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As the cost of housing near Staples Center and LA Live continues to soar, the long-ignored area just to the east of South Park’s trendy epicenter is seeing a steady rise of new investment.

A sea of parking lots for years has framed the view of an area pounded by manufacturing job losses, corporate mergers and shuttered storefronts.

But with the ever-advancing creep of adaptive reuse and new construction spreading south and east, many big-name developers and small-business owners have started to take another look at the area bounded by 9th, Main, Grand and Pico.

Big-Time Players

Eastern South Park has long been anchored by the AT&T Center, which is currently in the second phase of a dramatic renovation that has started to bring the aging complex up to modern standards.

Along with the remodeling of office space, new retail tenants such as FedEx Kinko’s, Johnny Rockets, Starbucks, Trimana, Robeks and Mitaki Sushi have been brought on board.

Across the street, a new mixed-use tower called Indigo is planned, helping to continue the residential renaissance brought on by the South Group. The project, being developed by Meruelo Maddux, is one of the first to make use of the new, less-restrictive Downtown height ordinance and will add over 1,100 units to a three-acre parcel now home to a surface parking lot.

YWCA plans its new seven-story Urban Campus at Olive and Olympic — another parking lot — which will provide services for 1,200 students and will consolidate operations in one building.

And if the Glass Tower ever breaks ground, it will add 128 units to the corner of 11th and Grand. The future of that project is in doubt, though, after years of delays. With the weakening housing market, it may be several more before the project breaks ground.

Perhaps the most intriguing project to hit the boards is the redevelopment of the former Herald Examiner’s press building at 11th and Hill. The newspaper’s last issue hit stands in November, 1989, but two brand-new towers designed by Thom Mayne are in the works for a portion of the block.

Preservationists can breathe a sigh of relief — the historic Broadway edifice will be preserved and restored, and plans call for the interior to become office space.

Smaller… Better?

Still, it’s not all mega-developments and condo towers changing the face of the district. A number of smaller eateries and shops are testing the area’s retail waters.

California Kabob Kitchen is set to open this month at 11th and Broadway, while B&G Cookie Co. is preparing its space at 9th and Olive. Even though Mode didn’t last too long, it shows a potential for the district that we hope will be followed up by others in coming years.

Retail renovations occurring at 11th and Hill, in the former home of La Adelita’s Mexican Grille, are nearing an end. New tenants haven’t been announced, but a storefront redesign and interior upgrades are underway to capitalize on the area’s renewed interest sparked by the AT&T Center renovation.

All this organic progress is still patchy, but the groundwork is being laid for burgeoning community in the coming years.

Check out these related posts:

1. re-crowning the king of south park: at&t center
2. eastern columbia welcomes first retail tenant
3. south park to get cozy with hygge restaurant
4. construction coverage: south park round two