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SimonLA
Nov 23, 2014, 6:28 PM
Was in Hollywood yesterday, which was its usual lively self; with tons of tourists, young hipsters, and, of course, street people. The latter (a group that was especially filthy and frightening) were parked at the site of that forthcoming eight-story office building on Vine, just south of the Montalban Theater. Please tell me that thing is breaking ground soon?
Also the Eastown apts (formerly Blvd6200) are soon to add retail and enliven the blvd. With the quake controversy I wonder if they'll ever break ground on the second phase across the street--Hollywood's most egregious surface parking lot.

http://s3-media4.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/gscgubqa3Uoir8tAm3FbfQ/l.jpg

blackcat23
Nov 23, 2014, 8:15 PM
The 3033 Wilshire nothing too exciting, but it should fit in well with its neighbors, so I hope it gets off the ground as soon as possible. It's a little sad right now how quickly the pedestrian activity dies off on Wilshire east of Vermont Avenue.

They need things to walk to first! Right now there are a some underfilled office towers, in addition to the building Jamison Services recently converted to apartments. 3033 Wilshire should help things along, as well as the new 400-unit project at 6th Virgil. With Mayor Garcetti now directing Metro to build more housing at its stations, I'm sure we'll see something crop up for the bus layover facility at Wilshire/Shatto Pl. in the near future.

Was in Hollywood yesterday, which was its usual lively self; with tons of tourists, young hipsters, and, of course, street people. The latter (a group that was especially filthy and frightening) were parked at the site of that forthcoming eight-story office building on Vine, just south of the Montalban Theater. Please tell me that thing is breaking ground soon?
Also the Eastown apts (formerly Blvd6200) are soon to add retail and enliven the blvd. With the quake controversy I wonder if they'll ever break ground on the second phase across the street--Hollywood's most egregious surface parking lot.

The Nov/Dec newsletter from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce says J.H. Snyder Co. plans to break ground on 1601 Vine Street before the end of this year.

Phase two of Blvd 6200 lies almost entirely outside the 500-foot zone surrounding the Hollywood fault line. A tiny sliver at the northwest corner of the property hits it, which could mean that that Clarett could have to perform subsurface trench testing.

Of course, I'm sure Clarett is still expecting tons of opposition to the project.

Flavius Josephus
Nov 23, 2014, 8:54 PM
As I've said before, I think a lot of Hollywood developers are biding their time until LADCP redoes the HCPU (or the Court of Appeal reverses the trial court) before they start submitting plans. They don't want to end up with the worst of all worlds - losing a revenue-producing parking lot while unable to get any rents for whatever they build because of NIMBY lawsuits leaving it half built.

ChelseaFC
Nov 23, 2014, 9:43 PM
Also the Eastown apts (formerly Blvd6200) are soon to add retail and enliven the blvd. With the quake controversy I wonder if they'll ever break ground on the second phase across the street--Hollywood's most egregious surface parking lot.


Going to have to build a huge garage somewhere for all of the Pantages patrons.

blackcat23
Nov 24, 2014, 6:46 PM
http://ktla.com/2014/11/24/iconic-ktla-radio-tower-to-be-taken-down-moved-to-original-location/

Iconic KTLA Radio Tower Being Taken Down, Moved to Original Location

https://tribktla.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/ktla-tower1.jpg?w=770&h=433

The relocation of the broadcast tower is a prelude to the next phase of the Sunset Bronson Studios expansion. The centerpiece 14-story office building, which would sit at Sunset/Van Ness, is supposed to start excavation in January.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M04EWsYePLw/VBD-HlrdbnI/AAAAAAAAEA8/7ZYwP0s8kMc/s900/icon.PNG
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/09/big-sunset-bronson-studios-expansion-to.html#more

SimonLA
Nov 24, 2014, 11:25 PM
Expo Line's Sepulveda station looking good. Hopefully that spot gets a lift, like the Culver City station did to that area.
http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/54738dedf92ea108cf03389b/image%20(4).jpeg
More here: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/11/expo_line_sepulveda_stop_more_than_80_percent_complete.php#reader_comments

blackcat23
Nov 25, 2014, 2:02 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/11/affordable-housing-project-takes-form.html

Not super exciting, but this is a 40-unit affordable housing complex near the intersection of Vermont and Pico. This is a pretty shabby stretch of Vermont, although I'd much rather have seen this replace the adjacent gas station instead of a church. Project is being developed by the West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ywTJmxAbPAk/VHJB8bTa5rI/AAAAAAAAE1w/ioTioDrZhL4/s900/DSC03772.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bvSUeD6qL34/VHJDXYfwfMI/AAAAAAAAE18/m1cQ5slfmcM/s1600/manzanita.jpg

Kingofthehill
Nov 26, 2014, 9:05 AM
yeah, there was a nice mid-century church at that intersection, iirc. shame it had to go for something so ordinary and disposable!

Flavius Josephus
Nov 26, 2014, 2:33 PM
yeah, there was a nice mid-century church at that intersection, iirc. shame it had to go for something so ordinary and disposable!

It's going to make life much easier for 40 households, which isn't nothing.

Eightball
Nov 27, 2014, 3:05 AM
There has been enough incremental progress on the Culver City Expo Line Stop buildings that I'm going to post an update:

Access Culver City is framing out the 2nd floor now:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7516/15700933620_6eaefa04a9_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pVroy5)Culver City expo line stop (https://flic.kr/p/pVroy5) by thaeisahtbizall (https://www.flickr.com/people/73028294@N00/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8624/15265969234_f02e9c1d8b_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pg15N7)Culver City expo line stop (https://flic.kr/p/pg15N7) by thaeisahtbizall (https://www.flickr.com/people/73028294@N00/), on Flickr

At The Platform an interesting mosaic has been put up, but not fully shown:
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7487/15265969044_0f26a1e6d5_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pg15JQ)Culver City expo line stop (https://flic.kr/p/pg15JQ) by thaeisahtbizall (https://www.flickr.com/people/73028294@N00/), on Flickr

The Platform buildings:
https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8618/15888232655_7a002ee59e_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qcZm2M)Culver City expo line stop (https://flic.kr/p/qcZm2M) by thaeisahtbizall (https://www.flickr.com/people/73028294@N00/), on Flickr

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8654/15888232605_09a49c7e0c_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qcZm1V)Culver City expo line stop (https://flic.kr/p/qcZm1V) by thaeisahtbizall (https://www.flickr.com/people/73028294@N00/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7519/15700933070_5ae7cf18d6_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pVrooA)Culver City expo line stop (https://flic.kr/p/pVrooA) by thaeisahtbizall (https://www.flickr.com/people/73028294@N00/), on Flickr

blackcat23
Nov 28, 2014, 2:30 PM
^The Platform looks very promising. Certainly beats the abandoned car dealership that was there before!

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/11/k-town-apartments-finally-shooting.html

K2LA from this past weekend:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WQPWIKrp0A/VHJWRiB-cZI/AAAAAAAAE2U/XeNHKYd5On8/s900/DSC03753.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vkw3wHzy4Es/U-_t6k9dzQI/AAAAAAAAD3c/9MTVdIxy54U/s900/newhampshire.jpg

brudy
Nov 28, 2014, 6:50 PM
The lack of ground floor retail stinks on those buildings. This area needs everything it can get at this point.

AndrewK
Nov 28, 2014, 8:43 PM
The lack of ground floor retail stinks on those buildings. This area needs everything it can get at this point.
That stretch of 7th is entirely residential. You dont get any commercial until a block over when it hits Vermont.

Busy Bee
Nov 28, 2014, 9:44 PM
^The Platform looks very promising. Certainly beats the abandoned car dealership that was there before!

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/11/k-town-apartments-finally-shooting.html

K2LA from this past weekend:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9WQPWIKrp0A/VHJWRiB-cZI/AAAAAAAAE2U/XeNHKYd5On8/s900/DSC03753.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vkw3wHzy4Es/U-_t6k9dzQI/AAAAAAAAD3c/9MTVdIxy54U/s900/newhampshire.jpg


What's with all that stupid landscaping? What's wrong with just meeting the sidewalk with the building?

AndrewK
Nov 28, 2014, 11:49 PM
What's with all that stupid landscaping? What's wrong with just meeting the sidewalk with the building?

