LOS ANGELES | METRO Project Rundown 2.0 (non-downtown)

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by a9l8e7n

I wish we had a webcam for the wilshire towers project so we can actually see how much progress is actually being made.

Agreed.

Are both towers being built at the same time or is one being focused on first? 22 and 28 stories are pretty tall for the area after all.

[WonderlandPark]

It looked to me like both are going up together. I saw the bases of 2 tower cranes and there are 2 definite cores already rising. (Although the base of the other crane could have been parts of the first one, it really looks like both are going up together)

[pesto]

Originally Posted by WonderlandPark

The Vermont/Wilshire towers are in full swing, drove by it just now, tower cranes are going up as we speak and the rebar for both building cores is above the fence height.

This is about the point where I really start believing that there will be something built!

That brick building next door isn't doing much for the 'hood. It will be interesting to see if there is any ripple effect in the area and toward Westlake.

[202_Cyclist]

This was posted on the Greater Greater Washington blog today (a bit late). I grew up near Seal Beach, next to the mouth of the LA river, so I certainly appreciate anything that can be done to reduce the amount of stormwater and polluted runoff that goes into the ocean.

A Los Angeles Parking Lot Becomes an Inner City Wetland

March 14, 2012


Image courtesy of KCET.org.

"Before it was slathered in concrete, South Los Angeles was densely forested with oak trees interrupted only by a series of streams that fed the Los Angeles River. Now the industrial neighborhood is responsible for unchecked polluted storm water and a host of other environmental concerns. That’s why turning a former MTA bus parking lot into a nine acre wetland that efficiently processes storm water runoff is such a major turn of events. It took $26 million and nearly three years, but the city now has a way to deal with water pollution and residents have a dedicated, city-funded green space. Paths and boardwalks welcome neighbors to peruse the grounds, read about wetlands and engage in the education center and museum planned for construction..."

http://www.livingprinciples.org/a-lo...-city-wetland/

[ThreeHundred]

Originally Posted by pesto

This is about the point where I really start believing that there will be something built!

That brick building next door isn't doing much for the 'hood. It will be interesting to see if there is any ripple effect in the area and toward Westlake.

I hope so. I live in Westlake and this area, especially around 1100 Wilshire could see some new development.

[colemonkee]

^ That brick building is in Koreatown, nowhere near 1100 Wilshire. And there's a huge 7-story apartment building going up directly across the street from 1100 Wilshire.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

This was posted on the Greater Greater Washington blog today (a bit late). I grew up near Seal Beach, next to the mouth of the LA river, so I certainly appreciate anything that can be done to reduce the amount of stormwater and polluted runoff that goes into the ocean.

You mean the San Gabriel River.

Now that is a river that needs cleaning up. I recently rode down the adjacent bike path and the seal beach portion stinks bad.

Thanks for posting that article!

[blackcat23]

Curbed is saying that there is heavy equipment digging on the Old Spaghetti Factory site.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

Curbed is saying that there is heavy equipment digging on the Old Spaghetti Factory site.

Yaaaay! Between that, the twin K-town towers, Emerson, and the tower in Century City, I'd say we finally have a decent amount of construction!

[Steve2726]

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la...,5161342.story

Ruling blocks construction of 20-story tower in Hollywood

The tower would be built at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street, near the Fonda Theatre. It would include more than 150 apartment units, ground-level retail shops and a fifth-floor lap pool.

Render from page 1-

[202_Cyclist]

Isn't this near one of the Red line stations? People who pay more to live near rail transit drive much less and have lower car-ownership rates-- self-selection. More parking will only encourage more people to drive and will add to the cost of housing, making it less affordable.

[ThreeHundred]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ That brick building is in Koreatown, nowhere near 1100 Wilshire. And there's a huge 7-story apartment building going up directly across the street from 1100 Wilshire.

Oh I know. I pass by that building all the time. But the area I meant when I said that Westlake could see some more development is right around 6th and Bixel. I know it's not the more glamorous areas but it would be great to see that area tie in with City West. I've always pictured City West as a interesting little area and I hope that happens.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Isn't this near one of the Red line stations? People who pay more to live near rail transit drive much less and have lower car-ownership rates-- self-selection. More parking will only encourage more people to drive and will add to the cost of housing, making it less affordable.

A couple of blocks from the Vine station. Certainly walkable for the healthy.

This is going the be the continuing battle and the reason that Hollywood is not going to be a city of highrises very soon. La Mirada and adjacent streets are very typical of Hollywood: small, old sfh's mixed with 2-4 story apartments (mostly shabby), parking lots and vacated light industrial. There will be some small hardship for the residents (some, presumably, long-term) if a highrise with inadequate parking is built down the block. But most of this can be handled with parking regulations.

