Downtown Organizations
There are many organizations that strive to make Downtown LA a better place. Here are some organizations that you should know about. |
Central City Association
ccala.org
Established in 1924, the Central City Association (CCA) is LA's premier business advocacy leader, shaping public policy on a broad range of issues, and is the leading architect of the Downtown Renaissance. This business membership organization represents over 450 businesses, trade associations and non-profits who employ over 300,000 people in LA County. |
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Since its creation in 1948, the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of LA (CRA/LA) has been LA' public partner in housing, commercial, neighborhood and economic development. CRA/LA is dedicated to revitalizing, refurbishing, and renewing economically underserved areas of LA - lending a hand to investors willing to take risks for a more vibrant city, to neighborhood residents with renewed aspirations for their communities, and to those in need who strive to take part in the city's growing prosperity. |
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LA INC., The LA Convention and Visitors Bureau, advances LA's visitor economy through sales and marketing to consumers, as well as domestic and international travel trade. LA INC. represents LA as a travel destination in the meetings and convention industry nationwide, the international travel trade and traveler, the cruise passenger and cruise lines, the domestic leisure traveler, and the worldwide travel media. |
LA County Economic Development Corporation
laedc.org
The LAEDC's mission is to attract, retain and grow business and jobs in the regions of LA County, as well as to identify trends and affect positive change for the local economy. The LAEDC also offers free Business Assistance services for companies expanding or relocating in LA County. |
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The Convention Center is one of the most efficiently designed and technologically advanced exhibition facilities in the world. Many special events are also held at this facility, which hosts groups throughout the year from around the world and the nation. |
International Downtown Association
ida-downtown.org
The DCBID is proud to be a member of IDA, a world leader and champion for vital and livable urban centers. |
Little Tokyo Service Center
ltsc.org
Founded in 1979, the Little Tokyo Service Center, a Community Development Corporation (LTSC CDC), has been an important resource for the residents of a diverse community. LTSC CDC is a nonprofit charitable organization serving Asian and Pacific Islanders throughout LA County who are in need, especially those facing language or cultural gaps, financial need, or physical disabilities. |
Downtown Business Improvement Districts
Although the Downtown Center Business Improvement District is the largest Business Improvement District in Downtown LA, there are many others working hard every day to make Downtown a better place to live, work, & play. Want to see where the BID boundaries are? Click here for a map of Downtown LA BIDs (PDF, 750kb). |
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The Central City East Association (CCEA) was formed in 1985 to provide a voice and advocacy for the issues and concerns of property owners located on the east side of Downtown LA. Early in 1998, CCEA formed two Business Improvement Districts: The LA Downtown Industrial District (LADID) and the Toy District. The BIDs work to create a safer, more secure and cleaner environment for area residents, employees and visitors. |
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The Business District of Chinatown consists of 24 blocks, bordered by Cesar Chavez and Bernard, Alameda and Yale. The mission of the LA Chinatown Business Council - the managing entity of the LA Chinatown BID (CBID) - is to creatively plan, manage and facilitate the rebirth of historic Chinatown as a multinational culturally defined, economically vibrant and socially engaging community. |
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The Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID) is a coalition of property owners united in their commitment to enhance the quality of life in Downtown LA. It aims to help the 65-block central business district - the Heart of the City - achieve its full potential as a great place to own a business, visit, work or live. To assure that the City center is safe and clean, the BID's team of maintenance, safety and customer service guides augment LA City services. |
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LA Fashion District property owners, a coalition of over 700, contribute over $3 million annually to support the LA Fashion District Business Improvement District (BID). The LA Fashion District BID is dedicated to making the community a clean, safe and friendly place to work, shop, do business and live through maintenance, security and marketing programs. |
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The Figueroa Corridor is best known for being home to the University of Southern California, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Exposition Park, and the Shrine Auditorium. Some of the memories that echo through this community include the Olympic Games, the Academy Awards, a Nobel Laureate, and world-class museums. |
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The Historic Downtown LA Business Improvement District (HDBID) fosters a community that is a clean, safe, and exciting environment in which to live, work, shop, and play. The HDBID provides safe & clean services, community and visitor outreach, and marketing and economic development strategies that complement this historic and distinguished district, rich with architecture and tradition. |
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The merchants, businesses and professional people who comprise the Little Tokyo Business Association are dedicated to maintaining a vibrant and vital community. The LTBA works in cooperation with the Community Redevelopment Agency, LA City Council and other local and statewide organizations to promote Little Tokyo and share its rich and multi-faceted culture. |
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You may know South Park for the dining and entertainment venues at L.A. LIVE – including the STAPLES Center, Nokia Theatre, Club Nokia, GRAMMY Museum, Conga Room, and more – but it's also home to a vibrant residential community and a mix of interesting bars and restaurants. |
Downtown Tours & Visitor Information
With so much to see in Downtown, it's no surprise that there are a number of tours servicing the area. Whether you're a visitor or even a long-time LA resident who has yet to see much of Downtown, check out some of the following tours! |
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We're not your ordinary tour bus company. Our routes veer off into fascinating, neglected neighborhoods. Our expert guides are passionate, brainy and hilarious. Our tour themes are provocative and complex, but never dry, mixing crime and social history, rock and roll and architecture, literature and film, fine art and urban studies into a simmering stew of original research and startling observations. When you climb aboard for an Esotouric bus adventure, you're guaranteed an intelligent, unpredictable ride into the secret heart of the city we love. |
CityRace Urban Adventure Hunts
(310) 360-6950 • racela.com
CityRace Urban Adventure Hunts send teams of 2 to 4 players on a challenging 3-hour quest for clues through one of LA's many diverse neighborhoods. You'll use brainpower & teamwork to crack codes, solve tricky puzzles, research little-known facts and more in a fast-paced, fun-filled race against other teams to be the first to the finish with the most correct answers! Downtown Los Angeles tours include L.A. LIVE and Downtown’s urban center, Olvera Street, Chinatown and the LA Metro.
