The Los Angeles City Council has approved a significant real estate project that will transform three city blocks in downtown Los Angeles. The development, known as the Fourth & Central complex, is set to cost $2 billion. It will feature over 1,500 residences, along with a mix of offices, restaurants, and shops across several distinct buildings on a 7.6-acre site. The location, which is currently a mix of cold storage facilities, parking lots, and warehouses, sits on Skid Row near the Arts District.
The project was introduced in 2021 and has undergone extensive review. This process included environmental impact assessments and engagement with local communities and organizations, particularly in nearby Little Tokyo, which expressed concerns about the project’s scale and potential gentrification. In response, the building height of the tallest tower was reduced from an originally planned 44 stories to 30.
Approved plans include 10 buildings, with one being a 30-story residential skyscraper. The proposal details 572 condominiums and 949 apartments, with at least 262 units designated as affordable housing. An original plan for a hotel was eliminated. The developers also aim to repurpose a six-story brick masonry building from the early 1900s on 4th Street.
Historically, the area was home to early Los Angeles cold storage facilities, with Los Angeles Cold Storage, the current site owner, playing a prominent role in the industry. Larry Rauch, the company president, expressed satisfaction with the City Council’s decision, highlighting the investment in the city’s future.
Construction planning will now commence, with groundbreaking anticipated in about two years. Architect Alan Pullman from Studio One Eleven is leading the master plan and aims to create a neighborhood that reflects the industrial past while avoiding design uniformity. The complex will incorporate public spaces with a public courtyard and pedestrian pathways. Retail outlets will cater to residents, including essential services like banks and dry cleaners, alongside restaurants, bars, and specialty stores.
The affordable housing component targets tenants with very low and extremely low incomes. The Downtown Women’s Center will support residents by providing various services like case management and workforce development.
Support for the project comes from multiple sources, including the Inner City Law Center, which emphasizes its potential to provide deeply affordable homes in Skid Row and downtown Los Angeles. The project also received backing from several local councils and associations.
Nella McOsker of the Central City Association highlighted the necessity of growth in downtown Los Angeles to address the housing crisis, emphasizing the area’s density and transit access as key factors.