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Muji
Oct 27, 2013, 1:45 AM
I spent a little time along Wilshire today taking a couple of photos. I'll start off with a small update on the Vermont, where they're starting to do some work on the parking/retail podium.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc_1377-e1382837820933.jpg

View from a few blocks east
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc_1376-e1382837810680.jpg

Things are wrapping up on the much-despised Wilshire/La Brea apartments. (If you're not a fan of TCA, you should probably stop reading now)

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc_1323-e1382837794303.jpg

Too many colors!
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc_1326-e1382837791303.jpg

La Brea Avenue side, with some nice street trees
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc_1329-e1382837802738.jpg

colemonkee
Oct 27, 2013, 4:52 PM
I agree with you on the "two many colors" critique, especially that light green, which is so painfully obvious of an attempt to mimic patina on copper (and quite poorly), but I actually like that glass wall above the entrance. It's the one redeeming part of this horrible, horrible design. Too bad it's buried back from most street views.

Too many colors!
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc_1326-e1382837791303.jpg

brudy
Oct 27, 2013, 5:27 PM
That is one ugly building. That glass area, while nice, is just lipstick on a pig.

colemonkee
Oct 27, 2013, 8:25 PM
^ Ha! Yes, that's exactly what it is.

112597jorge
Oct 27, 2013, 8:36 PM
Nice, glass entrance, palms, trees, and retail. that's it

tommaso
Oct 27, 2013, 8:54 PM
Wilshire/La Brea

Wouldn't it be simpler to build a brick building? Even one contiguous design could be easily delivered.

Gram3000
Oct 27, 2013, 9:01 PM
And cue Edluva lol

LosAngelesSportsFan
Oct 27, 2013, 9:29 PM
I agree with you on the "two many colors" critique, especially that light green, which is so painfully obvious of an attempt to mimic patina on copper (and quite poorly), but I actually like that glass wall above the entrance. It's the one redeeming part of this horrible, horrible design. Too bad it's buried back from most street views.

lol i felt as though i was reading my own post. i agree with every word colemonkee.

StethJeff
Oct 27, 2013, 10:24 PM
I agree that Wilshire/La Brea is a mess. But I don't see how it's all that different from 1111 Wilshire, which is for the most part beloved by SSPers. Am I missing something here?

DistrictDirt
Oct 27, 2013, 11:05 PM
I agree that Wilshire/La Brea is a mess. But I don't see how it's all that different from 1111 Wilshire, which is for the most part beloved by SSPers. Am I missing something here?

StehJeff- I think you've made that comparison before, but I just don't see it. To break down some concrete differences:


1111 Wilshire has more windows and less stucco than Wilshire/La Brea. If you could calculate the % of the surface that is glass, 1111's number would be much higher. Wilshire La Brea has tiny prison windows in comparison.
The colors on 1111 are bright and somewhat attractive, IMO. The colors on Wilshire/La Brea are washed out pastels

Wilshire La Brea is much larger scale than 1111 Wilshire. It feels like a monolith which makes the issues with its appearance that much visible. 1111 Wilshire is in scale with the rest of the surrounding buildings.
1111 Wilshire doesn't have weird wave-shaped asshats. Enough said.


http://i3.minus.com/ibuHy2PxpfRLZ8.png

StethJeff
Oct 28, 2013, 2:21 AM
StehJeff- I think you've made that comparison before, but I just don't see it. To break down some concrete differences:


1111 Wilshire has more windows and less stucco than Wilshire/La Brea. If you could calculate the % of the surface that is glass, 1111's number would be much higher. Wilshire La Brea has tiny prison windows in comparison.
The colors on 1111 are bright and somewhat attractive, IMO. The colors on Wilshire/La Brea are washed out pastels

Wilshire La Brea is much larger scale than 1111 Wilshire. It feels like a monolith which makes the issues with its appearance that much visible. 1111 Wilshire is in scale with the rest of the surrounding buildings.
1111 Wilshire doesn't have weird wave-shaped asshats. Enough said.


http://i3.minus.com/ibuHy2PxpfRLZ8.png

Sorry, I don't mean to be the citywatch of 1111 Wilshire. I guess I just never saw the appeal of that structure. I appreciate your explanation though.

tommaso
Oct 28, 2013, 4:24 AM
It's impossible to judge density. But, where concerned citizens gather, aesthetics can be challenged to a more pleasing sight. However, gathering support for design standards requires more than a City council motion. Angelenos must take matters into their own hands and apply pressure where developers must react. You can only accomplish a higher standard by first gathering public support for stricter design minimums on buildings of large scale.

GuardianChief
Oct 28, 2013, 7:03 AM
Guys, is Glendale part of Los Angeles? I know it forms part of L.A. county, however, I can't figure it out what are real borders of Los Angeles as a city like that ones in Chicago for instance.

