[LAofAnaheim]

I agree with LosAngelesBeauty......a lot more people appear to be walking to/from LA Live! now with Regal Cinemas open. It just creates a good destination for pedestrians, especially for us in the nearby residential buildings (Market Lofts, Skyline, South, Met Lofts, 717 Olympic, etc...). I think that had more effect on the local crowd than the restaurants, Nokia Theater, or the theater will have. Not to say, the other phases have been great as well!

Now, if the Hard Rock Hotel truly shows up across the street, and the new Luxe Hotel City Center create more activity in South Park....the effect will be amazing for downtown in general!

[Kingofthehill]

Ahh, LA:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2491/4004845761_d5d9e810ec_b.jpg
(credit: me, of course)

[colemonkee]

Nice shot, there, King. Taken from Hollywood & Highland?

[pesto]

what's the message: "...so far from God"?

[JDRCRASH]

Glad to see you and your astounding pictures back KotH!:):tup:

[ThreeHundred]

I've always loved those shots from Hollywood. Makes the 777 Tower look almost cylindrical.

Question: What affect if any do you think that LA Live will have in terms of developing Metropolis? That parking lot is going to increase in value VERY quickly and it will be only a matter of time before something is put on it.

[pesto]

Per the LA Times, Convention Center business is up 18.1 percent year-to-year for the 1st week of October, although most of the country is flat or down. LA Live is supposed to be the reason and, of course, the best is presumably yet to come.

On the other hand, this from a City audit:

"Perhaps most startling is a labor mandate requiring that the Convention Center utilize city electrical workers, which has resulted in thousands of overtime hours. Twenty-five city electrical workers earned an average of $94,000 in overtime pay with one topping out at $146,000."

I assume that out of love for LA and concerned for the layoffs this might cause, the unions will insist on returning this money to the city.

[JDRCRASH]

L.A. Live Mega Project Plans Mega Expansion
Planning Commission to Consider Additions Nov. 12

by Anna Scott, Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, November 8, 2009 10:36 AM PST

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES – (This story originally published Friday, Nov. 6, 5:22 p.m.) The City Planning Commission next week will consider a plan to add hundreds of thousands of square feet of office, hotel and residential space to the 27-acre L.A. Live sports and entertainment complex.

L.A. Live developer the Anschutz Entertainment Group, according to a Planning Department report, plans eventually to develop 332,618 square feet of office space and a 269,182-square-foot broadcasting studio that could accommodate a nationwide cable television network, a 275-room hotel and a 25-story residential building with 65 units adjacent to the L.A. Live campus.

The Commission is scheduled to take up the matter on Thursday, Nov. 12.

AEG officials were not immediately able to provide details about the expansion or its timeline.

Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

Source:http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/11/08/news/doc4af4cbce8166a062761618.txt

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ WONDERFUL NEWS! I sure love how active AEG still is in Downtown LA development. They're pretty much the only one making any audacious endeavors right now in this economic climate, and the fact that they have so much invested in LA Live means they are not only forced to be BULLISH about the near future market demand, but they have the will power and political/financial connections to get this through (hopefully).

I wonder if the Just Tires and the land its on across the street from the new Regal theaters on Olympic Blvd. was purchased by AEG recently since the mechanic shop vacated/relocated somewhere else. There should be no reason why any auto-service oriented business should still be around in Downtown LA, which adversely affects the long term goal of a pedestrian-oriented district.

It makes sense if they did purchase the land because where else would AEG have enough land to build all the things they want to build? :)

[colemonkee]

^ The development in question will be for the surface parking lot east of Olympic and North of Francisco, as discussed a while back in this thread. The Just Tires store would be another development altogether, if it was indeed acquired by AEG - an assumption that has yet to be verified.

However, it would be nice to see some of the service-oriented businesses be replaced by more pedestrian-friendly developments. However, the limit to pedestrian-friendly ends at the 110 freeway for the time being.

[JDRCRASH]

And I would think they couldn't lid the 110 because...well... it's above-grade, right?

[pesto]

north of Olympic and east of Francisco?

west of 110 will get pedestrian friendlier as well, as will all of Olympic in time; the apartments and shops are coming!

[LAdude]

Hey I found this on Curbed LA and thought that it would be appropriate to share this here. Not sure if someone had posted it already, but it doesn't seem like it. :D


http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/11/regional_connector_update_chugging_along.php

Regional Connector: Know All the Possible Downtown Stops

Monday, November 9, 2009, by Neal Broverman

Image Gallery
Shot of the Disney Hall underground stop for the light-rail option (the white spot is not a ghost, only the glare).
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HPIM1906 HPIM1901 HPIM1904 HPIM1905 HPIM1899 HPIM1917 HPIM1908 HPIM1909 HPIM1910 HPIM1912 HPIM1914 Picture 9 Picture 8 Picture 1

Over the weekend, Metro held the second of four community meetings on the Regional Connector, which would connect the 7th/Metro stop with the new Gold Line stop in Little Tokyo via light rail. Like the Westside subway, which is following a similar timetable, the Connector is in the midst of its environmental review and hopes to open around 2018/19. If it is indeed built, Metro is looking at two options for the connectors: either underground or partly above-ground.

Several new stations would be built for the Regional Connector project depending on which alternative is ultimately selected. For its at-grade emphasis alternative, Metro has identified station locations in the Financial District, Bunker Hill, and the City Hall/Civic Center area. Metro’s underground emphasis alternative also would stop in the Financial District and Bunker Hill areas, and then continue underground. Planners are studying two possible station options on 2nd Street before the line would travel to Little Tokyo.

Specifically, these stops are being considered:

Subway alternative: Stops at 5th & Flower, 2nd & Hope, and Broadway & 2nd or Los Angeles & 2nd

Light-rail option: Stops planned for 5th & Flower, 2nd & Hope, and Main & 1st or 1st & Los Angeles.

The meeting, held at the Wurlitzer Building at 818 S. Broadway this past Saturday morning, went pretty smoothly, with staff explaining that the connector will shorten rides and save commuters—who are now forced to transfer at 7th and Metro or Union Station—about 20 minutes of time. Project manager Dolores Roybal-Saltarelli explained that both those stations are already swamped with commuters during rush-hour, and that the county expects millions more residents in the coming years (and more public transit users, considering new lines are opening every two to four years).

Roybal-Saltarelli was cool-headed when she was asked why the connector couldn't open more quickly. She said the schedule they have now is considered ambitious by most engineers and transit planners. "It's completely feasible that construction could begin in mid-2013," she said.

Most attendees were excited about the line. "It will reduce a lot of the congestion at 7th and Metro," said Gregory Sandoval of Glendale, who rides transit into the city for work. He said the Red and Blue Line platforms were already ridiculously busy. "Just wait until the Expo Line opens [in 2011]," he added.

The one dissenter was John Smythe, who lives Downtown. "I'm for leaving whatever is there," he said. "If you need to transfer, just go to Union Station." He said the money for the connector should be used for other priorities, like new lines.

