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

[Wilcal]

Thank you.

[Wilcal]

Go to:

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/

On the left hand sidebar, click "Case Information," and under that click "Bi-weekly case filings."

Thank you. By the way, would you know about the Los Angeles city referendum passed I'd say in the mid1990's which basically halved the zoned density of the city?

[BrandonJXN]

The project looks pretty good, except for that fairly epic signage. Seems a little excessive to me (and I'm also in advertising/marketing) from both a hotel and condo perspective. Depending upon the price point of the condos, they might be a hard sell depending upon the view. I guess if there are HOA savings to be had, you could spend it on blackout shades.:cool:

I actually like the huge ads. I mean it's on Sunset Blvd. I'm sure the people who will soon live in these buildings (which are quite cool btw) understand what they're getting.

I mean seriously...
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZCYc4ehTTk/T-vNQ2-3GuI/AAAAAAAAtOw/ntACd0oS_jI/s1600/sunset+strip+billboards+jun12.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wZCYc4ehTTk/T-vNQ2-3GuI/AAAAAAAAtOw/ntACd0oS_jI/s1600/sunset+strip+billboards+jun12.jpg

[mdiederi]

Saw one of the first rebar cages being put in place today for a pillar on the Gerald Desmond Bridge Replacement Project. Only five more years and it should be done.

[blackcat23]

Blvd 6200

http://i.imgur.com/ZnCLIyg.jpg?1

Just in case you forget who the building belongs to, Emerson College put it's name up in big letters.

http://i.imgur.com/hanN4pA.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/zMOPz3M.jpg?1

Sunset Gordon Tower is now working on it's 9th floor.

http://i.imgur.com/ghPSui9.jpg?1

Adaptive re-use work continues at Columbia Square, although you can't see much on the outside besides the stuff they've stripped away.

http://i.imgur.com/e76DncB.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/YBgFxYW.jpg?1

[Quixote]

More eye candy, courtesy of Curbed LA. This is at Sunset/Martel.

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2013.05_sunsetcrosswalk-thumb.jpg

[mdiederi]

I've even seen those new crosswalks in San Pedro.

[DODGERFAN]

yes i have noticed these crosswalks popping up in wilmington as well

[brudy]

I actually like the huge ads. I mean it's on Sunset Blvd. I'm sure the people who will soon live in these buildings (which are quite cool btw) understand what they're getting.

I mean seriously...


Good point. That's true about knowing what they're getting into. But I don't know, still might be a hard sell. I don't generally mind billboards, but if they're literally right out my window...We'll have to see how it ends getting built.

[blackcat23]

^Always expect people in Los Angeles to complain about situations they knowingly get themselves into.

Look at the people living next to LAX and Santa Monica Airport.

Anyway, I dropped by to look at the Vermont today.

The western tower is now working on it's 25th floor above ground. The eastern tower is 22 floors up, which is supposed to be the highest level. There does appear to be more rebar protruding from the top of the structure, though. Perhaps they're going slightly taller than originally stated?

http://i.imgur.com/FAOuIIo.jpg?1

Photo credit: me

[Muji]

I also noticed that the shorter of the Vermont towers seems to be one story higher than expected... I guess we'll find out soon enough if it will get any taller.

Anyhow, I walked by this afternoon and noticed that glass is just starting to go up on the Vermont Avenue tower.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/img_1354-e1369891831152.jpg

[ByTheBay]

The actual floor count is going to be 23/29. There's a post in SSC including a sketch to verify this, I counted it. So they'll both be 1 floor taller than expected, although slightly insignificant, still good news!

[blackcat23]

The actual floor count is going to be 23/29. There's a post in SSC including a sketch to verify this, I counted it. So they'll both be 1 floor taller than expected, although slightly insignificant, still good news!

That was me. Found the info in an old CRA document, but forgot to post it here.

http://www.crala.org/internet-site/Meetings/Board_Agenda_2012/upload/Mar_1_2012_item_10.pdf

And the aforementioned sketch, which came from the CRA document:

http://i.imgur.com/sQCJKcP.jpg?1


Anyhow, I walked by this afternoon and noticed that glass is just starting to go up on the Vermont Avenue tower.

Nice to see cladding finally going up. I wonder what they'll be doing for the parking podium.

[Illithid Dude]

That is one huge parking podium. Might just be the ugliest in the city!

[a9l8e7n]

And the aforementioned sketch, which came from the CRA document:

http://i.imgur.com/sQCJKcP.jpg?1


.

Being at 307 feet, that would make it 1 foot shorter than the one park plaza which is a block away.

[Valyrian Steel]

That is one huge parking podium. Might just be the ugliest in the city!

I'd say The Watermarke tower's podium is the ugliest. It's quite embarrassing the condition it was left in. At least this podium looks like it will be somewhat covered.

[LAofAnaheim]

I'd say The Watermarke tower's podium is the ugliest. It's quite embarrassing the condition it was left in. At least this podium looks like it will be somewhat covered.

Agreed. Watermarke is the s*&%iest parking podium in all of Los Angeles. I live katty-corner from it, somewhat an embarassing piece of architecture.

[mdiederi]

Bridge construction.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/buildings/GeraldDesmondBridgeReplacement-1_zps717e24a1.jpg
©me

[112597jorge]

Being at 307 feet, that would make it 1 foot shorter than the one park plaza which is a block away.

307 ft to the top of the 30th floor, but we still don't know how tall to the top of the helipad, same goes for the shorter tower.

[112597jorge]

I also noticed that the shorter of the Vermont towers seems to be one story higher than expected... I guess we'll find out soon enough if it will get any taller.

Anyhow, I walked by this afternoon and noticed that glass is just starting to go up on the Vermont Avenue tower.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/img_1354-e1369891831152.jpg

So will these towers be 30 floors and 24 floors?

[Valyrian Steel]

So will these towers be 30 floors and 24 floors?

29 and 23. It's in the post right under the one you just quoted, man.

[112597jorge]

29 and 23. It's in the post right under the one you just quoted, man.

but in the diagram of floor count and height it says 24 and 30. so?

[blackcat23]

but in the diagram of floor count and height it says 24 and 30. so?

Nope.

http://i.imgur.com/sQCJKcP.jpg?1

[Muji]

They're moving really fast with the glass on the Vermont. I didn't get a perfect look earlier but it looks like they've already wrapped a set of panels around the Vermont Ave tower.

I also had the chance to walk by the Hotel Normandie this evening, where one of the new storefronts is now visible.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/img_1367-e1370059049353.jpg

[Illithid Dude]

They're moving really fast with the glass on the Vermont. I didn't get a perfect look earlier but it looks like they've already wrapped a set of panels around the Vermont Ave tower.

I also had the chance to walk by the Hotel Normandie this evening, where one of the new storefronts is now visible.

http://urbandiachrony.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/img_1367-e1370059049353.jpg

That's an incredible restoration. I hope they put something where that stucco rectangle is, though.

[Easy]

Bridge construction.

I didn't know that construction had started so I didn't notice it when I drove over yesterday, but I couldn't help noticing that the drawbridge on the Terminal Island freeway is being replaced because some parts of the freeway are already demolished. I hadn't heard about that one.

[Easy]

yes i have noticed these crosswalks popping up in wilmington as well

And I've noticed that we have none next door here in Carson, so only city of LA is getting them I guess.

[mdiederi]

I didn't know that construction had started so I didn't notice it when I drove over yesterday, but I couldn't help noticing that the drawbridge on the Terminal Island freeway is being replaced because some parts of the freeway are already demolished. I hadn't heard about that one.

The new bridge is being constructed along the north edge of the old bridge on the 710. There are multiple cranes on both ends of the bridge, and I seem to count more each week I drive over. All they've done so far is drill holes in the ground for the approaches, which will be longer than the old approach.

I hadn't heard anything about replacing the Commodore Schuyler F. Helm Bridge, but I did hear they want to remove the 103 freeway north of the bridge, and from what you say it sounds like they started already. I suspect the bridge will remain part of State Route 47.

[blackcat23]

They're moving really fast with the glass on the Vermont. I didn't get a perfect look earlier but it looks like they've already wrapped a set of panels around the Vermont Ave tower.

I got lunch in K Town today, so I had a look afterwards.

http://i.imgur.com/PR6aWbt.jpg?1

Still not much, but it looks like they're going for blue tinted glass.

[blackcat23]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-0602-lacma-design-20130602,0,6630482.story

LACMA's future unfurls in Peter Zumthor's design

http://www.trbimg.com/img-51ab8ad9/turbine/lat-lacma-design-la0009821885-20130531/579

by Christopher Hawthorne

Imagine you are heading east on Wilshire Boulevard, in a car or on foot. As you approach Wilshire and Fairfax Avenue, you see the rounded, gilded corner of the former May Co. building and Renzo Piano's travertine-wrapped Broad Contemporary Art Museum, with its wide shoulders and careful posture.

Then, just past the huddled lampposts that make up Chris Burden's "Urban Light" installation, something entirely different heaves into view: an undulating building of glass and dark-gray concrete, its single story lifted more than 30 feet into the air atop seven separate legs, each containing a staircase. At its eastern end, the building extends out over one edge of the La Brea Tar Pits.

This is the architectural future awaiting the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, if Museum Director Michael Govan and the 70-year-old Swiss architect Peter Zumthor have their way: A powerfully unorthodox new building stretching more than 700 feet along Wilshire.

http://www.trbimg.com/img-51abc53b/turbine/la-et-cm-new-lacma-building-design-pictures-002/598

http://www.trbimg.com/img-51abc53d/turbine/la-et-cm-new-lacma-building-design-pictures-001/579

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

its very interesting.. i wanna like it but im gonna hold off until i see more detailed renderings

[edluva]

if his past works are any indication we are going to get a very beautiful new building. zumthor is my favorite major architect at the moment. i hope we don't botch this up.

[mdiederi]

http://www.trbimg.com/img-51ab8ad9/turbine/lat-lacma-design-la0009821885-20130531/579

Cool. It looks like the tar pit overflowed.

[mdiederi]

Caruso Wants to Extend Grove Trolley to Bev Center and LACMA
Monday, June 3, 2013, by Eve Bachrach
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/06/caruso_wants_to_extend_grove_trolley_to_bev_center_and_lacma.php

he wants to extend the trolley line that runs through The Grove into a two-mile loop down Third Street to the Beverly Center, and down Fairfax to LACMA and the Miracle Mile, at a cost of $80 to 90 million.

[blackcat23]

Caruso Wants to Extend Grove Trolley to Bev Center and LACMA
Monday, June 3, 2013, by Eve Bachrach
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/06/caruso_wants_to_extend_grove_trolley_to_bev_center_and_lacma.php

I'm assuming this would mean converting it to a real streetcar?

Can't imagine that the Grove's "trolley," is suitable for use on city streets.

[brudy]

I had been kind of against the the LACMA design until I read that accompanying article that talks about how the building will function and interact with the rest of the campus. Now I'm pretty excited about it, it could be fantastic.

[StethJeff]

In addition to the obvious comparisons to a tarpit, I can't help but notice that this design has a bit of a googie flavor to it from above. Like brudy mentioned, the more I read about it the more I love it. Can't wait to see if this eventually materializes. Big fan of this one.

[StethJeff]

Caruso Wants to Extend Grove Trolley to Bev Center and LACMA
Monday, June 3, 2013, by Eve Bachrach
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/06/caruso_wants_to_extend_grove_trolley_to_bev_center_and_lacma.php

LA needs major rail - either LRT or HRT - running through Miracle Mile, not an updated mall trolley. In fact, that map accompanying the Curbed article should have no less than 2 lines running through it, and I think you could even argue 3.

[LAofAnaheim]

LA needs major rail - either LRT or HRT - running through Miracle Mile, not an updated mall trolley. In fact, that map accompanying the Curbed article should have no less than 2 lines running through it, and I think you could even argue 3.

Why is it "this or that"? There WILL be a HRT station at Wilshire/Fairfax and connected to the Purple Line, what's wrong with a trolley in addition to that?

Why is transit always in competition with itself, let's support both projects!

[DistrictDirt]

Why is it "this or that"? There WILL be a HRT station at Wilshire/Fairfax and connected to the Purple Line, what's wrong with a trolley in addition to that?

Why is transit always in competition with itself, let's support both projects!

Exactly. Imagine a streetcar running down Fairfax and linking up with the Wilshire/Fairfax Metro station. It would be fantastic, and could link the shopping areas at the Grove, Fairfax, and Melrose into the rail network.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Why is it "this or that"? There WILL be a HRT station at Wilshire/Fairfax and connected to the Purple Line, what's wrong with a trolley in addition to that?

Why is transit always in competition with itself, let's support both projects!

exactly right. they work together just as Districtdirt said

[bobcat]

I like the trolley idea. Right now Museum Row, Grove/Farmers Market, and Beverly Center are all close to each other, but not quite close enough to walk easily between them. A trolley would help to bridge the gaps and unify the district.

[Quixote]

Trolley buses are lame. That's what we'll probably get, because it's the cheapest and easiest to operate. :rolleyes:

[brudy]

I love the idea of a some kind of interconnecting transit, it would be awesome for that whole area and for tourism. I'd definitely prefer a surface streetcar/rail thingie, but I think a trolley bus might work, if a bit budget. I think if you look at the DASH buses, locals know them, but tourists do not (and never mind issues about who knows what routes run when). If it does become a bus trolley, it needs to be distinctive but efficient.

Really I'd prefer a monorail!:notacrook:

[ByTheBay]

I think the whole West Hollywood, Melrose District, Miracle Mile area is in major need of a streetcar system that goes in a loop similar to the one proposed for DTLA. Although mainly suburban in nature, this area just has so much commercial and street activity to entirely rely on cars and buses. The area west of La Brea, South of Sunset, East of Doheny and North of Wilshire (plus Hollywood and The Golden Triangle) is sort of LA's version of "Midtown" and there needs to be a better way of getting people around within this area. The trolley at The Grove is too slow for street traffic but the idea to connect The Grove with Beverly Center and LACMA is a no brainer, but I think they need to consider including Melrose Ave, Santa Monica Blvd and Sunset Blvd in the loop.

[Illithid Dude]

Loop streetcars are incredibly impractical. You're pretty much screwed if where you want to go isn't in the direction the streetcar is heading. This kind of thing only really works as a valid mode of transportation if the streetcar is two way.

[ByTheBay]

Loop streetcars are incredibly impractical. You're pretty much screwed if where you want to go isn't in the direction the streetcar is heading. This kind of thing only really works as a valid mode of transportation if the streetcar is two way.

Not if the loop isn't that big, the area I described is only about 3 x 3 miles and the streetcar wouldn't need to go from one end to the other, just reach some key destination points. If you have one that goes in a clockwise rotation down Fairfax, turns on Wilshire up San Vicente, then turn again on Sunset down Holloway into Santa Monica back to Fairfax, you'll have a system that connects The Grove/Farmers Market, Museum Row, Beverly Center/Robertson/Cedars, Boystown/Sunset Strip and Melrose/Fairfax within a mere 6-7 mile loop.

[DistrictDirt]

Loop streetcars are incredibly impractical. You're pretty much screwed if where you want to go isn't in the direction the streetcar is heading. This kind of thing only really works as a valid mode of transportation if the streetcar is two way.

It depends on the width of the loop. Portland's downtown streetcar and the future DTLA streetcar are both loops, but they are only 1 block wide for most of their length. So even if the stop nearest you is headed the wrong direction, you can just walk a block over and catch the other side of the loop.

The southernmost part of the DTLA streetcar route flares out to 6 blocks wide which screws up this strategy, but I guess concessions had to be made in order to include LA Live in the route.

http://i.imgur.com/BxcCGXL.png
Portland Streetcar (http://www.portlandstreetcar.org/pdf/map_printable5.pdf)

http://www.streetcar.la/files/LPA_modified-7424.jpg
L.A. Streetcar (http://www.streetcar.la/home)

[Steve2726]

There's glass installed already on the east side of the Old Spaghetti Factory tower. Sorry I didn't get a photo, was in a moving vehicle. Looks good so far, and with the massive Emerson College glass wall across the street, driving west down Sunset from the 101 feels totally different now.

[Munchitup]

I too have no pics, but the buildings in the Ranch 99 center near Sunset and Western have all been demolished and barriers have been put up for the future Target.

I believe it is a hotel that is going into the narrow lot (http://goo.gl/maps/hAJ8r) north of Mosaic Church and south of the Hollywood Women's Club on La Brea - it has just about reached ground level.

Lastly, 1800 Whitley off of Yucca Street is just about finished up, the exterior is complete and looks much nicer than this rendering (http://cimgroup.com/investments/byProductTypeInvestmentDetails.aspx?id=113) (though lots of stucco).

IMO the biggest improvement with this lot is that it drastically widened the sidewalks along Yucca Street, plus cleaned up all the detritus that had collected over who-knows-how-long.

[mdiederi]

30 photos of the model for the new LACMA
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/06/tour_the_proposed_peter_zumthor_lacma_overhaul_in_miniature.php

... the Zumthor building would have non-traditional heating and cooling and be covered in "the largest solar farm in an urban environment." The other really radical part is that there's very little storage--most of LACMA's collection would be on display in one form or another in the new building.

[blackcat23]

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/06/here_are_designs_for_wyndham_samos_3_controversial_towers.php

Here Are Designs For Wyndham SaMo's 3 Controversial Towers

by Eve Bachrach

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/51b10e6ef92ea175f200873c/BIRDSEYE%20VIEW-SW.jpg

Renderings for the revamped Wyndham Santa Monica at the Pier are out, showing that controversial three-tower design that freaked everyone out when it was announced last year. The Holiday Inn-turned-Wyndham hired Venice-based architects Jerde Partnership (they did the Santa Monica Place update a couple years ago) to design the redevelopment, and here's what they've come up with: the three towers at Ocean Avenue, Colorado Avenue, and Main Street will step up in height from west to east. The shortest will be five stories and the tallest 15 stories, coming to either 174 or 195 feet. Each tower will have a viewing deck on top, and they'll have a total 211 hotel rooms and 25 residential units.

