[fridayinla]

Anyone know anything about this???

Hotel Emhurst (21 story hotel)

http://theemhurst.com/#losangeles

Details:

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/staffrpt/initialrpts/CPC-2006-5450.pdf

I found bit of info at http://www.tndwest.com/wilshirewestern.html:

" Adding further life to the district would be a two-tower hotel complex in the block just east of 3670 Wilshire. This is a proposal by Ceiland Coast to built a 242-unit luxury hotel with eight to ten restaurants, a karaoke bar, a night club with live entertainment, and two cocktail bars. The development also would include about 6,000 square feet of retail space, a 40,000 square foot health club, 24,000 sq ft of restaurant space and 18,000 sq ft of office space.

The 21-story West tower would be located at the NE corner of Hobart and 7th, while the 16-story East Tower would be next door at the NW corner of Harvard and 7th Street. The project would have 260 parking spaces for hotel guests and restaurant/shopping patrons.

Addresses: 694 S. Hobart and 699 S. Harvard."

[Steve2726]

I drove down Wilshire yesterday. The Clubview tower crane is up, it looms large over the L.A. country club, sorry I don't have a photo. Also, the Carlyle is proceeding with foundation work and should have a crane soon as well.

[fridayinla]

Lots of activity at corner of Wilshire & Vermont in Koreatown! The biggest thing to mention is the Wilshire Center project is definitely happening. The retail on the SE corner is coming down and there's a new construction sign posted.

SE Corner Retail coming down:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1356/538024069_dc53595934_b.jpg

Adjacent parking lot fenced off next to old retail:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1032/538023427_8152717183_b.jpg

Alternate view of fenced site for Wilshire Center:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1043/538023541_90d034f794_b.jpg

Project construction sign posted:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1214/537904498_179a289c23_b.jpg

Peek behind the construction fence. I couldn't get a photo, but in the far corner they've already started tearing out some of the asphalt:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1259/538023725_00b7077c73_b.jpg

Wilshire Center Project Rendering:
http://www.tndwest.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/WilshireCenter.gif


The Wilshire/Vermont station gateway is open and fully accessible:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1334/537902808_2473809a8a_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1391/537902990_8cd0ea0022_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1259/537903088_2cf142be93_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1027/537903188_0ea6033073_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1316/537903272_744a514cc7_b.jpg

Other project shots:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1181/537902662_1229db30c3_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1420/537904132_2dd9627e4c_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/538023171_74cb39f735_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1095/537903790_2626539ad3_b.jpg

New trees along Wilshire:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1352/538023825_34141da13e_b.jpg

Also, directly behind the Wilshire/Vermont Station on the same block is the new LAUSD School #3 under construction:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1131/538023925_5d61130ddb_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1021/538022545_c9e73acf7f_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1203/537903384_bc90b9c266_b.jpg

[KarLarRec1]

GREAT!!!!

I haven't passed by the intersection for a good month, so it's a nice surprise to see Wilshire Center definitely on the go, and the Red/Purple Line station entrance finally open. Looks great!!!

[BrighamYen]

^ Yes, I agree! I am rather surprised that the Wilshire Center is ACTUALLY proceeding! The renderings suggest a substantial presence in the immediate area to give the Wilshire/Vermont intersection a much more significant urban environment. Although it's still quite a few years away before that intersection becomes coherant, we are definitely moving in the right direction! Let's get rid of that gas station and expand the Korean Consulate!

[Westsidelife]

Koreatown really is looking great. Being that Wilshire/Vermont is a major project, I expect chain retail. There's nothing wrong with that. I just hope in the future that Koreatown won't have chain retail as much as it will have just restaurants and mom-and-pop stores that reflect authentic Korean culture. Ethnic enclaves with a true sense of identity and authenticity are what truly create an urban environment.

[Westsidelife]

Also, here are some new renderings of the Wilshire Center project:

http://www.gerdingedlen.com/project.php?id=44

[BrighamYen]

Koreatown really is looking great. Being that Wilshire/Vermont is a major project, I expect chain retail. There's nothing wrong with that. I just hope in the future that Koreatown won't have chain retail as much as it will have just restaurants and mom-and-pop stores that reflect authentic Korean culture. Ethnic enclaves with a true sense of identity and authenticity are what truly create an urban environment.

Diversity in retail, diversity in demographics, as well as ease in accessibility truly create an urban environment. LA is not compact like NYC, where ethnic neighborhoods (like Chinatown, Nolita, Koreatown) blend seamlessly into commercialized areas (Times Square, Soho, etc.). Because of this sprawly character of LA, it is necessary to add retail diversity to any area frequented by large pedestrian activity.

Koreatown is definitely becoming more walkable, but it still needs a number of different things before it becomes coherant and liveable. It needs parks (that will hopefully be addressed by the new Ambassador Hotel LAUSD park proposal - Thanks LA/OC/London!), and businesses that accomodate to window-shopping and casual browsing, as well as a number of other shops that cater to residents and not just office workers in this bona fide financial district.

Even with all that being said, I feel that Koreatown is definitely on the right track with projects like Ma Dang Courtyard and Wilshire/Vermont Station. Keep em coming!

[fridayinla]

^Agreed, Koreatown is an awesome urban neighborhood with all the right parts - Wilshire Blvd & 6th St. Speaking of the Ma Dang Courtyard, there's been no visible progress on that site for over a year. What's the deal?

[fridayinla]

Also, here are some new renderings of the Wilshire Center project:

http://www.gerdingedlen.com/project.php?id=44

Wilshire Center Renderings
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/5090918/10396790/258874945.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/5090918/10396790/258876073.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/5090918/10396790/258876085.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/5090918/10396790/258876080.jpg

[ksep]

^Agreed, Koreatown is an awesome urban neighborhood with all the right parts - Wilshire Blvd & 6th St. Speaking of the Ma Dang Courtyard, there's been no visible progress on that site for over a year. What's the deal?

construction on ma dang has continued. i drove by there friday afternoon and there was lots of activity. :)

[WonderlandPark]

It isn't on the front page of this thread, but the tower at Barrington & Wilshire is U/C with the crane up and all. What is the name of it? can't find it anywhere on these pages. Carlyle also looks to well underway.

[Steve2726]

It isn't on the front page of this thread, but the tower at Barrington & Wilshire is U/C with the crane up and all. What is the name of it? can't find it anywhere on these pages. Carlyle also looks to well underway.

The Crane for the Carlyle is starting to go in.

[WonderlandPark]

The Crane for the Carlyle is starting to go in.

The Carlyle is closer to Westwood. The crane at >>>COMSTOCK<<< is up, sorry for the mess-up,. Whatever the name for that one is. (Wilshire+Barrington is still a cleared lot, not much activity there)

[Steve2726]

The Carlyle is closer to Westwood. The crane at >>>COMSTOCK<<< is up, sorry for the mess-up,. Whatever the name for that one is. (Wilshire+Barrington is still a cleared lot, not much activity there)

I think I can sort this out-

Clubview Tower at Wilshire and Comstock crane is up.
http://www.1200clubview.com/

Carlyle tower in Westwood crane base is in and the rest should follow soon.
http://www.carlyleonwilshire.com/

Wilshire and Barrington demolition is complete but construction has not yet started.
http://www.californialandmark.com/wilshire_barrington.html

[colemonkee]

^ Great news! The Clubview tower was designed by Keating/Khang, the same architects that designed the proposed Maguire Tower and Richard Meruelo's 12 & Grand Towers downtown. The principles came from SOM, and designed some pretty high-profile projects, including the Gas Company Tower, one of my favorite scrapers in LA. I have high hopes for this one.

