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BrandonJXN
Sep 19, 2008, 6:24 PM
^ That would look horrible in DT. It looks horrible in Century City. It reminds me of those numerous 1980's condo towers in the Wilshire Corridor. Like The Californian, The Diplomat, The Westwood, The Mirabella, La Tour, Park Wilshire, The Wilshire, Wilshire House, Regency Wilshire. I love those towers though. I love LA architecture circa 1985-1989. The Century would look perfect among those towers.

Quixote
Sep 20, 2008, 5:19 AM
^ I think it would look out of place in that sea of corporate boxes. But what LAB is saying is that The Century would've brought a touch of class and sophistication to Bunker Hill, combining luxury living with culture.

Bunker Hill deserves something more dramatic, anyways.

yakumoto
Sep 21, 2008, 9:55 PM
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/dktshb/DSC04466.jpg



I can't begin to imagine the amount of cocaine that will be passing through that place's doors once it opens.

Jonovision
Sep 22, 2008, 3:12 AM
Wow! Century went up some fast!

tujunga
Sep 22, 2008, 4:07 AM
I can't begin to imagine the amount of cocaine that will be passing through that place's doors once it opens.

Why do you say that? Is there something about this place or hood?

LosAngelesBeauty
Sep 22, 2008, 10:35 AM
^Ever heard of: Takes one to know one?

friedpez
Sep 22, 2008, 5:54 PM
Some photos from this weekend (9/21):

Broad view of Century City.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3153/2879018401_a0099f70d5_o.jpg

The Century up close. Looks like they've got another 8 to 10 floors left?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3229/2879018069_dac73b8009_o.jpg

I'm assuming the building under construction is the Beverly West Condos building. Is that correct?
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/2879017781_5547a9fda4_o.jpg

Steve2726
Sep 22, 2008, 6:29 PM
Some photos from this weekend (9/21):

I'm assuming the building under construction is the Beverly West Condos building. Is that correct?


You are correct sir-
http://www.beverlywestresidences.com/

Great photos btw.

friedpez
Sep 22, 2008, 7:29 PM
You are correct sir-
http://www.beverlywestresidences.com/

Great photos btw.


Thanks! Looks spiffy.

colemonkee
Sep 22, 2008, 8:50 PM
Nice shots, friedpez. It looks like the Century has reached it's first setback on the crown.

Echo Park
Sep 23, 2008, 2:53 AM
yakumoto never leave again

JDRCRASH
Sep 23, 2008, 6:44 PM
The Century looks like something that should be built in Dubai....I like it!

colemonkee
Sep 23, 2008, 8:37 PM
yakumoto never leave again
yakumoto's O.G. He started the original LA Downtown rundown thread.

Steve2726
Sep 25, 2008, 5:09 PM
according to this article-
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-mall25-2008sep25,0,4757492.story

the Wilshire Center residential project is toast and being replaced with retail-

From this:
http://www.gerdingedlen.com/project.php?id=44

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2007/2106471466_209f2dc20d.jpg

To this:

http://www.latimes.com/media/graphic/2008-09/42557933.gif


From the Times article-

"I'm a mad optimist," said Snyder, who bought the property at the southeast corner of the intersection after another developer scratched plans for a large-scale condominium project there as the housing market cooled.

He hopes to begin work on the $200-million vertical mall next year and finish by 2011. Financing is lined up, Snyder said, although there remains a chance that the current financial market turmoil could affect his lenders.

JRinSoCal
Sep 25, 2008, 10:06 PM
^^^At least its vertical. But damn I really liked those condo towers. LA doesn't need any more Beverly Centers.

DJM19
Sep 25, 2008, 10:30 PM
You dont often see movie theaters atop eleven stories of above-ground parking.

Just hope the architecture is good.

Quixote
Sep 25, 2008, 11:22 PM
http://la.racked.com/uploads/2008_9_WilshireVermont2.jpg

Wilshire and Vermont Mall Rendered: Where Is the Vertical? (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/09/rendered_wilshire_and_vermont_vertical_mall.php#more)

By Dakota
September 25, 2008

This morning, the LA Times hyped the vertical portion of the mall in
its story about that new mall (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/09/mall_trumps_housing_at_vermontwilshire.php) coming to Vermont and Wilshire, but uhm, now it's not looking that ground-breaking. Nor does one feel like they are in Asia, home of those futuristic vertical malls. Via Racked LA (http://la.racked.com/archives/2008/09/25/malled_whoapotential_sevenstory_vertical_mall_at_wilshire_and_vermont.php), two renderings of the planned 7-story mall that'll go up on the site of that planned--and now canceled--mixed-use housing project. And this $200 million project still could have housing, according to the Times, which notes the development will be done by 2011. In the close-ups of the renderings, the store names are variations of Prada and Gucci, so we're not betting a Target is headed here.

