The downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers, which have served as a hub for graffiti artists, vandals and daredevils, will be cleaned up in the next 90 days, the office of Mayor Karen Bass said this week.
Just two years out before the 2028 LA Olympics, the new proposed owner of the Oceanwide Plaza, also infamously known as the graffiti towers, has committed to removing the graffiti from the buildings’ exteriors, according to Bass’ office. Crews were expected to begin the clean-up process as early Wednesday.
With the commitments from the proposed buyer, KPC Development Co., the city of LA withdrew its objection to the modified bankruptcy plan, so the remediation work can begin before construction can resume.
“We’re very concerned about the Olympics. What is the view that the world’s going to see in a couple of years? We would prefer it not be the graffiti,” said Debra Shrout from the South Park Neighborhood Association.
Shrout and her neighbors, who have been pushing for change at the towers over security and beatification concerns, welcomed the mayor’s announcement.
If the bankruptcy court approves the sale, the developer plans to finish much of the project that will be home to apartments, a hotel, shops and restaurants.
NBCLA reached out to KPC Development for comment on its cleanup plans but did not hear back. The company had said in a previous statement that it is “eager to work in partnership with the city of Los Angeles and the downtown community to move quickly on what is truly a keystone project for downtown revitalization.”
The mayor’s office told NBCLA that the proposed buyer will fund the graffiti cleanup. A spokesperson for the mayor said the court is expected to issue a confirmation order as the city withdraws its objection to the modified bankruptcy plan after getting the cleanup promise.