ABOUT DTLA ALLIANCE
Founded in 1998, the DTLA Alliance has been a catalyst in Downtown Los Angeles’ transformation into a vibrant 24/7 mixed-use destination for over 25 years. A coalition of more than 2,000 property owners in the Downtown Center, the DTLA Alliance is committed to enhancing the quality of life in Downtown LA.
The mission of the Economic Development team is to ensure that DTLA remains the premier choice for office, residential, hospitality, retail, and cultural investment. We provide services to support and promote investment and development in DTLA, including:
• Market & Research Reports
• Tours & Events
• Development Consulting
• Requests for Information
• Press & Media Inquiries
Whether you need information on construction and development, insights on the DTLA market, finding a location for your business, or you just want to learn more about Downtown’s market sectors and dynamics, we are your best source for information about DTLA
To learn more about the Downtown LA and the DTLA Alliance, visit DowntownLA.com
DOWNTOWN CENTER
DEFINITION OF DOWNTOWN LA
The DTLA Alliance defines Downtown Los Angeles as the area bounded by the 110, 101 and 10 freeways and the LA River, plus Chinatown, City West, and Exposition Park. The projects contained in this report are within a portion of Downtown Los Angeles, shown on the map to the left.
METHODOLOGY AND SOURCES
Renegage Marketing
The DTLA 2026 Survey was conducted in partnership with Renegage Marketing from January 5 to January 31, 2026. A 10-minute online questionnaire was completed by 1,262 respondents. The margin of error associated with this sample size is approximately 3% with a 95% confidence interval. Renegage Marketing has helped produce surveys with the DTLA Alliance for more than 10 years and is one of the partners on the Sports & Leisure Research Group’s nationwide Consumer Optimism Barometer.
Placer.ai
Placer.ai generates insights about consumer behaviors and preferences using geolocation data from mobile app usage. This technology and place-based approach allows them to produce daily data for visitors, residents, and workers that can be accessed almost immediately. Placer.ai also incorporates a range of other sources such as Experian Mosaic, a consumer lifestyle segmentation tool referenced in this report. Unless otherwise stated, all Placer.ai data in this report is based on the period of January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2025.
US Census Bureau
This report includes the most recent available data from the US Census Bureau, including census-tract level breakdowns from the 2024 American Community Survey (ACS), the 2020 Decennial Census, and 2023 Longitudinal Employer Household Database (LEHD).
State of California Employment Development Department
The Labor Market Information Division (LMID) of EDD is the prime source of high quality and timely workforce and labor market information for the State of California. Statistics in this report are based on Q1 2025 data.
Esri
Esri is a market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping. Through their partnership with Data Axle, they provide business summary and business location datasets for over 13 million businesses including sales and employment information.
CoStar
CoStar is the industry leader in commercial real estate information and analytics, tracking over 135 billion square feet of commercial space at over 6.4 million commercial properties.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This is the DTLA Alliance’s fifth annual Outlook & Insights Report – an update on the state of Downtown Los Angeles – combining our signature survey of Downtown residents, workers, and visitors with detailed economic and demographic data. The report paints a detailed picture of DTLA as a market – and a community – and positions it in the context of the City of Los Angeles, Southern California region, the nation, and globe.
This year’s report demonstrates both the success DTLA has had recovering from the impacts of the pandemic and Downtowners’ opinions about the extent of work that remains to be done.
In terms of the real estate market, the residential, hospitality, and retail sectors have not just stabilized, but regained some of their momentum. On the retail front, a wave of over 150 new F&B establishments has more than made up for pandemic-related closures. The office sector remains an outlier, continuing to lag due to the impact of remote work.
The overriding message from almost 1,200 respondents to our annual survey was one of continued enthusiasm for DTLA coupled with frustration about inadequate progress on critical concerns. Whether on general questions about Downtown’s direction or specific issues like public safety, this year’s survey indicated that the pace of improvement has not met expectations. Still, residents remain committed, with a significantly larger share planning to stay for 4 years or more.