I'm European who often works in ''L.A.'' (international banking), but stationed in Glendale while I'm out there. Speaking to local people, they claim not to be part of Los Angeles, although jurisdiction itself recognize territory of Glendale as some sort of Angeles neighborhood, something more similar to Beverly Hills.

So, when I'm in Glendale, where am I in fact - in L.A. or Glendale?

bobbyv
Oct 28, 2013, 7:16 AM
Guys, is Glendale part of Los Angeles? I know it forms part of L.A. county, however, I can't figure it out what are real borders of Los Angeles as a city like that ones in Chicago for instance.

I'm European who often works in ''L.A.'' (international banking), but stationed in Glendale while I'm out there. Speaking to local people, they claim not to be part of Los Angeles, although jurisdiction itself recognize territory of Glendale as some sort of Angeles neighborhood, something more similar to Beverly Hills.

So, when I'm in Glendale, where am I in fact - in L.A. or Glendale?http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendale,_California

colemonkee
Oct 28, 2013, 1:31 PM
Guardian, when you're in Glendale, you're in a separate city technically, but Glendale is definitely part of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

On the subject of Wilshire/La Brea vs. 1111 Wilshire, I don't think anyone would argue that 1111 Wilshire is as bad as Wilshire/La Brea (most house fires aren't as bad as Wilshire/La Brea). However, that does not mean 1111 Wilshire is a good design. It's just somewhat better than the absolute worst. But it still suffers from what I call "vomit" design: where the designer just vomits a bunch of design and color aesthetics onto the page and fails to edit those back into a cohesive work. In my opinion, it has far too many colors (though I agree the brighter colors are better than Wilshire/La Brea), and the glass that is there not only doesn't match the other windows (green tint vs. no tint, which turns "blue" when reflecting the sky), but it's mostly spandrel glass, which only masks the fact that the actual transparent, acting window portions of the glass are the same "prison window" size as Wilshire/La Brea. Despite having a relatively simple and clean massing, it manages to be so visually busy that it sticks out like a sore thumb in it's built environment.

On another note, I drove down Wilshire yesterday, and there are a couple of lots screaming for highrises that, if The Vermont does well, could eventually get them. Wilshire and Virgil and Wilshire and Hobart. Both are within 3 blocks of a Red Line station, so they could be considered TOD's, and hopefully qualify for density variances. The views for both lots, if developed into highrises, would be pretty amazing.

Wilcal
Oct 28, 2013, 3:57 PM
Guardian, when you're in Glendale, you're in a separate city technically, but Glendale is definitely part of the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

On the subject of Wilshire/La Brea vs. 1111 Wilshire, I don't think anyone would argue that 1111 Wilshire is as bad as Wilshire/La Brea (most house fires aren't as bad as Wilshire/La Brea). However, that does not mean 1111 Wilshire is a good design. It's just somewhat better than the absolute worst. But it still suffers from what I call "vomit" design: where the designer just vomits a bunch of design and color aesthetics onto the page and fails to edit those back into a cohesive work. In my opinion, it has far too many colors (though I agree the brighter colors are better than Wilshire/La Brea), and the glass that is there not only doesn't match the other windows (green tint vs. no tint, which turns "blue" when reflecting the sky), but it's mostly spandrel glass, which only masks the fact that the actual transparent, acting window portions of the glass are the same "prison window" size as Wilshire/La Brea. Despite having a relatively simple and clean massing, it manages to be so visually busy that it sticks out like a sore thumb in it's built environment.

On another note, I drove down Wilshire yesterday, and there are a couple of lots screaming for highrises that, if The Vermont does well, could eventually get them. Wilshire and Virgil and Wilshire and Hobart. Both are within 3 blocks of a Red Line station, so they could be considered TOD's, and hopefully qualify for density variances. The views for both lots, if developed into highrises, would be pretty amazing.

Colemonkee your analogy of bodily functions to the architectural design process was pretty funny--good post!

brudy
Oct 28, 2013, 4:26 PM
111 Wilshire is ok. Not great, but not terrible either. It at least looks cohesive. Wilshire/La Brea is just a vomitous mass. I imagine what they were trying to do was use different finishes, shapes, and masses to break up what is a fairly large building. But the end result looks like what I build in 3rd grade with wood blocks. It's truly awful and, in the spirit of fall, a heinous cornucopia of architectural food poisoning. We've seen a lot of very bland designs lately, but very few have actually been ugly. It's a total trainwreck - so much so that I can't stop looking at it.

mousquet
Oct 28, 2013, 4:58 PM
Just a little note.

