What I'd Redevelop First
I am NOT, as some people might think, opposed to redevelopment. Sometimes it isn’t the right thing to do or the best thing to do, but sometimes it is.
Today I’m going to tell you what I would redevelop first (into housing, a homeless shelter, something mixed-use…anything else, really) without a second thought.
At the corner of 7th and San Julian Streets, there stands a low-rise former seafood warehouse that was on the abatement list for a few years. It currently isn’t, although I’m not sure why, since I’m not seeing any recent permit activity on ZIMAS beyond adding outdoor LED lights in 2023.
500 East 7th Street is on the edge of Skid Row and the Flower District. It’s close to rescue missions and a bus stop. (Do not confuse it with 500 West 7th Street, aka The Mandel, a handsome 1917 department store converted to live/work loft apartments.)
The warehouse is heavily tagged and surrounded by tents more often than not, and has been for years. If I owned this building, I would consult with Skid Row leaders on the highest and best use of the parcel and start contacting reputable builders.