[colemonkee]

A friend of mine who's currently in the market for a downtown condo looked at Library Lofts and wasn't very impressed. He said the finishes felt a bit "cheap" and "Ikea". But 70 out of 90 sold is great news nonetheless.

[LAMetroGuy]

I would agree with your friend, when I toured the lofts, i noticed the same thing. However, Location is great... and the price point was very reasonable given the other projects in the area.

[citywatch]

I read this in today's paper, & it reminds me that there are a lot of ppl who, for any number of reasons, still want to live in a house with a picket fence, even if it's far, far away in the burbs. So even with bad traffic, high gas prices & boiling weather in the high desert, & even with the alternative of new housing being built in a hood like DTLA, many ppl will continue to choose the option of a place in the burbs & long commutes:


Check out this model home: It's got five bedrooms, gorgeous slate tile on the floors, marble in the bathrooms and a bonus loft with enough space to put flat-screen TVs on adjoining walls so as not to miss a single ballgame. Five years ago, developer Capital Pacific Homes was selling similarly outfitted homes in the upscale Orange County suburb of Laguna Niguel for $2.2 million. But here in the arid, recently plowed high desert in west Lancaster, where Joshua trees sprout in wild clusters across from rows of new houses, they're going for about $500,000.

Scott Coleman, a 33-year-old actor from Culver City, bought one. So did Mark Snaer, 27, a recently trained air traffic controller from San Diego. So did Monica Carreon, 26, a stay-at-home mother from Long Beach whose husband is a welder.

The Antelope Valley has long been a magnet for development, but these days, the boom is accelerating and going upscale. Lancaster, the fastest-growing city in Los Angeles County, saw its assessed property values increase about 29% last year, according to a report released last week by the county. And its neighbor to the south — Palmdale, the second-fastest growing city — was not far behind. By comparison, property values in the city and the county of Los Angeles increased 11%.

"Nowhere else in L.A. County has been like that," County Assessor Rick Auerbach said. "And the reason is that there is land to build on."

Michelle Stall and her husband traded up to Capital Pacific's Clifton development, buying a two-story, 3,200-square-foot home in west Lancaster after selling their three-bedroom ranch house in Lake Los Angeles to a couple from Highland Park. Stall, a real estate agent in the area, said her daughter also bought a home in Lancaster and that her mother was considering moving out from Glendale.

Stephen Cross, 35, recently moved with his wife and child to the Clifton development from Culver City. But Cross kept his job as a personnel analyst for the Los Angeles Department of Housing and takes an express bus back and forth. He said they pay less for their five-bedroom house than for the condo they rented in Culver City. And, he said, his commute is less stressful than it was before — because he doesn't have to drive.

At the end of a recent workday at 5:15 p.m., Cross blew out of his West 7th Street office building downtown, five minutes late for the bus. "Oh, no," he groused spotting it across the street. "She just turned the corner."

The "walk" sign flashed and Cross flew through the Figueroa Street crosswalk, rounding the corner as the bus pulled up. In 15 minutes, as the bus pulled onto the Golden State Freeway, all chatter stopped. Seats reclined. Cross pulled his shades over his eyes, leaned his head back and folded his hands at the tip of his blue tie. In minutes, his hands unclasped and fell to his legs. His head tilted. A soft snore escaped his open mouth.

As the bus neared the Palmdale station, Cross woke up. He had time to check his cellphone before his stop at Lancaster City Park. His wife, Roxanne, has called, wondering when he would be home for dinner. By the time Cross walked in at 7:30 p.m., his wife had already eaten. His 1-year-old son, Stephen Jr., squealed. Cross chased him around the house as he loosened his tie, shaking off the two-hour, 15-minute commute (he had gotten up at 4:30 a.m. to prepare for work).

[Steve2726]

^^^ It seems like total lunacy to me, didn't the thermometer hit 120 up there the other day? But when you can get a huge house for less than the median price of the rest of the county, there will be no way to stop the flood of people moving there. :shrug:

[danny1100]

how much were library lofts/condos going for?

[danny1100]

This looks really COOL ... door to door Residential Services and Concierge Memberships for DOWNTOWN!

http://www.loftbutler.com/images/POSTCARD.jpg


Just signed up, so far so good!

http://www.labutler.com

[colemonkee]

^ I signed up last night. $28 for a car wash (for a 4-door sedan) and $78 to clean a 700 sq ft. studio loft (!!) is outrageous, despite the convenience factor. I think I'll stick to using them for their "discounts", though it's not entirely clear how you redeem them. I love the concept, I just think the pricing is a tad aggressive.

[danny1100]

I signed up too. I think pricing is pretty fair. You probably selected their highest cleaning type. Select the "basic type" (which covers almost everything) and its only about $54 bucks and no taxes on anything. You have to sign up for monthly Concierge services and show your membership card to redeem the discounts. I singed up and got my card in the mail today. So far it's amazing. Just had them reserve dinner and set wake up calls for the next 2 weeks. This is awesome! I got an email from the company saying that they were going to have a launch party in downtown. I hope there are free drinks!

Cheers

^ I signed up last night. $28 for a car wash (for a 4-door sedan) and $78 to clean a 700 sq ft. studio loft (!!) is outrageous, despite the convenience factor. I think I'll stick to using them for their "discounts", though it's not entirely clear how you redeem them. I love the concept, I just think the pricing is a tad aggressive.

[ThreeHundred]

That is easily the ugliest advertisment I've ever seen.

[bobcat]

Apartment Builder Buys Downtown L.A. Hospital Site
By Roger Vincent, Times Staff Writer
July 19, 2006

Geoff Palmer, the urban trailblazer who helped inspire an upscale housing boom in downtown Los Angeles' long-neglected core, has acquired a 9.5-acre parcel downtown from Orthopaedic Hospital for $70.5 million, hospital officials said Tuesday.

Palmer is expected to build more than 800 luxury apartments on the former hospital property on Flower Street between Staples Center and USC.


The mostly commercial neighborhood is going through a renaissance as investment dollars pour into downtown and around USC, said real estate broker Richard Plummer of Cushman & Wakefield, who represented the hospital in the sale.

"The more housing we get along Figueroa and Flower, the safer it will feel," he said.

Palmer's Medici apartment development west of the Harbor Freeway is credited with demonstrating to the investment and development community the fresh demand for downtown living when it opened in 2002.

His Los Angeles-based apartment business, G.H. Palmer Associates, has completed more than 1,000 luxury apartments downtown and has more than 2,700 additional units under construction or in planning stages.

Palmer's representatives did not respond to requests for comment. But economist Jack Kyser of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. said Palmer's typical high-end residential development would "head off a bitter fight" because some neighbors had feared Wal-Mart Stores Inc. or another large retailer would take over the site and have a potentially negative effect on local shops and traffic patterns.

Such retailers were among many bidders for the site, acknowledged Christopher Martin, chairman of the board of trustees for the hospital's foundation, which oversaw the sale.

The nonprofit hospital decided to sell its aging facilities, which had seismic safety problems, and move its inpatient services to the Westside, Martin said.

A modern outpatient facility completed on the downtown site in 2003 will continue to serve children with musculoskeletal disorders, said James V. Luck, the hospital's chief executive.

Money from the sale of the land and old hospital buildings, which are expected to be razed, "will allow us to continue our growth and expand our research," he said.

[BrighamYen]

^ Hopefully Palmer will decide to develop the land into some very high-quality housing for USC students with a tad bit more creative design. I'm not super fond of the Medici, but I starting to really just accept them for what they are. AT LEAST all of his developments have retail spaces at the bottom, which is very important to the future vitality of the streets. That's more than what you could say for projects like Savoy with ZERO retail space. :(

[citywatch]

I was talking to a couple who've been doing some apt or condo hunting in DT & around midtown, & they said that quite a few of the apts/condos in the hood are almost full or appear to be filling up quite nicely. The wife said metro417 still has about 20% of its apts left to lease, but that sounds a lot better than the way it was earlier this yr. I know the Palmer apt bldgs (which they didn't bother to visit because they thought those bldgs' monthly rates didn't fit their budget) are listed on the net as being almost completely full right now.