Narrow windows are explained by requirements of energy-efficiency in my region. One may easily figure that glass causes heat dissipation when weather's still often pretty cold from november to march. Yet, I don't really see anything like such constraints in LA where wide double-glazed windows might bring some satisfying results, no matter what the orientation of windows. Over here, I read windows oriented to the north usually had to be small nowadays, unless using some sort of (certainly more expensive) triple-glazed, high quality glass.

Orientations to the east or the west would cause the opposite problem in spring/summer. Exposed to the burning sunlight, even more than windows oriented to the south and even over here, they'd require some brise soleil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brise_soleil) to help one in not craving air-conditioning. I'm rather surprised to see no brise soleil in southern CA. It yet can be something cool to a facade, if carefully designed.

Illithid Dude
Oct 31, 2013, 2:14 AM
http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/5271a91ef92ea165cc005d3f/988.jpg

Curbed reports that this project has started in Hollywood.

bobbyv
Oct 31, 2013, 10:19 AM
http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/5271a91ef92ea165cc005d3f/988.jpg

Curbed reports that this project has started in Hollywood.

That really sucks when you see the buildings that it will be displacing:
http://goo.gl/maps/Jpf7s

With so many damn parking lots in this city why do they have to take away little gems like these ones:(

blackcat23
Oct 31, 2013, 3:58 PM
Speaking of Killefer Flammang designed projects, this is something by them in West LA. Eight homes under the small lot subdivision.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/10/mar-vista-getting-eight-small-lot-homes.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U4DKk9KdGL0/UnHxilG7wlI/AAAAAAAABRw/NxTsE_ItIOU/s640/8easthomes.jpeg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AQzd03Qb4Zg/UnBUveqXk_I/AAAAAAAABRE/A7Eymx_4cV8/s640/DSC02249.JPG

ConstructDTLA
Oct 31, 2013, 4:24 PM
Love this building. (Taken today - Oct 31st 2013)
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3730/10593924185_80e7776ab7_c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/10593924185/)
Emerson College Construction (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hunterkerhart/10593924185/)

LAsam
Oct 31, 2013, 4:34 PM
^ Good example of not being super tall yet still being architecturally impactful to the area. The Broad will be another good example of this. An advantage to not building towers in LA is the elimination of the requirement for a podium and thus the potential for better street level aesthetics and interaction.

The Illusive Man
Oct 31, 2013, 5:18 PM
Thanks for posting that Blackcat. I pass by that every single day. Great to know what it will look like.

eburress
Oct 31, 2013, 6:20 PM
That really sucks when you see the buildings that it will be displacing:
http://goo.gl/maps/Jpf7s

With so many damn parking lots in this city why do they have to take away little gems like these ones:(

Are you talking about the dilapidated houses or the crapped out apartment building? I don't see anything there worth saving.

LosAngelesSportsFan
Oct 31, 2013, 6:28 PM
exactly. nothing special there

202_Cyclist
Oct 31, 2013, 6:33 PM
A New Hotel in L.A. Celebrates its Koreatown Surroundings

By MATT TYRNAUER
October 21, 2013
NY Times

"A stately yet unstuffy hotel injects style into the vibrant Los Angeles neighborhood.

In L.A.’s golden age, when streetcars clanged past urban orange groves and Carmen Miranda was Hollywood’s nod to ethnicity, the high life thrived on a stretch of Wilshire Boulevard near Vermont Avenue. Today, a generation after gang wars and riots sapped the life out of this district, it has re-emerged as the lively epicenter of the city’s Koreatown, bustling with restaurants, nightclubs and shops. The area has long been off the tourist map, but this is about to change with the opening of the Line in November..."

http://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/21/accommodations-a-new-hotel-in-l-a-celebrates-its-koreatown-surroundings/

bobbyv
Oct 31, 2013, 7:43 PM
Are you talking about the dilapidated houses or the crapped out apartment building? I don't see anything there worth saving.

Yes the duplexes, I can't believe no one see's the potential in those.

brudy
Oct 31, 2013, 9:25 PM
^ Good example of not being super tall yet still being architecturally impactful to the area. The Broad will be another good example of this. An advantage to not building towers in LA is the elimination of the requirement for a podium and thus the potential for better street level aesthetics and interaction.

