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Broadway (Los Angeles)

Broadway is a major thoroughfare in Los Angeles County, California. The portion of Broadway from 3rd to 9th streets was Los Angeles's main commercial area from the 1910s until World War II and in 1979, it was listed as the Broadway Theater and Commercial District in the National Register of Historic Places, the first and largest theater district to be listed. The district was expanded to 2nd and Olympic in 2002.

Route

South Broadway's southern terminus is Main Street just north of Intserstate 405 in Carson. From there, the street travels north through Athens and South Los Angeles, across Interstate 105 and Interstate 10, to downtown Los Angeles. In downtown, it forms the border between South Park and the Fashion District, then travels through the historic core and the Broadway Theater and Commercial District, then continues through the Civic Center and across US-101. North of US-101, Broadway becomes North Broadway as it enters Chinatown. North of Chinatown, North Broadway curves northeast, passing through railyards and crossing Interstate 5, after which it heads east to its terminus at Mission Road in Lincoln Heights.

History

Founding and extension

Broadway was originally named Ford Street and is one of the oldest streets in Los Angeles. It was laid out by Edward Ord as part of his 1849 plan for the city. The street began at the south side of Fort Moore Hill, one block north of Temple Street. It was named after Fort Moore.

In 1890, Ford Street was renamed Broadway from 1st to 10th Street, while the rest was renamed North Broadway. Proposals to connect Broadway to Buena Vista Street (now North Broadway) and also extend Broadway south into what was part of Main Street were made as early as 1891. The Broadway Tunnel opened in 1901, traveling through Fort Moore Hill and extending North Broadway to Buena Vista Street at Bellevue Avenue.

A bridge across the Los Angeles River opened in 1911, connecting Buena Vista Street to Downey Avenue, both of which were renamed North Broadway despite significant objections from residents and landowners. The bridge was referred to as Buena Vista Street Bridge even after the streets were renamed.

A section of Broadway in South Los Angeles was named Moneta Avenue until 1923.

Commercial and entertainment center

Prior to the 20th century, Los Angeles's Central Business District was located along Spring and Main Street between Los Angeles Plaza and 2nd Street. In 1895, J.W. Robinson's opened a four-story department store at 239 S. Broadway, starting the shopping district's shift to Broadway. Numerous historic buildings, including commercial, residential, and office, as well as live theaters and movie palaces, were built along Broadway between 1893 and 1934.

From through the 1950s, Broadway was considered the center for shopping in all of greater Los Angeles. The district contained more than in department store space.

Decline and revitalization

Los Angeles's premier theater district shifted to Hollywood in the 1920s, while its commercial center left Broadway in the 1950s. Broadway declined significantly soon after.

The Broadway Theater and Commercial District, the first and largest historic theater district listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designated in 1979 and expanded in 2002. The district contains twelve theaters and more than fifty additional buildings, several of which were in disuse or disrepair at the time of their designation, many of which have since been repurposed or restored.

Broadway's department stores closed in the 1970s and 1980s, at which point the area transitioned to a working class Latino shopping destination. Additionally, in the 2010s, a sneaker and streetwear retail cluster named Sneaker Row emerged on Broadway between 4th and 9th streets. Retail at 9th & Broadway has also proliferated, with the opening of Acne Studios, Oak NYC, Aesop, Tanner Goods, BNKR, Austere, A.P.C., and Urban Outfitters.

Bringing Back Broadway

In 2008, the City of Los Angeles launched a $40-million campaign to revitalize Broadway, known as Bringing Back Broadway, this despite some merchants' concerns that the campaign would spread the gentrification occurring in other parts of downtown. The campaign's commission, led by City Councilman Jose Huizar, recommended widening sidewalks, eliminating traffic lanes, constructing new parking structures, and adding streetcar service reminiscent of the street's past.

In 2014, a pedestrian-friendly project widened Broadway's sidewalks and replaced its parking lane with planters, chairs, and cafe tables. Mayor Eric Garcetti said the effort, part of the larger Great Streets Initiative that focused on walkability and transit throughout Los Angeles, represented "a shift from the way that our neighborhoods have been planned."

Buildings and sites

North of Hollywood Freeway

Hollywood Freeway to First

West side

East side

First to Second

West side

East side

Second to Third

West side

East side

Third to Fourth

West side

East side

Fourth to Fifth

West side

East side

Fifth to Sixth

West side

East side

Sixth to Seventh

West side

East side

Seventh to Eighth

West side

East side

Eighth to Ninth

West side

East side

Ninth to Olympic

West side

East side

Olympic to Santa Monica Freeway

West side

East side

South of Santa Monica Freeway

Public transportation

Los Angeles Metro Rail's Historic Broadway station is an underground light rail station at 2nd and Broadway. The station is served by the E Line (east to East Los Angeles and west to Santa Monica) and A Line (northeast to Azusa and south to Long Beach).

Metro J Line bus rapid transit has five stations adjacent to Broadway: 37th Street, Slauson, Manchester, Harbor Freeway, and Rosecrans. These stations are all along the Harbor Transitway, a dedicated busway in the median of the Harbor Freeway, just west of Broadway. The J Line runs south to San Pedro and northeast to El Monte.

Metro Local line 45 serves Broadway between Lincoln Heights and the Harbor Freeway. Local routes 4, 30, and 40 also serve portions of Broadway.

See also

References

External links