PDA

View Full Version : LOS ANGELES | METRO Project Rundown 2.0 (non-downtown)


Pages : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 [28] 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114

Allnatural85
Dec 12, 2012, 4:59 AM
This isn't a project so this might have to be moved... kinda like the digital billboard though so not liking this ruling.

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8916434

blackcat23
Dec 13, 2012, 2:32 AM
Double post.

blackcat23
Dec 13, 2012, 2:33 AM
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/12/la_announces_texpo_line_tech_corridor_along_the_expo_line.php

LA Announces (t)expo Line Tech Corridor Along the Expo Line

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2012.12_texpo-thumb.jpg

by Adrian Glick Kudler

Today Mayor Villaraigosa revealed to the world what the Los Angeles Mayor's Council on Innovation and Industry has been up to and it is: the (t)expo Line, a "technology corridor" along the Expo light rail line. (The LAMCII is intended to "communicate our city's boundless creativity, spur investment in high-growth industries, connect our plentiful talent to opportunity, and help LA achieve greater recognition as an innovation capital," according to a press release.) LA will encourage development along the Expo Line, which currently runs from Downtown to Culver City and which will one day hit Santa Monica (part of the actual real thing Silicon Beach), using tax incentives and offering up city-owned land to create public-private "innovation hubs." The group is also working with USC and UCLA "to be cornerstone tenants and co-locate their incubation efforts at one of these locations."

blackcat23
Dec 14, 2012, 12:16 AM
Vermont/Wilshire as of today:

http://i45.tinypic.com/a5jali.jpg

They're now working on the 7th floor, which I believe is the last level of the podium.

Wally West
Dec 15, 2012, 5:17 AM
Awesome picture, blackcat23!

When is construction supposed to wrap up for that project?

Valyrian Steel
Dec 15, 2012, 7:20 AM
Oh my.. they're working quickly on that project. :notacrook:

blackcat23
Dec 15, 2012, 6:55 PM
Awesome picture, blackcat23!

When is construction supposed to wrap up for that project?

Thanks, Wally.

I'm pretty sure I've read that they're expecting to finish in the early months of 2014. At the current pace, they've been putting up one floor every 1.5 - 2 weeks, so that seems about right.

202_Cyclist
Dec 16, 2012, 2:29 PM
Apartments catering to Gen Y being built in downtown Glendale


http://www.trbimg.com/img-50cbcebb/turbine/la-fi-mo-gen-y-apartments-20121214-001/600
A rendering of the Eleve Lofts & Skydeck apartment and retail complex being built on the former site of a Circuit City store in downtown Glendale. (Image courtesy of the Los Angeles Times)

By Roger Vincent
Los Angeles Times
December 15, 2012

"An apartment complex with small units intended to appeal to young people eager to get away from roommates and parents into a place of their own is nearing completion in downtown Glendale.

The $34-million mixed-use project named Eleve Lofts & Skydeck is designed for the tastes and needs of Generation Y — people between the ages of 20 and 34, said Alan Dibartolomeo of AMF Development.

Research by the Huntington Beach company found that many young adults would prefer to live in a small place alone than to live in a larger space with a roommate, even if it costs more to do so.

AMF razed a former Circuit City electronics warehouse store on the corner of Maryland Avenue and Broadway in Glendale’s urban shopping district to make way for Eleve. It will have three underground parking levels, shops and restaurants at street level, and six stories of apartments with 208 units above the retail spaces..."

LosAngelesSportsFan
Dec 16, 2012, 8:37 PM
ive been watching this go up, rather quickly actually.

The price point is too high for Glendale honestly. drop it down about 20% and it will be very successful

Illithid Dude
Dec 16, 2012, 10:50 PM
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/11/checking_in_on_10_residential_projects_on_their_way_in_glendale.php

Here's an interesting article on the substantial amount of residential development in Glendale right now. It's getting pretty crazy up there.

brudy
Dec 17, 2012, 8:47 PM
ive been watching this go up, rather quickly actually.

The price point is too high for Glendale honestly. drop it down about 20% and it will be very successful

I agree. it will be interesting to see how that turns out. They'd have to be cheap enough to make the target demographic forget they are in Glendale. Santa Monica is one thing, but Glendale - I don't know.

DistrictDirt
Dec 19, 2012, 7:18 PM
We some beautiful crisp, clear weather yesterday, so I did a little photo expedition up La Brea Ave, through Hollywood, and down to Koreatown yesterday. Here we go...

Wilshire at La Brea

Looks like they're still on the 2nd floor. Progress has been a little slow...then again, this is a massive project.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8286235063_da8f289b74_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8286235063_9443c1b495_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8287293352_e679bb3e27_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8287293352_1739c4ea28_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8286236929_d870ed4e91_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8358/8286236929_5f2c9c399f_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8287694607_9281baca2d_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8080/8287694607_1132b74a4c_k.jpg)

La Brea & 4th

Anyone know what these projects are? Looks like the one on the SW corner is well under way, and the one on the NW corner of the intersection hasn't begun yet. Maybe there are no plans at all, and they're just using the NW corner as a staging area for the project on the SW corner?

