If you haven't visited downtown Los Angeles in the last few years, you might not recognize it anymore. The first wave of construction started in the late 90s when long neglected buildings were transformed into upscale lofts under the term "adaptive re-use" mostly in the city's historic core. What followed was the construction of new large scale housing projects throughtout all the downtown districts from South Park to the Fashion District to Chinatown. There are also a pair of multi-billion dollar construction projects underway: the LA Live complex next to Staples Center and the Grand Avenue Project in the center of downtown. In Feb. 2007, it was announced that more than 7,000 new and adaptive re-use housing units have been constructed since 1999.
Little Tokyo is not immune to this housing boom. Five story buildings are popping up faster than new reality tv shows. After years of stagnation, Little Tokyo is receiving a massive injection of money into new construction projects. But a number of questions arise:
Is this good or bad for the future of Little Tokyo?
Will Little Tokyo be able to maintain its community identity?
What will be the new face of Little Tokyo as new residents move in?
Below I've listed project in the works or recently completed. I also added some of the larger projects in the Artist District across Alameda. Something to note is that Little Tokyo will also be a stop on the Metro light rail Gold Line. The station is under construction and is scheduled to open in late 2009.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION:
"Block 8"
formerly a parking lot south of Second St. between San Pedro and Los Angeles St.
22-story tower, three six-story buildings, a 600-space public parking garage, and about 1,100 spaces for residents. The tallest structure at the southwest corner of Second and San Pedro streets will include 240 condos alongside the garage.
About 50,000 square feet of ground floor space will be leased to retail tenants.
Matsu (part of Block 8)
Second and Los Angeles
a six-story rental building will include 8,500 square feet of retail space
Construction to begin early 2008
San Pedro Apartments (part of Block 8)
SW corner of San Pedro and Second St.
a six-story, 230-unit luxury apartment building
features a street-level promenade, two-way street and landscaped pedestrian pathways
start construction: Spring 2007
open in spring 2009
NEARLY COMPLETED:
Mura
629 Traction Ave.
190 single and two-story condos
six-story complex with 190 condo units
Open early 2008
http://www.livemura.com
COMPLETED PROJECTS:
Savoy (formerly Alexan Savoy)
First and Alameda
303 condominiums
Artisan on Second
Second St. and Hewitt
117 condos
Hikari
Second and Central
128 apartments
opened Dec 2006
Teramachi
Third and San Pedro
127 condominiums
Opened summer 2006
Little Tokyo Lofts
420 S. San Pedro St.
161 condominiums
IN PLANNING:
Mangrove Project
First and Alameda
http://www.rafu.com/ltcc2.html
ARTIST DISTRICT, EAST OF ALAMEDA
Fourth And Alameda
52 lofts
project start: Dec. 2007
Barn Lofts
940 East 2nd Street
38 condominiums
One Santa Fe Project
Santa Fe and Third St.
439 rental units above 55,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, five stories tall
Tentative to break ground by summer 2008 and complete the development in 2010.
Molino Street Lofts
500 and 530 Molino Street
91 units
Barker Block
530 Hewitt Street
297-unit
http://www.barkerblock.com
OTHER PROJECTS OF NOTE:
ImaginAsian Center
site of the old Linda Lea Theater
251 South Main Street
opened Dec. 2007
http://www.iacenterla.com/la
Metro Rail Gold Line extension to East LA
Little Tokyo stop located at Alameda and First
Start of construction: 2004
Forecasted opening: Late 2009
http://www.metro.net/projects_programs/eastside/default.htm
http://www.metro.net/images/detail_mglee2_f08.jpg
Japanese Village Plaza Renovation
Japanese Village Plaza was sold by longtime owner Cathy Chang in July to American Commercial Equities, which plans to renovate the Little Tokyo outdoor mall in the next 12 to 18 months. Upgrades, expected to commence within six months, will include new signage, extensive landscaping, improved lighting, refurbishing vacant second-story office space, the addition of outdoor cafes and seating areas on the corner of First Street and Central Avenue, as well as improved lighting and signage in the plaza's parking structure, said architect Mitchell Sawasy. Mark Hong of CB Richard Ellis has been hired to handle leasing in the project that connects First and Second streets.
Aikido Center
Construction is underway on an approximately 3,000-square-foot, ground floor rental unit at 1211 N. Main St., next to the Los Angeles State Historic Park, for the Aikido Center of Los Angeles. The martial arts school is currently housed in a temporary space at 929 E. Second St. School officials left their former home at 940 E. Second St., where it operated for 23 years, so the landowner could build a condo project. In exchange for the Aikido Center vacating the space while eight years remained on its lease, former landlord Barn Lofts LLP is paying for most of the construction of the new facility. The school expects to open in its new home by the end of the year.
Sources:
http://www.rafu.com
http://la.curbed.com
http://www.downtownnews.com/articles/2007/09/17/development/estate02.txt
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?s=9167ee391f0590da3ae45d6d320cc644&f=427
http://www.angelenic.com
http://blogdowntown.com