LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0 - Page 59

citywatch · #**1161** Posted **Aug 3, 2007, 8:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Affrojuice

I understand the argument that parking structures aren't great to look at, but lets be realistic we live in LA, parking is an absolute necessity.

Besides if parking structure is designed well, with retail on the ground floor etc., they are a whole lot better than a surface parking lot with a fence around it, of which there are many around downtown.

There is an upside to lots of parking structures, it makes visiting, shopping, and hanging out in downtown convenient. Think about the hundreds of thousands of cars that drive right by downtown everyday, on the 10, 110, 5, and the 60, and imagine if just a fraction of those cars got off the freeway and patronized businesses in downtown.

My thoughts exactly! I wouldn't even be as annoyed by surface parking lots if they at least were surrounded by landscaping, as was true of the lot that used to sit where the metlofts now is located, directly across the street from the Palm restaurant. But most parking lots in the hood are deadzones & make the area seem abandoned, esp at night or on the weekends when most ppl have gone home, leaving the lots empty. At least parking structures aren't as bad & conceal whether they're mostly full or mostly empty of users.

BTW, even NYC, with its huge numbers of subways, buses & taxis, & many ppl who use transit to get into town, still has so much congestion from cars, that the mayor wants to force ppl driving in from the burbs or the boroughs to pay a fee to enter manhattan.

I have to add that another big reason a lot of potential devlprs of lofts around the OBD are passing on converting the remaining supply of old bldgs is because of a lack of enough space for parking. Like it or not, funders are less likely to finance a loft proj if buyers will have few or no places to park a car.

IOW, devlprs aren't refusing to convert bldgs because of city codes that require X amt of parking per X number of apts of condos, but because they know that most sources of financing, such as banks, & potential buyers, expect----even demand----that parking be plentiful & convenient enough.

DowntownCharlieBrown · #**1162** Posted **Aug 3, 2007, 8:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by petescafe

I have a question about the removal of the asphalt in that one particular section of the parking lot at the future Medallion site.
Was it done to take soil samples of the ground, and to test and see if there's anything toxic in it?

Is that something that's done before, during or at all?

Just curious.

Could it be that they exposed a small patch of dirt to allow some VIP’s with shovels scoop some dirt while having their picture taken…. IOW, an official ground breaking ceremony???

LAMetroGuy · #**1163** Posted **Aug 3, 2007, 8:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongBeachUrbanist

I'm very surprised to hear that.

I was in the Tower about three years ago, and it was my understanding that the Tower Theater was pretty badly damaged. I remember someone saying that at some point one of its owners poured concrete over the seating area (actually over the seats), because he wanted to make a flat surface for use as a dancehall.

No, that was at the Globe Theater. The Tower is in good shape. They filmed Dreamgirls in there for the disco version of "One Night Only"... you know Beyonce! Anyway, the owner is Michael Delijani and he is not much of "preservation" enthusiasts. He wanted to turn the Los Angeles Theater into a jewelry store... so that tells you where his mind and wallet is. He rents the State Theater to a church that is in the business of "healing" their patrons with a slap on the forehead and then they "faint" and are miraculously healed... yea those types! The Palace Theater is only rented for movie shoots, and my guess is that if they do own the Tower... its not good news for the Tower. They will only put the smallest amount of money into it so they can rent it for commercials, tv shoots, or movies. They will most likely never turn the theater into a legit theater. He is very difficult and rarely allows the Los Angeles Conservancy to tour his theaters... so much for being a "supporter" of these historic theaters.

I always hoped that the Laugh Factory or Improv would buy it and turn it into a comedy club... if it did... it would be the best effin comedy club in the nation!!!

DowntownCharlieBrown · #**1164** Posted **Aug 3, 2007, 8:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridayinla

From Live & Play Downtown LA Blog (Aug 2, 2007):

It was very exciting to see The Tower Theater sign flick back to life -- welcome back!

The Tower Theater in historic core district of downtown LA is being restored. I'll post some pictures this weekend. Last night the power washer was out bringing the treasure back to it's original glory. A few weeks ago some major graffiti was removed from the stained glass windows.