Yeah, these are two awesome looking buildings. I don't think everything can be that distinctive, as those are both purpose driven designs, but they will be spectacular.

brudy
Oct 31, 2013, 9:26 PM
exactly. nothing special there

That's what I thought too.

blackcat23
Nov 1, 2013, 2:45 AM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/10/excavation-underway-for-hollywoods.html

Excavation has started for the Columbia Square project.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YyQSwFOKovw/UnLngiMx59I/AAAAAAAABTA/krn4YFbD40Y/s640/DSC02254.JPG

The existing buildings fronting Sunset have been gutted.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8iW0OdSeOHY/UnMQh4VJu9I/AAAAAAAABTM/gBLyqlcGJ5E/s640/DSC02258.JPG

A little ways east, the Sunset Gordon tower is now working on it's 20th floor.

kelbeen
Nov 4, 2013, 3:33 AM
Here are some photos from Koreatown. I don't really know the names of these projects. The Vermont Towers have pretty nice glass, but I hope the parking podium gets fixed up, especially the western side.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3692/10662078173_a3b265940c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10662078173/)
Koreatown (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10662078173/) by Kelifornia (http://www.flickr.com/people/kelifornia/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5534/10661851845_ff7bcaf474_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10661851845/)
Koreatown (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10661851845/) by Kelifornia (http://www.flickr.com/people/kelifornia/), on Flickr

Vermont:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3832/10661855395_297221c16b_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10661855395/)
Koreatown (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10661855395/) by Kelifornia (http://www.flickr.com/people/kelifornia/), on Flickr

blackcat23
Nov 5, 2013, 11:18 PM
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/giant_cap_records_towers_wont_start_work_for_a_long_time.php

Millennium Hollywood not moving forward until the lawsuits against the project are settled.

In more cheery news, Kimpton Hotels is taking over development of a hotel project located just west. 16-stories, 225 rooms.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/11/kimpton-to-develop-hollywood-boutique.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1yR0MbcyDqI/Unh_Por9yZI/AAAAAAAABVE/HOcIoveBihA/s640/1800argyle.PNG

LA21st
Nov 5, 2013, 11:34 PM
A thought on Westwood Village. Granted I've only been there at lunch hour a few times, but is it really dying? Just about any city would love to have the foot traffic I saw today. I don't get why people say it's struggling.

AusTex
Nov 5, 2013, 11:51 PM
La Brea Avenue side, with some nice street trees
http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/dsc_1329-e1382837802738.jpg

Nice trees to cover the banal stucco cheapo look. Why-O-Why does LA allow this "cheap looking" siding on the majority of an exterior over 3 floors? 20% is OK, however, these new buildings just look cheap. 15 years in LA and I do not understand this" cheapening" of the LA cityscape. Demand More for LA.

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Nov 5, 2013, 11:52 PM
^You're preaching to the choir, buddy. We seem to complain about stucco boxes here nearly every other page.

Illithid Dude
Nov 6, 2013, 12:22 AM
A thought on Westwood Village. Granted I've only been there at lunch hour a few times, but is it really dying? Just about any city would love to have the foot traffic I saw today. I don't get why people say it's struggling.

It's only dying compared to how it was 20 years ago, and even then, it's been on the upswing recently. On it's own terms, it's fantastic.

Muji
Nov 6, 2013, 12:30 AM
I just passed by the northeast corner of 7th St and New Hampshire Ave, where bulldozers are now tearing up the old parking lot. This is the lot in the foreground of the second picture that Kelbeen posted. Basically, the second and third buildings of K2LA are now under construction.

Here's a reminder of what it'll look like when it's all done:
(rendering from Century West Partners (http://centurywestpartners.com/k2-los-angeles.html)):

http://centurywestpartners.com/images/k2-los-angeles4.jpg

blackcat23
Nov 6, 2013, 4:38 AM
Good. I had lunch in Koreatown this past Saturday and was wondering what the hold up was with the last parcel.

Speaking of bulldozers, heavy equipment set up shop today at the future site of the Platform. This is right across the street from Culver City Station.

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/50ff0703f92ea17ce8015297/Screen%20shot%202013-01-22%20at%201.32.14%20PM.png

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Nov 6, 2013, 2:32 PM
Awesome. I love hearing about TODs. despite the pace of metros expansion it seems like I don't hear of TODs being built or proposed very often.

WonderlandPark
Nov 14, 2013, 5:43 PM
It seems as if we have a competition for worst new apartment building:

Wilshire La Brea and this beast...wow...kinda a Mumbai-esqe train wreck..ungh

Palms Point
http://i40.tinypic.com/25zkllg.jpg
pic credit and link:
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/palms_building_boom_the_good_the_ok_and_the_hideous.php

SoCalKid
Nov 14, 2013, 5:48 PM
It seems as if we have a competition for worst new apartment building:

Wilshire La Brea and this beast...wow...kinda a Mumbai-esqe train wreck..ungh

Palms Point
http://i40.tinypic.com/25zkllg.jpg
pic credit and link:
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/palms_building_boom_the_good_the_ok_and_the_hideous.php

I don't understand how a professional architect could live with themselves after creating that. If that's what you do as a career, how could you be so bad at it?? I generally am not one to complain about architecture, but that is absolutely terrible. Makes the La Brea apartments look beautiful by comparison.

