Placemaking in DTLA
Efforts to enhance and activate public space is not a new concept for Downtown LA. Spurred by growth in the residential community and increasing tourist visitation, along with evolving demand from office tenants, the City and various stakeholders have undertaken a wide range of placemaking projects. As a result, the past 20 years provide many examples and case studies of how even small improvements can have a big impact, while major investments can transform entire areas.
Grand Park
Opened in 2012, Grand Park has all four of the Project for Public Spaces “great place” qualities described earlier and has become a go-to destination for unique programming including concerts, wellness, art, and more. And on hot days in the summer, its water feature is a major draw for families.
LA State Historic Park
A 32-acre grassy open space extending out from Chinatown, at the north end of Downtown, LA State Historic Park is a brownfield investment located on a former rail station that has already helped spur a dynamic mix development in the surrounding area.
Pershing Square Renovation
Ground was recently broken on the first phase of the long-awaited renovation of Pershing Square, which is intended to open the space up by removing the existing perimeter walls and structures and replacing them with trees and green space, reconnecting the park to the surrounding neighborhood.
POPS for People
One of the reasons POPS have so much potential is that they have both built-in user bases and committed stewards. Expansion of their purpose and programming is an opportunity for collaboration across groups of stakeholders and constituents.
Bunker Hill Campus
Two major recent renovations of POPS on Bunker Hill demonstrate the shifting priorities of property owners. In each case, purely decorative elements have been replaced with open and usable space.
Halo DTLA
Before
After
The Yard
Before
After
Activating the POPS
Beyond shifting designs, owners of POPS have embraced a core element of placemaking by bringing in a variety of different kinds of activations to engage and enliven.