District News Q1 2024

LIFE IS BETTER IN PERSON

Rediscovering the Magic of In-person Connections

In the spirit of embracing the value of real-life encounters, we recently launched a “Life is Better in Person” campaign. Originally created by Brookfield Properties, the campaign focuses on community, culture, and fun in the Downtown Center. Program highlights include: “Flowers on Flower Street,” a Valentine’s Day surprise that offered 1,500 roses to passersby at six district locations; “Midday Meditation,” serene “sound bath meditation” sessions held in partnership with Brookfield Properties and Equinox in the 2-story atrium of Figueroa at Wilshire, and “Concerts at Colburn,” a series of lunchtime performances by Colburn music students. We promoted

the campaign with a Free-Lunch-fora-Week giveaway that garnered over 200 personal stories on why “life is better in person” and what people “love about working in DTLA.” Learn more at DowntownLA.com/Better.

24 THINGS TO TRY IN 2024

The DTLA Alliance welcomed the New Year with “24 Things to Try in 2024,” a curated list that spotlights a diverse array of in-district businesses, encouraging readers to venture beyond the familiar to discover new authentic flavors, hidden cultural gems, and other unique experiences. The list is easily accessible with an interactive map on our website and was promoted throughout the first quarter of 2024 via our social media and email channels. The program will remain active through the end of the year, serving as a resource for those seeking new and exciting experiences in DTLA. If you haven’t already, be sure to visit DowntownLA.com/24things.

Flowers on Flower Street

Midday Meditation

24 things include Downtown LA Pho (top) and visiting REDCAT (above).

DTLA ALLIANCE BOARD

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

Adam Daneshgar, Chair

Langdon Street Capital

Robert Cushman, Executive Vice Chair

Brookfield Properties

Cari Wolk, Secretary

Athena Parking, Inc.

Stacy Lieberman, Executive Vice Chair

Library Foundation of Los Angeles

Dan Cote, Treasurer (Past Chair)

The Bloc

Suzanne Holley, President & CEO

DTLA Alliance

BOARD MEMBERS

Nejdeh Avedian, Los Angeles United Investment Co.

William Dacunto, Silverstein Properties

Evan Grobecker, CommonWealth Partners

Simon Ha, Steinberg Hart

Robert Hanasab, Robhana Group, Inc.

Jenni Harris, Atlas Capital Group

Jeff Herrera, Rising Realty Partners

Jennifer Kallend, The Colburn School

Bonny Kirin-Perez, The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites

Joan McLane, USC Institute of Urology

Elyse Mallouk, The Broad

Mark Messana, Downtown Properties

Stuart Morkun, Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc.

Carol Pfannkuche, YMCA of Greater Los Angeles

Mark Spector, Onni Group

Joe Suzuki, LBA Realty

Dulce Vasquez, Arizona State University

Michael Wilson, Related Companies

Jeffrey Yamashiroya, ManuLife Investment Management

ALTERNATES

Travis Addison, CommonWealth Partners

Alexander Arroyo, Related Companies

Andrew Daneshgar, Langdon Street Capital

Kira Perez, Rising Realty Partners

Susan Perlas, Silverstein Properties

Peklar Pilavjian, Los Angeles United Investment Co.

Brittny Sovich, The Bloc

Peter Zen, The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites

DTLA ALLIANCE STAFF

Suzanne Holley, President & CEO

Nick Griffin, Executive Vice President

Michael Ashkenasi, Senior Director, Administration & Policy

Kevin Begovich, Design Director

Jorge Castro,VicePresidentofOperations

Maria Elena Hewett, Program&Communications Manager

Johnna Hughes,SeniorContentMarketing Specialist

Gerald Pierce,MaintenanceSuperintendent

Elan Shore,DirectorofEconomicDevelopment

Kevin Thomas, Executive Assistant

Bree von Faith,SeniorVPofMarketing& Communications

Gabriel Yeager,DirectorofPlacemaking&Events

BUILDING COMMUNITY & COALITIONS

DTLA Alliance Trends & Outlook Breakfast

In March we hosted the Inaugural DTLA Alliance Trends & Outlook Breakfast at the Colburn School. Anchored by our newly released DTLA 2024 Outlook & Insights Report, the event was designed to connect with Downtown office tenants and covered a range of topics including market trends, restaurant openings, safety initiatives, and the DTLA Alliance’s innovative placemaking and office worker activation programs. The audience of over 90 people learned about Colburn’s exciting expansion plan and enjoyed a special student piano performance. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with 94% expressing increased optimism about DTLA’s future.

Bisnow’s DTLA State of the Market

At Bisnow’s DTLA State of the Market event at AON Center, the DTLA Alliance’s Nick Griffin moderated a panel of civic

REPORTS & RESEARCH

leaders entitled “DTLA 2024, 2028, 2040: How City, County and Civic Organizations Are Supporting Downtown’s Future as a Local Neighborhood, Regional Hub, and Global Destination” featuring Stephen Cheung (LAEDC), Patti MacJennett (LA Tourism), Ray Sosa (LA Metro), Nella McOsker (CCA), and Samantha Millman (LA Planning Commission). The event demonstrated the strategic importance of partnerships in all that we do.

Nick Griffin moderating a panel at Bisnow’s DTLA State of the Market.

DTLA 2024 Outlook & Insights Report

The DTLA Alliance’s DTLA 2024 Outlook & Insights Report serves as our annual update on the state of Downtown Los Angeles. Drawing from our signature survey of Downtown residents, workers, and visitors, alongside detailed economic and demographic data, the report offers a comprehensive view of DTLA as both a market and a community. This year’s report reflects the progress DTLA has made towards recovery from the pandemic, as well as the remaining challenges.

2023 Year End Market Report

2023 concluded with solid recovery across much of the market. New residential inventory included projects like Figueroa Eight, a 42-story tower by Mitsui Fudosan. In hospitality, Sonder opened The Craftsman and The Winfield, two historic building conversions. Office sector highlights included Sheppard Mullin’s lease at City National 2Cal and Carolwood Equities LP’s acquisition of the AON Center. DTLA also saw an increase in food & beverage establishments, with 38 openings. Find these reports and more at DowntownLA.com/Reports.

OPERATIONS STAFF OF THE QUARTER

Saul Torres, Safety Team

Since joining the DTLA Alliance in June 2023, Saul Torres has consistently demonstrated a strong work ethic and commitment to the DTLA Alliance’s mission. He is a reliable team player who is always willing to assist colleagues and members of the public. Saul uses his knowledge and experience to uphold the DTLA Alliance’s values and inspires others to do the same, all while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor.

Tommy Legardy, Clean Team

Tommy Legardy has been a fixture at the DTLA Alliance for almost a year, consistently performing his duties with a positive attitude and unwavering dedication. His enthusiasm for the work he does is infectious, and he readily takes on any task, no matter the size. Tommy’s welcoming nature extends to new team members, as he happily mentors and supports them.

DOG FRIENDLY TREE WELLS ON HOPE

In DTLA we love our dogs but don’t always love what they do to our sidewalks. The DTLA Alliance is trying something new on Hope St. between 8th and 9th with an innovative solution, adding decorative pebbles to the tree wells to improve drainage and aesthetics while addressing long-standing odor issues. To promote responsible pet ownership, we also installed doggie bag dispensers in the area, providing pet owners with a convenient solution for waste disposal. These enhancements reflect our commitment to creating a cleaner, more hospitable environment for people and pets alike.