When we last heard from this project in March, a city planning commissioner was asking the hotel owner when he was going to give up plans for "so large a development on the site." Not yet, apparently! But city opposition hasn't wavered--earlier this week, three councilmembers proposed that Santa Monica pause discussions on any of the three contentious downtown hotels in the works: this one, the Frank Gehry-designed Ocean Avenue Project, and the Fairmont Miramar renovations. It just needs support from one more councilmember when it comes up for a vote next week.

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/51b10e73f92ea175f2008750/street%20view%20from%20pier.jpg

http://cdn.cstatic.net/images/gridfs/51b10e76f92ea175f200875a/FREEWAY%20VIEW-NIGHT.jpg

[mdiederi]

Hour-long audio discussion with Peter Zumthor and Michael Govan about the new LACMA design.
http://snd.sc/1bd6n5U
The first 30 minutes is sort of a review of his other work, then they talk about LACMA.

Found the link in this article:
http://www.architectmagazine.com/exhibitions/peter-zumthor-debuts-design-for-los-angeles-county-museum-of-art.aspx

[blackcat23]

Not sure if this has been posted before, but this is the design for the office building that Sunset Bronson Studios wants to put up. 13 stories and 200 feet tall.

http://i.imgur.com/1atbQr6.jpg?1

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/eir/SunsetBronsonStudios/DEIR/files/DEIR_IV.A_Aesthetics.pdf

[Wally West]

Wow, that's one nice looking office tower. Nothing too special but it would make a big impact on this part of Sunset. I can't wait to see this part of Sunset in a few years with this office tower, Emerson College, and the Old Spaghetti Tower (I forgot the actual name).

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

i really like it. any idea of a timeline?

[blackcat23]

i really like it. any idea of a timeline?

The DEIR said completion was expected in 2016 after a 26-35 month construction period, so it looks like they're shooting for groundbreaking next year.

There's glass installed already on the east side of the Old Spaghetti Factory tower.

There's not much installed yet, but it's definitely there. Now working on the 10th level above ground.

http://i.imgur.com/PU2R36o.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/WT4BVtv.jpg?1

[colemonkee]

From the rendering it's difficult to tell if the Sunset Bronson Studios office tower sits only on that corner surface lot or if it's going to encroach on the two story white colonial style building that's just west of it. I kind of like that building and hope they keep it. It's a window into Hollywood's past life. But the tower looks nice enough.

[bobbyv]

From the rendering it's difficult to tell if the Sunset Bronson Studios office tower sits only on that corner surface lot or if it's going to encroach on the two story white colonial style building that's just west of it. I kind of like that building and hope they keep it. It's a window into Hollywood's past life. But the tower looks nice enough.

I hope so as well, I really like that building, I doubt the preservationists would allow this developer to demolish that building anyhow, but from looking at that rendering it's a bit confusing because it shows the KTLA antenna west of the proposed building which is east of the white colonial building you're talking about.

[blackcat23]

The KTLA antenna is being relocated to the Bronson side of the lot, which will allow the new office building to directly abut the Sunset/Van Ness corner.

http://i.imgur.com/HOBbgQJ.png?1

The colonial style building looks like it's safe, based on the diagram.

[sopas ej]

^^^^
Wow. I mean, wow.

The reason I say that is, I worked at KTLA from 1994 to 2003, so I'm trying to imagine how this will be. I know building 16 and Stages 7 & 8 very well. When I started working there as a college intern, I parked in the area of the proposed office tower.

Though a lot of the buildings have been remodeled, and of course a lot of the sound stages were/are just hollow shells, I appreciated the history of this site. This was the original Warner Brothers studio lot back in the silent film days, and supposedly "The Jazz Singer" was made here. During the 1930s and 1940s, this is where all the Warner Brother cartoons with Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, etc. were made. Of course there were rumors of hauntings and such; indeed, when I first started working for the KTLA News, it was creepy going down to the basement to pull b-roll tape and and then file it away later.

In the early 1990s, "Jeopardy" was taped here (I tried out for "College Jeopardy" my 3rd year in college but didn't make the cut, and this is where we showed up and saw the set), and "Judge Judy" was also taped here. I wanna say that even "Donnie & Marie" was taped here in the 1970s.

