Historic Core, Los Angeles, California
Encyclopedia
The Historic Core is a neighborhood in Downtown Los Angeles
between Hill and Main streets on the west and east, and 3rd and 9th street on the north and south. It overlaps with the Jewelry District
on its western end and Skid Row
on its eastern end. It was the center of the city before World War II
. With the general decline of downtown after World War II, and the movement of all financial institutions several blocks to the west, ending up on Figueroa Street
, Flower Street, and Grand Avenue, the area suffered. In the 1950s it became the center of Latino
entertainment in the city; the Million Dollar Theatre featured the biggest names in the Spanish language entertainment world. This paralleled the general white flight
occurring in Downtown Los Angeles
at the time, which saw Broadway become a major center for Latino life in the city.
Although prostitution
and drug dealing had occurred in the area as far back as the early 1920s, they became epidemic in the 1960s. The area's movie palaces, built between 1911 and 1931, became grindhouse
s. The last of them closed in the 1990s; the Orpheum Theatre
recently underwent a complete restoration at a cost of several million dollars, and is now used for major movie premieres (such as "Collateral" in 2005), celebrity events (Michael Jackson's birthday party), comedy shows (Kathy Griffin), fashion shows, concerts and plays. The developing street gang problem in Los Angeles
which began to worsen at the end of the 1960s and got considerably worse in the late 1970s, also hurt traditional commercial activity the area, as it did much of downtown. While the LAPD indicates that the area is a sort of neutral zone, that has not been claimed by any single gang and meaning that random gang violence is rare, the area remains one of the major areas for street drug sales in Los Angeles
.
Most of the older buildings have stores that cater to the Latino immigrant working class.
In 1999, the Los Angeles City Council passed an Adaptive Re-Use Ordinance, allowing for the conversion of old, unused office buildings to apartments or "lofts." Developer Tom Gilmore
purchased a series of century-old buildings and converted them into lofts near Main and Spring streets, a development now known as the "Old Bank District
." Other notable redevelopment projects in the Historic Core have included the Higgins Building
, The Security Bank Building, the Pacific Electric Building
, The Judson, and the Subway Terminal Building
. As of 2005, redevelopment projects in downtown Los Angeles have been divided about evenly between rentals and condominiums; though projects near the Staples Center
arena in the South Park
neighborhood have been overwhelmingly dedicated to condominiums.
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
between Hill and Main streets on the west and east, and 3rd and 9th street on the north and south. It overlaps with the Jewelry District
Jewelry District, Los Angeles, California
The Jewelry District is a section of Downtown Los Angeles where a variety of jeweled products are sold.According to the Los Angeles Convention Center and Visitor's Bureau, it is the largest jewelry district in the United States. The annual reported sales from the Jewelry District is just under $3...
on its western end and Skid Row
Skid Row, Los Angeles, California
Skid Row, officially known as Central City East, is an area of Downtown Los Angeles. As of the 2000 census, the population of the district was 17,740.-Description:...
on its eastern end. It was the center of the city before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. With the general decline of downtown after World War II, and the movement of all financial institutions several blocks to the west, ending up on Figueroa Street
Figueroa Street
Figueroa Street is a street in Los Angeles County, California named for General José Figueroa , governor of Alta California from 1833 to 1835, who oversaw the secularization of the missions of California...
, Flower Street, and Grand Avenue, the area suffered. In the 1950s it became the center of Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
entertainment in the city; the Million Dollar Theatre featured the biggest names in the Spanish language entertainment world. This paralleled the general white flight
White flight
White flight has been a term that originated in the United States, starting in the mid-20th century, and applied to the large-scale migration of whites of various European ancestries from racially mixed urban regions to more racially homogeneous suburban or exurban regions. It was first seen as...
occurring in Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles is the central business district of Los Angeles, California, United States, located close to the geographic center of the metropolitan area...
at the time, which saw Broadway become a major center for Latino life in the city.
