Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The owner of a Los Angeles car-wash has cleaned up, selling the precious land beneath his business for an estimated $25m (£15m) – almost 50 times what he paid for it a generation ago.
According to the Los Angeles Times, when Robert Bush purchased the patch of tarmac at the junction of Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street in downtown LA in 1980, it cost him $525,000. At the time, much of the downtown district was notoriously down-at-heel.
Today, with the city’s regeneration at its peak, Mr Bush’s modest Downtown Car Wash is surrounded by skyscrapers on one of the most valuable slices of property in southern California. The 36,300 sq ft plot was purchased by a developer who intends to build a high-rise complex of shops, apartments and a hotel. Though the exact price paid was not disclosed, Mr Bush is believed to have got close to his asking price of $25m.
The city centre has swiftly and steadily been gentrified in recent years. Now the car wash is at the heart of a thriving retail area, near the Staples Centre, home of the LA Lakers and Clippers basketball teams.
Carol Schatz, of Los Angeles Downtown Centre Business Improvement District, told the newspaper: “We have created a new city centre, and we don’t need a car wash smack dab in the middle of it.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments