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LosAngelesSportsFan
Jun 20, 2013, 7:02 PM
definitely, and we all win if that happens

pwright1
Jun 21, 2013, 8:58 AM
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3666/9099636344_9831de6bd5_b.jpg

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/9098879942_7335dc6d09_b.jpg

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/9098884582_57c7907014_b.jpg

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7435/9099751856_c167cb0ecc_b.jpg

Illithid Dude
Jun 21, 2013, 10:46 AM
God, these towers are just ruined by that tremendous parking podium. Ugh.

colemonkee
Jun 21, 2013, 2:46 PM
^ I've been saying that since the renderings were released. And to think that it's largely unclad, even in the finished project. On a positive note, they are pretty visible from far away, so from a broader skyline viewpoint, they do make a pretty significant visual impact. You can see them from downtown on the 110.

202_Cyclist
Jun 21, 2013, 2:53 PM
God, these towers are just ruined by that tremendous parking podium. Ugh.

Providing all of this parking, especially if it is underpriced or if it is bundled in with the cost of the rent/lease, undermines the significant investment LA is making in transit. I am going trying to play city vs. city but on the downtown LA forum, someone mentioned that one of the recently-proposed projects has 0.9 parking spaces per unit. Developments in DC routinely have half that, with several new developments being proposed without any off-street parking at all.

blackcat23
Jun 21, 2013, 3:43 PM
I stopped by Century City yesterday evening to take a look at 10000 Santa Monica. It was already dark out, so no pics, but a lot of dirt has moved since I was last there. Maybe circuitfiend has some more info?

I think we'll be getting a groundbreaking announcement soon.

circuitfiend
Jun 21, 2013, 3:59 PM
I have my camera Blackcat and will take shots from my building next door at the end of the day today.

The entire property has been surveyed and the two bulldozers have been pushing dirt and digging a hole for the last three days. Rebar has appeared, along with what appears to be the equipment to add the supports around the perimeter of the dig. This project is going forward quickly now.

The tallest building under construction in LA at this time (since Wilshire Grand is still officially in demo stage).

Pretty cool, in my book, and I have a birdseye view of it all.

circuitfiend
Jun 22, 2013, 7:37 AM
As promised, this is where things stand at 10000 Sta Mon Blvd.

These pics were taken Friday afternoon, around 4:30 p.m., June 21, 2013.

Decent progress for only 3 days.

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/10000%20Sta%20Mon%20Blvd%20June%2021%20-%202013/P1000826.jpg

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/10000%20Sta%20Mon%20Blvd%20June%2021%20-%202013/P1000824.jpg

http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/10000%20Sta%20Mon%20Blvd%20June%2021%20-%202013/P1000822-1.jpg

:notacrook:

Illithid Dude
Jun 22, 2013, 7:41 AM
Nice! You know things are getting hot and heavy when the 40 story towers start going up. And just think, next year the those twin towers and that office building will also be going up, all in a few block radius. Century City is gonna be crazy.

Valyrian Steel
Jun 22, 2013, 8:04 AM
Excellent!

JRinSoCal
Jun 22, 2013, 2:07 PM
Perhaps it's time to update the first page of this thread. Let's put 10000 SAMO in the *under construction* section.

mdiederi
Jun 22, 2013, 4:01 PM
Is digging a hole considered construction? They're still removing stuff, not adding stuff. Though, any day now they might start adding stuff and connecting things.

colemonkee
Jun 22, 2013, 5:14 PM
mdiederi's right. When we see foundation work - not just excavation - this baby will be officially under construction, per the definitions of SSP. Right now it's in the "site prep" stage. But this looks like good news and typically means that real construction is indeed starting.

circuitfiend, thank you for the visual updates. Keep snapping pics and posting. Once we see a shoring rig on site, we'll know things are getting serious.

DistrictDirt
Jun 22, 2013, 5:50 PM
District Dirt, i sincerely hope you are right because Lee is a known slumlord. Hopefully his residential properties will be taken care of like 811 Wilshire (takami) rather than Macy Plaza and the rest of his buildings.

So I found out that the building I used to work in - 3700 Wilshire (the "Radio Korea building") is owned by Jamison services. If the condition of that building is representative of all Jamison properties, I don't think i'd go as far as calling Lee a slumlord. Yeah the building could have used a lot more maintenance. But my boss got what he paid for. Moving there from our previous office in Miracle Mile enabled him to expand so we each had our own office instead of being doubled or tripled up. I think Lee is just filling a niche- there are plenty of businesses that don't want to pay the premium for Class A space.

delts145
Jun 22, 2013, 6:46 PM
This morning I drove past the restored Hotel Normandie at Normandie and 6th. They've removed most of, (I think permanantly) the plywood covers at street level, to reveal a striking new street engagement. Beautiful vintage building, and the new street presence is going to look great. Vermont on Wilshire is looking great also, and will fill a much needed urban gap on that busy corner and metro stop.

