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A prominent example is an empty lot on Manhattan Place in Koreatown, which has become an elaborate setup filled with makeshift structures, debris, and signs of organized living. Video footage and eyewitness accounts depict a sprawling encampment that has expanded since May. What began as a handful of tents has snowballed into a sizable establishment — comparable to a small neighborhood — complete with a volleyball court, a kiddie pool, rudimentary gardens, and cooking areas.
Neighbors describe the encampment as a “ghetto,” with some residents noting that it resembles a “village” within the city, where no formal structure or oversight exists. The area is surrounded by apartment buildings and businesses, yet the community feels increasingly unsafe, especially at night.