LOS ANGELES | Countywide Project Rundown Megathread

[citywatch]

Patrick Price, architecturaldigest.com

“George and Mellody’s idea was to bring people, especially young people, together in a democratic, nonexclusionary way, to make them eager to see what’s inside this building,” Ma says of his early inspiration. “My design tries to engage those people through atmosphere and emotions, not architecture.” Spanning 300,000 square feet, his five-story scheme is a tour de force of biomorphic engineering, utilizing more than 1,500 individually crafted panels of curved fiberglass-reinforced polymer. Dramatic cantilevers allow the building to meet the ground delicately, as if the structure were floating above the site.

The extraordinary level of detail within the building, from the gift shop kiosks to the radiused elevator cabs, testifies to the care and cost that Lucas, Hobson, and their designers lavished on the project. “These are not the kind of details you find in a shopping mall, but we didn’t want them to be too obtrusive,” Ma says.

Incidentally, nothing stranger than seeing users who rarely post to this thread suddenly popping out of the woodwork to discuss not about topics like what's being built in LA or socal, but about other users. I don't think the purpose of this thread...at least for me...is for socializing or psychoanalyzing....or to be like student cliques sitting at different tables of the high school cafeteria & gossiping about the other groups.

Even this is more relevant to this thread...& a new museum in LA may influence what's going on in orange county, & vice versa.


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[Illithid Dude]

By the way if you want to see good governance Santa Monica is currently building out a fairly substantial network of concrete protected bike lanes. Right now they go down Broadway, Ocean Ave, 17th Street, and about a quarter of 26th. There may be even more, but this is just what I have personally seen. According to this video that for some reason I can't embed, they are planning a very substantial build out. LA should take some notes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVSAzNTcF9s

[citywatch]

Archer Aviation

Archer Aviation and Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) plan to develop a vertiport for electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis at L.A. Live, the 27-acre sports and entertainment district in downtown Los Angeles, under an exclusive partnership the companies announced on Monday.

L.A. Live is the first specific downtown site Archer has named, though the company has included downtown Los Angeles in its network plans for years. The site would add a node to the Los Angeles network Archer is assembling around the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, for which the company is the “official air taxi provider” of LA28 and Team USA.

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[LAsam]

^ Look at citywatch getting us back on topic!

I don't know what to make of these air taxis. It still seems very sci-fi to me... meaning, I have a hard time seeing them actually flying around LA anytime in the next 5 years (let along by the Olympics!). The technology may be in place, but would they be able to get some sort of regulatory framework established around them in time? Maybe someone more knowledgeable about these can chime in.

Regarding the Lucas Museum, I can't wait to check that out. Any way you slice it, getting that museum is a huge win for LA. Will be a great destination for tourists and locals alike to enjoy!

[ed21x]

Originally Posted by LAsam

^ Look at citywatch getting us back on topic!

I don't know what to make of these air taxis. It still seems very sci-fi to me... meaning, I have a hard time seeing them actually flying around LA anytime in the next 5 years (let along by the Olympics!). The technology may be in place, but would they be able to get some sort of regulatory framework established around them in time? Maybe someone more knowledgeable about these can chime in.

Regarding the Lucas Museum, I can't wait to check that out. Any way you slice it, getting that museum is a huge win for LA. Will be a great destination for tourists and locals alike to enjoy!

There isn't anything new that these 'air taxis' bring to the table that a regular helicopter hasn't been able to do for the last 80 years. The regulatory framework has always been there, as are the helipads. It will be a toy for the rich.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by ed21x

There isn't anything new that these 'air taxis' bring to the table that a regular helicopter hasn't been able to do for the last 80 years. The regulatory framework has always been there, as are the helipads. It will be a toy for the rich.

I am skeptical of the economics of the these advanced air mobility (AAM) vehicles but they are electric and much quieter than helicopters, potentially allowing them to operate in locations where there would be opposition to helicopters operating.

The regulatory framework for these aircraft is completely new, as they have characteristics of both fixed-wing airplanes and helicopters.