NW Corner

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8287325620_dcfa22f4fc_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8287325620_2fd11d2cf9_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8070/8287324424_72131906fe_b.jpg (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8070/8287324424_e098e71d51_k.jpg)

SW Corner

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8286265603_d0121f8f88_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8286265603_db773615c1_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8287321946_0f3993d27e_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8287321946_d0934b8d6a_k.jpg)

CVS (Wilshire & 3rd)

Moving up La Brea, I noticed that the CVS across the street from the Trader Joe's is really coming along.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8286273727_5665a3568e_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8286273727_8634ed9b39_k.jpg)

Romaine & La Brea

According to Curbed (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/12/scary_abandoned_la_brea_building_getting_retail_office_space.php), this project is strictly going to be office space now. The new renderings don't look great. Its a shame they plan to cover up so much of the old building. This could have been a much better adaptive reuse than its turning out to be.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8287315462_ddaa63969b_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8287315462_de5c5291f0_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8286256525_0f7ed6310a_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8286256525_ef393f7499_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8287312778_fb311feaf5_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8287312778_1411212ba7_k.jpg)

Formosa South at the Lot

I accidentally stumbled across this project. New "creative" office space on Formosa, just south of Santa Monica Blvd.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8286269693_487b955719_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8286269693_0bfcafe236_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8287761141_1acdd82bca_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8287761141_8cc8dc4249_k.jpg)

Santa Monica & La Brea

It was difficult to get a good shot of this development, but I tried from the Best Buy/Target shopping center across the street.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8286253629_134a8a11cc_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8286253629_fe98233ac3_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8287309864_9ea7a73124_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8287309864_020a7a5124_k.jpg)

Fountain & La Brea

It looks like this project is really coming along- 4 stories now. It really makes this stretch of La Brea feel more filled in.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/8287784579_b9b82c79aa_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/8287784579_78193118ac_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8286261529_12ab8315c3_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8286261529_ab62658914_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8287317734_e93d75fa85_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8079/8287317734_ef682997eb_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8288842280_7071de125c_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8082/8288842280_1dcedcc515_k.jpg)

Blvd 6200

Still working on the foundation, but I'm just glad its finally underway. Can't wait to see how Hollywood Blvd looks when the density finally extends past Argyle.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8286277971_8799664e03_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8343/8286277971_5bbcbfecdd_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8286277037_823355012f_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8217/8286277037_a235e6ca66_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8287333782_ee57474de2_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8287333782_70fb0b00f0_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8286274981_c2315d7823_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8362/8286274981_367d5641f9_k.jpg)

Emerson College

I haven't walked past this stretch of Sunset in awhile, I was shocked to see how far along the Emerson College project is.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8287330322_84f8c2ce8c_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8287330322_fe52becf46_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8286270779_0dbefa33ea_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8286270779_9afafd0d2c_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8288881122_ea78343e1d_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8288881122_2f5085b4ba_k.jpg)

Sunset & Gordon (Spaghetti Factory Project)

Right across the street is the Sunset & Gordon project. They're just ramping up it seems. Can't wait to see this block with a new 18 story mini tower.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8286250887_a8d65a23cf_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8215/8286250887_99da789b63_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8287307434_b796814f34_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8287307434_a7e5208a5b_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8287306046_638cc0f2ba_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8287306046_2a38f8e398_k.jpg)Southwestern Law School Housing (7th and Westmoreland)

The Vermont (Wilshire & Vermont)

And finally, the Ktown projects. The Vermont continues to move along at a brisk pace. I tried to get some new angles for you guys.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8287299834_62056d7314_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8491/8287299834_8bfba12a35_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8287298692_40d2709fce_b.jpg (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8287298692_433346e83d_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8287297752_ea48b2c7e0_b.jpg (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8287297752_4733476e2b_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8360/8286239137_d06b2f9031_b.jpg (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8360/8286239137_0d161f753e_k.jpg)

Southwestern Law School Housing

The project appears to have topped out. Maybe we'll see some cladding soon?

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8287304840_183501b6f9_b.jpg (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8354/8287304840_5e0ba39a5c_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8287302452_f963c58eac_b.jpg (http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8287302452_02cdb21f33_k.jpg)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8287301098_5a93d10ce7_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8287301098_53b035596c_k.jpg)
That's it for now. Happy holidays guys!

blackcat23
Dec 19, 2012, 7:29 PM
Great update, District!

I didn't even realize that construction was underway on the old Spaghetti Factory site, let alone that far along.

202_Cyclist
Dec 19, 2012, 7:36 PM
DistrictDirt-- great photos, thank you for posting.

It's too bad the CVS invasion is making it's way out west.

Why are so many of the multi-unit buildings in LA constructed out of wood? Is it because wood construction costs much less or because the extra engineering required to meet earthquake codes in California for concrete buildings? Concrete also requires a lot of energy to produce, so I would think CA's emissions goals and requirements also have a role in this.

Dale
Dec 19, 2012, 7:41 PM
Hehe, I'm moving to LA and and am happy to see CVS out there too.

Wally West
Dec 19, 2012, 8:26 PM
Thanks for the photo update, DistrictDirt! Awesome construction updates like these are the main reason why I go to the forum.

Great work.


DistrictDirt-- great photos, thank you for posting.

Why are so many of the multi-unit buildings in LA constructed out of wood? Is it because wood construction costs much less or because the extra engineering required to meet earthquake codes in California for concrete buildings?

I remember reading somewhere that it's just cheaper to build out of wood for projects that are 5 stories or less because concrete just costs more. Not entirely sure if that's correct but that's what I've read. But if I'm wrong, I'd love to hear someone who knows the reasons why.

Dale
Dec 19, 2012, 8:31 PM
Wood construction is increasingly popular here in Orlando.

202_Cyclist
Dec 19, 2012, 8:36 PM
Thanks for the photo update, DistrictDirt! Awesome construction updates like these are the main reason why I go to the forum.

Great work.




