A Historical Look at Building and Construction in Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles, situated on the nation’s West Coast, surrounded by the San Bernardino Mountain Range, is the largest city in California. The city has undergone a major transformation since it was established in 1781 by Spanish governor Felipe de Neve. Building and construction has proceeded at a somewhat haphazard pace over the years. LA’s downtown, in particular, is currently undergoing something of a renaissance, with many historic buildings being converted into expensive lofts.
The majority of major downtown department stores once operated out of independent buildings in the area. Many were closed in the 1970’s and 80’s, as there was a movement away from stand-alones and into modern office parks and shopping complexes. With the city’s westward shift of the commercial center, downtown LA was lacking much nightlife until more recent times.
Despite the fact that the building and construction process proceeded relatively quickly, the LA City Council sped things up by enacting a reuse ordinance, thus making it simpler for developers to convert vacant old office buildings to high-class lofts and exclusive apartment complexes. A slew of professionals, fed up with the city’s notorious rush-hour gridlock problems, were quick to move in.
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