Consultants Say They Want to Make Historic Core Friendly

Wow, 100s of people a month!

Yeah, hundreds of people a month in the historic core of a city of four million might not seem like anything - but think back even three or four years ago. Other than local workers, the homeless and those who work with them, there were barely tens of people a month on the Core’s streets for entertainment purposes. To go from tens to hundreds in a few years is actually quite something to be encouraged by.

I’m seeing something very interesting - today I walked from my place in the Fashion District up to Blossom’s and Metropolis and there were hundreds of people out and about - of all walks of life and all sorts of types, ages, etc… This part of Downtown, while still very ragged and even scary for some people, has this goldmine called “diversity”… Believe me - I was marooned behind the Orange Curtain for a long, long time and to move back to LA from a place that seems to be deathly afraid of anything “diverse” - particularly in terms of economic status - feels like I came back to the “real world”.

I’ll post another comment directly related to the “survey” shortly.

Sure, improved lighting and signage will at least give the appearance that the Historic Core is a “destination” that cares about itself. These things should be done, and in the entire “old downtown” area - not just the few blocks along Spring and Main. I do agree with Eric that we should work with what we’ve got - though a lot of the street signage is pretty blase - and it could use a facelift. Something as simple as painting the cheesy metal traffic signal posts and arms a deep green (or whatever color - but make it consistent) would help. Respect the historic core and all of Downtown by taking a look at historic streetlighting and styles. Good lighting is an absolute MUST if the Core is to ever attract people other than those of us Downtowners who already know that the Core’s bark is almost always worse than its’ bite.

Yes - some method of creating bike lanes and at least a modicum of (oh boy I hate this term) “traffic calming” would help the interface between hulking metal monsters (buses included - or maybe especially), cyclists and pedestrians - and their dawgs - be a lot less confusing and a lot safer.

I do think it is safe to walk and use public transit in this area. I walk around all the time. Sometimes even I get the heeby-jeebies if I am walking across, along or near Fifth and Sixth after around 8 pm - but who wouldn’t… and I’m a big strong solid dude - so definitely better lighting and an emphasis on keeping the streets a lot cleaner would help. The scariest thing about walking around Downtown late evening or at night is the drivers - many of whom sport OC or Valley dealership license plate frames and seemingly simply assume that if someone is actually walking downtown, they must be… expendible. Maybe I should carry a few good size rocks in my pocket… (my bad!)

So - in a nutshell, COLA Gubmint types (CityOfLosAngeles) - let’s just get this done - fix the lighting, do the signs, FIX THE SIDEWALKS (there is a serious ADA issue there as well), and keep bringing the area back toward its’ former glory - in today’s world.

By the way - were they actually installing new ‘podocarpus’ trees along the east side of Main near 6th today? Sure looked like it. Good deal.

Just to be clear, That’s hundreds of people on one night a month. Streets that used to be truly scary after dark are now pretty pleasant in the evening and on Gallery Row Art Walk, once a month, it is a real scene until around midnight. This is a near miraculous change and should be noted as such.

There is quite measurable change in downtown, though I remain impatient for the giant miraculous changeover in which newbies to the area will refuse to believe that Downtown was ever underdeveloped or run down in any way.

My biggest suggestion remains: cut down all the mature trees and replant them with new ones under ten feet tall. Right now the trees along Spring and Main are well over 50 feet tall. A lot of them were pruned recently. This helps, but even better would be to harvest the trees after they reach a certain height and replant them with young saplings. They just serve to block out most of the light from the streetlights and add to the area’s gloomy and scary atmosphere at night.

Guys, I love Downtown. But, here’s the painful truth:

People who don’t live or work Downtown, don’t go Downtown.

I have several friends that have lived here their entire lives, yet never go, because “it’s scary.” Like it or not, that is the perception of the outsider. They don’t see the changes underway that you and I see.

I think lighting is a must. Retail is a must. Safety is a must. Close off an entire stretch of Broadway and Spring, and brick them in. Then, light that sucker up. Plant trees. Restore neon. Install fountains and wrought-iron benches.

“People will come, Ray. People will most definitely come.’

I second Eric’s point about the lighting. The lights that are there now are designed to light the street (for cars), rather than the sidewalk (for people).

Pedestrian orientation means scaling and orienting features (such as signs, lighting, displays, etc.) to the level of the pedestrian. It’s not rocket science.

That said, those trees are pretty ugly. They’re too thick, and block out the nice views of those classic buildings.

