Long a hub of culture, commerce, and connectivity, DTLA now faces a defining moment. As the focal point of our regional economy, the area has long been the catalyst driving who we are today and where we can be tomorrow. As we recover from catastrophic wildfires, prepare for the 2028 Summer Olympics and defend our fundamental values as Angelenos, our region needs to take bold action demonstrating the creativity and fearlessness necessary to fully unlock its potential.

Downtown Los Angeles is where that effort should start.

As new transit lines take shape, key corridors in the downtown area are frankly underperforming – marked by vacant storefronts, underutilized properties and unrealized opportunity. To restore downtown’s vibrancy and economic promise, we need more than hope – we need targeted investment in transformative, community-building projects.

One such project stands out: Fourth & Central, a much-needed mixed-use development proposed for an industrial site near the Arts District and Little Tokyo that has the potential to re-energize not just a neighborhood, but the entire regional economy.

Because of its size and scope, Fourth & Central could function as a catalyst to create more employment opportunities for Southern California residents for years to come. The project is projected to generate more than 10,000 union construction jobs and 4,000 ongoing jobs. In total, the project represents a $2 billion economic investment. And we all stand to benefit from that investment as it creates new streams of tax revenue for the City of Los Angeles and Los Angeles County while also delivering much-needed new housing, including vitally important affordable housing units and community-serving retail. And it does so in a part of the city where such investment is sorely needed.

What makes Fourth & Central particularly meaningful is not just the scale of investment – it’s the commitment to equity and opportunity embedded in how the project will be built. Through a Project Labor Agreement, the development will ensure that union construction careers – some of the most stable and well-paying jobs available without a four-year college degree – are accessible to local residents from historically underrepresented communities.

The Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council has long prioritized recruiting Angelenos from disadvantaged backgrounds, including veterans, the formerly incarcerated and those who’ve experienced homelessness. Fourth & Central gives these workers a real pathway into lifelong careers with benefits, training and dignity.

At the same time, the LAEDC sees Fourth & Central as a powerful example of the kind of strategic, forward-looking investment that strengthens our regional economy. As we focus on expanding our region’s leading industry clusters, housing is a necessary complement. It’s the social infrastructure that creates the conditions for additional investment. This project will not only offer housing near mass transit and promote good jobs, but it will spur new destinations for business, culture and community life.

Projects like Fourth & Central don’t just build buildings – they build confidence. They signal to the private sector that Los Angeles is a place worth investing in. They demonstrate to residents that progress is possible when we align public policy with community and economic benefit.

The Building Trades and LAEDC are committed to reimagining and rebuilding our economy in support of our communities. To do this, we intend to work together to make it happen.

As we continue reimagining a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy, we must support projects that deliver on all fronts – jobs, housing, opportunity and equity.

Fourth & Central isn’t just about revitalizing a corner of downtown – it’s about building the future of Los Angeles, one career, one home, one investment at a time.

Stephen Cheung is president and chief executive of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and Ernesto Medrano is executive secretary of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.