Sustainable Little Tokyo

Green space, park access, and trees

Central LA

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Established in 1884, Little Tokyo is 1 of 4 remaining historic Japantowns in the nation and the second oldest neighborhood in Los Angeles. However, Little Tokyo has faced decades of encroachment and displacement, and now, escalating new threats from gentrification. The landscape of Little Tokyo and its surrounding areas continues to change rapidly, including loss of legacy businesses and rising development pressures, amidst economic worries. Last year, Little Tokyo was named one of 11 most endangered places in America. Little Tokyo is struggling to save the historic character and community, while in acute need for public space for our stakeholders, as well as other qualify of life issues. Rising rents for residents and businesses underscore the need for more affordable housing, as well as community control. The lack of green space reflects larger issues related to preserving this historic ethnic enclave, and finally provide critical amenities for the changing demographics.

“Sustainable Little Tokyo” is a project of the LTCC, stewarded with our partners, working to ensure a healthy, equitable, and culturally rich Little Tokyo for the future. SLT focuses on achieving our community-generated vision, created after years of community engagement and collective visioning for three parcels of undeveloped public land. SLT’s work has evolved into a holistic, neighborhood-wide campaign to promote the environmental, economic, and cultural sustainability of Little Tokyo. LTCC and partners continue to fight for community control for the public parcels, and achieve the vision of affordable housing, legacy business space, arts, cultural, and community space, and green, open space.
With impending major world events, SLT is creating and activating public spaces, including new green spaces. SLT’s placekeeping will build public green and open spaces, and activate the Metro Station plaza. Part of the site control campaign, SLT’s activations on the Metro plaza create public space reflective of Little Tokyo’s history and culture, and encourage public transit use. Another key site is Toriumi Plaza - just a few blocks from City Hall, it will be a key gateway during the Olympics. Currently fenced off, SLT will create a community vision to reimagine this public space. SLT’s framework of ensuring Little Tokyo is rooted in its culture and history, while striving to evolve the neighborhood to meet the changing times, is Little Tokyo’s answer to the issues we face today.

One of two designated California Cultural Districts in Los Angeles county, Little Tokyo is an important, historic site in Los Angeles. Little Tokyo stands at a crossroads, where Shohei-mania and anime interest have made the neighborhood more popular than ever, but with that, has brought new gentrifying pressures. No one has yet to figure out how to balance preservation and change, but through utilizing our community-based process and vision, we look to preserve the community while evolving with the changing times through placekeeping work, community control, and building amenities needed for new residents and visitors. SLT’s work will strengthen and anchor Little Tokyo, which inarguably contributes to the betterment of LA County, and our placekeeping efforts will create much needed green space. This work will strengthen Little Tokyo in advance of upcoming major world events, while working to provide green space, art, affordable housing, and support to small businesses.