Downtown Long Beach , California , United States is the location for most of the city's major tourist attractions, municipal services and for numerous businesses. There are many hotels and restaurants in the area that serve locals, tourists, and convention visitors.
106-683: Downtown Long Beach is bounded by the Los Angeles River to the west, and Ocean Boulevard to the south (south of Ocean is considered the "Downtown Shoreline", a separate area). Alamitos Avenue roughly delimits downtown to the east, although the City's actual downtown zoning extends a few blocks east of Alamitos. Similarly, downtown effectively ends around 7th Street to the north, but the City's downtown zoning carries as far north as Anaheim Street between Pacific Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard , and up to 10th Street east of that. The greater downtown area includes
212-509: A central plaza which faced the first church . The area passed to American control in 1847, and the small town grew to 11,000 by 1880, The business district was centered along Main Street between the Plaza and First Street. Land speculation increased in the 1880s, which saw the population of the city explode from 11,000 in 1880 to nearly 100,000 by 1896. Infrastructure enhancements and the laying of
318-463: A flood plain that is now occupied by Los Angeles, Long Beach, and other townships in Southern California . Its path was unstable and unpredictable, and the mouth of the river moved frequently from one place to another between Long Beach and Ballona Creek. Floods damaged extensive amounts of farmland, destroying houses and killing people and livestock. Severe flooding encouraged those living near
424-668: A $ 1 million donation to support the completion of the ARBOR study by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). This study ultimately resulted in the adoption of Alternative 20 , a restoration plan focused on 719 acres of habitat and pedestrian-friendly improvements, among other things. Communities and cities along the banks of the Los Angeles River include: Numerous films, television programs, music videos, commercials and video games have featured various sites along
530-509: A Spanish Franciscan missionary charged with exploring sites for Catholic missions in California , noted in 1769 that the region had "all the requisites for a large settlement". On September 4, 1781, Los Angeles was founded by a group of settlers who trekked north from present-day Mexico. Like most urban centers in the Spanish Empire , the town grew in a grid-like street pattern around
636-587: A board appointed by the then Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and certain members of L.A. City Council, to carry out many of its recommended projects. In September 2009, the first board meeting of the LA River Revitalization Corporation was held. Startup funding was provided by the CRA. Harry B. Chandler was elected first chair of the board, and Omar Brownson was hired in 2010 to be the founding executive director. The first development project undertaken by LARRC
742-707: A book about his 1876 visit to Los Angeles, entitled Los Angeles in Südcalifornien. Eine Blume aus dem goldenen Land ( Los Angeles in Southern California. A Flower from the Golden Land ) which included a description of the fish in the Los Angeles River: "the salmon, Quinnat salmon (Salmo quinnat), abundant between November and June; two kinds of trout, the brook trout (Salar iridea); and the salmon trout (Ptychocheilus grandis)." These three species are known today as
848-595: A cost of $ 588-million. This new bridge replaced a 1932 viaduct of the same name which was demolished in 2016 due to a fact that it would collapse if there were a major earthquake, and alkali-silica reaction – colloquially known as “concrete cancer.” Pedestrian and bicycle access points link to other projects such as 12 acres of new park space below the viaduct. Shopping centers include FIGat7th , and The Bloc Los Angeles , an open-air shopping area. Others include Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo , City National Plaza ,
954-494: A dense concentration of banks , department stores , and movie palaces that drew residents and visitors of all socioeconomic classes, but after the 1950s the area began to experience an economic decline. Still, it remained an important center for various activities—government business in the Civic Center, banking on Bunker Hill , and retail and entertainment, especially for Hispanic Angelenos and immigrants, on Broadway . Since
1060-486: A dozen theater and movie palaces built before 1932. Department stores, most that had grown from local dry goods businesses, moved from Spring and Main streets around Temple and 1st , to much larger stores along Broadway, including The Broadway , Hamburger's, which became May Co. , Robinson's , Bullock's , Coulter's , Desmond's , Silverwoods , Harris & Frank , and the Fifth Street Store /Walker's, serving
1166-465: A major bus terminal in downtown Los Angeles at the intersection of Seventh and Alameda streets. Los Angeles World Airports operates a direct shuttle, LAX FlyAway Bus, every 30–60 minutes between Union Station and Los Angeles International Airport . Downtown Los Angeles is home to several public parks, plazas, gardens and other open space: Several future park proposals for the district make use of public-private partnerships between developers and
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#17328512408841272-609: A new building across the Harbor (110) Freeway . Commercial growth brought with it hotel construction—during this time period several grand hotels, the Alexandria (1906), the Rosslyn (1911), and the Biltmore (1923), were erected—and also the need for venues to entertain the growing population of Los Angeles. Broadway became the nightlife, shopping and entertainment district of the city, with over
1378-413: A request for proposals in 2005 for the preparation of a Revitalization Master Plan, which would identify proposals that would make the Los Angeles River a "front door" to the city, and support civic activities. The city's Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan was adopted in 2007. One of the key recommendations made by the master plan was the establishment of a non-profit development corporation, with
