PDA

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


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

Quixote
Sep 15, 2013, 10:48 PM
I think Getty and Griffith are "wow" attractions, and the reviews they get from tourists confirm that belief. The buildings themselves are architecturally significant and the views are unmatched. Uniquely LA for sure, as I can't think of another city with anything similar. Plenty of other cities have overlooks with sweeping panoramic city views (Hong Kong's Victoria Peak, Barcelona's Montjuic, etc.), but none pair them with major cultural institutions. The worst part is that they're only accessible by auto (unless Griffith Observatory is still running those shuttles).

Santa Monica Pier is also great, better than Pier 39 and Navy Pier. Right on the beach with great views of the Pacific and within easy walking distance of active Downtown SM.

SimonLA
Sep 16, 2013, 1:22 AM
I think Getty and Griffith are "wow" attractions, and the reviews they get from tourists confirm that belief. The buildings themselves are architecturally significant and the views are unmatched. Uniquely LA for sure, as I can't think of another city with anything similar. Plenty of other cities have overlooks with sweeping panoramic city views (Hong Kong's Victoria Peak, Barcelona's Montjuic, etc.), but none pair them with major cultural institutions. The worst part is that they're only accessible by auto (unless Griffith Observatory is still running those shuttles).

Santa Monica Pier is also great, better than Pier 39 and Navy Pier. Right on the beach with great views of the Pacific and within easy walking distance of active Downtown SM.

Totally off-topic but Getty is easy to access via bus and I see tourists on the that bus all the time.

saybanana
Sep 16, 2013, 10:10 AM
I often take the 761 bus to the Getty. A dozen or less get off all the time. The Griffith Observatory has a DASH bus only on weekends and that is always full of tourists. I wish there was weekday service because not only "tourists" but also lots of locals go here on weekends for sunsets or hiking. It is super crowded. The Baldwin Hills Scenic Outlook has the most epic views of LA even better than the Getty or Griffith. There is a weekend shuttle to the top, but almost no one uses it. I use it ever other weekend but I am always the only one. Not really for tourists because there is nothing else to do, like see art or planetary stuff, and there is nothing down the hill except a Target. You can't equate LA Live with Times Square. LA Live is not a tourist trap. Nothing for tourists to do there, except take photos and eat at pricey restaurants. Hollywood/Highland area is our biggest tourist trap with bright lights, shopping, and adverts everywhere. Oh I forget what this thread is about.

LAofAnaheim
Sep 16, 2013, 8:01 PM
I think we all love LA :)

JDRCRASH
Sep 17, 2013, 8:18 PM
The Long Beach aquarium is great as well. Perhaps not "Wow" but I have been impressed both times I've visited it.

Such a shame the original Pike area was never completely rebuilt. :(

Quixote
Sep 18, 2013, 2:03 AM
Pretty significant development coming to the corner of Wilshire/Coronado. The design looks good (especially for the neighborhood) and the density will help further connect Westlake with Koreatown. Thanks blackcat!

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3KciMt_1Mj0/UjNTwLr5KGI/AAAAAAAAAog/xf7NYhGk68o/s1600/1.bmp

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/09/wilshire-coronado-condominums-to-rise.html

brudy
Sep 18, 2013, 2:13 AM
I saw that on Blackcat's blog yesterday. I always think driving down Wilshire in that area that it should be brought back to its glory. It's got good bones, some amazing buildings that way and close to transit. With City West marching west, Ktown pushing east, and stirrings from the north beyond the wall (Temple St aka Silver Lake South), we could be looking at some serious city from downtown to ktown in maybe 15 years.

DistrictDirt
Sep 18, 2013, 7:36 PM
With City West marching west, Ktown pushing east, and stirrings from the north beyond the wall (Temple St aka Silver Lake South), we could be looking at some serious city from downtown to ktown in maybe 15 years.

That was a perfect reference...well done. :cheers:

benji55545
Sep 19, 2013, 4:26 AM
Strolled by Blvd6200 yesterday. Lots of wood up.

http://i.imgur.com/HbB0axA.jpg

brudy
Sep 19, 2013, 5:32 AM
That was a perfect reference...well done. :cheers:

Thanks! Season 4 please!

202_Cyclist
Sep 20, 2013, 2:02 PM
Does anyone know if construction has started on One Broadway in Santa Ana? I have seen a post elsewhere suggesting that it has. At nearly 500 feet, this would probably be the tallest residential building under construction in Southern California. Who'd have thought in Orange Co.?

blackcat23
Sep 20, 2013, 3:52 PM
Does anyone know if construction has started on One Broadway in Santa Ana? I have seen a post elsewhere suggesting that it has. At nearly 500 feet, this would probably be the tallest residential building under construction in Southern California. Who'd have thought in Orange Co.?

I think One Broadway Plaza is supposed to be office. I haven't seen any news about it in a long time, but the last thing I read indicated that leasing was going poorly.

circuitfiend
Sep 20, 2013, 4:25 PM
The Chinese Theatre is reopening today, after several months of transformation into an IMAX with stadium seating.

Here is a link to a time-lapse vid of the remodel:

http://www.slashfilm.com/votd-tcl-chinese-theatre-imax-renovation-time-lapse-video-plus-facts-on-the-new-theatre/

Can't wait to see something there. :tup:

Lalaland
Sep 21, 2013, 8:51 AM
Strolled by Blvd6200 yesterday. Lots of wood up.

http://i.imgur.com/HbB0axA.jpg

Did you take that picture in the morning? ;)

LA21st
Sep 22, 2013, 1:32 AM
Question about Silicon Beach. All the articles mention Venice Beach. I'm confused,
where exactly is office space in Venice Beach?