I remember reading somewhere that it's just cheaper to build out of wood for projects that are 5 stories or less because concrete just costs more. Not entirely sure if that's correct but that's what I've read. But if I'm wrong, I'd love to hear someone who knows the reasons why.

Correct-- I think wood construction costs much less but so is the quality of the housing. Perhaps some people in the real estate industry here can clarify but I would think if they built these out of concrete, they can get more in rent for the units or sell them at a higher price.

Illithid Dude
Dec 19, 2012, 8:48 PM
I'm so torn on the La Brea South of the Lot project. On one hand, the building is way above average architecturally. Unfortunately, it also happens to be very unpedestrian friendly, with no entrances facing the street. I don't know what to think!

http://www.studio-111.com/files/4613/4195/4740/1_Formosa_South.jpg

DistrictDirt
Dec 19, 2012, 9:02 PM
I'm so torn on the La Brea South of the Lot project. On one hand, the building is way above average architecturally. Unfortunately, it also happens to be very unpedestrian friendly, with no entrances facing the street. I don't know what to think!

I think that's intentional. The building is part of that lot (anyone know which studio that is?), so its not really meant for the general public to be able to waltz in. There's a security gate right next to it.

a9l8e7n
Dec 19, 2012, 10:12 PM
The Old Spagetti Factory Building and the LaBrea/Wilshire building should be moved from Approved to Under-Construction status on the first page of this thread. Also, other buildings like fountain/laBrea and santa monica/labrea need to be added to the Under-Construction list as well.

Chef Boyardee
Dec 20, 2012, 1:52 AM
The exterior of the new cedars-sinai building has been finished for a while.

http://www.discoveringforlife.org/view.image?id=3711

More pictures here http://www.discoveringforlife.org/Page.aspx?pid=2339

Quixote
Dec 20, 2012, 6:05 AM
Man, the city of LA's streets are in dire need of repair. I see they recently repaved Hollywood Blvd. Still painting the yellow divider lines over the crosswalks. :rolleyes:

milquetoast
Dec 20, 2012, 11:35 AM
Caught some of your lensework over on SSC
and it is much appreciated. Great updates!

You're not going to see woodwork up past
5 stories too much and let's face it, the
kind of stone usually associated with quality
tends to separate in earthquakes.

Geez, just make it LOOK good for a change ...
face it in aluminum panel but make it look like stone!
Is THAT too f***ing much to ask?

Illithid Dude
Dec 22, 2012, 10:19 AM
Curbed LA reports that 9900 Wilshire is back from the dead. Yay! I'm always up for some 12 story Richard Meir goodness. Among the (very) small changes are no more rooms for 'The Help' and more parking, which, IMO, probably makes sense for an ultra luxury development such as this one. Anyways... Render!

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2008.04.richardmeierb.jpg

lenstern
Dec 22, 2012, 1:54 PM
It's 'rendering' not 'render'!!!

Dale
Dec 22, 2012, 6:54 PM
It's 'rendering' not 'render'!!!

It's render if you're a Brit or if you just want to sound impossibly cool.

Quixote
Dec 22, 2012, 7:02 PM
It's 'rendering' not 'render'!!!

Who cares? You could do far worse. There are grown men and women who don't even know the difference between "there," "their," and "they're;" "than" vs. "then;" "your" vs. "you're."

lenstern
Dec 22, 2012, 7:10 PM
Well, this is a post in connection with an L.A. based project based here in the UNITED STATES! Therefore, it is called a RENDERING in this country - plain and simple...GAC

Dale
Dec 22, 2012, 7:34 PM
Well, this is a post in connection with an L.A. based project based here in the UNITED STATES! Therefore, it is called a RENDERING in this country - plain and simple...GAC

So, let's have no more of this Frenchy Fou-Fou stuff!

Kingofthehill
Dec 23, 2012, 12:34 PM
Who cares? You could do far worse. There are grown men and women who don't even know the difference between "there," "their," and "they're;" "than" vs. "then;" "your" vs. "you're."
Most Americans have a terrible grasp of their own language. The amount of Americans, from all races and levels of society, who cannot differentiate between the aforementioned, is staggeringly high. I kid you not when I say the average Swedish, Dane, or Norwegian speaks much better, more accurate and intelligent-sounding English than their American counterparts.

BrandonJXN
Dec 23, 2012, 5:35 PM
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs45/f/2009/067/1/7/MP__Grammar_Nazi_by_ItaniMajere.jpg
http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs45/f/2009/067/1/7/MP__Grammar_Nazi_by_ItaniMajere.jpg

Dale
Dec 23, 2012, 7:00 PM
^ Thanks for doing this. Somebody needed to.

Quixote
Dec 24, 2012, 1:30 AM
Anyone with a basic education *should* know those grammatical nuances. I shouldn't have to be a snob or nazi about it. It says more about them than me.

llamaorama
Dec 24, 2012, 2:09 AM
Actually, I think it's ambiguous.

Think about it. A picture you draw is called a drawing, not a draw. But if you sketch something then its a sketch, not a sketching.

:shrug:

Illithid Dude
Dec 24, 2012, 8:26 AM
It seems I've opened quite the can of worms.

Kingofthehill
Dec 24, 2012, 10:09 AM
Anyone with a basic education *should* know those grammatical nuances. I shouldn't have to be a snob or nazi about it. It says more about them than me.

Only in the US, with its anti-intellectual climate and sentiment, do we see basic things, such as good grammar and vocabulary, as being considered a snob or someone who otherwise looks down upon others.