Looks like it's to obfuscate the ground level parking garage.

Flavius Josephus
Nov 29, 2014, 3:22 PM
While I like ground floor retail, it's not like every building needs it. Happy to let market forces do their work here, maybe with occasional zoning requirements where it's clear that developers' short-termism is preventing the development of the amenities necessary for a thriving neighborhood long-term. But not on every building, at least outside downtown.

And on the topic of K-town, the Times's Christopher Hawthorne pens an ode to the neighborhood in all its weird and wonderful glory: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-koreatown-immigration-architecture-20141130s-story.html#page=1

caligrad
Nov 29, 2014, 9:50 PM
That project on sunset already has its cranes up and operational. Surprised we haven't heard much about it on here lately.

kelbeen
Dec 1, 2014, 4:19 AM
10000 SM
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7502/15169565524_df0286ba23_h.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/p7tZkb)10000 Santa Monica Blvd-0684 (https://flic.kr/p/p7tZkb) by Eesomest (https://www.flickr.com/people/36838463@N03/), on Flickr

blackcat23
Dec 1, 2014, 2:12 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/new-look-for-culver-city-adjacent-mixed.html

New rendering for the NMS project on the Palms/Culver City border

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--2hA-VucpKM/VHYIM66spmI/AAAAAAAAE3o/FCv6qfHUgKs/s1000/nsmculvercity.jpg

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6cDZ7vTqli0/VHqXWySYL5I/AAAAAAAAE4w/LWfuMQBX_d4/s1000/DSC03788.JPG

Steve2726
Dec 1, 2014, 7:53 PM
^^^
Wow, that thing is potentially seizure inducing.
:runaway:

Muji
Dec 2, 2014, 12:25 AM
It looks like the architects simply decided to take a bunch of design elements from early Modernism (cantilevered balconies, skinny columns, protruding rectangular frames) and cram them in as densely as possible. It'll probably turn out all right given that it's a Killefer Flammang project, but it's definitely a lot to look at!

Muji
Dec 2, 2014, 1:47 AM
For those who'd like to get their blood boiling, Curbed LA has a little writeup on the NIMBY opposition to the mixed-use apartment building planned at Hillhurst and Hollywood. In a particularly insane turn, opponents don't think that the building's 397 proposed parking spaces for 200 units is enough, despite being just one block away from a Red Line station.

Link: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/12/los_feliz_says_400_parking_spaces_not_enough_for_hollywoodhillhurst_mixeduser.php

brudy
Dec 2, 2014, 2:55 AM
For those who'd like to get their blood boiling, Curbed LA has a little writeup on the NIMBY opposition to the mixed-use apartment building planned at Hillhurst and Hollywood. In a particularly insane turn, opponents don't think that the building's 397 proposed parking spaces for 200 units is enough, despite being just one block away from a Red Line station.

Link: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2014/12/los_feliz_says_400_parking_spaces_not_enough_for_hollywoodhillhurst_mixeduser.php

Yeah, that's totally bonkers. They're worried about traffic yet want more parking? WTF? They can't even get their complaints right.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 2, 2014, 6:11 PM
Fortnightly case filing is out. http://cityplanning.lacity.org/CNCRpts/dsp_viewFileDetail.cfm?filename=303. Notable filings:

- 1311 N Cahuenga (Hollywood) - big mixed user with 369 apts, 12 live-work, 30 micro units, and commercial.
- 808 S Broadway (DTLA) - facade renovations and live/work adaptive reuse. 8 stories.
- 6740 N Hazeltine (Van Nuys) - 36 unit, 3-4 story mixed user.
- 5750 W Hollywood (Hollywood) - another mixed user, 7 stories, 161 units, 4.7k sqft retail and 18.6k sqft open space.
- 103 S Doheny (Mid City West/Beverly Center area) - 5 story apts, 35 units, 3.66k sq ft open space in tiny bulge of LA surrounded on three sides by Bev Hills
- 3743 S Midvale (Palms) - 13 unit apt building, basically what you'd expect from Palms.
- 3900 N Stansbury (Sherman Oaks) - Buckley School expansion
- 1130 S Roxbury (Pico-Robertson/South Robertson) - 4 story, 25 unit apt building. Again, basically what you'd expect in apt-heavy Pico-Robertson.
- 6030 S Seabluff (Playa Vista) - 5 story, 75 unit condo bldg
- 12099 W Waterfront (Playa Vista) - 5 story office, surface parking (groan)
- 12126 W Waterfront (Playa Vista) - 6 story office, parking
- 400 S Catalina (K-town) - 6 story, 80 unit apt bldg, replacing existing 18 unit apt bldg
- 301 S Harvard (K-town) - 30 unit apt bldg
- 3350 W Wilshire (K-town) - 4 story, 120 unit apt bldg (unclear if it has a mixed use element - it would be crazy if it didn't on Wilshire
- 3875 W Wilshire (K-town) - 16 story, 220 unit residential building (again, unclear if there's going to be any street-facing retail). Note that address appears to correspond to the historic Wilshire Professional Building; I hope they're talking about building it on the parking lots rather than destroying the building, which is under consideration for Historic-Cultural Monument status (and deserves it). http://planning.lacity.org/StaffRpt/CHC/12-4-14/CHC-2014-3202.pdf. If it's proposing to demolish the building, this is one project I'd be happy to see stay in NIMBY purgatory.

Muji
Dec 2, 2014, 8:12 PM
Agreed about the Wilshire Professional Building. Similarly, 3350 Wilshire is the address of the former Texaco tower designed by Welton Becket, so I hope that the proposed 4-story mixed-user is replacing the parking garage behind the building.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 3, 2014, 2:28 AM
Paywalled article at LA Business Journal's blurb suggests Yahoo is leasing space in Playa Vista. http://www.labusinessjournal.com/accounts/login/?next=/news/2014/dec/01/yahoos-search-office-ends/

LosAngelesSportsFan
Dec 3, 2014, 3:53 AM
Yup, about 110,000 sq ft

blackcat23
Dec 3, 2014, 2:09 PM
Paywalled article at LA Business Journal's blurb suggests Yahoo is leasing space in Playa Vista. http://www.labusinessjournal.com/accounts/login/?next=/news/2014/dec/01/yahoos-search-office-ends/

And now, to completely steal Yahoo's thunder...

http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-playa-property-sale-20141203-story.html#page=1

Google buys 12 acres in Playa Vista

http://www.trbimg.com/img-547e88ce/turbine/la-119671-fi-0119-playa-1-ajw-jpg-20141202/750/750x422

Google Inc. is making a bold move to expand in Southern California, the nation's nexus of technology and entertainment.

The tech titan has spent nearly $120 million on 12 vacant acres next to a historic hangar where aviator Howard Hughes built his famous "Spruce Goose" airplane in the Playa Vista neighborhood near Marina del Rey. The land is zoned for nearly 900,000 square feet of commercial space that could house offices or studios, vastly more room than Google now occupies in a handful of buildings in Los Angeles County.

Google is also expected to lease the Hughes hangar built in 1943. The 319,000-square-foot building has recently housed soundstages for movie and television production.

"This is phenomenal news for the Westside and for the Los Angeles economy," said City Councilman Mike Bonin, who represents the Playa Vista area. "It really makes and brands Playa Vista as the tech and innovation capital of Los Angeles."

The Mountain View, Calif., company wouldn't detail its plans. But if Google is to develop the land as zoned, the Playa Vista site and the Hughes hangar could be home to as many as 6,000 well-paid, highly educated workers. Internet firms such as Google commonly set aside about 200 square feet per employee.

blackcat23
Dec 3, 2014, 2:19 PM
- 3875 W Wilshire (K-town) - 16 story, 220 unit residential building (again, unclear if there's going to be any street-facing retail). Note that address appears to correspond to the historic Wilshire Professional Building; I hope they're talking about building it on the parking lots rather than destroying the building, which is under consideration for Historic-Cultural Monument status (and deserves it). http://planning.lacity.org/StaffRpt/CHC/12-4-14/CHC-2014-3202.pdf. If it's proposing to demolish the building, this is one project I'd be happy to see stay in NIMBY purgatory.

