Arts District development boom in full swing

There’s nearly one major project in the pipeline for every two blocks of Downtown’s Arts District.

The roughly 50-block former industrial neighborhood-turned-artist-haven-turned-hipster-mecca has 25 projects in the works, including transformative new developments and adaptive reuses, according to a count by Curbed.

Perhaps the biggest and surest to have an impact on the once largely desolate neighborhood is SunCal’s 1,736-unit mixed-use 6AM project at the corner of 6th and Alameda streets, first announced in 2016. The project includes two 58-story towers, a school, and 250,000 square feet of office space.

Not surprisingly, many of the developments are aimed at the crowd of creative industry youths flocking to the neighborhood. At least seven of the 25 projects in the works incorporate creative office space, including 6AM. GPI Companies and Atlas Capital are planning to convert the 103-year-old Coca Cola factory into creative office space with a restaurant. Developer Adam Lindeman is dedicating one floor in his 12-story “641” mixed-use project to creative office space.

At least three large projects were announced in the last few months. Earlier this month, the Los Angeles Planning Commission approved a 122-unit mixed project at 1800 East Seventh Street that was announced in December. In April, news broke that a Beverly Hills developer wants to convert a 104-year-old warehouse on Seaton Street into office and retail space. Not far from 6AM, Mexico City-based Grupo Habita is planning a 66-key boutique hotel at the corner of Alameda and 4th streets.

Source: The Real Deal