A massive redevelopment effort in downtown Los Angeles has taken a major step forward after the city’s Planning Commission unanimously backed Fourth & Central, a proposed $2-billion mixed-use complex that would replace a long-standing cold storage facility on the edge of Skid Row and the Arts District.
Spanning 7.6 acres along Central Avenue, the project envisions a full neighborhood makeover — with 1,589 rental apartments (including 249 affordable units), 401,000 square feet of creative office space, and over 145,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space across 10 separate buildings. Designed by Studio One Eleven, the development would significantly reshape the skyline in one of L.A.’s most historically underserved areas.
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The proposal now heads to Los Angeles City Council for final consideration later this year.
The project is being led by Larry Rauch, president of Los Angeles Cold Storage, whose family has operated refrigeration facilities at the site since the 1960s. Rauch confirmed that the business will relocate to make room for the redevelopment.
In a statement following the commission vote, Rauch said, “We’ve spent years working on our plan to transform this industrial property into a mixed-use community, which made it so rewarding to hear city decision-makers agree with our vision.”
To better align with market shifts and community input, the proposal has undergone revisions since it was first introduced in 2021. The tallest residential tower was scaled down from 44 to 30 stories, and an originally planned hotel was scrapped in favor of additional housing, including more affordability provisions. The two acres of open space within the project will be publicly accessible, with improved pedestrian routes leading to nearby Little Tokyo Galleria.
The development comes at a time when many L.A. projects have stalled due to financing challenges and investor uncertainty, driven in part by Measure ULA’s transfer tax and lingering pandemic-era tenant protections. Rauch acknowledged that Denver-based Continuum Partners, which initially co-led the project, has now exited.
“Continuum has chosen to focus its resources elsewhere at this time; the Fourth & Central Project will be moving forward with LA Cold Storage at the lead,” he said.
Despite broader economic hesitation, the project has won support from a range of civic and labor organizations, including:
Calling it both a housing and economic catalyst, Central City Association President Nella McOsker stated, “This project represents a significant stride toward addressing the region’s housing challenges. Plus, the new retail and restaurant space will attract business and people to downtown.”
Fourth & Central is part of a broader wave of redevelopment on L.A.’s east side. In July, the City Council approved 670 Mesquit, a $1.4-billion mixed-use campus designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, which will also replace a cold storage site across the Los Angeles River.
If Fourth & Central receives final approval, detailed planning and permitting could take 12 to 18 months before construction begins — potentially positioning the project as one of the most transformative developments in Skid Row’s history.
Originally reported by Roger Vincent, Staff Writer in LA Times.
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