ChelseaFC
Jun 22, 2013, 7:34 PM
this morning i drove past the restored hotel normandie at normandie and 6th. They've removed most of, (i think permanantly) the plywood covers at street level, to reveal a striking new street engagement. Beautiful vintage building, and the new street presence is going to look great. Vermont on wilshire is looking great also, and will fill a much needed urban gap on that busy corner and metro stop.

pics or gtfo :d

Muji
Jun 22, 2013, 11:48 PM
Here's a picture of the Normandie Avenue storefront of the Hotel Normandie from a couple of days ago. There was no indication yet of what will be going in here. The Sixth St storefronts were still boarded up then, but they might be making progress on those.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/img_1556-e1371944176290.jpg

Now for two small Hollywood updates. Blvd 6200 is now onto the second floor.
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/img_1571-e1371944168156.jpg

Just next door to Urban Outfitters/Space 1520, two formerly vacant buildings have been converted into retail spaces, a very nice improvement.
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/img_1572-e1371944160284.jpg

colemonkee
Jun 23, 2013, 12:09 AM
^ Those weren't vacant before. There was an A-Life store in there last time I walked by there. But that little stretch of Cahuenga is pretty cool now, with Fuku Burger, Berlin Currywurst and Spice, the little Indian small plates place in the alley. We must have crossed paths if you took those pictures today. I was there not more than an hour ago.

Muji
Jun 23, 2013, 12:50 AM
Thanks for clearing that up on the storefronts. I wasn't so sure, so I went off the Google Street View which seems to show both buildings vacant, though that was a few years ago too. I agree about Cahuenga being pretty cool, I get the impression that it's a bit underrated too. The Berlin Currywurst there is one of my personal favorites.

StethJeff
Jun 23, 2013, 11:15 PM
As always, CicLAvia provides an excellent opportunity to get up close and personal to the many developments going on in LA. It was nice seeing the cleared out site of the Wilshire Grand, Vermont Wilshire Towers with their glass going up, and Wilshire/La Brea.

Tremendous room for improvement across Wilshire but there are definite signs of improvement in every 'hood.

Muji
Jun 23, 2013, 11:44 PM
During CicLAvia I noticed that the facade is going up on the Wilshire side of Wilshire/La Brea, and I have to say ... it's definitely some of the ugliest stuff I've seen in a long time.

Illithid Dude
Jun 24, 2013, 12:42 AM
During CicLAvia I noticed that the facade is going up on the Wilshire side of Wilshire/La Brea, and I have to say ... it's definitely some of the ugliest stuff I've seen in a long time.

I passed by it the other day and it truly is terrible. I mean atrocious. I don't think there is an uglier major project going up right now.

Kingofthehill
Jun 24, 2013, 5:56 AM
The Berlin Currywurst there is one of my personal favorites.
:D

During CicLAvia I noticed that the facade is going up on the Wilshire side of Wilshire/La Brea, and I have to say ... it's definitely some of the ugliest stuff I've seen in a long time.
Yeah. I saw it today, and almost fell off my bike looking at the terrible, dated rooftop and fenestration. How did that crap get an ok? There is another ugly, market rate 4-5 story building that was recently completed at Wilshire and Union. I didn't snap a pic, but it is right across from the Home Deport over there. Truly one of the worst and most uninspiring buildings to have gone up in recent times.

Wilshire deserves to have some sort of design code/language (and perhaps a stronger group/groups of merchants/shopkeepers' associations) in order to make it the grand thoroughfare that it once was and could again become. Miracle Mile is still dead most of the time, the 1980s office park suburban nature of the section between La Brea and Wilton (numerous three-story 80's buildings!), underutilized between Ktown and Westlake, grimy and third world-looking between Alvarado and the 110, etc. A real shame. But, on the upside, there is tons of room for growth!

colemonkee
Jun 24, 2013, 2:47 PM
Two words for you guys on Wilshire & La Brea: TCA Architects.

'Nuff said.

mousquet
Jun 24, 2013, 3:14 PM
^ :haha: When weariness turns into derision... Bah, give them one more chance.
To comfort you guys, that kind of cheap firms is not hitting LA alone...

WonderlandPark
Jun 24, 2013, 4:05 PM
Thirded on that facade, saw it at CicLAvia and its pretty awful.

Also noticed that the site for a 4-5 story building for Good Samaratan appears to have some site prep going on. I didn't take a pic of the rendering, pretty bland, par for the course for a hospital office.

Trojan
Jun 24, 2013, 6:19 PM
The Vermont

http://imageshack.us/a/img818/9102/sld3.jpg

DistrictDirt
Jun 24, 2013, 10:19 PM
Thirded on that facade, saw it at CicLAvia and its pretty awful.

Fourthed. Its so...tan.

circuitfiend
Jun 26, 2013, 4:19 AM
More progress. Beginning to look like the real deal.

Around 9:00 a.m. Tuesday. Pardon the reflection of my shirt in the window.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/2013-06-25/P1000827.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Dave1364/media/2013-06-25/P1000827.jpg.html)

Same time. They're setting up the drilling rig. More rebar has appeared.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/2013-06-25/P1000829.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Dave1364/media/2013-06-25/P1000829.jpg.html)

At the end of the day. Sorry about the shadow, but they like working in it since it's cooler.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/2013-06-25/P1000836.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Dave1364/media/2013-06-25/P1000836.jpg.html)

My next pic-update will be Friday.

