Any perspective on the area is greatly appreciated in terms of flooding potential, safety and security, quality of life.

It's in a heavy industrial area, so maybe a food truck parking lot...

The historic district doesn't really care what you do on the interior of the home or if you live in it or rent it, while the city does require a rental license and inspection it is primarily for safety issues and to ensure everything is working and safe.   

All of the restaurants are on capacity limits, so it is very challenging to find a location since most meetups didn't have any kind of food or drink requirement. 

You can view the code at: https://up.codes/viewer/massac...Exceptions to the code are made regularly, but ceiling height is very important from both a safety perspective as well as livability, legal, resale, rentability perspective.

This is one of my fears, that a new construction building someone else is taking the upside potential, so that would leave me with a thin margin, which would be okay if things are stable, but also considering whether to look for more safety in case the market turns south.  

We've got proximity to the mountain, 300 days of sun, great beer, legal weed, an awesome food scene, beautiful parks, tons of little neighborhoods with their own commercial strip, and a diversified economy that seems to continue to attract businesses and therefore jobs and therefore people that make for a vibrant city.

In the 12-ish years I've lived in LA, I've seriously looked at living downtown several times and have always been discouraged by the overall environment and lack of safety. 

Originally posted by @Eric Weldon-Schilling:I agree there has definitely  been enough money with unemployment, rent assistance, stimulus checks, food stamps which are easier to get than ever.

Well It Did not work and i will speak my truth about him and the nuisance tenants that are harassing me beating and stomping, throwing things down on my patio, food, trash,some sort of liquid, paper, glitter, toys.