[StethJeff]

Well in a way that kinda sucks, the KTLA tower is a great landmark from the 101 and has always served as a sort of welcome sign for Hollywood ever since I was a kid.

[Lalaland]

.

[blackcat23]

Turns out those renderings I posted a few days back are already out of date. The FEIR for the Sunset Bronson project was released today, complete with a new design. Building will still be 200 feet tall, but will instead have 14 floors.

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/eir/SunsetBronsonStudios/FEIR/files/II_Corrections_and_Additions.pdf

http://i.imgur.com/QAiQQs1.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/UJ8GYIF.jpg?1

[Muji]

Wow, now that is a major improvement!

[XAVIERinSF]

OMG! I immediately got an erection looking at that building!

[Illithid Dude]

Looks good architecturally, but is it good in terms of urbanity? Doesn't look like there is much street interaction happening, if any, and the entrance to the building is on the other side, facing the parking lot. Essentially, everything street facing is a very attractive wall.

[Valyrian Steel]

OMG! I immediately got an erection looking at that building!


^ Yeah, that'll happen.

[Allnatural85]

yeah but its a studio lot. Aren't those mainly closed off to the general public anyways? I think they did a good job

[StethJeff]

Looks good architecturally, but is it good in terms of urbanity? Doesn't look like there is much street interaction happening, if any, and the entrance to the building is on the other side, facing the parking lot. Essentially, everything street facing is a very attractive wall.

Urbanity probably dies off that close to the freeway anyway. I actually don't mind architecturally impressive monoliths if they're close to the freeway. Now if the 101 cap is ever built, then it's a different story.

[Lalaland]

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zps9d349a01.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zps9d349a01.jpg.html)

[colemonkee]

Wilshire Vermont towers are looking good. With the exception of that atrocious base, of course.

The new Sunset Bronson tower design is a HUGE improvement. The previous design was nice, but entirely forgettable. This building will have people looking up and admiring (or disliking) it. As for the urbanity of it, yes, it doesn't look like it has ground floor retail, but I don't think ground floor retail would work right there, frankly. Immediately the west of that is the rest of the Sunset Bronson studio lot, which is set back from the street and gated, and immediately east of that is Bernstein High School, which is a gated athletic and football field. So it would be a pedestrian island unto itself. Which is kind of a doomsday scenario (most of the time) for business that would occupy that retail space. That being said, I think a cafe on the corner there would serve the office tenants well from Monday to Friday. Though realistically a cafe on the courtyard with outdoor seating would be much more pleasant than sitting next to Sunset Blvd and 101 freeway traffic. Terrible urban design, I know, but you can't deny one experience would be better than the other.

[Wilcal]

Urbanity probably dies off that close to the freeway anyway. I actually don't mind architecturally impressive monoliths if they're close to the freeway. Now if the 101 cap is ever built, then it's a different story.

Excellent observation. Freeway proximity neuters any form of connection

[Illithid Dude]

Wilshire Vermont towers are looking good. With the exception of that atrocious base, of course.

The new Sunset Bronson tower design is a HUGE improvement. The previous design was nice, but entirely forgettable. This building will have people looking up and admiring (or disliking) it. As for the urbanity of it, yes, it doesn't look like it has ground floor retail, but I don't think ground floor retail would work right there, frankly. Immediately the west of that is the rest of the Sunset Bronson studio lot, which is set back from the street and gated, and immediately east of that is Bernstein High School, which is a gated athletic and football field. So it would be a pedestrian island unto itself. Which is kind of a doomsday scenario (most of the time) for business that would occupy that retail space. That being said, I think a cafe on the corner there would serve the office tenants well from Monday to Friday. Though realistically a cafe on the courtyard with outdoor seating would be much more pleasant than sitting next to Sunset Blvd and 101 freeway traffic. Terrible urban design, I know, but you can't deny one experience would be better than the other.

I'm not even asking for GFR. There isn't even a street facing entrance to the building! Talk about turning your back to the urban fabric.

[Wilcal]

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zps9d349a01.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zps9d349a01.jpg.html)

This project promises to really elevate this portion of Wilshire. I hope they are successful. If so, there will be many more to follow.

[Lalaland]

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zpsb147383c.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zpsb147383c.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zps2771c597.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zps2771c597.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zpsa713f0c4.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zpsa713f0c4.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zpsc19b841a.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zpsc19b841a.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zpsd4faf889.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zpsd4faf889.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zpsb4c2cc57.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zpsb4c2cc57.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zpsec7ebe2b.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zpsec7ebe2b.jpg.html)

http://i1293.photobucket.com/albums/b585/Lalalandca/image_zpsfbf0d458.jpg (http://s1293.photobucket.com/user/Lalalandca/media/image_zpsfbf0d458.jpg.html)

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

looks fantastic!