If you can't build on Hollywood and Sunset between Vermont and Vine, there are very few areas with demand that you can build on. And it is hard to think of this as a "neighborhood" in the sense of kids on the street and neighbors chatting. That has long-since been replaced by tattoed young men hanging around pick-ups, chain link fences and barred windows. Certainly there is nothing of architectural note or historical interest. In fact, the entire 'hood would be well-served to be replaced by 3-5 story modern apartments.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

Oh I know. I pass by that building all the time. But the area I meant when I said that Westlake could see some more development is right around 6th and Bixel. I know it's not the more glamorous areas but it would be great to see that area tie in with City West. I've always pictured City West as a interesting little area and I hope that happens.

Yeah, we're talking about the opposite ends of Westlake, but it's easy to think of them as one area surrounded by development that now extends to Vermont on the west and has hopped over the 110 on the east.

The whole area is really tied-in to Ktown, Hollywood, Echo Park and DT and should show some upgrading. At either end and around the parks most likely, but small projects could be anywhere.

[Mojeda101]

Drove by the Vermont. Decent work since those last pictures. I was driving so unfortunately I couldn't snap any pictures. I really hate that they is no live feed of the construction.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Apartment and retail complex at Wilshire and La Brea is underway




A rendering of the Wilshire at La Brea residential and retail complex, looking south on La Brea Avenue. (TCA Architects)
By Roger Vincent
August 5, 2012, 10:35 a.m.
Work is underway on a $105-million apartment and retail development at the crossroads of two major Los Angeles thoroughfares, Wilshire Boulevard and La Brea Avenue.

The six-story complex called Wilshire at La Brea is being erected by San Francisco apartment developer BRE Properties. It will house 480 residential units and fill the block at the southeast corner of the intersection.

“Through careful planning, this project comes to market at the right time and provides much-needed housing in an area already rich with valuable amenities and easy access to mass transit,” BRE Vice President John Selindh said.

The development is one of the first to take advantage of a new city planning policy that allows for replacement of obsolete structures to encourage higher density in urban infill areas, according to architect Thomas Cox, a principal at Los Angeles-based TCA Architects, who designed the project.

Over the objections of some preservationists, BRE razed a building that was completed in 1965 to house a Columbia Savings branch and was used most recently as a church. Its stained-glass ceiling was listed for auction in 2010.

Wilshire at La Brea will have shops and restaurants along both streets, said Steve Pellegren of Bernards, the Los Angeles contractor building the complex. It will include two swimming pools, a fitness center and 997 parking spaces in a subterranean garage.

“This is a very high-density project, directly in the middle of one of the city’s hottest redevelopment areas,” Pellegren said.

[colemonkee]

Ugh, this is disappointing for several reasons:

1. It's a horrible mish-mash of bad architecture, which will be made even worse with the inevitable poor quality materials choices that mar the SoCal landscape. Here's looking at you, stucco! Check the flyby render on TCA's website. The only thing remotely redeeming about this design is the not-so subtle nod to the streamline moderne stylings of the Firestone tire store at the corner of 8th and La Brea. If they build that part right, which they won't, it could look decent.

2. Despite the tone of the article, 480 units seems a bit low considering this will eventually sit on top of a Purple line stop. Sure, it's much more than what was there before, but this property is larger than the Angeleno site, which is entitled for something like 700 units.

3. 997 parking spaces. On top of a future heavy rail stop. 'Nuff said.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Ugh, this is disappointing for several reasons:

1. It's a horrible mish-mash of bad architecture, which will be made even worse with the inevitable poor quality materials choices that mar the SoCal landscape. Here's looking at you, stucco! Check the flyby render on TCA's website. The only thing remotely redeeming about this design is the not-so subtle nod to the streamline moderne stylings of the Firestone tire store at the corner of 8th and La Brea. If they build that part right, which they won't, it could look decent.

2. Despite the tone of the article, 480 units seems a bit low considering this will eventually sit on top of a Purple line stop. Sure, it's much more than what was there before, but this property is larger than the Angeleno site, which is entitled for something like 700 units.

3. 997 parking spaces. On top of a future heavy rail stop. 'Nuff said.

agreed Colemonkee. what a waste

[edluva]

so when are you guys going to come to the fact that los angeles just generally sucks a lot at being a city?

one disappointment after another, in prime areas of a supposed megacity. what opportunities are left to do things right? dumb people make dumb cities

[Illithid Dude]

Yeah, it's bad, but it's not offensive. Just bland. I'm more disappointed about the fantastic building that was demolished to bring us this new building.