1484-656: A state agency, published its Los Angeles River Park and Recreation Study in 1993, identifying potential projects along the river. In 2006, Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa visited South Korea to look at their river restoration project for the Cheonggyecheon . As a result of the Ad Hoc River Committee's efforts, and with funding from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power , the City of Los Angeles' Department of Public Works - Bureau of Engineering issued
1590-580: A street grid eventually brought development south of the Plaza: Victorian Downtown Los Angeles in the 1800s and 1890s along Main, Spring and Broadway south to Third Street – all of which were razed to make way for today's Civic Center . After 1900, larger buildings were constructed along Broadway and Spring from Third to Ninth streets in what is now called the Historic Core . By 1920, the city's private and municipal rail lines were
1696-547: A time, the river itself was a geographical divide between East L.A., which is largely Latino, and predominantly white, wealthy West L.A. These minority groups established themselves along the banks of the river, using fish for food. A distinguished link between the LA river and marginalization can be seen through time as a 1909 New York Times article describes these communities as poor transient communities that consume diseased fish to sustain themselves. Remediation efforts in order to tame
1802-622: A variety of socioeconomic groups from across the city and suburbs. All but Coulter's would, in the 1920s–1950s, launch branches dotting shopping centers across a growing Southern California. Numerous specialty stores also flourished including those in the jewelry business which gave rise to the Downtown Jewelry District. Among these early jewelers included the Laykin Diamond Company (later becoming Laykin et Cie ) and Harry Winston & Co., both of which found their beginnings in
1908-472: A whole. The median household income in 2008 dollars was $ 15,003, considered low for both the city and the county. The percentage of households earning $ 20,000 or less (57.4%) was the highest in Los Angeles County, followed by University Park (56.6%) and Chinatown (53.6%). The average household size of 1.6 people was relatively low. Renters occupied 93.4% of the housing units, and home or apartment owners
2014-473: A word for beaver To-le-vah-che . The ongoing efforts to revitalize the river began in earnest in approximately 2002. A number of city and county departments, committees and non-profit organizations have led the revitalization efforts. Since the 1938 floods and the subsequent concreting of the river channel, actual restoration of the River to its natural state is no longer possible or necessarily desirable, in most of
2120-481: Is accessible from various parts of the Los Angeles Basin. The cultural life has also made the area attractive to young tech employees. Two Bit Circus is the only amusement park located in the area. Anschutz Entertainment Group has its corporate headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. BYD Company , a Chinese technology firm, has its North American headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. The Last Bookstore
2226-461: Is at the confluence of two channelized streams – Bell Creek and Arroyo Calabasas – in the Canoga Park section of the city of Los Angeles, just east of California State Route 27 (Topanga Canyon Boulevard), at 34°11′43″N 118°36′07″W / 34.1952°N 118.601838°W / 34.1952; -118.601838 (the east side of Canoga Park High School ). Bell Creek flows east from
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#17328512408842332-715: Is leased from the Corps by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, plays host to diverse uses today including athletic fields, agriculture, golf courses, a fishing lake, parklands, a sewage treatment facility, and a wildlife reserve. The Los Angeles River bicycle path runs through the Glendale Narrows and is accessible to the public at its north end at Riverside Drive, at Los Feliz Boulevard, and at its south end at Glendale Boulevard, Fletcher Drive and at Egret Park in Elysian Valley. The bike path runs parallel to
2438-524: Is located in downtown Los Angeles. DTLA is a node in the tech economy that extends beyond Silicon Beach . A venture capital firm counted 78 tech-oriented firms in DTLA in 2015. This included mobile apps, hardware, digital media and clean-tech companies plus co-working spaces, start-up incubators, and other related businesses. The Arts District has become a popular spot for companies seeking out something different from typical modern offices. The central location
2544-850: Is planned to be achieved by creating a 51-mile arts and culture corridor, identifying and supporting cultures, and involving artists and cultural groups in the design process. The next goal outlined in the LA River Master Plan addresses impacts to the housing economy and the homeless community through incorporating the Affordable Housing Coordinating Committee in planning, creating mapping and assessment tools, increasing affordable housing, securing funding, and enhancing outreach to homeless populations. The actions to enhance engagement and education include providing spaces for all ages to learn, developing new educational materials, involving aspects from indigenous peoples, and promoting
2650-641: Is the date of the yearly Catholic feast day in honor of the Virgin Mary's Assumption into Heaven and assuming the role as Queen of the Angels, to which the small Portiuncula chapel, where the Franciscan Order began in Assisi, Italy , is dedicated. The river was thereafter referred to as the "Porciuncula River". In later years, the "Los Angeles" part of Crespi's lengthy name won out. Control of California, along with
