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JDRCRASH
Jan 13, 2013, 8:32 PM
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.

They could always trench and cover the tracks. Sure it's a lot of money, but doing it just for the downtown area shouldn't be too bad. After all, I think that should be the primary area of focus when fixing up the river, because that is where the most city revitalization is taking place.

San Frangelino
Jan 14, 2013, 1:35 AM
Here is a link to The Piggy Back Yard (http://piggybackyard.org/) concept, which would be part of the L.A. river revitalization.
http://piggybackyard.org/

http://www.folar.org/pby/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/concept-vision-1.jpg

Quixote
Jan 14, 2013, 1:37 AM
^ Will we ever see that in our lifetimes? And if so, will it be of that magnitude? It takes forever to get things done in this town.

Quixote
Jan 15, 2013, 10:12 AM
More transit-focused infill on the way! This one is at 3425 Motor Avenue in Palms, about 0.4 miles (8-minute walk) from the future National/Palms station. Expected to be done by May 2014.

http://www.trbimg.com/img-50f0adc8/turbine/la-fi-mo-mixeduse-project-expo-line-20130111-001/600

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-mixed-use-project-expo-line-20130111,0,6051121.story

colemonkee
Jan 15, 2013, 4:00 PM
That's a lot better than 90% of the projects we see in LA. Let's hope for a non-stucco finish for those panels on the upper stories. And hope this is a trend that continues.

Quixote
Jan 15, 2013, 4:05 PM
^ You really hate stucco, don't you? ;)

Killefer Flammang generally does good work. There will be some stucco, as is the case with most of their other projects. But they do use higher quality materials as well.

Quixote
Jan 15, 2013, 4:08 PM
Here is another project of theirs, this one proposed for Selma/Highland. I really want this to happen sooner rather than later. That area needs it badly.

http://www.kfarchitects.com/images/dynamiimages/projects/988.jpg
http://kfarchitects.com/housingnewconstruction.php?nStartLinks=0&projid=282&catID=11

blackcat23
Jan 15, 2013, 5:56 PM
^ Will we ever see that in our lifetimes? And if so, will it be of that magnitude? It takes forever to get things done in this town.

Piggyback Yards is just a proposal. Union Pacific hasn't even expressed willingness to sell the land, last I heard.

Most of the LA River revitalization in the short term is going to occur away from downtown, along the Glendale Narrows/Griffith Park area.

Illithid Dude
Jan 15, 2013, 6:11 PM
That's a lot better than 90% of the projects we see in LA. Let's hope for a non-stucco finish for those panels on the upper stories. And hope this is a trend that continues.

Looks like some stucco on the right hand side, but besides that, nada. Killefer Flamming has really pumped out some quality stuff recently. Compared to their earlier stuff, they've done a complete 180. I'm loving all this development the expo line is encouraging!

BrandonJXN
Jan 15, 2013, 6:12 PM
More transit-focused infill on the way! This one is at 3425 Motor Avenue in Palms, about 0.4 miles (8-minute walk) from the future National/Palms station. Expected to be done by May 2014.

http://www.trbimg.com/img-50f0adc8/turbine/la-fi-mo-mixeduse-project-expo-line-20130111-001/600

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-mixed-use-project-expo-line-20130111,0,6051121.story

This is the kind of infill that needs to happen all over Los Angeles.

LosAngelesSportsFan
Jan 15, 2013, 6:47 PM
agreed. love it.

Valyrian Steel
Jan 16, 2013, 3:19 AM
Century Plaza's Two-Tower Makeover is a Go in Century City

http://www.newcenturyplaza.com/lib/img/vision/image01.jpg

Another bust-era project is alive and well and passed the City Council today: the long-planned redevelopment of Century City's crescent-shaped Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel won unanimous approval this very morning. Developer Next Century Associates plans to put up two residential towers designed by Pei Cobb Freed, add a 100,000-square-foot retail and restaurant plaza, renovate the 1966 hotel, and create more than two acres of public open space on the six-acre site. The hotel will end up with 394 rooms and suites and 63 "luxury" condos (Marmol Radziner is handling preservation work). The towers--a late-in-the-game addition to prevent demolition of the Minoru Yamasaki-designed hotel--will each be 46 stories and have a combined 290 units. The compromise that saved the hotel was so successful that the project "received universal support with no public opposition," according to a press release.

Two more tall towers in Century City is pretty interesting, but the most compelling part of this project is the public space (Rios Clementi Hale is the landscape architect), which will extend out to Avenue of the Stars in an attempt to make notoriously-un-pedestrian-friendly CC a little more pedestrian-friendly. The plans also incorporate a proposed future station for the Purple Line extension (that's the extremely controversial one that'll send the route under Beverly Hills High).

Construction is set to start in early 2014.


Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/century_plazas_twotower_makeover_is_a_go_in_century_city.php#reader_comments)

LosAngelesSportsFan
Jan 16, 2013, 4:11 AM
LA IS BOOOOMIN!! i cant wait. i love this project

Quixote
Jan 16, 2013, 5:55 AM
Piggyback Yards is just a proposal. Union Pacific hasn't even expressed willingness to sell the land, last I heard.

Most of the LA River revitalization in the short term is going to occur away from downtown, along the Glendale Narrows/Griffith Park area.

Yeah, I know.

There's a lot going on right now in terms of transit/infill/skyscraper development, but little in the way of parks/public space. Maybe the LASHP will start construction later in the year.

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/4f4bd7d685216d78af068ee8/cornfields.jpg
http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/4f4bd7d685216d78af068ee8/cornfields.jpg

Allnatural85
Jan 16, 2013, 8:16 PM
Well this is good news. Glad tourism is up here :cheers:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8956029

DtlaCuriousity
Jan 16, 2013, 11:10 PM
Well this is good news. Glad tourism is up here :cheers:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8956029


Good to hear! I'm also thinking increased rail will be key for future drawing power and experience for tourism. Shame they didn't mention transit in the video.