No way they'll demolish this beauty:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qDjwDfbhye0/VH3OqKC_fEI/AAAAAAAAE5g/nSLopWkse_0/s1600/3875wilshire.jpg
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/new-wave-of-residential-developments.html

The building is owned by Jamison Services, which may point to a residential conversion like they did to one of their vacant buildings near Wilshire/Vermont Station. On the other hand, their website indicates that the Wilshire Professional Building is substantially leased.

They had filed plans to build a six-story apartment building on the adjacent parking lot a couple of years ago, but there been no progress.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AM6PdGhEj1A/UkuJ_ryDvpI/AAAAAAAABC4/lZoJY249yMg/s900/3875wilshire.jpg
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/10/jamison-services-bringing-apartments-to.html

If it is in fact a new tower, hopefully its designed with care. Besides the historic office building, the block to the north along St. Andrews is inhabited by several attractive old apartment buildings.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 3, 2014, 2:37 PM
And now, to completely steal Yahoo's thunder...

http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-playa-property-sale-20141203-story.html#page=1

Google buys 12 acres in Playa Vista



Hahaha. I wonder if Google was waiting to announce that until immediately after the Yahoo news broke to remind everyone who's really king of the tech world.

Anyway, hopefully this will prompt LADCP to look at updating the Playa Vista Specific Plan. If the whole site is developed, even as a low-rise, this is a lot of employees and--unless they can live nearby--a lot of traffic. A good excuse to do a bit of residential upzoning, especially since in Playa Vista you don't have legacy single family neighborhoods to worry about.

Edit: Per Silicon Valley Business Journal and Markets Wired, the total floor area zoned for offices on those 12 acres is about 900k sq ft, although I assume that Google will basically get whatever it asks for given Bonin's quotes in the LAT piece. There is also talk that Google may not be done yet - those rumors about a lease from Ratkovich in the actual historic Spruce Goose hangar are still floating around. Maybe an interim office while the 12 acres are developed? http://www.marketswired.com/stock-update-google-inc-nasdaqgoogl-buys-land-in-playa-vista/26925/

Flavius Josephus
Dec 3, 2014, 2:42 PM
No way they'll demolish this beauty:

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/new-wave-of-residential-developments.html

The building is owned by Jamison Services, which may point to a residential conversion like they did to one of their vacant buildings near Wilshire/Vermont Station. On the other hand, their website indicates that the Wilshire Professional Building is substantially leased.

They had filed plans to build a six-story apartment building on the adjacent parking lot a couple of years ago, but there been no progress.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2013/10/jamison-services-bringing-apartments-to.html

If it is in fact a new tower, hopefully its designed with care. Besides the historic office building, the block to the north along St. Andrews is inhabited by several attractive old apartment buildings.

I'd initially thought it might be a resi conversion, but the description as new rather than adaptive reuse made me think otherwise. Also, the Wilshire Professional Building is described as 13-story on some websites, although that might be the number that are actually currently leasable rather than the number built. I guess we'll see once more details emerge--the Art Deco Society and LA Conservancy will presumably kick up a lot of fuss if anything messes with the historic building's integrity.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 3, 2014, 4:15 PM
Meanwhile, file this one under "separating fools from their money": http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-arcadia-immigration-architecture-20140511-story.html#page=2

brudy
Dec 3, 2014, 4:30 PM
With Yahoo and Google getting land out there, I wonder what that means for the May Co building and the rumored tech tenant?

bzcat
Dec 3, 2014, 5:51 PM
Hahaha. I wonder if Google was waiting to announce that until immediately after the Yahoo news broke to remind everyone who's really king of the tech world.

Anyway, hopefully this will prompt LADCP to look at updating the Playa Vista Specific Plan. If the whole site is developed, even as a low-rise, this is a lot of employees and--unless they can live nearby--a lot of traffic. A good excuse to do a bit of residential upzoning, especially since in Playa Vista you don't have legacy single family neighborhoods to worry about.

Edit: Per Silicon Valley Business Journal and Markets Wired, the total floor area zoned for offices on those 12 acres is about 900k sq ft, although I assume that Google will basically get whatever it asks for given Bonin's quotes in the LAT piece. There is also talk that Google may not be done yet - those rumors about a lease from Ratkovich in the actual historic Spruce Goose hangar are still floating around. Maybe an interim office while the 12 acres are developed? http://www.marketswired.com/stock-update-google-inc-nasdaqgoogl-buys-land-in-playa-vista/26925/

It will be difficult to up-zone or re-zone any part of Playa Vista due to previous litigation. The existing low rise mid density design was a compromise to appease the no-build NIMBYs and idiot faux-environmentalists.

Playa Vista is already jam packed with Google employees so this will actually potentially reduce a lot of traffic demands surrounding arterial roads if existing employees at Venice campus relocates to the Playa Vista campus. The real opportunity for up-zone will be the Del-Rey neighborhood immediately north of Playa Vista... there is potential for housing a lot of Google employees there.

What Playa Vista really needs is Google Bikes... since who knows when the LA County bike share system will be launched, and when, if ever, it will make it to Playa Vista.

The Playa Vista Phase II traffic mitigation plan also calls for direct bus service to Expo Line so looks like Big Blue Bus and Culver City Bus will be fighting a juicy turf war over this new prime territory.

blackcat23
Dec 4, 2014, 2:23 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/plans-emerge-for-playa-vistas-remaining.html

As Flavius mentioned earlier in the week, there are two new office buildings planned in Playa Vista, catacorner to the Google-owned property. The land is owned by Tishman Speyer, and is entitled for up to 400,000 square feet of office space.

Five-story building plus surface parking on the north property, six-story building on the south property.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gunei-EtMxQ/VH6I9AoqsoI/AAAAAAAAE7Y/YnH0qSSBqDY/s1000/waterfrontdr.PNG

Flavius Josephus
Dec 5, 2014, 2:42 AM
The continually stalled Catalina/Kenmore tower in K-town looks set to suffer yet another setback. Staff recommend denying the requested zoning changes as too tall for the immediate area. http://cityplanning.lacity.org/staffrpt/initialrpts/CPC-2006-8689.pdf. The Reseda Watermark fares better, with a recommendation for approval (with a very minor change to add "T" requirements for street improvements).

Flavius Josephus
Dec 8, 2014, 2:12 AM
NYT does another piece on LA, this one actually not patronizing: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/07/opinion/sunday/los-angeles-city-of-water.html?_r=1

blackcat23
Dec 8, 2014, 2:41 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/toy-manufacturer-planning-mixed-use.html

MGA Entertainment is planning to turn the former LA Times Chatsworth printing plant into a campus-style development.

700 apartments, 14,000 sq. ft. retail, 43,000 sq. ft. leasable office space, and MGA's new corporate HQ. Designed by Killefer Flammang.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atoMnl644nI/VIKe92h9K7I/AAAAAAAAE8c/sTi6nepMDds/s1000/mga3.PNG

Flavius Josephus
Dec 8, 2014, 8:04 PM
Good news for retrofit contractors! http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-earthquake-safety-retrofit-20141208-story.html

Flavius Josephus
Dec 10, 2014, 5:24 AM
Torrance issues environmental docs for Regional Transit Center (buses only for now, but adjacent to the Harbor Subdivision and likely to see a Green Line South Bay Extension station sometime in the future). http://www.torranceca.gov/28014.htm

blackcat23
Dec 10, 2014, 2:25 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/finishing-touches-on-culver-city.html

Culver City Update (the Oliver, 30 apartments, 8,500 sq. ft. retail)

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fLVEHKLq68/VISQCxBqICI/AAAAAAAAE9o/zcGMmiOWhG4/s1000/DSC03820.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FIJHh3ATnas/U2aD0W2OJ4I/AAAAAAAADLA/jEB3lBOH65M/s1000/oliver.jpeg

Flavius Josephus
Dec 10, 2014, 4:22 PM
LAT economics piece again talks about the need for more housing supply. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ucla-economic-forecast-20141210-story.html. Maybe we're finally starting to see LAT turn away from its reflexive NIMBYism?

blackcat23
Dec 11, 2014, 2:23 PM
LAT economics piece again talks about the need for more housing supply. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ucla-economic-forecast-20141210-story.html. Maybe we're finally starting to see LAT turn away from its reflexive NIMBYism?