Are there plans to add more office space there? And what kind of development are we talking about here?

Illithid Dude
Sep 22, 2013, 7:25 AM
Question about Silicon Beach. All the articles mention Venice Beach. I'm confused,
where exactly is office space in Venice Beach?

Are there plans to add more office space there? And what kind of development are we talking about here?

Silicon Beach is basically Venice, Santa Monica, and Playa Del Rey. Office Space is everywhere. My uncle is the head of business at Movieclips.com, which has just expanded into a huge new warehouse in Venice. Before that they were based in a building on Abott Kiney.

ChelseaFC
Sep 23, 2013, 1:21 AM
The new Santa Monica park on Ocean Avenue just opened last week. Looks pretty nice.

colemonkee
Sep 23, 2013, 4:23 AM
Taking the Expo Line into Culver City earlier today I could see another Erik Owen Moss building going up in the Hayden Tract. Looks to be 4-5 stories and have his signature crazy structural style to it. Didn't grab any pictures because it was well out of my way.

And they're marketing his proposed 16-story office tower on Washington with a billboard. I wonder if they'll get someone to lease it. The views from floors 5 and up will be pretty amazing from that vantage point.

blackcat23
Sep 23, 2013, 5:15 AM
Taking the Expo Line into Culver City earlier today I could see another Erik Owen Moss building going up in the Hayden Tract. Looks to be 4-5 stories and have his signature crazy structural style to it. Didn't grab any pictures because it was well out of my way.

And they're marketing his proposed 16-story office tower on Washington with a billboard. I wonder if they'll get someone to lease it. The views from floors 5 and up will be pretty amazing from that vantage point.

I noticed that too...and have also not gotten pictures since its out of my way. I'll try to swing by after work tomorrow and get some pics.

Edit: No need to get pics, Architect's Newspaper already has them:

Interesting project. 55 feet tall, to serve as meeting space for businesses located in the Hayden Tract. They're taking the frame from an old industrial press and adapting it into a building. Very creative.

http://archpaper.com/uploads/waffle_tower_03.jpg

http://archpaper.com/uploads/image/waffle_tower_01.jpg

http://archpaper.com/uploads/waffle_tower_02.jpg

http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=6702

The proposal at La Cienega Station is certainly interesting looking

http://ericowenmoss.com/wp-content/uploads/JJT_PI_02.jpg

That billboard has been up there pretty much since the Expo line opened, so I suspect they haven't had much luck with leasing as of yet. Maybe in a few years when the economy has come back a more and the train gets you to Santa Monica.

Muji
Sep 25, 2013, 12:40 AM
Thanks to our hatred of Wilshre/La Brea, we're all Curbed famous!

Link: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/09/new_wilshire_la_brea_mixeduser_may_be_las_new_mosthated.php

Speaking about the Hayden tract, does anyone know what is up with the Samitaur tower (http://ericowenmoss.com/project/samitaur-tower/)? I don't think I've seen its screens lit up for a while, and it doesn't seem like it is ever open to the public, despite what was suggested by a couple of sources (http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=4948) at the time of its construction.

DistrictDirt
Sep 25, 2013, 1:05 AM
Thanks to our hatred of Wilshre/La Brea, we're all Curbed famous!

Link: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/09/new_wilshire_la_brea_mixeduser_may_be_las_new_mosthated.php

They used my quote for the jump link. Its my finest hour.

Illithid Dude
Sep 25, 2013, 1:10 AM
curbed once used a picture i took for a construction update. my life was all downhill from there.

Mojeda101
Sep 25, 2013, 3:06 AM
curbed once used a picture i took for a construction update. my life was all downhill from there.

I can relate to that, They've used mine 3 times, haha.

LDVArch
Sep 25, 2013, 5:04 AM
The Cathedral is regularly panned. I can't believe you aren't aware of this. [...] Have you seen Sacre Couer, Hagia Sofia, SWFC, Bank of China, Cristo Redentor, El Zocalo? Do you have any idea what the basis for comparison is against other world cities?

It has not been "regularly" panned, as if that were possible with any work of architecture as challenging as this one. Here is a survey of critical responses from the time of its opening --- http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/23/entertainment/et-dutka23

In the years since it opened, the LA Cathedral has been compared (favorably) to Corbusier's Notre Dame du Haut. This begs the question, have you seen the chapel at Ronchamp? As churches go, it is a more important building than the wedding cake that is Sacre-Coeur.

brudy
Sep 25, 2013, 3:54 PM
Someone wrote above that LA is better as a sum of its parts, which I think is true. LA is best at moments - sunset on the beach, nighttime view at Griffith, a Stahl house tour, or just the way the light hits at golden hour. It can be a very evocative place.

It's also so large that our great places are spread apart. That statement speaks to the diversity of geography and cultures that make up LA. Want a mountain experience? You can have it. Beach? You can have it. Canyons? You got it. Urban? You got it. It's just a matter of getting to them, which is why I agree with StethJeff's statement that LA is a great place to live but a lousy place to visit. It is the complete opposite of a city like Boston, for example, that shows well but is a dreadful place to live.

blackcat23
Sep 25, 2013, 4:46 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/09/new-17-story-office-building-for-sunset.html

New 17-Story Office Building for Sunset Blvd

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afq-hU5PMAY/UkGSf4_JzwI/AAAAAAAAA2I/kluG98I0_ls/s640/5901sunset.PNG

5901 W SUNSET BLVD

DEVELOP NEW 17-STORY MIXED-USE PROJECT WITH 274,000 SQ FT OFFICE AND 26,000 (SQ FT) OF RETAIL

This is right next door the the under construction Sunset Gordon project from CIM.

