[TheOracleAtLilac]

There's a lotta folks who (mistakenly) want to "revitalize" the downtown area much like what has been done to many eastern cities.

My point: L.A. is unlike those cities in that nothing is centralized.

Regarding L.A. being eternally damned - you bet - look to the city council & the tax base for a clue to your future.

Como se dice mierda del Norte ?

of course, L.A. may be a trade up from the people's republic of Santa Monica ;-)

[Swordfished]

Yeah I agree the 'revitalization' of downtown LA isn't going to follow the same pattern as other cities, because it, like you say, is fundamentally different from the eastern cities you mention (more spread out, etc.).

What's your take on the fact that there appears to be a market for all the new development?

Don't get me started on the people's republic of Santa Monica...