[fridayinla]

Solair Wilshire
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1434/561844954_a881bcf609_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/562256013_90c20c779f_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1231/562252023_5bd2140c83_b.jpg

Ma Dang Courtyard - Rear view from Manhattan

Sorry for the seriously funky stitched pano, but there's a lot to see:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1240/562256277_f0c0a0acd3_b.jpg

Gardens at Wilshire Center - Coming along nicely
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1314/561841990_912fa0cd73_b.jpg

Serrano Palace Tower - Near completion
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1108/562254531_aaf8213154_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/562253583_f6f1d44c48_b.jpg

Lots of pretty glass

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1038/561844138_2b01b67e95_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1365/561843068_cbe800d07b_b.jpg

[Westsidelife]

The Serrano Palace Tower doesn't look too bad actually. I'm hoping they'll leave out the red for an all white structure. But what I don't like most about the Serrano is that it along with several others in the vicinity are not pushing for a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape with retail. Yes, it may look of out place seeing how it's a mostly quiet residential area, but that's just the way to do it, you know?

And for Solair, that's the parking podium they're constructing as of now, no?

[fridayinla]

And for Solair, that's the parking podium they're constructing as of now, no?

No, the parking for Solair Wilshire is all subterranean.

Solair site from last year

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/5090918/13911382/208105550.jpg

Project rendering

http://www.tndwest.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/SolairWilshire.jpg

[Westsidelife]

Oh, good! It's just that the first few floors seemed a bit too short.

And is that the official design for Solair Wilshire, because there's also this one:

http://rentv.com/news_images/6545.gif

[fridayinla]

^The architect for Solair Wilshire is Archeon Group, and their website shows this design:
http://la.curbed.com/2006-07-solairewilshire.jpg

Although I can't say for sure.

[fridayinla]

I emailed the Wilshire Center (SE Corner of Wilshire & Vermont) development company for information on the project's construction schedule. I recieved this today:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1266/566274648_43df2172a7_o.png
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1253/566274652_1df9b3d202_b.jpg

[danparker276]

Don't know if anyone watched the Age of Love, filmed at 1100 Wilshire on Monday. Some good shots of the building and downtown. On one of the challanges they repelled down the Roosevelet building.

[Steve2726]

There's nothing earth shattering in the following article, (The tower mentioned is U/C and recently got the crane up) but I did find the last paragraph worth noting:

http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/tdameritrade-com/html-story.asp?guid={EE6CC20B-7E28-4241-AF2D-7948130E8202}

New York Based Elad Group Enters Los Angeles Market with Purchase of Prestigious Carlyle on Wilshire

NEW YORK, Jul 02, 2007 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Elad Group, the New York-based developer restoring the landmark Plaza Hotel, is entering the West Los Angeles high end residential real estate market with the acquisition of The Carlyle on Wilshire, a highly desirable, fully entitled site for a new luxury condominium tower on Wilshire Boulevard between Beverly Hills and Westwood Village, it was announced by Miki Naftali, President and CEO of Elad.

Michael Rosenfeld, President of Woodridge Capital and co-CEO of Wilshire Carlyle Partners, the sellers, reported that the purchase price was approximately $140 million, including the land, design and site excavation.

Preliminary plans for The Carlyle, a Park Avenue inspired condominium on the grand boulevard between Westwood and Beverly Glen Boulevards, call for 78 luxurious apartments, ranging in size from 2,500 to 3,500 square feet, in an elegant 24-story crescent-shaped tower. The development would also contain 20 maid units. Total project cost is estimated at $330 million. The development is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2009.

"The superb location, which affords sweeping views of the Wilshire Corridor, the Santa Monica Hills and the Pacific Ocean, reflects our continuing strategy of selecting the best sites in highly competitive markets for the highest end luxury development as we expand in this country and abroad," Mr. Naftali said.

Woodridge Capital is a Los Angeles based developer of large scale residential, resort, commercial and industrial projects throughout the western United State and Canada.

The Elad Group recently purchased the 34.5-acre site of The New Frontier, which will be demolished, on The Strip in Las Vegas. Plans there call for a $7 to $8 billion multi-use development including a six diamond hotel with The Plaza brand, ultra luxury residences, a casino, the Plaza retail collection, convention space and destination restaurants.

"In addition to our plans for The Carlyle, we also envision Los Angeles as a target market for us to introduce The Plaza brand in the ultimate mixed-use hotel and residential development, and we are actively reviewing potential sites," Mr. Naftali said. SOURCE: The Elad Group

[BrighamYen]

^ Hopefully that last paragraph includes consideration for Park Fifth! Wouldn't that be awesome for Downtown LA to have three ultra luxury hotel chains: The Plaza, Mandarin Oriental, and the Ritz Carlton?

[LA/OC/London]

I checked out the Wilshire/Vermont station apartments about a week ago with the bf and we both agreed that they are very nice. The units were all pretty large and those on the second floor had HUGE patios. The interior finishes were nice and modern and of a high quality for rental units. The convenience of the Red Line Station Below and the Metro Rapid Stop in front is great!

When my bf asked about the retail tenants they confirmed many of the same ones stated here previously: Nine West, Gamestop, Coffee Bean etc. However they did say that the convenience mart would mostly likely NOT be a Famima, which is a shame. Either way a convenience mart will come in handy regardless of the name.

If I had it my way, I'd move in tomorrow - unfortunately $1,400 - $1,550/month for a studio is a bit out of my price range...

[edluva]

it's gonna take 13 months to build a parking garage for wilshire center? wtf? damn garages....

[BrighamYen]

^ That's what I thought too. It's too bad we don't have the kind of subway system extensive enough to forsake such stringent parking requirements. And from my understanding, the city actually is more lax toward developers regarding parking requirements when they are near subway stations.

Anyway, I think this also answers a few other people's questions about why condos are so expensive in LA because not only do we have to use more concrete and steel to abide by CA earthquake safety standards, but also because of the parking garages that costs about $40,000 a parking space (passed on to the buyer of course!).

[fridayinla]

These photos were taken on Sat. July 7th:

Solair Wilshire
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/750912263_74761b7b24_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1109/750921247_400df8f922_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/750914991_0b0f8e9910_b.jpg

The Gardens at Wilshire Center - (Wilshire & Hobart)
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1183/750920711_d7e16e4cf9_b.jpg

Serrano Palace Tower - Nearing Completion
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1361/751772378_a00e880421_b.jpg

Wilshire/Vermont Development - Essentially Finished
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1191/750915555_4890212fd0_b.jpg

Equitable City Center - Nearing Completion
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1099/751764106_15becbd06d_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1211/750911369_ce0179b87d_b.jpg

MaDang Courtyard - Rear view from Manhattan Pl
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/751766244_2cb2fc4ba2_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1117/750912825_08e533a35e_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1133/751765752_61b8199d8b_b.jpg

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

you read my mind. thanks for the update. any news on some of the bigger towers in the area, especially the ones around Vermont?

[BrighamYen]

The Equitable City Center doesn't look too bad! I'm really excited about K-Town and all the development happening. It's becoming an exciting urban playground and probably the best serviced area in all of LA Couny in terms of mass transit.

Now let's just work on the safety of the area after the sun goes down...

[fridayinla]

you read my mind. thanks for the update. any news on some of the bigger towers in the area, especially the ones around Vermont?

Wilshire Center - no noticeable progress, demolition still going on behind the green tarp

Mercury - Coffee Bean, Jamba Juice & Yogurberry all look like they could open any day now. Did you guys know there's a 2-level retail area inside the Mercury on the ground level? I walked through it this weekend, no tenants yet, but room for approx. 4 - 5 new stores

3670 Wilshire - nothing

[fridayinla]

The Equitable City Center doesn't look too bad! I'm really excited about K-Town and all the development happening. It's becoming an exciting urban playground and probably the best serviced area in all of LA Couny in terms of mass transit.

Now let's just work on the safety of the area after the sun goes down...

Agreed. K-Town already is a great area, and with all these news projects opening it's only going to be that much better.

[colemonkee]

Luxury Condo Market Hitting a Peak
REAL ESTATE: Pricey Club View up for sale while construction continues.