Although prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
and drug dealing had occurred in the area as far back as the early 1920s, they became epidemic in the 1960s. The area's movie palaces, built between 1911 and 1931, became grindhouse
Grindhouse
A grindhouse is an American term for a theater that mainly shows exploitation films. It is named after the defunct burlesque theaters located on 42nd Street in New York City, where 'bump n' grind' dancing and striptease were featured.- History :...
s. The last of them closed in the 1990s; the Orpheum Theatre
Orpheum Theatre (Los Angeles)
The Orpheum Theatre on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, California, opened on February 15, 1926, as the fourth and final Los Angeles venue for the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. After a $3 million renovation, started in 1989, it is the most restored of the historical movie palaces in the city.The...
recently underwent a complete restoration at a cost of several million dollars, and is now used for major movie premieres (such as "Collateral" in 2005), celebrity events (Michael Jackson's birthday party), comedy shows (Kathy Griffin), fashion shows, concerts and plays. The developing street gang problem in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
which began to worsen at the end of the 1960s and got considerably worse in the late 1970s, also hurt traditional commercial activity the area, as it did much of downtown. While the LAPD indicates that the area is a sort of neutral zone, that has not been claimed by any single gang and meaning that random gang violence is rare, the area remains one of the major areas for street drug sales in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Most of the older buildings have stores that cater to the Latino immigrant working class.
In 1999, the Los Angeles City Council passed an Adaptive Re-Use Ordinance, allowing for the conversion of old, unused office buildings to apartments or "lofts." Developer Tom Gilmore
Tom Gilmore (property developer)
Tom Gilmore is a Los Angeles, California real estate developer. His successful efforts to transform historic buildings into residential properties have been credited with sparking "a tidal wave of housing developments" in Downtown Los Angeles...
purchased a series of century-old buildings and converted them into lofts near Main and Spring streets, a development now known as the "Old Bank District
Old Bank District, Los Angeles, California
Located in the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles, the Old Bank District is a group of early 20th century commercial buildings, many of which have been converted into residential use...
." Other notable redevelopment projects in the Historic Core have included the Higgins Building
Higgins Building
The Higgins Building is a proto-Modernist building rendered in the Beaux-Arts style located in downtown Los Angeles, California. Completed in 1910 by owner Thomas Higgins, an Irish American, the 10-story building was originally used for office space. The architects were Albert C. Martin, Sr. and A.L...
, The Security Bank Building, the Pacific Electric Building
Pacific Electric Building
The Pacific Electric Building opened in 1905 as the terminal for the Pacific Electric Red Car Lines running east and south of downtown Los Angeles, as well as the company's main headquarters building. It was designed by architect Thornton Fitzhugh...
, The Judson, and the Subway Terminal Building
Subway Terminal Building
The Subway Terminal Building, now known as Metro 417, is an Italian Renaissance Revival building in Downtown Los Angeles located at 417 South Hill Street. It was designed by architects Schultze and Weaver and was built in 1925. It served as the downtown terminus for the "Hollywood Subway" branch...
. As of 2005, redevelopment projects in downtown Los Angeles have been divided about evenly between rentals and condominiums; though projects near the Staples Center
Staples Center
Staples Center is a multi-purpose sports arena in Downtown Los Angeles. Adjacent to the L.A. Live development, it is located next to the Los Angeles Convention Center complex along Figueroa Street. Opening on October 17, 1999, it is one of the major sporting facilities in the Greater Los Angeles...
arena in the South Park
South Park, Los Angeles, California
South Park is a district in central Los Angeles, California, originally located around South Park near the intersection of 51st Street and Avalon Boulevard in South Central Los Angeles. However, due to redevelopment and gentrification since 2003, the name has been co-opted and now refers to an area...
neighborhood have been overwhelmingly dedicated to condominiums.
See also
- GentrificationGentrificationGentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
- Urban renewalUrban renewalUrban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...