Now if we could just get the rest of the city to do so.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/shiny-new-rendering-for-academy-square.html

Here's a more refined rendering for the Academy Square development from Kilroy Realty. Designs from Joey Shimoda. Specs, if you've forgotten are a 23-story tower with 250 apartments or 200 apartments/100 hotel rooms and 288,000 sq. ft. of retail, restaurant and office space three four-story buildings.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TJVys3SH2rw/VITPE8qdFqI/AAAAAAAAE-Q/kBrEb8RpwPU/s1600/academy.jpg

brudy
Dec 11, 2014, 5:34 PM
It looks neat, that's for sure. But I don't know, there's a sort of futurist suburban quality to it. Parts of the city are being remade, but I'm still not sure we're maxing it out in the right way. It feels un-urban to me, kind of like if you had asked people in the 80's what the LA of 2020 would look like, this would be it. Still, it's a neat design. Reminds of the house of mirrors I went to at the budget amusement park as a kid. In a good way, of course.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 11, 2014, 9:45 PM
Alhambra mall redevelopment. Includes apts. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-property-report-alhambra-20141211-story.html?track=rss&cid=dlvr.it&dlvrit=52116

Flavius Josephus
Dec 14, 2014, 12:29 AM
LAT covers El Monte's unexpected development boom. http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-el-monte-chinese-20141213-story.html

Lesson: if you're a municipality in the LA area and open to development, you're probably going to get development. And, as always, great to see a traditionally neglected community get some investment.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 14, 2014, 1:44 AM
Misc development-related stuff from LA City Council's upcoming meetings:

- Affordable housing expansion at 720 W Washington http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2014/14-1698_mot_12-10-14.pdf
- New affordable housing at 3200 W Temple http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2014/14-1632_mot_12-02-14.pdf
- Good news on CEQA, as the City Attorney proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the process, getting developers to pay for the City to hire private counsel rather than relying on overworked City Attorneys. This should allow (1) additional city attorneys for publc projects and community planning, since they'll have a lower private project caseload, and (2) may enhance both the in-court lawyering and the ability to fix CEQA problems before it's too late by freeing up the city attorneys to advise LADCP more. http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2014/14-1606_rpt_atty_11-25-14.pdf http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2014/14-1606_rpt_bfc_12-8-14.PDF (Mike Feuer seems serious about reforming the office, with another motion also scheduled dealing with creating a panel of outside counsel to help recover workers' comp payments from third parties responsible for the injuries http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=14-1542).
- LA's submissions for Metro Call For Projects grant funding have prompted a letter-writing campaign from supporters of the North Figueroa bikeway project that CM Cedillo cancelled. http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=14-1680
- The City is close to receiving a grant for eTOD (equitable Transit Oriented Development) staff at the Mayor's Office from the California Community Foundation. http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=14-1511
- Metropolis money-go-round: gets tax incentives worth $13.5m, http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=14-0029, and pays just shy of $5m in community benefits (split between affordable housing, parks, and Broadway streetscape improvements), http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2014/14-0029-S1_mot_12-10-14.pdf.
- Redevelopment abolition fallout continues, with the City executing option agreements with the winding-down CRALA for various properties and receiving an assignment of certain payment rights from Hollywood Highland. http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=14-0425 http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2014/14-0120-s1_MISC_12-8-14.pdf
- Da Vinci Fire fallout motion - http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2014/14-1688_mot_12-09-14.pdf (contingency plans). I assume an initiation of litigation closed session is likely in the near future too.
- Seismic Retrofit oral report to council likely coming: http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=14-1697
- Century City Center has another PLUM hearing. http://cityclerk.lacity.org/lacityclerkconnect/index.cfm?fa=ccfi.viewrecord&cfnumber=14-1130
- LADCP appears to have received a grant for sustainable development planning, which it seems to be using in part to develop LA's SB743 (level of service to vehicle miles traveled change under CEQA) implementation plan.

Elsewhere:
- Santa Monica's Pier Bridge Replacement Project enters the environmental phase. http://www.ceqanet.ca.gov/DocDescription.asp?DocPK=687288
- Robertson/La Peer project (Robertson Lane Hotel, Factory site) in WeHo also issues an NOP. http://www.ceqanet.ca.gov/DocDescription.asp?DocPK=687199
- Extension of time limits for a Disney office development project in Burbank. http://www.ceqanet.ca.gov/DocDescription.asp?DocPK=687163
- DEIR for Pomona College's new Master Plan. http://www.ceqanet.ca.gov/DocDescription.asp?DocPK=687220

kelbeen
Dec 15, 2014, 12:49 AM
10000 SaMo Blvd
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7532/15385263254_18e3c6cbd2_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/prxuKy)10000 Santa Monica Blvduntitled00410722 (https://flic.kr/p/prxuKy) by Eesomest (https://www.flickr.com/people/36838463@N03/), on Flickr

blackcat23
Dec 15, 2014, 2:26 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/hollywood-cherokee-apartments-get.html

Hollywood Cherokee Apartments get a redesign (Champion Real Estate, Withee Malcom Architects, 224 apartments, 1,000 sq. ft. retail)

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rARvRDuPKkg/VIqBkOms3WI/AAAAAAAAFAI/yXEvfW-VdiA/s1000/Capture.PNG

SimonLA
Dec 15, 2014, 7:27 PM
Fencing and large JH Snyder sign are up at that eight-story office building on Vine, just north of the Bed Bath & Beyond (strangely there are still some cars in that parking lot though). The fencing is good because it keeps out a loud, extremely filthy homeless contingent that hung out there (though I think they just moved across the street, just north of Trader Joe's). The mixed-user--with the Equinox--across the street is now on its second floor. Sorry, no pictures. Hopefully, next time.

Does anyone have the California Court link to the Target case? I'd like to know what's going on. Thanks.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 15, 2014, 9:35 PM
Fencing and large JH Snyder sign are up at that eight-story office building on Vine, just north of the Bed Bath & Beyond (strangely there are still some cars in that parking lot though). The fencing is good because it keeps out a loud, extremely filthy homeless contingent that hung out there (though I think they just moved across the street, just north of Trader Joe's). The mixed-user--with the Equinox--across the street is now on its second floor. Sorry, no pictures. Hopefully, next time.

Does anyone have the California Court link to the Target case? I'd like to know what's going on. Thanks.

Last I heard, the case was still pending at the Court of Appeals (the Supreme Court decided not to hear Target's appeal of the denial of a stay of the trial court decision pending appeal). Checking now...

Edit:
1. Hollywood Community Plan Update is almost fully briefed--looks like it will be calendared for oral argument (or submitted on the papers) later this week. http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2083034&doc_no=B257712
2. No idea what's going on in Il Villagio Toscano, but it looks like the developer/city lost a petition for a writ of mandate against the trial court and are filing for review by the Supreme Court. The way the case caption is written makes me think it's an interlocutory issue related to some motion or other, not an appeal of a final judgment. http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2089832&doc_no=B259356 http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=0&doc_id=2091904&doc_no=S222344
3. Sunset Gordon is about half way through the briefing process, decision still a while away. http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/disposition.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2091351&doc_no=B259672
4. The briefs will be done in Target in a few weeks. As noted above, the Supreme Court declined to review the denial of a stay pending appeal. http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2084287&doc_no=B258033

DistrictDirt
Dec 15, 2014, 10:27 PM
Last I heard, the case was still pending at the Court of Appeals (the Supreme Court decided not to hear Target's appeal of the denial of a stay of the trial court decision pending appeal). Checking now...

Edit:
1. Hollywood Community Plan Update is almost fully briefed--looks like it will be calendared for oral argument (or submitted on the papers) later this week. http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2083034&doc_no=B257712
2. No idea what's going on in Il Villagio Toscano, but it looks like the developer/city lost a petition for a writ of mandate against the trial court and are filing for review by the Supreme Court. The way the case caption is written makes me think it's an interlocutory issue related to some motion or other, not an appeal of a final judgment. http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2089832&doc_no=B259356 http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=0&doc_id=2091904&doc_no=S222344
3. Sunset Gordon is about half way through the briefing process, decision still a while away. http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/disposition.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2091351&doc_no=B259672
4. The briefs will be done in Target in a few weeks. As noted above, the Supreme Court declined to review the denial of a stay pending appeal. http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/case/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=2&doc_id=2084287&doc_no=B258033

The NIMBY nonsense in Hollywood is so frustrating. But what makes me feel slightly better about it is looking at the big picture: knowing that every blocked, delayed, and downsized project in Hollywood is Downtown's gain. In the long term, the more difficult it is to build in other parts of the city, the more development gets funneled towards LA's most development friendly neighborhood: DTLA.

