DTLA 2040: A Brief Overview of Downtown Los Angeles’ Long-Term Plan
The DTLA 2040 Plan is the City of Los Angeles’ long-term vision for how Downtown Los Angeles will grow, change, and function through the year 2040. The plan updates two existing community plans — Central City and Central City North — which together make up Downtown LA draft_concepts_from_the_downtow….
What the Plan Is Trying to Do
At its core, DTLA 2040 is meant to guide growth in a way that supports Downtown’s ongoing revitalization while accommodating significant future change. According to regional projections referenced in the document, Downtown is expected to add approximately:
- 125,000 new residents
- 70,000 new housing units
- 55,000 new jobs
by 2040, making it one of the fastest-growing parts of the city draft_concepts_from_the_downtow….
Guiding Principles
The plan is built around several core principles intended to shape Downtown into a sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and healthy place for residents, workers, and visitors. Key priorities include:
- Reinforcing Downtown as a job center, especially near transit
- Expanding housing opportunities, including new housing types and adaptive reuse
- Promoting transit, biking, and walking, while discouraging excessive parking
- Strengthening neighborhood character through preservation and design guidelines
- Creating better connections between districts, with streets treated as public gathering spaces draft_concepts_from_the_downtow….
Zoning and re:code LA
DTLA 2040 will be the first major application of re:code LA, the city’s comprehensive overhaul of its outdated 1946 zoning code. The new zoning system is intended to simplify regulations, consolidate rules into a clearer framework, and better align zoning with modern urban conditions
Environmental Review and Public Input
The document also explains the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The scoping meeting described in this document is an early step meant to gather public and agency input on what environmental issues should be studied — including land use, transportation, housing, and neighborhood impacts — before a draft EIR is prepared draft_concepts_from_the_downtow….
Why It Matters
Community Plans like DTLA 2040 are foundational planning tools. They guide zoning decisions, shape what types of development are allowed, and influence future investments in transportation, public space, housing, and infrastructure. Once adopted, the plan will be used by City departments, developers, public agencies, and community members to evaluate future projects in Downtown Los Angeles