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48984

[Illithid Dude]

They used to have helicopters that would take you from the top of the Met Life building in NYC to JFK. Until one crashed and killed everyone on board. The same thing will happen with these air taxis. The second one crashes it will be game over.

[SoCalKid]

Does anyone live or work near Oceanwide Plaza who is willing to give us a photo update? Curious to see the progress on the graffiti removal.

Hopefully City Council quickly approves the the buyer's requested hotel incentive that allows them to keep a portion of their transient occupancy tax revenue (not sure if that has been posted here yet, link below). I think that will be key in getting the rest of the project financed.

https://la.urbanize.city/post/buyers-seek-financial-incentives-complete-oceanwide-plaza-hotel

Edit:

One interesting thing about this buyer is his strong connections to India. He gave an interview in an Indian newspaper where he talked about the completed development being a beacon for the Indian community. It kind of reminded me of how Chinese developers in the twenty teens brought a lot of wealthy Chinese buyers and renters into Downtown. It'd be great if this project did the same for Indian buyers/renters.

[hughfb3]

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

Does anyone live or work near Oceanwide Plaza who is willing to give us a photo update? Curious to see the progress on the graffiti removal.

They cleared the first 3-4 floors of the towers around that announcement, but haven't done anything else in a few weeks. It's still Graffiti Towers.

One other update though, the Echelon Hollywood Studios are about finished and they look great. This took the place of the former Sears building on Santa Monica bl in East Hollywood. Ill provide pictures on both shortly. https://bardasinvestmentgroup.com/projects/echelon-studios-hollywood/. Bardas has completed or nearly completed all projects in their timeline with the exception of their last and biggest, the Echelon Studios at Television Center, supposedly breaking ground by end of September.

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by hughfb3

They cleared the first 3-4 floors of the towers around that announcement, but haven't done anything else in a few weeks. It's still Graffiti Towers.

One other update though, the Echelon Hollywood Studios are about finished and they look great. This took the place of the former Sears building on Santa Monica bl in East Hollywood. Ill provide pictures on both shortly. https://bardasinvestmentgroup.com/projects/echelon-studios-hollywood/. Bardas has completed or nearly completed all projects in their timeline with the exception of their last and biggest, the Echelon Studios at Television Center, supposedly breaking ground by end of September.

Thanks for the update.

I'd be surprised if they actually break ground on Television Center anytime soon given the currrent state of filming. But I'd love to see it happen!

[hughfb3]

Echelon Hollywood Studios... The first totally new ground up studio built in Hollywood in decades. This project seems to be on time with the delivery date on their website of Q4 2026. Their much smaller Cahuenga project was supposed to be finished Q1 2026, but its looking more like Q4 and is an adaptive reuse of a school. The much larger Echelon Hollywood ground up project is finished on time but the smaller adaptive reuse has a few delays... was that because of complications with the existing buildings on site or more about permitting and/or financing?? Not sure if this is relevant to their biggest Television Center Project as half of it is adaptive reuse and the other half is ground up.

But this old Sears site is a great look for the area. Come to think of it, this property almost got a housing development by CIM called Paseo Plaza but they bailed on it. So glad they did but I wonder if them bailing was a matter of the city plan on this lot where the city wanted to keep the area industrial rather than granting a zoning change or it if was ‘market driven?’ I believe it was a gamble on the city’s part that turned out to be a win. Either way. I like the end result better. Thoughts...?

[LA21st]

I saw the crane for the twenty plus story high-rise in Westchester

[citywatch]

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https://youtu.be/HlKE_yoMeQM?si=EsMxOX6FIAr9_jZu

3rd St promenade in santa monica &, of course, dtla, & sections of san francisco, etc, have been hurting way more than I originally thought they would.

For the sunset strip, not sure how much decline is due to property owners demanding overly high rent. Even before Covid, the number of vacancies on key streets in manhattan was quite high....NYC landlords are notorious for charging sky high prices.