SimonLA
Dec 15, 2014, 10:34 PM
Thank you Flavius--you're a wealth of knowledge. Anxious to see Target and Sunset Gower move forward. Development movement in Hollywood is now sadly confined to Sunset and south thanks to the state geologist.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 15, 2014, 11:17 PM
Uber lease in SM. http://www.labusinessjournal.com/news/2014/dec/15/uber-parks-larger-santa-monica-offices/

And study on WeHo Eastside. http://www.wehoville.com/2014/12/15/new-study-charts-growth-wehos-eastside-calls-challenges/

edluva
Dec 16, 2014, 12:37 AM
...every blocked, delayed, and downsized project in Hollywood is Downtown's gain. In the long term, the more difficult it is to build in other parts of the city, the more development gets funneled towards LA's most development friendly neighborhood: DTLA.

that's ridiculous. LA needs dense residential and commercial all over. rooting for DTLA at the expense of everywhere else is not going to make the city as a whole more walkable or appealing. it's perpetuating the same ignorance that drives NIMBYs. and anyway, how do you know demand in DTLA is necessarily linked to supply in hollywood or elsewhere? of all american cities, LA has been traditionally best characterized by sporadic development with decades of utter neglect in parts and heavy investment in others with little collateral effect (LA has never acted as a singular urban mass, remember?)

on the contrary, the victory of NIMBYs in hollywood is a huge setback for contemporary goals of urbanizing LA into a cohesive urban entity. DTLA to Samo could be that urban entity. Unfortunately LA's physical and economic issues are perpetuated by a deep seated culture of ignorance. no amount of delusional self-affirmations on your part will change the reality. sorry.

task #1 for angelenos: combatting ignorance - choosing to work from the realm of reality so that the basic problems can at least be identified. this cultural legacy of building ersatz bubbles for mutual-affirmation, whether physical or psychological, is a disease. it has to pop.

DistrictDirt
Dec 16, 2014, 1:08 AM
that's ridiculous. LA needs dense residential and commercial all over. rooting for DTLA at the expense of everywhere else is not going to make the city as a whole more walkable or appealing.

Whoa there, Eddie...don't get your knickers in a twist. I agree with you. Of course the city as a whole needs dense development anywhere. Its not about rooting for DTLA at the expense of the rest of the city, its about finding a sliver of positive (a selfish positive, admittedly) amongst a steaming pile of NIMBY dung. Obviously I'd prefer if the half-built Target could be finished up as quickly as possible, and if people could actually move in to the completed Sunset Gordon project.

and anyway, how do you know demand in DTLA is necessarily linked to supply in hollywood or elsewhere?

How could it not be linked? Hollywood doesn't exist in a vacuum, its part of the same metro area as DTLA. If residential development in Hollywood is stifled, it follows that demand for housing across the whole city will be marginally higher than it would have been otherwise had that development not been stifled.

And here's this neighborhood just a few miles away from Hollywood, at the nexus of both our freeway system and our metro system that also happens to be the most pro-development place in LA County. You'd have to do an analysis of housing demand across the entire city to predict just how much demand in DTLA is affected, but there's no doubt its affected at least a little bit. Surely you can see that.

the victory of NIMBYs in shaping the future of hollywood is bad for LA, period.

Agreed.

LA's physical and economic issues are cultural and deep-seated. no amount of delusional self-affirmations on your part will change the reality. sorry.

Way to take my jokingly glass-half-full comment and respond with one of your usual diatribes. I suppose if anything you are consistent. :tup:

edluva
Dec 16, 2014, 1:25 AM
How could it not be linked? Hollywood doesn't exist in a vacuum, its part of the same metro area as DTLA. If residential development in Hollywood is stifled, it follows that demand for housing across the whole city will be marginally higher than it would have been otherwise had that development not been stifled

a few miles away from gentrifying mid-wilshire is south LA. a couple miles south of silverlake is the as yet to be touched barrio. yeah, "affected a little bit" is the overstatement of the day. regional housing prices probably have more to do with it than proximity alone. as i've stated before, LA has traditionally suffered from being an agglomeration of balkanized ersatz bubbles which want little to do with one another, remember? vacuums have been the norm for decades. as much as there is to say about development happening in DT there will also remain lack of development in the vast neighboring barrios or ghettos of LA. as much as it's tempting to take your claim at face value, DTLA, along with many other parts of LA, have also remained isolated from boom and bust cycles for decades. your statement as such is not wholesale evidence of a necessarily direct link between these two neighborhoods. either one of these two could just as easily have continued to mire in neglect while the other boomed.

Way to take my jokingly glass-half-full comment and respond with one of your usual diatribes. I suppose if anything you are consistent. :tup:

please forgive me for feeling disgusted by another display of superficiality that all too perfectly fits the stereotypes of this city's residents.

i'm tired of ignorant masses. NELAA, anyone?

Jaycruz
Dec 16, 2014, 5:19 AM
In regards to the conversation happening above....


The effects of the pitiful and clueless Nimbys in one area shouldn't necessarily be viewed as a gain for another neighborhood, however, the effects of nimbys in one part of the city do in fact persuade developers to skip the hassle altogether and develop in friendlier areas of cities, that's been proven in every city in this country so trying to argue that fact shouldn't be necessary.

To use the argument " well downtown and other parts of the city are seeing most of the developments while the (barrios), which I thought was an east coast term ?, and the ghettos of the city receive little to no development at all...

Just by getting out of the house this past week ive seen development stretch from the valley to santa monica to el Segundo and the south bay down to Long Beach, which is booming right now you guys should check it out, up to the central city area of Inglewood and Compton both have some development plans in the works. South Gate just opened a huge retail/residential complex and the city of Cudahy is currently building its first highrises at 13 and 10 floors I believe, hotel complex but still nice development and lets not forget all the development planned for the east LA area, the old sears redevelopment alone will do wonders for the hood.

The different with this boom compared to past ones is this boom is literally transforming the entire city, Freeways being redesigned and repaved, The 605/405/22 connector is so beautiful now, The expo line near completion, purple expansion, gold expansion and others, the airport modernization......

instead of saying "its not enough" how about some of you Angelinos kick up your heels and say "its great that our city is transforming at this astonishing rate" and call it a day. Other cities in this country and around the world would beg for the type of development this city is getting right now.

blackcat23
Dec 16, 2014, 2:11 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/affordable-housing-planned-for-crenshaw.html

A couple of new affordable senior housing developments planned near the northern end of the Crenshaw Line.

Crenshaw Villas Apartments (American Communities, LLC): 50 apartments, 3,500 sq. ft. retail
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2RjnzDUHmJI/VIkKxngJacI/AAAAAAAAE-0/u8_CG0v3z0s/s600/2631crenshaw.PNG

Crenshaw Gardens Apartments (Retirement Housing Foundation): 49 apartments, 5,500 sq. ft. retail
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iCBpvaXV4ZM/VIkLsTSivnI/AAAAAAAAE-8/J77Xye-XVV8/s600/3411crenshaw.PNG

Quixote
Dec 16, 2014, 5:56 PM
Crenshaw Villas Apartments (American Communities, LLC): 50 apartments, 3,500 sq. ft. retail
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2RjnzDUHmJI/VIkKxngJacI/AAAAAAAAE-0/u8_CG0v3z0s/s600/2631crenshaw.PNG

That's not bad for affordable senior housing. It looks like brick and vinyl siding (unless it's an optical illusion created by the fuzzy resolution) are the primary materials used; the black framed windows are a nice touch. A very clean and simple design overall. Why can't market-rate housing developers do the same?

