on downtown. It's too depressing otherwise.

[scania]

Not a moderator making this political. You and two others have brutalized this page. I’m glad some of us live the good life and see how much better DTLA is, compared to most of the cites in America.

[ajbeaver25]

As an ex DTLA hater I understand your frustrations with the city, but the bar is extremely low nationally, and compared to a lot of other cities, LA is actually doing quite well.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by scania

Not a moderator making this political. You and two others have brutalized this page. I’m glad some of us live the good life and see how much better DTLA is, compared to most of the cites in America.

I am actually a paramoderator thank you very much.

How can one not despair when a restaurant that has lasted for 120 years is unable to survive our current downtown climate? Verve, Macy's, COS, APC, The Ace Hotel, Acne DTLA, and so many other commercial spaces that represented the DTLA renaissance have closed. Have there been any openings outside of the Art's District, which exists in a separate ecosystem? If there has, please let me know. If we keep pretending downtown is fine because of petty city boosterism it's only going to get worse. At a certain point we need to have difficult conversations and ask ourselves what can be done to reverse this trend. I want downtown to succeed. I've been advocating for it for going on fifteen years now. Right now downtown is floundering. The sooner we accept that, the sooner we can turn it around.

[citywatch]

^ That's really bad news....I hope clifton's is doing okay...the new restaurant one block west of the new onni apt tower is hopefully doing okay too.

I've witnessed dtla going through ups & downs for yrs, but covid really hurt it...online shopping has not helped things either. LA's economy is taking a lot of hits right now, so it's like taking a trip back to the future. If I were the age I am now but had to deal with dt of 10, 20, 40 yrs ago....& knew it would take until the 2020s to reach today's point, & then it would level off again....I'd give up.

In better news...although this proj was supposed to have opened 2-3 yrs ago...


• Video Link

[Easy]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I am actually a paramoderator thank you very much.

How can one not despair when a restaurant that has lasted for 120 years is unable to survive our current downtown climate? Verve, Macy's, COS, APC, The Ace Hotel, Acne DTLA, and so many other commercial spaces that represented the DTLA renaissance have closed. Have there been any openings outside of the Art's District, which exists in a separate ecosystem? If there has, please let me know. If we keep pretending downtown is fine because of petty city boosterism it's only going to get worse. At a certain point we need to have difficult conversations and ask ourselves what can be done to reverse this trend. I want downtown to succeed. I've been advocating for it for going on fifteen years now. Right now downtown is floundering. The sooner we accept that, the sooner we can turn it around.

Not to nitpick, but was it actually a restaurant for 120 years? I went for the first time maybe 20 years or so ago before it was purchased and remodeled and it seemed more like a very rundown dive bar. I don't have a specific recollection of whether food was being served, but it didn't seem like a place where I would want to eat. I didn't even get a drink because of the musty smells.

Either way, its current incarnation dates back to the early downtown renaissance of the early 21st century.

[scania]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I am actually a paramoderator thank you very much.

How can one not despair when a restaurant that has lasted for 120 years is unable to survive our current downtown climate? Verve, Macy's, COS, APC, The Ace Hotel, Acne DTLA, and so many other commercial spaces that represented the DTLA renaissance have closed. Have there been any openings outside of the Art's District, which exists in a separate ecosystem? If there has, please let me know. If we keep pretending downtown is fine because of petty city boosterism it's only going to get worse. At a certain point we need to have difficult conversations and ask ourselves what can be done to reverse this trend. I want downtown to succeed. I've been advocating for it for going on fifteen years now. Right now downtown is floundering. The sooner we accept that, the sooner we can turn it around.

You've failed to mention so many other places that have opened. Which clearly shows that you are specifically looking through a small lense. Apple, Adidas, Javier's (recently opened within the past couple of months), Hilltop, Zaya, etc. etc. We all know that the Ace Hotel really couldn't compete with the newer options that came on board in DTLA (which you failed to mention the new hotels that have open)...and Verve mention the changing landscape...let's keep it real, I used to frequent Verve almost daily...but now there are too many coffee shops that have open that have a much cooler ambiance, and you feel more in the mix of DTLA, versus being on an island in DTLA. I haven't personally been to Verve in at least a year. I would rather walk to the others that have a more interesting vibe...and much better food. It's amazing how some can tell a picture that is so far from the truth. Wha I can tell you is that more and more people are loving the overall energy of DTLA and its getting better every few months. But...if you are small minded and only want to see certain things, you'd end up being blind to all the great things. Just my opinion.

[craigs]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Apparently Cole's downtown is closing. Unless there is a drastic change in our leadership I am giving up on downtown. It's too depressing otherwise.

That's the spirit! Does 'giving up' mean you'll stop posting your relentlessly negative posts?

[Illithid Dude]

The wonderful restaurant Shibumi in South Park has also just announced that they are closing. They had their Michelin star renewed two weeks ago.

[scania]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

The wonderful restaurant Shibumi in South Park has also just announced that they are closing. They had their Michelin star renewed two weeks ago.

Lol. You are pathetic and relentless. Again, never mentioning all of the restaurants that have opened. And that restaurant never got any business and is in a horrible location of South Park. Bossa Nova which is in a better location of South Park is their top location of all of their other locations in LA…. Meaning they’re have more business than the other two locations in West Hollywood and Hollywood. Shibumi…you are reaching drastically. Most people in DTLA doesn’t even know that restaurant exists.
Also…I’m a true foodie with all the higher end restaurants in LA. This chef is actually in the process of opening up another restaurant in DTLA, his other two restaurants in Brentwood and Echo Park, both closed within a year of opening. The DTLA location lasted 9 or 10 years. But again, he’s working on another restaurant in DTLA.

[LA21st]

Its not a bad thing to say things need to be fixed.

Downtown Chicago realized LaSalle street was struggling after covid and are trying convert offices into hotel and residential to give it renewed life. Its not gonna be overnight, but it will happen.

Why can't LA do the same? Chicago's recent mayors havent even been good and they realize problems.

The sooner Bass ADMITS downtown (and parts of Hollywood) need help, we can see improvement. Shes just ignoring it.

[scania]

Originally Posted by LA21st

Its not a bad thing to say things need to be fixed.

Downtown Chicago realized LaSalle street was struggling after covid and are trying convert offices into hotel and residential to give it renewed life. Its not gonna be overnight, but it will happen.

Why can't LA do the same? Chicago's recent mayors havent even been good and they realize problems.

The sooner Bass ADMITS downtown (and parts of Hollywood) need help, we can see improvement. Shes just ignoring it.

I totally agree…but the one major thing people have complained about is homelessness. People have to ADMIT, the homeless situation in DTLA is the best it’s been in years!!! Definitely the last decade. And all of their statistics proves this testament.