Gap Smaller Between Downtown and USC, but Students Still Missing the Boat
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The LA Times today runs a piece by Cara Mia DiMassa and David Pierson on the closing gap between USC and Downtown. In particular it looks at how development is starting to fill in the Figueroa Corridor and how many students now live in Downtown. They don't always find it to their liking:
Two years ago, USC student Matthew Kurtin decided that he wanted a change -- something a little more vibrant than the campus housing where he'd lived his first year at the university.
So he moved into the heart of downtown, to the historic Gas Co. loft building at 8th and Flower streets.
"I thought it would be cool to live downtown," said Kurtin, a Toronto native and a student of cinema and business administration.
But Kurtin, 21, said he quickly found it lonely living downtown. The neighborhood had a sprinkling of USC students, but there was no critical mass. Most of the parties were on campus, and Kurtin found it hard to get from his apartment to campus and back. Once his lease was up, Kurtin moved in with two friends on campus.
Randomly, I happen to know Matt from the USC waterski team. I think his case clearly illustrates what I see as the problem for many USC students Downtown: they want to live campus life and Downtown is the real world.
Matt and I moved Downtown at roughly similar times, though we didn't know each other until that fall (I don't think). So why have our experiences of Downtown been so different?
When I moved Downtown I was over the campus scene. I wasn't the one going to parties on campus. Even when I lived around the school my first choice for something to do would be to head elsewhere. I had barely set foot in a gallery before coming Downtown, but once I was here I became fascinated with Gallery Row and the scene around it. I got involved in DLANC. I made friends who lived, worked or were involved Downtown.
I feel strongly that USC students who live Downtown but don't connect to all it has to offer are missing out on an amazing opportunity. If only they realized how easy it is to get involved and get plugged into all that's happening. Then perhaps they wouldn't be as drawn back to campus for parties that really aren't all that exciting.
green LA girl on October 12, 2006, at 09:16PM – #1
I feel your frustration, though in a different sense -- I'm a grad student that teaches SC undergards. More generally, I wish that more SC students would step out of themselves for a sec to look at the wealth of opportunities and amusements the world looks around them. Unfortunately, what SC students consider as important -- their "world" -- is rather circumscribed.
On the other hand, I can't at all claim that it's easy to look at the bigger picture when you're 17-18...
Whitman Lam on October 12, 2006, at 10:28PM – #2
The new "Expo Line" light rail system can be a social bridge to bring more pedestrian activity, and link Downtown to USC and Exposition Park. Hopefully, the Expo can bridge that distance gap and be useful students, faculty, and tourists to help alleviate parking problems on campus.
We need to present this to the Expo Line planners so that they can understand how important it is, not just to get people from point A to B, but to plant the seeds of life in a barren Figueroa Corridor.
DT Lifer on October 13, 2006, at 10:05AM – #3
you left out an important piece of the article....where it mentions that, now 21 and a senior, he has given DT another chance and is now living at Metro 417, and loves it. He even recruited fellow mates to join him as well.
celia on October 13, 2006, at 05:11PM – #4
i think that illustrates eric's point exactly - he made friends outside of his college experience, whereas matt wants to bring his campus experience to downtown by moving in with friends and convincing other friends to move into another unit in the same building, you know, like a dorm, only located downtown.
aes06 on October 13, 2006, at 11:24PM – #5
"but there was no critical mass. Most of the parties were on campus".
They need to stay there as well. from what I've taken in here in my building, it's just a stop on the line for most of the college peeps. They want the "hip" factor of being able to say, yeah, I live in a loft in Downtown and try and keep the dorm style atmosphere, totally not cool. this is my first time in a big complex 300+ units and i've been amazed at the things i've seen so far especially in the trash chutes? Anyway, I myself love being here, it's home sweet home.
Scott on October 17, 2006, at 01:03AM – #6
the expo line should run down fig instead of flower, or at least jump the 110 before the expo park turn. i personally wouldnt want to walk from usc's housing concentration to the coliseum to catch a ride.
Whitman Lam on October 17, 2006, at 10:17AM – #7
I agree, they picked the easiest less crowded street to run on without thinking of the campus as a whole. There are many parking structures near the future Expo stops and Galen Center should be within walking distance. But you're right it's not near any housing or the main campus buildings. Hopefully some developer will see this and fill in the residential void near the stations.
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on October 17, 2006, at 10:39AM – #8
Whitman: The Galen Center is directly adjacent to the stop at Flower and Jefferson. Definitely within walking distance.
I sort of agree on Figueroa, but sort of not. Positionally, yes, Fig is where everything is. The Fig to Flower block is extremely short, though, and Figueroa is an absolute nightmare already when it comes to traffic. Flower fits with where the split from the Blue Line will be and also offers the only option of a curve onto Expo without tunneling under campus. If students would walk to Figueroa they'll walk to Flower. Whether they'll do either, however, is a very valid question. I wrote a paper on that a while back:
http://ericrichardson.com/verbal/transit/
glenda on October 17, 2006, at 04:37PM – #9
What would you say the majority of students think of DT? Are students not interested to connect the bridge btwn USC and DT? Do you think DT emanates a stigma and that's why students don't make an effort to acquaint themselves with DT?