A Deeper Look Into Skid Row's History

Below you will find our plaque and the exact location where it was placed.

On Saturday, December 8, 2018, our group went to Downtown, Los Angeles to commemorate the Skid Row railroads and the Housing Trust buildings.

Here are a few of the pictures we took along with our plaque.

During the late 1900's, neighborhood activists persuaded the City Hall to make the remaining hotels into a housing trust instead of destroying them. Advocates persuaded the City Hall to pass a legal authorization to prohibit the hotels from being demolished. During 1989, legal authorization was passed and hotels were protected.

Below you will find a few of these hotels that are now transformed into a housing trust and are located throughout Downtown, LA.

Arcade Station (1888 - 1914) was located on the edge of modern day Skid Row. It was the final stop of the Transcontinental Railroad and was where travelers congregated and sought out jobs and opportunities.

Lack of public toilets and hygiene centers makes Skid Row vulnerable to hepatitis A outbreak Skid Row currently does not meet the UNHCR sanitation standards for hygiene access.

During the 1950's and the 1960's, many of the residential hotels fell into disrepair. Age and lack of maintenance did not meet fire and safety codes. Owners had the option of repairing or demolishing the hotels, but with costly repairs and low income, many hotels were demolished. There was a loss of 50% of the housing stock, leaving a numerous amount of individuals unstable.

Bathroom access on skid row is worse than in a Syrian refugee camp, report says Bathroom access on skid row is worse than in a Syrian refugee camp, report says

During the 1800's to the mid-19th century, men were far away from their families and homes working on the railroads. Single room occupancy (SRO) hotels were built to house these men and men who traveled West on the railroads in search of work and opportunity.

Did you know, the term "Skid Row" originated during the construction of the railroads in the mid 19th century? Huge logs that were too heavy to carry were rolled on top of these "skids".