[colemonkee]

Wow, citywatch, did I detect a bit of positivity in that last post? Are you turning a new leaf? To add to that, I just got this in my inbox from the Kor Group. Eastern Columbian is almost 94% sold out.

Eastern Columbia
Located at 9th & Broadway in downtown LA
147 lofts - approximately 936-3,208 sf
Sales - only 10 available
Closing Fall 06
Prices range from $500,000 to $2,950,000

[citywatch]

^ Here's something else I can be positive about: the first time I've seen such a recent aerial shot of DTLA, which fits in with this housing thread because the photo shows a few of the new housing projs in the South Pk area.

http://photos.imageevent.com/kcphotos/la/IMG_5040_sized.jpg


And the other photo, which includes a sight of USC's new Galen Ctr for the first time in a somewhat complete state, has a glimpse of the site directly on the backside of the Shrine auditorium (or to its left) where the new University Gateway proj is supposed to rise:

http://photos.imageevent.com/kcphotos/la/IMG_5110_sized.jpg


Panel OKs Plan for Housing Near USC

By Stephen Clark,
Times Staff Writer
July 7, 2006

Hoping to relieve a student housing and parking shortage near USC, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency on Thursday approved a $135-million project at Figueroa Street and Jefferson Boulevard. The University Gateway Project, proposed by Los Angeles developers Urban Partners, would include a student bookstore, a restaurant and fitness center as well as housing for more than 1,600 students and a 770-space parking structure shared by students and retail customers.

If the project clears the city Planning Commission and City Council, construction could begin later this year; developers hope to complete it by fall 2009.

Area residents were divided on the project, with some fearing additional traffic congestion and others welcoming the prospect of new development — and nearly 700 more permanent jobs — in an economically distressed neighborhood. Among the opponents were representatives of another development company, Conquest Student Housing, a minority-owned firm that has constructed 18 small buildings in the area and is developing another project nearby. "We want to see a project there," said Alan Smolinisky, co-owner of Conquest. "But it has to be the right one. And this is not the right project."

Conquest and other critics contend that the project needs at least 1,000 more parking spaces, all of which should be on-site to keep students safe. USC officials will allow Urban Partners to use 440 existing spaces in a university parking structure two blocks away toward the parking requirement.
Other opponents include the nearby Shrine Auditorium, apartment owners and some residents and students.

Dan Rosenfeld, an Urban Partners representative, said the project includes 10% more parking than is required and would reduce traffic in the area. Project supporters include USC and some city officials, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Bernard C. Parks, whose district includes the project site.

Fueling controversy over the project was a campaign — which included a website, e-mails, mailings and a billboard — that highlighted the project's alleged problems and accused the site's developer and family owners of deceitful practices. At a public meeting last fall, many community members expressed fear that their homes would be taken to accommodate the project, which they thought was too large. Conquest officials denied starting the campaign but admitted contributing to the website, http://www.stopuniversitygateway.com , which cites "concerned parties" as its sponsor.

Urban Partners' Rosenfeld said he met with community members numerous times to address their concerns and made adjustments, including lowering the proposed building height and setting aside more parking spaces for resident use.

At Thursday's Community Redevelopment Agency meeting, where nearly 300 people packed the community hall at Exposition Park Intergenerational Community Center, many speakers expressed support for the project. "The moral of the lesson is you've got to keep talking," Rosenfeld said after the agency board voted unanimously to approve his project.

[danny1100]

That's funny Coleman, way to stick up for us Downtowners!

Just got an email stating that LA Butler will be giving away FREE discount cards at their launch party at the Broadway Bar Aug 12. DOH! I signed up for Concierge services that comes with the card, but apparently they are giving away the discount card to the first 250 people that register on their site. Nice chance for us all to meet.

http://www.labutlercard.com/broadwaybar.bmp

Here's the link with more info: http://www.labutlercard.com

Danny -


Wow, citywatch, did I detect a bit of positivity in that last post? Are you turning a new leaf? To add to that, I just got this in my inbox from the Kor Group. Eastern Columbian is almost 94% sold out.

Eastern Columbia
Located at 9th & Broadway in downtown LA
147 lofts - approximately 936-3,208 sf
Sales - only 10 available
Closing Fall 06
Prices range from $500,000 to $2,950,000

[Vidiot]

^ Here's something else I can be positive about: the first time I've seen such a recent aerial shot of DTLA, which fits in with this housing thread because the photo shows a few of the new housing projs in the South Pk area.

http://photos.imageevent.com/kcphotos/la/IMG_5040_sized.jpg


And the other photo, which includes a sight of USC's new Galen Ctr for the first time in a somewhat complete state, has a glimpse of the site directly on the backside of the Shrine auditorium (or to its left) where the new University Gateway proj is supposed to rise:

http://photos.imageevent.com/kcphotos/la/IMG_5110_sized.jpg


Panel OKs Plan for Housing Near USC

By Stephen Clark,
Times Staff Writer
July 7, 2006

Hoping to relieve a student housing and parking shortage near USC, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency on Thursday approved a $135-million project at Figueroa Street and Jefferson Boulevard. The University Gateway Project, proposed by Los Angeles developers Urban Partners, would include a student bookstore, a restaurant and fitness center as well as housing for more than 1,600 students and a 770-space parking structure shared by students and retail customers.

If the project clears the city Planning Commission and City Council, construction could begin later this year; developers hope to complete it by fall 2009.

Area residents were divided on the project, with some fearing additional traffic congestion and others welcoming the prospect of new development — and nearly 700 more permanent jobs — in an economically distressed neighborhood. Among the opponents were representatives of another development company, Conquest Student Housing, a minority-owned firm that has constructed 18 small buildings in the area and is developing another project nearby. "We want to see a project there," said Alan Smolinisky, co-owner of Conquest. "But it has to be the right one. And this is not the right project."

Conquest and other critics contend that the project needs at least 1,000 more parking spaces, all of which should be on-site to keep students safe. USC officials will allow Urban Partners to use 440 existing spaces in a university parking structure two blocks away toward the parking requirement.
Other opponents include the nearby Shrine Auditorium, apartment owners and some residents and students.

Dan Rosenfeld, an Urban Partners representative, said the project includes 10% more parking than is required and would reduce traffic in the area. Project supporters include USC and some city officials, including Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Bernard C. Parks, whose district includes the project site.

Fueling controversy over the project was a campaign — which included a website, e-mails, mailings and a billboard — that highlighted the project's alleged problems and accused the site's developer and family owners of deceitful practices. At a public meeting last fall, many community members expressed fear that their homes would be taken to accommodate the project, which they thought was too large. Conquest officials denied starting the campaign but admitted contributing to the website, http://www.stopuniversitygateway.com , which cites "concerned parties" as its sponsor.

Urban Partners' Rosenfeld said he met with community members numerous times to address their concerns and made adjustments, including lowering the proposed building height and setting aside more parking spaces for resident use.