Flavius Josephus
Dec 16, 2014, 7:26 PM
New LADCP case filings report:

- 1306 N Orange (Hollywood) - small apt development proposes 12 units in place of an existing SFD.
- 901 N Vine (Hollywood) - 76-unit mixed user
- 520 W 7th (DTLA) - Expedited Tentative Tract Map for the Brockman Building (lofts)
- 737 S Broadway (DTLA) - facade improvements. Appears to correspond to Gap Factory Store.
- 111 N Hope (DTLA) - LADWP Building getting some solar panels.
- 327 N Boylston (Echo Park/Westlake) - 121 unit apt bldg
- 850 S Crenshaw (K-town/Mid-Wilshire) - 44 unit condo bldg
- 4180 W Wilshire (K-Town/Windsor Sq/Mid-Wilshire) - 29 unit condo bldg. Park Mile zoning sucks.
- 4680 W Wilshire (Mid-Wilshire/Hancock Park) - Historic-Cultural Monument application for the Farmers HQ
- 1717 N Vine (Hollywood) - 57 condos + restaurant
- 415 S Le Doux (Mid-City West/Beverly Grove) - 19 unit apt bldg
- 5513 N Case (NoHo) - 90 unit apt bldg
- 11120 W Chandler (NoHo) - 329 unit mixed user across 2 five story buildings
- 5532 N Fulcher (NoHo) - 36 unit apts
- 3675 S Dunn (Palms) - 18 unit apts
- 326 S Reno (Rampart Village/Westlake) - 65 units
- 15353 W Weddington (Sherman Oaks) - 4 story, 270 unit condo bldg.
- 4215 N Vineland (Studio City) - 83 unit condo bldg.
- 18404 W Collins (Tarzana) - 4 story condo bldg
- 5247 N Vantage (Valley Village) - 4 story, 18 unit condo bldg
- 1707 S Brockton (Sawtelle) - 18 unit apts replace 12 unit apts
- 1854 S Sawtelle (Sawtelle) - 5 story, 25 unit mixed user. Description seems to suggest that there are 2 subterranean and 4(!) above ground parking levels, so this may be a parking garage with a few apartments thrown in.
- 2301 E 7th (Boyle Heights) - Brewery

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/CNCRpts/dsp_viewFileDetail.cfm?filename=304

SimonLA
Dec 16, 2014, 10:35 PM
Thanks Flavius. 1717 N. Vine corresponds with the Redbury hotel. Is this a request to turn some of the rooms into units? I'd love it if it meant that parking lot--at Hollywood and Vine!!--was biting the dust. Anyone know?

Flavius Josephus
Dec 17, 2014, 1:29 AM
Thanks Flavius. 1717 N. Vine corresponds with the Redbury hotel. Is this a request to turn some of the rooms into units? I'd love it if it meant that parking lot--at Hollywood and Vine!!--was biting the dust. Anyone know?

I can't find anything. LADBS filings indicate that the building was originally designed to be apts but was converted to a hotel; it may be that it's changing back. The hotel has 57 units, which correspond to the 57 condos in the filing. They're also adding a pool and fitness center to the roof.

Quixote
Dec 17, 2014, 1:32 AM
Mariposa Project by LOHA Architects. Under construction.

https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/128621365/disp/b424bddfdfa78fb6b335a14a3ffb8d0c.jpg
https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/128621365/disp/b424bddfdfa78fb6b335a14a3ffb8d0c.jpg



Very encouraging to see a development of that caliber south of Olympic.

blackcat23
Dec 17, 2014, 2:06 PM
Love that K-Town project. LOHA's multi-family residential work is excellent.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/sawtelle-japantown-getting-more-mixed.html

As mentioned by Flavius in the case filings above, a 25-unit apartment/parking complex is planned for 1854 Sawtelle Boulevard, which is near the heart of what is now officially known as the Sawtelle Japantown.

This is a pretty development-averse neighborhood. Parking is their biggest concern, with traffic running a close second.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ev7yDciEV14/VJD8TqZMC3I/AAAAAAAAFCg/hmXlr8MpYVk/s1000/1854sawtelle.PNG

There are also a couple of larger developments, including a 5-story/52-unit apartment complex which is planned at the same intersection.

brudy
Dec 17, 2014, 4:20 PM
Love that K-Town project. LOHA's multi-family residential work is excellent.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/sawtelle-japantown-getting-more-mixed.html

As mentioned by Flavius in the case filings above, a 25-unit apartment/parking complex is planned for 1854 Sawtelle Boulevard, which is near the heart of what is now officially known as the Sawtelle Japantown.

This is a pretty development-averse neighborhood. Parking is their biggest concern, with traffic running a close second.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ev7yDciEV14/VJD8TqZMC3I/AAAAAAAAFCg/hmXlr8MpYVk/s1000/1854sawtelle.PNG

There are also a couple of larger developments, including a 5-story/52-unit apartment complex which is planned at the same intersection.

Love the juxtaposition of the craftsman and the brutalist. We should send Hunter out there to get this one right before it's torn down.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 17, 2014, 5:13 PM
LAX Northside Specific Plan Update just had its FEIR published. Technically a downzoning - the previous plan from the '80s allowed much more square feet of development - but since the land covered by the plan is almost completely undeveloped and the old plan was widely regarded as a failure, this probably makes it more likely that something will get built there. http://www.lawa.org/GDZ/projectDocuments.aspx

Kingofthehill
Dec 17, 2014, 6:01 PM
Marisa Project by LOHA Architects. Under construction.

https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/128621365/disp/b424bddfdfa78fb6b335a14a3ffb8d0c.jpg
https://m1.behance.net/rendition/modules/128621365/disp/b424bddfdfa78fb6b335a14a3ffb8d0c.jpg



Very encouraging to see a development of that caliber south of Olympic.
That looks good for LA period, not just the Koreatown/Pico-Union border area!

brudy
Dec 17, 2014, 7:28 PM
That looks good for LA period, not just the Koreatown/Pico-Union border area!

Yeah, I like it. Kind of contemporary Bauhaus.

dweebo2220
Dec 17, 2014, 9:22 PM
I was wondering about the LOHA project (saw it on the LOHA site). I assumed it wasn't the actual project getting built (like the Arts District projects that had LOHA initial renderings). Has anyone been near that site to see if construction is indeed taking place?

dweebo2220
Dec 17, 2014, 9:24 PM
Agree with everyone though -- this would be a really nice project for anywhere in LA. I would expect this in WeHo.

I've almost lost hope in the Arts District becoming a hub for cutting-edge residential design. You'd think it would be a no-brainer...

Quixote
Dec 17, 2014, 11:48 PM
I was wondering about the LOHA project (saw it on the LOHA site). I assumed it wasn't the actual project getting built (like the Arts District projects that had LOHA initial renderings). Has anyone been near that site to see if construction is indeed taking place?

It's under construction. LOHA posted a photo on their Instagram back in June of the site as a dirt pit.

blackcat23
Dec 18, 2014, 2:16 PM
Another project mentioned by Flavius earlier this week:

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/big-infill-development-planned-near.html

Big vacant lot near North Hollywood Station is getting a low-rise mixed-use complex, courtesy of the Urbanest Group. Plans call for two five-story buildings containing 329 residential units and 4,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Property is adjacent to the NoHo Commons development.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rMMGtx0DZzg/VJJUlqSos5I/AAAAAAAAFDA/IfaWMNaWkc4/s1000/chandler.PNG

dweebo2220
Dec 18, 2014, 5:41 PM
It's under construction. LOHA posted a photo on their Instagram back in June of the site as a dirt pit.

amazing. Thanks!

blackcat23
Dec 21, 2014, 2:26 AM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/mid-rise-office-building-breaks-ground.html

J.H. Snyder Co. beginning construction at 1601 Vine Street. Quick refresher: Eight-story/130'-tall building, designed by Gensler. Approx. 110k sq. ft. office, 2,000 sq. ft. retail, 174-car/five-level underground garage.