IMBY
Jan 17, 2013, 3:11 AM
But you need to get the word out, light rail has arrived in L.A.!

I've been increasingly taking light rail vacations to the cities that have it, but when I look for a hotel/motel to stay in, I keep hoping when I read the amenities, it will say: X number of blocks to a metro rail stop. But, oftentimes, the old mode is still there: 5 minutes to here, 10 minutes to there, assuming you've arrived in a car.

I just scouted out a place to stay in L.A., for another light rail vacation, and the hotel sites, many of them, are still not mentioning access to metrol rail stops.

I went thru the same frustration testing out Dallas' DART system. I was searching desperately for a cheaper motel near any of the rail lines, ended up only finding an affordable motel in Richardson, 2 blocks to a rail stop, but the motel never mentioned it!

How many across the country have no idea yet you can tour a good part of L.A. without a car? Get the word out!

Kingofthehill
Jan 17, 2013, 3:14 AM
But you need to get the word out, light rail has arrived in L.A.!

I've been increasingly taking light rail vacations to the cities that have it, but when I look for a hotel/motel to stay in, I keep hoping when I read the amenities, it will say: X number of blocks to a metro rail stop. But, oftentimes, the old mode is still there: 5 minutes to here, 10 minutes to there, assuming you've arrived in a car.

:haha::haha::haha::P

BrandonJXN
Jan 17, 2013, 4:01 AM
What exactly is a light rail vacation?

Illithid Dude
Jan 17, 2013, 5:59 AM
Oh, cladding is going up at the Santa Monica Village. It's not stucco! Actually, the whole thing is really far along. The park looks incredible too, though maybe a little too over designed. It's going to be a great addition to the city.

IMBY
Jan 17, 2013, 9:57 AM
What exactly is a light rail vacation?

Traveling to a city where you don't need a potential metal coffin, on 4 wheels, to get you around, where, instead of seeing the scenery, your eyes are riveted to the speedometer/gas gauge, and forever looking into a rearview mirror for a police car following you, all those factors which translate to work and stress!

So where can you see a whole lot of any city without a car today? NYC, Chicago, Dallas, L.A., Boston, Portland, DC, San Diego. And soon there will be other cities where no car will be necessary for a stress-free vacation.

Travel agents need to get going on this, advertising it more heavily, particularly with a looming aging population on the horizon.

JG573
Jan 17, 2013, 12:27 PM
Traveling to a city where you don't need a potential metal coffin, on 4 wheels, to get you around, where, instead of seeing the scenery, your eyes are riveted to the speedometer/gas gauge, and forever looking into a rearview mirror for a police car following you, all those factors which translate to work and stress!

So where can you see a whole lot of any city without a car today? NYC, Chicago, Dallas, L.A., Boston, Portland, DC, San Diego. And soon there will be other cities where no car will be necessary for a stress-free vacation.

Travel agents need to get going on this, advertising it more heavily, particularly with a looming aging population on the horizon.

Thinking about it, you can add San Francisco to that list also.

BrandonJXN
Jan 17, 2013, 4:48 PM
I'm loving this trend of stuff happening all over the city.

From Curbed:

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_01_hptransitvillage.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_01_hptransitvillage.jpg

The Highland Park Transit Village, in the works for at least five years, and approved by the city in 2011, is finally seeing some momentum. The Highland Park Neighborhood Council is inviting affordable housing developer McCormack Baron Salazar to discuss their project's next steps at a public meeting tomorrow night, Eastsider LA reports. The project is proposed for two surface parking lots on Marmion Way and one on Avenue 56--the lots all hug the neighborhood's Gold Line station and are owned by the Department of Transportation--and has been scaled back from its original version (pictured). Surprise, surprise: locals cried foul at the thought of 101 new housing units in quaint HP. The three developments now feature a total of 80 units, with 20 condos and the rest as rentals, plus a plethora of affordable units and underground parking. Back in 2010, two of the Transit village's buildings had retail, while one building was made up of only seven condos. It's not clear if the latest iteration is mixed-use, but all will be known tomorrow.

brudy
Jan 17, 2013, 5:40 PM
I'm loving this trend of stuff happening all over the city.

From Curbed:

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_01_hptransitvillage.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_01_hptransitvillage.jpg

Except this project keeps getting smaller...

Munchitup
Jan 17, 2013, 8:30 PM
Hi first time poster on this site...

Maybe it was mentioned in this thread but has anyone heard anything about the building at Wilcox and Selma? http://goo.gl/maps/CI4uH

There are Ramland Construction signs on the building and they have built "canopies" over the sidewalks, but I didn't see anything on Ramland's web site about it or any of the development web sites.

Anyone with knowledge of this project?

Wally West
Jan 17, 2013, 10:48 PM
Hi first time poster on this site...

Maybe it was mentioned in this thread but has anyone heard anything about the building at Wilcox and Selma?

There are Ramland Construction signs on the building and they have built "canopies" over the sidewalks, but I didn't see anything on Ramland's web site about it or any of the development web sites.

Anyone with knowledge of this project?

This may be the project you're talking about.
http://i.imgur.com/kGUTE.jpg

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/11/hollywoods_selma_hotel_alive_and_well_becoming_a_dream.php

LosAngelesSportsFan
Jan 18, 2013, 2:32 AM
ha, i was just thinking about this the other day and wondering when it would start construction! awesome

Ivan
Jan 18, 2013, 11:53 PM
there's pretty large construction site with lots of dirt moving in action right in front of gold's gym south side at romaine and cahuenga. does anyone know what's going on on this site that just recently was a surface parking lot?

WonderlandPark
Jan 19, 2013, 1:35 AM
Looks like the 22 "small lot" home project is getting ready at Melrose and Gramercy, all the sudden the graders are on site and a fence has gone up, drive by this every day on my way to work. It googles as 5120 Melrose, not tall, but good density to a long dead stretch of Melrose.

Also passed what I think is the Spaghetti Factory site, looks 1-2 stories up, can post a pic later.

DistrictDirt
Jan 19, 2013, 2:26 AM
Looks like the 22 "small lot" home project is getting ready at Melrose and Gramercy, all the sudden the graders are on site and a fence has gone up, drive by this every day on my way to work. It googles as 5120 Melrose, not tall, but good density to a long dead stretch of Melrose.

Seems like the small lot subdivision ordinance projects are really picking up. I'm really intrigued by them. I love rowhouse/townhouse living, but those types of homes hardly exist in LA. Seems like this ordinance is going to change that.

StethJeff
Jan 19, 2013, 8:50 AM
Century Plaza's Two-Tower Makeover is a Go in Century City

http://www.newcenturyplaza.com/lib/img/vision/image01.jpg




Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/century_plazas_twotower_makeover_is_a_go_in_century_city.php#reader_comments)

Outside of the Wilshire Grand project, is this the biggest realistic project in LA right now?

Illithid Dude
Jan 19, 2013, 9:04 AM
Outside of the Wilshire Grand project, is this the biggest realistic project in LA right now?

The Millennium Project in Hollywood, too.

Kingofthehill
Jan 19, 2013, 6:26 PM
I am really excited to see how that Hollywood project mentioned a few posts above is going to turn out. That's not at all a bad design.

Looks like the 22 "small lot" home project is getting ready at Melrose and Gramercy, all the sudden the graders are on site and a fence has gone up, drive by this every day on my way to work. It googles as 5120 Melrose, not tall, but good density to a long dead stretch of Melrose.
Great news. My favorite Thai restaurant isn't too far past there. I agree, Melrose from, say, Vine on east, is exceptionally dead. I have always wondered what it would take to get LA's sleepy, autocentric E/W commercial streets, such as Melrose, Beverly, and even alot of Santa Monica (to make no mention of Jefferson, or Washington), back from the dead.

Quixote
Jan 20, 2013, 11:34 AM
The Millennium Project in Hollywood, too.

Interesting. What makes you say that? Now you've gotten my hopes up.

Valyrian Steel
Jan 21, 2013, 10:10 PM
http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/50fd962cf92ea12e8a0517e5/LBC1.jpg

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/50fd9628f92ea12e8a0517c7/LBC4.jpg

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/50fd9629f92ea12e8a0517d1/LBC3.jpg

The proposed Norm's-killing mixed use project on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica has swallowed up another neighboring business. Century West Partners has bought the Wertz Brothers Antique Mart building and adjacent parking lot, says the LA Times, for more than $11 million, and the property will be developed as part of the Lincoln Boulevard Collection. The LBC is made up four buildings, putting a total of 421 new studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments just a few blocks away from the future Downtown Santa Monica (aka Colorado and Fourth Street) Expo Line stop. Business is booming for property near the Expo: properties near future stops are going for "as much as seven times higher than previously assessed values."

Each building will have groundfloor retail and the amenities round-up features many of the usual suspects: pool, sun deck, screening room, and fitness center, plus granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the units. A list of "distinctive features" includes in-wall USB outlets and Bluetooth-enabled amplifiers with in-wall speakers.

The development agreement application looks to be part of the massive backlog at the Santa Monica planning department, though Santa Monica believes the project will not require the full (lengthy) environmental impact report process.

Source: Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/mixeduse_complex_planned_near_downtown_samo_expo_stop.php)

Kingofthehill
Jan 21, 2013, 11:19 PM
We'll definitely have to see how the construction materials pan out on that one. That said, Downtown SM has been on fire lately! All sorts of wonderful, new projects.

LosAngelesSportsFan
Jan 21, 2013, 11:52 PM
Santa Monica, Downtown, Hollywood, Koreatown and La Brea are on Fire...hmmm whats the common denominator here?

Illithid Dude
Jan 22, 2013, 12:23 AM
One of these days, I'll do a Santa Monica construction rundown. There is a ton of stuff going up, and a lot of very interesting architecture.

Easy
Jan 22, 2013, 2:31 AM
One of these days, I'll do a Santa Monica construction rundown. There is a ton of stuff going up, and a lot of very interesting architecture.

I didn't want to ask, but that would be great. :cheers:

colemonkee
Jan 22, 2013, 3:33 PM
I went by this project yesterday, and it's still an operating smoke shop. So this isn't starting anytime in the very near future. On a positive note, the Emerson College building and the Old Spaghetti Factory projects on Sunset are really starting to make an impact. No pictures because I was driving, but it's pretty cool. Sometime over the next month I'll take the subway down there and take photos of all the projects in the area. There are a lot of cranes in Hollywood. Feels like 2008 all over again!

This may be the project you're talking about.
http://i.imgur.com/kGUTE.jpg

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/11/hollywoods_selma_hotel_alive_and_well_becoming_a_dream.php

Illithid Dude
Jan 22, 2013, 5:29 PM
I went by this project yesterday, and it's still an operating smoke shop. So this isn't starting anytime in the very near future. On a positive note, the Emerson College building and the Old Spaghetti Factory projects on Sunset are really starting to make an impact. No pictures because I was driving, but it's pretty cool. Sometime over the next month I'll take the subway down there and take photos of all the projects in the area. There are a lot of cranes in Hollywood. Feels like 2008 all over again!

I know they mentioned that they were going to keep the garage open during construction. Maybe the smoke shop will be open during construction as well?

blackcat23
Jan 22, 2013, 11:08 PM
Vermont/Wilshire, today. Construction here is going at a much quicker pace than any of the other high rise projects currently underway in Los Angeles.

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

Quixote
Jan 22, 2013, 11:26 PM
^ That's a huge ass podium, and it's rather pronounced. Meh, it's good density and height across from a major subway station. And it looks like we'll be getting a wide sidewalk. That's always nice.

