Dead Downtown Comes to Life

[finehoe]

"it was so empty down here you could shoot a rocket down the street and not hit a thing"

Jacksonville?  No, Los Angeles.

The revitalization of downtown Los Angeles hasn't happened overnight, although its momentum has picked up in recent months, says Carol E. Schatz, president and chief executive of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. In 1999, in a bid to create more housing downtown, the city approved the "Adaptive Reuse Ordinance," which encouraged developers to convert obsolete and older structures into housing by expediting the approval process, and relaxing the zoning and code requirements.

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303532704579477374278821010

[fsquid]

so true, my first trip there, I was amazed at the lack of places to get something to eat after 7 on a weekday.  It has certainly accelerated big time the last 5 years.

[duvaldude08]

Wow and they are thriving despite 50 blocks of pesky homeless people??? NO way! The homeless are always the problem in Downtown right? Oh no wait on in Jax 

[spuwho]

A good example of the over draw of downtown corporates at the expense of urban living.

It has to be a mix.

Another good example of a dead zone after 6PM?

Washington DC.  The White House is the only residence it seems. There are only 2 restaurants open on Pennsylvania between the WH and the Capitol after 6. You have to go up to Georgetown for the night life.

[finehoe]

Another good example of a dead zone after 6PM?

Washington DC.  The White House is the only residence it seems. There are only 2 restaurants open on Pennsylvania between the WH and the Capitol after 6. You have to go up to Georgetown for the night life.

I think it must've been a long time since you've been to DC.