Malled: Whoa—Potential Seven-Story Vertical Mall at Wilshire and Vermont! (http://la.racked.com/archives/2008/09/25/malled_whoapotential_sevenstory_vertical_mall_at_wilshire_and_vermont.php) [Racked LA]

http://la.racked.com/uploads/2008_9_WilshireVermont.jpg

Quixote
Sep 25, 2008, 11:28 PM
^ It would be great if it were built in Downtown instead, perhaps replacing that hideous car wash across from LA Live?

JDRCRASH
Sep 26, 2008, 5:17 PM
Thats just what I was about to say. Much better location. Unfortunately, these 7 story malls tend to only work in super dense places like the Time Warner Center in Manhattan. Look what happened to the one in Hollywood. Whats good about this is that unlike the Grove, it's accessible by roads. I also like that it has that huge atrium with a glass ceiling so people can sit down on a bench nearby to relax.

Though I wonder what is going to go on the eighth floor, because that cut away view of the mall suggests that there are 8 levels (not counting the underground parking).

StethJeff
Sep 26, 2008, 5:47 PM
Without a crowded city, this really isnt necessary. People would rather stroll outside at the Grove or Americana than be stuck in a mall like this. Specifically, that corner isn't quite high-density enough.

Siam Square in Bangkok works because there are several important transit lines converging there, it's the center of activity, and there are several different attractions.

Quixote
Sep 28, 2008, 5:59 AM
Legacy Partners, the company behind 1600 North Vine, has broken ground on 5550 Wilshire (http://www.legacypartners.com/Legacy.asp?loc=r_dev15&div=R).

http://www.legacypartners.com/iqimages/res/res_dev_miracle_mile_rendering.jpg

http://www.legacypartners.com/iqimages/res/res_dev_miracle_mile_aerial.jpg

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5550 Wilshire

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2879358364_925f0352f3_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

StethJeff
Sep 28, 2008, 6:57 AM
Me likes. Is that like a streamline modern revival? For some reason it just sort of fits LA, especially on Miracle Mile.

Quixote
Sep 28, 2008, 6:58 AM
Directly west, across the street from 5550 Wilshire is 5600 Wilshire.

5600 Wilshire

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3091/2797753794_7a20c0080e_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2797760474_46483ab78e_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/2796880097_21cf011a93_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2796877069_085f092027_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2797719466_1218efa472_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3066/2797739706_6984de5255_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed


And directly west of 5600 Wilshire is Viridian, developed by the Hanover Company. These photos were taken in June.

Viridian

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3021/2575381993_3634583c94_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2576208108_12c220c22e_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3255/2576211502_2c29bcd647_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

Quixote
Sep 28, 2008, 7:00 AM
Me likes. Is that like a streamline modern revival? For some reason it just sort of fits LA, especially on Miracle Mile.

Same. I too love the Streamline Moderne/Art Deco-inspired design of 5550 Wilshire.

StethJeff
Sep 28, 2008, 7:27 AM
Same. I too love the Streamline Moderne/Art Deco-inspired design of 5550 Wilshire.

Sort of wish it were interspersed more throughout the city. Don't want it to be overdone, but its a terrific style nonetheless. With so many great Deco buildings on Wilshire (Southwestern U/Bullocks comes to mind), it honors while remaining modern.

StethJeff
Sep 28, 2008, 7:32 AM
By the way, I just noticed something on 5600 Wilshire that makes me think I've been missing something for a long time. The Wilshire side of the building has no balconies but the Ridgely(?) side does. Is it common architectural practice to create a clean face for the building's facade on the side facing a major thoroughfare? I feel like an idiot and get the impression that the answer has always been YES.

Quixote
Sep 28, 2008, 7:53 AM
Montage Beverly Hills

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2821715797_071b199573_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2822555602_7669a9a68f_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/2821722055_25d235f6b5_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3285/2821728241_2355269ded_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3013/2821731399_0a37a3b649_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2822571466_5cba98d6ff_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/2821740379_3e651709ec_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2821742941_77f681a760_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3103/2821745717_3f0d4b88f4_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2821748611_d73da99d39_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

dktshb
Sep 28, 2008, 4:45 PM
Great updates all along the Wilshire corridor. Now if only the subway was there already... Westsidelife, thanks for posting them. Oh and to lacurbed too.

Tanster
Sep 28, 2008, 6:02 PM
I wonder how those buildings look when they age... Will it have the old look to it or the dirty cheap look..?

dktshb
Sep 28, 2008, 6:34 PM
I wonder how those buildings look when they age... Will it have the old look to it or the dirty cheap look..?
I wish they would use the brighter caribbean colors in LA more than the boring muted color palate often used.

