That facade is gone. Notice how it's lined up with it's neighbors?

Well the new facade isn't..

http://33.media.tumblr.com/77b97d178...cZt1qaj0yo.jpg

IMO, they should remove that facade and make it clear glass. I think it would make an ideal flagship GAP or Imagine keeping the facade but with a glowing Apple logo for an Apple store!

Glad to see that the glass slide on US Bank Tower will be on the northeast side, which is one of the lesser seen views (but will be visible from the City Hall observation deck). Harry Cobb has to be putting his palm over his face.

Just now:

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

http://i.imgur.com/bF2Nqs4.jpg

Pretty cool that Downtown will be getting not one, but two more observation decks very soon.

I think to hide the tears. Oh my God, this idea has to be one of the most tacky things this city has done in a long time. Why on earth would the city approve such an idea? It is so undignified. Why not a roller coaster? "Hey, move over Las Vegas, we're coming through."

What's the big deal? If implemented properly this could be one of the biggest attractions to Downtown LA. Riding a slide 1000 feet in the air sounds like it'll turn a lot of heads.

Even a fresh coat of paint would help and the removal of that teetering box sign. The Merrit building has the potential to be a jewel, if thoughtfully restored. It appears that the rebirth of Broadway will be a building by building, block by block, slow march north until fully complete. And despite the seven storied stucco stumps (or shit boxes), which I'd rather not see, Citywatch is all too right when she says that they do put "feet on the ground." In this case there will be many thousands more residents, ready and needing to spend. But I think that planners should stop emphasizing placing retail in every new residential development (which often remains vacant) and allow economic pressure to encourage retailers to expand fresh new retail to occupy the probably millions of square feet of either vacant or swapmeet space on Broadway. DTLA will eventually have over a hundred thousand residents (probably by 2020 or a bit later) but even then I think that their commerce needs should be confined to specific thoroughfares. To do this would strengthen their viability. To think of it in an historic perspective, from the mid-teens to WWII when DTLA was at its heyday there were probably close to a hundred thousand residents (if not more) within the area we know as downtown. And thousands more poured into the core to shop, work, play and engage in commerce of some form. Many thoroughfares were important but Broadway was the supporting spine of the core. I don't believe that it was by accident but rather planned by the city to develop that way. I believe that it is essential to again encourage this concept.

relax, its fun and its cool. Not the end of the world.

Maybe. I just don't think that it presents a look of dignity when you have such a prominent building that won accolades for design in its day. And to add to that the building is essentially the gateway to Bunker Hill, a solid, yet staid financial district (even though many say said it is sterile) which is suffering from high vacancies, and a somewhat questionable reputation as a serious financial center of one of the worlds great Alpha cities. I mean after all, this building sits on the cusp of an important financial center, and to have a hotel with a observation deck is fine, but to have a hotel with a "kiddie ride" is another. I would be curious to see what commercial office leasing brokers have to say about its impact on business relocation efforts. I hope that I am wrong.

I know that you are right--I'm just in the wrong generation. If it is built, I will look up, squint, laugh, and say "The world is going to the dogs." Just and old saying meant as a joke. But I won't ride it--think that the glass is too thin for my comfort.

im with you on that, i hate heights so no way im sliding down that thing ha. I bet it instantly becomes the most instagrammed location in the city.

They're probably going to charge a ridiculous amount to go down the slide.

If I remember correctly it will cost $25 to get to the top and an additional $8 to slide your butt 900 plus feet over the city

Which isn't unheard of. The Tilt at the John Hancock in Chicago costs $5 dollars (on top of the $20 it costs to go to the 94 floor observation deck). The Skydeck at the Sears Tower costs $22 dollars.

8 dollars. Will probably become a huge hit via social media sites.

I think this happened when they smashed that huge USBank Logo on the crown.

IMO, this will be a huge attraction that will support downtown in being the tourist draw it can be. This announcement is quite huge for downtown's economy and for LA redefining itself as a city with a center. #Instagram straight flexin!!

BTW, great job on the new thread Mojeda

For comparison, how much does it cost to go to the observation decks of towers in other cities?

The CN tower in Toronto costs $35 Canadian last year I went