6 developments coming to Boyle Heights and East LA this year

This story was originally published by Boyle Heights Beat on Jan. 8, 2025.

Big changes are expected on the Eastside in 2026.

From long-awaited infrastructure upgrades to improve pedestrian safety, to fresh renovations that will beautify existing landmarks — and even a brand-new park — several projects across Boyle Heights and East LA are set to be completed this year.

Here’s a look at some of the projects you can expect to see in 2026.

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A park under the 6th Street Bridge

Rendering of Leonard Hill Arts Plaza at the Sixth Street PARC.

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Courtesy of City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Engineering

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Twelve acres of open and recreational space under the 6th Street Bridge are coming to Boyle Heights and parts of the Arts District by the end of this year.

The Sixth Street PARC (Park, Arts, River & Connectivity) will feature an arts plaza, complete with a performance amphitheater, garden and terrace seating. Other amenities include a café, dog park, fitness equipment and sports courts.

Community members have raised concerns about whether copper wire theft will impact the safety of the park but a representative of the Bureau of Engineering said security cameras and fortifications will be installed to protect park infrastructure.

The representative said substantial completion is anticipated to be in late 2026, with an opening date shortly after.

Long-awaited renovations are transforming Self Help Graphics & Art

A rendering of Self Help Graphics & Art’s central gathering space.

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Courtesy of Self Help Graphics

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Self Help Graphics & Art, an Eastside printmaking and art institution more than 50 years old, is set to complete its nearly $15 million renovation this summer, with a public reopening planned for the fall. Since 2011, the art organization has been housed in a former seafood packing plant on 1st Street in Boyle Heights, after leaving its longtime East LA location.

The 12,000-square-foot building is being transformed into a cultural center that meets museum standards, featuring seismic retrofitting, an expanded printmaking studio, upgraded gallery lighting and a larger multipurpose room for community gatherings.

While renovations continue, exhibitions featuring printmaking, mixed media and photography are on view at satellite locations in Los Angeles County.

You can once again set foot inside the historic Breed Street Shul

Restoration of the Breed Street Shul.

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Andrew Lopez

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Boyle Heights Beat

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After years of restoration, plans to transform the historic Breed Street Shul into a vibrant community and cultural hub are nearing reality. Built in 1923, the structure held its last service in 1998 and has long represented a cultural and religious anchor for the Jewish community on the Eastside.

For years, the shul sat in disrepair. The renovation of the shul’s smaller building was completed in 2011, allowing for limited events and tours until the pandemic. Work on the property’s main building began in 2024 and is more than halfway completed.

Planned upgrades include improved accessibility with ramps and an elevator. According to Steve Sass, president of the Breed Street Shul Project, the space will host film screenings, meetings and exhibitions, with reopening expected by the end of 2026.

Repairs to sidewalks along Cesar Chavez Avenue will make walking safer

The repairs will take place on a stretch of Cesar Chavez Ave.

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Courtesy of the Bureau of Engineering – City of Los Angeles

)

Boyle Heights residents should expect improvements to sidewalks and streets between Evergreen Cemetery and Brittania Street along Cesar Chavez Avenue this year. The project is part of the Great Streets Initiative launched by former LA Mayor Eric Garcetti.

According to a project update published by the Bureau of Engineering and LADOT in October 2025, the repairs and restoration of walkways along Cesar Chavez Avenue will increase safety, mobility and visibility for pedestrians, bicyclists, particularly at high-volume intersection crossings. Pedestrian lighting and upgraded traffic signals will enhance safety along the corridor.

Bienvenidos, East LA and City Terrace!

Restoration work on four monuments that mark the boundaries of unincorporated East LA is ongoing and will be finished in March.

(

Andrew Lopez

/

Boyle Heights Beat

)

If you’ve ever driven to and from East LA on surface streets, you might’ve noticed decorative monuments welcoming drivers to the community on streets like City Terrace Drive or Beverly Boulevard. Those signs have gotten major facelifts since restoration work began in July of 2025.

According to the LA County Department of Public Works, all four monuments that mark the boundaries of unincorporated East LA are slated for completion by March 2026.

The project’s scope includes adding colorful tile mosaics, energy-efficient lighting, as well as landscaping and decking around some of the signs.

The office of LA County District 1 Supervisor Hilda Solis wrote in an email to Boyle Heights Beat that the $2.6 million investment from her office “will preserve cultural identity while creating more engaging public spaces.”

Reopening on the horizon for Benjamin Franklin Library … if all goes to plan

A rendering of a renovated Benjamin Franklin Branch Library.

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Courtesy of the Bureau of Engineering Architectural Division

)

The long-awaited renovation of the Benjamin Franklin Branch Library broke ground in November, launching a project delayed for years by funding and scheduling setbacks.

The $5.5 million renovation is now on track, with city officials projecting completion in early 2027, though Bureau of Engineering documents show construction could finish in late December of 2026. 

Interior upgrades include new carpets, self-lighting bookshelves, study rooms, furniture and self-checkout counters, along with ADA-compliant restrooms and energy-efficient LED lighting. The exterior will see parking resurfacing, bike and EV charging stations, new landscaping and a demonstration garden.