LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[black_crow]

That is without a doubt the right recommendation.

Great project.

[Illithid Dude]

@ Citywatches Grand Avenue Project - looks like they totally value engineered the limestone away and replaced it with - metal panels. looks much worse imo. super disappointing.

EDIT: Looking closer at the last photos, it seems that Related decided to go for taller and cheaper than shorter and more expensive. a disappointing decision considering the architectural company the building will have.

Before:






After:









[IMG]xhttp://content.relatedcalifornia.com/sites/California/Images2/California-PropertyCutSheets/Grand-Ave/TheGrand5dMain450x570.jpg[/IMG]

i honestly think it's now an ugly building. the materials look so cheap.



is that stucco i see? oy vey

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Oh man, it looks like Grand Avenue has been thoroughly VE'd to shit.

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

@ Citywatches Grand Avenue Project - looks like they totally value engineered the limestone away and replaced it with - metal panels. looks much worse imo. super disappointing.

No kidding.

[JerellO]

Wow. I loved the grand ave towers because of the use of the metal panel thingies and the limestone with glass. Now it just lost that Manhattan building feel. Still, great development and better than that awful parking garage.

[Just-In-Cali]

Considering this forum's record on judging projects based on renders...Ill wait until its built. Literally every project get a bitchfest right up til its topped out...then suddenly.."oh...i kinda like it"
We know the default around here is to hate it right up until you dont...but doesnt it get old?
Lol. Carry on.

[LAsam]

Originally Posted by Just-In-Cali

Considering this forum's record on judging projects based on renders...Ill wait until its built. Literally every project get a bitchfest right up til its topped out...then suddenly.."oh...i kinda like it"
We know the default around here is to hate it right up until you dont...but doesnt it get old?
Lol. Carry on.

I was thinking the same thing. It's hard to tell how a project will look until you see the materials in place and how it fits in context with the area around it.

[DJM19]

I can tolerate everything except the base. It looks like an 80s mall entrance. The base needs to be something substantial and dignified. No more malls downtown please.

[bhunsberger]

Originally Posted by Just-In-Cali

Considering this forum's record on judging projects based on renders...Ill wait until its built. Literally every project get a bitchfest right up til its topped out...then suddenly.."oh...i kinda like it"
We know the default around here is to hate it right up until you dont...but doesnt it get old?
Lol. Carry on.

Funny. I always find the renderings to be better than the real thing. Some honestly look quite different than the actual building, whether it be because of some changes or just the way the renderings were done. Perfect example is Metropolis. Every rendering I have seen, all the buildings looked the same and had this light blue/silver look to them. Turns out they are dark blue. Same with the Mack Urban and 820 Olive. Both are substantially different than renderings.

[Illithid Dude]

The issue is the last design was really an investigation in material study - basically deconstructing the traditional art-deco setback limestone clad structure found in east coast cities like NY or Chicago. It was a cheeky reference to what used to be the epitome of downtown, and a nod to downtown Los Angeles as coming in to its own as a great downtown on par with the East Coast greats. By using metal and (hopefully not) stucco, the building looses the depth the limestone gave it, becoming just another blocky metal mass that is so common these days (like the Omni proposal for Angels Flight). I already know people who are upset that something is going to block the view of the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Like it or not, that building is something that gives Angelino's pride, even those who don't care about architecture. People are not gonna like if a big ugly building towers over the concert hall.

[ArquitectoMontenegro]

Oh my, Frank Gehry must be using Minecraft as a design tool... I've seen better architecture in Minecraft the video game!

[patriotizzy]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

By using metal and (hopefully not) stucco, the building looses the depth the limestone gave it

Depth? Wot.

I'd say it loses class, if anything. Who knows, the Walt Disney uses metal panels, and you're praising it's design in that very same comment. So maybe the overall design will make the argument of which materials are superior mute. I dig the building.

[citywatch]

the various comments above all make good points.

let me add one more point. This image was posted on March 25, 2008. That's over eight yrs ago.....



curbedla.com


Goodbye? As of December 2017, this is what still exists at 1st & grand across from disney hall....



curbedla.com


ericrichardson



The permitting process of LA city govt is about as fast paced as the devlpt process of the related cos grand Ave proj.....

100 S GRAND AVE

Application/Permit # PC/Job # Type Status Work Description
07019-10000-02078 B07LA08531 Bldg-Demolition Permit Expired

3/22/2010 DEMO EXISTING PARKING STRUCTURE. FENCE REQUIRED. NO SEWER CAP PERMIT. HANDWRECK DOZER/LOADER WRECKING.

17019-10000-03332 B17LA14037 Bldg-Demolition Application Submittal 8/7/2017 ***DPI AND POSTING*** DEMO EXISTING 2 STORY PARKING STRUCTURE.

17019-10000-04924 B17LA20947 Bldg-Demolition Application Submittal 11/15/2017 DEMO PARKING STRUCTURE, CLEAR LOT AND FENCE

07010-10001-04624 B07LA11537 Bldg-New Reviewed by Supervisor 3/28/2008 THIS APPLICANTION IS FOR ZONING PLAN CHECK ONLY FOR MIXED USE HIGH RISE BUILDING (B07LA11535 - 07010-10000-04624).

07010-10000-04624 B07LA11535 Bldg-New Application Submittal 11/7/2007 MIXED USE HIGH RISE BUILDING.

17010-10000-01468 B17LA06098 Bldg-New Verifications in Progress 10/24/2017 New mixed use project consisting of 2 highrise towers over parking (20-story hotel and 39-story residential including --- units affordable housing). 35% PDPP submittal for Zoning and Structural Peer Review.