Little Tokyo residents have been skittish about construction disruption, as well as stop placement, but Ann Kerman, who handles communications for the connector, said she was prepared to assuage fears in Downtown of disruption during the construction phase and density changes to Little Tokyo. "This project will do more to maintain the cultural integrity [of the neighborhood] than diminish it," Kerman said.

Kerman added that the Nikkei Project mixed-use development—near where the connector would link with the Gold Line—is moving forward too, and is in the midst of environmental studies. The Senor Fish restaurant catty-corner to the Gold Line stop will eventually have to be closed for the connector, but there are early discussions of putting another mixed-use development at that corner of 1st and Alameda (development plans like this may be part of the reason Little Tokyo residents are anxious).

[colemonkee]

north of Olympic and east of Francisco?

Ha! Yes, you're right. I got my directions, uh, misdirected. :dunce:

[pesto]

why so many stops for the connector in DT? Is it just to add more access points into the system? It would seem to slow the long-distance commuters who are supposed to be the beneficiaries.

[Steve2726]

It's not unusual to have a lot of stops in a central core. Look at the "loop" in downtown Chicago for example. I stops practically every 3 blocks.

[pesto]

agreed; but this is a "Connector" which in theory could have no stops at all between Little Tokyo and 7th/Metro.

I suppose it does help link to the Broadway trolley but it's usually better to focus on what the purpose of the link is rather than to try to solve all issues.

[sopas ej]

agreed; but this is a "Connector" which in theory could have no stops at all between Little Tokyo and 7th/Metro.

I suppose it does help link to the Broadway trolley but it's usually better to focus on what the purpose of the link is rather than to try to solve all issues.

Exactly; it's a connector so that riders don't have to make many transfers. But just because it's a connector doesn't mean it also shouldn't have convenient stops.

[RAlossi]

As Downtown densifies, we'll be glad to have that many stops. I have no problem with it. The stops are spaced farther apart as you leave Downtown in any direction.

I wish they'd add an Olympic Station on the Blue/Expo lines though. That neighborhood is exploding these days.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

I agree with Rich that Downtown LA will become denser and more important over time, which means the central core of LA will finally be even more relevant to more people's lives (workers, visitors/tourists, residents). People will be glad and laud Metro to have had the foresight to add many convenient stops in LA's most walkable 3-dimensional district, being Downtown LA.

The "link" of all the train lines doesn't mean a lot of people are actually going to be sitting on the train from Pasadena to Long Beach without ever getting off (or East LA to Culver City). I am certain that there will be an extremely high amount of people getting off in Downtown LA or nearby due to the aforementioned "densification" of Downtown LA.

We don't want to make the same mistake again that some officials at Metro did by looking at Downtown LA as only a place to "pass through" as quickly as possible. I once spoke to a Metro Rapid Bus planner who wanted nothing more than to make all the streets in Downtown LA into mini-freeways that would allow "commuters" to get home (and out of Downtown LA) as quickly as possible. The point is to make it easier and convenient to get INTO and AROUND Downtown LA, not expedite transit through it.

Of course, in an ideal transit world, there would be express trains like they have in Manhattan. But if we can't have both, I'd rather our Downtown Connector have more stops in Downtown LA.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ The development in question will be for the surface parking lot east of Olympic and North of Francisco, as discussed a while back in this thread. The Just Tires store would be another development altogether, if it was indeed acquired by AEG - an assumption that has yet to be verified.

However, it would be nice to see some of the service-oriented businesses be replaced by more pedestrian-friendly developments. However, the limit to pedestrian-friendly ends at the 110 freeway for the time being.


You mean to tell me that AEG is PLANNING to build ALL of that on that small of a plot of land? :) We're talking some nice density here.

I have a feeling AEG is directly involved with the plot of land that Just Tires is on right now...

[pesto]

I agree that the more access to the system there is, the better.

On the flip side, I wonder if someday we are going to want another Red Line stop at Hollywood/Normandie or Hollywood/Bronson (or even Vermont/Melrose)? If East Hollywood starts getting medium to high-rise development near Hollywood Blvd., which I can easily see due to old and decaying housing stock there, more stops would be convenient.

Similarly, I think they are only planning one stop on the Pink Line at SM and either La Cienega or San Vicente. I wonder why not both?

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ I just don't think anywhere else in LA will have the 3-dimensional walkable quality that Downtown LA has because of the pre-auto era that Downtown LA was developed in. Remember, in Downtown LA, a subway stop is surrounded by dense mixed-use and allows for pedestrians to walk in almost any direction once they come out of the station (much like other walkable cities). However, that is not the case in most other parts of LA where it's more LINEARLY developed along a commercially zoned boulevard and residential streets that stem from it.

Plus, many downtowns in American cities get more investment USUALLY just because of its elevated stature as a "downtown." It's an efficient way for resource allocation to make one smaller part of the city the symbol of the entire metro area.

[pesto]

I'm not arguing for less in DT; only the possibility that more along the Red Line might have been desirable. It is over a mile from Western to Vine; if this area gets high-rises, it would have been convenient to have another stop (similar to the Normandie stop, put between Vermont and Western on the Purple Line). Hollywood and Ktown won't have the business that DT has, but they will have far more people living there.

On the Pink Line we still have time to anticipate growth patterns.

[Kingofthehill]

There also needs to be a Red/Purple Line infill station in that grey area between Westlake/"City West." The Wilmer stop on the 720 gets ridiculously high boarding there (well, all the times I've been there) and the area has a transit-dependant workforce population, lofties, a few business offices, hospitals, blah blah. I don't know what Metro has to lose by not building a station there.

This area. (http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=34.053602,-118.266191&spn=0,359.986986&z=17&layer=c&cbll=34.053814,-118.266636&panoid=f9HZQCHemigUft0MR_Pvfw&cbp=12,119.29,,0,-1.9)

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ Yeah, and that STUPID SUBURBAN Home Depot with that HUGE ASS parking lot has got to be the most offensive part of ALL OF WILSHIRE BLVD. Something needs to happen to that suburban eye sore in order for City West to continue to bridge Downtown LA with the rest of Westlake/Koreatown.

[DJasmin]

I'm in total agreement. I live in City West, and a red line stop w entrances on lucas and witmer, maybe bixel would be ideal. Wilshire already has the density, and the density is slowly being added to neighboring blocks. Witmer and 6th carries heavy pedestrian traffic in relation to both the bus stops and the hospital.

[dktshb]

^ I just don't think anywhere else in LA will have the 3-dimensional walkable quality that Downtown LA has because of the pre-auto era that Downtown LA was developed in. Remember, in Downtown LA, a subway stop is surrounded by dense mixed-use and allows for pedestrians to walk in almost any direction once they come out of the station (much like other walkable cities). However, that is not the case in most other parts of LA where it's more LINEARLY developed along a commercially zoned boulevard and residential streets that stem from it.

Plus, many downtowns in American cities get more investment USUALLY just because of its elevated stature as a "downtown." It's an efficient way for resource allocation to make one smaller part of the city the symbol of the entire metro area.

