Despite the progress downtown L.A. has made over the last decade in becoming a vibrant, day-night, mixed-use community, "block-killing blight" remains a stubborn presence in the area's landscape. Ryan Vaillancourt calls out the worst offenders.
Updating a list of the “10 Worst Eyesores in Downtown” that the Los Angeles Downtown News compiled nearly three years ago, Vaillancourt identifies the sites with the most room for improvement. "Even as a number of older dilapidated buildings have been turned into housing, a host of properties, including several that would seem to be natural candidates for renovation, sit derelict."
Among the properties he identifies are a pair of buildings ravaged by fire five years ago, a vacant art deco icon, a city-designated Historic-Cultural Monument, and a vacant century-old fire station that's on the National Register of Historic Places. For a developer with an appreciation for the benefits of adaptive reuse, it would seem that opportunities to jump into the downtown renaissance abound.
Vaillancourt also makes note of properties that seem to be heading in the right direction and success stories since the publication of the last list.
FULL STORY: A Look at Downtown's Worst Eyesores
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”
The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).
The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns
In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.
The States Losing Rural Delivery Rooms at an Alarming Pace
In some states, as few as 9% of rural hospitals still deliver babies. As a result, rising pre-term births, no adequate pre-term care and "harrowing" close calls are a growing reality.
The Small South Asian Republic Going all in on EVs
Thanks to one simple policy change less than five years ago, 65% of new cars in this Himalayan country are now electric.
DC Backpedals on Bike Lane Protection, Swaps Barriers for Paint
Citing aesthetic concerns, the city is removing the concrete barriers and flexposts that once separated Arizona Avenue cyclists from motor vehicles.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
City of Charlotte
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
US High Speed Rail Association
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)