The Bloc
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| The Bloc | |
|---|---|
| Name | The Bloc |
| Location | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Opened | 2015 (redeveloped) |
| Developer | MacFarlane Partners, Downtown Los Angeles |
| Owner | Waterworks |
| Floor area | 267000sqft |
| Publictransit | Pershing Square station, 7th Street/Metro Center station |
The Bloc is a mixed-use retail and office complex in Downtown Los Angeles notable for its open-air design, pedestrian connections, and integration with regional transit. Located in the Bunker Hill area between 7th Street/Metro Center station and Pershing Square station, the complex anchors a cluster of developments that include adjacent sites such as the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and the FIGat7th retail center. The Bloc's redevelopment transformed a mid-20th-century retail block into a contemporary destination linked to projects like LA Live, the Staples Center, and the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Overview
The Bloc occupies a superblock footprint bounded by 7th Street (Los Angeles), Flower Street, 8th Street (Los Angeles), and Figueroa Street. The property features multiple office lobbies, street-level retail, a subterranean concourse, and direct access to Pershing Square station and 7th Street/Metro Center station via pedestrian passages. Anchors and tenants have included national retail brands and local institutions, and the site has been positioned as part of broader Downtown Los Angeles revitalization efforts connected to projects like Grand Park and the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
History
Originally developed in the mid-20th century, the block housed several retail and entertainment venues that catered to downtown shoppers and commuters during eras dominated by projects such as Bunker Hill redevelopment and the postwar urban renewal programs influenced by planners associated with Lyndon B. Johnson-era funding initiatives. By the early 21st century the complex had declined in relevance amid suburbanization and the growth of new shopping hubs like South Coast Plaza and The Grove (Los Angeles). In 2012, a partnership involving MacFarlane Partners and other investors announced a major redevelopment to create an open-air, transit-oriented center. The 2015 reopening followed a wave of downtown projects including LA Live and office conversions exemplified by nearby conversions such as The Bradbury Building adaptive reuse examples. Ownership changes and lease negotiations subsequently involved commercial property firms such as Waterworks and national tenants from chains tied to Walmart Inc. and Apple Inc. retail strategies.
Architecture and Design
The Bloc's redesign engaged architecture and urban design firms influenced by precedents like Frank Gehry’s work at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the transit-oriented schemes associated with designers involved in Hudson Yards-era planning. The project emphasized porous urban blocks, including a seven-story atrium, a rooftop plaza, and a sunken retail concourse with glazed passages reminiscent of Union Station (Los Angeles) concourse articulations. Materials and systems reference contemporary practices used in projects by firms that have worked on One California Plaza and Two California Plaza, integrating seismic retrofitting standards derived from California Building Code requirements and sustainability measures associated with LEED certification efforts. The complex also features pedestrian bridges and public art installations drawing comparisons to plazas around Walt Disney Concert Hall and civic interventions in Grand Avenue.
Tenants and Usage
Tenants have ranged across national retailers, regional restaurants, and corporate office occupants such as creative firms and technology startups paralleling tenant mixes seen at Silicon Beach and coworking models by companies like WeWork. Food-and-beverage operators have included concepts linking to culinary scenes associated with Grand Central Market and restaurateurs who also operate in Hollywood and Santa Monica. Office tenants access direct metro connections to employment centers including Century City and Hollywood, while retail activity targets audiences from venues such as Crypto.com Arena and Microsoft Theater during event schedules. Property management has negotiated leases with national brands that mirror strategies used by mall operators like Macerich and Simon Property Group.
Events and Cultural Impact
The Bloc has hosted pop-up activations, seasonal markets, and cultural programming coordinated with citywide festivals such as Noche en Blanco and events associated with DineLA and DTLA Art Walk. Its proximity to performance venues including the Ahmanson Theatre and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion positions it as a gathering node during performances and conventions tied to organizations like Los Angeles Philharmonic and trade shows at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The site’s plazas and pedestrian corridors have been used for film shoots, live broadcasts during awards seasons including the Academy Awards fringe events, and promotional tie-ins with entertainment studios such as Warner Bros. and Netflix.
Safety Incidents and Controversies
The complex has been involved in disputes and incidents typical of major urban centers. Past controversies included tenant closures and litigation over lease terms similar to disputes seen between retailers and landlords like those involving Sears in other jurisdictions. The property has also been the locus of public-safety incidents coordinated with responses from agencies such as the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles Fire Department, and discussions about security policy paralleled citywide debates over homelessness responses guided by measures related to Measure H and initiatives from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority. Public-safety upgrades have followed incidents in other downtown venues, drawing on best practices used after events at LA Live and Staples Center.
Redevelopment and Future Plans
Ownership and city planners have continued to propose enhancements aligned with transit-oriented development frameworks promoted by Metro (LACMTA) and urban initiatives championed by the City of Los Angeles Office of Economic Development. Potential future work has included additional office conversion proposals echoing projects like the conversion of Union Station-adjacent properties, expanded public realm improvements complementing Grand Park programming, and tenant repositioning strategies responsive to market shifts driven by companies such as Amazon (company) and Google. Redevelopment dialogue remains connected to broader downtown strategies shaped by entities like the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council and investment activity from institutional owners including pension funds and real estate firms operating in the Southern California marketplace.