By DANIEL MILLER
Los Angeles Business Journal Staff

A Wilshire Corridor development that made a splash last year when it started building condos that it said would average about $2,000 a square foot is now up for sale – even though the property is still under construction.

Developer Fifield Cos. of Chicago has hired a brokerage team from CB Richard Ellis Group Inc. to market its Club View property on Wilshire Boulevard next to the Los Angeles Country Club. CB Richard Ellis also is marketing two other California condo developments Fifield owns.

It is abnormal for a sizeable development – especially such a prominent West Los Angeles development – to be put on the market in the midst of construction. The turn of events, coupled with the recent sale of another Wilshire Corridor condo project also under construction, has led some industry experts to suggest that L.A.’s recent surge of high-end condo construction may be approaching its peak.

“The L.A. condo market is at a historical high and it has been strong for some time. It’s quite doubtful it is going to go up from here in the shorter term,” said Paul Habibi, a lecturer at the UCLA Anderson School of Management and a co-founder and principal of Habibi Properties LLC, a multifamily developer. “Construction prices have risen and the margins for these deals have shrunk from when (developers) went into them.”

With at least seven ultra high-end condo developments slated to open in West L.A. in the next few years, some say that the market could become over saturated.

“Whenever you have as many units in one market at the same time as you will have, there may be problems,” said Stephen Shapiro, chairman of Westside Estate Agency Inc., a high-end residential brokerage. “You have a town where people are used to buying homes and living out as opposed to living up.”

Club View, which is located just west of the Los Angeles Country Club at 1200 S. Club View Dr., will include a maximum of 35 units, including a penthouse that is said to be for sale in the $18 million range – unusually pricey in a city where top condos in the past went for $9 million or so. The $2,000 a foot average is much higher than the $1,000 a foot standard for upper end condos. The top five floors of the 21-story building, which is being co-developed by Raleigh Enterprises Inc., will be penthouses, with just one unit per floor.

But after the Club View development was unveiled last fall, a flurry of ultra-high-end condo construction was announced. Some of those newer units were planned to be priced at $25 million or more, and some for $4,000 a foot or more.

In addition to concerns about market saturation, some say that future increased interest rates could make financing the purchases of those multi-million dollar units more costly – another possible reason to try to unload a property now.

“Upward pressure on interest rates could slow down sales and (the developer’s) own loan costs could be going up,” said Delores Conway, director of the Casden Real Estate Economics Forecast at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. “We are still seeing higher prices, but the market is definitely in a corrective phase. There is uncertainty out there.”

The possible sale of the building and the two other assets calls into question Fifield’s status regarding residential development in California. Steve Fifield, president and founder of the company, moved his family from Chicago to Los Angeles in 2005 to head up local efforts. Fifield was on vacation last week and could not be reached for comment.

But Tim O’Brien, senior vice president and principal at Fifield, says that the buildings are on the market simply because the company has an opportunity to make a handsome return on its investments.

“If you are selling something for a lesser value to just get out, that would be a different story,” O’Brien said. “We have the ability to monetize our position and make as much or more on an after-tax basis as the result of a disposition. If we can achieve that goal – we are first and foremost in business.”

According to the CB Richard Ellis Group offering memorandum, Club View is valued at $95.8 million.
The condo tower is still scheduled to open in early 2009 and the company is continuing to build at the site. Some of the units at the building have already been pre-sold.

In July 2006 Fifield completed and sold another condo project on Wilshire Boulevard – the 23-story Californian on Wilshire – the company’s first condo project in California.


There's more, but it's a long article. No need to post much more of it here...

[fridayinla]

^They're basing that high-end condo peak assumption on only 2 properties? I think O’Brien's point of view makes more sense. At least I hope for Park Fifth's sake!

[fridayinla]

From Curbed LA today:

"MIRACLE MILE - More details than you could ever, ever hope to receive about a building, courtesy of a resident of the Miracle Mile. For those keeping track, this is the southeast corner of the intersection of Wilshire/ La Brea." I am a renter on Detroit St. near Wilshire and just got a Notice of Preparation of EIR and Public Scoping Meeting for the big project on Wilshire and La Brea... The building sadly is not going to the 27 floors we had heard about, but is going to be a 13 floor tower and a 6 floor tower situated a top a 40 foot podium. The tallest point will be 190 feet tall. The plan is 5 stories of parking with 1219 spots (two above grade, two below grade, one at street level). 36,500 sf of retail space plus 5000 feet of restaurant space. 64,000 sf of "open space" (does this include private roof gardens for residents?). 645 units ..."

[BrighamYen]

^ That's too bad the height was chopped pretty much in half. I wonder if the design will be altered drastically, or will we be getting a mini-version of the original design?


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/83/wilshirelabreanadel02lo4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9581/wilshirelabreanadel04nk9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I actually think the design is one of the most intriguing high-rise residential buildings in LA so far. Hopefully the new version will incorporate similar interesting features.

[fridayinla]

Wilshire/Vermont development's feature wall graphics are being installed:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1130/825003703_fa91db5e6a_b.jpg

[Tanster]

is paint right?

[fridayinla]

^Yes, paint.

[Steve2726]

^ That's too bad the height was chopped pretty much in half. I wonder if the design will be altered drastically, or will we be getting a mini-version of the original design?


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/83/wilshirelabreanadel02lo4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9581/wilshirelabreanadel04nk9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I actually think the design is one of the most intriguing high-rise residential buildings in LA so far. Hopefully the new version will incorporate similar interesting features.

Is the following the same project? Sorry I can't post as it is flash player. There is a rendering of Wilshire/ La Brea here:
www.nadelarc.com> portfolio> commercial & residential> multifamily> Wilshire La Brea.

[fridayinla]

Updated Wilshire/La Brea project rendering

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL144/5090918/10396790/266242949.jpg
Nadel Architects (http://www.nadelarc.com/)

15 and 24 story towers containing 325 condos and 40,000 SF of retail/restaurant space at street level with parking for 850 cars.

[Steve2726]

:previous: Thanks for the help Friday.

[fridayinla]

^You got it Steve!

Has this been posted here before? I found it on the Nadel Architects (http://www.nadelarc.com) web site while researching updated renders for the St. Vibiana tower...

http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/793/wilshirehobartrenderin0.jpg

Wilshire Hobart
Los Angeles, CA

Located in the Koreantown area of Los Angeles, this 580,000 sf 40-story residential tower contains 232 condominium units. Amenities include outdoor gardens, pool, spa, fitness club, sky lounge, and conference rooms. This project is supported by parking for 554 cars.

This must the updated rendering for 3670 Wilshire:
http://www.tndwest.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/3670Wilshireb.jpg

[BrighamYen]

^^ Re: Wilshire/La Brea

According the Curbed, it's been shortened drastically to 13 and 6 stories, which is an even more drastic cut than 24 and 15 stories from the other updated renderings from Nadel.

The project might still look something like that, but it'll be even shorter than that unfortunately.

[danparker276]

LA business journal reports that good samaritan sold the land next to them on wilshire for 45 mil. Anyone have any details on it?

[BrighamYen]

^ That must be the 1111 Wilshire project by the "Hobbard" company (?) that developed GLO. Like a 40-story tower or something.

[danparker276]

No not the 40 story thing, I'm still to cheap to pay for the article. But Good Samaritan announced a couple of months ago that they are going to sell some of the land. That included the large white office building on wilshire.

It's right across the street from 1100.

[danparker276]

Ok, I broke down and bought the article.
You're gonna have to go to my website to read the summary though:
http://loftla.com/mb/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=718&p=2481#p2481

[danparker276]

Damn, no other news on this. 40,000 sq feet of retail, whole block of residential development. They'll probably keep that white building though.

[colemonkee]

^ That's the 54-story proposal tower that I found on Walter P. Moore's web site. 1111 Wilshire (http://www.walterpmoore.com/projects/hospitality/projectsHospitalityWilshire.php). The one that Downtown News reported as a 40-story project. I posted it in the Downtown LA Compilation thread a couple weeks ago.