[Lalaland]

looks fantastic!

It's even better in person

[DistrictDirt]

It's even better in person

My wife and I just got back from the park. The restoration is beautiful! Looking forward to going back for a picnic sometime soon.

[blackcat23]

http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/L-A-King-of-Down-Market-Offices-Bets-on-4606984.php#page-1

This is an article on Jamison Services, and spends a lot of time talking about their plans for ground up construction and adaptive re-use projects in LA, particularly within Koreatown.

They are nearing completion of converting 3075 Wilshire into 123 apartment units, as well as another unspecified building on Wilshire.

Also makes reference to Don Hankey's plans for a residential building at 3670 Wilshire, although no specifics are offered on what type of entitlements he's seeking.

[Muji]

Nice article. I was wondering what they were doing at 3075 Wilshire and I'm happy to see more residential uses along Wilshire Boulevard itself. Although we should really hope that they manage their residential properties better than their offices...

[circuitfiend]

10000 Sta Mon Blvd has come back to life, after sitting untouched since the announcement of the 40 flr condo appeared on the fences surrounding the property last month. Serious heavy equipment is being brought onto the property. It would appear groundbreaking is imminent.

[blackcat23]

10000 Sta Mon Blvd has come back to life, after sitting untouched since the announcement of the 40 flr condo appeared on the fences surrounding the property last month. Serious heavy equipment is being brought onto the property. It would appear groundbreaking is imminent.

I noticed there were a couple of bulldozers on the site last weekend, although there was no evidence of any excavation activity.

I'm assuming that more equipment than that is on the lot now?

https://www.permitla.org/ipars/list_appl.cfm?ID1=13030&ID2=10000&ID3=00842&ADDRESS=10000 W SANTA MONICA BLVD 90067

It looks like they're on the verge of getting approvals to start excavation as of May 31st, so you're probably correct.

[circuitfiend]

Those bulldozers have been on the property for several months now, they haven't moved, nor has there been any workers around.

This is all new activity, since yesterday. Workers, trucks, heavy equipment. I'll take pics later to post.

[mdiederi]

Shorter Giant Towers Approved For Lots Around Capitol Records
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/06/shorter_giant_towers_approved_for_lots_around_capitol_records.php

After the height change was announced someone from still-Councilmember Garcetti's office spoke in favor of the project (he'd come out against it during the mayoral campaign), and the committee approved the proposal.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/mdiederi/201306_millhollapproved_zpsbe0ca681.jpg

[Valyrian Steel]

:previous: Awesome. Still tall, but a little more in scale with the 'hood.

[blackcat23]

So probably about 450' for the 39 floor tower and 400' for the 35 floor tower.

This is exactly what I was hoping for. The 400 foot massings looked like the best fit when the initial plans were released last year.

[colemonkee]

I kind of agree. The scale and massing fit with the area better, while still pushing the height boundaries. Not sure about the design, though. Looks like it's plucked straight out of Vancouver's Gallery of Averages, which is disappointing for a project that's so prominent. Hopefully the end product will be a lot better than the rendering.

[NYC2ATX]

I can get over the height reduction, it still represents a major stride for the core of Hollywood. What has/would disappoint me would me the loss of the finishes in the original design (the brown "wood" surfaces and the lush suspended balconies, for example). I can't stand developers using something as simple as shortening the height as an excuse to value-engineer a project. As you said colemonkee, I hope the reality vs. the rendering is a pleasant surprise.

Vancouver's Gallery of Averages

P.S. ...so stealing this. :previous: :haha:

[Wally West]

It was pretty obvious from the start that the developers were planning for this height. I mean, the renderings they showed offered many options for the building's height.

Not overly crazy about the project but it's a step direction to help improve Hollywood.

[Lalaland]

^ People, these renderings are still only conceptual stand-ins, and not the final design.

[bobbyv]

^ People, these renderings are still only conceptual stand-ins, and not the final design.

I hope so, the ground level interaction of the previous rendering was pretty awesome.

[Munchitup]

So probably about 450' for the 39 floor tower and 400' for the 35 floor tower.

This is exactly what I was hoping for. The 400 foot massings looked like the best fit when the initial plans were released last year.

Same - this height looks perfect to me. Overall though, I am much more excited about the ground-floor and street-interaction this project brings to the area.

[JDRCRASH]

The article on this project in the Times mentions that setbacks will be reduced, bringing the buildings closer to the sidewalk, so maybe that'l help pedestrian activity?