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CRA/LA Self-Guided Public Art Tours
1200 W. 7th St. • (213) 977-1763 • crala.org/art
Explore public art all across Downtown Los Angeles with FREE audio tours and walking tour maps, brought to you by the Community Redevelopment Agency of LA (CRA/LA), Downtown Region. Discover a new side of the Civic Center, Little Tokyo, the Historic Core, Bunker Hill, and more.
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Downtown LA Housing Bus Tours
downtownla.com
If you've considered moving to Downtown LA, but you don't know where to begin, our Saturday Housing Bus Tour is for you! From Adaptive Reuse loft-style apartments in historic office buildings to luxury apartments, Downtown has unique real estate for those of you bored with suburban living. On this extensive, four-hour tour, you'll visit a sampling of six or seven residences - both for sale and for lease - among 75 existing residential properties, and many more under construction. We will also provide an introduction to Downtown's many neighborhoods, pointing out Downtown icons such as L.A. LIVE & the STAPLES Center, the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels.
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Held once a year throughout the U.S., the Great Urban Race consists of teams trying to solve 12 clues in a way that also lets them discover the city. In past events, participants navigated the streets of Downtown Los Angeles and West Hollywood. Along the way, they completed a murder mystery puzzle, scooted on butt scooters and jumped rope at Poinsettia Park, helped scoop dog food at PAWS LA, fed each other yummy cupcakes at Frosted Cupcakery, and completed many more fun challenges! |
LA Central Library
630 W. 5th St. • (213) 228-7168 • lapl.org
Come downtown and visit Los Angeles Public Library's state of the art Central Library. Enjoy the art and architecture of the wonderful Goodhue Building with its distinctive sphinxes and rooftop pyramid. Wander through the high-tech. Bradley Wing, designed by famed architect Norman Pfeiffer, and gaze at the 8-story atrium with its whimsical chandeliers. Learn about the library's comprehensive book, magazine, audio and videotape collections as well as its extensive network of informational databases. FREE docent tours daily, with a self-guided tour PDF available online and reserved tours available for groups of six or more. |
LA Conservancy
523 W. 6th St. • (213) 623-2489 • laconservancy.org
Discover or revisit the architectural gems of historic LA with a Conservancy Walking Tour! Regular walking tours include The Historic Core, Downtown's Evolving Skyline, Broadway Historic Theatre District, Art Deco, Historic Spring Street: Wall Street of the West, Union Station, and more. The LA Conservancy, the largest membership-based local historic preservation organization in the country, is dedicated to the recognition, preservation, and revitalization of the architectural and cultural heritage of greater LA. |
LA Historic Theatre Foundation
1725 Wellington Road • (213) 999-5067 • lahtf.org
This non-profit group seeks to protect and restore Southern California’s historic theaters, several of which are in Downtown L.A. in the Broadway Historic Theater District. The group offers behind-the-scenes tours of historic theaters on the third Saturday of the month. |
LA Visitor Information Center
685 S. Figueroa St. &bull (213) 689-8822 • discoverlosangeles.com
The Visitor Information Center is located adjacent to 7th & Metro station. The multilingual staff can answer travel questions, provide directions and public transportation information, assist with itineraries, and make recommendations on dining, sightseeing and cultural options. The center also sells tickets to attractions, and provide maps and travel guides. The center is operated by LA INC., The LA Convention and Visitors Bureau. |
Museum of Neon Art's Neon Cruises
136 W. 4th St. • (213) 489-9918 • neonmona.org
Join us for a nighttime bus tour of neon signs, movie marquees, and permanent installations of contemporary neon art through Downtown and Hollywood. This narrated tour points out prime examples of local neon's aesthetic dimensions, placing them firmly within the context of 20th century Los Angeles culture and history. |
Olvera Street
622 N. Main St. • (213) 628-1274 • lasangelitas.org
Las Angelitas del Pueblo is a wonderful group of volunteer docents who give free tours of El Pueblo de Los Angeles to the public. Free, 50-minute walking tours are given of the historic El Pueblo de Los Angeles, where LA was founded. Tours are every Tuesday through Saturday, at 10 a.m., 11 am, and noon. Other attractions include Olvera Street; Avila Adobe, the oldest building in Los Angeles; and La Placita, the oldest church in LA. |
Six Taste Food Tours
(888) 313-0936 • sixtaste.com
Six reasons to choose Six Taste:
1. See the sights while trying delicious food from up to 9 of the best restaurants in the area
2. Get a VIP experience and talk to restaurant owners and executive chefs
3. Take a closer look at LA’s distinctive neighborhoods and experience the culture by living it—not just driving through it.