StethJeff
Sep 28, 2008, 8:03 PM
I wonder how those buildings look when they age... Will it have the old look to it or the dirty cheap look..?

i got a feeling Montage won't age well.

Quixote
Sep 28, 2008, 8:23 PM
Since they all mimic older styles, I think they will age fine.

Quixote
Sep 28, 2008, 8:57 PM
Hancock Lofts is located at Santa Monica and Hancock.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/2890436713_70d04288da_o.png
From Flickr, by lacurbed

Hancock Lofts

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2877630317_0d475fd2aa_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/2877626247_0d2511489a_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3264/2878468474_3bd7be343b_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

bjornson
Sep 29, 2008, 5:50 AM
Since they all mimic older styles, I think they will age fine.

Having similarities to older styles does not equal "age fine." In architecture, it's called a duck. A lot of what we see above will not age well. Especially the Wilshire infill. The quality of materials is very important. As beloved as that streamline deco structure seems to be, the end product will probably be a stucco covered structure which is all wrong material wise. Oh well.

LosAngelesBeauty
Sep 29, 2008, 8:05 AM
Surprised no one posted this so far (not even on LA Curbed).

It's at the intersection of Olympic and La Cienega in Beverly Hills called DARLING TOWER.

The construction fencing has been erected around the perimeter of the site.

From their website: www.darlingtower.com

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/9536/71674227ks9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/6435/48358016cy4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Yes, that is Donald Sutherland. I'm confused.

dweebo2220
Sep 29, 2008, 8:31 AM
That's a viral marketing campaign for the TV show Dirty Sexy Money.

Quixote
Sep 29, 2008, 8:32 AM
I hope that doesn't get built. It would be so out of place.

LosAngelesBeauty
Sep 29, 2008, 8:45 AM
That's a viral marketing campaign for the TV show Dirty Sexy Money.


But there's actual construction fencing around the lot? I don't get it.

JDRCRASH
Sep 29, 2008, 3:54 PM
Thats weird.

JRinSoCal
Sep 29, 2008, 4:14 PM
Why is there skyscrapers in the background in that rendering? Dumb!

colemonkee
Sep 29, 2008, 9:00 PM
^ Because it's not a real project. If you look at the legal copy on the site, it's owned by ABC, who, last time I checked, develops TV shows, not buildings.

DowntownCharlieBrown
Sep 30, 2008, 1:23 AM
That’s a very clever ad campaign. For the cost of putting a fence around one of their parking lots, they have an ad for one of their TV shows that has the potential to get a lot of publicity.

LosAngelesBeauty
Sep 30, 2008, 5:47 AM
haha I was fooled!

JDRCRASH
Sep 30, 2008, 6:28 PM
Who would want to name a building "The Darling Tower", anyways? Sounds retarted.

Quixote
Oct 10, 2008, 2:34 AM
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3094/2926891917_47020df0d5_b.jpg

Hollywood's Palladium Sign Up, New Hotel Coming? (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/10/hollywoods_famous_palladium_sign_up_new_hotel_coming.php)

By Dakota
October 9, 2008

Chop, chop, Palladium! Only one week left till the big Jay-Z show. Today, the old Palladium got its new sign, a close replica of the original 1940s sign (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/09/a_look_at_your_renovated_hollywood_palladium.php), according to project architect Christopher Coe, who said his firm studied old postcards and film footage to nail down the details. And some old-timey Hollywood glamour for you: At night, the letters will light up red, blinking on in descending order. And how about this tidbit that we didn't seem to, err, know about: One of developers who is behind the Palladium project, Ravi Choudhry, said he is talking to hotel operators who have "had significant interest" in the site--a parking lot off El Centro-- located directly behind the Palladium.

While just in the talking phase, a hotel behind the Palladium is one consideration for the area, he said. The theory is that a nightlife spot could be served well by a hotel, and create a "golden era Las Vegas"-type synergy on this stretch of Sunset. Interesting! Doable?

And while he wouldn't elaborate on what hotels were interested, we got a sense that perhaps a chain like a Hard Rock Hotel would be a contender. But all of this talk is very preliminary, he stressed, adding that housing, retail, and office space for the lot have all been considered as well.

Additionally, both sides of the Palladium venue have 5,000 square feet of restaurant space, respectively. The developers are talking to restaurants for both spaces. And as previously noted, the venue opens October 15th.

