From viral urban spectacle back to bare glass and steel
Los Angeles — November 12, 2026, 6:00 p.m. PST.
The sprawling, unfinished Oceanwide Plaza skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles—which became an international symbol of urban abandonment and a viral sensation after street taggers blanketed nearly 30 stories with massive spray-painted murals—have been wiped clean, city officials and developers announced Thursday.
Standing at the foot of the three-tower complex directly across from Crypto.com Arena and L.A. Live, Mayor Karen Bass and newly elected Councilmember Ysabel Jurado joined representatives from the new ownership group, KPC Square LLC, to inspect the spotless glass exterior. The completion of the paint abatement marks a dramatic turning point for the stalled $1.2 billion development, which sat in legal and physical limbo for seven years following the financial collapse of its original Chinese backer.
For nearly three years, the towers drew global headlines, drew thrill-seeking base jumpers who leapt from upper balconies, and served as a towering canvas for international graffiti crews. Now, all 27 floors of tags have been stripped away, returning the towers to raw, reflective architectural glass.
The push toward completion for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics
With the exterior scrubbed and perimeter security reinforced with reinforced fencing, motion sensors, and 24-hour on-site guards, the development team is transitioning into the structural engineering and interior fit-out phase.
The complex, originally designed by CallisonRTKL, comprises three towers: a 49-story tower slated for a five-star Park Hyatt hotel and luxury residences, flanked by two 40-story condominium towers, anchored by a 166,000-square-foot open-air retail and dining galleria.
City leaders are determined to ensure the property does not remain dormant when the eyes of the world turn to Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. Crypto.com Arena and the adjacent Los Angeles Convention Center will host major events, making Oceanwide Plaza the visual center of the Olympic pedestrian district.
"This is about reclaiming our skyline and delivering vital housing and commerce to the heart of our city," Councilmember Jurado said at the site. "Today shows what happens when we hold property owners accountable to our community."
Timeline of the Oceanwide Plaza graffiti saga
2015: Beijing-based developer China Oceanwide Holdings breaks ground on the $1.2 billion mixed-use skyscraper complex across from Staples Center (now Crypto.com Arena).
January 2019: Construction abruptly stops after China Oceanwide runs out of capital amid tighter Chinese overseas investment regulations.
January 2024: Over a two-week period, taggers slip past security and spray-paint more than two dozen floors, creating a viral cityscape that attracts international media attention.
February 2024: The Los Angeles City Council authorizes emergency funding for ground-level security fencing while the development falls into bankruptcy.
July 2026: U.S. Bankruptcy Court approves the sale of Oceanwide Plaza to joint-venture entity KPC Square LLC for over $500 million, with mandatory developer-funded abatement terms.
November 12, 2026: Mayor Karen Bass and project engineers celebrate the complete removal of graffiti from all exterior glass panels and balconies.
Summer 2028: Scheduled targeted phased completion for retail, hospitality, and residential units ahead of the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