Completion expected in 2016.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8Bo6pO4_ew/VJYcnXhi3QI/AAAAAAAAFDk/e93bTh1I5iY/s1000/DSC03856.JPG

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-A7JozbI9r-Q/U_EOqdkCxjI/AAAAAAAAD38/7qaOcR6-DKI/s1000/1601vine.jpg

Bonus shot looking east, where you can catch a quick look at the Camden Hollywood and Columbia Square.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-chpv-aezxtw/VJYeV1wrAMI/AAAAAAAAFDw/Xsyod4OpoRE/s1000/DSC03865.JPG

Munchitup
Dec 21, 2014, 4:01 AM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/mid-rise-office-building-breaks-ground.html

J.H. Snyder Co. beginning construction at 1601 Vine Street. Quick refresher: Eight-story/130'-tall building, designed by Gensler. Approx. 110k sq. ft. office, 2,000 sq. ft. retail, 174-car/five-level underground garage.

Completion expected in 2016.


Can't believe it has taken this long for this office building to get underway. I remember they closed down that burger shack the year I moved to Hollywood (2011) and just now work is getting started.

And no matter what the building ends up looking like, it will be a godsend as this corner (Selma and Vine) was probably one of Hollywood's most popular bum-hangouts, just behind the Hollywood/Highland area. Glad to see it get started, that is going to be a very vibrant corner in a few years with the new development cat-corner, the TJ's and that Walgreens/Bed-Bath building.

Quixote
Dec 21, 2014, 7:51 AM
Another quality project going up. Hooray for Hollywood!

blackcat23
Dec 23, 2014, 3:06 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/redevelopment-plans-crystallize-for.html

Big development planned for Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, which is located adjacent to the subway station under construction and MLK and Crenshaw Boulevards.

961 residential units (551 condo, 410 apartment), 148,000 sq. ft. of office space (14-story, 145' tall tower), 400 hotel rooms (12-story, 135' tall tower) and a new pedestrian-oriented outdoor retail village.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VM4fvBj_KLE/VJjadNuCogI/AAAAAAAAFEc/xQGKw33ZSpI/s1000/crenshaw.PNG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6S71NzbB7co/VJkPh2B0wwI/AAAAAAAAFGA/vLG5DqoI3qE/s1000/crenshaw6.PNG

Eightball
Dec 23, 2014, 3:12 PM
Seems like developers are really buying in to the TOD thing! Exciting BlackCat

Quixote
Dec 23, 2014, 3:34 PM
Meh. That still looks and feels very suburban to me. After all, it's anchored by a shopping mall. The part north of MLK with the mid-rise residential looks better.

Wilcal
Dec 23, 2014, 4:29 PM
Meh. That still looks and feels very suburban to me. After all, it's anchored by a shopping mall. The part north of MLK with the mid-rise residential looks better.
It is suburban in looks and in density. This project would fit nicely in Ontario or Irvine. Yet another disappointing Los Angeles project that under utilizes valuable land. To think that this is in one of the most densely populated areas of the city (perhaps 15,000/sq mi) and being proximal to Baldwin Hills, one of very high income. Oh well.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 23, 2014, 4:57 PM
It is suburban in looks and in density. This project would fit nicely in Ontario or Irvine. Yet another disappointing Los Angeles project that under utilizes valuable land. To think that this is in one of the most densely populated areas of the city (perhaps 15,000/sq mi) and being proximal to Baldwin Hills, one of very high income. Oh well.

Give me a break.

1. This area (Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw/Leimert Park) is moderately dense (10k/sqmi), not very dense, and is low income (although there are a few wealthy pockets not that far away).
2. This is a traditionally neglected area, which means that getting financing for anything much denser than this would be difficult, and there probably isn't yet the critical mass of businesses nearby
3. It's not suburban. It has some mid-to-high-rise elements, and is designed for interaction with nearby transit. While it's a shopping center, it's a reasonably well-designed mixed use open one, not a single-use mall. It is designed to be part of an urban community, not apart from it.

All in all, a good project for an emerging neighborhood, which is what this is. Hopefully it will encourage denser projects nearby by its success.

LosAngelesSportsFan
Dec 23, 2014, 5:23 PM
Give me a break.

1. This area (Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw/Leimert Park) is moderately dense (10k/sqmi), not very dense, and is low income (although there are a few wealthy pockets not that far away).
2. This is a traditionally neglected area, which means that getting financing for anything much denser than this would be difficult, and there probably isn't yet the critical mass of businesses nearby
3. It's not suburban. It has some mid-to-high-rise elements, and is designed for interaction with nearby transit. While it's a shopping center, it's a reasonably well-designed mixed use open one, not a single-use mall. It is designed to be part of an urban community, not apart from it.

All in all, a good project for an emerging neighborhood, which is what this is. Hopefully it will encourage denser projects nearby by its success.

Thanks for bringing some common sense to the conversation. The project is great for the location , very exciting

caligrad
Dec 23, 2014, 6:27 PM
Yeah this project is perfect for the area, it will be the densest development in the area and newest development in an area that sees ZERO attention from developers. Its a good development and will spur other developments in the surrounding area which is a plus. hopefully it comes into a reality.

I'm not quite sure where some people get this Idea that every single new development needs to max out density even in areas that are surrounded by miles of houses and apartments on all sides ? This specific area is probably one of the most looked over areas by developers and isn't necessarily the best area to live. To expect maxed out density and good development here is stretching it a bit.

elcoronel
Dec 23, 2014, 6:44 PM
While I agree that this is a great project for the area, there is no need to try to put the area down. It is right next to Baldwin Hills and View Park, two of the wealthiest districts in the city. There are plenty of people who would be interested in living here. Nevertheless, the commercial areas here are a little downtrodden and could use some investment like we are seeing here. Also, regarding concerns that this is too mall-like: this already is a mall. They are not going to tear this down and build a perfect urban village out of it. Rather, this serves as an example of what to with giant malls (through implementing urbanizing characteristics) now that malls no longer represent what we want out of our urban areas.

Easy
Dec 23, 2014, 7:17 PM
This is great news for this area! It's not the most urban design in LA but it's going to be the most urban around by far for the immediate area. One thing that you have to keep in mind is that the city's plan for this area is moderate to low density with the moderate density only around the rail stations. This is probably as good as it can get. I'm pretty excited about it.

jgacis
Dec 23, 2014, 9:54 PM
Give me a break.

1. This area (Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw/Leimert Park) is moderately dense (10k/sqmi), not very dense, and is low income (although there are a few wealthy pockets not that far away).
2. This is a traditionally neglected area, which means that getting financing for anything much denser than this would be difficult, and there probably isn't yet the critical mass of businesses nearby
3. It's not suburban. It has some mid-to-high-rise elements, and is designed for interaction with nearby transit. While it's a shopping center, it's a reasonably well-designed mixed use open one, not a single-use mall. It is designed to be part of an urban community, not apart from it.

All in all, a good project for an emerging neighborhood, which is what this is. Hopefully it will encourage denser projects nearby by its success.

It's an emerging neighborhood but not all neighborhoods share in this area's proximity to mass transit - and that's the key to land utilization as Wilcal pointed out. This shouldn't just be about this area, but the regional priorities we need to be implementing in incorporating land-use policies with our mass transit systems.

Quixote
Dec 24, 2014, 12:04 PM
Blackcat23 had the story of a new development at La Brea/Willoughby last month:

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/11/second-mixed-user-headed-to-la.html#more



I stumbled upon these renderings:

http://shubinanddonaldson.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/904-La-Brea_Corner-Day.jpg

http://shubinanddonaldson.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/904-La-Brea_Mid-Section.jpg

http://shubinanddonaldson.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/904-La-Brea_Res-Units-North.jpg

http://shubinanddonaldson.com/projects/904-la-brea/

---

Shubin + Donaldson is also designing a nice project across the street:

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/09/heres-hollywoods-latest-office-building.html#more

blackcat23
Dec 24, 2014, 2:24 PM
Looks nice. Very similar to the office project planned across the street as well as the apartment complex already under construction at the same intersection.

Less exciting, but there is a 200-unit apartment complex tentatively planned for Sepulveda Boulevard in Westchester. Right across the street from the Howard Hughes Center, which is in dire need of some foot traffic.

http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/another-big-apartment-complex-proposed.html

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--WjvvWunWlg/VJc4eRxS-6I/AAAAAAAAFEM/Px7G-vIgGhw/s1000/sepulveda.PNG

kelbeen
Dec 25, 2014, 1:12 AM
11024 Strathmore, taken by me yesterday
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7560/15479111423_415870f0d2_b.jpg

Muji
Dec 25, 2014, 6:19 AM
Very nice! What a great example of a large building that thanks to a smart design manages to complement its much smaller neighbors. It should also be pointed out that we wouldn't have ended up with this design if it hadn't been for the Westwood Design Review Board's resolute but well-reasoned resistance against a much worse previous proposal.