Hollywood's Palladium Shows Off Its Paint Job (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/09/creamy_green_hollywoods_palladium_shows_off_its_colors.php) [Curbed LA]
A Look At Your Renovated Hollywood Palladium (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/09/a_look_at_your_renovated_hollywood_palladium.php) [Curbed LA]
Jay-Z To Re-Open Palladium, But What Will Theater Look Like? (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/08/jayz_to_reopen_palladium_but_what_will_theater_look_like.php) [Curbed LA]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2926894037_8eddf5a926_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3116/2926904599_901a57b254_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2926900329_00d5a2bdb6_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2926902455_f9f55a70c7_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3237/2927752156_934d7e0f00_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2926898215_cec46a74ca_b.jpg

StethJeff
Oct 10, 2008, 7:25 AM
Who would want to name a building "The Darling Tower", anyways? Sounds retarted.

Oh

my

God.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

LA420
Oct 11, 2008, 10:05 PM
Great pics WestSIDE... thats cool :tup: that they are restoring it. The only thing I see is a lot of blank space. I hope they can put something in the front to make more interesting. Right now it just looks empty from outside. I know it still early to tell, so will see.

Tanster
Oct 14, 2008, 6:12 AM
They should add LEd screens like the El capitan

JDRCRASH
Oct 14, 2008, 7:40 PM
Oh

my

God.

:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

:lmao:

JDRCRASH
Oct 18, 2008, 1:41 AM
:gaah:.....:brickwall:

From Curbed:

Leafy Green Horror: Jean Nouvel Tower Shelved Indefinitely (IOW, On-Hold, not Cancelled)

Friday, October 17, 2008, by Neal Broverman

One of the first high-profile casualties of the economic collapse, Jean Nouvel's pretty green tower ain't happening, at least not in the immediate future. The Los Angeles Business Journal's Daniel Miller reports that SunCal—developer of the 45-story, 177-unit condo tower—released a statement saying, "We have been unable to obtain assurances of continued funding that would allow us to move forward with confidence at this point in time." The LABJ says the project has been shelved, but SunCal keeps the door open by saying they hope to restart the project as soon as financing is shored up. Earlier this month, SunCal gave out a not entirely reassuring-sounding statement on the project, claiming that it was still going forward. But some may be happy with the latest news—as seen in the comments in an earlier post, 10000 Santa Monica was seen by some as a pedestrian-killing "monster of a building that would house fifty or so billionaires."

dktshb
Oct 18, 2008, 2:18 AM
:previous: Not familiar with the project but if it truly would be a pedestrian-killing monster of a building that would house fifty or so billionairesI am not too upset.

dktshb
Oct 18, 2008, 2:50 AM
How about an update:

1600 N. Vine and The W Hotel:

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/dktshb/Hollywood002-1.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/dktshb/Hollywood001.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/dktshb/DSC04496.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/dktshb/Hollywood017-2.jpg
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/dktshb/DSC04495.jpg

Jay-Z opened on Oct. 15th here and the recently completed Palladium:
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a28/dktshb/DSC04504.jpg

colemonkee
Oct 18, 2008, 4:11 PM
:previous: Not familiar with the project but if it truly would be a pedestrian-killing monster of a building that would house fifty or so billionairesI am not too upset.
That argument over this project is typical NIMBY nonsense. People were opposed to it purely because of its size, not on what it would do to the pedestrian experience on Santa Monica - which, by the way, is non-existent at the moment.

Great update dktshb. 1600 Vine looks like it's really coming along. I really think the few projects that made it through this cycle are going to create livable areas that will make the next cycle that much more exciting.

JDRCRASH
Oct 18, 2008, 9:40 PM
^Well really now, how could there be fifty or so Billionaires that would call a unit in that tower "home"?

dktshb
Oct 23, 2008, 12:21 AM
:previous: I think the author of that would call it a bit of satire, it is not to be taken literally. Like I said I wasn't aware of the project but take colemonkey's opinions with high regard so I am sorry that NIMBY's were able to destroy another project that would have added density and not have been the pedestrian-killing experience that the author mentioned some argued it would be.

However, there are some projects out there that get support just because of their size and I think we can demand more and not settle for just anything. I am all for more density and mixed use TOD development but I deplore the above ground parking structures sprouting up under the condo towers downtown and feel they are the wrong direction as far as I am concerned. They are just suburban structures on steroids as far as I am concerned.

Quixote
Oct 26, 2008, 9:16 AM
1600 North Vine

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2973191326_94ddd963ee_b.jpg
From Flickr, by jeremy!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/2973191998_cb9af2c88f_b.jpg
From Flickr, by jeremy!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2972343457_42fa7ecd8b_b.jpg
From Flickr, by jeremy!


The Palladium

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/2972342425_92c2c5336a_b.jpg
From Flickr, by jeremy!

edluva
Oct 26, 2008, 10:29 AM
that is a big project. LA just needs a few hundred more of these and then we can begin to look like a real city

friedpez
Oct 26, 2008, 8:37 PM
Here's some pics I took of The Century and Beverly West yesterday afternoon.

