LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by JRinSoCal

I have a feeling that this will be scaled down and/or value-engineered just like every other awesome proposal in this city. We can never get anything nice or world-class. Hope I'm wrong.

Let's hope not but you're probably right. I wish LA could build better projects, hopefully someday.

We don't even know if it's happening anyway due to the pending appeals.

[craigs]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

Let's hope not but you're probably right. I wish LA could build better projects, hopefully someday.

We don't know if it's happening anyway due to the pending appeals.

We have no good reason to assume that this project won't happen. It was delayed by three appeals that were resolved in July. Now it is delayed by two more appeals filed in October. That is all we know right now.

We also have no good reason to assume that Mitsui Fudosan will downsize or cheap out on the project if it gets built. They greatly exceeded expectations with Figueroa Eight, after all.

[FromSD]

I get the union-affiliated groups appealing to extract labor concessions from the developer. But the developer of the windowless, 13-story data center next door? What is their interest in stopping this project given that their data center will only house servers and other electronic equipment? It's not as if the proposed Mitsui Fudosan building is going to block the data center's views. It has no windows! Is this just a shakedown? If so, it should be shut down immediately. But this round of appeals took place in October with no move yet to render a decision. What a mess. And what stops the same parties from appealing again once this round of appeals is adjudicated?

[colemonkee]

Once an appeal is rejected or resolved, the applicant can't appeal on the same grounds.

[craigs]

Originally Posted by FromSD

I get the union-affiliated groups appealing to extract labor concessions from the developer. But the developer of the windowless, 13-story data center next door? What is their interest in stopping this project given that their data center will only house servers and other electronic equipment? It's not as if the proposed Mitsui Fudosan building is going to block the data center's views. It has no windows! Is this just a shakedown? If so, it should be shut down immediately. But this round of appeals took place in October with no move yet to render a decision. What a mess. And what stops the same parties from appealing again once this round of appeals is adjudicated?

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Once an appeal is rejected or resolved, the applicant can't appeal on the same grounds.

The two latest appeals were indeed filed by the same parties as the prior three, but on different grounds as colemonkee noted. I learned from working at a firm that represented developers that CEQA appeals are especially time-consuming.

[LAsam]

Originally Posted by craigs

The two latest appeals were indeed filed by the same parties as the prior three, but on different grounds as colemonkee noted. I learned from working at a firm that represented developers that CEQA appeals are especially time-consuming.

And expensive. I was recently up in Seattle and noticed that almost everywhere I looked, new multifamily housing was being constructed. Much of it was mixed-use with retail in the bottom. I was trying to figure out why I see so much less multifamily new construction in LA, relative to what I saw in Seattle and thought maybe CEQA is the difference.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

CEQA has done so much damage to our state. Its a ridiculous NIMBY and extortionist tool that needs to die a swift death. The fact that much needed housing can be held up for years in court because some 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 wants to extort money or slow down a development can be done for a couple thousand dollars is absolutely absurd. We probably would have had many more projects completed or under construction over the last 10 years if we didnt have CEQA.

[scania]

There’s new information about the tower at 949 S Hope St on urbanize.la…but I’m unable to open the article. I actually forgot about this tower. Hopefully it’s some good news and we’ll see some dirt moving in the near future.

Also, ONNI Olympic tower is definitely going to be an impact. I think there is another 20 floors, plus the crown to go. I noticed that they’re using some wood panels at the bottom. I’ll have to look at the renderings again. But I don’t remember the wood panels at the bottom.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by scania

There’s new information about the tower at 949 S Hope St on urbanize.la…but I’m unable to open the article. I actually forgot about this tower. Hopefully it’s some good news and we’ll see some dirt moving in the near future.

Also, ONNI Olympic tower is definitely going to be an impact. I think there is another 20 floors, plus the crown to go. I noticed that they’re using some wood panels at the bottom. I’ll have to look at the renderings again. But I don’t remember the wood panels at the bottom.

