LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0 - Page 141

BrandonJXN · #**2801** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 4:38 AM**

That's about as boring as a box of chalk.

RAlossi · #**2802** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 5:19 AM**

That's the preliminary 3D massing. It's not in any way final.

colemonkee · #**2803** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 3:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

That's about as boring as a box of chalk.

I had a box of chalk once. That was some good eatin!

But take the awkward helipad box thing off the top, produce a better render with more detail in the facade and this building's not bad at all. The strong diagonal lines at the base - it's best feature in my opinion - are integrated subtly throughout the rest of the design, which give it a cohesive look. Just drop that damn box at the top. It looks awkward. And pay some second year student architect more than $100 to produce a better render.

Rico, how serious of a proposal is this? Should I add it to the front page?

RAlossi · #**2804** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 4:55 PM**

Well, Jan Perry said that all parcels on Figueroa between Staples Center and the 10 have been sold to developers... Now that 1500 Figueroa and now 1340 Figueroa have surfaced, I'm sure this is more serious than, say, the Titan towers were.

I'd add it to the front page, but it's still in the early stages. Who knows?

Affrojuice · #**2805** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 5:41 PM**

This is why we need some kind of professional sports stadium downtown. The impact Petco had on the surrounding neighborhood is just incredible. I didn't know before that they were required to invest $311 million in retail, residential, and commercial projects within 26 blocks of the stadium. Could you imagine what something like this could do for some of the neighborhoods in downtown LA.

BusinessWeek/ Architectural Record Awards
San Diego Padres Ballpark/Petco Park
by Christopher Kieran

San Diego, Ca.
Antoine Predock Architect/HOK Sports
San Diego Padres Baseball Club/City of San Diego
Citation for Excellence

Home to the San Diego Padres since April 2004, Petco Park has as its mission to be more than a ballpark—to serve as a large-scale city planning project. For the first time in professional sports, a franchise was required to invest hundreds of millions in at-risk capital for the development of the neighborhood surrounding its publicly owned facility.

Near the Gaslamp Quarter of downtown San Diego, the Ballpark District occupies land that had been mostly vacant when the Padres project received approval in 1998. The city, which owns 70 percent of the park, stipulated the Padres and their private partners invest a minimum of $311 million in retail, residential, and commercial projects within 26 blocks of the stadium.

Looking to create an identity for the district, the Padres turned to Antoine Predock to design a bold structure and provide an anchor for continued development. Using the striking geometrical formations he is known for, Predock created a stadium with a strong presence. Two iconic towers incorporating special suites, viewing platforms, and field lighting make an impression on the San Diego skyline. Massive, stepped stone terraces reflect the color of the local soil and cliffs at Torrey Pines. Concessions and other programmatic content are pushed from under the grandstands to the perimeter, creating an unusual interstitial space, mediating interior and exterior, and bringing daylight and breezes into the concourse. The Outfield Park also helps draw the stadium out to the community by providing a public park extending one block to the north of the playing field, where fans can picnic under eucalyptus trees and watch the game.

In an area that saw little investment interest before 1998, property values have since increased 500 percent. Private developers have already invested $1.5 billion in the neighborhood. Predock's innovative, community-driven design has helped create an economic engine for the eastern half of downtown San Diego.

LAofAnaheim · #**2806** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 5:52 PM**

^ Tell that to your Dodger stadium fans who love the "history" of the stadium, and you'll get a backlash. We loved the history of the Great Western Forum too, but we moved the Lakers/Kings into downtown and look at how much better downtown is for it. Dodger Stadium doesn't have to be downtown, it just needs to be transit adjacent so we can develop some TODs and reduce the amount of parking required.

fridayinla · #**2807** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 6:02 PM**

The 1340 Figueroa renderings look beautiful to me too! The ground level entry way has some mid-century modern appeal to it and is wide open to the street. It's hard to critique it at this point since it's so prelimiinary.

On the other hand, have you guys seen the final renderings for 1110 Ingraham (now Residences @ Bixel)? WOW.

BrandonJXN · #**2808** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 6:31 PM**

From angelenic:

1110 Ingraham (Wow!)

colemonkee · #**2809** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 6:36 PM**

The revised 1110 Ingraham is light years ahead of the previous design. It has shades of Park Fifth with the horizontal balcony treatments, and the colors should compliment the backside of Vero quite nicely from the southern view. I'm digging the vaulted, colorful entrance on Ingraham. Great stuff.

I'll update the front page for both projects in the next few days when I get a chance.

WonderlandPark · #**2810** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 6:40 PM**

A million times better, wow.

I count 17 stories with the parking.

BrandonJXN · #**2811** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 6:40 PM**

The new renderings are leaps and bounds better than the old renderings. I think the colors echo 1100 Wilshire (so what if blue and brown don't match). The last rendering though is a bit misleading though. It makes it seem as if you're 1,000 feet in the air. But whatever I guess.

citywatch · #**2812** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 6:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ Demolition of the parking garage at Grand Avenue and First Street will commence in February 2008 following remedial site work.