[danparker276]

Yeah, my bad. I don't read that thread all the time.
Seems like it's right across from 1100. The other article also mentions a lot of mixed use retail on other buildings. It doesn't mention a high rise though.

[fridayinla]

The Mercury's (SW corner of Wilshire & Western) retail is finally open and very lively; includes Coffee Bean, Yogurberry and Jamba Juice

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1274/933419503_50d7d3fd9a_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1313/934266716_df00c6e234_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1130/934267792_af6d6ebe3c_b.jpg

Major projects along Wilshire Boulevard

Solair Wilshire - Wilshire & Western
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1389/933241451_3ee184ca79_b.jpg

The Gardens at Wilshire Center Wilshire & Hobart
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1176/933242733_7d1bee7f74_b.jpg

Wilshire / Vermont Project - Project is complete, but the graphics are being installed on the feature walls

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1226/934096190_b71b9dc01e_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1283/934094254_3be2fbe696_b.jpg

I noticed that a CVS banner is being installed in the Wilshire/Vermont project. I guess this means CVS has signed on as a retail tenant:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1099/933415531_2b1181298f_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1044/933416315_61d5a883a4_b.jpg

[Echo Park]

Thanks for the update, friday. Wilshire/Vermont is looking great. I was expecting the paintjob to be drab on the feature wall but its coming out quite vibrant. That lighting below is gonna make it look nice at night. But is anything else going to be added to these walls? Billboards of some sort? It is strange for a development that to have blank walls where windows could go.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

great update once again! That corner is looking great! the retail at mercury blends in perfectly. Looks like Solair is going up pretty damn fast. good.

[sopas ej]

Wilshire/Vermont definitely is looking better. Now all they need to do is get rid of the hot dog carts. I swear, that area is definitely difficult to walk around during business hours during the work week. There's literally no room on the sidewalks because of the hot dog carts and the people that patronize them. Why doesn't the City do something about them? I would think they'd be illegal? Shouldn't the County do something about it, considering it's a food inspection issue as well as an obstruction of public walkways?

[fridayinla]

Wilshire/Vermont definitely is looking better. Now all they need to do is get rid of the hot dog carts. I swear, that area is definitely difficult to walk around during business hours during the work week. There's literally no room on the sidewalks because of the hot dog carts and the people that patronize them. Why doesn't the City do something about them? I would think they'd be illegal? Shouldn't the County do something about it, considering it's a food inspection issue as well as an obstruction of public walkways?

Wilshire/Vermont's potential is huge! It's so visual striking from the streets, I think it will lure drivers out of there cars to explore it on foot. Imagine the pedestrian activity that will be generated by all of the new retail (and there are A LOT of retail spaces with quality tenants lined up). Regarding the hot dog vendors, I support them completely. I think they bring some diversity and interest to the streets, something we all know LA lacks. The fact they can maintain a such a business on this corner is encouraging news about its future. Five years ago they wouldn't have been there, and five years from now I hope to see ice-cream pushcarts and musicians.

[sopas ej]

Wilshire/Vermont's potential is huge! It's so visual striking from the streets, I think it will lure drivers out of there cars to explore it on foot. Imagine the pedestrian activity that will be generated by all of the new retail (and there are A LOT of retail spaces with quality tenants lined up). Regarding the hot dog vendors, I support them completely. I think they bring some diversity and interest to the streets, something we all know LA lacks. The fact they can maintain a such a business on this corner is encouraging news about its future. Five years ago they wouldn't have been there, and five years from now I hope to see ice-cream pushcarts and musicians.

Actually, five years ago, the hot dog vendors were there. Those people have been hawking hot dogs, hair bands, socks, and whatever else on those sidewalks for years. If anything, I think all of this new development will push those people out. :tup: I doubt that the residents of those new developments will enjoy the smell of hot dogs, beans and rice, and mayonnaise on corn wafting through their new homes for most of the day. And I think that the street-level retail propietors will want those sidewalk hawkers away from their entrances. The retail proprietor vs. sidewalk vendor problem has happened in LA years before, I wouldn't be surprised if it'll happen again.

I don't mind regulated and legal sidewalk/street vendors, I'm totally into farmers markets. But when you have to rush to work or wherever at 8am and have to walk in the gutter because of champorado carts blocking the way, I don't like that too much. But then, with gentrification, I'm sure the demand for champorado carts in the mornings and mayonnaise on corn in the evenings, will go down.

Regarding diversity, I think these new developments are encouraging diversity by bringing different types of people in, particulary in these neighborhoods, where there are plenty of little Mayans walking around. They've been there for years, hehe, they're not exotic to me or to many other people, I'm sure.

[sopas ej]

^ That's too bad the height was chopped pretty much in half. I wonder if the design will be altered drastically, or will we be getting a mini-version of the original design?


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/83/wilshirelabreanadel02lo4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/9581/wilshirelabreanadel04nk9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


I actually think the design is one of the most intriguing high-rise residential buildings in LA so far. Hopefully the new version will incorporate similar interesting features.

I actually like this building, at least they didn't go with the tacky faux art-deco look. That's one thing that can make a streetscape interesting, in my opinion, where you can tell that the street developed over time and there are different architectural styles. If anyone remembers what the Miracle Mile looked like in the 1970s (I lived in the Miracle Mile district as a child), there were a host of different types of architectural styles. Even though the Miracle Mile was developed in the 1920s, there were nice examples of early modern and international style buildings from the immediate post-war period that were torn down later and are now either vacant lots, or tacky faux-art deco apartments and retail buildings.

I know that cities evolve, and I like that Wilshire Blvd. is experiencing new development, but I find it ironic, knowing the history of Wilshire as LA's first truly car-oriented designed street, that it's becoming more and more pedestrian-oriented... and I like that, of course. But historically, Wilshire was where we had the world's first synchronized traffic lights, department stores where the grander entrance was in the back (where the parking lot was)... and from its inception, Wilshire never had a streetcar running down it (again ironic, now that we're all pushing for a subway the whole length of Wilshire). If you notice some of the older buildings, they were designed with a second floor of display windows, too, and it was for the benefit of the riders of the open-topped double-decker buses that used to go down Wilshire in the 1920s-1930s:

From the Los Angeles Public Library website:

http://jpg1.lapl.org/pics46/00042959.jpg

http://jpg3.lapl.org/pics38/00068913.jpg

[BrighamYen]

Actually, five years ago, the hot dog vendors were there. Those people have been hawking hot dogs, hair bands, socks, and whatever else on those sidewalks for years. If anything, I think all of this new development will push those people out. :tup: I doubt that the residents of those new developments will enjoy the smell of hot dogs, beans and rice, and mayonnaise on corn wafting through their new homes for most of the day. And I think that the street-level retail propietors will want those sidewalk hawkers away from their entrances. The retail proprietor vs. sidewalk vendor problem has happened in LA years before, I wouldn't be surprised if it'll happen again.

I don't mind regulated and legal sidewalk/street vendors, I'm totally into farmers markets. But when you have to rush to work or wherever at 8am and have to walk in the gutter because of champorado carts blocking the way, I don't like that too much. But then, with gentrification, I'm sure the demand for champorado carts in the mornings and mayonnaise on corn in the evenings, will go down.

Regarding diversity, I think these new developments are encouraging diversity by bringing different types of people in, particulary in these neighborhoods, where there are plenty of little Mayans walking around. They've been there for years, hehe, they're not exotic to me or to many other people, I'm sure.


This is somewhat similar to the situation (but on a MUCH LARGER SCALE) that is the travesty known as Broadway today. :yuck:

[sopas ej]

This is somewhat similar to the situation (but on a MUCH LARGER SCALE) that is the travesty known as Broadway today. :yuck:

Yes, Broadway still leaves something to be desired, but it was more gross 10 and 20 years ago.