Closeup
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2975027495_fa30828eef_o.jpg

Broad view
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3216/2975027267_ec8f68ae6c_o.jpg

Beverly West
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2975027693_fbc42d585d_o.jpg

I love how The Century seems to stand so tall and slim when you're driving eastbound on Santa Monica Blvd from the 405...

JDRCRASH
Oct 27, 2008, 3:02 AM
However, there are some projects out there that get support just because of their size and I think we can demand more and not settle for just anything. I am all for more density and mixed use TOD development but I deplore the above ground parking structures sprouting up under the condo towers downtown and feel they are the wrong direction as far as I am concerned. They are just suburban structures on steroids as far as I am concerned.

Yes, i've been feeling a little worried about stuff like 717 Ninth for a while because that gives NIMBY's the opening they need to express they're traffic concerns...

DowntownCharlieBrown
Nov 3, 2008, 7:06 AM
From Curbed LA
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/10/big_wetherly_project_will_take_out_a_few_residences.php#reader_comments

The Wetherly Project

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3074/2997999755_d79b75ec14_o.jpg
Curbed LA

Meet the Wetherly Project, a very large development planned for a swath of land around S. Wetherly Drive and Almont Drive, right near the Four Seasons Hotel. According to city planning documents (the project is in the environmental impact report stage), the development "would demolish 84 existing apartment and condominium units in seven buildings and construct approximately 132 condominium units in one 16-story building (208 feet tall) and eight townhouse units in a three-story building (35 feet tall)." And 350 parking spaces will go in a subterranean parking structure, too. That big building in the rendering is the 16-story tower, but it's not immediately clear where the smaller three-story building is. If you're one of those who would lose their home over this, we hope there's a big buyout awaiting you. Oh, and the architect is Nadel Architects and they are looking for LEED Silver certification on the building.
· The Wetherly Project [City Planning Dept]

colemonkee
Nov 3, 2008, 7:10 AM
^ Reminiscent of the now defunct Mill Street Lofts.

DowntownCharlieBrown
Nov 3, 2008, 7:23 AM
^That's right. I thought it looked familiar.


Made a few changes to the front page.

Changed this:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2007/2106471466_209f2dc20d_m.jpg
gerding edlen

to this:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/2998831234_0071cc06dd_o.jpg
Curbed LA


Moved 10000 Santa Monica and Hotel Emhurst to "On Hold"

Quixote
Nov 5, 2008, 11:40 AM
Darn, Measure H failed only by a slight margin. No Waldorf=Astoria for Beverly Hills. :(

On the other hand, my hometown of South Pasadena voted in favor of Measure SP.

JDRCRASH
Nov 5, 2008, 4:15 PM
^ Perhaps; but more importantly, it looks like Measure R is gonna pass!!!

DJM19
Nov 5, 2008, 9:08 PM
Darn, Measure H failed only by a slight margin. No Waldorf=Astoria for Beverly Hills. :(



That sucks. NIMBYism at its legislative worst.

edluva
Nov 5, 2008, 11:51 PM
oh well, who gives a shitt...its bev hills anyways

LosAngelesBeauty
Nov 6, 2008, 12:54 AM
Could be a good opportunity for Downtown LA to woo Waldorf-Astoria to build a hotel tower there. Hilton seems to have direct plans to expand the W-A brand in exclusive markets means that other attractive locations could still be considered. The fact that Ritz-Carlton has a strong chance of becoming very successful could be the right kind of guinea pig Hilton will keep watch and possibly decide to join the Downtown LA band wagon if Ritz Carlton does as well as we hope.

StethJeff
Nov 6, 2008, 1:56 AM
Could be a good opportunity for Downtown LA to woo Waldorf-Astoria to build a hotel tower there. Hilton seems to have direct plans to expand the W-A brand in exclusive markets means that other attractive locations could still be considered. The fact that Ritz-Carlton has a strong chance of becoming very successful could be the right kind of guinea pig Hilton will keep watch and possibly decide to join the Downtown LA band wagon if Ritz Carlton does as well as we hope.

Luckily R/1a will help to continue focusing attention on DTLA as the center of activity in Los Angeles.

JDRCRASH
Nov 6, 2008, 5:16 AM
^I agree, hence my R/1A reaction comments on the Downtown thread.

edluva
Nov 6, 2008, 2:23 PM
^^^yea definitely dtla real estate downturn will be buffered by the mere prospect of growing into a transit hub. there will finally be a "there" in this mess of a city, and LA will finally one day come into its own. sense of place, context, and all that architectural jazz will begin to be relevant here.