Valyrian Steel
Jun 26, 2013, 5:08 AM
^ Thanks for the updates! Great to have an aerial view of the construction.

WonderlandPark
Jun 26, 2013, 5:34 AM
Serious equipment for 10000 Santa Monica, looks like a go (don't want to jinx it, tho)

The small lot housing site on Melrose had a lot of activity today, after sitting idle for a while (no pics, maybe next week) Also on Melrose looks like activity at El Centro and Melrose, probably something 3-4 stories like across the street at Larchmont and Melrose (just a guess, by the size of the lot)

Illithid Dude
Jun 26, 2013, 6:40 AM
Serious equipment for 10000 Santa Monica, looks like a go (don't want to jinx it, tho)

The small lot housing site on Melrose had a lot of activity today, after sitting idle for a while (no pics, maybe next week) Also on Melrose looks like activity at El Centro and Melrose, probably something 3-4 stories like across the street at Larchmont and Melrose (just a guess, by the size of the lot)

http://www.californialandmark.com/images/lc-main.jpg

This is what is being built there.

Eightball
Jun 26, 2013, 1:15 PM
^^I like it! Very cool.

202_Cyclist
Jun 26, 2013, 1:23 PM
Serious equipment for 10000 Santa Monica, looks like a go (don't want to jinx it, tho)

Yikes! More potential locations for a Nordstrom Rack. Everyone panic!!!!

blackcat23
Jun 26, 2013, 1:25 PM
Yikes! More potential locations for a Nordstrom Rack. Everyone panic!!!!

Lol.

No ground floor retail for 10000 Santa Monica, so he doesn't have to worry.

BrandonJXN
Jun 26, 2013, 6:05 PM
http://www.californialandmark.com/images/lc-main.jpg

This is what is being built there.

I like this a lot. This is what needs to be downtown.

ChelseaFC
Jun 26, 2013, 6:07 PM
Recent news on four hotels under development in the Pasadena Central Business District:

Residence Inn Marriott: http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/Residence_Inn_Marriott.aspx

Kimpton boutique YWCA adaptive reuse: http://la.curbed.com/tags/julia-morgan, http://www.pasadenanow.com/main/city-kimpton-hotels-begin-talks-on-historic-building-rehab

Macy's Paseo Colorado replacement: http://articles.pasadenasun.com/2013-06-15/news/39996448_1_paseo-colorado-macy-first-look

Historic Hotel Constance renovation: http://www.pasadenastarnews.com/pasadena/ci_21937200/demolition-begins-storefronts-constance-hotel-project-lake-and, http://newconstancehotel.com/en/index.html

Lalaland
Jun 26, 2013, 11:00 PM
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zps1582c59d.jpg

Wilshire side

Illithid Dude
Jun 26, 2013, 11:04 PM
That's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. And on such a prime street as Wilshire? Shameful.

blackcat23
Jun 27, 2013, 12:00 AM
I'm not as big of a stucco hater as many others on here, but that is pretty bland. Definitely not what you'd expect to find at a major intersection like Wilshire and La Brea.

On the bright side, this will probably be torn down in 30 years for a taller development.

DistrictDirt
Jun 27, 2013, 1:23 AM
That's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. And on such a prime street as Wilshire? Shameful.

The top looks like a fucking row of silos.

Wally West
Jun 27, 2013, 5:12 AM
Wow, I thought people were exaggerating since everyone here seems to overly hate stucco but what a disaster. Looks outdated already!

Lalaland
Jun 27, 2013, 5:22 AM
I hate it when developers are stingy with glas. The top floor with the tiny windows is especially bad. Hopefully the ground floor retail will be better. But seriously; what's wrong with people?

Lalaland
Jun 27, 2013, 5:39 AM
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zps9c674f24.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zps9c674f24.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zps9c10c4be.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zps9c10c4be.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zpsd3785c65.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zpsd3785c65.jpg.html)

This is gonna look great

NYC2ATX
Jun 27, 2013, 5:41 AM
...sweet jesus.

:previous:

:omg:

:multibow:

Valyrian Steel
Jun 27, 2013, 5:48 AM
Emerson College is lookin' good!

Lalaland
Jun 27, 2013, 5:49 AM
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zpsbf70fbc2.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zpsbf70fbc2.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zpsf4cfd2ea.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zpsf4cfd2ea.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zps654871f7.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zps654871f7.jpg.html)

XAVIERinSF
Jun 27, 2013, 6:12 AM
How sickening! Like previously mentioned, La Brea and Wilshire is a MAJOR intersection in LA, and to think this garbage is occupying that space.

Shame on the architects! An 80-yr old with dementia could have done a better job!

