Abandoned buildings awaiting redevelopment in LA’s Koreatown have increasingly seen large-scale fires, often attributed to homeless individuals and suspected arson. This has heightened concerns among Korean business owners and residents.

A fire severely damaged an empty building on the south side of Olympic and Crenshaw in Koreatown on the evening of October 23rd, igniting a nearby billboard and threatening to spread to a neighboring gas station. Fortunately, firefighters swiftly controlled the blaze in 43 minutes.

The next day, remnants of the damaged building and half-burned billboard were visible. The fence surrounding the empty building had broken segments, allowing easy entry for homeless individuals, and the grounds were littered with shopping carts and cooking equipment.

A nearby gas station employee noted, “This building has been vacant for a long time, with homeless people frequently entering.” The blaze was the second major fire at a Koreatown vacant building this year. Another similar fire occurred in July at the old Dong Il Jang building on 8th and Hobart, abandoned since 2020.

Over the last few years, Koreatown’s ambitious redevelopment projects have stalled due to a cooling commercial real estate market, adding to residents' unease. Nicknamed “ghost buildings,” these vacant sites line major streets like Olympic and Wilshire, with around 10 empty buildings and over 10 vacant lots cleared for redevelopment.

These neglected structures, often marked by gang graffiti, have become hubs for homeless encampments. Unauthorized electricity use by homeless residents has frequently escalated to major fires.

Even buildings owned by Koreatown’s largest real estate developer, Jamison, remain vacant. Jamison is currently constructing a major 8-story, 227-unit complex near the historic Wilshire Professional Building, with plans to preserve the building’s Art Deco facade and convert it into residential units. However, specific plans remain undisclosed, leaving the property in an abandoned state.

An office worker on Wilshire and Crenshaw commented, “This area has seen multiple fires, including one recently. Empty buildings left behind by stalled redevelopment projects are everywhere in Koreatown. We urgently need a community-driven solution to prevent more major incidents.”

<Sehee Roh>