It says that the year's long dispute between the HOA and Brookfield has been resolved pending receiving a threshold number of HOA votes. Voting is taking long because many owners are absentee. Both parties were optimistic and Planning agreed to one final extension.

[scania]

Originally Posted by Easy

It says that the year's long dispute between the HOA and Brookfield has been resolved pending receiving a threshold number of HOA votes. Voting is taking long because many owners are absentee. Both parties were optimistic and Planning agreed to one final extension.

Oh wow. Big Thanks!!!

[kelbeen]

March skyline
Downtown LA Skyline March 2024 by Kelvin Cheng, on Flickr

[craigs]

Awesome skyline view! The crane for Olympic + Hill is clear, but it's hard to tell from that vantage how tall the tower has gotten.

[scania]

Great pic!!!

[Zapatan]

Shockingly enough, another LA project bites the dust.

1111 South Hill, one of the coolest ones.

https://la.urbanize.city/post/plan-redwood-inspired-high-rise-1111-s-hill-street-bites-dust

[scania]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

Shockingly enough, another LA project bites the dust.

1111 South Hill, one of the coolest ones.

https://la.urbanize.city/post/plan-redwood-inspired-high-rise-1111-s-hill-street-bites-dust

Definitely would’ve been one of the coolest. And just maybe it comes back. It never seemed to have any true financing from the beginning. At least 949 S. Hill might come to fruition. I’m hoping Olympia and Olympic Tower happens one day.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by scania

Definitely would’ve been one of the coolest. And just maybe it comes back. It never seemed to have any true financing from the beginning. At least 949 S. Hill might come to fruition. I’m hoping Olympia and Olympic Tower happens one day.

You mean 949 S Hope? That tower is only 27 floors though.

Aside from the current U/C towers, as far as potential skyscrapers for LA, (aside from the Mitsui Tower which still needs to beat the appeals), I can only think of a few and most are probably stale and / or dead.

Angels Landing
1045 S Olive
BLOC Tower
Times Mirror

[scania]

Originally Posted by Zapatan

You mean 949 S Hope? That tower is only 27 floors though.

Aside from the current U/C towers, as far as potential skyscrapers for LA, (aside from the Mitsui Tower which still needs to beat the appeals), I can only think of a few and most are probably stale and / or dead.

Angels Landing
1045 S Olive
BLOC Tower
Times Mirror

It usually takes a few years for things to break ground…sometimes 8 or 9 years. I’m not sure why you don’t have any optimism about at least the Bloc Tower and Angels Landing. Also, it’s nice to have some tall skyscrapers…but infill of towers are just as important. Tall skyscrapers aren’t city make. It’s the infill that gives energy. Look at Atlanta for example…they have quite a few tall skyscrapers, but no activity on foot.

[BrandonJXN]

Angel's Landing was always slated to break ground in 2024. Year is far from over. The Bloc tower I think wasn't supposed to start until 2025 if at all.

[Illithid Dude]

Once the lending rates get lowered you're gonna see a flurry of pent up development.

[Zapatan]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Once the lending rates get lowered you're gonna see a flurry of pent up development.

I really hope so, LA is overdue for another boom.

Angel's Landing was always slated to break ground in 2024. Year is far from over. The Bloc tower I think wasn't supposed to start until 2025 if at all.

Right, BLOC Tower's developers seem to have a nice portfolio, that's a good sign although not a given considering even big name developers like Crescent Heights and Onni seem to be giving up on projects these days.

It usually takes a few years for things to break ground…sometimes 8 or 9 years. I’m not sure why you don’t have any optimism about at least the Bloc Tower and Angels Landing. Also, it’s nice to have some tall skyscrapers…but infill of towers are just as important. Tall skyscrapers aren’t city make. It’s the infill that gives energy. Look at Atlanta for example…they have quite a few tall skyscrapers, but no activity on foot.

It's insane it takes that long, and I try to be optimistic but way too many projects get canceled or VE'd and downsized at least.

I agree about the infill but Atlanta is definitely going int the right direction.

LA barely has that many infill towers though.