Munchitup
Jun 27, 2013, 6:56 AM
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zpsbf70fbc2.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zpsbf70fbc2.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zpsf4cfd2ea.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zpsf4cfd2ea.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zps654871f7.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/null_zps654871f7.jpg.html)

Wow that shot of the Old Spaghetti Tower with Emerson in the background is amazing.

blackcat23
Jun 27, 2013, 4:32 PM
I wonder how long until the non-descript buildings on the northwestern corner of Sunset and Gordon are razed for a mixed-use development.

brudy
Jun 27, 2013, 4:58 PM
Emerson looks amazing.

The Wilshire/La Brea monstrosity is beyond awful. Looks like an outdated prison.

mousquet
Jun 27, 2013, 6:08 PM
It's all obvious, like things jumping to your face.


Wilshire/La Brea is bland and boring. A little offense that will get worse from aging and end up demolished.
Spaghetti looks sort of random. Nothing bad, though they may have to change the cladding in the end.
The college looks really good. You can sense a fair effort to it. :cool:

Ragnar
Jun 27, 2013, 6:53 PM
http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/null_zps1582c59d.jpg

Wilshire side

My eyes! I am now blind from gazing upon the ghastliness....

dweebo2220
Jun 27, 2013, 11:24 PM
Any hope that at least the beige on the bottom will be clad with something or painted over? The original renderings had it as reddish.

dweebo2220
Jun 27, 2013, 11:25 PM
wait, never mind.. no it didn't. This is real and final and heinous.

Though if you look at the renderings, it looks like they put the ugliest component on the intersection. The part by firestone actually looks ok.

http://tcaarchitects.com/wilshire-and-la-brea/

RST500
Jun 28, 2013, 12:22 AM
How much space is there left at Wilshire and labrea for more stuff in the future?

DistrictDirt
Jun 28, 2013, 1:08 AM
How much space is there left at Wilshire and labrea for more stuff in the future?

Lots. The Metro customer service center on the NW corner is going to be become the entrance to the planned La Brea/Wilshire metro station, but the property can always be sold to a developer who can build on top of it, removing the standalone entrance and instead putting a portal to the station in the side of the building (like Hollywood/Highland and Hollywood/Vine).

Then on the SW corner there's an outdated Bank of America which will undoubtedly get developed at some point.

On the NE corner you have that gorgeous old art deco tower with the Samsung sign on top which is just begging for adaptive reuse.

Wally West
Jun 28, 2013, 3:06 AM
On the NE corner you have that gorgeous old art deco tower with the Samsung sign on top which is just begging for adaptive reuse.

Can't wait for the day when that ugly Samsung sign comes down.

DistrictDirt
Jun 28, 2013, 3:46 AM
Can't wait for the day when that ugly Samsung sign comes down.

Hear, hear :cheers:

DistrictDirt
Jun 28, 2013, 3:50 AM
Wilshire/Vermont towers from my rooftop. Having fun with my new telephoto lens, so expect more shots!

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7399/9154741531_1e691805e9_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/91268093@N04/9154741531/)

Muji
Jun 28, 2013, 4:10 AM
Well that is a sick view! You can even see K2LA topped out just in front of it.

DistrictDirt
Jun 28, 2013, 4:03 PM
Well that is a sick view! You can even see K2LA topped out just in front of it.

Thanks! Yeah I noticed K2LA as well. Wish that project was going to be a little taller, but I'll take what I can get.

circuitfiend
Jun 29, 2013, 5:41 AM
Friday, June 28, 2013 Update:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/2013-06-25/P1000844.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Dave1364/media/2013-06-25/P1000844.jpg.html)

Crane slinging a drill bit.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/2013-06-25/P1000851-1.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Dave1364/media/2013-06-25/P1000851-1.jpg.html)

Another
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj539/Dave1364/2013-06-25/P1000850.jpg (http://s1266.photobucket.com/user/Dave1364/media/2013-06-25/P1000850.jpg.html)

I'll be out of town next week, so after the holiday, look out for new pics.

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Jun 29, 2013, 6:02 AM
There's two different renderings for 10000 Santa Monica on the first page

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5515920149_786f70a60a_z.jpg

and

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/2595182607_d4165b98b3_o.jpg

which one is it if either of them? I remember being real excited when the renderings of the latter came out, one of the rare LA proposals that actually looked really good.

Kingofthehill
Jun 29, 2013, 6:22 AM
Thanks! Yeah I noticed K2LA as well. Wish that project was going to be a little taller, but I'll take what I can get.

As much as I appreciate and support the ongoing densification and urbanization of LA, I am tired of "taking what I can get." Not to complain, but every major city LA's size (and many smaller than it) are putting up quality, urban designs that offer a sense of place. Meanwhile, we get 6-story wood frame buildings with stucco facades...

bobbyv
Jun 29, 2013, 7:23 AM
.

bobbyv
Jun 29, 2013, 7:24 AM
There's two different renderings for 10000 Santa Monica on the first page

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5016/5515920149_786f70a60a_z.jpg

and

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3118/2595182607_d4165b98b3_o.jpg

which one is it if either of them? I remember being real excited when the renderings of the latter came out, one of the rare LA proposals that actually looked really good.