2756-417: Is to support flourishing ecosystems by increasing habitat and ecosystem function, improve plant biodiversity including native species, connecting habitat to support wildlife, and increasing environmentally-friendly practices. The LA county goal of equal access to the river is outlined by creating access points and gateways and promoting safe transportation to the river. The objective of enhancing arts and culture
2862-672: The Artesia (91) Freeway , it receives Compton Creek from the right, 2.7 miles (4.3 km) from the mouth. After crossing under Interstate 405 for the second time, 2 miles (3.2 km) from the mouth, it draws close to the Dominguez Channel to the west and flows due south to its outlet in Long Beach , under Interstate 710, past the RMS Queen Mary , and into the Port of Long Beach . Until
2968-593: The Cahuilla ) Indians of the San Gabriel Mission were described by Father Pedro Font on the second de Anza Expedition in 1776, "The costume of the men in heathendom is total nakedness, while the women wear a bit of deer skin with which they cover themselves, and likewise an occasional cloak of beaver or rabbit skin, although the fathers endeavor to clothe the converted Indians with something as best they can." The Tongva or Gabrieleño Indians of Mission San Gabriel had
3074-597: The East Los Angeles Interchange of the Santa Ana (101) Freeway , Pomona (60) Freeway , and Interstates 5 and 10 on the left. It then makes a gradual turn east and then turns southeast, flowing a few miles before it begins to parallel the Long Beach (710) Freeway near Maywood , Bell , Cudahy , and Commerce , 20 miles (32 km) from the mouth. Paralleling the Long Beach Freeway south-southwest,
3180-587: The Financial District , many historic office buildings have been left intact, which is simply used for storage or remaining empty during recent decades. In 1999, the Los Angeles City Council passed an adaptive reuse ordinance , making it easier for developers to convert outmoded, vacant office and commercial buildings into renovated lofts and luxury apartment and condo complexes. As of early 2009, 14,561 residential units have been created under
3286-532: The Glendale Narrows ; and along its last few miles in Long Beach. The river was dry for nine months of the year as late as the 1950s. According to an August 2013 article in the Los Angeles Times , the water in the river today is largely "industrial and residential discharge," which originates from the "two giant pipes that collect the sewage from the homes of 800,000 San Fernando Valley residents" that lead to
Downtown Long Beach - Misplaced Pages Continue
3392-703: The Golden State (5) Freeway and makes a sharp bend to the south-southeast as it curves around Griffith Park . It receives from the left Verdugo Wash , which drains much of La Cañada Flintridge and Glendale as it flows from the San Gabriel Mountains south through a water gap in the Verdugo Mountains , and crosses under the Ventura Freeway. Here, the river begins to flow over a natural riverbed, but enters another concrete section soon after. Paralleling
3498-540: The Historic Core neighborhood. Despite its relative decentralization and comparatively new high-rises (until 1958, the city did not permit any structures taller than the 27-story City Hall building ), Los Angeles has one of the largest skylines in the United States , and its development has continued in recent years. The skyline has seen rapid growth due to improvements in seismic design standards, which has made certain building types highly earthquake-resistant. Many of
3604-523: The Homer Laughlin Building , and the Los Angeles Mall . Downtown Los Angeles is flanked by Echo Park to the north and northwest, Chinatown to the northeast, Boyle Heights to the east, Vernon to the south, Historic South Central and University Park to the southwest, and Pico-Union and Westlake to the west. Downtown is bounded on the northeast by Cesar Chavez Avenue , on
3710-691: The Hotel Alexandria at Fifth and Spring streets. Following World War II , suburbanization , the development of the Los Angeles freeway network, and increased automobile ownership led to decreased investment downtown. Many corporate headquarters slowly dispersed to new suburbs or fell to mergers and acquisitions. As early as the 1920s once-stately Victorian mansions on Bunker Hill were dilapidated, serving as rooming houses for 20,000 working-class Angelenos. The Broadway theaters saw much use as Spanish-language movie houses during this time, beginning with
3816-584: The San Gabriel Mountains . The river then rounds a bend to the northeast, now in a concrete box culvert, and crosses under the Hollywood (170) Freeway and Highway 101, and receives Burbank Western Channel on the left bank, 39 miles (63 km) from the mouth. The river then begins to parallel the Ventura (134) Freeway as it winds through North Hollywood and the city of Burbank . It then crosses under
3922-584: The Simi Hills , and Arroyo Calabasas flows north from the Santa Monica Mountains . From there the river flows east through a concrete flood control channel and very soon receives Browns Canyon Wash , which flows south from the Santa Susana Mountains . The river then bends slightly south and receives Aliso Canyon Wash , whose watershed adjoins that of Browns Canyon. The river then flows through
4028-620: The Spring Street Financial District . Sometimes referred to as the " Wall Street of the West ," the district held corporate headquarters for financial institutions including Bank of America , Farmers and Merchants Bank , the Crocker National Bank , California Bank & Trust, and International Savings & Exchange Bank. The Los Angeles Stock Exchange was also located on the corridor from 1929 until 1986 before moving into
4134-497: The Tillman Water Reclamation Plant , "before crashing over a man-made waterfall into Lake Balboa. That body of water, along with two smaller ones, puts 23 million gallons of water a day into the river at Sepulveda Basin." Despite the heavy flood flows of the river during winter months, the LA river has become a refuge for marginalized communities, such as migrant, homeless, and diverse sociocultural communities. For
