Lighting Up Downtown

I checked this out last night coming back from the grocery store. My wife and I definitely liked it. The effect of the lights was quite striking. Yeah, too bad this is only temporary.

Still, it got me thinking. I really liked the ‘entrance’ effect. Sorta heralding your entrance to downtown surrounded by light and the tall buildings. One thing which I think downtown could do better is ensuring the entrances to downtown are ‘impressive’. For instance, the Grand Street off-ramp on the 10 freeway is so totally functional. No thought seems to have been given that this is a key entrance point to downtown. I’m sure it is a primary entrance point for many visitors heading to the Staples Center. I’d like to think it could somehow be improved. You know, part of all that branding downtown stuff. It might even make the place a little nicer.