Despite the type of challenges that have impacted downtowns across the nation, DTLA remains vital to the LA region – not only as its primary core of commercial activity and most significant job base but also as a vibrant local community of approximately 90,000 residents, a dynamic global center of arts, culture and entertainment, and the hub of its regional transit system. It continues to be a prime destination for tourists and locals alike, with a substantial number of respondents saying they visit frequently.
Downtown’s revitalization over the past 25 years has laid the groundwork for continued growth and improvement. 2025 was the first year of implementation of the long-awaited DTLA 2040 Community Plan – a blueprint for the next phase of Downtown’s evolution, paving the way for over 100,000 new residential units accommodating a potential population increase of 175,000 people. Also in 2025, the City of LA made an investment in its future that will greatly benefit DTLA by approving $2.6 billion to expand and modernize the LA Convention Center, a critical economic driver for the City and Downtown.
By combining the dual vantage points of economic statistics and public sentiments, this report illuminates DTLA’s strengths as a community and a market, the challenges and opportunities it faces, and its importance to the City of Los Angeles. When LA was awarded the 2028 Olympic Games, Downtown’s renaissance as a vibrant urban center was a key factor, and when the global spotlight is on the city three years from now, DTLA will be center stage.
DTLA: THE HEART OF LOS ANGELES
Representing just 1.4% of the total land area of the City of Los Angeles, DTLA plays an outsized role in the city’s economy. It does this with a combination of density and diversity, creating a central meeting point for all Angelenos. While it has long served as the city’s principal commercial business district, the renaissance of the past 25 years has added a vibrant residential community, a global center for arts & culture, and a retail sector that continues to add to an already impressive roster of businesses.
1.4%
DTLA Share of the City of Los Angeles Land Area
Despite representing a tiny percentage of the land area in the City of Los Angeles, DTLA plays a significant role in every sector of the local economy.
DTLA: THE HEART OF LOS ANGELES
26,436
New residential units since 2010
DTLA has delivered 26% of the new housing inventory in the City of LA since 2010.
19% of Citywide Jobs Talent, world-class amenities and unparalleled access to transit draw employers to DTLA.
723
Retail Businesses Per Square Mile
The density of storefronts in DTLA is a key part of its appeal to both shoppers and retailers.
VISITATION INSIGHTS
DTLA MONTHLY TOTAL VISITS
WORLD-CLASS DESTINATION
Since the beginning of LA’s history, Downtown has been the region’s hub for culture and commerce. With the phenomenal growth of its revitalization, DTLA has re-emerged as the city’s epicenter for investment and innovation. Today it is home to a world-class dining and nightlife scene and several of LA’s most notable arts & culture and entertainment destinations. It is distinct from the broader LA area in its walkability, density and diversity of amenities, and unparalleled access to transit. 17+M VISITORS PER YEAR
723
RETAIL, FOOD, AND BEVERAGE BUSINESSES PER SQUARE MILE
Source: Placer.ai, ESRI
171
FOOD & BEVERAGE BUSINESSES PER SQUARE MILE
NATIONAL VISITATION INSIGHTS
In 2024, 2.7 million visitors who live more than 250 miles away stayed overnight in DTLA. The total number of visits was 12% higher than for 2023 and 40% higher than for 2021. These visitors spent an average of 2.2 days in DTLA, with 30% staying for 3 or more days. July was the most popular month with 343K trips to DTLA, which is 37% higher than the monthly average for the year.
TRIPS BY MONTH
TOP 10 DTLA TRIP ORIGINATION LOCATIONS (Number of Visitors)
LA28: DTLA WELCOMES THE WORLD
DTLA’s growth into a major hospitality center has set the stage for it to play a starring role in the biggest of all events coming to LA, the 2028 Olympic Summer Games. Not only will the area host several sporting events, it will also play host to the “Olympic Family”, the leaders of the global Olympic movement, who will be staying in Downtown throughout the games.