4240-757: The Tongva and the Río Porciúncula ' Porciúncula River ' by the Spanish, is a major river in Los Angeles County, California . Its headwaters are in the Simi Hills and Santa Susana Mountains , and it flows nearly 51 miles (82 km) from Canoga Park through the San Fernando Valley , Downtown Los Angeles , and the Gateway Cities to its mouth in Long Beach , where it flows into San Pedro Bay . While
4346-467: The Tongva people , hunters and gatherers who lived primarily off fish , small mammals , and the acorns from the abundant oak trees along the river's path. There were at least 45 Tongva villages near the Los Angeles River, concentrated in the San Fernando Valley and the Elysian Valley, in what is present-day Glendale. After the Spanish established Mission San Gabriel in 1771, they referred to
Downtown Long Beach - Misplaced Pages Continue
4452-416: The 5 freeway for the majority of its length and has mile markers and call boxes for information and safety purposes. Rio de Los Angeles State Park is north of downtown Los Angeles in the neighborhood of Cypress Park on the east bank of the river. The 247-acre (1.00 km ) park includes restored wetlands featuring native plants as well as recreational activities. The river's southern stretch forms
4558-489: The 51 mile river, lest new flooding occur. Studies in the 1980s included a freeway to be used during the dry season to alleviate traffic congestion, and use as a path for hovercraft. In 2011, the creation of the L.A. River Recreation Zone legalized recreational use in the area. Since then, there have been countless projects to restore recreational use, including a 2.5 mile section of the Glendale Narrows that opened to
4664-660: The Army Corps of Engineers recommended a $ 453 million plan to restore nearly 600 acres of wildlife habitat – much of that located between Griffith Park and Lincoln Heights – as the best option to restore the river's ecosystem while preserving the flood protection provided by the concrete encasement. Subsequently, all Federal funding for the plan has been on hold. In early 2016, there was some dispute as to federal funding for river cleanup after winter storms. As part of Proposition 68 in California in June 2018, later that year, grants were given for
4770-708: The Chinook salmon, steelhead/rainbow trout, and Sacramento pikeminnow. The native species of the Los Angeles River were extirpated by the conversion of the natural riverbed into a concrete trapezoidal channel in 1938. The last known native species to be caught in the river was a rainbow trout in 1940 by a local fisherman. There is an abundance today of non-native fish species in the Los Angeles River which include common carp , largemouth bass , tilapia , green sunfish , Amazon sailfin catfish , bluegill , black bullhead , brown bullhead , channel catfish , fathead minnow , crayfish , and mosquito fish . However, Arroyo chub , which
4876-714: The DTLA area. It was not a "census" but rather a comprehensive survey of Downtown LA consumers. An additional study by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District showed that by 2017 the population reached 67,324. In early 2020 the population was estimated to have exceeded 80,000 at the end of 2019. Downtown Los Angeles is the center of the region's growing rail transit system, with six commuter lines operated by Metrolink , as well as six urban rail transit lines and local and regional bus service operated by Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). Major Metro stations in
4982-807: The Downtown Update of the Long Beach Development Services for a presentation document showing completed, approved and pending projects. The following are located in Long Beach's downtown area: From 1902 to 1961, the neighborhood was served by the Pacific Electric Long Beach Line . Downtown Long Beach is within the Long Beach Unified School District . Los Angeles River The Los Angeles River ( Spanish : Río de Los Ángeles ), historically known as Paayme Paxaayt ' West River ' by
5088-605: The Golden State Freeway for the next few miles, the river runs by the eastern side of Griffith Park and the Harding-Wilson Golf Course. It passes Silver Lake Reservoir , which is to the right, and crosses under the Glendale (2) Freeway , 32 miles (51 km) from the mouth. Making two meanders as it flows in a southeasterly direction, the river parallels the interstate and Riverside Drive then crosses under
5194-507: The Great LA Cleanup had up to 10,000 volunteers over three weekends covering the upper, middle, and lower sections of the River. In 2016, an estimated 5,000 volunteers took place in the annual cleanup, including the mayor and several elected officials. In 2018, more than 6,000 volunteers removed more than 60 tons of trash at nine sites along the Los Angeles River. In 2019, the FoLAR cleanup was
5300-471: The Los Angeles River (FoLAR) was founded in 1986 by poet and activist Lewis P. Macadams. Originally deemed a "40-year artwork to bring the River back to life," FoLAR was the first organization advocating for habitat restoration and public access on the LA River. One FoLAR's more prominent ongoing projects is the annual Great LA River Cleanup, which began in 1988 with a group of less than twenty people. In 2017,
5406-400: The Los Angeles River. Since the river is a trickle for much of the year and the culvert is dry, it is often used as a setting for races, car chases, gang rumbles, and other scenes requiring an open, deserted setting within the city. The following have scenes filmed or set within the culvert: Downtown Los Angeles Downtown Los Angeles ( DTLA ) is the central business district of
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#17328512408845512-410: The River known as the LA River Index. In 2018, the County of Los Angeles opted to update their River Masterplan. Geosyntec was hired to lead the effort, with Gehry Partners, RiverLA and OLIN taking on additional responsibilities. In 2019, Gehry revealed to Alta Magazine that he is working on designing several projects along the River, including a cultural center in Southgate. On September 13, 2013,
5618-450: The St. Francis Dam, unpredictable and devastating floods continued to plague it well into the 1930s, including: The incidents resulted in the US Army Corps of Engineers beginning an ambitious project of encasing the river's bed and banks in concrete . The only portions of the river that are not paved over are in the flood-control basin behind the Sepulveda Dam near Van Nuys ; an 11-mile (17.7-km) stretch east of Griffith Park known as