At Thursday's Community Redevelopment Agency meeting, where nearly 300 people packed the community hall at Exposition Park Intergenerational Community Center, many speakers expressed support for the project. "The moral of the lesson is you've got to keep talking," Rosenfeld said after the agency board voted unanimously to approve his project.


indeed... the University Gateway project will be THE deciding factor that will finally glue Downtown and USC together. i hope to God this goes through.. it absolutely needs to happen for it is an enormous factor in Downtown's overall growth and revitalization.

by the way, has anyone else noticed that when you're driving on the 110N into Downtown, passing USC there is a WHOLE new urban dynamic to the area? all the newly finished mid-rise sturctures along the freeway create this sort of wall of buildings on the side of the freeway and makes the transition into Downtown feel much more dense and gives the area some urban girth. I recommend everyone go out and experience this transformation sometime. :yes:

[colemonkee]

^ I experience that every morning, but driving south. It's very impressive. Once the USC Credit Union office building on Flower and Expo (visible in that second pic at the top - with the pitched roof) gets some cladding, that effect will be even more profound.

As for the University Gateway, it will definitely energize that area of Figueroa, but I don't know about it "connecting" to downtown just yet. There's still a four-to-five block stretch of strip malls and fast food joints along Fig immediately to the north that looks and feels very anti-urban. That strip starts with the lots north of Felix Chevrolet and extend north to Adams Blvd. Perhaps with time that will change, especially with the Expo/Aqua/Bernard Parks-crazy-new-name line being built. Does anyone know if a stop is planned in the area around Adams and Flower? Or is the first stop on that line at USC/Expo Park?

[colemonkee]

That's funny Coleman, way to stick up for us Downtowners!

Just got an email stating that LA Butler will be giving away FREE discount cards at their launch party at the Broadway Bar Aug 12. DOH! I signed up for Concierge services that comes with the card, but apparently they are giving away the discount card to the first 250 people that register on their site. Nice chance for us all to meet.

http://www.labutlercard.com/broadwaybar.bmp

Here's the link with more info: http://www.labutlercard.com

Danny -

I'll try to make it to that if I'm not out of town. You should send a reminder. Seems like a great event for a forum mini-meet, especially for all the new Elleven forumers and recent dt residents.

[citywatch]

indeed... the University Gateway project will be THE deciding factor that will finally glue Downtown and USC together. I'd call it ONE of the deciding factors, since, after all, there are several other sites in the hood that need to be built on or cleaned up. However, the Gateway proj is exceptionally important because the corner of Fig & Jefferson is a very visible one, if only because of all the events & celebs associated with the Shrine Auditorium (Donald Trump & the Miss Universe show, which he owns, were there on Sunday). That's why I'm :hell: at the owner of the Shrine for being one of the opponents of the Gateway proj.

I'd have thought the ppl at the Shrine would have wanted the deadzone east of their bldg to be wiped out & replaced yrs ago, which is more important than ever because they'll soon be competing with the Nokia theater a few miles away. Even though KCgridlock's photo shows the land where the Gateway is to be built from a distant angle, it's still obvious that what's been there til now, a former auto dealership, has been a dive.

[colemonkee]

^ Actually, it's a auto dealer, defunct restaurant (formerly Headlines, RIP), and an auto repair joint, if I remember right.

[Wright Concept]

^ Yep and at one time an IHOP.

Those establishments between Adams and Jefferson are anti-urban in scale. Except for that godawful Taco Bell all of these fast-food places at least open out to the street for pedestrians or folks wanting a bite to eat after a game at Galen Center. Maybe there's extra room on the ground floor retail portion that will allow a gradual transition from the anti-urban to urban scale, where those establishments will occupy that space which allow them to consildate and fill the holes. But the extra parking issue is actually a good one because of the lure of getting the NFL there will help with that.

In terms of a station on Adams for the Aqua Line or E train or Expo or whoever puts their foot down and figure out what the hell to call this thing so we can fund the second portion. But I digress.. No there's no station be planned because it would cost to much to reconfigure that lovely off-ramp of the 110 HOV to allow street access.
The stations being planned for this light rail line on Flower are: 7th, Pico, 23rd and Jefferson.

[Carioca]

thanks on the windows, those things suck! haha theyre huge.

hey danlt73,
thanks for the inside scoop on the pan american. is there really a problem with the windows? (or were you just being facetious?) i know that was a big hold up for them in the past. they changed window vendors mid stream...

are you still working down there? how is it progressing? THANKS!

[chrisindowntown]

I usually take on a more reserved role in this group since you all sound so well informed. I heard about the LA Butler launch party as well and posted it around a few downtown yahoo groups! I think that this party is going to be a great social event for pro-downtowners. From what I've heard, lots of people are already going so sign up if you haven't already. Oh yah, I'll be the guy holding an apple martini in one hand and an applie martini in the other (yes they are both for me!) A Dollar off sounds twice as fun! Post this info on other groups that you know of, can't wait to finally meet everyone.

Chris -

http://www.labutlercard.com/broadwaybar.bmp

http://www.labutlercard.com


I'll try to make it to that if I'm not out of town. You should send a reminder. Seems like a great event for a forum mini-meet, especially for all the new Elleven forumers and recent dt residents.

[LongBeachUrbanist]

Does anyone know if a stop is planned in the area around Adams and Flower? Or is the first stop on that line at USC/Expo Park?

There will be a 23rd/Flower Station. This is near where the freeway goes diagonally under Flower and Figueroa Streets. I would've preferred Adams/Flower, but at least this station will serve Trade Tech College. My hope is that someday the big freeway underpass can be decked over with a park. But I wouldn't count on it: the powers that be would like to one day continue the Harbor Expressway northward, and I think a deck would preclude this.

There will also be a Jefferson/Flower Station. This will be behind the new Galen Center. The nearby intersection of Jefferson/Figueroa will have the new University Gateway as well. Hopefully, Felix will vacate too, allowing some nice urban development on that corner.

The next stop will be Exposition/Vermont (not Jefferson/Vermont, thanks PV).

Although the "USC/Expo Park" station has been approved, it will only be built if funds become available for it (*cough* USC *cough*). But as of now it is not going to be built as part of the Expo Phase I project.

[Wright Concept]

LBU, It's Exposition/Vermont not Jefferson.

[LongBeachUrbanist]

^ Thanks, it's fixed now. Also, I see you had already explained it before me. Oh well.

[colemonkee]

If they have a stop at Exposition and Vermont, they really don't need an Expo Park stop. Expo and Vermont is close enough to walk to both Expo Park and USC. Having stops that close will just add unnecessary time to the ride. Does anyone know if the station is planned for the east or west side of Vermont?

[Wright Concept]

If they have a stop at Exposition and Vermont, they really don't need an Expo Park stop. Expo and Vermont is close enough to walk to both Expo Park and USC. Having stops that close will just add unnecessary time to the ride.

True, but consider those Trojan football/NFL fans who may be using the line to avoid parking and the fact that the Trousdale Crossing will slow the speed down a little anyways, might as well include a station and improve capacity and access to the area for those events. It can be a simple platform with canopy nothing grand. Or a compromise can be to make the platforms at Vermont 100' longer or 5' wider on both platforms to address this potential overflow capacity.

Does anyone know if the station is planned for the east or west side of Vermont?

Both. They will be split/side platforms with the Westbound (to Santa Monica)platform proposed on the Westside of Vermont, Eastbound (to Downtown) on the East between Vermont and Menlo.

[Westsidelife]

Here is that project that logandankr informed us about a long time ago! Thanks to hcrz from SSC.

Here is a rendering of the Park Fifth Project

It will be located on 5th street between Olive and Hill. It will have three towers, one of them will be the tallest residential tower west of Chicago.
The project includes 900 units some of which will be what they call live-work bays.

http://i7.tinypic.com/214qkaw.jpg

[Westsidelife]

View from another angle. The third tower is the 'midsection' so really only two towers.

I guess is not a tower per se but rather the midsection that brings the two tall towers together

http://i7.tinypic.com/214umc5.jpg

[logandankr]

View from another angle. The third tower is the 'midsection' so really only two towers.

