Transforming Union Station from a transit hub to an urban destination

[left-of-center2012]

Transforming (L.A.) Union Station from a transit hub to an urban destination

"On busy mornings, thousands of travelers pass through Los Angeles Union Station, rushing toward the Metro subway and pushing suitcases across polished tile floors.

But the energy doesn't last. By early afternoon on a recent weekday, just a few dozen people lingered in the station's iconic waiting area, resting on buttery leather chairs and gazing at the ceiling's painted beams. Others watched as the sunshine played across the roped-off ticketing hall.

"It's so peaceful, like an old library," said Jen Arthur, 38, as she waited to board a train to San Diego. Her toddler daughters drummed their heels against the chair and giggled. Still, she said, "we wish there were a little more to do."

That soon could change. Planners and transportation officials are hoping to extend the energy of downtown Los Angeles' revitalization to one of the city's most beloved, yet often unexplored, landmarks. As part of a multimillion-dollar restoration effort, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority hopes to breathe new life into Union Station by hosting concerts, leasing retail space and improving the restaurant offerings."

To read more:
http://www.latimes.c...0409-story.html