Steve2726
Dec 27, 2014, 9:47 PM
Tower crane #4 going up as I type at the Sunset/ La Cienega project. This is going to have a big impact on the strip when finished.

ChelseaFC
Dec 27, 2014, 11:21 PM
Tower crane #4 going up as I type at the Sunset/ La Cienega project. This is going to have a big impact on the strip when finished.

Outside of Wilshire Grand, probably my favorite project going up. That intersection is going to be fabulous. Can only imagine some of those views.

blackcat23
Dec 29, 2014, 2:15 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-beachs-newest-tower-peeks-above.html

Construction up for the 17-story Current Tower in Downtown Long Beach.

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mx_b6nsx3N0/VKCPvmWZ5II/AAAAAAAAFHs/pNnXybOsAac/s1000/DSC03884.JPG

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eaG6SKkf6b8/VBUE0UNsvcI/AAAAAAAAECA/Jsuxv1rn68U/s1000/current1.jpg

Eightball
Dec 29, 2014, 9:39 PM
Two great pics of the county from user LA Kurt
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7575/16115159386_867b398b30_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qy3prC)Wilshire Grand/LA City by Kurt Leganhahn (https://flic.kr/p/qy3prC) by thaeisahtbizall (https://www.flickr.com/people/73028294@N00/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7466/16140959195_4ab26ec2cc_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qAjCPV)Wilshire Grand/LA City by Kurt Leganhahn (https://flic.kr/p/qAjCPV) by thaeisahtbizall (https://www.flickr.com/people/73028294@N00/), on Flickr


Make sure to check the Wilshire Grand thread as I'm going to put some of his close up WG shots there

Flavius Josephus
Dec 30, 2014, 1:30 PM
LADCP filing report is out. Looks like medium-sized apartment complex developers on the Westside had a very busy Christmas.

- 2423 E 1st (Boyle Heights) - appears to be replacing a couple small stores and a few old apts with a 5 story, 31 unit apt building.
- 1525 N Cahuenga (Hollywood) - 64 room hotel
- 846 N Wilcox (Hollywood) - 4 story, 23 unit apt project.
- Citywide Code Amendment for Master Planned Developments
- 4373 S Berryman (Del Rey) - Condos. Unclear if this is a conversion or new development.
- 750 N Vermont (East Hollywood) - some sort of outdoor sales
- 1901 W Blake (Elysian Valley/Frogtown) - 49 unit, 4 story mixed user
- 1021 W Alpine (Chinatown/Echo Park) - 28 unit mixed use condo bldg (26 resi, 2 commercial)
- 236 S Los Angeles (Little Tokyo) - master CUB for 5 establishments (4 restaurants, 1 "offsite/onsite") at AVA
- 7120 W Sunset (Hollywood) - 5 story, 60 unit mixed user
- 6220 W Yucca (Hollywood) - 21 story, 277 unit mixed user. NIMBY explosion in 5, 4, 3...
- 1001 S Park View (Westlake) - 108 unit affordable housing project
- 12630 W Matteson (Mar Vista) - SFR getting replaced by 4 story, 29 unit apt building.
- 3355 S Overland (Mar Vista) - small apt building getting replaced by 5 story, 38 unit apt building.
- 124 S Croft (Bev Grove) - 4 unit apt bldg getting replaced by 5 story, 13 unit apt building.
- 105 S Fairfax (Fairfax) - auto repair shop getting replaced by 4 story, 56ft, 45 unit mixed user
- 714 N Sweetzer (Bev Grove) - 2 of 3 apt bldgs on site getting replaced by 4 story, 26 unit apt bldg
- 7843 N Lankershim (NoHo) - 50 unit affordable housing mixed user. Appears to be replacing 98 bed homeless shelter or residential motel (unclear which).
- 6116 W Pico (Mid-City/CHAPS) - 100 unit mixed user near the Pico/La Cienega intersection.
- Various small apartment buildings in Palms at 3643 S Empire (5 story, 8 unit), 3672 S Jasmine (5 story, 17 unit)
- 3562 S Overland (Palms) - auto repair shop getting replaced by 5 story, 32 unit apt bldg
- 3644 S Overland (Palms) - 6 story, 92 unit mixed user
- 1220 S Bedford (Pico-Robertson/South Robertson) - 21 unit apts
- 1416 S Beverly (P-R/SoRo) - 23 unit apts
- 1051 S Corning (P-R/SoRo) - 19 unit apts
- 1237 S Holt (P-R/SoRo) - 34 unit apts, 5 stories
- 1023 1/2 S Shenandoah (P-R/SoRo) - 23 unit apts
- 8664 W Whitworth (P-R/SoRo) - 10 unit apts
- 3321 S La Cienega (West Adams) - something about a 11.19 acre development (no details as far as I can tell)
- 11407 W Santa Monica (West LA) - 51 unit mixed user
- 1301 S Westgate (West LA) - 27 unit apt bldg replacing 8 unit apt bldg
- 6903 S Kittyhawk (Westchester) - 33 unit apts
- 2361 S Fox Hills (Century City) - 18 unit apts
- 10306 W Santa Monica (Century City) - 91 unit, 4 story apt bldg
- 1274 S Beverly Glen (Westwood) - 27 unit apts
- 1645 S Beverly Glen (Westwood) - 33 unit apts
- 427 S Berendo (K-town) - 85 unit, 6 story apts
- 800 S Harvard (K-town) - 131 unit, 6 story apts
- 12071 W Wilshire (Brentwood) - mixed use project. Details not listed.

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/CNCRpts/dsp_viewFileDetail.cfm?filename=305

blackcat23
Dec 30, 2014, 3:24 PM
http://buildinglosangeles.blogspot.com/2014/12/another-high-rise-for-hollywood.html

As Flavius mentioned, a 21-story tower is planned at 6220 Yucca Street in Hollywood. 277 residential units, 3,300 square feet of retail.

The property looks to be well outside of the "no-build," zone within 50 feet of the fault line. There are also towers planned for the NE and SW corners of the same intersection.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h2m53yfC6iI/VKLChyuCQrI/AAAAAAAAFIs/EQk_QAgDaUk/s1000/Capture.PNG

elcoronel
Dec 31, 2014, 6:39 AM
Although I am excited about many of the new developments that Flavius is writing about, it makes me sad that so many of them involve tearing down classic LA structures that make up part of the fabric and identity of the city rather than the countless nondescript parking lots and parking-out-front strip malls.

Flavius Josephus
Dec 31, 2014, 12:59 PM
Although I am excited about many of the new developments that Flavius is writing about, it makes me sad that so many of them involve tearing down classic LA structures that make up part of the fabric and identity of the city rather than the countless nondescript parking lots and parking-out-front strip malls.

I suspect a lot of the older small apt buildings are very run down, and possibly anticipating large seismic retrofit costs if the city's policy proceeds as planned. A lot of small apt buildings were built very cheaply--on the one hand, that's meant that owners could charge lower rents, but on the other, it means that they're starting to show their age and need replacement.

As for nondescript strip malls, the problem is that most of them are still sufficiently economically productive to make the costs of redevelopment prohibitive. Many are poorly zoned, so they'd require expensive environmental analysis and slow discretionary zone change processes to build anything that would justify the lost rents and construction costs in the meantime. And as long as the zoning code remains wedded to parking requirements, parking lots are going to stay.

It's also worth noting that LADCP filings only exist for discretionary projects. For a by-right project, only building permits are required, so they're not listed in the LADCP case filings. Particularly for areas whose community plans have been updated recently, it's possible smallish projects could be by-right and not listed. Similarly, a few pre-recession projects might have got entitled but never started construction; their revival would be marked only by building permits, if the entitlements haven't yet expired.

JRinSoCal
Dec 31, 2014, 4:54 PM
Outside of Wilshire Grand, probably my favorite project going up. That intersection is going to be fabulous. Can only imagine some of those views.

Please remind me what is going up here. A picture would be nice.:)