Damn. I was hoping the rep from Related who told Ralossi that the parking structure wouldn't be torn down til Feb was incorrect, or that Ralossi had somehow misinterpreted the info. Would've been nice seeing the tinker toy eyesore going through active demolition over the next few wks, an Xmas gift to the city.

As for any new proposals at this late date, including the 2 projs being mentioned for the sites on Fig south of the City Lights apt bldg, it's safe to assume that they'll be in a state of flux til receiving 1000% of their funding & devlpr's OK. Right now I'd be happy just to know that LA Central is under actual construction.

I wonder if I'm being too greedy in wanting to see alot more new devlpt now & over the next few yrs. Then I read about what's going on elsewhere, & realize that what means "alot" in LA, when put in the context of certain other cities, isn't necessarily all that much. IOW, is it too much to wanna see more, more, more??!!!

Getting major new highrises underway in DT right now would be easier if more businesses were pouring into the hood the way they've been doing farther west, around SaMo & Century city. So far almost all new construction in DT has been dependent on housing, & we all know what's been going on lately with housing prices & mortgages.

And I thought all the land in South Pk that could've been used for a stadium was sold off by AEG some time ago. Any proj that requires a lot of acreage would take much time to put together &, of course, alot of $$ to get control over.

fridayinla · #**2813** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 8:46 PM**

1110 Ingraham will be 17 stories and is planning to break ground in July with a 2 year construction schedule. An architect who is involved in the design told us the developer already started pre-sales in South Korea.

Also, the nasty retail building is nearly all down now

City West is shaping up.

Wright Concept · #**2814** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 8:48 PM**

1110 Ingraham looks like a 60's era high-rise residential tower by Wilshire/Normandie. Slick design and straight forward.

BrandonJXN · #**2815** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 8:55 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridayinla

1110 Ingraham will be 17 stories and is planning to break ground in July with a 2 year construction schedule. An architect who is involved in the design told us the developer already started pre-sales in South Korea.

Also, the nasty retail building is nearly all down now

City West is shaping up.

When do you think the Bates Motels will suffer the same fate?

fridayinla · #**2816** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 10:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

When do you think the Bates Motels will suffer the same fate?

There are two on that block, the City Center Motel and the Motel De Ville. The City Center Motel I'm pretty sure will be demolished when (if) Lucas One breaks ground early next year. Although a friend of mine at the Planning Dept says that developer, Hi-Point Development who's also behind Witmer Tower had to back out of that project b/c he had no assets to move forward. No word whether or not he'll still go with Lucas One.

The other in the middle of the block, De Ville isn't going anywhere. They just repainted the entire building and I've noticed they're building out a new retail space on 7th Street. The place is still a dump, but it won't be a problem when everything gets developed around it.

WonderlandPark · #**2817** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 10:43 PM**

Not until July? meh. everything takes for freakin' ever in L.A.

DowntownCharlieBrown · #**2818** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 10:44 PM**

Angelenic must have giving Friday the day off.

Good to see you posting.

I know it’s a vague rendering, but 1340 Fig looks like it will be a nice 40 story tower. I like it more than 1500 Fig (also still too vague to judge final outcome).

citywatch · #**2819** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 10:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by fridayinla

An architect who is involved in the design told us the developer already started pre-sales in South Korea.

Just as many ppl who've reserved condos at Parkfifth are reportedly from Korea, it will be interesting if the same thing happens to the proj in City West, & allows it to move forward. I know mid Wilshire has been rejuvenated by the Asian-korean community, & thank god such ppl, instead of running to the burbs or other cities, are helping LA.

After seeing the mind boggling number of new highrises going up in Shanghai, I wonder if the only way to duplicate some of that here is for ppl from Shanghai to move to LA.

If it weren't for your pics, I'd think proposals like 1110 Ingraham were spreading the $$ around too thin, & that it would be better if bldgs like them were built farther to the east & south. Or closer to the Ralphs/Market lofts, or the Grand Ave proj, or Elleven. Or definitely to fill in the big gap on Figueroa St across from the 7th Market Place. However, when I'm actually in DT & looking around the different areas, the thing that often hits me is how important it is to fill in all the various gaps & deadzones, whether in City West or Little Tokyo, or the OBD, or the Arts Dist, Pershing Sq, the Financial dist, or South Pk.

DowntownCharlieBrown · #**2820** Posted **Dec 5, 2007, 11:21 PM**

LA Central -

Quote:

Notice of Public Hearing: by applicant Fig Central LLC to be held on 05Dec2007, requesting multiple variances in accordence with the Los Angeles Sport and Entertainment District Zone (LASED). Proposing: A, 52 story north tower which will include a 222-room hotel and 412 condo units. A, 40 story south tower wich will contain retail uses and addiontal condo units.

If anyone has the scoop from this meeting, we’ll all be grateful.