Muji
Jan 23, 2013, 3:14 AM
The podium at the Vermont is done, so every new floor we see will be part of the two towers. In terms of height, it matches fairly closely with the 7-story Wilshire/Vermont Station building above the Red Line stop. It also has the same building line on the Vermont Avenue side, which actually makes me worried that they will widen their side of Vermont Avenue once construction wraps up, as they did for Wilshire/Vermont Station. :(

Illithid Dude
Jan 23, 2013, 4:30 AM
Here's a picture I took of one of the buildings at the Santa Monica Village. Sorry it's dark, but ya gotta make do with what you got. I'll try to go back sometime this weekend and do a proper photothread, though all signs are pointed to rainy weather. Anyways, if you look towards the lower right corner you will notice the first hints of cladding. Yay!

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8472/8407653084_e0d9cc620f_c.jpg

StethJeff
Jan 23, 2013, 5:46 AM
I am really excited to see how that Hollywood project mentioned a few posts above is going to turn out. That's not at all a bad design.


Great news. My favorite Thai restaurant isn't too far past there. I agree, Melrose from, say, Vine on east, is exceptionally dead. I have always wondered what it would take to get LA's sleepy, autocentric E/W commercial streets, such as Melrose, Beverly, and even alot of Santa Monica (to make no mention of Jefferson, or Washington), back from the dead.

The answer almost always seems to be rail.

Kingofthehill
Jan 23, 2013, 6:39 AM
The answer almost always seems to be rail.

In other cities, perhaps. Unfortunately, I can think of a number of rail-adjacent areas that have little to show for their proximity to mass transit. Vermont/Beverly, the entirety of the Blue Line between Downtown and Downtown Long Beach, Westlake, Highland Park, much of Boyle Heights and the areas along the new Expo Line, etc. I know this is changing, but this areas and more, haven't really improved a whole lot in spite of having rail. Highland Park is suburban, and the bulk of its gentrification and house flipping tend to gravitate towards the York/Ave 50 intersection,

Granted, a large number of these stations are in industrial or formerly industrial ROWs, but there are still plenty of deadspots in our transit system. Conversely, Abbot Kinney, Sunset Junction, Huntington Park, all of West Hollywood, the Beach Cities, and Downtown Santa Monica, among other places, are thriving without rail.

I drove past the Melrose/Gramercy Place site twice this past week, and didn't notice anything different? It was dark, so that may have hindered things a bit. That said, I can't wait to see what kind of impact that project will have on the area.

DistrictDirt
Jan 23, 2013, 7:41 AM
In other cities, perhaps. Unfortunately, I can think of a number of rail-adjacent areas that have little to show for their proximity to mass transit. Vermont/Beverly, the entirety of the Blue Line between Downtown and Downtown Long Beach, Westlake, Highland Park, much of Boyle Heights and the areas along the new Expo Line, etc. I know this is changing, but this areas and more, haven't really improved a whole lot in spite of having rail. Highland Park is suburban, and the bulk of its gentrification and house flipping tend to gravitate towards the York/Ave 50 intersection,

Granted, a large number of these stations are in industrial or formerly industrial ROWs, but there are still plenty of deadspots in our transit system. Conversely, Abbot Kinney, Sunset Junction, Huntington Park, all of West Hollywood, the Beach Cities, and Downtown Santa Monica, among other places, are thriving without rail.

I think the Expo line is going to be the beginning of true, sustained transit oriented development in Los Angeles. There are many mixed-use projects in the planning stage already for the stretch between Culver City and Santa Monica, even though we're a few years away from that part of the line even being operational.

Kingofthehill
Jan 23, 2013, 7:51 AM
Agreed. It seems as if every week there is a new proposal a mixed-used project along the Expo Phase II project. Exciting times, to be sure.

Quixote
Jan 23, 2013, 8:58 AM
The podium at the Vermont is done, so every new floor we see will be part of the two towers. In terms of height, it matches fairly closely with the 7-story Wilshire/Vermont Station building above the Red Line stop. It also has the same building line on the Vermont Avenue side, which actually makes me worried that they will widen their side of Vermont Avenue once construction wraps up, as they did for Wilshire/Vermont Station. :(

I wouldn't be surprised one bit if that happened. The city of LA is so averse to good urban design. That will remain the biggest challenge/roadblock going forward as we try to adapt our city through a more pedestrian-focused lens. Transit and density, the other two key ingredients in generating a livable urban milieu, we have down.

As of right now, the idea of reducing traffic lanes in favor of wider sidwalks is unfathomable. Quite honestly though, we don't have the transit options yet either.

DistrictDirt
Jan 23, 2013, 9:09 PM
I wouldn't be surprised one bit if that happened. The city of LA is so averse to good urban design. That will remain the biggest challenge/roadblock going forward as we try to adapt our city through a more pedestrian-focused lens. Transit and density, the other two key ingredients in generating a livable urban milieu, we have down.

As of right now, the idea of reducing traffic lanes in favor of wider sidwalks is unfathomable. Quite honestly though, we don't have the transit options yet either.

I blame LADOT 100%. They're incredibly greedy when it comes to widening the roadway for cars. I heard that they tried to do the same thing downtown on 2nd street when they Caltrans building went up, and it took intensive protest by neighborhood groups to get them to change their mind.

The agency is still living a completely siloed, level-of-service-chasing, car centric, 1950s paradigm. There might be some people over there trying to change things, nibbling around the edges, doing the bike lane stuff and whatnot, but the true sea change hasn't occurred yet. It's going to take strong leadership to turn the ship.