BrandonJXN
Nov 14, 2013, 5:48 PM
Wow. That makes Wilshire and La Brea look like a Zaha Hadid masterpiece. Absolutely the ugliest building in Los Angeles. Michael Graves would disapprove of this explosion of ugliness.

Illithid Dude
Nov 14, 2013, 7:04 PM
Is it bad that I absolutely love that building? It's just so wonderfully atrocious!

BrandonJXN
Nov 14, 2013, 7:22 PM
Meh. Looks like the Ramada in West Hollywood threw up on the Beverly Center.

blackcat23
Nov 15, 2013, 4:24 PM
Martin Expo Town Center

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/11/first-look-at-martin-expo-town-center.html

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IfVOyKX5eWk/UoVpmvfdr0I/AAAAAAAABYg/04qXD93fXmY/s640/martin1.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E3En38xRdr4/UoWjRhEYJnI/AAAAAAAABYs/P0ZV1xjHzUc/s640/martin2.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RbPwULMPGOM/UoWjgCGF3AI/AAAAAAAABY0/aaNKRsnHeu0/s640/martin3.png

Office building is supposed to be 10 floors/160 feet tall. The tallest residential building is 11 floors/130 feet. 516 apartments, 200,000 sq ft of office, 60,000+ sq ft of retail. Plus a 10,000 sq ft showroom for Martin Cadillac in the office tower. Nearly 1,800 parking spaces.

Unsurprisingly, the neighbors hate it.

Illithid Dude
Nov 15, 2013, 5:03 PM
Looks good conceptually, but I wish the architecture was better.

LAsam
Nov 15, 2013, 9:41 PM
It seems as if we have a competition for worst new apartment building:

Wilshire La Brea and this beast...wow...kinda a Mumbai-esqe train wreck..ungh

Palms Point
http://i40.tinypic.com/25zkllg.jpg
pic credit and link:
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/palms_building_boom_the_good_the_ok_and_the_hideous.php

Isn't there a city commission that has to review designs prior to permits being provided for construction? How can they allow this? Or do we just have zero design standards in LA?

Wilcal
Nov 16, 2013, 4:59 PM
Isn't there a city commission that has to review designs prior to permits being provided for construction? How can they allow this? Or do we just have zero design standards in LA?

I think the latter half of your sentence answered your question. Also, given the extent of this "monstrosity," I'm beginning to believe that TCA now deserves the Pritzker Prize for Wilshire and La Brea.

kelbeen
Nov 17, 2013, 12:28 PM
I took some photos around Hollywood. 11/17/2013

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3833/10902925446_d76353e8e6_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10902925446/)
Hollywood (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10902925446/) by Kelifornia (http://www.flickr.com/people/kelifornia/), on Flickr

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5484/10902873645_5332194b80_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10902873645/)
Hollywood (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10902873645/) by Kelifornia (http://www.flickr.com/people/kelifornia/), on Flickr

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/10903007874_13a4d5521d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10903007874/)
Hollywood (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10903007874/) by Kelifornia (http://www.flickr.com/people/kelifornia/), on Flickr

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2852/10903164123_00d6769001_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10903164123/)
Hollywood (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kelifornia/10903164123/) by Kelifornia (http://www.flickr.com/people/kelifornia/), on Flickr

JRinSoCal
Nov 17, 2013, 4:06 PM
Wow those are amazing kelbeen thank you!

Muji
Nov 17, 2013, 11:06 PM
Great pictures, Kelbeen. IIRC, the Emerson building is supposed to have a cafe on the ground floor, which could be superbe if they do it right.

StethJeff
Nov 18, 2013, 1:36 AM
Emerson is just amazing. Something like that on a bigger scale would look amazing downtown. Can't wait to see how this'll impact Hollywood.

XAVIERinSF
Nov 18, 2013, 3:02 AM
I agree with you Muji, a nice cafe that complements the building would be amazing for that stretch.

Wally West
Nov 18, 2013, 6:43 AM
Thanks kelbeen!

Looking at those Emerson shots, it's hard to believe that this was done in LA. It's a job well done and I can't wait for more of these type of buildings to replace parking lots and strip malls throughout LA.

Wilcal
Nov 18, 2013, 4:04 PM
Thanks kelbeen!

Looking at those Emerson shots, it's hard to believe that this was done in LA. It's a job well done and I can't wait for more of these type of buildings to replace parking lots and strip malls throughout LA.

And to think, this project was held up for years and years by Robert Silverstein and his money grubbing cronies. Its amazing what a hefty payoff will do.