[StethJeff]

Love the height reduction. I was one of those who hated how out of scale they looked compared to the rest of the neighborhood. This actually looks perfect to me now. Gotta agree with StatemIslander though, a lot of my affection will be lost if that wood-looking detail is lost. That was what drew me so much to this project to begin with.

[SoCalKid]

I hope so, the ground level interaction of the previous rendering was pretty awesome.

The developer explicitly noted that the only pupose of the renderings was to show massing and contextual height. There is no loss of wood-looking detail or plush balconies; no details of the design have been released and neither rendering was intended to reflect how the building would actually look.

[DistrictDirt]

http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/L-A-King-of-Down-Market-Offices-Bets-on-4606984.php#page-1

This is an article on Jamison Services, and spends a lot of time talking about their plans for ground up construction and adaptive re-use projects in LA, particularly within Koreatown.

They are nearing completion of converting 3075 Wilshire into 123 apartment units, as well as another unspecified building on Wilshire.

Also makes reference to Don Hankey's plans for a residential building at 3670 Wilshire, although no specifics are offered on what type of entitlements he's seeking.

Nice article, thank you for posting. I walked past 3075 Wilshire a few moments ago, and saw that they were delivering appliances for the new apartments.

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

Considering just how much property David Lee owns along Wilshire (full list here (http://www.jamisonservices.com/property_listing_new.php)), and that this is likely only the first conversion of many from crappy half-vacant office space to luxury residential, this is great news for the whole Koreatown/Mid Wilshire area.

Besides injecting some much needed life into the corridor, I'm just excited about the transformative effect on the neighborhood that sprucing up the exterior of these buildings will have. Here's the front of 3075 Wilshire today:

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

Imagine the improvement to the streetscape when this building is fixed up. Now, multiply that by the dozens of other properties that David Lee owns along Wilshire that could potentially undergo similar transformations.

Also, seems like a safe bet that David Lee chose 3075 Wilshire as his first building to convert based on its location - its a block from the Metro and across the street from the new Vermont Towers. I wonder if the other buildings he owns within a couple blocks of the Wilshire/Vermont Metro could be next:

2801 W 6th
3020 Wilshire, LP
3055 Wilshire, LLC
3223 Wesix, LLC
3333 Wilshire LLC
3345 Wilshire-Kenmore Bldg.
3350 Wilshire LLC

[Wilcal]

Nice article, thank you for posting. I walked past 3075 Wilshire a few moments ago, and saw that they were delivering appliances for the new apartments.

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

Considering just how much property David Lee owns along Wilshire (full list here (http://www.jamisonservices.com/property_listing_new.php)), and that this is likely only the first conversion of many from crappy half-vacant office space to luxury residential, this is great news for the whole Koreatown/Mid Wilshire area.

Besides injecting some much needed life into the corridor, I'm just excited about the transformative effect on the neighborhood that sprucing up the exterior of these buildings will have. Here's the front of 3075 Wilshire today:

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

Imagine the improvement to the streetscape when this building is fixed up. Now, multiply that by the dozens of other properties that David Lee owns along Wilshire that could potentially undergo similar transformations.

Also, seems like a safe bet that David Lee chose 3075 Wilshire as his first building to convert based on its location - its a block from the Metro and across the street from the new Vermont Towers. I wonder if the other buildings he owns within a couple blocks of the Wilshire/Vermont Metro could be next:

2801 W 6th
3020 Wilshire, LP
3055 Wilshire, LLC
3223 Wesix, LLC
3333 Wilshire LLC
3345 Wilshire-Kenmore Bldg.
3350 Wilshire LLC

This is truly shameful. Anyone or any firm which allows this to happen should be labeled a "slumloard." The irony is that the "new" economic potential for 3075 Wilshire (with its proximity to the Vermont project) was gained by someone else' s risk and investment, not Mr. Lee's or Jamison's--what a travesty.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

District Dirt, i sincerely hope you are right because Lee is a known slumlord. Hopefully his residential properties will be taken care of like 811 Wilshire (takami) rather than Macy Plaza and the rest of his buildings.

[DistrictDirt]

District Dirt, i sincerely hope you are right because Lee is a known slumlord. Hopefully his residential properties will be taken care of like 811 Wilshire (takami) rather than Macy Plaza and the rest of his buildings.

From the sound of the article, improvements are on the way. It may be because the guy realized he can make more money renting luxury apartments than renting slummy office space, but regardless of his motivations, the outcome is the same- an improved Wilshire Blvd.