Los Angeles Approves $2B Fourth & Central Mixed-Use 2.3M SF Development

• The Los Angeles City Council has approved the $2 billion Fourth & Central mixed-use development after a five-year entitlement process.
• The project will replace the Los Angeles Cold Storage facility at 400 S. Central Ave. with 10 new buildings totaling approximately 2.3 million square feet.
• Plans include 1,589 apartments, office and retail space, affordable housing, and two acres of public open space.

What the Fourth & Central Project Includes

The Los Angeles City Council has officially approved the long-awaited Fourth & Central development, clearing the way for one of the largest mixed-use projects planned near Downtown Los Angeles. The $2 billion redevelopment will transform the existing Los Angeles Cold Storage property at 400 S. Central Ave. into a 10-building, 2.3 million-square-foot community on the eastern edge of downtown. The approved plans include 1,589 residential units, with 262 apartments reserved as affordable housing, alongside approximately 400,000 square feet of office space and 145,748 square feet of retail and restaurant space. The development will also feature two acres of publicly accessible open space and 2,426 parking spaces, creating a new mixed-use district on what is currently an industrial site.

What Changed During the Approval Process

The project underwent significant revisions during its five-year entitlement process. Early proposals called for a much taller skyline, but the final design reduced the tallest building from 44 stories to 30 stories, reaching a height of 364 feet. The overall project also became smaller than originally envisioned as developers worked through environmental reviews, planning requirements, and community feedback. The development was designed by David Adjaye in collaboration with Studio One Eleven, with Los Angeles Cold Storage continuing as the project's lead after former development partner Continuum Partners exited the venture.

What Challenges the Project Overcame

Fourth & Central faced several hurdles before receiving final approval. The project encountered environmental challenges, required a zoning change, and was appealed twice by members of the Little Tokyo community, who raised concerns about compatibility with the city's updated Downtown Community Plan and the proximity of alcohol-serving businesses to Skid Row. Ultimately, the Los Angeles City Council rejected both appeals, allowing the environmental review and tract map approvals to remain in place. The project also received support from labor organizations, business groups, community organizations, and nonprofit partners, including the Downtown Women's Center, which is expected to provide supportive services for residents living in the affordable housing component.

What This Means for Downtown Los Angeles

Fourth & Central represents one of the most significant redevelopment approvals in Downtown Los Angeles in recent years. By replacing an aging industrial facility with a high-density mixed-use neighborhood, the project is expected to expand the city's housing supply while adding new office, retail, restaurant, and public gathering spaces. Although the project is now fully entitled, a construction timeline has not yet been announced. Like many large developments across California, Fourth & Central will still need to navigate rising construction costs and evolving market conditions before breaking ground.