LosAngelesSportsFan
Sep 25, 2013, 4:52 PM
im loving that were getting new office space in Hollywood

LAsam
Sep 25, 2013, 8:00 PM
There was a large redevelopment plan in the works for the Metropolitan building tract east of there as well. Not sure what the status is of that one with regards to financing though.

LA21st
Sep 25, 2013, 8:23 PM
It's really interesting to see this part of the city take off.

I always wondered why there isn't more high density residential development around Vermont/Sunset. It's a subway station in Los Feliz. You would think it would draw more developers.

LA21st
Sep 25, 2013, 8:24 PM
Does anyone know why this part of Hollywood is booming? I'm just curious.

Munchitup
Sep 25, 2013, 8:42 PM
Does anyone know why this part of Hollywood is booming? I'm just curious.

More available land at a lower cost than the real central portions of Hollywood? The surrounding areas have become relatively safe as people are priced out of the same central areas of Hollywood?

Also, just across the freeway at Sunset and Western the Target project has really started to get going.

StethJeff
Sep 26, 2013, 1:24 AM
It's really interesting to see this part of the city take off.

I always wondered why there isn't more high density residential development around Vermont/Sunset. It's a subway station in Los Feliz. You would think it would draw more developers.

Lotsa high-income jobs on that immediate corner as well as the general vicinity. I've always ben surprised that Eastern Hollywood hasn't gotten more during these recent booms.

Kingofthehill
Sep 26, 2013, 2:07 AM
I was on the rooftop (parking) of that Home Depot the other day, and the growth on Sunset btwn. Vine and the 101 is especially noticeable. I just hope that the development wave can make it to EHO!

LA21st
Sep 26, 2013, 2:55 AM
Lotsa high-income jobs on that immediate corner as well as the general vicinity. I've always ben surprised that Eastern Hollywood hasn't gotten more during these recent booms.

I think that's going to change soon. I wouldn't be surprised if there's higher density around all those redline stations this decade.

StethJeff
Sep 26, 2013, 3:10 AM
I think that's going to change soon. I wouldn't be surprised if there's higher density around all those redline stations this decade.

Agreed, it's just surprising that it didn't happen during the last decade.

The Illusive Man
Sep 26, 2013, 10:47 PM
Does anyone know what's going on with Hollywood Park? I know there are plans to build a community or park or something there. When will that happen?

L1011driver
Sep 27, 2013, 1:12 AM
Anybody know the name of the building going up at Wilshire/Vermont?

Illithid Dude
Sep 27, 2013, 1:15 AM
Anybody know the name of the building going up at Wilshire/Vermont?

The Vermont, I believe.

L1011driver
Sep 27, 2013, 3:21 AM
The Vermont, I believe.

Thank you.

Quixote
Sep 29, 2013, 1:37 AM
From SSC:

9/20/13 UPDATE

Emerson College

http://i.imgur.com/cmtJWIq.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/cmtJWIq)

http://i.imgur.com/E2tit4k.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/E2tit4k)

http://i.imgur.com/sEpyv1s.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/sEpyv1s)


BLVD 6200

http://i.imgur.com/Nc3XucY.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/Nc3XucY)

http://i.imgur.com/jZF2B7m.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/jZF2B7m)


Gordon Tower

http://i.imgur.com/nLe4bSX.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/nLe4bSX)

http://i.imgur.com/zxsTiGt.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/zxsTiGt)

http://i.imgur.com/CQSMFgQ.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/CQSMFgQ)


Sunset and Western Target

http://i.imgur.com/qWRkGpD.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/qWRkGpD)

http://i.imgur.com/RyCGH0F.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/RyCGH0F)

Hollywood/Western "Strip Mall"

http://i.imgur.com/1XDTfVJ.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/1XDTfVJ)

http://i.imgur.com/Kqmps4n.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/Kqmps4n)

Columbia Square

http://i.imgur.com/8Nm1z4d.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/8Nm1z4d)

http://i.imgur.com/pazFIYX.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/pazFIYX)

Fountain and La Brea

http://i.imgur.com/j6kcx9p.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/j6kcx9p)


Lexington/La Brea

http://i.imgur.com/MYwEGzo.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/MYwEGzo)

Santa Monica/La Brea

http://i.imgur.com/VS2Z0Hm.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/VS2Z0Hm)

http://i.imgur.com/kfEAQ6R.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/kfEAQ6R)

Wilshire/La Brea

http://i.imgur.com/WGV6DaJ.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/WGV6DaJ)

http://i.imgur.com/axKg5FT.jpg?1 (http://imgur.com/axKg5FT)

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Sep 29, 2013, 6:00 AM
Awesome roundup. Hollywood is fantastic.

StethJeff
Sep 29, 2013, 4:46 PM
Agreed. That's the best summary on this thread in ages. Thanks.

Putting these sites onto a map like the DTLA projects would be helpful to get an idea where these projects are in relation to each other. Maybe someone like Citywatch could make a crack at it. :shrug:

jamesinclair
Sep 30, 2013, 3:14 AM
Many of these projects are fantastic, but the sidewalks are really lacking.

Very narrow, almost no trees....

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Oct 1, 2013, 2:17 AM
Many of these projects are fantastic, but the sidewalks are really lacking.

Very narrow, almost no trees....

Seeing how something as simple as painting continental crosswalks all over the city makes such a huge impact on a pedestrian scale makes this a no brainer. Even a street like Broadway with all its theaters and buildings in disrepair would improve dramatically with widened sidewalks, benches, landscaping and lighting. It seems like a comparatively inexpensive way (considering billion dollar development and transportation projects) to make the city look better and Garcetti should really do something about it.

