The proposed 4th & Central development, located at the southeastern edge of Little Tokyo and adjacent to Skid Row, would transform more than seven acres with 10 new buildings containing over 400,000 square feet of office space and 145,000 square feet of retail space. The project includes more than 1,300 market-rate units and approximately 260 affordable units.
Originally introduced by developer Continuum Partners more than four years ago, the proposal has faced sustained concerns from community stakeholders.
From the outset, Little Tokyo organizations engaged with the developer in an effort to address community concerns, including the limited number of affordable housing units, potential impacts on small and legacy businesses, and increased displacement and gentrification pressures in Little Tokyo, one of Los Angeles’ historic cultural districts. Aside from reducing one building from 44 stories to 30 stories, the project remained largely unchanged.
Community leaders concluded that their concerns were not being meaningfully addressed, leading the Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC) to formally oppose the project in its current form.
On May 12, 2026, the Los Angeles City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee voted to advance the 4th & Central project.
Following years of advocacy by LTCC members and community partners, Councilmember Ysabel Jurado of Council District 14 introduced amendments intended to mitigate some of the project’s impacts on surrounding neighborhoods. The amendments include the creation of a Small Business Impact Fund of up to $700,000 to support small legacy and community-serving businesses in Little Tokyo and Skid Row, restrictions on alcohol permits, and an increase in the number of Extremely Low Income housing units included in the development.
More than 30 residents and stakeholders from Little Tokyo and Skid Row attended the PLUM Committee meeting and provided public comment. Speakers called for additional affordable housing, stronger protections for small businesses and neighboring communities, and more comprehensive restrictions on alcohol-related uses.
The committee adopted Council District 14’s amendments and approved the project without further discussion.
A silver lining of this campaign has been the growing partnership between Little Tokyo and our Skid Row partners. Over the past year, we have come together through campaign meetings, community events, and celebrations, building stronger relationships and a deeper understanding of our shared concerns and aspirations.
This collaboration has strengthened our collective advocacy and reminded us that our communities are deeply connected. We are excited to continue building these relationships and working together throughout the 4th & Central campaign and beyond.
We are especially grateful to Councilmember Ysabel Jurado for listening to community concerns and advocating for stronger accountability measures and additional community benefits throughout this process.
At the same time, we recognize that many of the community’s core concerns remain unresolved. As LTCC considers the next phase of this campaign, we are reflecting on what we have heard from members and stakeholders and evaluating the most effective path forward.
What remains clear is this: our community showed up, spoke out, and made an impact.
Thank you for standing with us, for believing in the importance of community voice, and for helping ensure that Little Tokyo’s future continues to be shaped by the people who care deeply about this neighborhood.
We will continue to keep the community informed as this process moves forward.
In community,
Little Tokyo Community Council