Los Angeles Downtown News Online has posted a long story about the city’s attempts to revitalize the historic Broadway district, part of which is old Route 66.
Many similar efforts have failed. But because the downtown area is gaining more residents, there’s some urgency and hope that a Broadway revival will be for real.
For the first time, many of the area’s key stakeholders are at the table, including theater owners, landlords, business leaders and community groups. The shared vision, initial plans for which could be completed by year’s end, would turn Broadway between Third Street and Olympic Boulevard into an entertainment destination. It would diversify the largely Latino shopping hub with new retail, nightclubs, creative offices and live shows in renovated theaters.
One of the big issues Broadway will have to tackle is a lack of parking. Officials are looking at using a nearby garage, encouraging pedestrian use and perhaps establishing a trolley line. And planners are agonizing on how to let the downtown district evolve naturally, yet still use zoning and ordinances keep it desirable.
There’s more in the article, including a lot of interesting ideas, for other urban planners to chew on.
While I agree that a resurgence and a revitilization are necessary and in fact underway in the heart of the Theater District, I have to question two things about this article:
1) the source. The Downtown News – IMHO – is anything but reputable. They certainly seem to have their facts together on this one, though.
2) Huizar. Councilmember Huizar is the same one that just stabbed his constituents in the back on the Southwest Museum issue, by making a “deal” with the Autry but not having ANYTHING in writing, not the least of which includes continued operation of the Mount Washington location as a fully functioning musuem. I’d not trust him with anything, especially not as grand as the revitilization of an important downtown corridor.