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00104/00104334.jpg

^I took that image of Wilshire in the 30s from the Noirish LA thread in the Found City Photos subforum. Los Angeles had beautiful lamp posts and I'm sure many of them are in storage somewhere in California. They need to be restored and put on L.A's major thoroughfares. Would give the city more of a classy vibe.

And yes more trees ffs

202_Cyclist
Oct 1, 2013, 2:39 AM
^I took that image of Wilshire in the 30s from the Noirish LA thread in the Found City Photos subforum. Los Angeles had beautiful lamp posts and I'm sure many of them are in storage somewhere in California. They need to be restored and put on L.A's major thoroughfares. Would give the city more of a classy vibe.

DC has a lot of the globe-style lamps and this is a relatively simple thing that greatly improves the streetscape.

Donald Shoup has written about how the revenue from performance parking in Pasadena has been used to fund various local streetscape and transportation enhancements in that city's core. Perhaps this should be done in LA too-- you better manage supply and demand for parking and use the revenue to make the streets and public spaces more inviting.

DistrictDirt
Oct 1, 2013, 3:52 AM
Donald Shoup has written about how the revenue from performance parking in Pasadena has been used to fund various local streetscape and transportation enhancements in that city's core. Perhaps this should be done in LA too-- you better manage supply and demand for parking and use the revenue to make the streets and public spaces more inviting.

I know this is not the Downtown forum, but seems relevent: Downtown LA is actually one of the few places in the country with Donald Shoup-style performance parking measures in effect. The cost of the meters varies based on the time of the day and it will eventually be tied directly the number of availability of street parking spaces.

However, I don't believe Los Angeles is following the final, critical piece of Shoup's recommendation: reinvesting money gathered through parking fees directly back into the same community. Rather, money from the meters in DTLA just goes into LA's general fund. Kind of ironic since Old Town Pasadena is just up the road, and that was the first place anywhere that followed Shoup's recommendations to the T, making improvements to Colorado Blvd using revenue from the increased parking meter rates, kickstarting gentrification in Old Town. You'd think LA could learn from that.

Wilcal
Oct 3, 2013, 4:13 PM
Seeing how something as simple as painting continental crosswalks all over the city makes such a huge impact on a pedestrian scale makes this a no brainer. Even a street like Broadway with all its theaters and buildings in disrepair would improve dramatically with widened sidewalks, benches, landscaping and lighting. It seems like a comparatively inexpensive way (considering billion dollar development and transportation projects) to make the city look better and Garcetti should really do something about it.

http://jpg1.lapl.org/00104/00104334.jpg

^I took that image of Wilshire in the 30s from the Noirish LA thread in the Found City Photos subforum. Los Angeles had beautiful lamp posts and I'm sure many of them are in storage somewhere in California. They need to be restored and put on L.A's major thoroughfares. Would give the city more of a classy vibe.

And yes more trees ffs

I think that you will find that this a photograph from the early 1950's, based upon the style of the automobiles.

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Oct 3, 2013, 4:59 PM
i'm 12 years old so it all looks like old to me

brudy
Oct 3, 2013, 8:34 PM
However, I don't believe Los Angeles is following the final, critical piece of Shoup's recommendation: reinvesting money gathered through parking fees directly back into the same community. Rather, money from the meters in DTLA just goes into LA's general fund. Kind of ironic since Old Town Pasadena is just up the road, and that was the first place anywhere that followed Shoup's recommendations to the T, making improvements to Colorado Blvd using revenue from the increased parking meter rates, kickstarting gentrification in Old Town. You'd think LA could learn from that.

It's the small things in government like that which can have a huge impact. Sometimes I wonder if LA as a city is so large and diverse as to be governable in proactive way. Communities are so just so different, with such differing needs that a one-size fits all approach to issues might always end up being watered down.

Muji
Oct 7, 2013, 4:38 AM
Some new work has been done on the Vermont towers, giving them a bit of a scaly look from the south. I didn't particularly like it when I saw it today, but it might look pretty cool once the future residents' blinds and curtains go in. So far, I think this is only on the south facades of both buildings.

They have also begun installing glass on the ground floor, so it shouldn't be long before we see more work on the parking podium.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/img_1955-e1381120085490.jpg

Illithid Dude
Oct 7, 2013, 5:18 AM
Oh, I really like that actually. Shame about the podium though...

Wilcal
Oct 7, 2013, 3:51 PM
Some new work has been done on the Vermont towers, giving them a bit of a scaly look from the south. I didn't particularly like it when I saw it today, but it might look pretty cool once the future residents' blinds and curtains go in. So far, I think this is only on the south facades of both buildings.

They have also begun installing glass on the ground floor, so it shouldn't be long before we see more work on the parking podium.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/img_1955-e1381120085490.jpg

It does have a "scaly" look to it doesn't it? It should look even more interesting once people put in their window coverings. I wonder why the podiums are not disguised in some way. After all, this is a major investment which will command top dollar rents. The architects, as notable as they are, should have had some form of finishing or design element to complete the overall look. Worst case scenario cover them with glass and duplicate the scale of the tower so as to blend in. I know that it would be expensive, but look at the Watermarke tower and it's embarrassingly ugly podium, and the architect of that building was a hack.

DistrictDirt
Oct 7, 2013, 7:04 PM
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/img_1955-e1381120085490.jpg

I love this photo. The area around Wilshire/Vermont is really starting to acquire that "old and new" look that mature cities tend to have.

