DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES – Downtown saw gains in all areas in the first decade of the 21st century. Along with dozens of housing projects and scores of restaurants, the community’s era of transformation was marked by civic and cultural advances.
On Dec. 7, Los Angeles Downtown News began counting down the most important projects of the decade, the ones that led to a seismic shift in the life of the community. Tomorrow, #4 and #3 will be revealed.
6) Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (2002): During its development, the Cathedral was one of the big three projects (along with Staples Center and Disney Hall) drawing national buzz to Downtown. The $195 million effort spearheaded by Cardinal Roger Mahony holds approximately 3,000 people and is the center of Catholic life in Los Angeles County. The project, designed by José Rafael Moneo, is also a civic landmark and has hosted cultural events, such as an annual outdoor production of Shakespeare, as well as funerals (including one for artist Robert Graham, who created the building’s bronze doors).
Impact: Mahony once considered moving the replacement for St. Vibiana’s outside Downtown. That would have cost the community one of its top architectural and tourist destinations, as the building at 555 W. Temple St. draws not just worshipers, but Downtown workers, residents and visitors who stroll its courtyard and gardens. Its future impact is impossible for present users to grasp — the building was designed to stand for 500 years.
5) Safer Cities Initiative (2006): No one quite knew what would happen when Police Chief William Bratton, working with figures including Councilwoman Jan Perry and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, deployed 50 additional officers to Skid Row with the directive to cut down on “small” quality-of-life crimes. However, the impact was instant, as hundreds of drug dealers and others who prey upon the homeless were arrested and removed from the streets. The area’s homeless population has dropped and longtime stakeholders say the community is cleaner and safer than it has been in decades.
Impact: Although some complained that the SCI was a crackdown on homelessness, most area players, including numerous social service providers, lauded the program and LAPD Capt. Andy Smith, who was in charge of Central Division when the initiative launched. The transformation of Central City East was felt far beyond the community, as Downtown’s overall crime decrease helped lure thousands of new residents and many businesses and other investors. Finally, crimes that would not be tolerated anywhere else in Los Angeles were no longer allowed Downtown.
Previously: Project #8 was the High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. The Gold Line was project #7. Read about them here.
The 10th most important project of the decade was the CalTrans Headquarters. The Medici apartments ranked 9th. Read about them here.
Projects #21 to #11 were detailed in the Dec. 14 issue of Los Angeles Downtown News. Read about them here.
The list:
21) LAPD Headquarters
20) Pegasus
19) Toy Factory/Biscuit Company Lofts
18) Edward R. Roybal Learning Center/Vista Hermosa Natural Park
17) Orpheum Theatre Renovation
16) Rainbow Apartments
15) SCI-Arc
14) Art Walk
13) Los Angeles State Historic Park
12) Elleven/Luma/Evo
11) Standard Downtown
Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.
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