The Greening of the Fashion District
The L.A. Fashion District in downtown Los Angeles is better known for its showrooms, creative design spaces and sewing contractors than for its abundance of green space.
But that is changing with the conversion of a small desolate patch of land near Angelique Cafeacute; that is being turned into a mini-park with a futuristic flair.
The triangular area, bordered by Spring and Main streets, has turned green instead of brown now that three Chinese silk trees have been planted, and the area is landscaped with blue and green round balls that look like Styrofoam igloos. The balls, made of recycled material, light up at night. Ice plants scattered around the small median will eventually blanket the space.
Kent Smith, executive director of the L.A. Fashion District, a business district that encompasses 90 square blocks, said he and his staff felt some kind of greenery and decoration that lights up at night were important now that three restaurants in the area are open for dinner: the WoodSpoon, the Tiara Cafeacute; and L’Angolo Cafeacute;.
“We haven’t had a lot of opportunity for landscaping,” Smith said, noting the project was funded by the city. “It was something we felt strongly about.” —Deborah Belgum