I agree with previous commenters though...something needs to be done to camouflage that podium a bit. I'm giving the developer the benefit of the doubt that they're doing that part last since their primary goal is to finish the units so they can start leasing them.

202_Cyclist
Oct 7, 2013, 7:18 PM
DistrictDirt:
I love this photo. The area around Wilshire/Vermont is really starting to acquire that "old and new" look that mature cities tend to have.

Agreed! These four-story brick buildings are great.

blackcat23
Oct 7, 2013, 7:30 PM
Now it's time to kill the strip mall on the corner.

DistrictDirt
Oct 7, 2013, 8:50 PM
Now it's time to kill the strip mall on the corner.

I was thinking the same thing.

losangelesnative
Oct 8, 2013, 3:29 AM
does anybody have an update on 10000 santa monica? any progress?

circuitfiend
Oct 8, 2013, 4:17 AM
does anybody have an update on 10000 santa monica? any progress?

Nothing happening for about 3 weeks now, since they finished installing the electrical for the cranes. Equipment is sitting there, waiting...waiting...

Guess we're all waiting for that final approval for the go ahead. Hopefully, not much longer. :(

I'll keep you abreast. :tup:

losangelesnative
Oct 8, 2013, 4:24 AM
thanks so much every weekend im on the 405/10 interchange i always look towrad century city to see if i see any crane every time disappointed when i cant find one but youre right hopefully soon

edluva
Oct 8, 2013, 10:48 AM
I love this photo. The area around Wilshire/Vermont is really starting to acquire that "old and new" look that mature cities tend to have.

the "old vs new" is what i love most about mature vibrant and cosmopolitan cities like NY, London, SF.

The sobering reality though is that here it is a carefully manufactured photo-op, an imaginary scene destroyed the moment you pan away, whereas in the cities above it is the soul and very fabric of the city itself.

i'm tired of celebrating a make-believe city in the form of carefully positioned angles and omissions that disappear like a pot of gold the moment you venture out to touch it. i want the real thing. any angelenos here value substance as i do?

brudy
Oct 8, 2013, 2:05 PM
the "old vs new" is what i love most about mature vibrant and cosmopolitan cities like NY, London, SF.

The sobering reality though is that here it is a carefully manufactured photo-op, an imaginary scene destroyed the moment you pan away, whereas in the cities above it is the soul and very fabric of the city itself.

i'm tired of celebrating a make-believe city in the form of carefully positioned angles and omissions that disappear like a pot of gold the moment you venture out to touch it. i want the real thing. any angelenos here value substance as i do?

Well, while I generally agree with you, you just have to accept the history of the city. That can't be changed. I like LA's mashup of semi-old and new. It's also a bastion of mid-century design of all stripes, which is very unique. It's not NY or London, but it has its own character. Whether it agrees with you or not is up to you. And what do you mean by substance? There's plenty of architectural substance here.

Have you lived anywhere else? Life is too short to live in a place that doesn't motivate you. And nobody should live their whole life where they were born. It's a big world out there.

Wilcal
Oct 8, 2013, 4:11 PM
DistrictDirt:


Agreed! These four-story brick buildings are great.

Despite the city's reputation for low density sprawl, these structures, which were probably built in the 1920's, typified development which created a relatively high density swath along Wilshire, Pico, Olympic, and Venice blvds., and into the Hollywood and Fairfax districts. Of course at the time there was excellent transit to support this population. It was only until after the war when the valley exploded that the low density sprawl took hold

Wilcal
Oct 8, 2013, 4:17 PM
Now it's time to kill the strip mall on the corner.

Hear, hear. Nothing is more disheartening than to travel along Wilshire enjoying its urbanity only to see many breaks where ugly, tacky, "shit" strip malls, exist.

By the way Blackcat, I will ask you because of your expertise: What is the process whereby a new downtown thread is created? Oddly enough, after only a few days, I miss it.

blackcat23
Oct 8, 2013, 4:22 PM
Hear, hear. Nothing is more disheartening than to travel along Wilshire enjoying its urbanity only to see many breaks where ugly, tacky, "shit" strip malls, exist.

By the way, Black cat I will ask you because of your expertise: What is the process whereby a new downtown thread is created? Oddly enough, after only a few days, I miss it.

New one is in the City Compilations sub-forum on the main page.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=207723

The North One
Oct 8, 2013, 7:55 PM
Has the LA river ever had any kind of water in it? Are there photos of it ever being full? It seems more like a sewer drainage system to prevent floods rather than an actual river.

I have mixed feeling about it being returned to a more natural state, It's become such a huge pop cultural landmark for Los Angeles being in so many movies/fashion photo shoots. It has a nice art deco industrial feel that's become really iconic.

Illithid Dude
Oct 8, 2013, 8:34 PM
Has the LA river ever had any kind of water in it? Are there photos of it ever being full? It seems more like a sewer drainage system to prevent floods rather than an actual river.

I have mixed feeling about it being returned to a more natural state, It's become such a huge pop cultural landmark for Los Angeles being in so many movies/fashion photo shoots. It has a nice art deco industrial feel that's become really iconic.

Two photos I took of my friends and I in the L.A. River.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8103/8490707922_e13f5cd22e_b.jpg

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8490707898_0f0aacd2fc_b.jpg


So, yes.

bobbyv
Oct 8, 2013, 11:38 PM
I think its safe to say that your feet got wet in that jump

DistrictDirt
Oct 9, 2013, 12:22 AM
the "old vs new" is what i love most about mature vibrant and cosmopolitan cities like NY, London, SF.

