Filling in Dead Space

By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, December 21, 2006, at 11:26PM

Eric Richardson [Flickr]

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I took the DASH D route twice today and took this shot while waiting for the bus at 6th/Main. These retail spaces on Main street were "built" with the garage, but have been unfinished ever since.

Having those empty shells with no ability to put something in them has contributed to maintaining Main between 5th and 6th as a dead zone. There's a thriving gallery scene at 5th and the potential for ground floor retail at 6th, but it will really take activating these spaces for the two to connect.

Update (Sat): As Tim Quinn noted in the comments, the spaces are in the process of being built out, as noted in the photo. That was what prompted my post, but I guess I really didn't make that clear. In fairness, I had just gotten off a plane and posted that from Chicago.

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Comments

Scott Mercer writes:

Main Street is really revving up. It's been a while since Gilmore's first incursion at Fourth and Main, but now, with Metropolis Books, and now seemingly some action here, things are really going to change soon.

As a resident of Pacfic Electric lofts, I have been ASSURED by building management that work will done on our facade within about one more month. I'll believe that when I see it, but reportedly the city inspector has signed off on the "underpinnings." When that's done, we'll have a few more retail tenants moving in there (gourmet market, bar, coffee house). I'll believe it when I see it, since they've been promising this stuff since the beginning of last year. Fingers crossed.

# on Dec.22.2006 AT 09:00 AM

Tim Quinn writes:

you don't explicitly say they are under going renovation, but that is what the picture looks like. This is very good news. That block has been creeps-ville and was holding back the neighborhood.

I have a feeling we have Brady to thank for this development.

# on Dec.22.2006 AT 12:45 PM

Bert Green writes:

Tim, you are correct, it was Brady who arranged for the CRA to provide funding for the storefront renovation. It's great to see it happening.

# on Dec.22.2006 AT 12:52 PM

jim writes:

they're doing more than just the storefronts -- the floors are dirt in those spaces.

# on Dec.22.2006 AT 09:28 PM

Bert Green writes:

Jim, that's true, they are building the stores from scratch, which was never done when the buiding was built in the 80s.

# on Dec.23.2006 AT 01:47 PM