Pretty, pedestrian-friendly upgrades will makeover Los Angeles Street in the Fashion District

Plenty of people walk through the Fashion District, especially on weekends, and soon they’ll find snazzy upgrades along a stretch of sidewalk along Los Angeles Street.

A $1.77-million makeover broke ground today. New features between 7th Street and Olympic Boulevard will include pedestrian-friendly curb bump-outs, 26 new trees, and lighting at bus stops. New high-visibility crosswalks and ADA-compliant curb ramps are also planned.

The upgrades are part of Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar’s DTLA Forward initiative, in collaboration with the Bureau of Street Services, the Board of Public Works, the Fashion District BID.

These new additions will change the look of the streetscape, but the neighborhood as a whole is changing, too. Some massive new development projects are planned for the neighborhood, including a 33-story tower on a big parking lot at 7th and Maple streets.

Near 7th and Wall streets, on the site of the Flower Market, the market’s owners have proposed a mixed-use complex that would provide residential space as well as new facilities for the flower-selling crowd. And at 11th and Main streets, nearly 400 residential units are planned.

• 379 more residential units proposed for the Fashion District [Curbed LA]
• Downtown LA's Southern California Flower Market wants to build a residential tower [Curbed LA]
• New high-rise with 33 stories planned for Downtown LA's Fashion District [Curbed LA]