Real estate projs, devlprs & investment in properties were once so slow in LA, that redevelopment agencies had to be created. Those agencies were disbanded over 15 yrs ago. So if it happened before, it can happen again.

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by hughfb3

Echelon Hollywood Studios... The first totally new ground up studio built in Hollywood in decades. This project seems to be on time with the delivery date on their website of Q4 2026. Their much smaller Cahuenga project was supposed to be finished Q1 2026, but its looking more like Q4 and is an adaptive reuse of a school. The much larger Echelon Hollywood ground up project is finished on time but the smaller adaptive reuse has a few delays... was that because of complications with the existing buildings on site or more about permitting and/or financing?? Not sure if this is relevant to their biggest Television Center Project as half of it is adaptive reuse and the other half is ground up.

But this old Sears site is a great look for the area. Come to think of it, this property almost got a housing development by CIM called Paseo Plaza but they bailed on it. So glad they did but I wonder if them bailing was a matter of the city plan on this lot where the city wanted to keep the area industrial rather than granting a zoning change or it if was ‘market driven?’ I believe it was a gamble on the city’s part that turned out to be a win. Either way. I like the end result better. Thoughts...?

I looked at this site for a large apartment development when it was for sale. The city didn't block housing with a goal of preserving industrial use, Bardas was just able to justify a higher purchase price with a studio development. I, for one, am glad this became a new studio instead of an apartment development. As you mentioned, a new studio in Hollywood is unique, and modern state of the art soundstages are important for keeping the industry and jobs in Hollywood proper. There are plenty of lots in Hollywood where new housing can go, but not many where a big new studio is possible.

[Scotchman]

Originally Posted by hughfb3

They cleared the first 3-4 floors of the towers around that announcement, but haven't done anything else in a few weeks. It's still Graffiti Towers.

Not exactly correct.

There appears to be daily activity INSIDE the structures.

The North-East corner of the Middle building has about 20 floors cleaned up, from the ground up.

I haven't been in the neighborhood since Aug 26. I will be back Aug 31. I will post a picture.

There is still a great deal left to clean up.

Something IS happening.

[Illithid Dude]

And they did say it was going to take six months to clean up. We are early in the process.

[citywatch]

loopnet.com

Why does this DTLA high-rise sit empty?

badassj00: The building is a graveyard, but the underground parking garage descends a hellish five levels and is always full. Tenants in other buildings use it for their employees. There’s also only one functioning elevator and it’s extremely small, which makes things fun after a day at the office. Source: I work within a block of the ATT center.

Firree: Ahh yes, 611 Place aka "AT&T Center" That building has been in limbo since forever. That old monolith was built in the 60s and is probably loaded with asbestos and would require expensive hazmat renovations. Sadly the cost of that often excees building a new structure somewhere else. There was a plan to convert it into condominiums but it seems nobody wants to go through with it. I imagine it's the cost.

ghu79421: The cost of converting it into housing or office space is probably higher than expected revenue from rent or sale. People may not have offered the owner a high enough price to get them to sell it.

Its_a_Friendly: Because the owners of this building, Chetrit Group, are functionally property speculators, and have been for at least two decades - that linked article is from 2010. They buy properties, sit on them, then sometimes sell them for a profit. They also own the Clark Hotel (at Hill & 4th) and the Embassy Auditorium (at 9th & Grand), which both are still unused. Chetrit Group also once owned Giannini Place (at Olive and 7th), named after the founder of Bank of Italy/Bank of America; the building was once the headquarters of the Bank of Italy. The building was sold in 2016 to be remodeled into a hotel, now the Hotel Per La.

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thorntontomasetti.com

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[longtimecommuter]

Yoonj Kim is doing god's work! Subscribed.

[craigs]

A great angle of the skyline in this pic from the LA Times today:

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by longtimecommuter

Yoonj Kim is doing god's work! Subscribed.

Hard disagree. To me, she's just a vacancy truther. I think most of her "proof" means very little. Counting lights in windows is BS for example (for many reasons), as is the "primary residence" deduction claim she makes.