BrandonJXN
Dec 24, 2012, 1:57 PM
I'm sure we've all enjoyed this lesson in how North Americans suck at grammar and how Swedes have a better grasp on English than those who speak English and whatnot but this is not the place for it. Take it somewhere else.

blackcat23
Dec 24, 2012, 8:12 PM
^Co-sign. Can we please stop talking about this?

BrandonJXN
Dec 25, 2012, 12:38 AM
I drove through Hollywood today and noticed quite a bit of cranes. Does anyone know what's going on at the corner of Santa Monica and...I want to say La Brea?

Also I went on an excursion to Santa Monica. I didn't take a picture (as I was driving) but The Village is making a lot of progress. As well as the park across the street from it. There is a lot more construction going on in this city than I realized. Now if only someone can repave the streets. Not potholes but craters plague the streets of LA.

DistrictDirt
Dec 25, 2012, 1:43 AM
I drove through Hollywood today and noticed quite a bit of cranes. Does anyone know what's going on at the corner of Santa Monica and...I want to say La Brea?

If you're talking about the development directly across the street from the Target/Best Buy shopping center, it's this (http://www.monarchweho.com/santamonica/santamonica_labrea.html).

BrandonJXN
Dec 25, 2012, 1:53 AM
If you're talking about the development directly across the street from the Target/Best Buy shopping center, it's this (http://www.monarchweho.com/santamonica/santamonica_labrea.html).

That's pretty nice infill. We need some of what's going up in the Westside and Hollywood in downtown.

DistrictDirt
Dec 27, 2012, 1:03 AM
Alright, which one of you is Neal Broverman? :P

Mixed-Use Fake-Out With Formosa South at the Lot Offices (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/12/mixeduse_fakeout_with_formosa_south_at_the_lot_offices.php)
Wednesday, December 26, 2012, by Neal Broverman

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/50db7ecdf92ea13ead016d94/2012_12_formosa2.jpg
Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/12/mixeduse_fakeout_with_formosa_south_at_the_lot_offices.php)

Not far from the epicenter of LA construction on La Brea Avenue is an under-the-radar project rising near Formosa and Santa Monica Boulevard: the Formosa South at the Lot offices (this is the old United Artists studio that's been at the center of a preservation battle). Skyscraper Page tipster DistrictDirt (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=142650&page=136) finds that construction is progressing quickly on the five-story, 120,000 square foot building, with subterranean parking. Though it looks like a mixed-use apartment complex in Santa Monica, it's indeed just offices for The Lot movie studio, next door. "The building is the first phase of a larger scale master plan aimed at creating an integrated media, technology, and entertainment production campus on the historic movie studio site," according to architect Studio One Eleven.

The funny thing is, I have some enemies on Curbed that leave me nasty comments whenever I comment with my real name using the Facebook login. If only they knew Curbed was attributing posts to me. :P

Quixote
Dec 27, 2012, 1:30 AM
^ Perhaps they're a lurker?

DistrictDirt
Dec 27, 2012, 1:46 AM
^ Perhaps they're a lurker?

Most likely. But its more fun to think that he's some frequent poster.

Chef Boyardee
Dec 27, 2012, 10:31 AM
Some fresh news on LAX's new international terminal (opening date, restaurants, retail, etc).

http://skift.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Main-Image-for-Publish-and-Broadcast-%E2%80%93-Great-Hall-730x370.jpg

http://westfieldatlax.com/blog/2012/12/05/premier-dining-retail-coming-to-new-tom-bradley-international-terminal/

yakumoto
Dec 29, 2012, 2:09 AM
I drove through Hollywood today and noticed quite a bit of cranes. Does anyone know what's going on at the corner of Santa Monica and...I want to say La Brea?

Yeah, they decided to tear down my favorite Carl's Jr.

circuitfiend
Dec 30, 2012, 2:16 AM
Yeah, they decided to tear down my favorite Carl's Jr.

And good riddance to that. It did not enhance the hood by any stretch of the imagination.

Allnatural85
Jan 3, 2013, 1:10 AM
but now where am I suppose to get my Famous star fix lol

BrandonJXN
Jan 3, 2013, 1:22 AM
but now where am I suppose to get my Famous star fix lol

Somewhere else?

Anyway, here is a very awesome street improvement going on in Santa Monica that I was totally unaware of.

waJU_6DVtAU

LosAngelesSportsFan
Jan 3, 2013, 6:25 AM
looks fantastic and its great for Santa Monica.

when i see videos like this, i really get angry at LA city officials. Why cant we get streets like this in Downtown where it would make 100% sense? And when there are proposals (MyFigueroa and Bringing back Broadway) it takes years and years for anything to happen.

IMBY
Jan 3, 2013, 6:35 AM
It seems I've opened quite the can of worms.

And you did it again! You misspellllled worms! Wurms!:D

IMBY
Jan 3, 2013, 6:52 AM
We some beautiful crisp, clear weather yesterday, so I did a little photo expedition up La Brea Ave, through Hollywood, and down to Koreatown yesterday. Here we go

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8287301098_5a93d10ce7_b.jpg
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8078/8287301098_53b035596c_k.jpg)
That's it for now. Happy holidays guys!

When I first saw some motels/apartment buildings under construction, where they lay a concrete floor on the base of the 2nd floor, and tack on 3 floors of wood on top, it gave me a chill at thought of a fire breaking out on the top floor, the 4th floor.

Now, I see a building with 4 wooden floors tacked on! What next!!! 5,6,7 floors of wood????:hell:

Are we that short of concrete in this country where we must resort to that?