PROJECTS IN THE WORKS:
• New JW Marriott : 850 rooms and 110,000 SF of new meeting space
• Convention Center modernization and expansion
• Olympic Legacy Street Improvements Plan
• Purple Line extension to Westwood (Athletes Village)
• LAX Automated People Mover and Rent-A-Car facility
• Airport Metro Connector : K Line—connects to Expo Line for all-rail access to DTLA
QUARTERLY TRACKING STATS
The residential market rebounded strongly after a short-term decline during the pandemic, with rent and occupancy returning to pre-pandemic levels. Although occupancy dipped in 2023 due to delivery of over 2,000 new units, it has remained over 90% ever since.
$2,800 $2,900 $3,000
Lingering uncertainty about return-to-work was felt across the region, with vacancy rates reaching a historic high in 2024 and remaining at that level for Q1 2025. However, asking rents have stayed above $3.70 for three straught quarters, suggesting that a recovery is underway.
Source: CoStar
QUARTERLY TRACKING STATS
Retail rents have remained remarkably stable, indicating that interest in urban locations like Downtown LA has stayed strong. Although the vacancy rate has ticked up, much of that is due to the introduction of new inventory and the recent announcement of the closure of Macy’s at The Bloc.
Both occupancy and RevPAR made significant gains in 2022, ticking up further in 2023 before flattening out at around 10% below their pre-pandemic levels through 2024 and into 2025.
Source: CoStar
A PLACE TO LIVE
DTLA residents are significantly younger and more ethnically diverse than the city and region as a whole and have a slightly higher rate of postsecondary education. The residential population has grown by over 40% overall from 2010 to 2025, with growth concentrated primarily in South Park, the Historic Core, and the Arts District, where new residential development has been most heavily concentrated.
RESIDENTS
44%
Residential Population Growth from 2010 to 2025
$101,000
Average DTLA Resident Household Income
HOUSEHOLD INCOME
67% Residents with Postsecondary Education
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024)
Eighth + Grand
A PLACE TO LIVE
DTLA is the “first choice” for Angelenos who want an active urban lifestyle. As such, Downtowners are much more likely to use alternative modes of transportation and tend to work closer to where they live. Because the DTLA housing market is predominantly rental and its demographics skew towards young and single, it is also more transitory than the rest of the region. At the same time, it attracts a significant share of long-term residents, as demonstrated by our survey.
Median age of DTLA Residents 49%
Walk/Bike/Transit or Work from Home
COMMUTING PATTERNS
93 Downtown Average Walkability Score
Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024)
WALK, BIKE, AND TRANSIT SCORES
Source: Walk Score (2023)
South Park Commons
Beaudry
A PLACE TO WORK
Office tenants are drawn to DTLA by a range of factors including its central location in the region and access to transit and talent. As a result, Downtown is the largest employment cluster in the region, with 19% of all jobs in the City of LA located here. Moreover, the average annual wage for these jobs is 33% higher than for the City of LA and 49% higher than for LA County as a whole. Also, despite ongoing challenges in the office sector, the number of jobs in DTLA has grown by 8.5% since 2021, with wages growing by an even more impressive 31%.
48,190 Downtown Employees Per Square Mile 31%
,000
Bunker Hill
A PLACE TO WORK
RACE/ ETHNICITY
60% Workers Aged 30-54
55% Workers with Postsecondary Education
48% of DTLA Workers Commute Less Than 10 Miles from Their Home
Source: Placer.ai
US Bank Tower HOK
A PLACE TO VISIT, SHOP, AND DINE
Total visitation to DTLA has returned to pre-pandemic levels and is on a growth trajectory as business and convention travel has ramped back up. DTLA visitors are a diverse group and include everyone from national and international tourists to locals coming for dinner or to serve on jury duty, and everyone in between. Locally, Downtown is one of the premier “day trip” locations due to its variety of attractions and amenities. For those coming from outside of the region, Downtown is both a destination unto itself and an ideal base from which to explore the rest of the region.