Wally West
Nov 18, 2013, 8:03 PM
I just wished Robert Silverstein and his little group could sue projects like this instead. This one story project on Hollywood/Western is literally across a subway station!

http://i.imgur.com/cVPhqLD.jpg?1
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/construction_underway_at_hollywood_and_western_retail_project.php

LosAngelesSportsFan
Nov 18, 2013, 8:28 PM
agreed. its the dumbest project of them all. I emailed the developer asking about their horrible decision and obviously got no response.

blackcat23
Nov 18, 2013, 9:26 PM
Permits for shoring and foundation work were issued for Selma and Vine today. Assuming financing is already lined up, this one is now shovel ready.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/11/permits-issued-for-selma-and-vine.html

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1DJ8XAfxZ14/Ug7G8SMKMTI/AAAAAAAAASE/wtoy8I386t8/s640/1.jpg

Wilcal
Nov 19, 2013, 4:48 PM
I just wished Robert Silverstein and his little group could sue projects like this instead. This one story project on Hollywood/Western is literally across a subway station!

http://i.imgur.com/cVPhqLD.jpg?1
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/11/construction_underway_at_hollywood_and_western_retail_project.php

I think that past retail/mixed use projects by CIM were considered good, yet his one doesn't seem to make it. It's a busy corner just ripe for good design and should I say it--DENSITY; you would think that they would try to maximize their investment.

blackcat23
Nov 19, 2013, 5:00 PM
From what I read about the project a few months back, CIM is building to the limits of what the lot is entitled for. So while CIM probably could have been more aggressive in pursuing additional entitlements, the problem really lies with LA's way oudated zoning laws.

Wilcal
Nov 20, 2013, 5:17 PM
From what I read about the project a few months back, CIM is building to the limits of what the lot is entitled for. So while CIM probably could have been more aggressive in pursuing additional entitlements, the problem really lies with LA's way oudated zoning laws.

As usual, this city is too much. When concerning its incompetence, it rises to the occasion.

DistrictDirt
Nov 22, 2013, 2:54 AM
As usual, this city is too much. When concerning its incompetence, it rises to the occasion.

The city is in the middle of a full zoning rewrite. The process doesn't happen overnight.

Muji
Nov 24, 2013, 4:11 AM
Progress shot of Access Culver City at Washington and National, formerly Legado Crossing. The photo was taken yesterday by Gokhan over at the Transit Coalition forum (http://transittalk.proboards.com/thread/953/trackside-development-near-expo-line?page=8). This project has enormous potential to improve the pedestrian connection between the Expo stop and the Helms Bakery district.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-USvYcP0RBTQ/Uo_EaO5BnCI/AAAAAAAAMYI/CrX-QOq8gW4/w1200-h673-no/IMAG1274.jpg

202_Cyclist
Nov 24, 2013, 4:50 AM
Speaking of the Expo Line:

Expo Line Phase 2 past halfway mark
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/light-rail/expo-line-phase-2-past-halfway-mark.html?channel=54

losangelesnative
Nov 28, 2013, 3:33 AM
i cant wait for the century city towers to break ground next year

blackcat23
Dec 2, 2013, 7:03 PM
Take this with a grain of salt, but an SSC forumer says this is an unannounced proposal for Marina Del Rey.

Marina Del Rey Tower

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/11163970526_852cb42f3a_b.jpg

24-Story apartment high-rise

216 units

24,300 square feet if amenties

3,700 square feet of retail space

mdiederi
Dec 2, 2013, 7:12 PM
Take this with a grain of salt, but an SSC forumer says this is an unannounced proposal for Marina Del Rey.

Humphreys and Partners
http://www.humphreys.com/portfolio/on-the-boards-8/

I recognize a couple others on there from other cities that were proposed in the past five or six years and never built.

There's another one on there that was recently posted in the downtown thread, oops, I mean central city thread. Maybe funding is becoming available again and there are murmurs of reviving these?

caligrad
Dec 2, 2013, 8:36 PM
Even though this project is most likely a pipe dream and shouldn't be taken too seriously. IF it were to be built, its an ok looking tower, something a little different. But why marina del rey ??... I would think Century City or Hollywood would be a better fit. Hell I'll even take it in Long Beach HAHA

Illithid Dude
Dec 2, 2013, 9:38 PM
I remember that proposal from years ago. I believe the community shut it down.

blackcat23
Dec 2, 2013, 9:50 PM
I remember that proposal from years ago. I believe the community shut it down.

It does look kind of similar, I suppose.

http://grvnc.org/drupal-5.7/files/MDR_Birdseye_sm.JPG

bobbyv
Dec 2, 2013, 10:17 PM
Take this with a grain of salt, but an SSC forumer says this is an unannounced proposal for Marina Del Rey.

Charlotte called, wants its skyline back

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Dec 3, 2013, 12:25 AM
lol i would take that tower for DTLA in an instant over a lot of what we're getting in the eastern half of town (shitboxes)

Wilcal
Dec 3, 2013, 12:37 AM
lol i would take that tower for DTLA in an instant over a lot of what we're getting in the eastern half of town (shitboxes)

Are referring to the stumpy, seven story, stucco latrines that are so prevalent in our dense DTLA?