Unfortunately it's the first rendering

Wally West
Jun 29, 2013, 7:28 AM
As much as I appreciate and support the ongoing densification and urbanization of LA, I am tired of "taking what I can get." Not to complain, but every major city LA's size (and many smaller than it) are putting up quality, urban designs that offer a sense of place. Meanwhile, we get 6-story wood frame buildings with stucco facades...

I agree that LA is always getting these mediocre project while other cities are getting quality projects. But I'm in the camp of "taking what I can get" because living in LA and seeing so many empty lots, strip malls, and parking lot makes me feel so desperate for a positive change. I know these stucco projects aren't the best but it's a step in the right direction. LA has been better than what is was before with the loss of every lot, strip mall, etc.

Illithid Dude
Jun 29, 2013, 8:16 AM
As much as I appreciate and support the ongoing densification and urbanization of LA, I am tired of "taking what I can get." Not to complain, but every major city LA's size (and many smaller than it) are putting up quality, urban designs that offer a sense of place. Meanwhile, we get 6-story wood frame buildings with stucco facades...

Bingo. The fact that so many are willing to 'take what we get' is the reason we have so many lackluster projects in the first place.

edluva
Jun 29, 2013, 2:37 PM
As much as I appreciate and support the ongoing densification and urbanization of LA, I am tired of "taking what I can get." Not to complain, but every major city LA's size (and many smaller than it) are putting up quality, urban designs that offer a sense of place. Meanwhile, we get 6-story wood frame buildings with stucco facades...

plus the people living in LA aren't as educated, wealthy, and sophisticated as those living in the core of many other large cities. That is a plain fact. if the market isn't sophisticated and wealthy, the buildings we put up won't be very sharp looking either. I've been saying this all along.

Illithid Dude
Jun 29, 2013, 4:08 PM
plus the people living in LA aren't as educated, wealthy, and sophisticated as those living in the core of many other large cities. That is a plain fact. if the market isn't sophisticated and wealthy, the buildings we put up won't be very sharp looking either. I've been saying this all along.

You don't need to be wealthy and educated to be sophisticated. I don't think anyone will look at, for example, Wilshire and La Brea, and think it is an attractive building, regardless of education and socio economic status.

edluva
Jun 29, 2013, 4:32 PM
You don't need to be wealthy and educated to be sophisticated. I don't think anyone will look at, for example, Wilshire and La Brea, and think it is an attractive building, regardless of education and socio economic status.

yes, i will agree with you in concept that wealth and education does not always produce sophisticated tasteful people, just like how being poor wont necessarily keep you from achieving a college education. You are dwelling in the exceptions, I'm speaking of the broad truth.

So in the most general sense, when a market place is wealthy and educated, it tends as a whole to be more sophisticated, and that what various forumers here, including myself, are complaining about regarding LA's inability to consistently put up thoughtful and intelligent architecture and urban planning is due to the relative financial and intellectual poverty of its electorate and, by extension, its elected (its connected)

khojiho
Jun 29, 2013, 4:40 PM
3075 Wilshire
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NgtPAbD_AQE/Ucnf9WM4zkI/AAAAAAAABt8/w2KF-TAfC2M/s960/IMG_4412.JPG
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wytVop_O7i0/UcneuLV44OI/AAAAAAAABiE/zMoZjzfINLY/s1600/IMG_4317.JPG
Looks the same as before, but I noticed that a lot of the windows are open, and the aforementioned boxes of microwaves/ household appliances are gone, so they are probably doing some kind of office-to-loft conversion in there

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gtss4MHA8S4/UcnfANcGc5I/AAAAAAAABk8/312yAadrNmY/s1600/IMG_4340.JPG
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKoTbGU316Q/Ucne-9ACDJI/AAAAAAAABks/ngg72dAFsBw/s1600/IMG_4338.JPG
Wilshire Boulevard Temple Restoration

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RlFCaSQlLs/Ucnfn7JAHQI/AAAAAAAABq8/S_Uv6WIHi8E/s960/IMG_4387.JPG
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OMW82qSHnj0/UcnfSmgGk_I/AAAAAAAABn0/wlB5bJq3zjU/s1600/IMG_4363.JPG
Wilshire/La Brea, looks like the exterior is almost done, but they haven't installed that weird spire thing yet.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5nZipX6Qlc4/UcnfluhxZMI/AAAAAAAABqs/jgLSq4-Emc0/s1600/IMG_4386.JPG
And finally, the future Wilshire La Brea metro station, which used to look like this:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1963-PC-Tilfords-Restaurant-Los-Angeles-California-CA-/00/$(KGrHqR,!jQE2IPiFI6oBNq4bEr6Gw~~0_3.JPG
Photo from http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-PC-Tilfords-Restaurant-Los-Angeles-California-CA-/370502719003

It looks like metro has gutted the interior and installed a cool new facade

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Architecture Journal for Wilshire Ciclavia (http://orangearchitecture.blogspot.com/2013/06/los-angeles-ciclavia.html)

Munchitup
Jun 29, 2013, 5:37 PM
yes, i will agree with you in concept that wealth and education does not always produce sophisticated tasteful people, just like how being poor wont necessarily keep you from achieving a college education. You are dwelling in the exceptions, I'm speaking of the broad truth.

