The Next L.A. / Reinventing Our Future : HABITAT : IDEA FILE : Resettle Downtown

HOW IT WORKS

Vastly increase the number of housing units and residents in and near Downtown Los Angeles, making it a district where people can work and live. A new strategic plan for Downtown calls for 18,000 more housing units inside the central freeway ring and an additional 24,000 on the periphery. That would add about 100,000 residents to Downtown, which now has a population of 26,000 in the core and 50,000 on its edges.

It would convert the enormous empty spaces in historic office, loft and retail buildings into residences through the Broadway, Spring Street and Seventh Street corridors. Even a relatively new high-rise along Figueroa might have offices on its lower floors and apartments above, with a special emphasis on affordable housing.

Other Downtown boosters call for much more density, for building family-size apartments, condos and townhouses while adding the shopping, education and recreation opportunities that thrive in the suburbs but are sadly missing Downtown.

BENEFITS

Property owners suffering from the crash of the commercial real estate market Downtown. Construction companies specializing in new apartment development or in restoration of historic structures. Commuters who can’t stand their long drives. The many workers in Downtown’s industrial, garment and warehouse districts who can’t afford suburban homes but who would benefit from the stability of moderate rents and prices and a good choice of housing. Existing amenities would be better used--gas lines, libraries, old movie theaters--and it would rescue many fine older buildings now facing neglect and decay.

SUPPORTERS

People who want to make Downtown’s economy less dependent on the freeways and seek to create the lively urban feel that L.A. has always been faulted for lacking. Mass transit proponents who see a populated downtown filled with ready-made riders. Historic preservationists. Even homeowner groups in peripheral areas, otherwise hostile to Downtown funding and interest, might support it as a tradeoff to relieve development pressure in their own areas.

OPPONENTS

Forces political and soci-cultural. The dream of a house with a nice back yard and a two-car garage has an overwhelmingly powerful grip on the California public. Debunkers say it is foolish to try to force a European-East Coast model on Los Angeles, destroying what has been the city’s greatest attraction. Previous attempts to revive Downtown have not been successful. Besides, Downtown has an unshakably nasty image as a place to avoid at night. Fears about crime and concerns about ethnic integration are harder to overcome than any required zoning changes. And some experts say many people will feel quake-safe in rehabbed historic buildings or in new high-rises. Jealously divided political power will never allow massive infusions of public or private funds into Downtown without similar investments around the region.

THE COSTS

Enormous in money, and a big shift in the regions centrifugal psychology.

To consumers: Depends on how expensive the housing turns out to be. Could save money in commuting and automobile costs in addition to housing. However, a Downtown life can prove to be quite expensive if, for example, there are no competitively priced suburban-style supermarkets.

To others; May require large public subsidies at first through the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency. Might be encouraged through tax credits. May take huge efforts to first tackle homelessness and drug sales.

REALITY CHECKS

Less than 50-50. If the demand were there, this might have happened 30 years ago. The artist’s district in Downtown, which was to have been the vanguard, has seen an exodus to Venice and other spots.