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Dec 3, 2013, 12:40 AM
Are referring to the stumpy, seven story, stucco latrines that are so prevalent in our dense DTLA?

but of course

RumbleFish
Dec 3, 2013, 7:43 PM
Charlotte called, wants its skyline back

That is Chicago actually

Muji
Dec 4, 2013, 1:58 AM
After two years of renovations, the rehabbed Hotel Normandie in Koreatown opened about a month ago. I believe that most of the interior work is complete, and they are still working on rebuilding the storefronts facing Sixth Street. Here's a then and now shot of the project (2011-2013) that I made for my blog. In the left background, you can also see a bit of the work they've done on The Line at Wilshire and Normandie, which should be opening early next year. For those who are interested, the original post is here (http://urbandiachrony.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/the-hotel-normandie-southwest-corner-of-sixth-street-and-normandie-avenue-september-2011-november-2013/).

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/hotelnormandiecorner-e1386122193282.jpg

blackcat23
Dec 4, 2013, 6:05 AM
After two years of renovations, the rehabbed Hotel Normandie in Koreatown opened about a month ago. I believe that most of the interior work is complete, and they are still working on rebuilding the storefronts facing Sixth Street. Here's a then and now shot of the project (2011-2013) that I made for my blog. In the left background, you can also see a bit of the work they've done on The Line at Wilshire and Normandie, which should be opening early next year. For those who are interested, the original post is here (http://urbandiachrony.wordpress.com/2013/12/02/the-hotel-normandie-southwest-corner-of-sixth-street-and-normandie-avenue-september-2011-november-2013/).

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/hotelnormandiecorner-e1386122193282.jpg

Took me a second to notice that they rebuilt the roof. It's a subtle change, but it makes a huge difference. Hard to believe that there was red brick underneath the plaster the whole time. What were they thinking?

blackcat23
Dec 4, 2013, 6:09 AM
Permits were issued for excavation/grading at 10000 Santa Monica Blvd earlier today. Still waiting on some others to make their way through Building and Safety, but Crescent Heights has permission to dig out the two-level basement now. We should start seeing more activity soon; hopefully circuitfiend is keeping his eyes peeeled!

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/12/excavation-permits-issued-for-10000.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VsIdwu9bUno/Up6toZARyJI/AAAAAAAABgo/ujjeXdXDqSg/s640/10000samo1.jpg

LosAngelesSportsFan
Dec 4, 2013, 6:40 AM
excellent redo of the normandie and great news blackcat. whats under construction (or soon to be) in CC now?

bobbyv
Dec 4, 2013, 8:49 AM
Took me a second to notice that they rebuilt the roof. It's a subtle change, but it makes a huge difference. Hard to believe that there was red brick underneath the plaster the whole time. What were they thinking?

Sadly the same can be said for the majority of the stucco houses you see all over Los Angeles, many of these cheap, ugly, tacky, monstrosities once had wood siding that made them look so much more appealing and gave neighborhoods character.

circuitfiend
Dec 4, 2013, 6:13 PM
[QUOTE=blackcat23;6362313]Permits were issued for excavation/grading at 10000 Santa Monica Blvd earlier today. Still waiting on some others to make their way through Building and Safety, but Crescent Heights has permission to dig out the two-level basement now. We should start seeing more activity soon; hopefully circuitfiend is keeping his eyes peeeled!


I check everyday. Nothing much has been going on for the last couple months. Yesterday, however, about 10 guys turned up looking around the property in the a.m., so I figured something must be up. I post pics as soon as there's something worth looking at.

Illithid Dude
Dec 4, 2013, 6:23 PM
I know I shouldn't, but I really love 1000 Santa Monica. I feel that cold, austere modernism is Century City, and that any attempt to built otherwise goes against the 'mid century future city' that is inherent to Century City's character. Look at the The Century, sticks out like a sore thumb.

LAsam
Dec 4, 2013, 8:31 PM
I thought there were seismic issues with 10000 Santa Monica. Fault line running underneath that location. Did those get cleared?

112597jorge
Dec 5, 2013, 2:31 AM
I thought there were seismic issues with 10000 Santa Monica. Fault line running underneath that location. Did those get cleared?

hopefully they have.

blackcat23
Dec 5, 2013, 5:43 AM
I thought there were seismic issues with 10000 Santa Monica. Fault line running underneath that location. Did those get cleared?

The LA Times ran an article about the Santa Monica fault line a few months back, but the property they focused on was 1801 Avenue of the Stars. Site of Westfield's proposed 39-story residential tower, and current home to a 14-story office building.