Or 4 towers, depending on what you call a tower. Those "midsections" that connect the two larger towers are 14 flrs each (unless the plans have changed since I heard about them).

An observation from the rendering - it kind of looks like the orange section on the left is a couple stories off the ground. I wonder if that would be for parking or a pedestrian opening into the "fortress." That opening is what faces the park, so it much be some important architectural feature to not have units in that space taking advanage of the view.

[Westsidelife]

That makes sense. What about the building with the black windows below the smaller tower? Is that an existing building or part of the project? As for the left 'midsection' I'd prefer it to be touching the ground but it'd be cool if it was above street level.

[Westsidelife]

From the renderings, the midsections are of the same height or about the same height as the Title Guarantee Building. So imagine the visual impact of the entire project.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h125/MBenzLover/PershingSquare.jpg

[logandankr]

...What about the building with the black windows below the smaller tower? Is that an existing building or part of the project?...

Or parking maybe? Maybe that's why it's designated with a different color. Looks like whoever posted these renderings cropped a lot off the sides - I think everything would be a lot more clear if we had the text from those dotted lines.

Another note - those 2 orange buildings are really on top of the the Title Guarantee Building. Almost looks like they're connected, but I'm thinking that's just the perspective of the drawing.

[Steve2726]

<deleted>

[Westsidelife]

Also, if the plans haven't changed, then the tallest tower (65) will be taller than the California Plaza Tower in the above photo.

[Westsidelife]

I believe that is the Title Guarantee Building:


I was referring to the building on the corner of Fifth and Olive. The one at the corner of Fifth and Hill is indeed the Title Guarantee Building.

[colemonkee]

That makes sense. What about the building with the black windows below the smaller tower? Is that an existing building or part of the project? As for the left 'midsection' I'd prefer it to be touching the ground but it'd be cool if it was above street level.
The building with the black "windows" is part of the project. That corner is currently a parking lot. If you look at the colored massing model, it appears that the building with the horizontal black "windows" is a parking garage, the orange areas are the live/work "pods" (which appear to be two stories, like the live/work spaces on the ground floor of Elleven), and the blue areas are the condos.

What I don't like about the design of the tower is how they repeat that cutaway and triple "eyebrow" motif on every corner, alternating it on different sides as it goes up. If that motif was there once, or perhaps twice, it would be a nice way to break up a tall, sleek, slender tower. But when they repeat it like this, it just looks messy, busy and tacky - in a sort of bad-dream-from-1980's-Miami way. The result is a tower that's as sleek as cheese grater and as refined as a Hooter's T-shirt.

Also, the urban planning of this is a nightmare. It appears that they've put a giant "hole" at street level along fifth street that leads into a courtyard, which looks up to a parking garage. That's wasting the best stretch of ground floor retail potential - along 5th Street facing Pershing Square. What, do they plan to put retail along Olive Street? So you can walk up a steep hill? Or better yet, inside the courtyard??

If they wanted to do this right, they would close up that ridiculous hole and put retail along 5th street, and extend a 2-3 story podium behind the retail throughout the entire site that would contain parking inside and a landscaped courtyard with pool in the center. That way residents of this development would have killer views of the Subway Terminal building (Metro417) - especially at night - and Forrest City could charge an arm and a leg to hundreds of voyeurs who would be tripping over themselves to get "pool view" apartments. It would also create a lot more parking spaces that could be used for events like Grand Performances or ice skating at Pershing Square. My guess is that they can't go underground for parking on the east side of this site with the subway being right there.

They really need to go back to the drawing board on this one, IMO.

[citywatch]

The only reason I don't want to get too analytical about the proj next to metro417 right now is because we still don't know how reliable the devlpr & funders are.

I'm still :hell: about the inability of the devlprs of the Medallion to move forward on their proj, esp since they originally gave specific dates when they said they'd break ground. And all the commotion several wks ago over the significance of the shutting down (which was short lived) of the parking lot at 8th & Grand didn't help matters either.

I saw a video posted on a web site not long ago that showed the view MTA bus riders had as they were being driven north on Olive towards 5th St. As the vid came to scenes of Pershing Sq & then the parking lots along the east side of Olive north of 5th St, I was reminded why it's so important that new devlpt take place on those lots ASAP.

All that blacktop wrings the life out of the hood, & metro417 & the Title Guarantee bldg now being converted to condos both deserve a much nicer neighbor.

[Wright Concept]

^ But a bad design can be as bad or worse of a deadzone than a parking lot. Case in point take a look at Pershing Square across the street from this project. And the current design interration of this project proves it.

Cole, The Subway of the Red Cars is directly beneath Metro 417 footprint, and the current subway is on Hill Street. They could do underground parking, they're building a high-rise on that site that will require deep foundations, chances are they have to go underground, in order to ensure that the structure of this building doesn't interfere with the structure of the Subway station box on Hill Street between 4th and 5th.

[LAMetroGuy]

New rendering for Little Tokyo Block 8 Tower:

http://www.amaa.com/_uploads/photo/project/113_lg1_Little-Tokyo_01.jpg

CLIENT GOAL: Bring retail, public parking and a mix of rental and for-sale housing to a part of Los Angeles that badly needs it.

DESIGN RESPONSE: Little Tokyo Condominiums is a 22-Story high-rise located next to the downtown core of LA in Little Tokyo. It contains 240 for-sale resident units with 400 private parking spaces and 600 public spaces in an 11-story parking garage below and adjacent to the tower. The site contains a total of four parcels. Three low-rise buildings and one high-rise include a mix of rental housing, for-sale housing and retail uses. The project is located at 1st Street and San Pedro Street adjacent to the new CalTrans building.

[citywatch]

But a bad design can be as bad or worse of a deadzone than a parking lot. Case in point take a look at Pershing Square across the street from this project.
But design issues alone may not be enough to overcome other problems. Pershing Sq has been a no man's land for decades, well before its current layout was installed there. That park has a long history of ppl not wanting to spend much or any time in it.

Another thing: I was looking at recently posted shots of SF in the photo forum, & what struck me was how empty or quiet many of its sidewalks were, in spite of that city being famous for having settings that are friendly to the pedestrian.

[Wright Concept]

How long a histroy are you talking about? Another thing to consider is the overall "decline" you repeat on many instances (on other posts/threads) of the surroundings across from Pershing Square. It's the classic case of chicken vs egg.

But back to the point of the design of that proposed condo complex, if the design works and utilizes an activity or engagement of the street, it can help to revive the surrounding areas and have other surrounding elements change it's course, such as Broadway. For example if the ground floor retail was included and it's very successful (considering the large bundle of riders waiting for the 16-18 bus) then that can spur the surroundings to open up and clean up its ground floor

[danparker276]

Found this on loop net, this is in the lot just west of 1100 wilshire and across from wilshire court. This land/building plans are for sale, so I don't know what will come of this. 1110 Ingraham, 330 units. It's been for sale for a while, but this is the first time i've seen a pic.

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink/Profile/Profile.aspx?LID=14226247&stid=cbre

edit>changed image location
http://loftla.com/lofts/1100/1110ing.jpg

[colemonkee]

^ Not bad. Let's hope someone purchases it and builds it.

New rendering for Little Tokyo Block 8 Tower:

http://www.amaa.com/_uploads/photo/project/113_lg1_Little-Tokyo_01.jpg

CLIENT GOAL: Bring retail, public parking and a mix of rental and for-sale housing to a part of Los Angeles that badly needs it.

DESIGN RESPONSE: Little Tokyo Condominiums is a 22-Story high-rise located next to the downtown core of LA in Little Tokyo. It contains 240 for-sale resident units with 400 private parking spaces and 600 public spaces in an 11-story parking garage below and adjacent to the tower. The site contains a total of four parcels. Three low-rise buildings and one high-rise include a mix of rental housing, for-sale housing and retail uses. The project is located at 1st Street and San Pedro Street adjacent to the new CalTrans building.
Not sure I agree with their police work, there, Norm. Block 8 is on 2nd and San Pedro, adjacent to Weller Court and the New Otani.