So in the most general sense, when a market place is wealthy and educated, it tends as a whole to be more sophisticated, and that what various forumers here, including myself, are complaining about regarding LA's inability to consistently put up thoughtful and intelligent architecture and urban planning is due to the relative financial and intellectual poverty of its electorate and, by extension, its elected (its connected)

The thing is though, looking at the going rental rates for these new 7-story boxes, the only people that will be able to afford these apartments are going to be relatively well-off. They may not be sophisticated but chances are they are well-educated. I'm not sure your theory holds water, though it makes sense at face-value.

edluva
Jun 29, 2013, 6:50 PM
The thing is though, looking at the going rental rates for these new 7-story boxes, the only people that will be able to afford these apartments are going to be relatively well-off. They may not be sophisticated but chances are they are well-educated. I'm not sure your theory holds water, though it makes sense at face-value.

My theory regards the big picture, the culture of a city, how people gain power in a city, how those in power choose architects and developers (the connections), the vetting process for developments. In LA, a few less evolved developers and their crony politicians dictate what gets built through a top-down approach because there is little competition (ie, no vibrant marketplace)

whether a clean yet tacky new luxury apartment will sell to the few wealthy and educated who reside here when there are few choices to begin with has little to do with the above. The market for sophistication isn't large here so if you happen to be rich, educated, and sophisticated, you take what you can get.

Illithid Dude
Jun 29, 2013, 8:07 PM
And finally, the future Wilshire La Brea metro station, which used to look like this:
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/1963-PC-Tilfords-Restaurant-Los-Angeles-California-CA-/00/$(KGrHqR,!jQE2IPiFI6oBNq4bEr6Gw~~0_3.JPG
Photo from http://www.ebay.com/itm/1963-PC-Tilfords-Restaurant-Los-Angeles-California-CA-/370502719003

It looks like metro has gutted the interior and installed a cool new facade

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Architecture Journal for Wilshire Ciclavia (http://orangearchitecture.blogspot.com/2013/06/los-angeles-ciclavia.html)

I'm pretty sure that building has looked like that for almost ten years now.

LDVArch
Jun 29, 2013, 8:11 PM
plus the people living in LA aren't as educated, wealthy, and sophisticated as those living in the core of many other large cities. That is a plain fact. if the market isn't sophisticated and wealthy, the buildings we put up won't be very sharp looking either. I've been saying this all along.

Really?

http://galleristny.com/2013/06/hello-babylon-the-art-world-is-cheating-on-new-york-with-los-angeles/

As the article suggests, the truth may lie somewhere between this observation: "I think New York [i.e., the preeminent large city] has overhyped its intellectualism. I think we’ve convinced ourselves, in order to deal with living there, that it’s the center of the universe. And it’s not.”

.. and that other one: “People make the assumption that because there are creative people who work in the film industry [in LA], they’re going to be interested in contemporary art. [...] The film business is mostly a business of people who know nothing about anything. You don’t become an actor because you graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton.”

Personally, I think David (Kordansky) puts it best when he says: “There’s still room to make mistakes [in LA]. There’s still room to f**k up. To just be a human, in a sense." In which case, it is not so much about the level of sophistication or wealth --- David would know if it were, but more about having the space and opportunity to make a mistake.

Munchitup
Jun 29, 2013, 8:44 PM
Here are two smaller projects going on in Hollywood, plus some strange abandoned lot that seems to be seeing some sort of new life.


1800 Whitley (https://www.facebook.com/1800WhitleyApartments) at the corner of Yucca and Whitley (0x80c2bf3cc15eb79f):

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/q73/s720x720/1044442_681388295783_1733676850_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/q71/s720x720/1001346_681388350673_1395698953_n.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/q71/s720x720/1005942_681388375623_1942228580_n.jpg

For the 2+ years I have lived in Hollywood, the Northwest corner of Yucca and Las Palmas (http://goo.gl/maps/sEQjr) has been this big pit that looks like a project that was abandoned. Maybe a month ago it looked like things were being built again, and now today it looks like this:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/q71/s720x720/7172_681388395583_1663145768_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc1/q71/s720x720/1002755_681388465443_1071864112_n.jpg

Anyone have any idea what this could be?