Don't mistake Hollywood for being linear. Hollywood is much more than Hollwood Blvd with commercial (retail restaurant and office space) and residential throughout the neighborhood on streets like Selma, Cahuenga, Yucca, Cosmo, Ivar, Franklin, Sunset, La Brea, Vine etc where pedestrians walk in all directions. The streets are nice to walk along and the whole area feels a bit like a 3 dimensional little city. Like Downtown though there are still many parking lots that need to be developed and Downtown obviously has the opportunity to far surpass Hollywood.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ Yes, I think Hollywood has the potential to be more 3-dimensional if Sunset Blvd. develops as nicely as Hollywood Blvd. did between Vine and La Brea.

I think along Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills and Westwood are the most 3-dimensional. The subway station at Beverly Dr./Wilshire will allow pedestrians to not only walk through the Golden Triangle, but also Beverly Dr. SOUTH of Wilshire, which has a lot of nice little shops and restaurants as well. Plus, there are a bunch of hotels and residential near the station as well.

Westwood has activity both north and south of Wilshire as well, I'm thinking of the Crest Theatre.


And of course Downtown LA is the ONLY area that has the potential to be EXTREMELY walkable in all directions being the most "3-D". That's why I think the Downtown Connector should definitely have as many stations as it does to promote an extremely walkable environment.

[pesto]

While not disagreeing that DT is THE urban area, I would include Ktown and Westlake as part of DT because I can see inevitable densification. They will be more residential than DT but nevertheless too dense for cars to survive as the main means of transportation. Many, many side streets in this area are already heavily used by pedestrians.

I leave Boyle Heights and other areas north, south and east of DT out, because it is not clear to me that they will densify. Time will tell.

And don't forget Beverly Center and WeHo: 3rd, Melrose, SM, Beverly, Robertson, La Cienega from the BH border to Beverly Center and Cedars to Farmer's Market and the Grove and Park La Brea have plenty of street life and lots of multi-story developments (hotels, offices, condos). These are not exactly DT, but they are far from suburban. And, again, it takes no great insight to see that they will densify and that cars are not going to cut it.

The SM, Venice, Marina area is another area on its way.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ That whole area you just described I have always described as "West Central" (aka The City), which other cities like SF, Chicago, and Manhattan are viewed upon as the city as well.

[213]

From a practical standpoint, to have a few auto service and home improvement businesses in the downtown area is not an undesirable thing. While they may disrupt the fabric, they are nonetheless "amenities" to the very sort of residents DCBID is hoping to attract: mid-to-upper-income professionals who, by definition, are probable car owners who like to decorate. As Home Depots go, the Wilshire + Union location has a relatively compact footprint, shared with other retail.

As a downtown resident, a part of me would love for everything to be cafes and bookshops. But people do need to buy fuel and light bulbs -- downtown developers love specialty bulbs that you can't replace at Ralph's or Rite Aid -- and it makes sense to have them locally available.

;)

[RuFFy]

Looks like another ground breaking for South Park. http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/11/ground_could_be_breaking_again_downtown_courtesy_ywca.php

[pesto]

It's true: LA won't have a real DT until it has a NY or Chicago style hardware store with 80 sq. ft. of floor space and boxes piled upwards for 20 ft. Until then, you're just faking it.

YWCA: I can't decide: prison or warehouse?

[dktshb]

While not disagreeing that DT is THE urban area, I would include Ktown and Westlake as part of DT because I can see inevitable densification. They will be more residential than DT but nevertheless too dense for cars to survive as the main means of transportation. Many, many side streets in this area are already heavily used by pedestrians.

I leave Boyle Heights and other areas north, south and east of DT out, because it is not clear to me that they will densify. Time will tell.

And don't forget Beverly Center and WeHo: 3rd, Melrose, SM, Beverly, Robertson, La Cienega from the BH border to Beverly Center and Cedars to Farmer's Market and the Grove and Park La Brea have plenty of street life and lots of multi-story developments (hotels, offices, condos). These are not exactly DT, but they are far from suburban. And, again, it takes no great insight to see that they will densify and that cars are not going to cut it.

The SM, Venice, Marina area is another area on its way. Not suburban but without steetcars, subways, or lightrail sevicing these areas they are disappointing because you have to get in your car and drive to them.

[Kingofthehill]

..Had a great time at the Art Walk last night. Though it kind of makes me sad, thinking that Downtown was once bustling.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2545/4100388901_1c77d2c5ee.jpg

[pesto]

Mais ou sont les neiges d'antan? ("Where are the snows of yesteryear?") It sounds like you are getting old and nostalgic.

The good news is that cities (unlike people) can come back, even more youthful and vigorous than they were. When I was young, I used to love the Christmas window displays in the department store windows on Broadway. And while I don't have much hope for them coming back, at least there can be something nice for a new generation of people to enjoy.

[Kingofthehill]

Eh? Old? I'm only 18! :)

That said, I do have hope that Downtown can -- and will -- fully turn around. As Angelinos, we've already begun to see a renewed interest in dense city centers, mass transit, urbanity and the corresponding urban culture (street food, fixed gear bicycles, and other things, too (art walks, american apparel, marijuana legalization, etc) ). Downtown west of Los Angeles St is more or less already spoken for, now if only we could connect Little Tokyo to the rest of Downtown and begin working on the SE Industrial portion...South of Olympic needs alot of work, too. Hopefully South Park/LA Live will continue pushing east -- that area can use a good cleaning up.

And now that the Gold Line has pretty much shattered the psychological barrier between Downtown/Arts District and Boyle Heights and East LA in general, that area, too, can begin getting the attention it deserves.

[RuFFy]

Um, Pesto. The average Home Depot is 105k sq ft. The Home Depot in the Bloomberg building in midtown Manhattan is short of that at 80k sq ft (I used to shop there all the time). The one on 23rd street is 105k sq ft. So, being that the store has to be 80 sq ft in Los Angeles for it to be a real city, are you implying NY is faking it? : / I won't even get started with Chicago, another city I've also lived in.

[pesto]

ruffy: all phonies; a real NY hardware store (there may not be any left but they used to be around the Village, East Village, Little Italy) is about 8 ft. wide and 10 ft. deep and about 20 ft. high. It had 2 or 3 of every size of screw, bolt, nut, etc. (except the one you are looking for, of course). The owner used a ladder or pole to get things down.

You are talking about "home improvement centers" which are not even vaguely similar.

[pesto]

KOTH: you can be old at 18; it has more to do with experience and sensibility than age. Francois Villon may still have been in his 20's when he wrote the poem I quoted, one of the great elegies for the past.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

As Home Depots go, the Wilshire + Union location has a relatively compact footprint, shared with other retail.

;)

"Relatively compact footprint" for a driver, yes. But it's still a gash in the Downtown LA landscape and prevents Westlake from melding into Downtown LA from an URBAN standpoint.

We want a Home Depot like this for LA:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/40/123572727_a009ab78f7.jpg
Flickr member: mvjantzen

Not this:

http://theprsanccblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/home-depot.jpg
theprsanccblog

[LosAngelesBeauty]

..Had a great time at the Art Walk last night. Though it kind of makes me sad, thinking that Downtown was once bustling.