4. Learn more about food, history, and culture from our local tour guides
5. A unique, fun, and delicious way to spend an afternoon with your date, friends or family!
6. Affordable half-day tours — all food included! |
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Since 1935, StarLine Tours has provided exciting sightseeing tours in Hollywood and LA, including major attractions such as Universal Studios, Disneyland, J. Paul Getty Museum, and now Downtown LA! Pick ups are available at most hotels in the greater LA area and route connections are available. |
Undiscovered Chinatown Tour
(213) 680-0243 • chinatownla.com
Visit a temple, an herbal shop, art galleries, antique stores, and more when guided to the unique treasures – not to mention great bargains – to be found in Chinatown. Wear comfortable walking shoes for this 2.5-hour tour, and be prepared to wind your way through a myriad of alleyways, plaza stalls, and classical courtyards to discover the charm of L.A.'s Chinatown. Available on select Saturdays, 10:30am-1:00pm, $20 per person. |
Urban Shopping Adventures
846 S. Broadway • (213) 683-9715 • urbanshoppingadventures.com
Enjoy a shopping tour and a new way to see LA! Share some girl time, build mother-daughter bonds, reward employees, celebrate birthdays and graduations, or even shop for your wedding. Find fashions by LA.'s newest designers in Downtown's Fashion District, plus all your favorites at below-retail prices. Get insider access to 90 square blocks of retail-wholesale shops in the nation's largest fashion district. A fashion treasure hunt! |
Walt Disney Concert Hall
135 N. Grand Ave. • (213) 972-4399 • musiccenter.org
Touring the Music Center is a great way to explore Los Angeles' finest cultural center for FREE. There is a tour just right for you at the Music Center Campus. All tours begin in the Grand Lobby of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Both a guided tour and a self-guided audio tour are available, as well as a four-theatre tour of the entire Music Center. |
Downtown News Sources
There's a lot going on in Downtown, and it can be hard to keep up. These community news sources will help you stay in the know about everything Downtown LA. |
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Since 1972 Los Angeles Downtown News has been the voice of the Downtown community. Locally owned, Downtown News fills a unique and highly focused niche in the lives of the more than 150,000 readers. With dozens of journalism and industry awards under its belt, the paper and its websites are the premier sources of information about Downtown Los Angeles. |
Blogdowntown: Life in Downtown Los Angeles
blogdowntown.com
Blogdowntown is the online community hub for Downtown Los Angeles, delivering the news and information that readers need to be the most informed and active members of their community. Blogdowntown believes that a vibrant community needs a vibrant news source, and has been providing that news online since 2005. |
Bunker Hill: The Magazine for Downtown Los Angeles
bunkerhillmagazine.com
We're here to spread the word about the rebirth of Downtown LA. We'll have the rest of LA green with envy. Bunker Hill is committed to delivering the finest reviews on Downtown. Learn more about the newest Downtown businesses (plus some of your old favorites), read up on the movers and shakers of Downtown, discover the history of our famous buildings and landmarks, and keep up on your culture including music, fashion, food and more!. |
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DTLAX (Downtown Los Angeles Explorer) is a quarterly magazine for the residents of Downtown Los Angeles, direct mailed to ALL 20,000 Downtown Los Angeles homeowners' and renters' mailboxes. Whether from other parts of Los Angeles or from around the world, this new, emerging community downtown is diverse, involved, creative, and curious. Downtown Los Angeles is a cultural and economic powerhouse, and DTLAX is here to provide our readers with the tools they need to take advantage of what Downtown has to offer. |
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Videos & Podcasts
See Our Videos About Downtown
Take a tour of Downtown L.A. with Huell Howser, or watch Join Us! to hear about Downtown’s renaissance from developers, local politicians, and community advocates. More
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Email Newsletter
Get Our Monthly Email Newsletter.
Sign up for What's Up Downtown, our monthly email update on upcoming events, new businesses, and downtown deals. More
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Events Calendar
Discover Upcoming Events
There’s a lot to do in Downtown L.A.! Explore a thriving scene for culture, entertainment, and more. Whatever your passion, you’ll find it here! More
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