By 2028, Downtown’s newest development, the recently completed 54-story Olympic + Hill by Omni, will be barely three years old. The city will be on the cusp of hosting the world for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. But will today’s planned developments, including improved transportation and infrastructure and new museums, be ready in time? Here’s what may and may not be here in time for the 2028 Olympic Games.
Go Metro! Or Go Home!
Navigating downtown’s dynamic urban landscape will be a markedly different experience, thanks to the newly safer and significantly expanded Metro system.
For visitors arriving by air, the often-dreaded LAX commute will be eased by the efficient direct Metro Connector, People Mover and Inglewood Transit Connector rails linked to the world-class hotels of downtown Los Angeles. Passing the torch to Mayor Karen Bass, former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s ambitious $43 billion ”LA28″ would have finished 28 transportation projects successfully, improving connectivity to major sports venues coupled with an enhanced transit network, bent on prioritizing security with a coordinated and visible presence of Metro Security Officers, welcome teams, and the familiar uniforms of local law enforcement.
The 2.25-mile elevated, driverless train is set to open in 2026. (Courtesy Los Angeles World Airports)
For downtown, this could mean a complete abandonment of personal motor vehicles championed by a vision of a pedestrian and public transit-friendly downtown en route to the trifecta of global sporting events.
Pump up the volume!
The roar of the FIFA World Cup 26™ in 2026 and the looming excitement of Super Bowl LXI in 2027 have refined and perfected downtown hospitality, with an accomplished Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board wearing the crown as exclusive regional promoters for such immense sporting games.
A World of Art…
Exposition Park, where the striking Lucas Museum of Narrative Art will showcase its unique collection adjacent to the California Science Center’s newest exhibit, the awe-inspiring Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, finally offering an unobstructed view of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art set to open in 2026. (Courtesy Lucas Museum of Narrative Art News Room)
Indoor-outdoor events coordinators Art Night, LATC, Music Center, DTLA Proud, the City of Los Angeles, and Grand Performances’ will continue to showcase artisans, music, and theatrical events, having long established downtown as the world’s finest arts and culture. Mecca continues in our quest to present the most diverse events across the city, along with a dramatically expanded Broad museum on Grand Avenue, with its gallery space having been increased by 70%, along with MOCA visitors looking down on all of us from the top of Bunker Hill.
Safe & Clean
Visitors, local businesses, and residents continue to rely on dedicated local BID teams, their purple, yellow, and green uniforms a familiar sight as they maintain the vibrancy of public spaces while escorting the people of downtown as late as 4am.
If proposed Assembly Bill 342 manages to pass, downtown will have designated Hospitality Zones, spurred by extended alcohol beverage hours in select venues accompanied by enhanced safety measures.
Amidst this transformation, the voices of Downtown’s residents will be crucial, amplified by the newly formed DTLA Residents Association, SPNA, and the change in leadership for the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. These organizations will have long been actively engaging with city leadership to address fundamental needs of residents and tourists alike, such as improved street lighting, enhanced safety initiatives, anti-crime measures, and tenant parking solutions.
What may not be here…
Notably, despite earlier setbacks, there is renewed hope that the extensive expansion of the staggering $2.2 billion Los Angeles Convention Center expansion, along with the ever-evolving L.A. LIVE and Crypto.com Arena downtown’s Social District, will undoubtedly be one of the world’s most vibrant tourist hubs. Yet, moving forward despite the Los Angeles City Council 13-2 “yeh” vote in April 2025 and high hopes from owners AEG, the LA Convention Center Expansion and adjacent Gilbert Lindsay Plaza may or may not be completed by 2028.
Significantly boosting downtown’s capacity for the Games and promising to spark LA tourism forever with state-of-the-art amenities and almost a full acre of green space, skeptics point out the intensity of the project just may not make it on time to take home the gold. Speaking of the LA Convention Center, just across Figueroa, the fate of the Oceanwide’s newly rebranded Graffiti Towers remains a significant question mark.
By 2028, the unfinished complex could be undergoing a dramatic transformation under new ownership, demolished, or racing against the clock to be ready for the global spotlight. Only time will tell. The $500 million Chinatown Gondola, intended to connect Union Station and Dodger Stadium, may still be facing an uncertain future. Despite Metro board approval in 2024, the complex web of city, state, and community approvals, coupled with persistent legal challenges stemming from environmental and gentrification concerns, casts significant doubt on its completion by the 2028 Olympics.
The projected costs for these ventures are substantial, with the gondola estimated between $385 million and $500 million.
The homeless?
Whether it’s the Olympics or just rooting for our favorite teams at 33Taps sports bar, the city will no doubt still be grappling with the ongoing challenge of homelessness. By 2028, the impact of legislative efforts like SB 43, focusing on conservatorship and increased resources, will aim to yield more effective solutions and a more compassionate approach to this complex issue. Adding another layer of potential change, the ongoing federal audit, with its mission of uncovering corruption and ensuring accountability for public funds, is anticipated to reach a significant stage by 2028, potentially fostering greater trust and transparency within city governance as we welcome the world.
Rain or shine, as the city gears up for its close-up on the global stage, the “DTLA Weekly” will serve as the essential guide, navigating residents and visitors through the excitement, the changes, and the lingering uncertainties of a Downtown Los Angeles on the cusp of this historic moment.