I went to the Art Walk last night as well for the first time since the event pretty much started back many years ago! Man, can I tell you the difference between now and then? There were SO MANY people packed into the Historic Core that it clearly gives you a real-life glimpse of what the future of Downtown LA will be like as more businesses/visitors and residents move downtown.

I wasn't sad. I was uplifted and excited!

[202_Cyclist]

"Relatively compact footprint" for a driver, yes. But it's still a gash in the Downtown LA landscape and prevents Westlake from melding into Downtown LA from an URBAN standpoint.

We want a Home Depot like this for LA:


Flickr member: mvjantzen

Not this:


theprsanccblog

The problem with allowing a retail use such as Home Depot in a central business district or near transit is that although this store might generate a lot of trips, driving is usually necessary for many of the purchases at these stores. It is not likely that someone will buy large, heavy, construction items and then take the subway or bus back home. Here in DC a Sears appliance outlet store recently moved to a property right next to a metro station. A few people might take the metro to the Sears for their preliminary shopping but it is highly unlikely that somebody will buy a dishwasher or refrigerator and then bring it back on the metro.

Regarding your second photo, there was recently an article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution about Home Depot selling surplus land in its parking lots that is not utilitized to other retailers. Swapping land formerly used for parking for another auto-dependent use such as a fast-food restaurant is hardly ideal but at least Home Depot is starting to change its thinking about how much land is required to accomodate its customers.

[LA/OCman]

This building could (there are actually two buildings) could be one of the best candidates a home improvement center. It is one of the biggest eyesores on Broadway...but when you look above the street level you see this....http://www.you-are-here.com/downtown/may.html

[sopas ej]

ruffy: all phonies; a real NY hardware store (there may not be any left but they used to be around the Village, East Village, Little Italy) is about 8 ft. wide and 10 ft. deep and about 20 ft. high. It had 2 or 3 of every size of screw, bolt, nut, etc. (except the one you are looking for, of course). The owner used a ladder or pole to get things down.

You are talking about "home improvement centers" which are not even vaguely similar.

Ah, yes, a true storefront hardware store. When I first moved to South Pasadena 11-and-a-half years ago, there actually still was a hardware store on Mission Street a few doors down from the Fair Oaks Pharmacy. I was surprised it was still in business, what with the OSH on Fair Oaks and all. It sadly went out of business within a few years of my moving to South Pas.

[pesto]

The May Co looks like it has serious potential, and it's convenient to South Park. The question is whether new construction south of Pico (on Washington?) would make more sense. DT is not so big that there is a shortage of buildable space yet.

But it would be convenient to live on the 5th floor above a home improvement center.

[213]

The question is whether new construction south of Pico (on Washington?) would make more sense.Eminent sense. The Washington corridor offers good proximity, yet is peripheral enough to avoid disruption. The auto dealers at Figueroa are a good example.

It could be argued that Washington development would further wrinkle the transition to USC, but I-10 makes the issue largely academic. Larger-footprint retail would serve downtown and USC both, while bespotting neither.

[pesto]

213: I agree; it would be nice to get I-10 and car row into a leafy row of mid-rise residences and retail, but it may be a tough sell.

You could make that part of Washington smaller retail and let the big boxes start toward Broadway.

[colemonkee]

From the Downtown News (http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/11/13/news/doc4afde83aeb1bf434292522.txt):


Chic Boutiques
Long Home to Large Hotels, Downtown Is Now Getting Smaller, Upscale Establishments
by Ryan Vaillancourt
Published: Friday, November 13, 2009 4:00 PM PST

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - On a recent Friday night, as hundreds of Laker fans funneled down Figueroa Street toward Staples Center before a game, two people waiting to cross Olympic Boulevard glanced over their shoulder at a 44-year-old hotel and looked confused.

“What the heck is a Holiday Inn doing there?” asked one, clearly surprised that a hotel chain affiliated with budget pricing could co-exist with the glitz of L.A. Live.

Efrem Harkham, president and CEO of Luxe Worldwide Hotels, was wondering the same thing before he backed a $10 million plan to transform the 200-room Holiday Inn into an upscale, boutique establishment. Renovations are scheduled to begin in December.

Perhaps the most important thing about the Holiday Inn plan, first reported by blogdowntown.com, is that it is not alone. In fact, it marks the third recently announced proposal to create a small, luxury hotel in South Park.

The building, which is owned by Emerik Hotel, has been a Holiday Inn since it opened in 1965. With Emerik’s agreement with the chain coming to an end, the company wanted to re-brand the hotel and capitalize on the economic development exploding in South Park, said John Kelly, vice president of Emerik and general manager of the Downtown Holiday Inn.

“With L.A. Live developing, all the residences around us and this Downtown core really turning into a sports and entertainment venue, we wanted to go with a more upscale property,” Kelly said.

That led to the partnership with Luxe Worldwide Hotels. The building is scheduled to reopen next spring as the Luxe City Center Hotel Los Angeles.

Large and Small

In addition to the Holiday Inn project, Anschutz Enter tainment Group, the developer of L.A. Live, is working on plans for a 275-room hotel near the 1,001-room, $900 million Convention Center hotel that is set to open in February 2010.

A few blocks northeast, at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue, a developer has dusted off plans to transform the 1914 Embassy Hotel and Auditorium into an upscale boutique establishment. No timeline or budget for the project has been announced.

Although Downtown’s hotel market consists primarily of large hotels, it is also home to a few properties that are considered “boutiques,” including the Standard and the O Hotel. Bruce Baltin, senior vice president of PKF Consulting, a hospitality consulting firm, defined the term as “a hotel that is generally 250 rooms or less, heavily themed from a design standpoint and with very personalized service.”

Baltin, whose company is working with AEG on the 275-room hotel, said that despite the downturn in the economy, which has been devastating for the hospitality industry, there is demand Downtown for more niche, upscale options.

“I think there is an appetite for it,” Baltin said. “With the growing convention market and with all the restaurants and everything else, there is clearly an opportunity for Downtown to continue to go a little more upscale than it has been.”

Harkham and Seth Horowitz, Luxe’s vice president of hotel operations, are banking on it, even if they were initially unsure of partnering with Emerik.

Horowitz, who is also general manager of the Luxe Hotel Sunset Boulevard in Bel Air, admits he did not immediately take the proposal seriously when he got a call from Kelly suggesting a meeting.

“Initially it was a Holiday Inn that was calling us and we were like…” Horowitz said, as he re-enacted a look of skepticism. “But you come down here and you look at the developments around here, you look at the JW Marriott [at the Convention Center hotel], at the Grammy Museum, the Nokia Theatre and you realize the opportunity.”

The Luxe project will completely transform the interior of the property, creating 180 rooms, including 15 suites.

“One thing is certain: The hotel will not be recognizable,” Harkham said. “It will be completely transformed. From the lobby to the rooms, the bar, the corridors, everything will be upscale galore, unrecognizable.”

The façade of the building, which Emerik upgraded recently, will not change, but the entrance will be overhauled to boost the curb appeal, Horowitz said.

Down Market

The Downtown hospitality industry is currently headed for its worst December in history, said Marc Loge, spokesman for the Wilshire Grand.