Some friends say that it was purchased by the family that owns the Los Angeles, Palace and State theaters. Sources at the Chapman flats say that retail tenants are being replaced by higher end ones but the new line up has not yet been announced.

Possibly The Tower Theater will be a first run movie theater or house a theater company. Look for some more changes to occur in the next 60 days.

http://www.towertheaterla.com/

Photos by: Live & Play Downtown LA Blog

I had no idea the interior of the theater was still that much intact. It’s beautiful. I really hope they use it again as a theater. As LBU mentioned, the lower level does seem to be… well “level”. If it was leveled with concrete, I hope it can be fixed and that someone is willing to fix it.

fridayinla · #**1165** Posted **Aug 3, 2007, 9:03 PM**

You can definitely see the improvements of the Tower Theater from Live & Play Downtown LA Blog's photos. Here' a picture I took on June 5th, 2007 - compare it to the more recent photo:

All the graffiti has been cleaned off. Even if concrete concrete was poured over the original seating area, I'm sure it can be removed and refinished. Nothing is, umm, set it stone

LosAngelesBeauty · #**1166** Posted **Aug 3, 2007, 11:06 PM**

^ LAMG is right. Delajiani is in this for MONEY and he's not shy about it. His official right-hand man told me himself. I spoke to him INSIDE the Tower Theatre recently (at the Chapman Sales Premiere) and he told me if movie shoots/commercials are decreasing in their theatres because residents are annoyed with the film crew/trucks, then they have NO RESERVATIONS to convert these beautiful theatres to "swap meets" and "jewelry stores" in his own words. I was SHOCKED and even felt a twinge of indignation. These beautiful, historic buildings are being treated like crap, when it could be the host of so many wonderful productions like what the Orpheum Theatre is doing. Let's hope the market in LA can remain somewhat afloat and continue the surge of new residents moving downtown. I believe only changing Broadway into a more commercialized street (filled with many businesses with deep pockets) can we turn this travesty around.

Echo Park · #**1167** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 12:43 AM**

The renovation of Broadway marches northward!

Quixote · #**1168** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 1:07 AM**

I pray they find a theater company to occupy the Tower Theater. Hopefully the other theaters would eventually follow suit, creating a vibrant theater district.

Tanster · #**1169** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 1:29 AM**

Cant the city do something about the Theaters?

Sodha · #**1170** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 6:28 AM**

I just walked by 5th & Olive at 8 pm and they just put up a huge ad for Park 5th on the street corner. It looks awesome. "Downtown is looking up" is the theme. Whoever this developer is, this person cares about downtown. Check it out! Hopefully this becomes a reality!

fridayinla · #**1171** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 6:53 AM**

Ralphs on the Market As CIM Looks Up

News Brief

Given the recent lauded opening of the new Ralphs supermarket at Ninth and Flower streets, it may seem unusual that developer CIM Group is selling off the retail anchoring its Market Lofts project. CIM recently listed the 55,979-square-foot component along with its 133-car parking garage with CB Richard Ellis. According to the real estate firm, CIM, which developed the project with Lee Homes, had always planned to sell the retail once it opened to maximize its investment. Ralphs, which occupies 50,000 square feet at the site, currently holds a 20-year lease. The remaining ground floor is leased to Cold Stone Creamery, Quiznos and FedEx Kinkos.

At the same time, CIM has reworked plans for a mixed-use project near the market to make two buildings substantially taller and denser. The Community Redevelopment Agency held a hearing on the development's draft environmental impact report last week. One building north of the market, originally set at six stories, is now anticipated to climb 22 stories; the other, just east of Ralphs and planned as 13 stories, would be 42 stories. The effort would create nearly 1,300 new residential units and more than 2,700 parking spaces. "We've been planning this for quite a while," said John Given, a principal with CIM Group. "It's all pretty consistent with our plans for South Village." According to Given, the smaller tower at Eighth and Hope streets could break ground next year. The project would join other high-rises by Sonny Astani and Meruelo Maddux currently under construction in the area.