[RAlossi]

^ Which is one of the most important blocks in the area to be redeveloped, in my opinion. Little Tokyo needs to start doing more to attract more tourists, visitors, and residents.

I like that the Block 8 project is supposed to have townhouse-style apartments as well.

[citywatch]

How long a histroy are you talking about? Another thing to consider is the overall "decline" you repeat on many instances (on other posts/threads) of the surroundings across from Pershing Square. It's the classic case of chicken vs egg.I believe Pershing Sq started to become a wasteland from the 1960s onward, or when DT started to really feel the impact of burbanization, & homeless ppl grew in size & aggressiveness. There was another thread here several months ago that dealt with similar problems facing Union Sq in SF, which in spite of it being in a more ped friendly hood also fell apart from the 1970s onward.

I came across this photo of Pershing Sq from prob around the late 1970s, & if the Sq's current design isn't perfect, it's at least not as bland & surprisingly dull as it was a few decades ago:

http://www.laparks.org/pershingsquare/images/0029.jpg

[Westsidelife]

Pershing Square is a huge disappointment. The space could be but to better use. I hope there are plans in the future for Pershing Square. Hopefully it'll be something similar to Union Square in SF.

[Westsidelife]

Plus, Pershing Square is not too far from the Grand Avenue project and LA Live. Having a more vibrant Pershing Square would connect all three spaces together and generate pedestrian activity throughout downtown.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

1. The City House - 60 Stories

2. Ritz Tower - 54 Stories
3. Metropolis Tower 3 – 55 Stories
4. The Olympic - 50 Stories
5. Zen Tower - 50 Stories
6. Grand Avenue Tower 1 – 50 Stories

7. Metropolis Tower 2 – 46 Stories
8. Metropolis Tower 4 – 42 Stories
9. 8th & Grand Tower 1 - 40 Stories
10. Fig Central Tower 1 - 40 Stories
11. 9th & Flower Tower - 40 Stories
12. Grand Avenue Tower 2 – 40 Stories

13. Olive Street Tower - 35 Stories
14. Herald Examiner Tower 2 – 34 Stories
15. Fig South Tower 1 - 34 Stories
16. Fig South Tower 2 - 34 Stories
17. Metropolis Tower 1 – 30 Stories
18. Pacific Stock Exchange Tower 1 - 30 Stories
19. Pacific Stock Exchange Tower 2 - 30 Stories
20. Grand Avenue Tower 3 – 30 Stories

21. Fig Central Tower 2 - 27 Stories
22. Hanover Tower - 27 Stories
23. Concerto Tower 1 - 27 Stories
24. Concerto Tower 2 - 27 Stories
25. Glass Tower - 25 Stories
26. Grand Avenue Tower 5 – 25 Stories
27. Grand Avenue Tower 6 – 25 Stories
28. Hope Street Condos - 25 Stories
29. Evo - 24 Stories
30. 8th & Grand Tower 2 - 24 Stories
31. Herald Examiner Tower 2 - 24 Stories
32. Little Tokyo Block Eight Tower - 20 Stories
33. Grand Avenue Tower 4 – 20 Stories

34. FIDM Tower - 19 Stories
35. Luma - 17 Stories
36. Federal Courthouse - 16 Stories

So lets correct this...

Add

Park Fifth at 65 stories
Park Fifth at 36 Stories
Park Fifth at 14 stories
Park Fifth at 14 stories
1027 wilshire at 48 Stories
Trinity Tower at 31? storeis
Burger King Tower at 34? stories
Other City West project at 14 stories or so


anymore?

[Westsidelife]

What's the Burger King Tower?

[Easy]

The guys that own the land where the Burger King currently sits at Grand and Cesar Chavez want to build a tower there.

[ThreeHundred]

It's called the Lucia Tower.

[Westsidelife]

Oh yeah, now I remember. The Italian people.

[cruz610]

So lets correct this...

Add

Park Fifth at 65 stories
Park Fifth at 36 Stories
Park Fifth at 14 stories
Park Fifth at 14 stories
1027 wilshire at 48 Stories
Trinity Tower at 31? storeis
Burger King Tower at 34? stories
Other City West project at 14 stories or so


anymore?
Dont forget 1100 Wilshire with 38 stories!

[sbocguy]

^That list is for new construction; 1100 is a conversion of an existing building.

And here's something relevant to this thread... I generally share the concerns addressed in the article, but the guy is *way* off-base with his thinking on the steam cleaning. Didn't they notify the street people in advance, and state explicitly that they would only be asked to move temporarily? There's really no way you can fault the CCE BID here, IMO... having human excrement/urine on the streets is an unacceptable condition for the homeless to be living in, and an unfair detriment to the Skid Row business community...

Los Angeles Times

The Downside of Upscale (http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-op-slater30jul30,0,1645696.story?coll=la-opinion-center)
The battle over skid row is part of a long war between the poor and those who would displace them.

By Tom Slater
Tom Slater is a lecturer in urban studies at the University of Bristol in Britain. He is the coauthor of "Gentrification," to be published by Routledge in the spring of 2007.

July 30, 2006

THE STEAM CLEANING of the streets of skid row a few weeks ago — when homeless people were literally swept and hosed out of their makeshift encampments in downtown Los Angeles by employees of the local "business improvement district" — was a troubling moment in the battle over the neighborhood's future. But it was hardly a unique one.

In fact, the trend toward gentrification has created similar moments in cities all around the world for many years, pitting the poor and the homeless against real estate developers, the police and upscale residents returning to "reclaim" the inner city. As long as there have been low-income neighborhoods, there have been those who want to remove them — and those who have, as a result, been left with no place to go.

The origins of the term "skid row" can be traced to Skid Road in Seattle in the 1880s, which was known for the greased corduroy track of saplings over which logs were skidded toward water to be floated to sawmills. As logging gave way to urbanization, Skid Road came to refer the area of a town where out-of-work loggers congregated. Arrival there signified that one was sliding downward in society, or "going on the skids." During the Depression, the phrase moved south and east to denote the run-down section of any city where homeless and unemployed people clustered; by 1940, the name had changed to "skid row."

The term "gentrification" is of more recent vintage. It hails from Britain, and was coined by the late Ruth Glass, a London sociologist, in 1964. She was worried about an emerging pattern she had identified in working-class neighborhoods of inner London: They were being "invaded," to use her words, by members of the middle classes, who were taking over "shabby, modest mews and cottages" and upgrading large Victorian lodging houses, resulting in the displacement of the original working-class occupiers.

In the years that followed, gentrification was observed in other large Western cities, and researched extensively. It is now so firmly established in American cities that it is hard to find neighborhoods in central city areas from Boston to Chicago to Denver to San Francisco that have not experienced it. (Even Seattle's old Skid Road is now the upscale Pioneer Square historic district, a major tourist attraction). And gentrification is an increasingly global process, observed in cities as far apart as Cape Town, Kyoto, Jerusalem and Istanbul.

Many policymakers, "business improvement" strategists, real estate agents, middle-class professionals and more conservative academics have treated gentrification as a purely positive trend, as a remedy for the human, environmental and tax-base calamity of "blighted" urban neighborhoods. But as the Central City East Assn.'s efforts to sweep and hose the streets of skid row showed, gentrifying a neighborhood often means displacing those who are already there, and displacement does not usually happen without a fight. Sure, we all like clean streets, cool bars, lattes in the sun, "authentic" historical buildings, converted lofts, art galleries and live-music spaces. But sometimes they come at too high a price.