“It’s pathetic,” Loge said. “I just got out of a three hour meeting on it asking what can we do? There’s nothing we can do.”

The prospect of adding new hotels to the Downtown market, or re-branding existing ones, however, is not seen as a challenge to properties like the Wilshire Grand. In fact, Loge said the hotel stands to benefit from more players and more diversity in the market.

Additional hotels will also bring more and higher-quality conventions, a key driver of hospitality business Downtown, said Mark Liberman, president and CEO of L.A. Inc, the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau.

“As convention business continues to grow as we add a variety of new venues, those people booking meetings and those people coming to visit will look for a variety of hotel offerings and a variety of price point offerings,” Liberman said. “Our city’s product offering has really been enhanced because we continue to see the upgrade of our inventory, especially Downtown.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

[colemonkee]

I finally made it over to the Regal Cinemas at LA Live, and I was impressed by the number of people out and about on the sidewalks near the theater on a Sunday evening. I was not impressed by the design and layout of the theater inside, however. It seems like a half-assed attempt at post-modern art deco, and looks incomplete and value-engineered. It has a cool atrium space on the corner that feels like it could have been made to look a hell of a lot better. The Pacific Theater at the Grove comes to mind as a newer theater built in a "classical" style that turned out better than this one.

And the organization of that space - and how you move from floor to floor seem like they could have been better thought out. I found myself getting lost trying to find the escalators, and there was no consistency from floor to floor. For a theater where you might have to go 3 stories up, they needed to make the flow of the space far better than it is.

However, the theater does a great job of activating that stretch of Olympic - MUCH more so than I thought it would. There was a fair amount of foot traffic between LA Live and the theater through the walkway next to the Nokia Theater. That should get even better when the sidewalks open up around the Marriott/Ritz. I really hope they put a restaurant or bar on the ground floor of the Marriott on the Olympic side to encourage more interaction with the sidewalk.

[Bootstrap Bill]

A few people might take the metro to the Sears for their preliminary shopping but it is highly unlikely that somebody will buy a dishwasher or refrigerator and then bring it back on the metro.


They could make the purchase and arrange for delivery. I've done that a few times.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

However, the theater does a great job of activating that stretch of Olympic - MUCH more so than I thought it would. There was a fair amount of foot traffic between LA Live and the theater through the walkway next to the Nokia Theater. That should get even better when the sidewalks open up around the Marriott/Ritz.


Are you listening JDRCRASH! :)

[citywatch]

I finally made it over to the Regal Cinemas at LA Live, and I was impressed by the number of people out and about on the sidewalks near the theater on a Sunday evening.
I remember theorizing months before the new ralphs opened 2 years ago that it would hopefully pull in families from nearby hoods to offset the lack of enough potential customers from the immediate surroundings & provide the store with enough business to remain open. :jester:

I remember when I first saw plans for the large restaurant on the ground floor of the brockman bldg, I believed the owner was possibly naive about & taking way too big a risk on opening such a business around the historically empty (at least for the past 30 yrs or so) 7th St. :jester:

I remember thinking that the movie theaters of LA live, by being so far to the west of the restaurants & theaters of LA live, & isolated by the 2 large hotels, would be cutoff from alot of walk up customers. It's still kind of early to be sure how that completely pans out, but I hope I'm gonna end up looking like this ----> :jester: It's just too bad the regal theater bldg isn't as good as it could have been, even more so since I read the devlpr spent big $$$ to build it.

and I've haven't dropped by this forum for awhile & thought there would have been more than a small number of new pics posted in the meantime. But I notice few new photos, although the one of the newly cleaned bristol hotel bldg is a welcome sight. I'm guessing the economy & lack of new devlpt is putting ppl in a holding pattern.

[colemonkee]

^ That, and a broken camera. Which reminds me, I need to send it in to Canon.

To clarify the foot traffic numbers at the theater, it should be noted that the vast majority of people look like they drove there. The reason there was so much foot traffic on the street is that parking is either across Olympic, under LA Live, or in the garage next to the theater where the Convention Center expansion is planned to go. The box office of the theater is on the corner of Olympic and Georgia, so all the foot traffic crosses Olympic or goes down Georgia from LA Live or the parking garage.

So it's not truly as "urban" as some might like it to be, but at least it's designed to get people up on the sidewalk, and doesn't feed people directly into the building from an underground parking structure.

[JDRCRASH]

Hopefully more residential high-rises will change that.

[Bootstrap Bill]

^ That, and a broken camera. Which reminds me, I need to send it in to Canon.

I wouldn't bother unless it's a really expensive camera. I tried to get a broken Vivitar fixed a few years ago and the price quoted was almost as much as buying a new camera.

[ThreeHundred]

Hopefully more residential high-rises will change that.

This isn't necessarily true. It all depends on what's on the bottom. People want things to do/buy/eat. Retail is a very important component in any downtown. Especially in Los Angeles.

[Bootstrap Bill]

This isn't necessarily true. It all depends on what's on the bottom. People want things to do/buy/eat. Retail is a very important component in any downtown. Especially in Los Angeles.

Variety is important. Last time I went to Hollywood (ten years ago or so), I noticed that most businesses were either liquor stores, pizza restaurants or t-shirt stores.

[colemonkee]

^ Liquor stores provide a very valuable service to their communities, one among them being getting us crunk. ;)

I wouldn't bother unless it's a really expensive camera. I tried to get a broken Vivitar fixed a few years ago and the price quoted was almost as much as buying a new camera.
It's either $300 - $400 to fix or $2,600 for the new 5D Mark II. As much as I want the new camera, I'm probably going to hold off for a bit.

[JDRCRASH]

Looks like Eric Richardson was in the paper today. I'm using a phone to post right now, so I can't post the link.

[RuFFy]

The article JDRCrash was referring to...

http://tinyurl.com/ykm6pdl

[dktshb]

:previous: Interesting but really sad article.

Variety is important. Last time I went to Hollywood (ten years ago or so), I noticed that most businesses were either liquor stores, pizza restaurants or t-shirt stores. Not so anymore. Sounds like you need to check out Hollywood again.

[pesto]

I got this evite today. It would be nice is some of the DT folks or others could attend and talk about getting rid of cars, expanding sidewalks, seating, paseos, or whatever you think is important.

Please join us Tuesday Nov. 24 as we share the Final Designs for the Broadway Streetscape Master Plan. Attendees will be asked to review and provide input on the final concepts for the design of Broadways public right of way areas, including elements on the sidewalks and in the street itself which enhance the environment and historic character of the corridor, and better serve pedestrians and transit riders, including:

Street Configuration and Station Design
Planting, Materials and Furnishings
Wayfinding Signage
Identity Elements

Tuesday Nov. 24 from 5:30-7:30pm
Attend when it's most convenient for you
Open house format with presentation at 6:30pm
The Exchange 114 W. 5th Street (5th btwn Spring & Main)

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=305294625087

For more information, contact:
Valerie Watson
Meléndrez - Landscape Architecture, Planning & Urban Design
213-673-4400
vwatson@melendrez.com

[Westsidelife]

According to a post on Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/11/downtowns_new_civic_center_park_june_groundbreaking.php), the new Civic Park will commence construction in June of 2010. I'll believe it when I see it.