I'm hoping gentrification will eventually clean it up, in more ways than one. ;)

[Echo Park]

Cart vendors are indicative of an active pedestrian corridor. You see them all over Manhattan. I think it's truly stretching it to say they get in the way of pedestrians. I've never had this problem walking down Broadway or Wilshire. I agree with friday about how they bring interest and diversity to the street. Street vendors are naturally part of city life so I'm a little confused as to why a few of you urbanists would be opposed to them. Something tells me though that you guys wouldn't be opposed to them if they were white guys selling espresso or gelatos.

The only thing I don't like about these carts is that they are unlicensed. I personally don't ever eat from them because of potential health risks. I would like the city to regulate them. I think it would be good for both business and customer. And how about a little diversity in the menu. Some gyros perhaps?

[sopas ej]

Cart vendors are indicative of an active pedestrian corridor. You see them all over Manhattan. I think it's truly stretching it to say they get in the way of pedestrians. I've never had this problem walking down Broadway or Wilshire. I agree with friday about how they bring interest and diversity to the street. Street vendors are naturally part of city life so I'm a little confused as to why a few of you urbanists would be opposed to them. Something tells me though that you guys wouldn't be opposed to them if they were white guys selling espresso or gelatos.

The only thing I don't like about these carts is that they are unlicensed. I personally don't ever eat from them because of potential health risks. I would like the city to regulate them. I think it would be good for both business and customer. And how about a little diversity in the menu. Some gyros perhaps?


Well yeah, my understanding is, in LA County and the City of LA as well, street vendors are illegal, so, I don't understand why they're allowed to exist. Laws are obviously not being enforced. Many European cities do not have sidewalk vendors (my assumption is because they too are illegal there but they actually enforce the laws), apart from the flea markets and farmers markets that they hold in their public squares, yet those same European cities have very vibrant pedestrian corridors.

And walking on the south side of Wilshire between Vermont and Berendo St. during the work week can be very aggravating, it's literally cart/hawker after cart/hawker after cart/hawker. Wider sidewalks might help, but IMO those things shouldn't be there in the first place.

[Echo Park]

In that case the city needs to get involved, license them, get them up to county health inspection standars and perhaps set aside designated places for them to sell food.

[danparker276]

Friday, on that glo tour you did. Move ins are to start end of Aug? or July. Looks like it might happen end of Aug. Also Starbucks is getting the keys, but they don't have all the windows up yet. Don't see anything happening on that for a while.

Any progress with Vero's subway, jamba jucie or what are the current shops now? Did you get a yogo berry or something?

[LA420]

Cart vendors are indicative of an active pedestrian corridor. You see them all over Manhattan. I think it's truly stretching it to say they get in the way of pedestrians. I've never had this problem walking down Broadway or Wilshire. I agree with friday about how they bring interest and diversity to the street. Street vendors are naturally part of city life so I'm a little confused as to why a few of you urbanists would be opposed to them. Something tells me though that you guys wouldn't be opposed to them if they were white guys selling espresso or gelatos.

The only thing I don't like about these carts is that they are unlicensed. I personally don't ever eat from them because of potential health risks. I would like the city to regulate them. I think it would be good for both business and customer. And how about a little diversity in the menu. Some gyros perhaps?

:tup: Your right i dont know why they are bitching about it, in New York they sell pretzels so why not sell hotdogs, what gives? I have had there hotdogs when they are outside the clubs when the clubs close i see everyone waiting to grab a bite. I have never gotten sick and yes they use plastic gloves, like in subway. Hum makes me think :sly: I think your right about the expresso part.

[sopas ej]

:tup: Your right i dont know why they are bitching about it, in New York they sell pretzels so why not sell hotdogs, what gives? I have had there hotdogs when they are outside the clubs when the clubs close i see everyone waiting to grab a bite. I have never gotten sick and yes they use plastic gloves, like in subway. Hum makes me think :sly: I think your right about the expresso part.

Interesting that you focus only on one perceived aspect of a post, and seem to ignore the rest of the post. I clearly said that I don't mind street vendors. My issue is the LEGALITY of them, meaning, if they were legal in LA, then they'd be licensed and regulated, right? Meaning they would have to meet health inspection standards. Meaning there would be designated places set aside for them, like in parks or farmers markets or wherever. Meaning they wouldn't be allowed to impede pedestrians on a busy public sidewalk. You should try walking on the south side of Wilshire Blvd. between Vermont and Berendo on a weekday morning or in the afternoon when all the office workers are getting out of work, and maybe you'll see what I mean.

[LA420]

Interesting that you focus only on one perceived aspect of a post, and seem to ignore the rest of the post. I clearly said that I don't mind street vendors. My issue is the LEGALITY of them, meaning, if they were legal in LA, then they'd be licensed and regulated, right? Meaning they would have to meet health inspection standards. Meaning there would be designated places set aside for them, like in parks or farmers markets or wherever. Meaning they wouldn't be allowed to impede pedestrians on a busy public sidewalk. You should try walking on the south side of Wilshire Blvd. between Vermont and Berendo on a weekday morning or in the afternoon when all the office workers are getting out of work, and maybe you'll see what I mean.

Yes i know people get in my way all the time, just like having construction crew block off one side of the side walk and making you cross the street and use the other sidewalk thats impede its a pain in the ass, so for a guy who is pushing a cart i dont see a problem with it, go around just like you do when people are walking towards you and you cant fit on the side walk.

The regulation yes i understand that point and your right they should have permits, so if they have permits will continue to bitch :shrug: about them being in your way. This is city living bro lets be real here, i have lived in the city all my life with the exception as a young kid living in NYC p/t and not the burbs :yuck: (thank god) and i lived in the worst parts of the city so it does bother me, no its part of the package. Thats all :yes:

[sopas ej]

Yes i know people get in my way all the time, just like having construction crew block off one side of the side walk and making you cross the street and use the other sidewalk thats impede its a pain in the ass, so for a guy who is pushing a cart i dont see a problem with it, go around just like you do when people are walking towards you and you cant fit on the side walk.

The regulation yes i understand that point and your right they should have permits, so if they have permits will continue to bitch :shrug: about them being in your way. This is city living bro lets be real here, i have lived in the city all my life with the exception as a young kid living in NYC p/t and not the burbs :yuck: (thank god) and i lived in the worst parts of the city so it does bother me, no its part of the package. Thats all :yes:

Again, if these sidewalk vendors were legal and regulated, I doubt they'd be clustered all together and allowed to block sidewalks. So, to put it in your words, if they were regulated, I wouldn't be given a reason to bitch about them blocking sidewalks, because they wouldn't be blocking sidewalks.

[Easy]

I don't mind street vendors, but it would be better if they were regulated so that we know that they at least follow some basic health rules. I was DT yesterday and saw these two women selling some sort of tamales out of their minivan. As I happened by I noticed that one of the women was changing a kids diaper on the same back seat where a tray of the tamales were sitting.

Many of the street vendors that used to be downtown were selling those bacon-wrapped hot dogs. I don't think that they are allowed to sell those even with a permit because of the way that the bacon is cooked. I could be wrong about that.

Like most places those types of vendors were tolerated only until permanent food businesses moved in. Street vendors are bad for their business and even in NYC you can't just walk up and down the street with an illegal food cart. NYC is much less tolerant than LA when it comes to stuff like that.

[BrighamYen]

^ They have those bacon-wrapped hot dogs at Hollywood/Highland and WEHO gay strip. In those areas, for some reason, it seems fine to have them there. Maybe because of the hustle-bustle in a clean area? If people want to "risk their lives" (lol) by eating these dogs, more power to them!

[LA420]

Again, if these sidewalk vendors were legal and regulated, I doubt they'd be clustered all together and allowed to block sidewalks. So, to put it in your words, if they were regulated, I wouldn't be given a reason to bitch about them blocking sidewalks, because they wouldn't be blocking sidewalks.