JDRCRASH
Nov 6, 2008, 7:23 PM
The Century

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2008-11-century_city.jpg
From Flickr by Kingofthehill

StethJeff
Nov 6, 2008, 10:45 PM
^^^yea definitely dtla real estate downturn will be buffered by the mere prospect of growing into a transit hub. there will finally be a "there" in this mess of a city, and LA will finally one day come into its own. sense of place, context, and all that architectural jazz will begin to be relevant here.

wow ed, that almost sounded like, dare i say it, optimism?
:tup:

edluva
Nov 7, 2008, 12:00 AM
yeah, there is seldom reason for it in LA, but measure R and HSR are big deals. I'm not the type to be pessimistic merely to be pessimistic. There are reasons.

Kingofthehill
Nov 9, 2008, 7:20 AM
The Century

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2008-11-century_city.jpg
From Flickr by Kingofthehill
I'm flattered ;)

colemonkee
Nov 9, 2008, 8:44 PM
The Century from Culver City on a very windy Sunday morning.

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/1875/century20081109bl4.jpg

friedpez
Nov 10, 2008, 12:31 AM
^ Cool, that's an angle I've never seen before.

colemonkee
Nov 10, 2008, 2:32 AM
It's from the roof of the parking garage on Cardiff in downtown Culver City. It has some pretty decent views, and it's free for 2 hours.

JDRCRASH
Nov 11, 2008, 7:51 PM
Good shots Colemonkee.

wow ed, that almost sounded like, dare i say it, optimism?


:haha:

yeah, there is seldom reason for it in LA, but measure R and HSR are big deals. I'm not the type to be pessimistic merely to be pessimistic. There are reasons.

Like the fact that Measure H failed; but your right, R and 1A are important pieces of a puzzle that will bring more people to Union Station, and therefore, Downtown.

I'm flattered ;)


It's better than nothing! :tup:

JDRCRASH
Nov 11, 2008, 8:18 PM
From Curbed LA,

Westfield Century City Goes to Planning Commission

Monday, November 10, 2008, by jwilliams

A reader emails in regarding the upcoming November 13th City Planning Commission hearing which will decide the fate of the proposed expansion of Westfield's Century City mall complex:

"This Thursday, the city Planning Commission will decide whether or not Westfield can proceed with its plan to tear down the historic 1801 Avenue of the Stars in Century City (designed by Welton Becket) in order to replace it with a residential tower. The new tower would be three times the height of the current landmark building (it’ll be nearly 49 stories and 560 feet, making it the tallest building on Santa Monica Blvd.) Part of the oddity of this project is that though Westfield has been touting this tower as a centerpiece of the new Century City, they have never shown the designs of this building to the public. Up until now, some renderings have been buried in the Environmental Impact Reports, but the tower’s never been pictured in their brochures, nor on their website."


And about that new tower?:

"Finally, this past week, a week before the hearing, Westfield sent a glossy brochure to the commissioners that contained just a few drawings (see attachments.) The design is by Rios Clementi Hale, a firm that has never before designed a residential high rise. Century City does not have a design review board. If the Commission approves this project, not only will we lose an historic building, but we also also find it replaced by something that is barely above a sketch on a cocktail napkin. There is no scale model to review. No virtual walkthrough. These drawings are all we have of what would be the most visible building in Century City."


Per the Planning Commission agenda, City Planning is recommending approval of the project. The agenda further fleshes out what is proposed: Proposed Project: "Demolition of 360,964 square feet of office building at 1801 Avenue of the Stars and 1930 Century Park West and reconfiguration of shopping center space at 10250 Santa Monica Boulevard. Construction of 358,881 square feet of retail space, 106,523 square feet of new office space and 262 residential units within a 49-story building with a maximum height of 579 feet measured from the plaza level of the Shopping Center."

colemonkee
Nov 12, 2008, 1:52 AM
Uhhhh, what historic building is being lost in Century City? Correct me if I'm wrong, but nothing in Century City has been designated as historic, has it?

LosAngelesSportsFan
Nov 12, 2008, 3:04 AM
the building being torn down is a hideous building from the 70's. enough said.

yerfdog
Nov 12, 2008, 7:26 AM
I think it's a pretty nice late-modern midrise tower. Not super notable, but it's far from the ugliest building in Century City.

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2009.10.becket2.jpg

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2009.10.becket.jpg

From http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/11/curbedwire_la_times_clock_back_sciarceconomy_talk_1801_avenue_of_the_stars.php#more

LosAngelesBeauty
Nov 12, 2008, 10:00 AM
I like what I read here. Bloomingdales would be moved out facing the street meeting new pedestrians as they come out of the future subway station. The fact that a new tower/Bloomingdales wouldn't be done for another 5 years or so makes it that much closer to an actual real subway going to Century City in the next 10 years. Century City may be transformed to an actually urban area with people walking around everywhere!


