My Latin-American immigrant parents could not understand how homelessness can exist in the richest state of the richest country in the world. I tend to agree. The humanitarian crisis on our streets must be resolved compassionately and swiftly; and is a cruel symptom of a deeper disease: unattainable housing costs. Housing, like nearly every material good, is subject to supply and demand—but scarcity is good for business, so scarcity is maintained. This zero-sum thinking pits the basic need of housing against the pocketbooks of landowners, with predictable results.
Most Angelenos agree the city needs more multi-family, infill housing—especially affordable—but freestanding single-family homeowners don’t want it near them. And while the debate rages, housing costs force more Angelenos onto the street. Happily, there is a simple answer: add a massive supply of housing. And no neighborhood is better suited—geographically or politically—than Downtown Los Angeles.
DTLA is different. Downtowners want more neighbors—hopefully from across the socio-economic and cultural spectrum. Downtowners want more density—an urban, pedestrian-focused lifestyle that doesn’t require a car. This is why we choose to live our lives, to invest our money, and to raise our families in DTLA. City leaders recognize that DTLA is key to addressing our housing supply crisis, and last year passed the DTLA 2040 Plan, which places the lion’s share of residential capacity and growth for the entire city in DTLA. This makes sense: DTLA is the region’s biggest hub for jobs, educational, civic, and cultural institutions, and the core of our regional transit network. It’s a good plan—now we must act on it.
City leaders will soon consider the Fourth and Central project. Sitting between Little Tokyo, Skid Row, and the Arts District, Fourth and Central is a wish-list of what Downtowners tell us they want more of. It replaces a warehouse with 1,521 residential units including 949 apartments (214 of which will be affordable) and 572 condominiums. The condos are important, as they encourage long-term investment and they will be more affordable than equivalent free-standing homes, relieving development pressure in surrounding neighborhoods. The project also includes 2 acres of desperately needed publicly accessible open space. Fourth and Central is more than just a development—it’s a brand-new neighborhood designed around walking and social connection, serving as a model for what tall, dense, sustainable development in LA can look like.
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Fourth and Central also represents something else the city needs: a $2-billion investment and tax rolls from new residents, new businesses, and a new land valuation. Proposition 13 makes redevelopment a key tool to fill civic coffers, and the funds Fourth and Central provides will pay for services across the entire city; services the city has been cutting—and will continue to cut—due to our current budget meltdown. The city’s financial health should weigh heavily on decision-makers’ minds, especially given the required investments in our city ahead of the Olympic Games.
As a native Angeleno, I am deeply proud of LA and want it to work better for its residents; a city that centers our quality of life and works to create enough housing for all. And though my goal is broader than an individual redevelopment, Fourth and Central is a step in the right direction and what DTLA needs. Let’s get it built—our city’s future depends on it.
Leslie A. Ridings is a native Angeleno who lives and works in Downtown Los Angeles. He is a Chapter Leader with Downtown for All, a chapter of the non-profit advocacy organization Abundant Housing Los Angeles.