5724-543: The Tongva living in that mission's vicinity as Gabrieleño . In 1769, members of the Portolá expedition to explore Alta California were the first Europeans to see the river. On August 15, the party camped near the river, somewhere along the stretch just to the north of what is now the Interstate 10 crossing near downtown Los Angeles. Fray Juan Crespi , one of two Franciscan missionaries traveling with Portolá, named it el río de Nuestra Señora La Reina de Los Ángeles de Porciúncula . Crespi chose that name, because August 15
5830-439: The activities concentrated there now or historically, such as the Arts , Fashion , Banking , Theater , Toy , and Jewelry Districts. It is the hub for the city's urban rail transit system , as well as the Pacific Surfliner and Metrolink commuter rail system covering greater Southern California . Also located in downtown is the Civic Center , the administrative core of the city government . Historically, downtown held
5936-429: The adaptive reuse ordinance, leading to an increase in the residential population. With 28,878 residents in 2006, 39,537 in 2008, and over 60,000 in 2017, downtown Los Angeles is seeing new life and investment. Multiple Olympic and Paralympic events will be held in DTLA during the 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics . After six years of construction, the new Sixth Street Viaduct opened on July 9, 2022 at
6042-457: The advancement in urbanization, as various government bodies subdued the river by reducing its flow. Until the 1900s the river was known to supply enough water to incorporate a system of wells to be built in order to supply freshwater to the city. The Los Angeles Aqueduct was opened in 1913. The heavy flow of the Los Angeles River presented many issues, as it began to get exploited as a sewer system. Along with these uses, populations surrounding
6148-441: The building was under construction, L.A. City Council removed the flat roof ordinance as of 2015. The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Central Health Center in downtown Los Angeles. The Southern California Liaison of the California Department of Education has its office in the Ronald Reagan State Building in downtown Los Angeles. The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Los Angeles Branch
6254-436: The city of Los Angeles . It is part of the Central Los Angeles region and covers a 5.84 sq mi (15.1 km ) area. As of 2020, it contains over 500,000 jobs and has a population of roughly 85,000 residents, with an estimated daytime population of over 200,000 people prior to the COVID-19 pandemic . Downtown Los Angeles is divided into neighborhoods and districts, some overlapping. Most districts are named for
6360-399: The city of Los Angeles, including a public park at the proposed Nikkei Center development in Little Tokyo ; a 1-acre (4,000 m ) park at the Medallion development in the Historic Core; and a pocket park at the Wilshire Grand Hotel replacement project, currently under construction. Additionally, the city recently completed a new park located on the 400 block of South Spring Street in
6466-417: The cleanup of invasive plants along part of the river. As a result, in 2018, Los Angeles and its LARiverWorks policy team had a project underway for "every mile of the river within city limits, aiming to improve connectivity, increase open space, and restore habitat. New bridges and trails will accommodate people on foot, bikes, or horseback." Plans to cleanup 11 miles of river north of downtown Los Angeles, in
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#17328512408846572-489: The congestion they could bring to the streets, and height limit ordinances were a common way of dealing with the problem. In 1911, the city passed an updated height limit ordinance, establishing a specific limit of 150 feet (46 m). Exceptions were granted for decorative towers such as those later built on the Eastern Columbia Building and United Artists Theatre, as well as the now-demolished Richfield Tower . The pattern of buildings in Los Angeles to feature flat rooftops
6678-431: The conversion of the Million Dollar Theater in the 1950s to a Spanish-language theater. In the early 2000s, the neighborhood became popular with Artists and Creatives due to low rent, open loft space, and many vacancies. In mid-2013, downtown was noted as "a neighborhood with an increasingly hip and well-heeled residential population". Because of the downtown area's office market's migration west to Bunker Hill and
6784-505: The district include Union Station , Civic Center/Grand Park station , Pershing Square station , 7th Street/Metro Center station , Pico station , Little Tokyo/Arts District station , Historic Broadway station , and Grand Avenue Arts/Bunker Hill station . Amtrak operates intercity passenger train service on five routes through Los Angeles Union Station : the Coast Starlight , Pacific Surfliner , Southwest Chief , Sunset Limited , and Texas Eagle . Greyhound Lines operates
6890-434: The district of Winnetka , then Reseda and enters the Sepulveda Basin, a flood-control reservoir formed by the Sepulveda Dam . As the river proceeds into the usually-dry reservoir, it spills out into a channel that is similar to its historical, non-channeled form. It crosses under Balboa Boulevard and then receives Bull Creek . The river then passes through the outlet works of Sepulveda Dam, 43 miles (69 km) from
6996-424: The early 2000s, downtown has experienced a renaissance of economic revitalization, including the Crypto.com Arena in downtown's south end, and the restoration and repurposing of historic buildings in the area. The Tongva village of Yaanga was located in what is now downtown Los Angeles, possibly near or underneath where the Bella Union Hotel was located (now Fletcher Bowron Square ). Father Juan Crespí ,
