One of Americas endangered historic places NBC 7 San Diego [Video]

As LA’s Little Tokyo neighborhood celebrates its 140^th year, there are real concerns among community leaders that it may not survive another 140.

In fact, it has now been designated “one of America’s most endangered historic places” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

“There are still a lot of things we’re fighting against,” said Kristin Fukushima, managing director of Little Tokyo Community Council. It’s really losing the sense of community, and that spirt and soul of what’s always been here.”

Fukushima and others point out that the neighborhood may look like it’s thriving, with throngs of visitors and visual cues to its Japanese American cultural roots, but looks can be deceiving.

She said the departure of Suehiro Café, a favorite gathering spot on 1^st Street for decades, “has become a really big symbol for us, of the pressures facing Little Tokyo.”

The restaurant’s owner, facing eviction and rising rent, eventually closed up shop and moved elsewhere in the city, …