Since you piqued my curiosity, I took a look through the project's FEIR for some additional information. According to the geological study of Century City commissioned by Metro for the Purple Line extension, the 10000 SaMo site doesn't sit atop an active fault line. Sounds like this one is in the clear.

blackcat23
Dec 5, 2013, 4:37 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/12/residential-high-rise-proposed-in-west.html

376-unit residential tower proposed at 11750 Wilshire Blvd in West LA

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oNURRTGq5OY/Up5_vDgzPfI/AAAAAAAABgY/9CvSLUK64_Y/s640/11750wilshire.PNG

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Dec 5, 2013, 7:43 PM
I was in Hollywood this morning and it seems like they're starting to move ground on the Camden development. Workers and machinery were present.

LAsam
Dec 5, 2013, 8:34 PM
The LA Times ran an article about the Santa Monica fault line a few months back, but the property they focused on was 1801 Avenue of the Stars. Site of Westfield's proposed 39-story residential tower, and current home to a 14-story office building.

Since you piqued my curiosity, I took a look through the project's FEIR for some additional information. According to the geological study of Century City commissioned by Metro for the Purple Line extension, the 10000 SaMo site doesn't sit atop an active fault line. Sounds like this one is in the clear.

That's great news. Thanks for researching!

Illithid Dude
Dec 5, 2013, 9:06 PM
I was in Hollywood this morning and it seems like they're starting to move ground on the Camden development. Workers and machinery were present.

What's the Camden project again?

blackcat23
Dec 5, 2013, 9:21 PM
^
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1DJ8XAfxZ14/Ug7G8SMKMTI/AAAAAAAAASA/PnQLy9XdFjE/s1600/1.jpg

I believe there was a groundbreaking ceremony of some sort today.

WonderlandPark
Dec 9, 2013, 5:46 PM
Small lots housing on Melrose is moving right along

http://i41.tinypic.com/29x6ihj.jpg

blackcat23
Dec 11, 2013, 2:19 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/12/blighted-stretch-of-pico-may-get.html

This is a proposal on Pico, just east of Barrington Avenue. Not too far from the under-construction Expo/Sepulveda Station.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4t5hBA7IrvA/UqZs9tfl4jI/AAAAAAAABjQ/0l59um3E5f8/s640/11652pico.PNG

Hopefully the start of a trend. Very little worth saving on that section of Pico.

StethJeff
Dec 11, 2013, 5:55 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/12/blighted-stretch-of-pico-may-get.html

This is a proposal on Pico, just east of Barrington Avenue. Not too far from the under-construction Expo/Sepulveda Station.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4t5hBA7IrvA/UqZs9tfl4jI/AAAAAAAABjQ/0l59um3E5f8/s640/11652pico.PNG

Hopefully the start of a trend. Very little worth saving on that section of Pico.

What's the retail like on that section of Pico? My general attitude toward much of Pico is that there's actually a lot of retail throughout that street. I don't think that I'd be as concerned about ground floor retail on that street as I would be in DTLA for example.

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Dec 11, 2013, 6:19 PM
Pico is somewhat interesting. I agree there's lots of retail on the western part of street, esp near the westside pavillion. that street is hardly urban by any standard but despite that its always appeared very busy to me, and thus pretty prepped for some mixed users.

inSaeculaSaeculorum
Dec 11, 2013, 6:28 PM
Del

LA21st
Dec 11, 2013, 9:23 PM
Pico is somewhat interesting. I agree there's lots of retail on the western part of street, esp near the westside pavillion. that street is hardly urban by any standard but despite that its always appeared very busy to me, and thus pretty prepped for some mixed users.


It's urban to me. There isn't a lot of strip malls and surface parking lots. Most of the retail meets the street and it looks walkable. They're just mostly 1 story buildings. Parts of Chicago look like this.

LA21st
Dec 11, 2013, 9:24 PM
Pico is somewhat interesting. I agree there's lots of retail on the western part of street, esp near the westside pavillion. that street is hardly urban by any standard but despite that its always appeared very busy to me, and thus pretty prepped for some mixed users.


It's urban to me. There isn't a lot of strip malls and surface parking lots. Most of the retail meets the street and it looks walkable. They're just mostly 1 story buildings. Parts of Chicago look like this. Pico Robertson, Rancho Park etc.

Wally West
Dec 12, 2013, 1:10 AM
In classic LA fashion, a judge rules against Hollywood's new zoning plan and calls it "fatally flawed".

NIMBYs Win Battle Against Transit-Friendly Hollywood Growth (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/12/nimbys_win_battle_against_transitfriendly_hollywood_growth.php)

losangelesnative
Dec 12, 2013, 1:18 AM
i just saw that on curbed truly terrible decision :/