7102-452: The east by the Los Angeles River , on the south by the Los Angeles city line with Vernon, on the southwest by East Washington Boulevard and on the west by the 110 Freeway or Beaudry Avenue, including the entire Four Level Interchange with the 101 Freeway . The neighborhood includes these districts: The 2000 U.S. census found that just 27,849 residents lived in the 5.84 square miles of downtown—or 4,770 people per square mile, among
7208-448: The end of their competitive life-cycle are finding a new beginning as residential conversions. In 2014 the city's Municipal Code provided for Adaptive Reuse, which is a "construction or remodeling project that reconfigures existing spaces, structures or buildings to accommodate a new use or to accommodate another purpose than what it was originally designed for." The City created the Adaptive Reuse Incentive Program to guide developers through
7314-408: The flood of 1825, which, by cutting a river way to tide water, drained the marsh land and caused the forests to disappear." The river was long joined by the San Gabriel River in present-day Long Beach , but in the Great Flood of 1862 , the San Gabriel carved out a new course 6 miles (9.7 km) to the east, and has discharged into Alamitos Bay ever since. The arrival of the railroad accelerated
7420-411: The heart of an industrial corridor, stretching nearly unbroken from Lincoln Heights to Long Beach . In this area, the busy Long Beach Freeway ( I-710 ) and several high-voltage power lines run within a few hundred feet of the riverbed. Several rail yards are located along the river's banks in this stretch, as well. Just outside the industrial corridor lie some of the most densely populated cities in
7526-682: The hopes of attracting steelhead trout , will cost $ 1.1 billion. In February 2019, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District was informing the federal government that it wanted to take control of about 40 miles of channels owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 2020, Los Angeles County released an updated LA River Master Plan detailing plans for the river over the next 25 years. The current plan addresses 9 goals related to flood risk, parks, ecosystems, access, arts and culture, housing, engagement and education, water supply, and water quality. The plan for decreasing flood risk consists of preserving and increasing flood risk capacity, reducing flow into
7632-630: The interstate and Arroyo Seco (110) Parkway as it flows east of Elysian Park . It then receives the Arroyo Seco , another major tributary, from the left. The river flows south past the Mission Junction, a large railroad yard on the left. It enters a wider concrete channel with sloped sides, and crosses under Cesar Chavez Avenue, the Hollywood (101) Freeway , and the San Bernardino (10) Freeway as it passes east of downtown Los Angeles , flowing past
7738-537: The largest river cleanup in the United States. The cleanup marked 30 years in 2019. By the summer of 2019, kayaking in Los Angeles in the river had become common. As of 2018, FoLAR has adopted a year-round cleanup model through partnerships with other environmental organizations like Heal the Bay, and through service opportunities for corporate groups and large organizations through River Makers program. In 2012, FoLAR raised
7844-431: The lowest densities for the city of Los Angeles but about average for the county. The Southern California Association of Governments estimates that downtown's daytime population is 207,440. The population increased to 34,811 by 2008, according to city estimates. By the end of 2019, the population of the district had grown to 85,000 residents, and 7,956 residential units were under construction. The median age for residents
7950-456: The most far-flung and most comprehensive in the world in mileage, even besting that of New York City . By this time, a steady influx of residents and aggressive land developers had transformed the city into a large metropolitan area, with DTLA at its center. Rail lines connected four counties with over 1,100 miles (1,800 km) of track. During the early part of the 20th century, banking institutions clustered around South Spring Street, forming
8056-540: The most water banded together to form the Owens Valley Irrigation District in order to try to secure a better deal. When the Owens Valley Irrigation District did not succeed, they created three smaller groups in order to try to bargain. These groups were turbulent in their efforts; resorting to violence, trying to get the attention of state and national press, and calling for politician interference to support their demands for more compensation. This conflict
8162-592: The mouth. It flows again into a concrete channel and crosses under the San Diego (405) Freeway as it passes through Van Nuys , Sherman Oaks , and Studio City , still flowing east. Paralleling U.S. Highway 101 briefly, it then veers southeast, away from the highway, and receives from the left the Tujunga Wash , one of its largest tributaries, which flows southwest and south from the Angeles National Forest in
8268-711: The neighborhoods of the East Village Arts District , the West End, North Pine, the Civic Center, and the "Downtown Core" or central business and entertainment area. During the 2028 Summer Olympics , downtown Long Beach will host Sailing , water polo , triathlon and open water swimming . The Downtown Long Beach Alliance manages the business- and commercial property-based improvement districts in Downtown Long Beach. There are approximately 1,500 businesses in Downtown Long Beach, including several law firms given
8374-475: The new skyscrapers contain a housing or hotel component. Some current and upcoming examples of skyscraper construction include: The first height limit ordinance in Los Angeles was enacted following the completion of the 13-story Continental Building , located at the southeast corner of Fourth and Spring streets. The purpose of the height limit was to limit the density of the city. There was great hostility to skyscrapers in many cities in these years, mainly due to
