LA City will install benches, lighting, and Korean-themed decorative elements to improve pedestrian conditions in the heart of Koreatown, officials said, as the area prepares for increased activity tied to major international events.
The project area covers the sidewalks surrounding Dawooljeong on the northeast corner of Olympic Boulevard and Normandie Avenue. The intersection is also slated for groundbreaking later this year on the Olympic Gateway project, which is expected to further strengthen Koreatown’s Korean cultural presence.
The LA City Public Works Commission announced at its full meeting on the 14th that it selected Geronimo Concrete as the final contractor for the Koreatown pedestrian improvement project. Four companies submitted bids, and Geronimo Concrete won with the lowest bid of $285,322.
Steve Kang, president of the LA City Public Works Commission, said in an interview that city and county green space assessments have long identified a severe shortage of parks and rest areas in Koreatown, prompting ongoing discussions about improvements. He said efforts since he took office have focused on turning those discussions into actual projects, calling this initiative one of the results.
Kang added that with this year’s North American World Cup and the 2028 LA Summer Olympics approaching, the need to upgrade infrastructure in Koreatown, located near the city center, has grown more urgent.
He noted that a senior center is located near the project site and that Korean American seniors frequently walk through the area. The core goal of the project, he said, is to provide places to rest through bench installations and to enhance nighttime pedestrian and public safety with improved lighting.
Kang also said the city plans to install decorative features that reflect Koreatown culture so that the neighborhood’s identity is naturally expressed in the streetscape. Specific forms and designs for the decorations have not yet been finalized.
The project is scheduled for completion within this year, with construction expected to take about 180 days. Kang said preparatory paperwork is currently being finalized ahead of groundbreaking, and that the city will coordinate the construction schedule with the contractor to avoid disrupting the annual LA Korean Festival held each fall near Normandie Avenue.
He added that the project could lead to expanded pedestrian improvement efforts elsewhere in Koreatown. Kang said expansion of Seoul International Park is also needed to increase green space, and that using part of Normandie Avenue as park space could be considered while maintaining the park’s baseball field. To that end, the LA Department of Transportation is conducting a feasibility study on potentially converting part of Normandie Avenue to one-way traffic.
The pedestrian improvement project also received $50,000 in funding from the office of Heather Hutt, Los Angeles City Council member for District 10.
BY KYEONGJUN KIM [kim.kyeongjun1@koreadaily.com]