[pesto]

True: if you believe the websites, 2010 will be the greatest year for project starts in the history of the world. Towers, parks and TOD and will be springing up in every corner of DT, Hollywood, etc.

Or maybe not.

[JDRCRASH]

Nah, I think that would be 2011 (and thats for cities not as worse off as us), given that the Commerical real estate market is still collapsing. Sure we may see a little bit of things break ground next year, but not like the following years.

For us in LA, 2012 might be when "it starts".

[JDRCRASH]

Although, on the transporation front, it might be a different story. I'm sure Westsidelife can provide some ground-breaking info on transit lines.

[petescafe]

Just got a Notice of Public Hearing in the mail today from Department of City Planning for a proposed project planned for the Rosslyn Building.

PROPOSED PROJECT: A Conditional Use to allow the on-site sale and consumption of a full line of alcoholic beverages, live entertainment, and patron dancing AND a Zone Variance to allow two pool tables in conjunction with a proposed 6,277 square foot cigar bar and billiards lounge with 230 seats located on the second floor of the Rosslyn Loft Building in the [Q]C4-2D zone with the hours of 11:00 am to 2:00 am daily. Also, a request to approve a Mitigated Negative Declaration.

I also talked to an art gallery friend of mine and was told that the gallery that use to be located on the corner of 5th and Main, across from Bert Green, was forced out by the Rosslyn with a doubling of the rent.

It's now a trendy tchotchke furniture type store.

Bring in the galleries, improve the neighborhood, then kick'em out.

Gallery row might not be Gallery row to much longer.

[ziggy331]

Per Los Angeles Downtown News:

L.A. Central Faces Foreclosure

$1 Billion Project Was Envisioned as Retail Counterpart to L.A. Live
by Anna Scott, Staff Writer
Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009 4:22 PM PST
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES – The South Park site slated for the $1 billion L.A. Central mega-development, envisioned as a complementary retail partner for L.A. Live, is facing foreclosure.

Wachovia Bank this month initiated foreclosure proceedings on the current parking lot at 11th and Figueroa streets, according to documents filed with the L.A. County Recorder’s office and obtained by Los Angeles Downtown News, after property owner Fig Central Fee Owner, LLC (operated by New York-based developer The Moinian Group) failed to make several payments to the bank. The developer owes Wachovia approximately $45.6 million, according to a default notice dated Nov. 2. Wachovia’s original loan, according to the same notice, totaled $55 million.

The Moinian Group’s director of development, Oskar Brecher, said today that the company is in talks with Wachovia about the property’s fate, and “pending the outcome of the discussions, there is nothing to announce.”

The Moinian Group purchased the L.A. Central site from L.A. Live developer the Anschutz Entertainment Group for $80 million in 2006. The developer received entitlement to build 53- and 37-story towers housing 860 condominiums, plus 250,000 square feet of retail space, a grocery store, restaurants and a boutique hotel with 222 rooms.

Ever since the project’s conception, Moinian officials have described it as the residential and retail counterpart to the 27-acre L.A. Live sports and entertainment complex.

An AEG spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


Source: http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/11/19/news/doc4b05e13fbc3d5649401531.txt

[JDRCRASH]

:(

[Kingofthehill]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/4119661443_6855c4d807_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4120429446_4a6768e0f4_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2516/4120421746_d6124eb987_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2562/4119640741_71f645220d_b.jpg

[pesto]

KOTH: great pictures. As per my usual comments, if the LA Live area would pick up some of these themes, even in modern interpretations, it would make the whole area around there into a potential iconic image of LA.

The problems at LA Central can be turned into an opportunity if the City can jump in and say that we should create open space, put Fig under ground, require greenery, create over-hangs or covers at the 15-30 floor level, and otherwise jazz up the architecture with new material and themes; require the transit to move you cleanly to the right place, etc. Put the designers and planners to work.

[ziggy331]

Good news! It's been a long time coming!

Targeting Target
Though No Deal Has Been Signed, There Are Advanced Talks to Bring the Retailer to 7+Fig
by Richard Guzmán, City Editor
Published: Friday, November 20, 2009 1:33 PM PST

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - When news broke in January that the Macy’s in the 7+Fig shopping mall would close within a few weeks, speculation quickly began about the future of the prime 125,000 square feet of real estate owned by Brookfield Properties.

Bert Dezzutti, senior vice president of Brookfield Properties, said at the time that the space in the mall at Seventh and Figueroa streets would not stay vacant for long, and that they were already in talks with potential tenants.

Nearly a year later, the property remains closed with the doors blacked out to hide the empty space. While the company has been tight-lipped about potential tenants, numerous Downtown real estate sources told Los Angeles Downtown News that advanced negotiations are underway between Brookfield and Minneapolis-based retailer Target.

“At this point, it’s premature to confirm any specific plans for Figueroa and Seventh Street,” said Hadley Barrows, a spokesperson for Target, adding that there may be more information “in a few months.”

“It’s our policy that we don’t talk about any negotiation or comment about [possible] tenants,” Dezzutti said last week.

The talks are not entirely new. Several years ago Target expressed interest in coming to the mall, according to a figure who was involved in negotiations at the time. Although those plans did not materialize, multiple tenants in 7+Fig also told Downtown News that they have heard that a Target could be coming.

“We’re expecting it soon,” said Jose Camarena, owner of Sloan’s Dry Cleaners, located on the bottom level of the mall, next to the empty three-floor Macy’s space. “Customers are excited and saying they’ll be here shopping all day if it opens up.”

He added, “It’s been something [Brookfield] has been talking about for a while, but from what I hear, it’s happening soon.”

Good Spot

Real estate sources familiar with the situation stress that no deal has been signed, and that no timeline has been announced for when a Target could open.

Still, those who follow Downtown closely say the mall is an ideal location for the retailer and would draw a following of residents and the corporate crowd.

“Target anywhere Downtown is going to do well,” said Derrick Moore, vice president of brokerage services at real estate firm CB Richard Ellis. “A Target there is going to re-identify that center and give it a fantastic identity.”

Barrows said Target does not always follow a strict formula when finding a new location.

“In urban locations it’s about finding a place where we can adopt one of our prototypes to the urban spot,” she said, using a term that refers to a store layout. “We want to make sure it fits in well with the area where we want to put the store. We also look at demographics, other stores nearby and how they are performing.

The Targets closest to Downtown Los Angeles are in Glendale, Eagle Rock, Pasadena and West Hollywood.

In general, she added, most Target stores are in spaces that are about 128,000 square feet, but there is no standard rate for a store size.

“Each site is unique,” Barrows said. “We look at a number of factors rather than a strict formula.”

Previous Negotiations

If the Target plans come to fruition, it would mark a comeback for a deal that was attempted previously.

About three years ago, as a senior director of retail for Cushman & Wakefield, Amy Raine represented Brookfield Properties when Target was looking at an 80,000-square-foot space in the mall vacated by Bullocks.