When I first saw skid row in Los Angeles in 1994, I was appalled that this level of suffering and misery could exist in a city of such fame and wealth; I felt it even more keenly in 2002, when I attended a conference in downtown L.A. That week, a Canadian colleague informed me that there are more homeless people in downtown Los Angeles than in all of Canada — a situation that has only been exacerbated since then by the increasingly hot property market downtown.

When it was first identified by Glass, gentrification fascinated urban planners because it contradicted the conventional mid-20th century wisdom that the middle classes would continue indefinitely to flee the cities and settle exclusively in the suburbs. The realization that some were, in fact, remaining in — or returning to — central city areas and rejecting suburbia came as a shock.

Explanations of gentrification have usually split into two camps. On one hand, some scholars emphasize the economic elements: the workings of urban land and housing markets, framed in the language of capital disinvestment and reinvestment. These scholars focus on the role of speculators, developers, real estate agents and mortgage lenders (usually buttressed by public policy), and argue that gentrification is a clear expression of the perennial search for profits from property.

Other scholars have taken more of a "cultural studies" tack, asking: "Who are the gentrifiers and why do they want to live in central city neighborhoods?" They've focused on the emergence and expansion of the "new middle classes," their consumption practices, the ways in which (in reaction to the perceived blandness of suburbia) they imprint their identities on neighborhoods once considered off-limits.

For many years, there was considerable hostility between the two camps, sustained by political and ideological squabbles. Those who peddled the economic explanations tended to focus on the injustices of the process, whereas the cultural explainers sometimes ended up empathizing with the middle-class desire to seek out a more "urbane" existence. Today, most researchers agree that to understand and explain gentrification, the arguments must be complementary rather than competing.

Although gentrification is an increasingly global process, the most tense and violent struggles have taken place in the U.S., where the market offers limited, if any, protection to vulnerable tenants (unlike, say, Europe, where greater state intervention and regulation of rental housing tends to limit displacement). Problems in the U.S. were exacerbated during the 1980s, when the Reagan administration's "deinstitutionalization" of psychiatric patients intensified the problems of homelessness just as the first generation of "yuppies" was seeking the edginess and convenience of urban neighborhoods.

What's more, because gentrifiers in the U.S. are so often white, and those affected are so often members of minority groups, another layer of complexity was added to the process.

The most famous battle over gentrification took place on the Lower East Side of New York City in 1988, when a riot erupted after the police closed Tompkins Square Park in order to drive out its increasing homeless population, most of whom had been displaced because of rising rents as artists followed by young professionals moved into the neighborhood. There, as in many cases, a major role was played by both by municipal government and real estate agents, who had taken to calling the area the "East Village" in order to break associations with the poor immigrants who had dominated the Lower East Side for over a century, and thus appeal to a new wave of "urban pioneers." It appears that a similar strategy is underway in downtown L.A., where "Central City East" is the name intended for skid row as part of the neighborhood's "revitalization."

The terms used in these debates are rarely innocent. "Revitalization," for instance, suggests that right now there is nothing vital in the area. The term "urban pioneer," so commonly given to gentrifiers, suggests no one worthy of notice is currently living there.

On the surface, gentrification can be appealing. But alfresco dining, funky clothing outlets and "historic preservation" can be deceptive. Gentrification is a serious issue when housing laws fail to protect tenants, when affordable housing is nonexistent and when no new public housing is being built because of widespread fears of re-creating the unacceptable conditions of L.A.'s existing housing projects, like Imperial Courts in Watts.

Even if people are not made homeless, the conversion of dilapidated hotels into swanky apartments means there that are fewer housing options for poorer citizens, and if this happens on a large scale, it puts massive pressure on already stretched voluntary organizations, charities and social assistance providers.

People living on the streets and in the single-room-occupancy hotels of downtown L.A. have enough to cope with already without being hosed out of the way for iPod-wearing, latte-drinking professionals strolling to work in Bunker Hill. If urgently needed change in downtown L.A. is to improve life at all for those who live there now, some provision must be made for adequate, affordable housing.

Caps on loft conversions, greater rent protections for tenants and subsidies for people unable to afford rental housing would also help ensure that poverty is not simply moved elsewhere.

If the debate about skid row is to be productive, we need to reject the characterizations of its dwellers as unfortunate failures and instead evaluate the ways in which a booming housing market can do damage — economic, social and psychological — to those who live in poor, underserved neighborhoods.

[RAlossi]

Yeah, this guy is pretty out of touch when it comes to this particular urban issue, in my opinion. He faults people for wanting to live close to work, he seems to be of the opinion that people sleeping in feces, urine, and trash is better than having clean sidewalks, and his characterization of "iPod-wearing, latte-drinking professionals" is -- while not offensive, per se -- meant to invoke an image that people can think of and vilify.

Sorry if I repeat myself, but this issue is just one of which I have strong opinions.

This point of view is outdated. Concentrated tracts of homeless services, low-income housing, jails, and drug treatment facilities (not to mention the drug dealers to feed off of it) is NOT better than a mixed-use environment of cafes, shops, homeless services, market-rate housing, low-income housing/SROs, jobs, and, yes, luxury housing. We've tried the "concentrate and forget" approach for decades. It's time to focus on new solutions.

Also, his characterization of "gentrifiers" as being almost always white is somewhat inapplicable to the Los Angeles "gentrification scene," for lack of a better term, and really shows his ignorance of American city culture and demographics today. The buying power and homeownership of minorities is improving dramatically. There are many Asians, latinos, whites, blacks, and Middle Easterners filling up Silver Lake houses, Hollywood condos, and Downtown lofts. I can't speak for many other cities as I'm an Angeleno, but throwing the race issue out there and simply expecting to get a sympathetic ear won't work anymore. I don't think ANYONE should be villified for finding an affordable dump and fixing it up -- with sensitivity to historical detail and restoration, no less -- so that they can make a nice life for themselves and reap the profit if they choose to sell it.

Not only that, but the "minoritization" of the suburbs is not only well documented to those who look at statistics and studies, but is plainly evident just by driving through some of these suburbs. While there's still work to be done in that arena, it's a completely different issue.

Yes, there needs to be a whole lot of services for the homeless in Downtown LA. But many of these homeless persons are not just "down on their luck"; they're addicted to drugs, they're mentally incapable of taking care of themselves, or they're very sick (or they are children whose parents fall into one of those categories). They don't need some free-for-all drug-and-crime fest to re-enter society.

If, God forbid, I were to become homeless for one reason or another now -- and had no family or friends to turn to -- the actual services offered Downtown and other places would be adequate to get me back on my feet for a while. This obviously isn't the case with many homeless persons now. Some just don't want -- or don't have the ability -- to accept that job-training-and-housing program or that drug-free housing program (with weekly drug tests). Skid Row is NOT the place for these people to be.

So instead of being proactive and calling for a more even spread of services throughout the county or an increase in mental health facilities, this guy's arguing for... the same thing we've been doing for years? Give me a break.

[colemonkee]

^ That's about as good of an analysis as you can make for that article. Well said, sir!

[Easy]

I saw this article in the Sunday "Current" section. It irritated me that he said that "homeless people were literally swept and hosed out of their makeshift encampments" when of course he meant figuratively. There were no homeless people literally hosed out of their encampment. Doesn't the LA Times editor check stuff like that?

There was also another article that took an opposing viewpoint.

[LAMetroGuy]

I am not sure this this rendering has been posted already, but I believe this is the site of the Burger King.... right????