Being fearful of fire, from the gitgo, I wouldn't live on the 5th floor of one of these buildings if the rent were $100 a month!

Those from Latin America, where concrete reigns, would shake theirs heads in disbelief to see this!:slob:

Wally West
Jan 3, 2013, 6:03 PM
I know we hardly discussed the Dodgers Stadium renovations in this thread but since it's considered a big part of LA, here's an update picture on the work that has been happening. There's more work being done than I expected there to be.

From the DodgersBeat Facebook page this morning.
http://i.imgur.com/xIW8X.jpg

colemonkee
Jan 4, 2013, 6:36 AM
I was willing to tolerate some form of conversation about wood construction as it started with a specific development, but as it spiraled off topic, and this is not a forum about wood construction vs. concrete construction, please move that discussion to another thread, or you will be taking a forced vacation from the forums.

Thank you,

Management

Lovetowers
Jan 4, 2013, 9:39 AM
WOW lol the way I see it, it was just a harmless debate over building material, a small concern about the environment is all. Didn't think it was serious enough to have a harmless little post deleted, but what do I know ?? I guess I'm no specialist like you . . . oh and "forced vacation"? lol GOD forbid I anger the almighty Colemonkee

BrandonJXN
Jan 4, 2013, 4:03 PM
Not nice. Not nice at all.

BrandonJXN
Jan 4, 2013, 8:02 PM
Add another one for La Brea.

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/Courtyard.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/Courtyard.jpg

West Hollywood's be-ribboned affordable housing project, Courtyard at La Brea, is moving forward with a ceremonial "beam signing" to "celebrate ... construction" after a moment of uncertainty for the development (work actually started last year). The 32-unit building, designed by Patrick Tighe and John Mutlow, is intended to "provide housing for low- and very-low income residents, as well as people with disabilities and transition-age youth," according to a press release on West Hollywood Patch. It includes two buildings that "enclose a central landscaped interior courtyard, which is open to the south. The entrance to the building is also on the south side, which is surrounded by a sculpturally woven white contemporary exterior." Courtyard was supposed to be built with money from West Hollywood's redevelopment agency. But when California shut down all the redevelopment agencies across the state, they had to hand in their funding. In December, the state finance department rejected West Hollywood's request that the money for this project be returned, and the project was briefly put on hold. (It was once scheduled to break ground by the end of 2011.)

West Hollywood stepped up and offered to loan the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund the required cash for the $14.8 million apartment building. The Courtyard should be open in the fall. This is yet another piece of the crazy apartmentification wave sweeping La Brea along the WeHo/LA border.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/la_breas_ribbony_affordable_apartments_officially_on_the_way.php#more

Muji
Jan 4, 2013, 11:23 PM
Small photo update of The Vermont towers today:
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/dsc_0588-e1357341659124.jpg

IMBY
Jan 5, 2013, 3:39 AM
Add another one for La Brea.

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/Courtyard.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/Courtyard.jpg



http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/la_breas_ribbony_affordable_apartments_officially_on_the_way.php#more

There's a hotel that was built in Barcelona, I believe, that has the same type of wavy balcony structure in the front of it, I wonder if it's the same architect! The hotel was built near some Gaudi-designed-type structures to help it blend in better.

Chef Boyardee
Jan 5, 2013, 5:22 PM
I know university construction is not really discussed here, but maybe somebody is interested. This is UCLA's new medical building under construction.

https://plus.google.com/photos/115846025936870530340/albums/5780054353249292417

Chef Boyardee
Jan 6, 2013, 5:25 PM
Hollywood/Western senior apts. From Michael Locke's great LA architecture photo stream.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8351745417_f3dbc06808_z.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_locke/8351745417/in/photostream

Illithid Dude
Jan 6, 2013, 8:05 PM
A couple small, possibly meaningless updates:

The Falas Paradres (or however you spell it) in East Hollywood is closed, and fenced off. Target signage is outside. Also, the old CBS studios buildings in Hollywood on Sunset has a rendering of the new development hanging from its walls.

blackcat23
Jan 6, 2013, 8:20 PM
Also, the old CBS studios buildings in Hollywood on Sunset has a rendering of the new development hanging from its walls

Columbia Square? Very interesting. They said work was supposed to start on it sometime this year when the project was sold.

Is this still the design? 20 something floor residential tower surrounded by a mid-rise office campus?

http://i.imgur.com/qS7lS.jpg

The neighborhood surrounding the Hollywood/Vine subway station is getting some nice development, and there are still plenty of unclaimed surface lots remaining.

BrandonJXN
Jan 7, 2013, 1:16 AM
A couple small, possibly meaningless updates:

The Falas Paradres (or however you spell it) in East Hollywood is closed, and fenced off. Target signage is outside. Also, the old CBS studios buildings in Hollywood on Sunset has a rendering of the new development hanging from its walls.

Not meaningless at all. This is what's proposed for that site.

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/4030/4709620499_45b5e61f56_o.png
http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/4030/4709620499_45b5e61f56_o.png

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/4006/4709619459_a7f9d84bf0_o.png
http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/4006/4709619459_a7f9d84bf0_o.png

http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/4033/4709618477_351aa04053_o.png
http://cdn.cstatic.net/cache/gallery/4033/4709618477_351aa04053_o.png

Illithid Dude
Jan 7, 2013, 2:08 AM
Not meaningless at all. This is what's proposed for that site.


No, I meant that it might be meaningless because the signage might not mean anything, and actual construction might not start for a very long while.

San Frangelino
Jan 7, 2013, 3:05 AM
No, I meant that it might be meaningless because the signage might not mean anything, and actual construction might not start for a very long while.

