Changes in Los Angeles

I've only lived here a few years, but I can see a huge difference in LA's downtown.  I remember hearing about the push to bring more residents downtown, but I didn't understand why this was necesarry, why people didn't live there in the first place.  The more I saw the more I understood- traffic is almost always impossible, restaurants and entertainment areas are few and far between, and safety tends to be a bit of a concern.  

Just as I was starting to experience the real downtown- the hole in the wall restaurants, the street art, the architecture, and the little shops- it changed on me.  LA Live moved in, Ralphs got remodeled, and pubilc transportation will even be simplified soon when the Gold Line is in place.  

My feelings are verified by a recent survey done by downtownla.com.  I have to admit I did not read all 70 pages, but here is the jist: downtown is longer simply a place where people work, it is becoming a destination.  People are coming downtown to visit.  Residents are asking for larger chain stores, like Targets or Trader Joes, to meet the new boom.  No telling what this means for the current residents.  Likely many will be pleased at the new opportunities, but it may have some disadvantages as well.  Los Angelinos will have to wait and see.