Echo Park · #**1172** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 4:12 PM**

^Awesome. That's music to my ears.

Are these height increases for any of the projects listed on the first page of this thread or is this something entirely new?

k3d · #**1173** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 4:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridayinla

Ralphs on the Market As CIM Looks Up

News Brief

Given the recent lauded opening of the new Ralphs supermarket at Ninth and Flower streets, it may seem unusual that developer CIM Group is selling off the retail anchoring its Market Lofts project. CIM recently listed the 55,979-square-foot component along with its 133-car parking garage with CB Richard Ellis. According to the real estate firm, CIM, which developed the project with Lee Homes, had always planned to sell the retail once it opened to maximize its investment. Ralphs, which occupies 50,000 square feet at the site, currently holds a 20-year lease. The remaining ground floor is leased to Cold Stone Creamery, Quiznos and FedEx Kinkos.

At the same time, CIM has reworked plans for a mixed-use project near the market to make two buildings substantially taller and denser. The Community Redevelopment Agency held a hearing on the development's draft environmental impact report last week. One building north of the market, originally set at six stories, is now anticipated to climb 22 stories; the other, just east of Ralphs and planned as 13 stories, would be 42 stories. The effort would create nearly 1,300 new residential units and more than 2,700 parking spaces. "We've been planning this for quite a while," said John Given, a principal with CIM Group. "It's all pretty consistent with our plans for South Village." According to Given, the smaller tower at Eighth and Hope streets could break ground next year. The project would join other high-rises by Sonny Astani and Meruelo Maddux currently under construction in the area.

Yes, that news seems kind of late from them since there have been renders of the 42 and 22 story towers (even on the first page here) for some time now. Even the old render of 8th and Hope is 22 stories. The original drawing of iHope was 22 stories dated 06/2006.
I would guess the first thing they would have to build is the 6 or 7 story parking garage between Market and iHope so the Market Loft owners have a place to park during Park Tower construction. That is sure going to make for some dusty cars though. The lot for iHope was the staging area for Market/Ralph's so it seems to be ready for contruction anytime.

(Photo credit: http://www.cimgroup.com)

ladowntowner · #**1174** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 10:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by k3d

(Photo credit: http://www.cimgroup.com)

I like the height of this tower as it helps spread the skyline southward and adds to the bridging effect between the "Transamerica" tower and the rest of the skyline, however the design looks extremely dated à la 1960's. Or is it just me?

LongBeachUrbanist · #**1175** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 11:18 PM**

It's dated, yes. But it works, I think, because:

1) it has lots of green, expanding the effect of the park below; and

2) it acts as a bridge stylistically between the FiDi and TransAmerica.

BrandonJXN · #**1176** Posted **Aug 4, 2007, 11:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

I like the height of this tower as it helps spread the skyline southward and adds to the bridging effect between the "Transamerica" tower and the rest of the skyline, however the design looks extremely dated à la 1960's. Or is it just me?

I actually like the dated look. My grandparents owned an apartment complex in Inglewood which had a look that resembled this building. You see these mid 60's-late 70's style of homes in Carson, Inglewood, Compton and the like. Mabye that's the theme.

djerniepearl · #**1177** Posted **Aug 5, 2007, 7:30 AM**

Getting back to the Tower.....Anyone notice the extensive scenes of The Tower Theatre and The Chapman in the Transformers movie? Hopefully in a couple of years we can look back and see how empty and gray the area was in 2007.

fridayinla · #**1178** Posted **Aug 5, 2007, 9:21 AM**

The Tower Theater looks remarkable now. These were taken this afternoon.

LosAngelesBeauty · #**1179** Posted **Aug 5, 2007, 9:31 AM**

OMG!!!! Yeah! That's like LITERALLY night and day! It's GORGEOUS! IMAGINE EVERY SINGLE BUILDING ON BROADWAY CLEANED UP LIKE THAT????

DTLA · #**1180** Posted **Aug 5, 2007, 6:46 PM**

the theatre actually stands out from the other buildings now, which is good cause it's an amazing building which shouldn't just blend in with the plain residential towers.