“When we first talked to Target, the biggest problem was that there wasn’t really enough space for Target and at the time Macy’s was there,” said Raine, who currently is doing contract work for Cushman.

With the Macy’s site now available, it would also be possible to combine it with the still vacant Bullocks space, Raine added.

She said during the previous talks with Target there were also logistical issues about how customers would get their shopping carts back to their cars and about the best place to locate the entrance for the store.

Brookfield acquired the mall and the adjacent Ernst & Young office tower in 2006. Some upgrades have taken place since then, including a repainting of the old 1980s color motif.

Dezzutti previously told Downtown News that plans for a second phase of the upgrades would be announced later, and would be tied in with the future tenant of the Macy’s spot.

Justin Weiss, assistant director of economic development for the Downtown Center Business Improvement District, said Target would fill a need in Downtown. A 2008 demographics study conducted by the DCBID found that when it came to a new discount store for the area, local residents wanted a Target far more than any other retailer: More than 77% of the respondents picked Target, with Wal-Mart garnering just 6.6%.

“Target would fill an immense void in the market for quality hard and soft goods that cater to the young and upwardly mobile population that work and live in Downtown L.A.,” Weiss said.

Raine thinks that Downtown would not be the only beneficiary. She said the area’s growing residential base would be appealing for the retailer.

“The demographics are here in Downtown for a Target and they’ve been interested in coming Downtown for years,” she said. “Their customers would not just be people who live Downtown but also the surrounding community.”

Contact Richard Guzman at richard@downtownnews.com.

Source: http://www.ladowntownnews.com/articles/2009/11/20/news/doc4b07066c4bb33633036627.txt

[pesto]

Target would "cater to the young and upwardly mobile population that work and live in Downtown L.A."? The Target in my neighborhood caters mostly to the old and not progressing. But, regardless, it is something where there is likely to be nothing otherwise, and it's not out of line with the rest of the mall.

I would suppose that there would also be large available areas on Broadway, where most of the big department stores used to be.

[RuFFy]

I'm a fan of Target and all for it. I think we had this conversation here before or it might have been on curbed LA. Most people were hopeful for a Target. If I'm not mistaken, I think a Barnes & Noble was high on the list as well. Being that the Bullocks space is 80k sq feet it would be perfect if both Barnes & Noble and Target moved in.

[ThreeHundred]

I'm a fan of Target and all for it. I think we had this conversation here before or it might have been on curbed LA. Most people were hopeful for a Target. If I'm not mistaken, I think a Barnes & Noble was high on the list as well. Being that the Bullocks space is 80k sq feet it would be perfect if both Barnes & Noble and Target moved in.

I think that the building on 7th and Hope would be better suited for a Borders/Barnes & Noble. Hell..it would be better suited for ANYTHING. That retail space is too valuable for it to sit empty for years and years.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

that space is a walgreens. its coming soon.

[Kingofthehill]

all LA forumers must report to this thread immediately:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=175916

;)

[213]

that space is a walgreens. its coming soon.It'll be nice to see the space occupied, and to have an alternative to the (not terrific) Rite Aid across the street. Still, I'd have preferred something that would help diversify the area's retail base -- books, clothing, specialty grocery, etc. I imagine that parking, square footage and economic uncertainties somewhat limit the site's potential. In my perfect world it would've been an Apple Store. :)

[colemonkee]

I moved a bunch of posts about Hollywood to the LA Metro Thread. Please post comments/updates about Hollywood there. This thread is for downtown projects/discussions.

[Westsidelife]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2619/4130595726_26f2dedb63_b.jpg
From Flickr, by djjewelz

[JDRCRASH]

From Curbed LA,

That's Amore! Palmer Looks to Add Tower, Another Tuscan

November 23, 2009, by Dakota

http://cdn3.curbednetwork.com/cache/gallery/2565/4128454071_10a519a12d_o.png


It's location:
http://cdn3.curbednetwork.com/cache/gallery/2559/4128445763_569dbd330d_o.png


Developer Geoffrey Palmer is looking to extend his collection of faux Tuscan-themed buildings past downtown, and towards USC with his planned Lorenzo, a proposed two-development project on Flower Street near West Adams and 23rd. Everyone first heard about this project way back in June 2008--at that point, it was supposed to consist of a Tuscan building and a 50-story glass and steel luxury rental tower. It looks the tower got downsized a bit, as it's now 44 stories (by way of comparison, the new Ritz-Carlton in downtown is 54 stories), but the Tuscan is still on the table. Additionally, a skybridge would connect the two sites. Everyone knows Palmer just loves himself some skybridge. Additionally, the just-released draft environmental impact review report also states that Palmer is looking to take advantage of SB1818, which allows for greater density in exchange for offering affordable housing, slightly ironic given his unwillingness to do affordable housing elsewhere. But given the stallage seen at Palmer's Piero II project, you probably don't want to hold your breath on this one.

The Proposed Project would involve the development of a mixed-use project with a total of approximately 1,400 multi-family residential units (approximately 1,663,061 square feet) and ancillary common area and recreation amenities totaling approximately 65,480 square feet.

The Proposed Project would also provide approximately 34,000 square feet of retail uses, including approximately 6,000 square feet of restaurant use. More specifically, the Proposed Project would consist of two structures: a six-story building on the eastern side of Flower Street (Site A) and a 44-story building directly across from it, on the western side of Flower Street (Site B).

Site A would contain approximately 34,000 square feet of retail uses and 919 multi-family units; Site B would contain approximately 481 multi-family units. Parking for the Proposed Project would consist of approximately 3,204 spaces provided in three subterranean levels and one ground level located beneath Site A and five subterranean parking levels located beneath Site B.


Source:http://la.curbed.com/archives/2009/11/developer_geoffrey_palmer_is_looking.php

[pesto]

OK: first of all what is a "multi-family" unit; does that mean separate sleeping areas but some shared portions?

Sounds like a big place; 3200 parking places. Are they closing Hope St.?

It's near transit, high density, mostly underground parking and has retail, so it's hard to complain too much.

[Westsidelife]

http://photos.blogdowntown.com/4128078001_5ce163f1c1.jpg
A rendering from the Broadway Streetscape Master Plan shows the roadway reduced to
three lanes, with curb bump-outs, street trees, loading and parking space and a granite
band design motif that runs along the street.

Refined Broadway Streetscape Plan Ready for Public Debut (http://www.blogdowntown.com/2009/11/4878-refined-broadway-streetscape-plan-ready-for)

By Eric Richardson
November 23, 2009

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — As they move forward on efforts to revitalize what was once Los Angeles' shopping and entertainment hub, Broadway planners are proposing something very un-L.A. -- taking lanes away from cars.

On Tuesday evening, the public will get the chance to comment on a Streetscape Master Plan that includes the removal of three traffic lanes, new space for parking and loading, a wider sidewalk and a unified motif for paving and fixtures.

Those who saw the very early plans presented by Melendrez in February will find the refined work to be much more toned down. Colorful paving flourishes have given way to a more stately design of granite and concrete, intended to allow the theatres and the existing stretches of colorful terrazzo to stand out.