RETAIL VITALITY
Food & Beverage Businesses per Square Mile
Sources: Esri, Esri-Data Axle, Esri-MRI-Simmons, Esri-U.S. BLS, 2022
VISITATION HEAT MAPS
This heat map shows the most popular locations for DTLA’s 18+ million visitors in 2024. Several noteworthy areas, identified in dark yellow, had over 500K visits during the year, while the top three locations in red each saw over 2.5M visits.
Source: Placer.ai
Grand Central Market
A PLACE TO VISIT, SHOP, AND DINE
DTLA is home to some of the most popular destinations in the region. Among the most popular of these are a range of cultural and entertainment venues, dining and shopping centers, and hip and trendy neighborhoods. This combination of density and diversity of attractions is at the heart of DTLA’s appeal.
TOP DTLA ATTRACTIONS
A PLACE TO VISIT, SHOP, AND DINE
17+ million Visitors in 2024
DTLA TOP CONSUMER SEGMENTS
Source: Placer.ai
Based on: Mosaic USA Consumer Lifestyle Segmentation by Experian
RESIDENTS
$4.8+ billion
Annual Retail Sales
WORKERS
“These young professionals report above average incomes topping $50,000 a year, and they seem to be thoroughly enjoying their unattached status.”
“Tend to live in multi-ethnic and multi-lingual neighborhoods, some speaking Spanish in shops and cafes, driving used American compact cars and minivans, and filling their homes with food and decorations that remind them of their roots.”
“These self-described workaholics share a desire to move up in status and they realize that every career journey starts with a first step.”
“Despite their limited budgets, these households enjoy shopping and like to experiment with styles, and they like stores that offer lots of brands.”
“Reflect the recent trend of Americans staying single longer. Most enjoy an active singles scene with plenty of nightlife, progressive values and robust leisure lives.”
Source: Experian Mosaic USA Handbook (2022)
Source: Placer.ai
The DTLA Alliance has been conducting surveys of Downtown residents, workers, and visitors since its inception in 1998. Early surveys sought to capture the rapid growth of Downtown’s residential population and its emergence as a dining and nightlife hotspot.
56% of survey respondents said that they love Downtown LA but only... 38% said that they think Downtown LA is moving in the right direction
More recently, our surveys have focused on the sentiments and behaviors of the diverse mix of people who engage with Downtown, including questions intended to better understand the shifting realities of office work and the critical issues facing DTLA.
Our focus is now squarely on assessing the pace of progress towards a fully revitalized Downtown and measuring how sentiments are reflecting the ever-evolving realities of urban living, working, and playing. We are also sharpening our emphasis on the role that our organization plays in building a better DTLA for the future.
The culture is everywhere‚ and you can feel it on every block. Everything is walkable, there’s always something happening, and I’m surrounded by museums, art, great food, and unexpected things to see and do every day.
DTLA 2026 SURVEY
DTLA RESIDENTS
The growth of the residential community over the past two decades has reshaped Downtown’s identity. DTLA is unique among residential neighborhoods in the region in offering a true urban experience, which our survey indicates is the top reason people choose to live here. That is likely also why so many have stayed for as long as they have and why more than 35% hope to stay here for 6 years or more. 53%
I love being able to walk to great restaurants, shopping, and access public transportation so easily. I hope continued improvements will make it feel safer for everyone.
Have lived in DTLA for 5 or more years
for 4 or more years
DTLA 2026 SURVEY
CHALLENGES
Despite considerable positive momentum in the market, DTLA’s persistent post-pandemic challenges continue to slow progress toward a full recovery and sustained growth. Across the past three surveys, there has been virtually no improvement in ratings related to progress on these issues. While this does not necessarily mean conditions have not improved in reality, it does suggest that more substantial progress will be required before perceptions begin to shift.
PRIORITIES
DTLA 2026 SURVEY
SAFETY
As with the results above, overall safety ratings of DTLA from this year’s survey were virtually identical to last year. These results indicate that respondents broadly feel safe in DTLA during the daytime, while less than half say they feel safe at night.