LOL ok :slob: :slob:

[LongBeachUrbanist]

I think a hotdog vendor works on that corner. It's a major intersection and subway station. Once the chain-link comes down, so that the plaza is opened up, the hotdog vendor won't be blocking anybody.

I do, however, support regulation and licensing. I've gotten sick from street vendors before.

[danparker276]

My pool party at 1100:

http://www.loftla.com/loftla/Photos.aspx?AlbumID=83

http://www.loftla.com/loftla/Handler.ashx?PhotoID=702&Size=L

http://www.loftla.com/loftla/Handler.ashx?PhotoID=703&Size=L

http://www.loftla.com/loftla/Handler.ashx?PhotoID=701&Size=L

[citywatch]

^ Thanks for the pics. Always nice to see bldgs in the hood, & the hood in general, in a lively condition.

I still remember watching an episode of the Fear factor TV show filmed at 1100 a few yrs ago, & it was obvious the bldg at that time had been sitting mostly abandoned for quite awhile.

Like to think condo sales at 1100 are moving at a good pace.

[BrighamYen]

The problem with LA's urban development downtown is much of this wonderful activity (socializing) taking place in privatized areas where no one on the street would ever know there's life going on downtown. If I was from out-of-town and walked by 1100 Wilshire, I would never know there was anything going on.

Someone once said "...urban living is all about the views!" I think we all can agree it goes far beyond that. If developers spent as much energy and dedication to improving the streets (like what South Group does), then perhaps we would truly be that much closer to experiencing an authentic urban area.

Who in the world talks about "the views" in NYC anyway (one of the greatest cities of all modern time)? It's all about the street activity (that LA lacks considerably).


Nice view!
http://www.davestravelcorner.com/photos/unitedstates/california/south/LA-Downtown.jpg
From davestravelcorner.com


+


Lackluster street life :(
http://www.you-are-here.com/downtown/los_angeles_hotels.jpg
From you-are-here.com


= Downtown LA isn't there yet

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Great view!
http://dumbonyc.com/images/blog/flickr_lowerManhattan_eight_double.jpg
From dumbonyc.com


+


Great street life :)
http://rlove.org/images/nyc_street_20041211.jpg
From rlove.org

http://www.evworld.com/images/greenwichvillage_streetfair.jpg
From evworld.com


= An authentic, wonderful urban experience



My point is: having nice views from your kitchen window is great (hell, who wouldn't want a nice view?), but street activity cannot take the backseat. In NYC, you can have ZERO views from your loft/apartment, but you'll still love living where you are because of what is available downstairs at the street level. The excitement and bustle awaits you downstairs...

For Downtown LA's case, you can have the best view in LA, but if you find yourself heading straight for your car parked conveniently in your garage, or find it a hassle to walk 3 blocks, then we have some work to do on the street level. It's akin to living in high-rise suburban enclave. Skyscrapers replace tract homes. Empty streets with limited retail awaits you downstairs...

Luckily, I do believe Downtown LA is on the right track, but I find that some developers/sales people are focusing TOO MUCH on just "the views," which then leads to a dangerous phenomenon called NIMBYism. I wouldn't be surprised if people in 1100 Wilshire start complaining vocally when 1111 Wilshire and 1027 Wilshire become more well-known to residents inside. "OMG, but what about my views? I don't give a fuck if it's for the better of the community, I just want my views damnit!"

We're starting to see it already in places like Flower Street Lofts trying to make it wonderfully difficult for "Kurtzman."

LA cannot fuck up this last chance to finally create a public realm for the city. A city notorious for private everything.

[fridayinla]

Koreatown photos from Sunday Aug 5th

Solair Wilshire
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/1037038000_11425db1cc_b.jpg

Wilshire Center Site Retail Demolition - It won't be long now
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1395/1037034334_aad1883276_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1340/1036182861_6592d2ca13_b.jpg
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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1127/1036183879_9dea828402_b.jpg

[danparker276]

1/2 the sidewalk on the bixel side of Glo opened up, I walked on it on the way to work today. Looks like some people have moved in.

About the 1111 wilshire and 1027 wilshire making 1100 residents mad. It's actually an 1100 owner that sold 1111.
1027, will block a little of my view, but it's a nice building, so I'm all for it.

[colemonkee]

With my experience so far, the NIMBY's we have downtown are relatively few compared to other cities with a deeper urban history. It just so happens that they tend to be more vocal, so they get heard. If people like Dan and myself (supporters of more development) are more vocal about the benefits of more development - especially in underdeveloped areas (re: most or all of downtown LA), then people will come around. At least for the next five years or so, as downtown boosters try to make it more of a "neighborhood".

Case in point, reaction to Tom Gilmore's tower at St. Vibiana's was originally bad when he presented at one of my HOA meetings about a year ago. That brief reaction was easily turned into a positive attitude by myself and a couple of other neighbors standing up and noting that this building would not only bring in a lot of amenities, but it would clean up an ugly stretch of Main Street, and it was designed in a way that greatly minimized shadows cast on our building. Now the majority of residents in my building support it.

[BrighamYen]

MIRACLE MILE CONDO-RETAIL PROJECT
Suzan Filipek
August 3, 2007


http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1042/08projectmx2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Plans for a mixed-use apartment-retail building at the southeastern corner of Wilshire Blvd. and La Brea Ave. have resurfaced.

San Francisco-based developer BRE laid out its plans at a meeting at The Ebell of Los Angeles last month for the 784,000 square foot development, on a 3.4-acre block with Sycamore Ave. to the east and W. 8th St. on the south.

Originally planned as a 20- and 16-story condo-retail project by Cal Coast, the property was purchased by BRE earlier this year.

Plans include 41,500 square feet of commercial space under a podium-style structure. The 645 apartments would be in two structures on top of the podium. The taller of the two buildings would stand 13 stories; the smaller is six stories.

Parking will include 1,219 stalls on five levels, one of which is on the street and two above ground and two under ground, according to an initial study from the L.A. Dept. of Planning.

Liz Fuller, president of the Sycamore Square Neighborhood Assoc., said, “this is the time for people to get together and talk about their concerns, and that’s what we’re doing,” she said.

While the project is shorter than the towering Cal Coast proposal last year, BRE’s plans are just as dense, said Fuller.

“Our concerns remain the same: size, density, parking, traffic. It’s shorter, but it’s not smaller.”

“It’s a very big project,” similar in square footage to the among the largest buildings downtown, said Fred Pickel, president of the La Brea Hancock Homeowners Assoc.

Renee Weitzer, chief of staff for City Councilman Tom LaBonge, agrees the development is dense, but, the project by Thomas P. Cox Architects, is well designed with 50-foot setbacks on La Brea.

“I think the architect did a great job,” she added. The height is allowed on Wilshire Blvd., and the lower-storied townhomes are in the back in the residential area at Sycamore and Eighth St. The development also includes a mini-park.

A draft environmental impact report and public hearings are expected in about six months.

The development includes 140 studios, 254 one-bedrooms and 241 two-bedrooms and 10, two-bedroom town homes.

The commercial space includes 5,000 square feet for a restaurant.

A church and two mini-malls occupy the site.

[Wright Concept]

The problem with LA's urban development downtown is much of this wonderful activity (socializing) taking place in privatized areas where no one on the street would ever know there's life going on downtown...

For Downtown LA's case, you can have the best view in LA, but if you find yourself heading straight for your car parked conveniently in your garage, or find it a hassle to walk 3 blocks, then we have some work to do on the street level. It's akin to living in high-rise suburban enclave. Skyscrapers replace tract homes. Empty streets with limited retail awaits you downstairs...

(Laughs) That was something I mentioned long ago on these boards and at the March 2006 meet because there really the same thing, the subruban mentaility nicely marketed in an urban form.

Luckily, I do believe Downtown LA is on the right track, but I find that some developers/sales people are focusing TOO MUCH on just "the views," which then leads to a dangerous phenomenon called NIMBYism. I wouldn't be surprised if people in 1100 Wilshire start complaining vocally when 1111 Wilshire and 1027 Wilshire become more well-known to residents inside. "OMG, but what about my views? I don't give a fuck if it's for the better of the community, I just want my views damnit!"

