In the early 20th Century, the Los Angeles River was lined with concrete — a feat of modern engineering at the time that served to reduce flooding in the region during heavy rains.
Today, the concrete-chic drainage channel has become one of the area’s hottest attractions for builders and developers. A number of office, residential and mixed-use properties are rising along the L.A. River, ranging from rehabbed industrial buildings to brand new developments.
Areas seeing a riverside boom include the Arts District, Lincoln Heights, Frogtown and Glassell Park neighborhoods. And as major projects rise, other amenities are flowing in, including cafes, bike-rental shops, bars and athletic facilities.
“It’s been going through a lot of gentrification,” Greg Tuszynski, a vice president at Colliers International Group Inc., said about the river and the surrounding area.
Among the driving forces behind the redevelopment are a series of extensive infrastructure improvements, including new bridges connecting one side of the river to the other and new parks lining the water’s edge.
The Sixth Street Viaduct, which connects the Arts District and Boyle Heights, was built in 1932 but began to deteriorate soon after. A $482 million project is underway to replace the viaduct and add a park.
According to city officials, it’s the largest bridge project in the city’s history with funding coming from the Federal Highway Administration, the California Department of Transportation and the city. The bridge is being designed by L.A. architect Michael Maltzan.
Mary Nemick, a spokeswoman for L.A.’s Bureau of Engineering, said the bridge will have wider sidewalks, bike lanes and a 12-acre park. Ramps off the bridge will connect to a park below that will house a plaza, skate park and public art.
The project is expected to be completed in 2022.
Big projects
Other older, rundown properties are getting renovated, including the Lincoln Heights Jail and a former Sears building. The 42-acre parcel at Taylor Yard in Glassell Park, formerly owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, was purchased by the city in 2017 for $60 million and is being redeveloped into a park. The plans also include a bikeway and pedestrian bridge.
Hundreds of units of multifamily housing are also going up along the river.
The Arts District is a hub for much of the new development.
New York-based developer V.E. Equities and the Gallo family are planning a 1.8-million-square-foot mixed-use development near the river called 670 Mesquit. The project will include 308 housing units, a 236-room hotel and 136,000 square feet of commercial space.
Bay Capital Fund is developing a 1.8-acre site at 2110 Bay. The project, designed by Long Beach-based Studio One Eleven, will have 45,000 square feet of ground level retail; 100,000 square feet of office space; and 100 live-work units.
Nearby, Lowe is developing a 100,000-square-foot office building at 2130 Violet St. The $60 million development will also have ground level retail. It’s expected to be completed in 2021.
Sixth Street Viaduct
The Sixth Street Viaduct will connect downtown’s Arts District to Boyle Heights. The original bridge was built in 1932. There will be a 12-acre park underneath the new viaduct with public art and programs for the community.
Address: East 6th Street
Developer: City of L.A. — the project is being led by City Engineer Gary Lee Moore.
Architects: Michael Maltzan and HNTB Corp.
Estimated Cost: $482 million
Estimated Completion Date: 2022
2750 Casitas
The Glassell Park project, about 5 miles due north of downtown, will have two five-story buildings and one six-story building, housing 419 apartments including 35 low-income units. It will also have 64,000 square feet of commercial space.
Address: 2750 Casitas Ave.
Developer: Pan Am Equities Inc.
Architect: Rios Clementi Hale Studios
Estimated Cost: Not Available
Estimated Completion Date: Not Available
2110 Bay Street
A 1.8-acre mixed-use project is planned for the Arts District, adjacent to the L.A. River. Once completed, the project will have 45,000 square feet of ground level retail; 100,000 square feet of office space; and 100 live-work units. The project will include three existing buildings.
Address: 2110 Bay St.
Developer: Bay Capital Fund
Architect: Studio One Eleven
Estimated Cost: Not Available
Estimated Completion Date: Not Available
Lincoln Heights Jail Redevelopment
The redevelopment of the Lincoln Heights Jail will bring a public market, live-work housing, green space and amphitheater to the industrial pocket along the L.A. River in Lincoln Heights. The jail was built in 1931 but later became overcrowded and was decommissioned as a jail in 1965. The project will also include space for light manufacturing and creative offices.
Address: 421 N. Ave. 19
Developer: Lincoln Property Co. and
Fifteen Group
Architect: Rios Clementi Hale Studios
Estimated Cost: Not Available
Estimated Completion Date:
Not Available
2130 Violet
Lowe is developing a 100,000-square-foot, nine-story creative office building along the L.A. River in the Arts District. It will have 25,000-square-foot floor plans for office tenants looking for bigger spaces, as well as ground floor retail.
Address: 2130 Violet St.
Developer: Lowe
Architect: Ware Malcomb Inc.
Estimated Cost: Not Available
Estimated Completion Date: 2021
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the name of the architect on the development at 2130 Violet St. Ware Malcomb Inc. is the architect.