Is it just me, or does this Martha Groves sounds SUPER biased against the Westfield project in her writing below?
--------------------

latimes.com
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-century12-2008nov12,0,946242.story?track=ntothtml
From the Los Angeles Times

Ambitious mall project moving ahead in Century City
Westfield is pursuing an $800-million development that would move Bloomingdale's, add retail and office space, and replace a Westside landmark with a 49-story tower.
By Martha Groves

November 12, 2008

Unlike some cash-strapped competitors in the shopping center business, Westfield has nearly $7 billion in the bank and can't wait to start knocking down buildings and digging dirt for an ambitious expansion of its Century City mall.

The $800-million project entails relocating Bloomingdale's, adding retail and office space, razing one of the original twin "Gateway" buildings designed by Welton Becket and replacing it with a 49-story tower with 262 apartments or condos.

Despite a boom in high-rise development in Century City that has surrounding neighborhood groups on high alert, the mall expansion has experienced remarkably smooth sailing for a proposal of its size.

On Thursday, the city Planning Commission is expected to approve the Australian company's environmental impact report, paving the way for passage by the City Council. The project has the backing of Councilman Jack Weiss, who represents Century City and has received more than $8,000 in contributions from Westfield executives for his city attorney campaign.

Westfield has also been a big donor to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, giving him $100,000 for his committee to take over the school district and $50,000 for his 2007 U.S. Conference of Mayors, held in Century City.

The Westfield project reflects a new direction in Century City's core, which for decades featured mostly offices and hotels but is now creating hundreds of upscale residences. Westfield says the mall expansion would add to the "live, work, shop and play" vibe.

Neighborhood groups contend that the project is too big and too tall and will produce too much traffic. But traffic isn't their only concern. They say the development will further strain already inadequate services, from police and fire to schools, libraries and electric and water utilities.

"We have a huge project and no corresponding infrastructure to go with it," said David Tyrone Vahedi, an attorney who is running for City Council in District 5, which includes Century City. "When they're selling these condo units for $3 million, do they tell these people that there's very little police protection? That there's traffic congestion and so few officers that response time is unacceptable?"

For years, Century City and environs have experienced an almost unrivaled building boom. Century City in particular has been a hotbed of construction, with projects including 2000 Avenue of the Stars (which replaced the ABC Entertainment Center) and Westfield's $170-million first-phase redo of the outdoor shopping center, including a rooftop dining deck, enlarged movie theaters and, most recently, a parking system that directs patrons to available spaces (green light overhead) and away from occupied spaces (red light overhead).

Also underway is Related Cos.' 39-story condo tower at the site of the former St. Regis Hotel on Avenue of the Stars. Down the street at the corner of Constellation Boulevard, JMB Realty Corp. of Chicago plans three condo towers.

In nearby Beverly Hills, the Montage resort hotel is scheduled to open this month. And the Beverly Hilton is hoping that a final vote count on Measure H will allow it to proceed with a 12-story Waldorf-Astoria hotel and two luxury condo towers.

Some residents say that the accumulation of projects will inevitably exacerbate traffic problems. Westfield's environmental impact report concluded that the expansion would indeed worsen traffic.

"People are saying, 'We can't take any more density until we have the ability to offer [transit] alternatives,' " said Barbara Broide, president of the Westwood South of Santa Monica Homeowners Assn. "We are hoping that the council district office, the Planning Commission and the City Council all realize that a project of this magnitude can't be built as proposed unless some strong investments are made in the community."

Westfield executives counter that urban density beats sprawl. The company plans to encourage other Century City businesses to participate in a shuttle program for the area's 40,000 employees, and it envisions adding a station to link up with a proposed "Subway to the Sea" or another Metro mass transit program.

"This sort of development will lead to a much better and much more integrated Century City," said Peter Lowy, Westfield's co-chief executive, who heads the company's U.S. operations.

By demolishing two high-rise office towers, he added, Westfield will be reducing peak-hour traffic. (The other structure is the Houlihan Lokey office building on Century Park West, which will be replaced with a five-story parking structure with a rooftop parking level and two existing below-ground levels. The project calls for adding 1,899 spaces, for a total of 4,529 spaces for retail, office and residential.)

Lowy said the company is eager to establish a proper retail frontage on Avenue of the Stars and Santa Monica Boulevard, which would be accomplished in part by relocating Bloomingdale's from the mall's core to the new tower on the avenue.

Westfield acknowledges that it is negotiating with a coalition of neighborhood groups, which are urging the company to contribute funds that could be parceled out to police, fire, schools and other community services. As of Tuesday, no settlement had been reached.

Then there's 1801 Avenue of the Stars, one of the twin glass-and-aluminum gateway buildings featured in the 1961 Century City master plan developed by Welton Becket & Associates. After the 1957 repeal of the city's 150-foot building height limit, Century City was conceived as a high-rise satellite commercial center. The full plan, for a pedestrian-friendly, beautifully landscaped zone, was never realized.