StethJeff
Jan 24, 2013, 12:00 AM
In other cities, perhaps. Unfortunately, I can think of a number of rail-adjacent areas that have little to show for their proximity to mass transit. Vermont/Beverly, the entirety of the Blue Line between Downtown and Downtown Long Beach, Westlake, Highland Park, much of Boyle Heights and the areas along the new Expo Line, etc. I know this is changing, but this areas and more, haven't really improved a whole lot in spite of having rail. Highland Park is suburban, and the bulk of its gentrification and house flipping tend to gravitate towards the York/Ave 50 intersection,

Granted, a large number of these stations are in industrial or formerly industrial ROWs, but there are still plenty of deadspots in our transit system. Conversely, Abbot Kinney, Sunset Junction, Huntington Park, all of West Hollywood, the Beach Cities, and Downtown Santa Monica, among other places, are thriving without rail.

I drove past the Melrose/Gramercy Place site twice this past week, and didn't notice anything different? It was dark, so that may have hindered things a bit. That said, I can't wait to see what kind of impact that project will have on the area.

In the right neighborhoods and along the right streets, rail will create good TOD. Routes like Blue and Gold line connect dense termini, but like you said they're running through areas that need a lot more than a rail line to develop.

You make a good point though about Vermont. It's surprising to see how little the area between Hollywood and DTLA has improved since the Red Line was built. Luckily the amount of activity in K-town as a whole seems to suggest that things are only improving.

Easy
Jan 24, 2013, 12:41 AM
In the right neighborhoods and along the right streets, rail will create good TOD. Routes like Blue and Gold line connect dense termini, but like you said they're running through areas that need a lot more than a rail line to develop.

You make a good point though about Vermont. It's surprising to see how little the area between Hollywood and DTLA has improved since the Red Line was built. Luckily the amount of activity in K-town as a whole seems to suggest that things are only improving.

The gold, red, and blue lines also spend a good bit of their times going diagonal or zig zagging. But they will all see some development eventually. Even the blue line. Like you say, it just has a few more pressing issues. Once people realize what is possible after seeing development along other lines, some of it will trickle to the blue line.

Also, considering what is happening on Expo, I expect that Wilshire will just go nuts with development once the purple line is extended. Except of course for that 2 mile gap between Western and La Brea where Metro didn't see any need for a station at Crenshaw. That will likely appear shortsighted before the line even opens.

StethJeff
Jan 24, 2013, 4:41 AM
The gold, red, and blue lines also spend a good bit of their times going diagonal or zig zagging. But they will all see some development eventually. Even the blue line. Like you say, it just has a few more pressing issues. Once people realize what is possible after seeing development along other lines, some of it will trickle to the blue line.

Also, considering what is happening on Expo, I expect that Wilshire will just go nuts with development once the purple line is extended. Except of course for that 2 mile gap between Western and La Brea where Metro didn't see any need for a station at Crenshaw. That will likely appear shortsighted before the line even opens.

Agreed. I see no other possibility than Wilshire erupting with development. By the time Purple reaches Santa Monica, my guess is that it will look vastly different from the way it looks today. It should be one of America's unquestionable best boulevards.

Quixote
Jan 24, 2013, 5:43 AM
TOD watch: The Platform, Culver City

http://www.abramsonteiger.com/images/emails/13/0113/jpeg-1.jpeg

http://www.abramsonteiger.com/images/emails/13/0113/jpeg-2.jpeg

http://www.abramsonteiger.com/images/emails/13/0113/jpeg-3.jpeg

http://www.abramsonteiger.com/images/emails/13/0113/jpeg-4.jpeg

http://www.abramsonteiger.com/news/13/0113.html

Illithid Dude
Jan 24, 2013, 6:02 AM
Gandalf, what are you doing with that Na'vi on that garage? Get down from there, Gandalf.

BrandonJXN
Jan 24, 2013, 8:25 PM
I lived in Culver City for 2 years. It's already a vibrant, pedestrian friendly, and will only get better with The Platform. I'm a fan of this design. This kind of modern, fresh architecture will only enhance Culver City.

StethJeff
Jan 25, 2013, 7:35 AM
Revitalizing the LA River does more for development, communities, recreation, aesthetics, and the environment than any other project in LA, in my opinion. Consequently, articles like this get me more excited than any new rail line or supertall announcements (not that we've had any). Creating an amazing LA River opens up so many possibilities. It restores natural habitats, creates a continuous network of endless parklands, opens up commercial opportunities, and could turn a terrible eyesore into a stunning LA landmark. Glad to see that people are collaborating on such a neglected resource.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LA River District in Northeast LA

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013.01_riverdistrict.jpg

Another day, another potentially major gamechanger for the LA River: today the city is launching a new effort to create a development-packed river district. The new Northeast Los Angeles Riverfront Collaborative is designed to help cut some of the red tape among agencies (the government, non-profits, universities, commercial real estate firms) so that they can create "a holistic, collaborative urban planning effort," according to KCET. The proposed Northeast Los Angeles Riverfront District would run along eight miles of river: "The district comprises all of Atwater Village and Elysian Valley and portions of Lincoln Heights, Cypress Park and Glassell Park. It is bounded by the 134 Freeway on the north, Main Street in Lincoln Heights on the south, the L.A. River on the west and the 5 Freeway to the east." (Meanwhile, the Army Corps of Engineers is working on a major access/rehab plan for roughly this area and the city is considering opening up the Atwater/Elysian zone for recreation this summer.)The NELA RC already has some federal grant funding and real estate consultants will start an economic development study to figure out funding for the district and come up with some specific projects to spur the action. Involved parties plan also to look into bike parking and bike and car sharing along the river, encouraging job creation that makes sense for the workers in the area, and "turning the district into a regional food hub," among many other efforts. The group's project manager says "The idea here is to use the [Los Angeles] river -- which has historically been a flood control basin -- and envision it as an actual fully-functioning river and to use that to create a district where it'll be a unique feature."

From Curbed.

StethJeff
Jan 25, 2013, 8:24 AM
double post

Easy
Jan 26, 2013, 11:12 PM
Somewhat surprisingly the new Wyvernwood (http://wyvernwood.com/) was approved by the neighborhood council. Not sure if this will translate into approval from the city as evidently Huizar is still opposed.