We're starting to see it already in places like Flower Street Lofts trying to make it wonderfully difficult for "Kurtzman."

LA cannot fuck up this last chance to finally create a public realm for the city. A city notorious for private everything.


This is where I strongly believe adding parks and focusing in on Mid-rise (3 to 7 stories) consruction with proper pedestrian treatments will be the key for Downtown and Mid Wilshire to fill in Deadzones, (Damn, I'm using Citywatch diction :jester: )

Fill up those spaces then there's no choice left but to fix the street. There's another advantage to the mid rise development, It's quicker and a little more cost-effective to build with good wood framing and coordinated structural staircases/vertical circulation and the folks who pay good $$$ to live in the High rise for the "view" can protect that view and add more residents in the meantime.

And the park/playground space is a no brainer simply because of how and who will use it and keep it in good shape while providing a softening element to all the concrete, steel and glass surrounding it.

[sopas ej]

MIRACLE MILE CONDO-RETAIL PROJECT
Suzan Filipek
August 3, 2007


http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/1042/08projectmx2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Plans for a mixed-use apartment-retail building at the southeastern corner of Wilshire Blvd. and La Brea Ave. have resurfaced.

Anything is better than that ugly bank-turned-Korean church that's there. I think this will nicely complement that area, including the "Oh My Nappy Hair! Salon" down the street.

[ksep]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1331/1164025466_b5e9bc1b55_o.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1415/1164025894_5464cf9ecb_o.jpg

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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1315/1164030136_a365a21a8d_o.jpg

[fridayinla]

^They finally opened it! Thanks for the pictures, ksep. Now let's get the retail rolling...

[RAlossi]

Oh my god. I had seen "the finger" on that painted wall before, but I guess they hadn't entirely finished it. WTF?? Is it supposed to be a Korean person holding a bowl of rice in some homage to the community?

[sopas ej]

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1411/1163174737_99768b3663_o.jpg




I see a glaring error; shouldn't it be called the Purple/Red Line? Now I can see the MTA ripping this out in a month or two to recolor/rename it. More funds wasted.

And even though this entrance is now open, I see the escalators don't work. The MTA is LAME LAME LAME.

[Echo Park]

Oh my god. I had seen "the finger" on that painted wall before, but I guess they hadn't entirely finished it. WTF?? Is it supposed to be a Korean person holding a bowl of rice in some homage to the community?

Oh man I just noticed that right now.

This is a great building by the way and the kind of architecture LA needs right now (the kind that makes you look twice.). I prefer these shorter buildings with bold design as opposed to the San Diego style sticks on a podium that are going up downtown and around LA. I love the way the colors on those wall graphics contrast with the colorless building around it (even if the graphic reminds me of a trapper keeper). Reminds me of Gehry's Grand Avenue tower the way the inner wall is painted in contrast to the titanium along the outside of the tower. I hope this mural style becomes more common as it is uniquely an LA thing. The subway entrance is great as well.

[Easy]

That bit of finger really stands out in person because it's the only part of the artwork that is immediately recognizable. You kinda have to look for a minute to see what the rest of it is...but that finger is just right there.

Sopas ej that's not the way the MTA normally works. What they'll likely do instead is leave the half correct sign up for about a year. Then they'll notice the sign and take it down with the intention of replacing it. Then there will be no sign for about 2 years and they'll finally put up the new sign. Of course by then the red and purple designations will have been tentatively replaced with the 1 and 2 designations. :haha:

[sopas ej]

Sopas ej that's not the way the MTA normally works. What they'll likely do instead is leave the half correct sign up for about a year. Then they'll notice the sign and take it down with the intention of replacing it. Then there will be no sign for about 2 years and they'll finally put up the new sign. Of course by then the red and purple designations will have been tentatively replaced with the 1 and 2 designations. :haha:

Oh yeah, what was *I* thinking??!? Ehhhehehehe!!

[citywatch]

A Taller L.A.? He's Making It Happen

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-08/32051587.jpg
Christopher Pak's projects are changing the face of the Wil-
shire Center/Koreatown. This is a seven-story luxury condo
in the heart of Koreatown at 7th Street and Serrano Avenue.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Christopher Pak's vision for the city has been preached by others. His knowledge of the area has helped him succeed.

By K. Connie Kang, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 23, 2007

It's difficult these days to drive through Koreatown and Mid-Wilshire without noticing the mark of Christopher Pak. At 7th Street and Serrano Avenue, there's a seven-story luxury condo tower that Pak has just completed. It's around the corner from the Aroma Sporex complex, Pak's gleaming five-story sports, health and retail facility that when completed a few years ago was the first large building to rise on that stretch of Wilshire Boulevard in a quarter of a century. Just down Wilshire at Western Avenue, construction has begun on a 22-story condominium tower and upscale retail center rising above the Purple Line subway station.

Then there is Pak's biggest Koreatown project: a 40-story mixed-use tower that is the centerpiece of a Korean trade and cultural center. Pak stood with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in Seoul last fall when the mayor -- on his Asian trade mission -- announced the project and the more than $250 million in foreign investment that had been earmarked for it.

Pak, a 45-year-old architect, developer and political insider, is turning Koreatown into a testing ground for a vision of a dense, taller L.A. -- pushing the boundaries of what residents will bear when it comes to high-rise construction. It's a style of building -- and living -- that he brings from projects he has designed in Asian cities such as Jakarta, Indonesia and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. "We need to be embracing that density, that mix of residences, services and workplaces, libraries and schools in one area," said Pak, chief executive of Archeon International Group.

http://www.latimes.com/media/graphic/2007-08/32050354.gif

Others over the years have preached a similar vision of Los Angeles to a skeptical public, but Pak is succeeding where they have failed partly because he's an insider -- he was raised in Koreatown and has been part of the City Hall establishment since his early 30s. He is building his projects in a community of immigrants, particularly those from South Korea who are used to high-rise living.

Another factor working in Pak's favor is that his key projects are within the Wilshire Center/Koreatown Redevelopment Project, an area targeted for revitalization by the city in the wake of the 1992 riots. With that designation, the city is saying that the benefits of redevelopment outweigh the negative environment consequences, according to an analysis on file with the city Planning Department.

Pak has also gained a big ally in Villaraigosa, who has spoken often about the importance of a more vertical Los Angeles with higher-density buildings that mix housing, commercial and retail along major transportation corridors. An enthusiastic Villaraigosa was on hand for the 2006 groundbreaking of the Solair Wilshire -- Pak and developer Bruce Rothman's joint venture with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority above the Purple Line subway station. "Chris is an innovative, creative architect who has his pulse on the community and the wherewithal to make things happen," Villaraigosa said.

But Pak and his denser vision of L.A. have their share of detractors. Neighborhood activists, leery of development encroachment near residential areas abutting major boulevards, such as Olympic, complain that projects like his will change the historic character of neighborhoods, and they worry about the effect of density on the quality of life that residents of these areas have long enjoyed. Critics question whether the new projects will get people out of their cars or simply bring more residents -- and commuters -- to the area's already clogged streets. An environmental impact study says the Solair project is expected to create 1,700 new daily trips. Critics are also leery of some of Pak's other ideas. He would like to see zoning rules changed so that a developer could offer less parking and instead provide more open space for residents. Pak believes it would get people out of their cars and encourage other modes of transportation, but critics say this is a recipe for a street parking nightmare.

"The city's general plan is a good plan that strikes a balance between homeowners and developers," said Elizabeth Morehead, a former president of the Wilshire Park Assn. "I find his total and unmitigated dismissal of the general plan quite scary, given his considerable political clout."

