In downtown Los Angeles, there’s something catching the eyes of people who are walking around.
Tall buildings that were left empty are now covered in colorful spray-paint art, making them an unusual attraction in a city known for its exciting things to see.
While crowds gathered around the popular Kobe Bryant statue outside Crypto.com Arena, and many music fans lined up early for a rock show inside, the real focus for some was the abandoned real estate project near the intersection of 11th and Figueroa streets. This project, with its 30 floors of graffiti, has become a hot spot for visitors.
Ronald Velasquez from Long Beach heard about it on TV and couldn’t resist checking it out. He even crossed multiple freeways with his father just to take a few pictures of the colorful buildings. Even though his mother doesn’t usually like graffiti, she agreed it was worth facing weekday traffic to see what the fuss was about.
However, not everyone sees it in a positive light. Velasquez mentioned that it’s both cool and bad because it doesn’t make the police look good since they haven’t been able to stop it.
These unfinished towers have become a destination for graffiti artists and thrill-seekers looking for adventure. Los Angeles tried to contact the company behind the project, Oceanwide Holdings, but they couldn’t reach them. With no company securing the site after the graffiti and crowds appeared, the police had to get involved.
The police chief, Michel Moore, mentioned that it’s been a challenging task for the police, with 3,000 hours of personnel time spent and 18 people arrested for various offenses. To address the situation, the City Council is considering spending $3 million to install a fence, clear debris, and possibly hire private security.
Despite the challenges, the graffiti-covered towers continue to attract visitors. Some see it as street art, while others view it as an eyesore. A resident living nearby finds it aesthetically cool but feels bad for the affected businesses.
Employees from Crypto.com Arena are impressed with the coordination it took for the graffiti display to happen right under the police’s noses. Visitors from Sacramento, like Latasha Cooper and her fiancé, see it as a metaphor for starting things but not finishing them, leading to financial losses and job cuts.
As they observe the colorful buildings, one resident points out that this is an “L.A. thing,” while another sees it as a representation of America’s future, suggesting that someday the country might run out of money.
Across the street, a worn-out Oceanview Plaza banner flaps in the wind, serving as a visible reminder of the abandoned project. The graffiti-covered towers, with their mix of opinions, continue to be a talking point and a unique attraction in downtown Los Angeles.