520 N. Bunker Hill Avenue

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/5/9/8/5981B5EB-08CD-4F4B-B905-6AFF096EC47D_or.jpg

http://www.loopnet.com/Attachments/8/E/4/8E464AAE-43A6-4E68-8F83-0BCE5CBB01DA_or.jpg

[RAlossi]

^You're right, that is the site of the current Burger King. It looks nice! When I took a photo of that area, I was kind of put off by the southwestern corner of that parcel because it looked like it was a staging area for the Orsini and not a part of the proposed Burger King tower. It should take that entire parcel, right?

[LAMetroGuy]

I believe so, the "burger king" tower should take up the entire yellow area.

[danny1100]

Hey everyone,

Sending a reminder to join us all at this cool looking event.
I called in and it looks like there are only 90 cards left.
Also found out that they're giving away free massages & other goodies.

We're all gonna be there!

http://www.labutlercard.com/broadwaybar.bmp

CLICK HERE FOR INFO:

http://www.labutlercard.com

[colemonkee]

Damn, LAMG! I imagine you being the Harry Potter of renders. You're the chosen one who gracefully accepts his seemingly supernatural power to unearth renders from the nethereaches of the universe, even though all you wanted to do was just be a normal, everyday urbanist. But instead your name was secretly tossed into the Goblet of Development and you were forced to reluctantly compete in the Tri-Render Tournament, besting your competition through wizard-like engenuity and quasi-devine intervention. :wizard:

Seriously, though, the design of this tower leaves a lot to be desired. It looks one of cheaper towers on the Gold Coast. Bleh! For having such prime visibility, I would hope for a better design.

[LAMetroGuy]

Damn, LAMG! I imagine you being the Harry Potter of renders. You're the chosen one who gracefully accepts his seemingly supernatural power to unearth renders from seemingly out of nowhere, even though all you wanted to do was just be a normal, everyday urbanist. But instead your name was secretly tossed into the Goblet of Development and you were forced to reluctantly compete in the Tri-Render Tournament, besting your competition through wizard-like engenuity and quasi-devine intervention. :wizard:

Too funny... I'm only as good as my counterparts who take great photo updates! LOL... I stumbled onto that rendering because I was playing with loopnet... and saw it by accident... nothing magical, just being curious.

Seriously, though, the design of this tower leaves a lot to be desired. It looks one of cheaper towers on the Gold Coast. Bleh! For having such prime visibility, I would hope for a better design.

I agree, it is a bit bland but it's not ugly. I am fine with the design... I'm sure it will look better once you can see it in person, the glass the color, etc. It is much better than the orsini right next to it... I wish this area would get more high density development like the Lucia... but I thinnk this will do just fine!

[danny1100]

Is that burger king going to be torn down? Damn, I relied on the place for late night runs ... perhaps a new residential tower with a drive through retail? that would be seet, lol. nice rendering


Too funny... I'm only as good as my counterparts who take great photo updates! LOL... I stumbled onto that rendering because I was playing with loopnet... and saw it by accident... nothing magical, just being curious.

I agree, it is a bit bland but it's not ugly. I am fine with the design... I'm sure it will look better once you can see it in person, the glass the color, etc. It is much better than the orsini right next to it... I wish this area would get more high density development like the Lucia... but I thinnk this will do just fine!

[Caliguy2006]

Downtown L.A is going to need alot more Residential Units,especially with a Metro Population of 18 million and growing...

Downtown and other parts of L.A definately needs to start building upwards.

[DJM19]

Well, we have started going upward. And frankly the vertical building market has a bright future in LA, because land has finally become too scarce to build just single family homes.

[danny1100]

Up, Up and Away! I'm all for it.

Well, we have started going upward. And frankly the vertical building market has a bright future in LA, because land has finally become too scarce to build just single family homes.

[dragonsky]

3 Firms Are Finalists to Design Park at Cornfield Site in L.A.
Each group will get $25,000 to create master plans for the 32-acre parcel near Chinatown.
By Bob Pool, Times Staff Writer
July 31, 2006

Design firms in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York have been named finalists in an unusual competition to develop a new state park at a former rail yard near downtown L.A.

Mia Lehrer and Associates of Los Angeles, Hargreaves and Associates of San Francisco and Field Operations of New York beat out 30 other design teams in the first phase of the contest, state parks administrators said Thursday. Each firm will receive a $25,000 stipend to help cover the cost of preparing a master plan for the 32-acre parcel east of Chinatown known as the Cornfield.

ADVERTISEMENT
A selection committee cited Lehrer's plan for a "living museum" that would make the park "a contemporary version of Ellis Island for the West Coast," Hargreaves' concept of "reconnection of a community to a forgotten area" and Field Operations' plan for a "unified park that dramatically improves urban livability and redefines adjacent neighborhoods."

The competition, held in conjunction with the State Parks Foundation, will continue with the finalists participating in a public workshop Aug. 26. The three master plan proposals will be unveiled for the selection committee at a public forum scheduled for Oct. 14.

Parks officials said the three competitors will work within guidelines established in light of more than three years of debate over what the proposed Los Angeles State Historic Park should include.

"We at state parks have never done this before," said Ruth Coleman, of the California Department of Parks and Recreation. "This is truly an unprecedented and extremely creative method for seeking the best possible design for this park site."

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-cornfield31jul31,1,3041474.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

[RAlossi]

I went Downtown today and got some pictures of Little Tokyo/Arts District/Boyle Heights(Gold Line construction) as well as some NoHo station developments. I'll be able to upload pictures tomorrow!

[yakumoto]

I went Downtown today and got some pictures of Little Tokyo/Arts District/Boyle Heights(Gold Line construction) as well as some NoHo station developments. I'll be able to upload pictures tomorrow!

Dammit man! Don't just leave us hanging like that!

[kobewillscore100]

cant wait for all these proposed projects to be approved

[Westsidelife]

I had some spare time so I made this rendering of the LA skyline with 1027 Wilshire. I even matched the tones of the sky and mountains. Keep in mind that the view from this angle would be a little different as we would be viewing the side of the tower.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h125/MBenzLover/LA-1.jpg

[LAMetroGuy]

Remember two little towers (City House and Olympic)... the article Back in April stated:

Financing is being arranged through New York-based Ackman-Ziff Real Estate Group LLC. Brown said the financing hasn't closed, but he expects the package to be in place within 60 days.

Well... its been past 60 days, any news???

[colemonkee]

^ My gut tells me that in our current market, it will be very difficult for them to get financing. I'm hoping they prove me wrong.

[pdxstreetcar]

i emailed the architect about the status of this project a few weeks ago and they replied back that they were working on the construction drawings.

[LAMetroGuy]

hmmm, if financing wasn't obtained, why would they be working on construction drawings? (me just being optomistic)

[colemonkee]

^ And good reason to be. That is very positive news. I think the next big step would be the opening of a sales center, which was supposed to happen sometime in the fall or winter of this year, if I remember correctly. Someone here - I can't remember who - had posted something to that effect.

As for construction, I would expect this to take some time in plan check, similar to the 8th and Grand project.

[pdxstreetcar]

even though i live no where near this project, i have been very interested in it since i first heard about it...

i was getting concerned when i couldnt find any new info on this project since april as to whether it was still alive since there was some uncertainty so i emailed the architect to try to find out the latest.

also i just re-read the reply from the architect, the term used was actually "construction documents" not "construction drawings" but its probably pretty much the same thing.

SSC has a thread on this project too...
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=341903

[citywatch]

The first sign that construction on the Rodmark towers proj may be coming nearer to reality is if or when the Grand Ave ballroom is torn down.

Rodmark's web site is set up to receive a list of names of prospective buyers, & I'd like to know what early responses to the proj have been like. I do know that the most $$ condos currently for sale in the hood, in the Skylofts proj, have been publicized at being around a 60% sales level for several months now, & I believe that figure is being kept up to date.