Residents were up in arms when Pak and other developers sought to construct an eight-story, 30-unit luxury condo building at Olympic Boulevard and Gramercy Place. Led by Arlin J. Low, president of the Country Club Heights Neighborhood Assn., numerous residents signed a petition urging the city not to grant a zoning variance. They won. But Pak then went to work, spending months meeting with community groups. What resulted was a compromise that reduced the size of the project from eight stories to six and made other changes residents wanted. Many community leaders backed the new plan, though some residents still felt it was far too big.

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-08/32051579.jpg
Olympic Palace Tower at Gramercy Place and Olympic Boulevard, next to Rotex Hotel.
This was one of Pak's controversial projects because of neighborhood opposition. He has
had to lower the height and reduce the number of units.

"He is a pragmatist, not a dreamer," Rothman said of his business partner. "He is politically savvy. He has a track record. When he goes and works, there is a certain trust that translates into results."

As a player in the city, Pak contributes to politicians at the local, state and national levels and across party lines. Records show that Pak and his firm have donated to former Mayors Richard Riordan and James K. Hahn, and to Villaraigosa, mostly in the $1,000 range.

Pak grew up in Koreatown, the second son of two dentists who until their recent retirement practiced in the district. He attended Fairfax High School and Cal Poly Pomona, graduating with a degree in architecture. In the early 1990s, he quickly became a rising star around City Hall. At 31, Pak was starting his architecture business and volunteering at a Korean American community organization when he met Riordan during his campaign for mayor.

After Riordan was elected in 1993, Pak applied to serve on a city board, assuming that he didn't have much of a chance. But to his surprise, Riordan's office appointed him to the board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. He was the first Asian to join the board.

Few people outside Los Angeles' Korean American community had even heard of him. In fact, he was so green to city politics that he didn't even know what the agency did. But Pak was a quick study, reading everything he could about the agency. "I learned that it was the lifeblood of Southern California," he said.

But the early to mid-1990s was a tough time for his business. Koreatown and the Mid-Wilshire area struggled to recover from the 1992 riots. And, as a young architect starting out, he did not have good prospects of landing architectural commissions in Los Angeles. So he looked to Asia, where the economy was booming. He quickly made connections in Hong Kong that led to luxury residential and office projects in Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Myanmar and South Korea. Pak continues to commute to Asia.

He made a name for himself with his first project in Asia: developing Vietnam's first modern high-rise, the 22-story Citibank Tower in Ho Chi Minh City. Now he is working on two $400-million mixed-use projects -- one of them 56-stories -- in Shenyang and Tianjin, China. In Hong Kong, financier Bernard Chan, a member of Hong Kong's Legislative Council, said in a telephone interview that he was amazed at how well Pak -- then in his early 30s -- networked. Pak often operates out of the tony Hyatt hotel in Hong Kong, and Chan said he is treated like a VIP. "I am a member of the Cabinet, but not necessarily everyone knows me by name" at the Hyatt, Chan said. "But Chris Pak -- everybody knows him. He gets better discounts than I do. Chris is amazing."

Chan experienced Pak's entree into power in Los Angeles when he came here with a delegation from Hong Kong. Pak arranged for Chan's group to visit with Mayor Riordan at City Hall. "They were so impressed," Chan said. "They thought I knew the mayor of Los Angeles!"

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-08/32051586.jpg
Christopher Pak is building this 22-story, combination condo and retail jointly with MTA
above the Red Line station at WIlshire and Western. Currently, he has four big projects.
Three of them are going up fast.

The economic recovery of Koreatown in the late 1990s prompted Pak to refocus on developments there and in Mid-Wilshire -- and friends say the political connections he cultivated during the Riordan administration have paid off nicely. In the 2005 mayoral race, Pak backed former Assembly Speaker Robert Hertzberg who, like Villaraigosa, expressed the need for a denser Los Angeles. But when Villaraigosa was elected, he immediately put Pak on his transition team.

A year later, Pak traveled with the mayor on the Asian trade mission, during which news of the Korean center turned out to be the biggest development out of the trip. Pak's firm is designing a sprawling complex -- called "Superblock" -- that will include a new office for the South Korean Consulate and a cultural center, theater complex, condos, stores and a Korean bank. (A South Korean firm is the developer). Villaraigosa touted both the scale of the project and the more than $250 million in capital from Korean investors. Much of the economic boom that has swept Koreatown in recent years has come from Asian investment, particularly wealthy South Koreans who buy property and businesses because they see them as secure assets.

While most of Pak's projects use private financing, the 22-story tower at Wilshire and Western is a partnership with the MTA, which owns the land. Pak created the concept for housing above the Purple Line station and negotiated the deal. In exchange for an exclusive ground lease agreement, Metro is expected to receive $350,000 annually and periodic rent adjustments. Pak sees these projects as bringing L.A. a step closer to the dense urban spaces of European cities and of the Asian metropolises where he is building similar developments (the only part of L.A. to truly embrace high-rise living is a stretch of Wilshire Boulevard between Beverly Hills and Westwood, although most of those towers are far more upscale than the ones rising in Koreatown).

Koreatown and Mid-Wilshire are "ideal" for this kind of development, he said, because the area is already a fairly dense mix of commercial space, shops and residences. His developments would help create "a true metropolis where people can live, work, shop, entertain, eat and do all of it without having to get in your car," he said. (Pak lives in Playa del Rey with his wife and two sons.)

Pak believes residents need to think about their city in a profoundly different way. Denser, mixed-use developments would mark a departure from the quaint Los Angeles of the past -- but it is crucial that the city make the break, he said. "L.A. was zoned for vehicles in the early 1900s, not for pedestrians and public transportation," he said.

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-08/32051580.jpg
The 22-story condominium tower rising above the Red Line will include upscale retail.

http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2007-08/32051571.jpg
Christopher Pak , a well connected Korean American architect and developer, is changing
the face of Wilshire Boulevard. He has parlayed his connections to win big projects includ-
ing the Metro Plaza project, which his architectural firm in partnership with KOAR
Institutional Advisors is building with the MTA.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

i wish we had more people like Pak in LA and less of those NIMBYS. she stated that the general plan for LA was working? is she on crack?

[BrighamYen]

^ Maybe cuz he travels outside of the city/country and sees that most major cities aren't acting like they're some small hickville town in the middle of nowhere, AFRAID of a 8 story building! A lot of people in LA are retarded IMO when it comes to city planning. Luckily we have a force against them like Pak to help balance out the evil.

[Kerry Marsico]

word on the street, 1010 Wilshire developers have shifted use of building from 'for sale' to 'for lease'

[interloper]

Can we import another dozen pak's?

[danparker276]

I thought they did some pre-sales at 1010? Anyone else have more info?

No new pictures today so here's one from the 1100 Wilshire pool:

http://loftla.com/loftla/Handler.ashx?PhotoID=733&Size=L

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

looks like a blast!

[Kerry Marsico]

[QUOTE=danparker276;3029656]I thought they did some pre-sales at 1010? Anyone else have more info?

No new pictures today so here's one from the 1100 Wilshire pool:

http://loftla.com/loftla/Handler.ashx?PhotoID=733&Size=L[/QUOTE

even if any reservations were taken, those will be refunded. the developer hadn't taken any to contract. same scenario at the moment at park fifth...about 344 reservations...however... these are only $10K holds, and no guarantee they'll ever break ground...if the project is scrapped, those reservations will be refunded...however, should they go to contract, this is the developer moving ahead as planned, and the buyers then need to bring in their deposit...usually 3 to 5%

[fridayinla]

word on the street, 1010 Wilshire developers have shifted use of building from 'for sale' to 'for lease'

I heard the same thing recently. I hope it's just a rumer because I am interested in buying in that project. Anyone know for sure what's going on?

[edluva]

melting pot? full of colors? i don't know

[Kerry Marsico]

I heard the same thing recently. I hope it's just a rumer because I am interested in buying in that project. Anyone know for sure what's going on?


pretty much a done deal...it seems. the sales staff which was to represent 1010 seem to be shifting their focus and energy over to Solair.