Joel, I agree with your comment about the trees on Spring. “Ficus Macrophylla” or “Ficus Nitida” or whatever specific ficus trees those are make very troublesome street trees. Back in the 1950-1970s cities planted huge numbers of them because they are very fast growing and provide tremendous shade. Unfortunately, they are also among the most damaging, messy, high maintenance trees in the world. I have seen their roots travel amazing distances and lift huge sections of streets, sidewalks and even buildings. The roots damage underground utilities. They constantly drop all sorts of messy things - and man, do those big old spiders love them… take care walking under a ficus tree! Above all (in terms of appearance) - they have such a heavy, dense canopy that they obliterate any sense of aesthetics. At first I read Scott’s comment and thought “Oh, man - how could you” - but after thinking it over, I actually agree with him. Spring (and the other area streets) need trees that are suited for an urban cityscape. A deciduous tree mix, including my favorite (sycamore) with the occasional evergreens, would be great.

So - in addition to the lighting, signage and bike lanes, the street trees are a major component of making an inviting streetscape.

As for people who won’t come Downtown because “it’s scary”… well, perhaps they are just fine where they are, or living behind gates in a hillside suburb giving themselves a false sense of “security”. Downtown should be a place open for business and open to, and attracting, local and distant tourism, but it MUST be a place that works for us who live here, and the many who will live here soon.

I agree with most of the above- issue: safety. remedy: more cops on the beat issue: not many people. remedy: more retailing, etc issue: crazy drivers. remedy: traffic enforcement issue: outdated perceptions. remedy: probably a branding campaign

Especially the bikelanes comment. That would get bikes off the sidewalks, greatly improving things for pedestrians.

But the people who sent this message asked specifically about signage and lighting. I’m guessing they don’t have the power to affect much else.

Lighting? I think most of the historic core lighting is pretty good, with three exceptions. 1) 8th street is dark (does HC extend that far south?) 2) Areas around surface parking lots tend to be very dark 3) Areas around building construction and reconditioning tend to be dark. The only safety issue I’ve had in 18 months of living downtown was when I was threatened by a group of thugs in a dark area near some construction facades.

Signage? 3 ideas. 1) I would be thrilled if they put “pedestrian zone” signs or something like that. Especially near the freeway exits so those out-of-towners hit the brakes a little harder when they get off the freeway. 2) I would also love to have some speed bumps. Particularly on some of the 1-way streets where visitors hit 45-50 mph. 3) There are way too many parking garage exits with blind corners where cars come zipping out without being able to safely check for foot or bicycle traffic on the sidewalk.

Finally, permit me my own digression to anyone listening who gives a damn- can we please get a system to report buses that egregiously run red lights? It’s a huge pedestrian hazard, it happens all-the-damn-time, and if anyone should know better, it’s professional busdrivers.

Eric, your post “Another Boring Swipe at Downtown” and the argument that ensued is featured in a Downtown News editorial!

DJT is consulting for the CRA….

The historic core is getting better every day, but the city has a potential Gaslamp District on their hands and they know it.

The lighting there is pretty good, and as more and more residential creeps into Downtown, the HC has nowhere to go but up.

The Historic Core and Broadway Strip used to have the highest concentration of neon on earth in the 20s; if we could bring back some of that old flavor and tout the place as an Old Town kinda brand, gentrifying capitalism could do the rest. But right now it’s great in the daytime and scary after dark, no matter how determined urban pioneers are to take back the city. Pershing Square is beautiful but absolutely scary, and Hill St. at 8pm is the only part of town I’ve ever been stalked methodically walking across the street to my car.

If they put in some neon and old-timey lamps, and maybe a gateway (the Gaslamp Gate in San Diego comes to mind) that’d add some flair, but they need to make the neighborhood safe.

Increased patrols, yes, but also, has anyone thought of trying a “koban,” or neighborhood police -box? This Japanese system puts a few cops in a very small neighborhood booth in dense urban areas. In dense problem areas, I’ve always thought something like this - an accessible, visible, and permanent neighborhood cop - could help troublesome parts of Los Angeles - Pershing Square, MacArthur, etc. without being too intrusive and carving up the neighborhood.

The city has been trying to add surveillance cameras to make it safer. They claim it has worked in MacArthur Park, Hollywood, and the Fashion District.

But I think this is the wrong approach. Cameras only work after the fact a crime has been committed.

They may not act as a deterrent to random street crimes, and do not give a safety feeling and deterrent. More police patrols need to be added, plus the community needs to step up.

Ultimately the best crime stopper of all is a pedestrian environment that is awake at 24/7.