The sobering reality though is that here it is a carefully manufactured photo-op, an imaginary scene destroyed the moment you pan away, whereas in the cities above it is the soul and very fabric of the city itself.

I think its safe to say that the reality lies somewhere between the bleak picture you've painted here and "Oh my god, every corner of LA looks like this!"

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Oct 9, 2013, 12:32 AM
the "old vs new" is what i love most about mature vibrant and cosmopolitan cities like NY, London, SF.

The sobering reality though is that here it is a carefully manufactured photo-op, an imaginary scene destroyed the moment you pan away, whereas in the cities above it is the soul and very fabric of the city itself.

i'm tired of celebrating a make-believe city in the form of carefully positioned angles and omissions that disappear like a pot of gold the moment you venture out to touch it. i want the real thing. any angelenos here value substance as i do?

Holy shit what a groundbreaking observation!

StethJeff
Oct 9, 2013, 3:11 AM
Has the LA river ever had any kind of water in it? Are there photos of it ever being full? It seems more like a sewer drainage system to prevent floods rather than an actual river.

I have mixed feeling about it being returned to a more natural state, It's become such a huge pop cultural landmark for Los Angeles being in so many movies/fashion photo shoots. It has a nice art deco industrial feel that's become really iconic.

It's flooded over multiple times in its history which is the reason why it was eventually paved. And btw, you have got to be kidding me with keeping it as is for the sake of Grease super-fans. Pardon me but that's one of the silliest opinions I've ever heard on this site.

edluva
Oct 9, 2013, 3:17 AM
I think its safe to say that the reality lies somewhere between the bleak picture you've painted here and "Oh my god, every corner of LA looks like this!"

I would disagree. even the corner of LA depicted in that photo doesn't actually look and feel like that when youre there. the city of old mixed with new is a city in which layers of newer development continue to make established neighborhoods relevant. newer development requires the sponsorship of a relatively wealthy and educated stratum as well as an educated middle class, neither of which exists here.

the reality is LA is super poor in the parts where there's history (see photo), and rich where we don't care about urbanism (suburbs). Every city has wealth, its more about where it takes place. Wealthy LA doesn't happen where it matters. The building stock where this make-believe scenario could happen is concentrated in the impoverished pre-war LA. The money on the other hand, is concentrated in suburban mid-century LA of the westside, and in far flung places like thousand oaks. As much as people here espouse populist sympathies, the fact remains that money is the most important thing. The things we all seem to want (a more sophisticated gentrification) and the things we espouse to value (populism for poor latinos) are oxymoronic.

Cry as much about the hard working immigrants all you want, money still doesn't want to flow into the impoverished pre-war latino areas until a smarter economy develops to push a large enough gentry class east of la brea. Take your pick amongst the financial, legal, IT, biotech, R&D or engineering sectors which make other cities around the world successful. Imagine an economic base of Santa Monica but twenty times as large located between downtown and Vermont. What kind of urbanism would it bring? Any conceptualization that somehow that kind of urbanism and money will coexist within with the vast amounts of poverty endemic to Westlake is delusional. Noone wants to live in a ghetto. It doesn't matter whether poverty speaks spanish or another language here, poverty is poverty, and it is bad for urban progress.

The two most basic and fundamental elements LA lacks for this kind of urbanism are urban mobility (infrastructure) and an urban economy (wealth). You can argue about zoning and density (or in citywatch's case, hix-in-the-sticks) all you want, none of that will change until the fundamentals of mobility and economics allows it to change. We'll continue living in a land of urban make believe until this becomes a reality.

I want LA to be a city of substance, not fads. This includes our urbanism.

Mojeda101
Oct 9, 2013, 5:01 AM
It's flooded over multiple times in its history which is the reason why it was eventually paved. And btw, you have got to be kidding me with keeping it as is for the sake of Grease super-fans. Pardon me but that's one of the silliest opinions I've ever heard on this site.

I think the best thing they could do is just remove the paved bottom and dig down a bit so it could flow smoothly.

Tried to make it as realistic as possible.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a268/mojeda101/Los_Angeles_River_unchanneled_zps72f4df3d.png (http://s13.photobucket.com/user/mojeda101/media/Los_Angeles_River_unchanneled_zps72f4df3d.png.html)

The North One
Oct 9, 2013, 5:55 PM
It's flooded over multiple times in its history which is the reason why it was eventually paved. And btw, you have got to be kidding me with keeping it as is for the sake of Grease super-fans. Pardon me but that's one of the silliest opinions I've ever heard on this site.

Well, you cant argue that it's become a landmark, whatever's safe I guess. Wouldn't all the nature just be ruined if it floods again?

JDRCRASH
Oct 9, 2013, 11:52 PM
The two most basic and fundamental elements LA lacks for this kind of urbanism are urban mobility (infrastructure) and an urban economy (wealth). You can argue about zoning and density (or in citywatch's case, hix-in-the-sticks) all you want, none of that will change until the fundamentals of mobility and economics allows it to change. We'll continue living in a land of urban make believe until this becomes a reality.

I want LA to be a city of substance, not fads. This includes our urbanism.

Edluva, did you read that very recent article from the Daily News? You might find it interesting:

http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20131006/plan-circulating-to-extend-transit-sales-tax

XAVIERinSF
Oct 10, 2013, 1:32 AM
EdLuva: You're getting tired of....

Simple solution...LEAVE! Personally, your pathetic rants are boring.

Gram3000
Oct 10, 2013, 1:58 AM
^^ dude shut up! Lol, I actually agree with many of the points Ed made in his previous post, he just goes about it in different ways, not to say that he hasn't made a few asinine comments here n there but that's to be expected from all of us time to time.

