Paragliding Stunt Raises Safety Concerns at Unfinished Towers in Downtown LA
Los Angeles city officials are raising concerns about the safety of unfinished towers in downtown LA after a video circulated on social media showing someone paragliding from the buildings. The towers, which have attracted graffiti artists and taggers, have become a source of worry for city leaders as they fear the potential for accidents or intentional harm.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass expressed her fear, stating, “I’m terrified someone’s going to fall or be pushed. There are people who are parachuting off of the building.” The LAPD has acknowledged the existence of the video but has not provided further details at this time.
The lack of safety measures from the building developers has forced the city to deploy officers from the already-stretched-thin Los Angeles Police Department to surround the site. Mayor Bass emphasized the urgency, warning that tragedy is likely to occur if the property is not immediately secured. She also called for the building owner to reimburse the city for any expenses incurred.
The towers in question are part of the Oceanwide Plaza construction on Flower Street. However, the project came to a halt in 2019 when the Chinese developers ran out of funding. Since then, the empty towers have become a magnet for graffiti artists, resulting in nearly 30 floors of graffiti covering their walls.
To address the situation, the LA City Council issued a motion requiring the property owners to respond by February 17th. The owners are expected to secure the vacant building and restore the nearby sidewalks. Failure to comply may lead to city officials taking matters into their own hands. Councilmember Kevin de León expressed skepticism about the developer’s ability to address the issue, stating, “I’m not holding my breath. But that does not mean we cannot continue putting pressure on them.”
Despite efforts to notify the property owners through various means such as email, phone calls, fax, and social media messages, at least 18 people have already been arrested at the towers, primarily for felony vandalism. The LAPD’s Central Division has assigned detectives to investigate crimes committed at the site, and several individuals have been arrested for offenses including vandalism, trespassing, and burglary.
If Oceanwide Inc. fails to respond by the deadline, city staff will step in to remove any obstructions obstructing sidewalks and streets. Councilmember de León revealed that the long-term plan is to find a new group of investors to take over the project on this prime Los Angeles land.
In the meantime, concerns about safety persist as the unfinished towers continue to attract individuals engaging in risky activities. The city of Los Angeles remains determined to ensure that the property is secured and made safe for the community before any further accidents or incidents occur.