The phases for this project are spread out potentially over decades, but if it builds completely they intend to have over 6 million square feet of new development and all except 325,000 square feet will be residential. So that's 4,400 units totaling 5.8 million square feet for an average unit size of 1,318 square feet. You have to figure that will be at least 2 people per unit so that's 8,800 people on 69 acres. That's 81,000 people per square mile. There will be 8,515 parking spaces for the 4,400 units.

I'm all for density, but that seems like a lot for an area with no rail station within walking distance. I think that I might favor the lower intensity option that has 2,709 units. 39 units per acre is still pretty intense.

blackcat23
Jan 27, 2013, 12:14 AM
Blvd 6200

http://i.imgur.com/WB6vVqG.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/lx5u7yx.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/Y8KTbST.jpg?1

Old Spaghetti Factory

http://i.imgur.com/q9w2bFf.jpg?1

Emerson College

http://i.imgur.com/bhoT7MD.jpg?1

Easy
Jan 27, 2013, 1:38 AM
Thanks for that update blackcat. I almost went to Hollywood this morning, but went downtown instead.

Muji
Jan 27, 2013, 2:36 AM
Nice update, Blackcat. Emerson College is going to get real exciting to watch soon. Back in my neighborhood, here's a shot of the Vermont from this afternoon.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/dsc_0641-e1359253486177.jpg

Illithid Dude
Jan 27, 2013, 2:42 AM
Nice update, Blackcat. Emerson College is going to get real exciting to watch soon. Back in my neighborhood, here's a shot of the Vermont from this afternoon.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/dsc_0641-e1359253486177.jpg

It's huge!

Quixote
Jan 27, 2013, 3:00 AM
^ Yes, and that's just the podium.

BrandonJXN
Jan 27, 2013, 4:03 AM
Good lord. I never realized how huge The Vermont is going to be.

DistrictDirt
Jan 27, 2013, 5:32 AM
Good lord. I never realized how huge The Vermont is going to be.

I can actually see it from my roof, and I'm over a mile away near Western and Olympic. I'll snap some photos from here once it gets a few stories higher.

Quixote
Jan 27, 2013, 7:59 AM
It looks like we might actually have a widened sidwalk rather than an extra traffic lane on Vermont. At least that's how it appears in the rendering. :)

http://koreatownladirectory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/the_vermont_wilshire_two_towers_aerial_2.jpg
http://koreatownladirectory.com/listing/the-vermont/

Munchitup
Jan 28, 2013, 6:41 PM
This may be the project you're talking about.
http://i.imgur.com/kGUTE.jpg

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/11/hollywoods_selma_hotel_alive_and_well_becoming_a_dream.php

Actually it's not that - though I am aware of this project and really looking forward to it. I read that they are planning on making the alley to the immediate east of that building into an open alley similar to the EaCa Alley across Cahuenga. I live a block away so I'll have to keep my eye open for any new developments on the building.

But in reference to my original post, this is the site I was referring to: http://goo.gl/maps/elONr (building on the right)

BrandonJXN
Jan 28, 2013, 7:10 PM
It looks like we might actually have a widened sidwalk rather than an extra traffic lane on Vermont. At least that's how it appears in the rendering. :)

http://koreatownladirectory.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/the_vermont_wilshire_two_towers_aerial_2.jpg
http://koreatownladirectory.com/listing/the-vermont/

If the sidewalk of The Vermont ends up looking like that then I'll be very happy.

Munchitup
Jan 30, 2013, 10:10 PM
Actually it's not that - though I am aware of this project and really looking forward to it. I read that they are planning on making the alley to the immediate east of that building into an open alley similar to the EaCa Alley across Cahuenga. I live a block away so I'll have to keep my eye open for any new developments on the building.

But in reference to my original post, this is the site I was referring to: http://goo.gl/maps/elONr (building on the right)

I walked past the building in question this afternoon. There was a crew of guys in the ground floor of the building clearing it out.

Here is the Web site for the company that has its signs all over the building: http://ramlandconstruction.com/

Steve2726
Jan 31, 2013, 5:36 PM
From the Millennium Hollywood projects website, there are some updated (I think, a search didn't turn these up) renderings-

http://millenniumhollywood.net/project-overview/

http://millenniumhollywood.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/121023_01_C_med-e1351187891408.jpg

http://millenniumhollywood.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/121024_02_C_med-e1351187710998.jpg

WonderlandPark
Jan 31, 2013, 6:20 PM
These were the people looking at some of my stock photos for use, they wanted views from all around Hollywood. They never ended up needing anything, though.

Illithid Dude
Jan 31, 2013, 6:34 PM
Last weekend, in the rain, I went out and took some pictures of Santa Monica development. This is only a fraction of what is going on, but it ended up getting so foggy that the camera could barely make out what was across the street.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8044/8431509563_b1daaf3c12_b.jpg

Some building on Pico. Designed by Daly Genik, I think.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8432594114_820352927f_b.jpg

The new $150 million Santa Monica Civic Center Park, designed by the guys who did the High Line. L.A., this is how you do 'central parks'.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8504/8431509741_e420e70ff7_b.jpg

Across the street, facade improvements to the Loews Hotel.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8231/8431509897_33400cde67_b.jpg

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8511/8432594456_804445f015_b.jpg

Part of the Santa Monica Village project.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8431510559_0460db0b44_b.jpg

Downtown Santa Monica projects.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8432595108_609ee78379_b.jpg

Another DT Santa Monica project. Both so new I don't even think they are open yet.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8497/8432595244_0bd2fd3c63_b.jpg

The main tower of the Santa Monica Village. I took this the next day, which is why the sky is suddenly blue.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8432595328_9a64d0fa71_b.jpg

Some project on Santa Monica Blvd. Also so new it isn't open yet.

