A significant real estate development featuring over 1,500 residences and transforming three city blocks in downtown Los Angeles received approval from the City Council on Tuesday. The Fourth & Central complex is a $2 billion project that will incorporate residential, office, restaurant, and retail spaces across multiple distinct buildings over 7.6 acres. The current location comprises cold storage facilities, parking lots, and warehouses in the Skid Row area near the Arts District.
An artistic rendering of Fourth & Central reveals a $2-billion mixed-use development that will replace a cold storage facility in downtown Los Angeles. The project first appeared in 2021 and has undergone an extensive review process involving environmental impact assessments and objections from nearby Little Tokyo residents concerned about its scale and potential gentrification of the historic neighborhood.
The site owner, Los Angeles Cold Storage, consented to adjust the height of the tallest tower from 44 stories to 30. The approved plan for Fourth & Central features 10 buildings, including a 30-story residential skyscraper. The project entails 572 condominiums and 949 apartments, with at least 262 units designated as affordable housing. Previously included plans for a hotel have been removed.
The developers plan to preserve a six-story brick masonry building on 4th Street, dating back to the early 1900s, pending feasibility. According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, early cold storage facilities in the city were located on Central and Santa Fe avenues to serve rail line access and nearby food processing facilities. Los Angeles Cold Storage expanded several times throughout the 20th century, becoming a prominent name in cold storage in the city.
“We have spent years developing our plan to transform this industrial site into a mixed-use community,” remarked Larry Rauch, president of Los Angeles Cold Storage. “Hearing city decision-makers align with our vision for Downtown Los Angeles’s potential is a rewarding milestone. We believe in our city’s future, which is why we’ve committed to this significant investment.”
The next steps for developers include preparing construction drawings and other necessary actions to break ground in approximately two years. Architect Alan Pullman stated that Fourth & Central aims to resemble a small, walkable community, respecting the area’s industrial past. Studio One Eleven, Pullman’s Los Angeles firm, manages the master plan and building design. The firm has also engaged another architect to diversify the complex’s architecture.
“Our goal is to establish a neighborhood that feels organically developed over time,” Pullman said, striving to prevent the uniform design often seen in large-scale developments. Two marquee structures, including the high-rise, were crafted by Ghanaian-British architect David Adjaye, known for designing the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington.
The development will include a public courtyard and pedestrian paths, alongside local banks, dry cleaners, restaurants, bars, and fashion or arts-focused shops. The affordable housing units target tenants with very low and extremely low incomes, with support from the Downtown Women’s Center in resident services. The Women’s Center will assist in tenant selection and offer services such as case management, nursing, occupational therapy, and more.
“The need for housing is urgent. The Fourth & Central project represents the largest opportunity for privately funded, deeply affordable homes with comprehensive supportive services for Skid Row and downtown Los Angeles,” said Jed Leano of the Inner City Law Center.
Support for the project extends beyond, including endorsements from the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, the Little Tokyo Business Association, the Union Rescue Mission, MoveLA, the DTLA Residents Association, and Union Station Homeless Services.
“Downtown Los Angeles is where growth must happen. As the densest, most transit-accessible part of the city, we are integral to resolving the housing crisis,” stated Nella McOsker, president of the Central City Association. “Los Angeles requires more projects like Fourth & Central, expanding affordable housing, creating jobs, and fostering a sustainable city. Downtown is the ideal location for these advancements.”
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