Efforts to revitalize the Arts District in downtown Los Angeles, California shows no sign of slowing down.
ROW DTLA’s four-building complex – originally built in the 1910s and ‘20s along the Southern Pacific Railroad – is experiencing a second life as a sprawling mixed-use hub
The adaptive reuse of the historic Ford factory includes creative office space, 15,000 feet of outdoor space with green features, a rooftop amenity deck with lounge areas, and more. The restoration incorporates recycled materials from the original building, including steel window frames and skylights.
At Mateo is a former industrial site being redeveloped into a creative office and open-air retail hub.
The 3.5 acres was mostly dirt just over two years ago, and originally planned to include retail tenants only. After fully realizing the opportunities in the revitalized area, leaders adapted the project to include 50,000 square feet of modern, creative office space.
During the L.A. tech scene’s fledgling days, entrepreneurs would joke about never going east of the 405. Now, they’re not just venturing beyond that once-unthinkable border, they’re taking their companies with them. Like many Angelenos, they’ve become charmed by the new, revitalized downtown, including the Arts District.
“All signs point to downtown,” said Brian Mullins, founder and chief executive of augmented reality firm Daqri, which relocated from Santa Monica two years ago. “We all believe that it’s the place in L.A. with the infrastructure to really scale a company.”
Image of The Factory at the old Ford site via HwholmesInc.com