And I'll take some more soon, hopefully!

blackcat23
Jan 31, 2013, 7:06 PM
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/01/old_koreatown_mixeduse_tower_plans_back_at_25_stories.php#510abaf9f92ea1670400357e

Old Koreatown Mixed-Use Tower Plans Back at 25 Stories

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/510abbe9f92ea16724003f62/catalina1.jpg

by Adrian Glick Kudler

Oh look, yet more development proposed for the area aroundthe Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown (formerly the Ambassador Hotel)--and this one's a biggie. Developer Colony Holdings is reviving a plan to build a mixed-use apartment tower on Catalina Street just south of Eighth. Back in 2009, the City Council rejected plans for a 35-story tower with 270 units, groundfloor retail, and 663 parking spaces, according to CoStar (basically they thought it was wrong for the relatively low-/mid-rise neighborhood). Now Colony has submitted new plans for a 25-story tower with 227 units, 3,600 square feet of retail, and 500 parking spaces on six levels. According to the plans (pdf), the tower would have 185 two-bedrooms and 43 three-bedrooms ranging from 1,008 to 2,608 square feet, plus balconies. There would also be open space on a fifth-floor podium level. The City Council only has until February 27 to make a decision on the tower.

Easy
Jan 31, 2013, 7:34 PM
Nice update Illithid Dude. Santa Monica is booming!

DistrictDirt
Jan 31, 2013, 8:01 PM
Old Koreatown Mixed-Use Tower Plans Back at 25 Stories

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/510abbe9f92ea16724003f62/catalina1.jpg

by Adrian Glick Kudler

Wow...that's my hood :)

The lot in question:

http://i.imgur.com/vSCv4YA.jpg
Source: http://maps.google.com

There's nothing that tall on 8th in K-town currently. Exciting news!

Kingofthehill
Jan 31, 2013, 8:05 PM
I've been to that liquor store!

DistrictDirt
Jan 31, 2013, 8:09 PM
I've been to that liquor store!

I love the googie signage. It would be cool if they could restore it and adapt into something cool, but I'll take a 25 story tower over that anyday :D

brudy
Jan 31, 2013, 9:26 PM
I love the googie signage. It would be cool if they could restore it and adapt into something cool, but I'll take a 25 story tower over that anyday :D

I've been there as well and there's something I like about the building and signage. It's kind of old L.A., which in this case is a good thing. I may have to run over there and take some pics before it's gone.

Dale
Jan 31, 2013, 9:31 PM
Drove Sunset Blvd. while in LA this week. What's the tall, thin and nearly transparent green glass tower in Hollywood ?

WonderlandPark
Jan 31, 2013, 9:35 PM
Drove Sunset Blvd. while in LA this week. What's the tall, thin and nearly transparent green glass tower in Hollywood ?

That building used to be the one in the center, it was clad in black. Last building cycle they stripped it and reclad it in the transparent glass, originally supposed to be condos but now rentals, I believe.
http://i49.tinypic.com/6oolcp.jpg

(photo credit hollywoodimage.us)

blackcat23
Jan 31, 2013, 9:35 PM
Drove Sunset Blvd. while in LA this week. What's the tall, thin and nearly transparent green glass tower in Hollywood ?

Before
http://www.emporis.com/images/show/389486-Large.jpg

After
http://www.you-are-here.com/sunset/vine.jpg

Dale
Jan 31, 2013, 9:56 PM
Thanks, guys. I rather liked it.

Note: drove Sunset and veered off onto Hollywood while in LA this week. My soon-to-be ex-wife was with me. And whereas I could tell she was trying not to like Hollywood ... I could tell that she really found it stimulating, as I did.

blackcat23
Jan 31, 2013, 9:57 PM
Some bits of information gleaned from the city planning office's bi-weekly case filings:

5757 WILSHIRE BLVD 90036
CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW 253,962 SQ FT COMMERCIAL
BUILDING, ZC AND ZV FOR PARKING PURPOSES.
EAF-ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Anyone know what this is?

Owner/developer is JH Snyder, across the street from the La Brea tar pits. Currently an 11 story office building there. Maybe they're expanding?


Also, the Columbia Square redevelopment has submitted plans. Guess they're getting ready for a construction permit?

Dale
Jan 31, 2013, 10:01 PM
And may I just say one thing ? I stayed in SM. And SM is the BOMB! Loved just about everything about it. Didn't realize how big it was either.

Quixote
Jan 31, 2013, 10:49 PM
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8190/8431510559_0460db0b44_b.jpg

Downtown Santa Monica projects.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8468/8432595108_609ee78379_b.jpg

Another DT Santa Monica project. Both so new I don't even think they are open yet.

Butt ugly. That looks like something that would be built in Pasadena. Come on Santa Monica, you're better than that.

Quixote
Jan 31, 2013, 10:52 PM
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8432595328_9a64d0fa71_b.jpg

Some project on Santa Monica Blvd. Also so new it isn't open yet.

6th/Santa Monica (across from the Library)

This is more characteristic of Santa Monica.

Illithid Dude
Jan 31, 2013, 11:10 PM
Butt ugly. That looks like something that would be built in Pasadena. Come on Santa Monica, you're better than that.

These projects were stalled for years because of the recession, and were only recently restarted a little less then a year ago. Probably contributed to their less then beautiful appearance.