I live pretty close to that site. I'll go check it out on my day off tomorrow and take my camera with me. We need some visual updates. Stay tuned!

colemonkee
Jan 7, 2013, 3:40 PM
The Hollywood and Western Senior Apartments (which are actually quite a few blocks west along Hollywood Blvd.) are a great example of how materials can make or break a project. The overall massing of this is the same as most 5-story wood-framed buildings, but the use of the glazed panels and the window glazing and mullion design here really make this pop. Sure, there's some stucco going on here, but that's not where your eye is drawn. If only more architects went with something like this, we'd have a much better cityscape. Proof that wood construction, if done right, can be quite nice.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8352808672_d614f33dfe_h.jpg
Image Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael_locke/8352808672/sizes/h/in/photostream/

LosAngelesSportsFan
Jan 7, 2013, 5:56 PM
exactly right Colemonkee. I drove by recently and i couldnt take my eyes off this building. Now, compare that to the palmer crap.

brudy
Jan 7, 2013, 9:18 PM
exactly right Colemonkee. I drove by recently and i couldnt take my eyes off this building. Now, compare that to the palmer crap.

Agreed, this is much nicer. I'm not sure who rents in those Palmer buildings. They seem like the worst compromise - all the issues of the city but none of the benefits. Those locations are just terrible and the designs are appalling. The marketing blubs write themselves "A little bit of Tuscany on the urban frontier."

blackcat23
Jan 7, 2013, 11:53 PM
Emerson College

http://i.imgur.com/zTg3t.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/jLaWA.jpg?1

Old Spaghetti Factory Tower

http://i.imgur.com/N8pXG.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/3BbZl.jpg?1

Quixote
Jan 8, 2013, 1:28 AM
East Hollywood is really starting to come alive. It's the next hot spot.

San Frangelino
Jan 9, 2013, 12:25 AM
Here's what I got from my outing today. I walked from my place in Los Feliz into Hollywood

First a little bit of Barnsdall Park. I live about a block from here but rarely visit. There are some great views on a clear day.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8218/8363183446_ae0e52d992_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8493/8363182130_21817aee1b_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8362118793_28cdabb820_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8087/8363180654_d630bdd3ab_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8074/8363179388_1a4f679100_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8357/8363178658_b0eb93181b_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8476/8363178182_e93bc15b5f_b.jpg

Looks like Target will be coming to Western and Sunset...at some point.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8363176290_764650ecc5_b.jpg

Site of the Old Spaghetti Factory on Sunset Blvd
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8362112817_3957ae45e4_b.jpg

Old Spaghetti Factory and Emerson College Cranes
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8495/8362112209_378dbc28af_b.jpg

Hollywood and Argyle Project
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8362110911_af57684992_b.jpg

Window Display at Hennessy and Ingalls Hollywood
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8333/8362110245_bb1e2d4fe5_b.jpg

La Brea and Santa Monica (Former Carls Jr.)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8363172170_fe6943eb53_b.jpg

Formosa South At The Lot
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8216/8362107979_7e63865c80_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8226/8363171404_06950d53ff_b.jpg

La Brea and Romaine St
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8050/8363170160_dedaec5322_b.jpg

1145 N. La Brea
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8362105775_f2ac68ddfa_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8363169126_f43e636095_b.jpg

La Brea and Fountain (Former Jons Market)
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8233/8363167566_0e506a54be_b.jpg

Thanks for Viewing
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8323/8362104381_6cff368930_b.jpg

Illithid Dude
Jan 9, 2013, 1:05 AM
First a little bit of Barnsdall Park. I live about a block from here but rarely visit. There are some great views on a clear day.


My friends and I were forcibly removed from that park just this weekend for breaking in and parkouring on the Hollyhock house, and climbing the art gallery. Good times. I'd never been there before. It's a spectacular park. Shame we've been banned from it.

Chef Boyardee
Jan 9, 2013, 1:17 AM
Someone asked what the latest renderings for columbia square in hollywood are. I believe this is it. http://www.kilroyrealty.com/Uploads/RecentAquisitionPDFs/1010201213530PMColumbia%20Square%20Renderings%20web.pdf

BrandonJXN
Jan 9, 2013, 2:10 AM
My friends and I were forcibly removed from that park just this weekend for breaking in and parkouring on the Hollyhock house, and climbing the art gallery. Good times. I'd never been there before. It's a spectacular park. Shame we've been banned from it.

Lol. Reckless youth. :P

Easy
Jan 9, 2013, 5:30 AM
Great updates San Frangelino and blackcat23! :cheers:

Quixote
Jan 9, 2013, 11:48 AM
Does the Sunset Gordon project take up the entire block from Gordon to Bronson, or just half of it? Could someone clarify?

San Frangelino
Jan 9, 2013, 2:33 PM
Does the Sunset Gordon project take up the entire block from Gordon to Bronson, or just half of it? Could someone clarify?

It only takes up half the block.

colemonkee
Jan 9, 2013, 4:04 PM
Looking at those Columbia Square renderings, I really hope they're planning for retail or residential use along the Sunset Blvd. frontage. Otherwise, this is just another office park with a high rise design that's a bad example in urban planning.

blackcat23
Jan 11, 2013, 1:15 AM
The Vermont, today. They've gotten through the seven floors of the podium, and are starting on the individual towers now.

http://i.imgur.com/Hv00x.jpg?1

colemonkee
Jan 11, 2013, 5:38 AM
Wow, growing like a weed, this one is. Thanks for the updates, blackcat. Always appreciated.