8480-414: The ocean, even in the driest summers; although there are historical accounts of the river running dry, there has been constant flow of the river every month since recording of stream flow began in 1929. This is helped by the concrete channel, which limits absorption of water into the earth. Flow, while generally low in volume, can be extremely brisk even in summer. The Los Angeles River's official beginning
8586-549: The opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913, the Los Angeles River was the main water source for the Los Angeles Basin . The river ran dry during the summers and flooded during winter months. Indigenous communities adapted to the climate surrounding the river, maximizing agricultural yields by rerouting the natural flow of the river and constructing water wheels along the river. The river provided water and food to
8692-579: The process. Re-purposing a building avoids demolition, sending the structure to landfills, while preserving the historic value and unique architecture of downtown Long Beach. Examples of buildings converted for reuse include the Verizon office building on 200 W. Ocean Blvd. in Long Beach which is changed into a mixed-use apartment building over retail. The Long Beach Professional Building , an eight story poured in place concrete Art Deco medical office tower constructed in 1929 and once in danger of being torn down,
8798-580: The proximity of the Los Angeles County Courthouse, as well as over 150 restaurants, wine bars, performing arts venues, and the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center. A complete and frequently updated business directory is available online at Downtown Long Beach Alliance's website . The California State University system headquarters are at 401 Golden Shore in Downtown Long Beach. Outdated office buildings that have reached
8904-413: The public for unrestricted recreational use between Memorial Day and Labor Day in 2013. In May 2014 it was announced that two sections of the river would again be open for recreational use during the summer. The Los Angeles City Council formed an ad hoc committee in 2002 to focus on accessing and revitalizing the river that was chaired by Councilmember Ed Reyes. The California Coastal Conservancy ,
9010-514: The resources of the river. Before the river's channelization the river supported a variety of mammals which included the California golden bear (removed 1897), grey wolf (removed 1890s), coyote , mule deer , and North American beaver . There is indirect evidence that North American beaver ( Castor canadensis ) were native to the river, as the Beñemé ( Mojave ) and Jeniguechi ( San Jacinto branch of
9116-478: The rest of the northern part of the republic of Mexico, was wrested by the United States in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). California became a state in 1850, and the Los Angeles area began to boom the following year. Generations of settlers and city managers drained, rerouted, polluted and overpopulated the river and its watershed. The river was originally an alluvial river that ran freely across
9222-418: The rest. In 2000, there were 2,400 military veterans living downtown, or 9.7% of the population, considered a high rate for the city but average for the county overall. In 2010, census data concluded that 40,227 people lived in downtown Los Angeles. In 2013, a study by Downtown Center Business Improvement District showed that of the 52,400 people resided in downtown Los Angeles, the demographic breakdown
9328-400: The river along with the construction of highways in the 1950s and 1960s displaced hundreds of thousands of individuals. These implications lead to poor air quality and increased exposure to diseases that inhibit good health. Sepulveda Basin is a flood-control basin to manage floodwater runoff. Except for infrequent but dramatic flood episodes, this dry-land flood control basin, most of which
9434-561: The river and other local sources, most of the water supply flows from several aqueducts serving the area. The Los Angeles River is heavily polluted from agricultural and urban runoff . Fed primarily by rainwater and snowmelt (in winter and spring), the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys (in summer and fall), and urban discharge, it is one of the few low-elevation perennial rivers in Southern California. Some water usually reaches
9540-515: The river as an economic asset to nearby communities. The eighth goal in the master plan is to improve water supply through diverting and treating stormwater and dry weather flows before they flow into the river, supporting efficient water usage, creating better operations, maintenance, and measures. The final goal is to improve water quality by developing water quality projects, working with watershed management groups, raising public awareness, and improving facility operations and maintenance. Friends of
9646-480: The river by the end of the decade. The path is envisioned to be the central focus of a linear recreational park as well as providing an alternative transportation path through Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Times first reported in 2015 that the renowned architect Frank Gehry was collaborating with the LARRC (whose name was changed to River LA). In 2017, Gehry Partners and River LA produced an informational database on
9752-527: The river often tossed feces and waste into the river, along with dead dogs and horses (and the occasional dead human), in hopes that they would get washed down stream and released to the open ocean waters. In the early 1920s, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (led by the Los Angeles Board of Water and Power Commissioners) negotiated and gradually purchased almost all of Owens Valley farms and their corresponding water rights. The farmers with
9858-694: The river then crosses under former California State Route 42 and the interstate as it receives the Rio Hondo from the left, 9 miles (14 km) from the mouth. The Rio Hondo ("deep river") now serves as a distributary for the San Gabriel River to the east via the Whittier Narrows Reservoir . The river then crosses under the Century (105) Freeway and shifts slightly southwest, then flows east of Compton and west of Bellflower . After crossing under