Lastly, there is a a new condo building being constructed at 1735 North La Brea Ave. (http://goo.gl/maps/Hcylh) Looks like the subterranean parking structure has been finished and they are working on the first floor

http://www.hhwnc.org/files/1735%20N.La%20Brea%20Public%20Hearing.pdf

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/q77/s720x720/1045172_681388505363_505310966_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/q85/s720x720/1002433_681388555263_1675481381_n.jpg

This is my first time posting pictures on here, if I did something wrong please let me know and I'll correct it :tup:

Mojeda101
Jun 29, 2013, 9:34 PM
They were awesome! We always welcome more LA photo junkies :D
I had no idea there were that many projects in Hollywood going on. Great job mate!

blackcat23
Jun 29, 2013, 10:20 PM
http://www.crala.org/internet-site/Meetings/Board_Agenda_2013/upload/Jun_20_2013_Item_2.pdf

More recent renderings of what the street interaction will look like when the Vermont Towers are finished.

http://i.imgur.com/14gcqbA.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/p2oTWd7.jpg?1

Still way too much exposed parking podium, but at least they're covering some of it up with art on the Wilshire side.

Not a fan of the flower shaped benches though.

Muji
Jun 29, 2013, 10:44 PM
Nice find. From the last few drawings, it looks like they've done away with the driveway on Wilshire that appeared in some earlier renderings. Also, it seems like we will be getting extra wide sidewalks on Vermont Avenue after all, so it won't be a repeat of Solair's shameful treatment of their block of Western.

The taller tower looks like it's going to top out this afternoon.

Update:
Facade work seems to have wrapped up on the upper stories of the Southwestern Law School housing, and all they have left is to finish is the ground floor. It's more bland than I was hoping for, but I wouldn't mind at all if more new housing in the area looked like this. Plus, they are putting in a very nice set of street trees.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/img_1589-e1372564062247.jpg

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Jun 30, 2013, 2:56 AM
Would it kill them to put a few trees up in front of these new developments (not palm trees)? At least there's going to be retail and a restaurant on the Vermont side of the building. The Wilshire Vermont station fortifying the Vermont side of the building with a blank wall is something I have to walk across everyday on my way to the red line and it's very unfortunate.

colemonkee
Jun 30, 2013, 5:51 PM
Some simple screening and vines would fix those upper garage levels on The Vermont right up, provide more oxygen-producing plants, and still allow for ventilation of the garage areas. Sure it will add another maintenance line item on the balance sheet for the owner, but it would be a relatively cheap way to fix what appears to be one of the few, but ostentatiously offensive, flaws with the design.

Munchitup
Jul 1, 2013, 5:45 PM
Just drove by Columbia Square on Sunset, it looks like exterior work has begun on some of the buildings. Couldn't get any pictures since I was driving, hopefully can make it out there sometime this week to check it out in-person.

blackcat23
Jul 1, 2013, 5:57 PM
Just drove by Columbia Square on Sunset, it looks like exterior work has begun on some of the buildings. Couldn't get any pictures since I was driving, hopefully can make it out there sometime this week to check it out in-person.

They started working on it maybe a month ago. Last time I was there, it looked like they were still tearing out the interiors. They're also going to be demolishing one of the old buildings.

New construction for the residential/office space probably won't start until late 2013/early 2014 based on where they're at with the permits.

blackcat23
Jul 1, 2013, 8:26 PM
They look like they're about 30 stories a piece. The Sunset Media Tower on the other side of Argyle is 309 feet tall, so I'd peg these at about 330-340.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/07/two_big_towers_planned_for_hollywood_palladium_parking_lots.php#more

Two Big Towers Planned For Hollywood Palladium Parking Lots

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013.06_palladium.jpg

by Adrian Glick Kudler

Holy shit, there have been rumors about some kind of development at the site of the Hollywood Palladium for ages now, but here they finally are, for real: newish owner Crescent Heights has announced (so far sketchy) plans for what two big-ass towers on the parking lots behind the site. As part of the plan, they'll seek landmarking for the 1940 theater (which was built by LA Times publisher Norman Chandler). According to a press release, the developers have submitted plans to "transform the Palladium's existing parking lots into a transit-oriented mixed-use development by adding residential units, street level shops and restaurants, and a potential hotel." Judging by this rendering, the new buildings will be taller than the neighboring House of Blues building, which is 22 stories.

BrandonJXN
Jul 1, 2013, 8:27 PM
*Ninja edit*

Blackcat beat me by one minute.

Munchitup
Jul 1, 2013, 8:30 PM
*Ninja edit*

Blackcat beat me by one minute.


Indeed - pretty exciting stuff. The eastern end of Sunset is really starting to blow up - it's going to have a completely different vibe in 5 years or so.

dweebo2220
Jul 1, 2013, 8:33 PM
Update:
Facade work seems to have wrapped up on the upper stories of the Southwestern Law School housing, and all they have left is to finish is the ground floor. It's more bland than I was hoping for, but I wouldn't mind at all if more new housing in the area looked like this. Plus, they are putting in a very nice set of street trees.


I agree and think this is actually very tasteful in its simplicity (wouldn't want it to be more "exciting.") I think most buildings put up today aren't absolutely atrocious in their general structure, it's just the foam and stucco or cheap faux "metal" or "brick" accoutrements that they stick on that really muck up the building. They throw that stuff on in an attempt to make the price seem justifiable... and sometimes to meet planning suggestion to have "variety in the facade..." but it just looks horrendously tacky. GLO, as well as many of the new apartments along wilshire are perfect examples of places where restraint and simplicity could actually have resulted in some attractive buildings--instead of the obscene monstrosities that they are.

brudy
Jul 1, 2013, 8:53 PM
Indeed - pretty exciting stuff. The eastern end of Sunset is really starting to blow up - it's going to have a completely different vibe in 5 years or so.

