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I think that often Downtown L.A. is written off as not much of a downtown, but the times I've been all around Downtown, I've seen a downtown that is full of people, quite lively, and with many interesting districts.
Now, when I talk of prominence, I mean in terms of standing out. In this case, in terms of how big the downtown is and feels, what it has to offer, liveliness, etc...
Its obvious that Downtown L.A. is below Chicago downtown and NYC Midtown, but what about the other cities in the U.S.?
I would say that in terms of Downtown L.A. feeling "consistent", like one single downtown, it falls way short of San Francisco and Seattle downtowns', and San Francisco has a much denser downtown (and Seattle being less dense but still denser), but Downtown Los Angeles has so many more areas and offerings.
Busy Districts around L.A. include Broadway, The Fashion District, the Toy District, the Financial District on weekdays, and Chinatown and Olvera Plaza on weekends. Little Tokyo is fairly active on Weekends, so its possible to walk a nearly 3 mile long stretch of Downtown L.A. in weekends that is very active. Also, the L.A. Convention Center - Staples Center - Nokia Theater area is quite active for much of the year whenever any one of these venues are used.
In terms of places to go other than shopping districts, Downtown L.A. falls short in Museums (only the MOCA, Museum of Neon Art, and the Japanese American National Museum), but has the Central Library and has plenty of venues (Walt Disney Concert Hall, Music Center, Staples Center, L.A. Convention Center) as well as the Cathedral of our Lady of Angels, and Union Station. DTLA also falls short in having few parks and no real significant public park, but has many concrete and landscaped plazas (i.e. Bunker Hill, Civic Center Mall.) Bunker Hill itself is an interesting walk, walking through the bridges into the Bonaventure, and then the Wells Fargo, 333 S. Hope, and California Plaza areas, as well as the Spanish Steps, and along the way seeing public art statues, fountains, and other landscaping.
As for comparing downtown Los Angeles, how about in comparison to other large downtowns around the U.S. like Minneapolis, Houston, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Boston?
At the very least, I can see Downtown L.A. below Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Seattle downtowns', but above Houston and Atlanta's. San Diego has a formidable downtown for a city its size, but its still doesn't feel as big and prominent as Downtown L.A. Downtown L.A. is, after all, roughly 3 miles long and 1 mile wide.
Now, when I talk of prominence, I mean in terms of standing out. In this case, in terms of how big the downtown is and feels, what it has to offer, liveliness, etc...
Its obvious that Downtown L.A. is below Chicago downtown and NYC Midtown, but what about the other cities in the U.S.?
I would say that in terms of Downtown L.A. feeling "consistent", like one single downtown, it falls way short of San Francisco and Seattle downtowns', and San Francisco has a much denser downtown (and Seattle being less dense but still denser), but Downtown Los Angeles has so many more areas and offerings.
Busy Districts around L.A. include Broadway, The Fashion District, the Toy District, the Financial District on weekdays, and Chinatown and Olvera Plaza on weekends. Little Tokyo is fairly active on Weekends, so its possible to walk a nearly 3 mile long stretch of Downtown L.A. in weekends that is very active. Also, the L.A. Convention Center - Staples Center - Nokia Theater area is quite active for much of the year whenever any one of these venues are used.
In terms of places to go other than shopping districts, Downtown L.A. falls short in Museums (only the MOCA, Museum of Neon Art, and the Japanese American National Museum), but has the Central Library and has plenty of venues (Walt Disney Concert Hall, Music Center, Staples Center, L.A. Convention Center) as well as the Cathedral of our Lady of Angels, and Union Station. DTLA also falls short in having few parks and no real significant public park, but has many concrete and landscaped plazas (i.e. Bunker Hill, Civic Center Mall.) Bunker Hill itself is an interesting walk, walking through the bridges into the Bonaventure, and then the Wells Fargo, 333 S. Hope, and California Plaza areas, as well as the Spanish Steps, and along the way seeing public art statues, fountains, and other landscaping.
As for comparing downtown Los Angeles, how about in comparison to other large downtowns around the U.S. like Minneapolis, Houston, Atlanta, Washington DC, and Boston?
At the very least, I can see Downtown L.A. below Boston, San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Seattle downtowns', but above Houston and Atlanta's. San Diego has a formidable downtown for a city its size, but its still doesn't feel as big and prominent as Downtown L.A. Downtown L.A. is, after all, roughly 3 miles long and 1 mile wide.