17010-10004-01468 B17LA14474 Bldg-New Application Submittal 8/11/2017 15% PDPP for remaining Structural plan check of New mixed use project consisting of 2 highrise towers over parking (20-story hotel and 39-story residential).

17010-10005-01468 B17LA14482 Bldg-New Application Submittal 8/11/2017 EARLY START FOUNDATION ONLY UP TO GRADE LEVEL SLAB for New mixed use project consisting of 2 highrise towers over parking (20-story hotel and 39-story residential).

17010-10002-01468 B17LA14468 Bldg-New Application Submittal 8/11/2017 10% PDPP for Disabled Access plan check of New mixed use project consisting of 2 highrise towers over parking (20-story hotel and 39-story residential).

17010-10001-01468 B17LA14464 Bldg-New Application Submittal 8/11/2017 65% Partial plan check PDPP for Fire Life Safety review (30%) of New mixed use project consisting of 2 highrise towers over parking (20-story hotel and 39-story residential).

17010-10003-01468 B17LA14473 Bldg-New Application Submittal 8/11/2017 10% PDPP for Green plan check of New mixed use project consisting of 2 highrise towers over parking (20-story hotel and 39-story residential).

17030-10000-05550 B17LA14487 Grading Submitted 12/5/2017 EARLY START EXCAVATION AND GRADING for new highrise building.

17030-10000-08118 B17LA21824 Grading Application Submittal 11/29/2017 ***GPI & POSTING*** GRADING PRE-INSPECTION-WRITTEN NOTICE PROPOSED MIXED USE PROJECT CONSISTING OF TWO HIGH-RISE TOWERS; MAIN BUILDING PERMIT#: 17010-10000-01468; GRADING PERMIT#: 17030-10000-05550.

17020-10000-02319 B17LA14483 Nonbldg-New Submitted 12/5/2017 EARLY START SHORING for new highrise building.

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

Staff recommendation for Angels Landing is MacFarlane/Peebles

88 stories & 1000 feet+ is good for the site, and the lower plaza with open shops is good, but I think the tower design needs some work. The vertical metal (?) panels look kind of cheesy. If they want to go modern, they can do better. Of course I'd love too see a neo-art deco with a soaring spire taking it to 1200'+, but I guess that ship has sailed. Or maybe some redesign can incorporate some eclectic elements including (neo) art deco. I can only hope. A symbolic bridge between the modernist towers to the west on Bunker Hill & the 1920s historic buildings to the east on Broadway & Spring, just like Angel's Flight itself bridges the two districts.

[cargocultpants]

It's glass, not metal

[Blesha13]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

88 stories & 1000 feet+ is good for the site, and the lower plaza with open shops is good, but I think the tower design needs some work. The vertical metal (?) panels look kind of cheesy. If they want to go modern, they can do better. Of course I'd love too see a neo-art deco with a soaring spire taking it to 1200'+, but I guess that ship has sailed. Or maybe some redesign can incorporate some eclectic elements including (neo) art deco. I can only hope. A symbolic bridge between the modernist towers to the west on Bunker Hill & the 1920s historic buildings to the east on Broadway & Spring, just like Angel's Flight itself bridges the two districts.

As for a spire proposal, I'd love to see a 200 ft spire and this time, a lit spire for holidays/observations/sports playoffs, etc.

[chris08876]

A spire would be nice. Often towers cant pull of spires, but this one feels incomplete atop without one. I think a spire would suit it well, and aid its form.

You see what I mean? Check the rendering; the base, the midsection... is smooth, but once you reach the top, it stops abruptly. A spire would cushion the design and taper it off smoothly.

[IMBY]

88 stories! So many towers in China go up to 88 stories, then they put a crown on the top. 8 is the ultimate! 2 8's is beyond ultimate! And they despise 4's, which is why, to cater to the Asians in Las Vegas, they've eliminated the 4's in the elevator banks at some of the hotels here, like the Palazzo/Venetian.

I rode one of those elevators once, and you "fly" from the 39th floor to the 50ths floor. No 4's as the Asians are leery of staying on the floors with 4's. And, the hotel is described as a 64 story hotel. Not so! 54 stories!

But then, we have our superstition with 4's as well. 1 + 3 = 4!

When they announced the Alon project for the Strip a couple of years ago (it was never built) there was to be 2 towers, one 17 floors and one 26 floors. I caught that one! 1 +7 = 8. 2 + 6 = 8!

Catering to the superstitious Asians!

At any rate, I love the design for the tower for Angel's, but I'll get disturbed if it blocks my view of my favorite towers in DTLA, those curved glass towers on Bunker Hill! Will someone please put those towers on the Historical Register! Never, ever to be torn down!

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by Blesha13

As for a spire proposal, I'd love to see a 200 ft spire and this time, a lit spire for holidays/observations/sports playoffs, etc.

I have a suggestion. Instead of a truncated top, just continue the taper of the tower to a pointed crown. Sort of like the "Shard" in London. Would easily add another 200 feet at least and not too much additional weight. Crowns can be built quite light. Could be lit at night. Include an observation deck. This tower does come close to the Broadway historic district, and is next to historic Angel's Flight, so art deco elements would be appropriate and bridge it with the modernist & post-modern towers on Bunker Hill. Maybe even put a winged angel statue on top. L.A. is the "City of Angels" after all, and the tower is next to Angel's Flight. Or just call the statue "winged victory" or "Olympia" in honor of the 2028 Olympics.

[BrandonJXN]

So you basically want Los Angeles to look like this.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Haha exactly my thoughts