[MapGoulet]

Edit

[danny1100]

Hey gang,

I'm pretty sure that there was a Civic Park thread but couldn't find it. Does anyone know how, when, construction will begin on the new police headquarters. I saw that the fence was slightly taken down today, looks like they are already digging deep. Any updates -


Edit

[colemonkee]

^ That's a great question. Earlier this week they were removing the sidewalk on the first street side, which was already enclosed in the fencing. But there's no heavy machinery on the site moving dirt as far as I've seen. The hole your seeing was dug as part of the demo of the old buildings on the site, and is about 8-10 feet deep in the middle of the site.

As far as construction is concerned, last I heard they put out a bid to 400 contractors and receive one response, from a company with a very spotty record that was $20 million over the approved budget. At that time (a few weeks ago), City Council was considering putting out more bids to see what they could get. We haven't heard anything since then.

But when they do start, I'll know right away. I live right across the street.

[citywatch]

I saw this in today's paper. What it means or doesn't mean may very well decide whether there will be many more new condo projs that actually break ground in the upcoming months & yrs:



Nonetheless, a growing stockpile of homes for sale is putting pressure on sellers to cut their asking prices, giving buyers the upper hand in sales negotiations. That's becoming evident even in downtown Los Angeles, which has been one of the hottest local markets thanks to a boom in new condominiums and lofts.

"Downtown has gone into a state of paralysis because prices are starting to come down," said Stephen May, a veteran real estate broker who specializes in the area. The dearth of demand and rising supply prompted May to advise one client seeking to sell her condo unit to list it at just $10,000 more than what she paid a year ago.

Today, there are seven condo units for sale for every one sold. Last year, the ratio was 1 to 1, May said. "It's glut city," he said.



As for devlpt of new bldgs for businesses, I've heard that demand for office space still isn't strong enough, where devlprs can charge a high enough psf rent, to justify new construction. So that likely won't be much of an alternative in upcoming months (yrs?) either. And everyone knows devlpt of the new hotel at LA Live is currently possible only because of special deals & tax breaks.

So the big question now is how much of this...

:banana:

or this...

:drowning:

...will be the rule or the exception in the future?

[RAlossi]

Well hopefully the fact that one woman can only sell her (new?) condo for only 10k more means that more long-term, neighborhood-oriented people will start to buy rather than speculators. This may also help increase the stock of apartments rather than condos for new construction.

[colemonkee]

From the LA Business Journal:

Alexandria Hotel to Become Affordable Housing
Work began Tuesday on the conversion of the single room occupancy Alexandria Hotel into affordable downtown Los Angeles housing. Alexandria Housing Partners LLP plans to spend $14 million on the two-year renovation, which will create 463 apartments available to households with incomes of 60 percent or less of the county’s median income that will be rented for between $600 and $700 a month. A business center, community room and fitness center, and a diner will be included in the facility. The hotel is owned by Alexandria Housing Partners LLP, which includes co-general partners Paul Buxbaum, chief executive of Calabasas-based Buxbaum Group; and Ruben Islas and Jules Arthur of the Amerlan Group of San Diego. The project has received $47 million in bonds and direct financial assistance from the Community Redevelopment Agency. The partnership’s purchase closed last week for $30 million.

[WesTheAngelino]

^:tup:

[LAMetroGuy]

"The project has received $47 million in bonds and direct financial assistance from the Community Redevelopment Agency."

That's a lot of money... does anyone know where does the CRA get all of this cash from?

Edit:

Never mind.... "CRA/LA revenues come from property “tax increment,” a portion of the property taxes collected in a redevelopment project following the date of project adoption.".

[citywatch]

Work began Tuesday on the conversion of the single room occupancy Alexandria Hotel into affordable downtown Los Angeles housing.
I hope the new owners & their renovation finally result in that bldg being kept in decent shape.

I was looking at an aerial shot of the hood around 5th St from between Hill to Main St, & noticed the Alexandria sits in the middle of the group of bldgs made up of the Barry lofts at 5th & Broadway, & the metro417 apt & Title Guarantee condo bldgs to the west & the Security Lofts apt bldg on Spring St to the east. So having a big dive sitting in the middle of all those projs certainly won't be a good thing for the hood's revival.

[LAMetroGuy]

I agree 100%... it is good to see money spent on this historic gem!

[WesTheAngelino]

LAMetroguy trumpeting the renovation of an SRO into affordable housing......I'm speechless.

But seriously, I'd love to see more of this happening in downtown and other parts of LA that are coming up

[LAMetroGuy]

i'm glad that it is getting cleaned up as I am a big believer in preservation of our historic architecture. i'm not glad that social welfare is coming to the rescue and guiding the invisible hand, if those units will rent at market rate, they should, if not then it is what it is.

[WesTheAngelino]

i'm glad that it is getting cleaned up as I am a big believer in preservation of our historic architecture. i'm not glad that social welfare is coming to the rescue and guiding the invisible hand, if those units will rent at market rate, they should, if not then it is what it is.


You mean like that invisible hand that's building LA Live? Or the one that is building the W in Hollywood? Or that invisible hand that built Staples Center? Or Hollywood and Highland?

[LAMetroGuy]

Let me ask you this, are u supportive or against the "government assistance" for LA Live, W in Hollywood, Staples Center or Hollywood and Highland?

[WesTheAngelino]

I'm totally supportive of it. I'm merely pointing out that people like you have a double standard when it comes to govt. giving hand outs for development. You don't blink an eye when the City Council bends over backwards to give cash to Philip Anshutchz, yet any money for affordable housing (we're talking $700 apts., not giving people free places to stay, just supporting the workforce that we need downtown by shielding them from insane rent prices there) is "social welfare" and a total give away. I'm all for govt. playing a role in development, it always has throughout this nation's history. I merely wish that people like you would view money given to developers and working people the same way. LA Live and the Alexandria are both examples of the same thing: good urban planning for the PEOPLE.


And btw.....why is "government assistance" in quotes? Do you think by bracketing the term in quotes it will somehow make those billions in incentives and subisidies and outright giveaways to developers less real? :jester:

[LAMetroGuy]

People like me... too funny :rolleyes: In the past you have been anti "government assistance" to these big projects... fickle :cool:


Anyway, I'm okay with this project because both parties were interested in this type of development. I am just opposed to forcing developers to inlcude affordable housing if it isn't their will and can potentially stiffle development and potentially deter future interest. I'm just glad that this historic building will be restored! Gentrification of this neighborhood is very much unavoidable and will make the 'hood a better place to visit. Oh and I used the quotes to upset you, score! :jester:

[luckyeight]

[QUOTE=LAMetroGuy]"The project has received $47 million in bonds and direct financial assistance from the Community Redevelopment Agency."

That's a lot of money... does anyone know where does the CRA get all of this cash from?

would be CALPERS

:banana: :banana:

[WesTheAngelino]

People like me... too funny :rolleyes: In the past you have been anti "government assistance" to these big projects... fickle :cool:


Anyway, I'm okay with this project because both parties were interested in this type of development. I am just opposed to forcing developers to inlcude affordable housing if it isn't their will and can potentially stiffle development and potentially deter future interest. I'm just glad that this historic building will be restored! Gentrification of this neighborhood is very much unavoidable and will make the 'hood a better place to visit. Oh and I used the quotes to upset you, score! :jester:

And when have I said that? I remember voicing concerns over LA Live, and I might have railed against giving money for sports venues, but other than that I'm not sure what you're referring to.

Hahaha and no you did not upset me with your quotes....made me laugh, hence the :jester:

Once again you respond without defending your point of view, just a lot of hot air.

[RAlossi]

This Alexandria conversion probably wouldn't have happened without CRA (public) money. The developers aren't being "forced" into anything, they're doing it voluntarily, and other developers will build workforce housing voluntarily with some CRA cash available.