Population Density of the Downtown District
The Downtown Transit District contains 685,394 residents occupying 54 square miles at an overall population density of 12,612. The Central City’s low densities are typical of a central business district given over predominantly to non-residential land uses. Currently, downtown’s office inventory is confined to the northern corner of the CBD and downtown remains severely underutilized. Land around the river is currently devoted to rail and industrial uses, cutting Boyle Heights off from downtown.
The highest densities by far in the downtown district as well as the city as a whole are in Westlake, with nearly 34,000 people per square mile. The city of East LA is the next highest density area in the downtown district, followed by Boyle Heights, Silver Lake/Echo Park, and the 24 square miles of Northeast LA. I did not include Glendale or Pasadena in calculations of the Downtown Transit District even though the transit sub-system does reach deep into both cities.
Station Density of the Downtown Transit System
I have currently identified 28 stations that could serve the 55 square miles of the Downtown Transit District. This yields a pretty low station density of .55 stations per square mile. However, there are definite gaps in service in this district. Westlake is the most obvious candidate for additional infill stations. Possible additional lines might include one serving the southern corner of downtown and extending out Whittier Boulevard. Another line could also extend out towards Alhambra (but no further outward).
Considering its geographical challenges and comparably lower densities, Northeast LA would be adequately served by the lines currently proposed here. In particular, the route through Cyprus Park to Atwater Village and up to Glendale holds great potential for connecting both sides of the river and possibly revitalizing the river’s edge. This is a beautiful setting, nestled between Mt. Washington and Elysian Park, but it is currently disrupted by the Golden State Freeway and the industrial uses that eat up land along the river. Conversion of this land to higher density residential uses combined with development of the riverfront and a series of pedestrian bridges could transform this area and capitalize upon its lovely setting and proximity to downtown.
And a final thought: how delicious would the irony be to see "Brand Boulevard of Cars" converted to transit-oriented development?
3 comments:
Keep up the great work-- amazing ideas that should excite every Angeleno dying to be unshackled from their car.
I mentioned you on my blog, Thunderbolt Fan (thanks for the comment,)and check in regularly with yours.
Good post, but I think you need to take into account employment densities when talking about downtown. While it is true that the OFFICE worker population is centered around the northwest corner of downtown, the overall employment downtown is around 450,000, which also includes Civic Center, the Fashion and Toy districts, as well as the industrial areas to the southeast. I work at 5th & Main, and the number of people streaming by at rush hours both on foot (to the Metro) and in cars (gridlocked) indicate a lot of demand to the east and south of the Bunker Hill high rise district.
Downtown LA is also increasing its residential population by several thousand a year. The most recent figures show an increase from 19,000 in 2001 to 49,000 today, with more on the way.
Since the Red Cars once ran there, converting Brand Blvd. to a transit function would not be so much ironic as it would be a homecoming.
I will say that however that Downtown Glendale (17th largest city in California) is now dense enough (especially with the opening of The Americana at Brand) that a subway would be more than indicated in the Glendale city limits, though it could be at grade through Atwater and along the L.A. River.
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