In downtown Los Angeles, graffiti has transformed an unfinished high-rise into a towering canvas, with taggers decorating at least 27 stories of a three-tower development project. This act of vandalism adds another layer to the complex story of the construction site situated opposite the venue for Sunday’s Grammy Awards, the Crypto.com Arena. This area is part of the city’s burgeoning entertainment district, close to the Los Angeles Convention Center and the L.A. Live complex.
Initially envisioned to accommodate a hotel and luxury condominiums, the project hit a standstill in 2019 due to financial issues faced by the developer based in Beijing, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
City officials have assured that the graffiti will be removed. The Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Division has engaged with the property’s management and local City Council district representatives to devise strategies for enhancing security at the site.
Immediate actions are planned to secure the property, and efforts to erase the graffiti are underway. Throughout the week, taggers have been spotted engaging in vandalism on multiple occasions.
Early Tuesday, a police helicopter crew observed over a dozen individuals trespassing and likely tagging the building. Following this, two individuals, aged 35 and 25, were apprehended, cited, and subsequently released by the patrol units.
Further incidents on Thursday involved suspects spray-painting on the 30th floor. Although they attempted to escape in a vehicle, police officers managed to stop them. The driver received a citation for failing to yield, while the passenger was interrogated and let go.
