2024-05-03 08:00:00
Little Tokyo in Los Angeles has been named one of “America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places” by the National Trust Historic Preservation, an American nonprofit organization.
Japanese-American organizations that aim to revitalize the community and attract interest from a wide range of people pushed hard for Little Tokyo’s inclusion on the list, which was released on May 1.
Located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, Little Tokyo has a history of about 140 years. It survived the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II.
More than 400 small businesses remain in the district, which is near Dodger Stadium.
A mural of star slugger Shohei Ohtani was recently completed at the Miyako Hotel Los Angeles in Little Tokyo.
On weekends, the area is packed with people seeking Japanese cuisine.
However, the community is under pressure from evictions and redevelopment as land prices soar.
“Little Tokyo and its multigenerational restaurants, businesses and cultural institutions are a distinctive part of Los Angeles’ history and character, as one of the only remaining Japantowns in the United States,” said Carol Quillen, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, said. in a statement.
“We hope that by drawing attention to the displacement and gentrification happening in the neighborhood, Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo can get the support and policy protection it needs so that the community can thrive long into the future,” she said.
The privately funded NPO, which works to preserve historic American places, releases the list annually.
This year’s list included New Salem Baptist Church in West Virginia and Tangier American Legation in Morocco, the first property abroad to be named.
People can sign a petition to support the preservation of Little Tokyo and other sites on the organization’s website at https://savingplaces.org/.
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