STREET LIGHTING
Effective street lighting is a valuable strategy for improving safety and the perception of safety in DTLA. As our survey results demonstrate, streetlighting is a priority issue for Downtowners, while only 40% give a positive rating to the current state of streetlighting in DTLA.
40% gave a positive assessment of the street lighting around DTLA
89% say street lighting impacts their feeling of safety around DTLA
DTLA 2026 SURVEY
RETURN TO THE OFFICE
The shifting nature of office work remains one of the crucial elements of DTLA’s recovery. This year’s survey indicates both that 100% work from home is becoming a rarity and a greater consensus is growing towards a work schedule of 4-5 days per week in the office. This is reflected both in terms of the actual days worked and employers’ long-term plans.
DAYS/WEEK WORKED OUTSIDE THE HOME
55% currently work 4-5 days per week at their workplace outside of the home
PLANS
65% employers plan for employees to spend most days at the workplace
DTLA 2026 SURVEY
METRO
One of DTLA’s biggest advantages is its unparalleled access to transit. As such, the state of the Metro rail system is of vital importance. While concerns about safety and cleanliness remain a priority, this year, 83% of respondents said that their experience using Metro was either improved or unchanged, while only 17% said it had declined. Metro also received high marks for Convenience and Dependability.
METRO EXPERIENCE
Grateful for the presence of more police officers and security officers and metro ambassadors.
I have been riding Metro for about 10 years. I noticed it has greatly improved.
DTLA 2026 SURVEY
RETAIL
Most Requested Retailer
Survey respondents have consistently asked for more supermarkets, clothing/ apparel stores, and books/music stores. In terms of specific retailers, Trader Joe’s topped our survey as it has in previous years, with 30% of respondents desiring one in DTLA. Interestingly, no other retailer was mentioned by more than 10% of respondents. This may be because many of the retailers that have been requested in prior surveys have since opened locations here, such as Whole Foods, Sephora, and H&M.
MOST REQUESTED RETAIL CATEGORIES
FIGat7TH
The Bloc
DTLA 2026 SURVEY
ACTIVITIES
Between its world-class attractions, diverse range of shopping and dining locations, and premiere performance and event venues, respondents engaged in a wide variety of activities in DTLA. As was the case in past surveys, Downtown’s dining scene draws the most respondents, whether they live, work, or visit DTLA. Also noteworthy is that whether it is visitors or workers on their days off, the overwhelming majority of respondents indicate that they made multiple trips to DTLA in the past year.
TOP ACTIVITIES
We often bring other people with us whenever we come up to DTLA to introduce them to just how great it can beand they are always amazed by what they are missing.
90%
Workers visited DTLA at least once in 2025 on days they were not working
I’m always just 15 minutes away from places I love to go to on a regular basis.
DTLA ALLIANCE
58%
Familiar with the DTLA Alliance
Downtown LA is a dynamic community of businesses, workers, visitors, and residents. The DTLA Alliance takes pride in helping ensure that Downtown remains a welcoming, vibrant, and active place for all of them. To support this goal, we provide safety and maintenance services that supplement those delivered by the City, while also playing a central role in driving engagement, visibility, and economic activity through our marketing and economic development programs.
The service most strongly associated with the DTLA Alliance is our Safety Patrol, with 78% of residents and 63% of all respondents familiar with our “Purple Patrol.” By comparison, awareness of other core services remains lower, with only 18% familiar with our 24/7 Safety & Maintenance Service Hotline and 10% familiar with our Clean & Safe App. Increasing awareness of these vital services will therefore be a key priority moving forward.
In terms of performance, Community Events received the highest ratings, with 80% positive responses, followed by Tree Trimming at 79%, Downtown_LA social media at 77%, and the DowntownLA.com website at 73%.
DTLA ALLIANCE
2 6 2 O A
Downtown Los Angeles is the primary hub of commercial activity for Los Angeles. It is the most significant job center in the region, a diverse collection of thriving urban neighborhoods, and a popular destination with national and global recognition.