"I want LA to be a city of substance, not fads. This includes our urbanism."

I totally agree that LA needs to step up its urbanism factors to @ least the levels of SF, Philly, Chicago, etc. but good news is I believe it's gonna happen sooner than later of course it will take at least 15 - 20 yrs but the cool thing about La is that it evolves alot faster than many other cities, there's rooms for mistakes & errors but I think we're learning & slowly progressing into a mature city!

Wally West
Oct 10, 2013, 5:14 AM
EdLuva: You're getting tired of....

Simple solution...LEAVE! Personally, your pathetic rants are boring.

What's wrong with some well thought out discussion? The posts haven't stated anything that's really wrong and points out some stuff that we need to take into consideration of LA's growth.

And I like some of the critical posts of LA that come from posters like him and HunterK. We can't just be narrow minded and circlejerking every tiny victory. With that said, we also need to be prevent from being overly negative about LA and not attacking posters for harmless posts.

But back on topic...does anyone know how are Maltzan Star Apartments coming along?

DistrictDirt
Oct 10, 2013, 7:50 AM
What's wrong with some well thought out discussion? The posts haven't stated anything that's really wrong and points out some stuff that we need to take into consideration of LA's growth.

I like some of the points he makes on the built environment, but could do without his attacks on Angelenos. His posts always end with something like "If only Angelenos had as good taste as I have, they wouldn't accept mediocrity", etc.

BrandonJXN
Oct 10, 2013, 1:09 PM
Has the LA river ever had any kind of water in it? Are there photos of it ever being full? It seems more like a sewer drainage system to prevent floods rather than an actual river.

I have mixed feeling about it being returned to a more natural state, It's become such a huge pop cultural landmark for Los Angeles being in so many movies/fashion photo shoots. It has a nice art deco industrial feel that's become really iconic.

Plus the graffiti was really interesting. I'm sure everyone knows of the 'MTA' that was near the 1st Street Bridge (which was a half mile long).

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3536/3778517182_ee3d43041e_z.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3536/3778517182_ee3d43041e_z.jpg

brudy
Oct 10, 2013, 3:48 PM
The concrete channel is cool for what it is and the graffiti is quite cool, but can anybody actually be defending it and wanting to keep it? My god, perhaps edluva has a point.

Muji
Oct 11, 2013, 10:26 PM
Some news on the Culver City front: the development formerly known as Legado Crossing is apparently breaking ground next week at National and Washington, across the street from the Expo Line stop. It has a new developer, though it seems like they've stuck with Legado's original design. The Curbed article only shows a rendering of the National Boulevard side.

Source: Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/10/expoadjacent_mixeduser_starting_work_tuesday_in_culver_city.php)
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_10_accessculvercity.jpg

It's a bit of a silly rendering, and the weird prominence of grass and cars in the foreground suggest a pretty flawed understanding of urban design...but from the project's other specs it will probably turn out all right. It will in any case greatly improve the pedestrian connection between the Expo station and the business district on Washington Blvd.

BrandonJXN
Oct 15, 2013, 5:15 PM
^ Here is the front.
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_10_access2.jpg
http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013_10_access2.jpg

As a person who lived in Culver City for a while, I'm excited to see this go up. Culver City is quite awesome. Very underrated city in Los Angeles.

Muji
Oct 16, 2013, 12:55 AM
Ah yes, the front rendering. It much more reassuring, and I do hope that they intend to keep the downtown Culver City-style streetscape along Washington Boulevard. With just a few strategically placed redevelopments like this one, central Culver City could easily become one of the Westside's most walkable areas.

WonderlandPark
Oct 16, 2013, 3:50 AM
Couple from the Westside today

This is how Wilshire Barrington turned out:
http://i42.tinypic.com/27zvvj7.jpg

The Light Rail to the Sea has jumped Cloverfield and Olympic. Prep work is going into downtown SM now.

Note the Blanditecture lining the route, super disappointing, haven't been down Olympic in a long while and the mediocrity in construction is just stunningly bad.

http://i39.tinypic.com/521l00.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/xqddz4.jpg

WonderlandPark
Oct 16, 2013, 4:05 AM
Forgot this:

too bad a parking garage gets more design love than the housing along the Expo line corridor. But I will take it, looks to be pretty bad a$$, can't wait to see it finished. Also went to Tongva Park for a second time and still really like it, lots of kids in the play area and those neighboring apartments, when complete, will really make a mini neighborhood of Civic, Rand and residences. I don't know how or why that stupid motel is there, in between the new housing and the park.

http://i43.tinypic.com/2v0ykp5.jpg

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Oct 16, 2013, 5:09 AM
^
That's a parking structure?? Lol cars get such better treatment than human pedestrians in the west side. Also wow wilshire/barrington turned out to be a tiny litle turd compared to what was originally slated to go there.

Illithid Dude
Oct 16, 2013, 8:55 AM
http://i42.tinypic.com/xqddz4.jpg

This has been there for around ten years, if not longer, so I wouldn't fault it too much for not looking great.

brudy
Oct 19, 2013, 12:15 AM
^
That's a parking structure?? Lol cars get such better treatment than human pedestrians in the west side. Also wow wilshire/barrington turned out to be a tiny litle turd compared to what was originally slated to go there.

Seriously. That garage looks like the Pompidou.

Illithid Dude
Oct 19, 2013, 2:38 AM
Seriously. That garage looks like the Pompidou.

Oh wow, it does. I believe Brooks + Scarpa is designing it, which is one of the most prominent architectural firms in Los Angeles. Though, to balance thing out, Santa Monica is going to demolish an old parking structure, and replace it with a movie theater.