The street itself would be reduced from three lanes in each direction to one lane traveling south and two going north. Sidewalk bump-outs at the corners and mid-block would frame new space for parking and loading on both sides of the street.

The western sidewalk would be widened eight feet, allowing a southbound streetcar track to run far enough toward the center of the street to clear existing utilities below.

Designs on tree grates and transit shelters would take their inspiration from the look of Broadway's original streetlights, replicas of which would be installed at half the spacing of the currently existing lights. Street trees would make an appearance, with a focus on vertical species that would not block views of the theaters. Planters in the bump-outs would provide stormwater filtration and greenery.

While the design is still being tweaked, traffic studies done for the project say that the lane configuration is doable, and both LADOT and Metro are said to be on-board.

Don't expect to see these changes any time soon, though. Environmental studies are likely to be done as part of the streetcar project, and installation would come in 2014. A demonstration project, using planters and paint to simulate the traffic changes, could take place in 2012 or 2013.

Both the streetscape plan and the streetcar are part of the Bringing Back Broadway effort being led by Councilman Jose Huizar's office.

A public presentation on the streetscape plan will take place on Tuesday, November 24, at The Exchange (114 W. 5th). Open house format from 5:30 to 7:30pm, with a presentation at 6:30pm.

[pesto]

In general, pretty good. A couple of thoughts:

1. isn't traffic going to be backed-up most of the time? cars getting in and out of parking spaces and the DT intersections have pedestrian traffic which slows things considerably
2. ban all buses, if that isn't already in the plan
3. ban bicycles and give them dedicated lanes on Hill and/or Spring
4. ban cars and parking as soon as possible, then bikes can return
5. picking up themes from existing buildings and fixtures is a good idea; localize whenever possible
6. hopefully we can see more specifics tomorrow

[ThreeHundred]

Ok...

So there is Medici, Piero, Orsini, Lorenzo, this ugly Tucsan thing, and wasn't there rumors of a Da Vinci? Seriously...where is April O'Neil when you need her?

[Kingofthehill]

I've always wondered as to why bicycle infrastructure in Downtown is so crappy ?

[edluva]

let's not "third-streetize" broadway.

[pesto]

ed: legitimate point. It's not 3rd St. and hopefully it's not Tijuana or 42nd St. around 1975. But is it "medical" marijuana, hostess dancing and liquor stores? Or Gap, Timberland and Ann Taylor? Or Math Learning Center, bistros and ballet lessons?

Families, tourists, upmarket, the young, struggling minorities, down and out? 3rd St. is an interesting example since it has all of the above. If you toss in the side streets, 2nd, 4th and Ocean you've got a pretty good DT experience. Broadway can do better but how do you envision it?

[RuFFy]

Ok, so I don't know how serious this is because the article seems casual.. but Costco, of all stores, might be scouting downtown. http://tinyurl.com/y9f9b3c

[JDRCRASH]

I love their churros...:slob:

[colemonkee]

OK: first of all what is a "multi-family" unit; does that mean separate sleeping areas but some shared portions?

Sounds like a big place; 3200 parking places. Are they closing Hope St.?

It's near transit, high density, mostly underground parking and has retail, so it's hard to complain too much.

"Multi-family" means multiple units, or multiple families, living in one structure, they don't necessarily refer to the number of families living within one unit. A single-family detached home would be different from a 4-unit, "multi-family" apartment building, would would house four "families" in 4 connected units. So a 481 "multi-family" unit structure would be designed to hole 481 families in 481 units.

I agree with you here. I'm not a fan of the Tuscan design, and cringe at having more of it popping up downtown, but you can't argue with the use here, the proximity to mass transit (with the Expo Line), and the people it would bring to the area. It would also likely house students at LA City College, which is right across the street, and has two brand new buildings across 23rd Street.

I'm just hoping the tower ends up looking much better than that rendering.

[dachacon]

^^ im actually a fan of the Tuscan style architecture. i looked at some apartments at Medici, and Orsini, the landscaping and amenities are top notch especially since they are next to a freeway. but the prices are out of this world. i think im not the only one who is interested in living there because he would not propose another location if the demand was not there.
but most importantly its nice to see the skyline move south.

[dachacon]

Ok, so I don't know how serious this is because the article seems casual.. but Costco, of all stores, might be scouting downtown. http://tinyurl.com/y9f9b3c

oh god please let it be true.
but there are a lot of factors playing against costco.
the biggest one is space. most costcos are more than 200,000 square feet. some are smaller like the one by my house at 160,000. another is parking there probably going to have to double the size of the parking structure at 7th and fig, just to deal with the added cars. and with more cars it equals more traffic. and costcos are famous for the traffic they cause around there stores.
but the positives are that the demographic that shops at costco are the same that are moving into downtown, the company is a great employer to work for, with great wages, and benefits. finally the pedestrian traffic will more than triple in the area benefiting the other businesses in the mall.
with la live down the street and costco or target moving there, they make nice book ends on Figueroa.

[pesto]

cole: thanks for the clarification; btw, that's Trade Tech not LACC (one of my alma maters), which is on Vermont. I would expect students in the low-rise and Koreans in the high-rise. A little far from FIDM but not bad for SC.

dachacon: I can't picture cramming a Costco and its parking into that spot. 7th+Fig seems to be too much in the middle of offices and hotels to be ideal for large-scale shopping and the cars that come with it.

[JDRCRASH]

but you can't argue with the use here, the proximity to mass transit (with the Expo Line), and the people it would bring to the area.

And don't forget that the Silver Line Busway is opening next month.

I'm just hoping the tower ends up looking much better than that rendering.

For some reason, I feel it's something that belongs in Vegas, based on the rendering.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Ok, so I don't know how serious this is because the article seems casual.. but Costco, of all stores, might be scouting downtown. http://tinyurl.com/y9f9b3c

Costco was sniffing out downtown as long back as when I was at the Downtown Center BID. I know, because I talked to the broker at the time representing them. In fact, the area they were CONSIDERING at the time was around Chinatown, building on one of the empty lots east of the Gold Line Station that probably Richard Meruelo owned.

Personally, I think the suburban Costco that seems to be the only model they have, has no place in Downtown LA. The whole point is to STRIVE for more businesses that cater to pedestrians, not freakin' automobiles packed with water bottles, 50 rolls of toilet paper, and 10 bags of rice. I thought if Costco was to open in Downtown LA, the outskirt around Chinatown might be more appropriate. Absolutely, definitely not 7+Fig.

[DJM19]

Target can handle a more urban design than costco can.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ Target already has more urban models that exist today in the US. The flagship in Minneapolis comes to mind. Even the one in Pasadena on Colorado.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/3187819693_18d36462d1.jpg?v=0
flickr artefaqs


However, I do remember now that the Costco rep that I talked to DID mention that the Costco in Vancouver is the one they wanted to model after for the one in Downtown LA.

Here is a pic of the only urban Costco I am aware of in Vancouver:

http://www.speakupwinnipeg.com/resource/image/vancouver%20costco.jpg
speakupwinnipeg.com