Local Stories

L.A. is part of me — that’s why I built my business right here in the heart of it.

I hope that residents continue to actively support local businesses and cultural institutions within DTLA.

My vision for the district is to have more accessible resources — whether that’s mental health support, housing services, business opportunities, or community programs.

The pregame, the game, the postgame—this is how DTLA does sports.

Love is in the air, and DTLA is your playground.

Soak up the season with rooftop drinks, good eats, and unforgettable experiences in the heart of DTLA.

A full day of family fun, food, and memories—right here in the LA Social District.

The ulti-mutt guide to spending a paw-some day with your pup in the LA Social District.

I think we've all spent enough time exasperated and distressed at the unending challenges and pervasive headwinds we often feel in Downtown.  What attracted me to DTLA and my role at the South Park Business Improvement District nearly 3 years ago, wasn't the depth of the crisis the district was climbing out of, but the breadth of opportunity that could still unfold in its future.  In Vancouver, I'd taken over for the founding CEO of Downtown Vancouver.  In Los Angeles, our legacy work still feels very much up for grabs and ahead of us.Our neighborhood has a bright future.   These are the 10 things I'd like to see us do in partnership with Mayor Bass, Councilmember Jurado, their colleagues on the City Council, and the many partners who advocate and work daily with us to make our downtown a place we can all be proud of.

I envision a space, or a few spaces, where I can run around without a leash and play with my friends and neighbors.

It's good to get away, but it's great to come back. We arrived back in Los Angeles late Saturday night after a trip to New Orleans to visit friends, family, and celebrate my mom's 76th birthday. In New Orleans, my wife's childhood home has a walk score of 18/100 and a transit score of 32/100. That this exists in a city known for being walkable drives me insane. While downtown and historic corridors are thriving, some neighborhoods that were healthy inner ring suburbs never fully recovered from Hurricane Katrina. Every morning during our visit, I would wake up and drive 15 minutes to a coffee or matcha shop, and every evening we would make sure we had clear dinner plans before returning to what has essentially become a food and beverage desert.

Finding a solution to the Oceanwide Plaza project is key for the Social District to be able to reach its full potential.

Looking at vacant space in the Social District, either for potential green space or blank walls for murals, the parking lot next to what used to be Bank of America on Hill Street frequently catches my attention. I probably think more about 30 years of banking trends than most people trying to look at our neighborhood as a canvas for what's possible.

I feel a strong sense of ownership in shaping the future of the district because my job is to provide the best clean and safe services for residents and visitors.

We were among the first to call for a curfew. We did so in solidarity with the Historic Core, Fashion District, and Little Tokyo following the organized looting that struck their neighborhoods at the beginning of last week. Between the chaos that was being broadcast out to the world, and the level of sophistication demonstrated by the looters springing into action once the legitimate protests ended, the curfew was necessary for the community and officials to regroup ahead of more uncertain nights.

Larry David is a miniature schnauzer. I can count on one hand, in his 11 years, how many times he's so much as nipped at anyone as a warning. But he does have a loud, and sometimes aggressive bark. People have stopped to engage with him and will ask if he bites, and I usually feel compelled to share some version of just because he never has, doesn't mean he never will. I walk him around the district multiple times a day – on occasion as early as 5 AM, and as late as 2 AM. I always feel safe outside, especially with my “ferocious” protector.

The Los Angeles Convention Center is poised for a transformative $2.2 billion expansion, aiming to solidify the city's status as a premier global destination for large-scale events.

In preparation for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the LA28 Organizing Committee has secured a significant office space in Downtown Los Angeles.

Emmy Squared Pizza has made a flavorful entrance into Downtown Los Angeles with its new location at L.A. LIVE.

This independent pharmacy combines essential health services with a thoughtfully curated marketplace and cozy café, making it a convenient stop for both locals and visitors.

Known as LA’s first “walk-up bar,” Prank brings a playful spirit to its street-facing setup, but don’t let the laid-back vibe fool you.

Pine & Crane DTLA is a gem tucked into the bustling South Park neighborhood, offering fresh, flavorful Taiwanese fare that’s both comforting and crave-worthy.

I love this city—with all its pros and cons-and I'm all in. My mission is to show the world that DTLA is back—more vibrant, diverse, and bold than ever—and that we, the younger generation, are also betting on projects that won't just shape the present, but will define the future.

The first business improvement district (BID) was formed in Toronto, Canada in 1970. The first BID in the United States was established in 1981 in New Orleans. This marked the beginning of the BID model spreading across the United States, where property owners within a defined area agree to pay a proportional assessment to fund improvements and services beyond those provided by a city. As such, the place management industry is just 55 years old. I feel incredibly blessed to have found a connection to the industry nearly 20 years ago, and earned the responsibility of solving problems and making investments that are intended to make places.

When we changed our brand to the Social District, it was aspirationally about creating an environment that is welcoming and safe for people to connect at any time of the day. Our District is home to the South Park neighborhood, the growing Dignity Health medical corridor, L.A. Live, and the Los Angeles Convention Center. Our ambassadors and place management team work to create vibrant environments, connect our district, and promote opportunities for businesses to thrive.