Chef Boyardee
Feb 1, 2013, 1:10 AM
Renovation

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013.01_windsor.jpg

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

DistrictDirt
Feb 1, 2013, 2:03 AM
There is a new retail-specific website (http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/) up for the Blvd 6200 project. It has a few new renders of how things will look at ground level. Seems like they did the renderings rough and nearly monochrome- probably an intentional effort to help potential retailers visualize their own shops there.

http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/images/slider-img-01.jpg
Source: The Retail at 6201 Hollywood Blvd (http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/)

http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/images/slider-img-02.jpg
Source: The Retail at 6201 Hollywood Blvd (http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/)

http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/images/slider-img-03.jpg
Source: The Retail at 6201 Hollywood Blvd (http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/)

http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/images/slider-img-04.jpg
Source: The Retail at 6201 Hollywood Blvd (http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/)

http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/images/slider-img-05.jpg
Source: The Retail at 6201 Hollywood Blvd (http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/)

http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/images/slider-img-06.jpg
Source: The Retail at 6201 Hollywood Blvd (http://6201hollywoodblvd.com/)

Quixote
Feb 1, 2013, 2:14 AM
Dark gray smooth stucco. Please no. The scale is nice though.

Muji
Feb 1, 2013, 2:47 AM
Nice find! I did not realize they were going to take retail so seriously. Very exciting.

Kingofthehill
Feb 1, 2013, 3:06 AM
Stucco (and bloated parking requirements) has to be the one thing holding back LA's new construction. Can we get some brushed metal or wood façades, please?!

Illithid Dude
Feb 1, 2013, 3:19 AM
Stucco (and bloated parking requirements) has to be the one thing holding back LA's new construction. Can we get some brushed metal or wood façades, please?!

Well, the stucco is the developers fault. They could always use a high quality architectural firm, but end up invariably going either in-house, or using someone like Thomas Cox. Most architectural firms worth their snot either don't use stucco, or use it very well, even in L.A.

Quixote
Feb 1, 2013, 3:24 AM
Stucco (and bloated parking requirements) has to be the one thing holding back LA's new construction. Can we get some brushed metal or wood façades, please?!

If you're going to use stucco, at least paint it white. That's the only color in which stucco looks decent. Example:

http://image.apartmentguide.com/imgr/f060fa635fd4b2caf67bc8c23e3cd9d4/
http://image.apartmentguide.com/imgr/f060fa635fd4b2caf67bc8c23e3cd9d4/

ChelseaFC
Feb 1, 2013, 7:47 AM
Many of you probably already know about it, but for those that don't, I drove by the Shore Hotel (opened Oct 2011) on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica the other night, and I can't overstate how stunning the building is, especially at night. The blue lighting hues, clean lines, and sparse modern lobby took my eyes off the road for a good 2.8 seconds. For those that aren't familiar with the Gensler designed building...I recommend taking a stroll by the building sometime.

http://www.tnetnoc.com/hotelimages/901/677901/2631759-Shore-Hotel-Hotel-Exterior-2.jpg

http://www.tnetnoc.com/hotelimages/901/677901/2631759-Shore-Hotel-Lobby-7.jpg

http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Shore-Hotel-Gensler-11.jpg

I've got to say, by the time SM Civic Center Park and SM Village are completed, Ocean Ave. will be completely transformed. Those empty lots have been massive holes on what is undoubtedly the important street in the city. Now if they can only do something to make the Viceroy Hotel on the corner of Ocean/Pico more pedestrian friendly. The Ocean Park Blvd revamp is almost complete and is looking really good as well.

Dale
Feb 1, 2013, 6:56 PM
BTW, my wife and I really enjoyed our stay at the Huntley. Loved the Hitchcockian feel of the place.

BrandonJXN
Feb 1, 2013, 7:56 PM
Many of you probably already know about it, but for those that don't, I drove by the Shore Hotel (opened Oct 2011) on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica the other night, and I can't overstate how stunning the building is, especially at night. The blue lighting hues, clean lines, and sparse modern lobby took my eyes off the road for a good 2.8 seconds. For those that aren't familiar with the Gensler designed building...I recommend taking a stroll by the building sometime.

http://www.tnetnoc.com/hotelimages/901/677901/2631759-Shore-Hotel-Hotel-Exterior-2.jpg

http://www.tnetnoc.com/hotelimages/901/677901/2631759-Shore-Hotel-Lobby-7.jpg

http://assets.inhabitat.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/1/files/2012/06/Shore-Hotel-Gensler-11.jpg

I've got to say, by the time SM Civic Center Park and SM Village are completed, Ocean Ave. will be completely transformed. Those empty lots have been massive holes on what is undoubtedly the important street in the city. Now if they can only do something to make the Viceroy Hotel on the corner of Ocean/Pico more pedestrian friendly. The Ocean Park Blvd revamp is almost complete and is looking really good as well.

This building is probably the best building built in LA probably within the past 10 years. Really is a striking and truly beautiful piece of architecture.

I'm not sure if anyone cares about the goings on down in Westchester, but here you go.

From Curbed
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_01_playadeloro.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_01_playadeloro.jpg

^ (This looks better in person. Nowhere near as cheap looking as this picture makes it seem.)

Something's being built--and it's not in DTLA, Santa Monica, or Hollywood, amazingly. The LA Business Journal reports (sub. req.) that work finally started this month on the second half of the Playa Del Oro mixed-use development in Westchester. This big girl is 262,714 square feet, with 260 apartments of various sizes, 5,000 square feet of retail, and underground parking. The first and larger half of PDO (pictured) opened in 2009 with an asshat and tons of retail, including a Ralphs. Developer Decron Properties Corp. just secured a $67 million loan this month to start construction on the final phase, which includes all the fixin's, including a pool and spa, fitness center, cinema room, dog park, café, and landscaped courtyard with fountain. It's interesting to see the rent differences between PDO's first phase and its second one: four years ago, units ran from $1,794 to $4,380, and now they're $1,900 to $3,975.

I happen to really like that corner of Los Angeles. Playa del Rey is quite pretty.

circuitfiend
Feb 2, 2013, 2:59 AM
Here's something to mull over: It even includes a rendering...

http://www.wehoville.com/2013/02/01/cohen-brothers-mta-reach-exclusive-agreement-for-proposed-mega-complex-at-weho-depot/

Probably will never happen, although the city will eventually development that property, they've been eying it for years. The comments are ALL negative. NIMBYism lives in WeHo, big time.