That's pretty amazing - and what, a block from Columbia Square? Serious stuff happening.

Munchitup
Jul 1, 2013, 9:01 PM
That's pretty amazing - and what, a block from Columbia Square? Serious stuff happening.

Yep - You would have Emerson, Old Spaghetti Tower, these Palladium twin towers, Columbia Square, and the Bronson Studios Tower all within about 6 blocks or so.

Not to mention you have Blvd 6200 Phase II just to the north.

Quixote
Jul 2, 2013, 3:59 AM
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013.06_palladium.jpg

I approve of this design.

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Jul 2, 2013, 4:02 AM
^Same. Hollywood seems to get nicer buildings than downtown and other spots around the metro with the exception of SaMo.

blackcat23
Jul 2, 2013, 4:27 PM
Yep - You would have Emerson, Old Spaghetti Tower, these Palladium twin towers, Columbia Square, and the Bronson Studios Tower all within about 6 blocks or so.

Not to mention you have Blvd 6200 Phase II just to the north.

You can tack the Selma/Vine residential project on the southeast corner on to that list as well. They're working on getting permits right now.

MarshallKnight
Jul 2, 2013, 6:42 PM
:previous:

When I first saw those yesterday, I wasn't terribly excited about them, but they've already grown on me -- especially when someone pointed out what a nice visual relationship they have with the Palladium itself: the greens, the white grid/lattice, and apparently from the street, the marquee will be framed perfectly between the two towers.

Anyway, it's always nice to see a few more highrises bridging the gap between DTLA and Hollywood.

Munchitup
Jul 2, 2013, 7:31 PM
You can tack the Selma/Vine residential project on the southeast corner on to that list as well. They're working on getting permits right now.


Oh nice - I knew that was in the pipeline but didn't know how soon it would be breaking ground.

How about that empty lot across the street at Selma / Vine next door to the Montalban Theater? They closed down that little burger joint to make way for an office building, but that was almost two years ago and nothing has happened at all.

Wilcal
Jul 3, 2013, 3:17 AM
They look like they're about 30 stories a piece. The Sunset Media Tower on the other side of Argyle is 309 feet tall, so I'd peg these at about 330-340.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/07/two_big_towers_planned_for_hollywood_palladium_parking_lots.php#more

Two Big Towers Planned For Hollywood Palladium Parking Lots

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013.06_palladium.jpg

by Adrian Glick Kudler

Very handsome buildings. And, by the way, I checked on the architect he works in San Francisco and does exquisite work. I hope to God that the greedy and self-serving La Mirada neighborhood assoc. doesn't file a lawsuit. If it does, we may see this development in about 5-7 years and it will be half its designed height.

LosAngelesSportsFan
Jul 3, 2013, 3:45 AM
hopefully this development, and others like it in hollywood, will be "by right" now that the new guidelines are in place.

blackcat23
Jul 3, 2013, 4:02 AM
Oh nice - I knew that was in the pipeline but didn't know how soon it would be breaking ground.

How about that empty lot across the street at Selma / Vine next door to the Montalban Theater? They closed down that little burger joint to make way for an office building, but that was almost two years ago and nothing has happened at all.

The LA Times mentioned the office project as Selma/Vine in an article about Garcetti prior to the election. They hadn't been able to lease enough of the building to think about construction at the time of the article. The developers amended their agreement with the city a few months back so that the space could be leased to non-entertainment industry tenants, in the hopes that lifting the restriction could get things moving. I haven't seen any news since then.

I hope to God that the greedy and self-serving La Mirada neighborhood assoc. doesn't file a lawsuit. If it does, we may see this development in about 5-7 years and it will be half its designed height.

I don't think there's an "if," here. Is there a large proposal in Hollywood whose developers they haven't sued?

I'm sure the people at Crescent Heights are aware of what happened with the Hollywood/Gower project last year.

Wilcal
Jul 3, 2013, 6:02 PM
The LA Times mentioned the office project as Selma/Vine in an article about Garcetti prior to the election. They hadn't been able to lease enough of the building to think about construction at the time of the article. The developers amended their agreement with the city a few months back so that the space could be leased to non-entertainment industry tenants, in the hopes that lifting the restriction could get things moving. I haven't seen any news since then.



I don't think there's an "if," here. Is there a large proposal in Hollywood whose developers they haven't sued?

I'm sure the people at Crescent Heights are aware of what happened with the Hollywood/Gower project last year.

And interestingly the developer of the Hollywood/Gower project is the same big Texan firm, Hanover, which is developing the Olympic/Hill downtown development. Perhaps with Garcetti now being mayor, he can appeal to "the powers" of Sacramento and convince them of the destructiveness of these "Legal extortion" mills, and their subsequent adulteration of CEQA.