Two of us had a very comfortable stay at Brian's apartment, which we would recommend to those seeking a spacious, clean, well-equipped, and convenient resting pad. The apartment is located in a secure, high-rise building smack in the middle of Downtown LA, within walking distance of the cultural institutions along Grand Ave, historic core, Little Tokyo, Arts District, and more. To go farther afield, one of the entrances to the Pershing Square metro is only one-half block away - you will not need to cross the street. Although the apartment building is in a busy area, the apartment itself is on a high enough level to be well-insulated from street noise. As the walls seemed a tad thin, some internal noise might filter in (nothing that disruptive - just a gentle note to the noise-sensitive, like my sister). We accessed the apartment with ease thanks to Brian's timely and thorough communication and the smart lock, which makes late arrivals less stressful. We were delighted to find a spacious, open apartment upon arrival. As a loft construction, the ceilings were high and the spaces blend together. The bedroom is in a door-free alcove toward the back, which worked well for us. I believe the bedroom has a full (double) size mattress. We did not use the sofa bed, but doing so would accommodate one or two more adults or children. For a city dwelling, we were pleasantly surprised to find a large bath tub/shower, which had plentiful hot water with good pressure. The apartment also has effective air conditioning for warmer days. To close on the apartment itself, the photos are highly representative, and Brian is a professional, attentive host. We recommend!
Regarding the neighborhood: Downtown LA is a lively area, replete with restaurants, bars, interesting architecture, a colorful history, and, yes, many people who appear to be homeless. LA has the second-largest homeless population (New York is first) and the largest chronically homeless population in the country, many of whom lack shelter. Downtown LA has a visibly large concentration of homeless individuals. "Skid Row" (not a street, but rather an area) is in Downtown LA. I believe an earlier reviewer commented on the lack of safety near Brian's apartment. While I would not discount being vigilant, the area is generally safe.