California Assembly Bill 342 (AB 342), introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney and Senator Scott Wiener, proposes extending alcohol service hours in designated "Hospitality Zones" from the current 2 a.m. cutoff to 4 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and state holidays.

My hope is that the Social District remains a place where diverse people-whether locals, artists, entrepreneurs, or visitors-can connect, collaborate, and experience the
best of what LA has to offer.

My kids are on Spring Break this week. For lots of families this is a time that schedules align, bags are packed, and intentions are to hit the beach, visit grandparents, amusement parks, or maybe hop a flight to some place for a cultured experience abroad. All of that seems nice.  But the boys’ Nana, my sister-in-law, her plus one, and my nephew, have decided that Los Angeles is their destination of choice for their own holiday break.

I'm the owner of the ceramics studio, Throw Clay LA, which opened in January of 2020. We have grown in size to now occupy our entire 7500 square foot building on the corner of Olympic and Olive. I manage a team of about ten instructors and technicians who work to support the members and students that make up our clay community. I picked up ceramics as a hobby in 2012. After a 20 year career in the film and tv industry, I decided to switch gears and open Throw Clay LA.

With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, I have had the pleasure of working with a variety of brands and independent hotels. Currently, I serve as the Complex Director of Sales and Marketing at the new Moxy + AC Hotel Downtown Los Angeles. This dual-hotel property boasts 727 guestrooms and an impressive array of 12 dining and entertainment options, including the vibrant Level 8, a collection of restaurants, bars, and lounges. My journey brought me to Los Angeles from New York City, where I managed a portfolio of Moxy Hotels, following my son to this dynamic city.

As the Senior Vice President of Operations at LA LIVE Properties LLC. I am responsible for leading the Tenant Operations, Engineering, Security, and Parking departments. I joined AEG in 2007 and during my 17 years at LA LIVE I have led the transition from construction to daily operations. Prior to joining the AEG team, I held various operational leadership positions at Universal Studios Hollywood and City Walk.

The project envisions the triangle between Olive Street and Pico Boulevard with public art and greenery and serving as a pedestrian friendly gateway into Downtown Los Angeles. Last week, final approval was given to move forward, and work should begin in the coming weeks.

​​I'm the General Manager of The Belasco in South Park, Downtown LA & a National Brand Manager for Live Nation Clubs. My role nationally is to help venues establish themselves as a positive & locally relevant partner in their communities across the country through relevant brand development & community partnerships. I'm the day-to-day manager at The Belasco managing our own brand, booking calendar & approximately 150 part time & full time local employees.

Chris DeMoulin is a lifelong nerd whose 35-year business journey brought him fulltime to Los Angeles Comic Con in 2018. He started in advertising out of college, then moved to LA to work for Disney managing their licensing business in 1994. This being LA, after Disney Chris spent 6 years in the movie business, handling marketing and publicity for the company that made "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe," "Ray," "Bridge to Terabithia" and other films grossing over $2B, then spent 10 years in the trade show business running events such as MAGIC and the Licensing Expo. Today he oversees the annual gathering of fans that is Los Angeles Comic Con, welcoming 125,000+ nerds to South Park every year to celebrate all things pop culture. Highlights -- getting to work with Stan Lee for 5 years, and meet all 4 hobbits at last year's Con.

My husband and I started Audiograph Beer together, it was his dream to open a brewery. It’s been four years since we first opened our doors in The Social District.

I'm Farmer Mark! I have the privilege of running the weekly South Park Farmers' Market on Saturdays. In a nutshell, I'm a banker turned small farmer. I grew up in the Midwest but ventured to UCLA for grad school. Shortly thereafter, I somewhat randomly found myself running a small tomato farm. Wearing the boots of a small farmer, I quickly became convinced that real, locally grown, food is the foundation for healthy living. My organization, Farm Habit, helps connect local farmers with local communities thru farmers' markets. Food is medicine! Come get it!

This year, our ambassadors and clean team have done an incredible job.  Whether it was mitigating the neighborhood impacts of the Oceanwide tagging, supporting neighborhood events like the Farmers’ Market, or being a vigilant presence in the aftermath of the Dodgers World Series victory, our team has stepped up beyond the call of their day-to-day duty to maintain the standards of our district. In keeping with the preferred format of the season, we computed the data, and compiled a list of how they’ve contributed to our recognition as a clean and safe neighborhood in DTLA this year.

Alina Moran is the first Latina President and CEO of Dignity Health – California Hospital Medical Center (CHMC) in downtown Los Angeles. Under her leadership, CHMC gained national acclaim for patient safety and treatment of COPD, stroke, pneumonia, and heart failure. She led CHMC through the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for over 2,000 COVID-positive patients, ensuring staff safety, and maintaining critical services. Alina's vision includes a $215 million hospital expansion opening in 2024 to enhance equitable health care access to the most vulnerable patients. Alina's deep commitment to health equity and community engagement is rooted in her upbringing as the daughter of Puerto Rican immigrants.

Humans are social beings, and it is our basic instinct to transform parking lots and empty retail spaces into parks, public spaces, restaurants, bars, cafes, and galleries where we can connect and explore. When we have been at our best, we’ve forged genuine relationships that have produced enough social change to reinvent our world, and with a fraction of that investment can almost certainly change a neighborhood...