In a Nov. 4 letter, the Los Angeles Conservancy urged the Planning Commission to consider alternatives to demolition. But Westfield contends that it would be impossible to convert the building to condos and build a transit station.

"I think there's a lot that's good about this project," Weiss said. "At this point in time, with this economy, it would be public policy malpractice to tell someone who wants to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in your community to go take a hike," he said.

Groves is a Times staff writer.

martha.groves@latimes.com

Times staff writer David Zahniser contributed to this report.

LAsam
Nov 12, 2008, 11:02 PM
I really don't see a good reason why that building should be saved... it's just a generic 60s/70s era office tower.

WonderlandPark
Nov 13, 2008, 1:23 AM
Unprecedented building boom? They took down one high rise and put up something bigger -1, +1, took out the Schubert and put up a mid-rise +.5 and redid a mall. Hardly a unprecedented boom. How about when Century City went up in the 60's. Now that was unprecedented.

And remind me to watch this "David Tyrone Vahedi" guy, sounds like a panderer to the NIMBY crowd. Hope he goes nowhere in the next election. And now the R has passes, the infrastructure is coming.

JDRCRASH
Nov 13, 2008, 1:45 AM
Sigh......sometimes I just wish I could literally put corks in some of these people's mouths that have nothing better to do than bring more NIMBY crap.....

tujunga
Nov 13, 2008, 2:49 AM
While I wouldn't say the building is hideous it certainly is not worth saving.

LosAngelesSportsFan
Nov 13, 2008, 3:37 AM
ya, maybe i overreacted a bit. lol

colemonkee
Nov 13, 2008, 6:14 AM
To be honest, I'd have to see what they're proposing to build before I lean either way on this one. I like the main components of the plan, like turning some of the retail toward the street and adding residents, but if they're going to build a poorly-designed, painted-concrete 49-story eyesore, I'd rather keep what's there. If the design is any better than what's already there, I say good riddance.

LosAngelesBeauty
Nov 13, 2008, 6:09 PM
^ Since this is Westfield's corporate location I believe, and the fact that they've already done a great job revamping the old mall, I think the new tower would probably be somewhat reflective of the current mall's design, which would probably be "modern, glass." The fact that Bloomingdales would be on the ground floor makes me quite confident that extra attention will be paid to making the tower just a bit more aesthetically pleasing than the current Becket "landmark" tower.

colemonkee
Nov 13, 2008, 7:29 PM
One would definitely hope, and I'm an eternal optimist so I too have a positive outlook on this tower. But I don't want to rush to judgement. Can't wait to see a rendering.

fridayinla
Nov 13, 2008, 7:38 PM
^You guys can see several renderings here:

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2008/11/westfield_century_city_goes_to_planning_commission.php

fridayinla
Nov 13, 2008, 7:41 PM
Better yet:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3029/3020096110_9f3c01b61b_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/3019255411_684e227d60_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3283/3019260135_bd24ddeb37_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/3019256927_22c5dac32e_b.jpg

BrandonJXN
Nov 13, 2008, 7:49 PM
Beat me to it. I'm glad that there is a spur of development happening in our 'La Defense.'

WonderlandPark
Nov 13, 2008, 7:53 PM
I had no idea that the heights in CC were regulated by FAA restrictions. I thought the heights were in the 500' range by the original plan. Interesting. 587' seems to be the max you can build there.

And The Century is 480' according to that diagram.

JDRCRASH
Nov 13, 2008, 8:01 PM
I like how there is alot of open space in the project. It adds to the lure of a mall.

BrandonJXN
Nov 13, 2008, 8:04 PM
Now to get that subway down there. Hopefully by 2015...well..2020.

JDRCRASH
Nov 13, 2008, 8:07 PM
Well, you guys may want to forget about that 49 story tower; its been reduced to 39 stories. Neighborhood activists, it looks like you win this fight......:grrr:

From Curbed LA,

Westfield Century City Update

Thursday, November 13, 2008, by jwilliams

The City Planning Commission is hearing the request for the big Westfield expansion in Century City this morning. We're listening in online. So far, Planning has testified in support of the project, noting the ideal location and the opportunity to "activate the street" along Santa Monica Boulevard with the reorientation of the mall. ALSO, the 49-story residential tower is no more. In its opening statement, Westfield reps announced the tower has been reduced to 39-stories and the total square footage for the project reduced by 175,000 square feet.

BrandonJXN
Nov 13, 2008, 8:33 PM
That's not awful by any means.

JDRCRASH
Nov 13, 2008, 8:40 PM
Well, since half the people on this thread will likely agree with you, then I will as well. Still, I would have liked the design of the 49-story proposal.