Ben and Lisa relaunched as Lagree213 in 2020 but shortly after, COVID hit, and they closed. As restrictions eased, a space at Level Hotel + Suites became available (835 S. Hill). During the pandemic, Lagree213 was 1 of only 2 fitness studios in LA that offered outdoor classes. With growing clientele, Ben and Lisa opened a 2nd location at One Santa Fe (300 S. Santa Fe), and now Lagree213 is adding another space in South Park at Hope+Flower (1201 S. Hope)!

The community support was overwhelming. More than 215 people attended the South Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA) event held on Thursday, Feb 16 at The Belasco. Residents representing 29 South Park residential buildings mingled with each other and South Park businesses. The richness of South Park was evident in both the historic Belasco and the warmth of the community. 

A review of local neighborhood safety goals reveals two of our efforts from the last few years have remained unfulfilled.  Hopefully we can put renewed energy into realizing these two important goals in 2023!

Recently I was introduced to Peter Otero’s work when he graciously donated six stunning floral arrangements for the SPNA (South Park Neighborhood Association) event at the Belasco. This South Park artist started honing his talent with flowers as a teen and now has an impressive career in event design.

Elections for the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council (DLANC) will be held on Thursday, May 4 at the Los Angeles Central Library, 630 W. 5th between Flower and Olive, from 1-7 pm or you can vote by mail. The deadline for voters to apply for a mail-in ballot is April 15.

Downtown is quickly bouncing back from the economic hardships of the COVID epidemic according to the 2022 year-end market report just issued by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. Apartment rentals in the fourth quarter were at 93.1 percent with asking rents of $3.33 per square foot, essentially identical to the fourth quarter of 2021.

During the last 3 years of COVID restrictions, we saw countless businesses close shop across the city leaving our neighborhood a ghost town of empty spaces and boarded up windows.

Recently I met with the energetic, enthusiastic, and do-everything, entrepreneurial young woman, Rachel Adams. Rachel is the owner of 3 unique businesses at 1039 and 1041 S. Olive, north of 11th Street. After 75-minutes of listening and a short tour, WOW is what I said!!!

DTLA has no shortage of breweries, but to our delight Native Son LA is a new addition at the former Modern Times Dankness Dojo space on Olive between 8th and 9th (832 S. Olive). The original Native Son brewery is in Santa Ana.

The Chicago-based Boka Group has opened its latest restaurant, Café Basque, on the ground level of the Hoxton Hotel at 1060 S. Broadway, adding to its other popular restaurants in DTLA, The Girl and the Goat (Arts District) and Cabra (rooftop of The Hoxton).

A PALentines day event on February 16 at the Belasco theater ballroom (1050 S. Hill between 11th and 12th Streets) is being hosted by SPNA (South Park Neighborhood Association). Mingle with your neighbors in this iconic venue while you listen to live music, munch on food, enjoy the cash bar, join a tour of the historic building, or preserve this memory at the photo wall. Reserve your discounted pre-sale tickets now as they are limited. See link below.

SPNA (South Park Neighborhood Association) hosted its first Wellness Fair in Wishbone Park on Sunday, Jan 29. Companies representing fitness, nutrition, and wellness for South Park residents included The Sauna Labs, Orangetheory, 9Round Boxing, MedBeauty L.A., DTLA Fitness, Robeks Fresh Juices & Smoothies, F45 Fitness, GreenQween, Nutrishop, and Hardcore Fitness. 

South Park residents are collecting signatures on the recall petition of CD 14 City council member Kevin de León after he, two other city council members, and a lobbyist used racist insults as they worked to reshape the council district maps to their benefit. The three in conversation with de León have resigned/left office leaving only de León who refuses to take responsibility for his actions. Hence the reason for the recall petition. It is time to sign.

A gem of a Mexican Restaurant at 421 Venice (between Hope and Flower) was where I visited with the Chef/Owner Rodrigo Hernandez and learned his tale of a classic immigrant success story. 

Come to the Wellness Fair on Sunday, January 29 from noon to 4 pm at South Park Commons/Wishbone Park

Councilman de León has been caught making racist comments and has lost the trust of his constituents and colleagues yet has refused to resign. If you agree that the South Park neighborhood (which is within CD14 district) currently has no effective representation and believe we should not keep de León in office for another 2 years, the next step is to sign the petition for the removal of the Councilman.

Think massages, exercise equipment demonstrations, kick boxing exhibitions, physical therapy, BMI analysis, yoga, health spas, healthy foods, and discounted gym memberships. You can expect all that and more at the SPNA First Annual Wellness Fair hosted by SPNA and The Sauna Lab. The fair will be held at South Park Commons (Wishbone Park on Grand between 11th and 12th) on Sunday January 29th starting at noon until 5 pm. Free admission.

The remodel of a prime commercial space at 1040 S. Grand Ave. has just been completed and is waiting for its next lucky tenant! The space, previously an electronic parts warehouse in the 60’s and 70’s, had been vacant and neglected for years before it’s recent updating with a new floor to ceiling glass façade and a cheerful new paint job. In addition, new drywall has been installed, the roof replaced, and air conditioning has been repaired and updated. As a bonus, there is a wide, high traffic sidewalk right on Grand Ave.

Featuring a special cider cocktail, 200 South Park residents showed up in their ugliest holiday sweaters for an evening of brews, pizza, and contests at SPNA’s first holiday party at HiDef Brewery in December.