JDRCRASH
Jan 11, 2013, 5:43 AM
Wow, growing like a weed, this one is. Thanks for the updates, blackcat. Always appreciated.

And hopefully, like a weed, the action spreads to the surroundings.:)

blackcat23
Jan 11, 2013, 7:09 AM
And hopefully, like a weed, the action spreads to the surroundings.:)

Funny that you mention that. I was just reading through the bi-weekly case filings from the LA City planning office, and someone has filed plans for a 7 story apartment building one block west (corner of New Hampshire and 7th).

IMBY
Jan 11, 2013, 7:49 AM
I flew down to L.A. yesterday, for the day only, to try out your light rail system, but only had time for the Green, Blue and Gold lines, will leave the Red and Expo lines for my next trip.

Stopped off at Chinatown for lunch/shopping, hadn't been there in 12 years or so, and I'm surprised, given the number of Asians/Chinese in L.A. why Chinatown, over the years, hasn't grown into a miniature Hong Kong, with scores of mid and high rise residential buildings. It doesn't look like much has changed there in years, the same old Chinatown!

I'm comparing it to my trip to Flushing (Queens, NYC) to their Chinatown.
Yes, Manhattan has their Chinatown, but I was told to go out to Flushing for their bigger Chinatown.

Anything on the drawing boards for L.A.'s Chinatown?

Mojeda101
Jan 11, 2013, 8:09 AM
Anything on the drawing boards for L.A.'s Chinatown?

Chinatown is considered part of Downtown, so you'd have better luck in the other thread Here (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=187948)

But to answer your question, one of the notable additions is the Jia Apartments right next to the Chinatown Gateway.

blackcat23
Jan 11, 2013, 8:24 AM
I'm comparing it to my trip to Flushing (Queens, NYC) to their Chinatown.
Yes, Manhattan has their Chinatown, but I was told to go out to Flushing for their bigger Chinatown.

Anything on the drawing boards for L.A.'s Chinatown?

Interesting parallel here.

Downtown Los Angeles also has it's Chinatown, but the Chinese population in LA County has moved to the San Gabriel Valley. Chinese businesses have a huge presence in Monterey Park and Alhambra, since they account for close to half the population there.

IMBY
Jan 11, 2013, 10:51 AM
So there's my explanation!

I had heard only negative stories about East L.A. over the years, never been there, but I took the Gold Line out there expecting to see wide open-air markets, omnipresent grafitti, a strong slice of Mexico, but perhaps I missed it, you need to walk a ways from the train station to see it. From the train stop, it didn't look any more distinguishable than anything I saw from the train in south L.A.!

They did a gentrification job out there? Perhaps a similar story: they took over some suburb to call their own!

202_Cyclist
Jan 11, 2013, 3:20 PM
I flew down to L.A. yesterday, for the day only, to try out your light rail system, but only had time for the Green, Blue and Gold lines, will leave the Red and Expo lines for my next trip.

Stopped off at Chinatown for lunch/shopping, hadn't been there in 12 years or so, and I'm surprised, given the number of Asians/Chinese in L.A. why Chinatown, over the years, hasn't grown into a miniature Hong Kong, with scores of mid and high rise residential buildings. It doesn't look like much has changed there in years, the same old Chinatown!

I'm comparing it to my trip to Flushing (Queens, NYC) to their Chinatown.
Yes, Manhattan has their Chinatown, but I was told to go out to Flushing for their bigger Chinatown.

Anything on the drawing boards for L.A.'s Chinatown?

I agree. I used to go to Yang Chow in Chinatown as a kid, two decades ago. I grew up in suburban Orange County and so this was both enjoyable and somewhat exotic. My girlfriend and I ate a Yang Chow again this past summer when we were visiting LA and I was surprised at how much the neighborhood looked the same. It was still enjoyable and interesting but it looked like two decades had passed the neighborhood by.

In the Los Angeles downtown thread, there are a couple of photos of the Jia building (formerly Chinatown gateway). This will add some density to the neighborhood.

DistrictDirt
Jan 11, 2013, 5:35 PM
Funny that you mention that. I was just reading through the bi-weekly case filings from the LA City planning office, and someone has filed plans for a 7 story apartment building one block west (corner of New Hampshire and 7th).

In addition to that, there's another project going up 1 block west of that, at 688 S Berendo. I walked past yesterday and saw the construction is 2-3 stories high already.

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2012.09_k2la-thumb.jpg
Source: Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/09/meet_k2_la_300_luxury_apartments_break_ground_in_ktown.php)

So within a 4 block stretch, we have:


688 S Berendo
7th & New Hampshire
Vermont/Wilshire towers
Southwestern Law School expansion


Not too bad. Now if we could just replace some of those stripmalls on 7th and 8th with some nice street-fronting mixed use projects, southern K-town will be looking pretty good :)

Chef Boyardee
Jan 11, 2013, 6:23 PM
That K2LA project (688 s berendo) has actually grown to 3 buildings now.

http://centurywestpartners.com/k2-los-angeles.html

Quixote
Jan 11, 2013, 7:04 PM
^ Good infill, but they reserve their best work for Santa Monica? :rolleyes:

DtlaCuriousity
Jan 12, 2013, 12:05 AM
In addition to that, there's another project going up 1 block west of that, at 688 S Berendo. I walked past yesterday and saw the construction is 2-3 stories high already.

