The Reef: a South LA development that’s split the community

Downtown Los Angeles has experienced a renaissance over the last several years. High rises, luxury lofts and fancy restaurants abound. And now that building boom is spreading south. A mile from L.A. Live, right on the other side of the 10 Freeway, Washington Boulevard still looks untouched. But developers have a billion-dollar plan to transform the area. The Reef would turn what’s now two parking lots into a 10-acre complex with a pair of high-rise buildings boasting 1400 apartments and condos, a hotel, a grocery store, restaurants and public gardens. For some, this sounds like exciting progress. For others, it represents everything that’s wrong with development in L.A: rich people elbowing out everyone else.