9964-419: The river to adapt and construct further away from the river in order to prevent loss from flooding. In the early 19th century, the river turned southwest after leaving the Glendale Narrows , where it joined Ballona Creek and discharged into Santa Monica Bay in present Marina del Rey. However, this account is challenged by Col. J. J. Warner, in his Historical Sketch of Los Angeles County : "...until 1825 it
10070-446: The river was once free-flowing and frequently flooding, forming alluvial flood plains along its banks, it is currently notable for flowing through a concrete channel on a fixed course, which was built after a series of devastating floods in the early 20th century. Before the opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct , the river was the primary source of fresh water for the city. Although the Los Angeles region still receives some water from
10176-463: The river, incorporating climate change research, and increasing emergency planning, public awareness, and management practices. In order to create inclusive, open areas, LA county's actions include making 51 continuous miles of open space, finishing the LA River Trail, providing amenities, implementing multi-use functionality, and promoting public safety. The third goal of the 2020 LA River Master Plan
10282-401: The second–most diverse neighborhood in Los Angeles, its diversity index being 0.743, outrated only by Mid-Wilshire . The ethnic breakdown in 2000 was Latinos , 36.7%; blacks , 22.3%; Asians , 21.3%; whites , 16.2%, and others, 3.5%. Mexico (44.7%) and Korea (17%) were the most common places of birth for the 41.9% of the residents who were born abroad, about the same ratio as in the city as
10388-677: The state of California, such as the cities of Bell , Bell Gardens , Cudahy , Maywood and South Gate ; most of these cities are in the river's flood plain and experienced significant flooding prior to channelization . List of parks, trails and bike paths adjacent to the L.A. River and tributaries: Historically, the native species of fish in the Los Angeles River included rainbow/steelhead trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ), river shrimp , Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ), Sacramento pikeminnow ( Ptychocheilus grandis ), Pacific lamprey , three-spined stickleback , and Santa Ana sucker . In 1877 Archduke Ludwig Salvator of Austria published
10494-400: Was 39, considered old for the city and the county . Downtown Los Angeles is almost evenly balanced among the four major racial and ethnic groups— Asian Americans (23%), African Americans (22%), Latinos (25%) and non-Hispanic whites (26%)—according to an analysis of 2010 census data made by Loyola Marymount University researchers. A study of the 2000 census showed that downtown was
10600-432: Was 52.7% Caucasian, 20.1% Asian, 17.0% Latino, and 6.2% African-American; 52.9% female, 47.1% male; and 74.8% of residents were between the ages of 23–44. The median age for residents was 34. The median household income was $ 98,700. The median household size was 1.8. In terms of educational attainment, 80.1% of residents had completed at least 4 years of college. The study was a self-selecting sample of 8,841 respondents across
10706-495: Was creating a public-private partnership to create the first pedestrian, bike and equestrian bridge across the river. Developer Mort La Kretz provided the seed financing for the bridge, which was built next to the 5 freeway in the Elysian Valley by the Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering and completed in 2020. On July 23, 2013, the LARRC announced a goal of completing a continuous 51-mile (82 km) greenway and bike path along
10812-621: Was most recently renovated in 2018. The historic building is on the List of City of Long Beach Historic Landmarks and the California Office of Historic Preservation. The building was accepted in 2005 into the National Register of Historic Places. The restoration project was conducted by Global Premier Development and KTGY Architecture + Planning. The structure is now called The Regency Palms, an assisted living and memory care facility. Refer to
10918-844: Was once thought gone since the channelization, has made small appearances throughout parts of the Los Angeles River, Most recent being in the area of Balboa Lake/Anthony C. Beilenson Park in the surrounding channels such as Bull Creek, Woodley Creek and around the creeks and main body of the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve. There is also a large variety of bird species in the Los Angeles River which include snowy egret , great egret , black-necked stilt , great blue heron , green heron , mallard , cinnamon teal , American coot , Muscovy duck , white pelican , Canada goose , osprey , California high desert mourning dove , black-chinned hummingbird , barn owl , and red tailed hawk . All of these species either nest or live off of
11024-412: Was seldom, if in any year, that the river discharged even during the rainy season its waters into the sea. Instead of having a river way to the sea, the waters spread over the country, filling the depressions in the surface and forming lakes, ponds and marshes. The river water, if any, that reached the ocean drained off from the land at so many places, and in such small volumes, that no channel existed until
11130-502: Was so highly disputed that the national press referred to it as "California's Little Civil War." The St. Francis Dam was built starting in 1924 (and through 1926), leading to the creation of a large reservoir in San Francisquito Canyon , and provided water for Los Angeles. The dam collapsed in 1928. The 1930s in particular saw rapid urban development in areas prone to river flooding. Despite smaller mitigation efforts than
11236-538: Was the result of a 1974 fire ordinance which required all tall buildings in the city to include rooftop helipads in response to the devastating 1974 Joelma Fire in Sao Paulo, Brazil , in which helicopters were used to effect rescues from the flat rooftop of the building. The Wilshire Grand Center was the first building granted an exception by the Los Angeles City Fire Department in 2014. However, as
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