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2012.09_k2la-thumb.jpg
Source: Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/09/meet_k2_la_300_luxury_apartments_break_ground_in_ktown.php)

So within a 4 block stretch, we have:


688 S Berendo
7th & New Hampshire
Vermont/Wilshire towers
Southwestern Law School expansion


Not too bad. Now if we could just replace some of those stripmalls on 7th and 8th with some nice street-fronting mixed use projects, southern K-town will be looking pretty good :)

Anyone have a recent picture of the apartments on Mariposa? I think they should have finished it by now?

DistrictDirt
Jan 12, 2013, 12:18 AM
That K2LA project (688 s berendo) has actually grown to 3 buildings now.

http://centurywestpartners.com/k2-los-angeles.html

I had heard that too, but when I walked by the site, there was definitely only one building under construction. The location where the other 2 buildings are supposed to be is a parking lot very much filled with cars. I don't know if this is a phased project, or if the info on the Century West Partners website is just out of date.

mdiederi
Jan 12, 2013, 12:27 AM
This might slow down at least one nimby organization:

Lawsuit Says Beverly-Wilshire Homeowners Group Mishandled Money It Got From Suing Developers

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/lawsuit_says_beverlywilshire_homeowners_group_mishandled_money_it_got_from_suing_developers.php

More details are emerging in the "greenmail" practices of the Beverly-Wilshire Homes Association, one of Los Angeles's notoriously obstructionist NIMBY organizations. Greenmail is the dirty little secret of land use and development practices around California and Los Angeles, where homeowner groups and unincorporated community associations sue developers under the auspices of the California Environmental Quality Act and then often collect settlements. Two actions taken against BWHA allege that the organization's lawsuits and settlements don't actually benefit the community or the environmental impacts of development projects. Instead, mounting evidence shows that money gained via greenmail activities is used for the personal financial gain of individual members of these organizations.

Easy
Jan 12, 2013, 12:50 AM
I had heard that too, but when I walked by the site, there was definitely only one building under construction. The location where the other 2 buildings are supposed to be is a parking lot very much filled with cars. I don't know if this is a phased project, or if the info on the Century West Partners website is just out of date.

The curbed article that you linked mentioned two phases for 303 units. Sounds like the third building is phase 3. Maybe curbed missed it because its on New Hampshire not berendo.

202_Cyclist
Jan 12, 2013, 2:36 PM
Hopefully the Army Corp of Engineers is successful with this. The LA River can be a great asset for Southern California residents, providing excellent public space. When I lived in Sacramento, I enjoyed the American River bike trail and parkland that stretches thirty miles east of the city. Similarly, DC is making a great effort now to restore the Anacostia River.

Be sure to watch the video and check out the slide-show with this article.


Los Angeles Reimagines Its Waterway

Options Explored for Restoring Habitat

By Erica E. Phillips
January 11, 2013
Wall Street Journal

"LOS ANGELES—Eighty years after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cast the Los Angeles River in concrete, turning this city's original lifeblood into a storm drain, a new generation of Corps members is working to bring back at least some of its natural habitat.

Strewn with trash, the 51-mile river's mostly concrete route is lined with industrial yards, freeways and train tracks. Over the decades, residents and developers have come to see it as something that should be hidden—the city's "backyard," some have said.

"It's the great L.A. joke—they even paved their river," said Michael Manville, a professor of city and regional planning at Cornell University who earned his urban-planning degrees and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Los Angeles. But, he added, planning experts have begun to see it differently..."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323530404578207642711599814.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

LAsam
Jan 12, 2013, 6:16 PM
This might slow down at least one nimby organization:

Lawsuit Says Beverly-Wilshire Homeowners Group Mishandled Money It Got From Suing Developers

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/lawsuit_says_beverlywilshire_homeowners_group_mishandled_money_it_got_from_suing_developers.php

I knew the name of the game was extortion... but this takes it to another level. Can't say I'm surprised though...

blackcat23
Jan 12, 2013, 7:45 PM
Hopefully the Army Corp of Engineers is successful with this. The LA River can be a great asset for Southern California residents, providing excellent public space. When I lived in Sacramento, I enjoyed the American River bike trail and parkland that stretches thirty miles east of the city. Similarly, DC is making a great effort now to restore the Anacostia River.

Be sure to watch the video and check out the slide-show with this article.


Los Angeles Reimagines Its Waterway

Options Explored for Restoring Habitat

By Erica E. Phillips
January 11, 2013
Wall Street Journal

"LOS ANGELES—Eighty years after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cast the Los Angeles River in concrete, turning this city's original lifeblood into a storm drain, a new generation of Corps members is working to bring back at least some of its natural habitat.

Strewn with trash, the 51-mile river's mostly concrete route is lined with industrial yards, freeways and train tracks. Over the decades, residents and developers have come to see it as something that should be hidden—the city's "backyard," some have said.

"It's the great L.A. joke—they even paved their river," said Michael Manville, a professor of city and regional planning at Cornell University who earned his urban-planning degrees and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of California, Los Angeles. But, he added, planning experts have begun to see it differently..."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323530404578207642711599814.html#articleTabs%3Darticle

I would imagine that the revitalization effort will be similar to what they've been done with Ballona Creek west of Centinela. Clean out the trash, plants along the water's edge and improve the water flow.

The train tracks running along both sides of the river in downtown will be an obstacle, though.

Leo the Dog
Jan 13, 2013, 6:29 PM
The army corps of engineers restored the Salt River in Central Phoenix with a more natural habitat with large trees and other aquatic plant species native to the area. Overall it is much better, but it's still largely unused space.

The San Diego River through Mission Valley is quite nice. It has bike trails that lead out to the sea with the green line trolley serving the area, promoting in-fill.