Trojan
Oct 19, 2013, 2:44 AM
Oh wow, it does. I believe Brooks + Scarpa is designing it, which is one of the most prominent architectural firms in Los Angeles. Though, to balance thing out, Santa Monica is going to demolish an old parking structure, and replace it with a movie theater.

That's not gonna happen for years. Santa Monica Place is putting in a theater: http://smdp.com/proposed-sm-place-theater-could-be-first-of-many-downtown/128220

WonderlandPark
Oct 19, 2013, 3:10 AM
The Parking Garage is NOT Brooks/Scarpa it is Studio Jantzen, and this is their first really large project, as I can make out from their website, all small stuff up until this. Congrats on a great design by a small firm.

http://www.studiojantzen.com/Santa-Monica-Parking-Structure-6

http://payload143.cargocollective.com/1/10/337724/5165137/parking1.jpg
Photo: Studio Jantzen Website

losangelesnative
Oct 21, 2013, 11:17 PM
just drove by hollywood today and saw sunset gordan tower getting tall you can see it well from the 101 and blvd 6200 shaping up quiet nicely as well

Muji
Oct 22, 2013, 1:07 AM
I noticed today that the second phase of K2LA (last seen here (http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/10/k2la-building-1-topped-out.html)) has broken ground, on the mid-block section of Berendo Street between Wilshire and 7th. Still no action on the third lot, at the northwest corner of 7th and New Hampshire.

WonderlandPark
Oct 23, 2013, 4:01 AM
Bell Gardens is getting a 7 story casino-hotel. reported on curbed-LA. rendering there.

IMBY
Oct 23, 2013, 6:07 AM
They will not collapse during an earthquake, that's fear mongering at its worst.

If people are suddenly scared of LA development, they should really consider demolishing the entire city. Mexico City, Tokyo and SF were built ON faults compared to LA, which has traces of smaller faults, but nothing as substantial as those cities. Halting all progress for faults is going to kill the economy of Los Angeles.

Homeowner associations........grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Given that 9.2 quake they had in Japan, and if you look closely at the damage to the buildings, the majority of them didn't seem to suffer much damage at all, thanks to how earthquake-proof they must have made them.

Don't confuse the damage you see with the effect of the accompanying tsunami, which did most of the damage.

Same with the damage done in Concepcion, Chile, a few years back, which also suffered one of those 9.0+ quakes. Closer to the South Pole?

True or not, the most powerful earthquakes seem to occur the closest you get to the North or South Poles. Witness the strongest quake in North American history, with that 9.2 that shook Alaska back in 1964.

Given that, true or not, what would be the chances of a 9.0+ or even a 8.0+ happening that far from the North or South Pole in the L.A. area? I fear not!

Seattle had a 7.0 shaker back the turn of the century, 2000?, and the greatest damage was to the Capital building, which was built so long, long ago, along with some scattered minor damage. So Seattle must be quite vigilant on their building methods! Portland had best to do the same! The entire Pacific Rim!

I've been to Chile, and that's been my biggest fear going down there, the ungodly shakers they can get there. I was in Concepcion 2 years before that monster quake, and eerily, I just left Santiago, back in the late 80's when they suffered an 8.0 quake. If I had been in either one, I wouldn't have lived to see the damage, as my heart would have stopped!

blackcat23
Oct 25, 2013, 12:27 AM
Plans for a 411-unit development with 40,000+ sq ft of retail at James Woods and Vermont showed up in a city planning filing a few months back. Yesterday, I stumbled across what looks like a preliminary rendering for the project.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/10/archeon-group-designs-mid-rise-complex.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKjLiWfZgGQ/UmfugKo9a0I/AAAAAAAABPQ/RSJs0RuMx48/s1600/vermontjameswoods.jpg

No specifics on the height are listed, but both buildings look like they're over 10 stories tall.

Steve2726
Oct 25, 2013, 6:57 PM
As expected, the pitchforks are coming out regarding the 8150 Sunset Blvd project at the corner of Crescent Heights. Neighbors are holding fundraisers hoping to come up with the $250k necessary to hire.....

Robert Silverstein.

http://www.8150sunset.com/

BrandonJXN
Oct 25, 2013, 7:12 PM
Plans for a 411-unit development with 40,000+ sq ft of retail at James Woods and Vermont showed up in a city planning filing a few months back. Yesterday, I stumbled across what looks like a preliminary rendering for the project.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/10/archeon-group-designs-mid-rise-complex.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wKjLiWfZgGQ/UmfugKo9a0I/AAAAAAAABPQ/RSJs0RuMx48/s1600/vermontjameswoods.jpg

No specifics on the height are listed, but both buildings look like they're over 10 stories tall.

That base might be worse than The Vermont.

Muji
Oct 26, 2013, 12:25 AM
I'd completely forgotten about the project, but WeHo just finished their streetscape project along 3 blocks of La Brea Ave, with widened sidewalks, new street trees, new crosswalks and planted medians. All in all, the sort of thing we should really see more often. Also, they're just in time for the new developments going up nearby.

Photos by Neal Broverman for Curbed LA (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/10/here_are_west_hollywoods_new_la_brea_avenue_upgrades.php):

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/526afa1bf92ea1557500d11f/IMAG0292.jpg

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/526afa25f92ea1557500d147/IMAG0304.jpg

Muji
Oct 26, 2013, 1:39 AM
Nice find with the renderings for the Vermont/James M. Wood project. Those buildings will look enormous in that area, though it is really about time that Koreatown saw some major redevelopment along the Vermont Avenue corridor.