The area encompassed by Third Street to the north, Eighth Street to the south, Olive Street to the east and the 110 freeway to the west is referred to as the Financial District.  Located just south of the newly redeveloped Bunker Hill, the Financial District is dominated by upscale cooperate offices, skyscrapers, hotels, banks, law firms and real estate companies. 

The boom of the Financial District occurred during the 1970s and 1980s when the city zooming regulations were changed.  The height limit of buildings was raised, therefore, the banking, oil and utility company high-rises climbed upward.  Los Angeles is home to the tallest building west of the Mississippi because of this change in zooming regulations.  The US Bank Tower (formally the Library Tower) was built in 1990 and at 72 stories high it beat out the First Interstate Bank Tower on 7th and Wilshire.  The First Interstate Bank Tower was the tallest building in the region at 62-stories before the construction of the US Bank Tower. 

While the banking businesses have changed and rotated throughout the years, the Financial District is still a hub of banking, oil, utility and other companies.  The original companies may have left, but the feel and focus of the district has remained the same.  The Financial District is not limited to the banking towers and pin striped suits of lawyers, there are three major shopping centers in the vicinity:  Macy’s Plaza, the outdoor 7+Fig, and the underground 505 Flower. 

The streets of the Financial District have long been known to be busy during the day and slow at night.  This is changing day by day.  The new shopping plazas are aiding the reemergence of retail to this area.  Many of these buildings are residential lofts and condos above street level and retail shops below.  Seventh Street, in particular, is really starting to bustle again.