LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0

[Easy]

Not much to get excited about yet. I'm holding the fact that they have had that sidewalk closed for so long with no activity against them. They need to really put it in gear if they plan on making it up to me.

[citywatch]

Meanwhile, catercorner to Concerto's site, the following bldg opens, with the first specific date, listed on mktlofts web site, I've ever seen of when the new store is completed, not to mention dates for the lofts above:

Excitement is growing in anticipation of the long-awaited grand opening of Ralphs Fresh Fare, downtown LA’s first grocery store in over 50 years. Making its celebratory debut on Friday, July 20, the brand new, upscale Ralphs is located on the ground floor of Market Lofts at the corner of 9th and Flower streets in downtown’s South Park area. On Saturday, July 14, Market Lofts will unveil six professionally furnished models.

“We’re just days away from realizing all that this building brings to downtown LA,” says Donna Coulter, sales manager. “Market Lofts owners will begin moving into their lofts the first week in July...

[LA/OC/London]

I walked by the Concerto site while on my lunch break and saw a few guys walking around surveying the area. No major activity, but seeing people on site is a nice change from having it just sit there. I REALLY hope this project goes forward with its original 2 tower design. I know rumors have been going back and forth on this, but to create the necessary density in that area, I think its imperative that both towers be built. Hopefully they're not scaled back either...

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

i agree. it would be a massive waste of prime land if only one tower were built on that large of a space. I think 3 or 4 towers could fit there, but what do i know.

Speaking of large lots, anyone have any idea if anything is proposed for the lot on 8th and Fig. Prime land capable of fitting 4 or 5 large towers there, yet nothing is proposed? its such a great location too. I can definitely see a upscale hotel there, along with a nice large mixed use, similar to Metropolis is scale and idea, but with retail wrapped all around since it had a great location.

[colemonkee]

^ With it's proximity to the 7th and Metro station, I think that is one of the last few prime office sites downtown. I'd rather that lot be reserved for the next large office tower, hopefully somewhere in the 2 million sq. ft. range.

While I love all this residential development, we need to keep future office development in mind, and in doing so, we need to make sure future office buildings are built in close proximity to transit options to promote using public transit and mitigate the effect on traffic that office buildings have.

[fridayinla]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

i agree. it would be a massive waste of prime land if only one tower were built on that large of a space. I think 3 or 4 towers could fit there, but what do i know.

I walk by that site everyday wondering that same thing. I don't know of any proposals for it.

[Easy]

I walked by the Concerto site at 3:30 pm and was not at all surprised to find that there was no one there.

I walked by the Ralphs and there were at least 4 people that I could see (not counting the construction crew still working on the lofts). It really doesn't look much different than LAB's pictures from a few days ago so I didn't take any.

As always there was lots going on at LA Live. They are really concentrating on the Nokia Theater. Also the restaurant/club building and the ESPN building. Not so much going on at the hotel.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

8th and Fig are divided up into two parcels. One is owned by Jade Enterprises and the other by a Japanese company. The Japanese one came out to LA a couple of years ago to survey the residential boom and came up with some ideas for possible development (they also own the land at 8th/Grand NW corner). I can tell you that at the time, they did talk to Target and were considering a hotel in their plans (which was reported in the LABJ as a Four Seasons). But that was a few years ago and things have probably changed.

In any case, that land is not sitting dead. It's got some major plans in the future.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesBeauty

In any case, that land is not sitting dead. It's got some major plans in the future.

I just hope that whoever is to develop that parcel of land will maximize its full potential. I'd rather wait 3 more years for a proposed 1,000 ft. office tower designed by SOM as opposed to filling in that space now with a meager 12 story mid-rise proposal. Waiting for 3 years is better than waiting for another 20 years before it gets knocked down and is replaced by someting bigger and better.

[JDRCRASH]

Isn't Meruelo planning at least 3 other towers, including that 60 story tower?

[Quixote]

Does anyone else remember reading about Meruelo's plans for a 34 story tower on the lot adjacent to Jardin way back in 2006? I wonder what has become of that proposal.

[LongBeachUrbanist]

I was in Downtown this evening ~6:30. At the Meruelo site, the construction crew was working on getting up more first-story rebar. I have a feeling that project is going to move very quickly, like Hanover did.

[edkao]

Originally Posted by LongBeachUrbanist

I was in Downtown this evening ~6:30. At the Meruelo site, the construction crew was working on getting up more first-story rebar. I have a feeling that project is going to move very quickly, like Hanover did.

Construction crews working after 4PM? Wow, that in itself is news.

Does anyone know if the construction costs fell recently, due to the slowdown in housing? Could that be the reason there is activity at Concerto site now?

[edluva]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

I just hope that whoever is to develop that parcel of land will maximize its full potential. I'd rather wait 3 more years for a proposed 1,000 ft. office tower designed by SOM as opposed to filling in that space now with a meager 12 story mid-rise proposal. Waiting for 3 years is better than waiting for another 20 years before it gets knocked down and is replaced by someting bigger and better.

forget 12 story mid-rises. dtla is considered lucky when those are proposed. it's the 3-6 story suburban — that i'd rather see deadzones remain in place of.

[LongBeachUrbanist]

The worst scene is on Sunset east of Figueroa. Although the south side of the street is full of construction activity, the north side is the trashiest weed-mess you can imagine.

If I didn't know it, I'd guess there was a city boundary down the middle of Sunset. It's like night and day.

[Sodha]

I walked by Market Lofts last night and saw personal furniture in some of the lofts (i.e. beds, lamps, desks, etc...). But I have yet to see any residents occupy the building. Maybe their coming w/in a few days and were able to get their furniture delivered early.

[fridayinla]

Originally Posted by LongBeachUrbanist

The worst scene is on Sunset east of Figueroa. Although the south side of the street is full of construction activity, the north side is the trashiest weed-mess you can imagine.

If I didn't know it, I'd guess there was a city boundary down the middle of Sunset. It's like night and day.

Are you talking about the huge lot directly across from the Orsini II development going east down Cesar Chavez?



That's the site for Orsini phase 3. BBQ King, a junky auto shop and lots of graffiti will soon be history.

[fridayinla]

Originally Posted by Sodha

I walked by Market Lofts last night and saw personal furniture in some of the lofts (i.e. beds, lamps, desks, etc...). But I have yet to see any residents occupy the building. Maybe their coming w/in a few days and were able to get their furniture delivered early.

Colemonkee, should we move the Market Lofts to completed on the 1st pg? I think I have a recent photo somewhere...

[LongBeachUrbanist]

Originally Posted by fridayinla

Are you talking about the huge lot directly across from the Orsini II development going east down Cesar Chavez?

That's the site for Orsini phase 3. BBQ King, a junky auto shop and lots of graffiti will soon be history.

That's it. Further east, the weeds get even worse.

[RAlossi]

But do we prefer weeds or another Palmer development? Oh god, three Palmers all on the same corner!!! They are all going to look exactly the same!