LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0 - Page 154

k3d · #**3061** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 3:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy

Regarding 717 ?, I remember the project being originally announced as 717 Ninth and then rebranded as 717 Flower. There was lots of discussion about this 2 or 3 rundowns ago because of the confusing 717 9th name which I understood to be 717/9th or 717 flower/9th although it was never presented that way.

I suppose since the link below refers to the planning stage there could have been more recent developments regarding the name or address. Still, if the name was 717 Flower it seems like it would be located at 7th street and Flower.

The developer's website is http://www.meruelomaddux.com/noflash/residential_westNinth.php and says it is:

717 West 9th Street Tower, 717 W 9th St., Los Angeles, CA (Planning)

The 35 story residential tower being planned on nearly 2/3 of an acre in the South Park district of downtown will offer 214 residential loft style units, approximately 6,800 SF of ground floor retail, and 322 parking stalls. Heading the design team is Funes Architecture. Construction is expected to commence in 2006, with completion in May 2009.

ChrisLA · #**3062** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 6:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesBeauty

Why is Central Market considered that great? Just curious...

I liked the variety they offered over Whole Foods. The fresh bakery section was larger, and more diverse. The also offered a larger variety of loose teas, and coffees There also seem to have a larger section of natural products (soap, shampoos, lotions, and air freshners). Plus I like the fact they made all types of tortillas fresh. I've only seen this in Los Angeles at the lower end ethnic markets, and usually they aren't of the heathy kind.

Central Market to me even has a better flow, and easier to navigate. I like the fact they offerred all types of high end and healthier mexican products. Can you believe they sold tamales by the dozens, and I suspect without the lard since most of their products were geered toward those who are concious of their health.

Also their prices seem to be slighty cheaper, such as some tea I normally purchase was about a $1 cheaper than Whole Foods.

Don't get me wrong, I like Whole Foods (especially the new one in El Segundo). But personally I think Central Market has an edge over them. Even my relatives who once shopped W.F., now perfer Central Market over it.
Oh I also found out while looking for free WiFi in the metro that Central Market has this as well.

Should you ever visit Dallas, I highly suggest visiting this market. I also would suggest checking out the Eatz It market. Its stores are typically smaller than both chains, but the quality and the service you get is quite high. I like the fact Eatz Its has a more intimate and neighborly feel to it, with a quality of a high end european market.

There seems to be an abundance of high quality markets in the Dallas metro. I visit the city often since I have cousins there. Although its certainly has it Texas culture, the city has a very comopolitian feel that seems to rub off even on those who aren't as well to do. Kind of different than what I see among our minority groups in LA.

edluva · #**3063** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 6:47 AM**

Central Market offers good breadth of specialty items - moreso than whole foods. For instance, it's cheese section and its wine section is very comprehensive for a supermarket chain. It's like a "super-TJs".

I agree that Central Market should not be compared to Trader Joes, they target different areas, and must add that we already have a somewhat worthy if not overpriced version of Central Market - it's called Bristol Farms. Try getting *them* to open in DTLA...

btw, TJ's would make a killing in DTLA

ChrisLA · #**3064** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 6:58 AM**

Yep I forgot about the cheese and wine. How could I not remember that since I kind of base my opinion of how good of a store it is by their cheese, wine, and bakery sections.

Bristol Farms and Gelsons for some reason does not impress me. They are nice stores, but I just don't ever find anything worth paying that much more for. Well there was the turkey breast with garlic cloves in it. They carried at the deli counter I would purchase from Bristol Farms, but they stopped selling it.

ladowntowner · #**3065** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 8:01 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edluva

btw, TJ's would make a killing in DTLA

^Agreed. Especially when you consider the success of Ralphs. That place is hopping nearly every time I go there. TJ's is a good fit for the demographic that is taking shape downtown. What they're waiting for is beyond me. Maybe it's just a matter of critical mass... a formality in that the required variables for their business model formula aren't quite there just yet.

edluva · #**3066** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 9:16 AM**

Bristol Farms has a very impressive wine and cheese selection, probably *at least* as good as Central Market for wine, which of course should be no surprise considering it's a california market, but its bakery does leave something to be desired vs CM's artesenal selection, you're right.

And Bristol is overpriced too. Gelson's is ridiculously overpriced - you'll pay like a buck more for the exact same box of cheerio's being sold in Ralph's, but they sure as hell can polish their apples can't they? That really is the beauty of CM is you get high quality food for commonplace prices. Maybe it's due to cost of living in TX?

And your comment about poor folk in TX being more "cosmo" - I kinda noticed that too. I'm going to say it. LA's poor can be straight up "ghetto" for some reason vs those in Dallas. Can't say the same for houston tho. They are pretty different vibes.

ladowntowner · #**3067** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 10:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edluva

And your comment about poor folk in TX being more "cosmo" - I kinda noticed that too. I'm going to say it. LA's poor can be straight up "ghetto" for some reason vs those in Dallas. Can't say the same for houston tho. They are pretty different vibes.

Not sure if you've ever "toured" the south side of Dallas before. I lived in TX for a year (San Antonio) and visited the south side of Dallas for a possible investment in property there (~15 years ago). Well, I most assuredly did not invest and got the hell out of there as fast as I could. That place, the people and living conditions would scare the — out of the most "ghettoized" (as you put it) resident of South Central L.A. you could ever possibly find. Trust me on that.

jlrobe · #**3068** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 11:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edluva

Central Market offers good breadth of specialty items - moreso than whole foods. For instance, it's cheese section and its wine section is very comprehensive for a supermarket chain. It's like a "super-TJs".

Although off topic, TJ and Whole Foods — for wine and cheese. Especially in a city like LA. There are SO MUCH better places to get wine and cheese in this town. Why are we shooting for chains?!?! What about the gourmet market that was slated for the brockman? I would hope and pray that that would blow out any CM or WF in terms of wine and cheese and bakery quality. Call me a food snob, but I think that CM and WF dont really deliver in the wine, cheese or bakery dept.

jlrobe · #**3069** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 12:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edluva

And your comment about poor folk in TX being more "cosmo" - I kinda noticed that too. I'm going to say it. LA's poor can be straight up "ghetto" for some reason vs those in Dallas. Can't say the same for houston tho. They are pretty different vibes.

I hate to say it but I feel like I could get lynched 15 miles outside of dallas it is so COUNTRY. LA's poor is ghetto urban, but Dallas' poor is straight up Alabama country IMHO.

ChrisLA · #**3070** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 5:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

Not sure if you've ever "toured" the south side of Dallas before. I lived in TX for a year (San Antonio) and visited the south side of Dallas for a possible investment in property there (~15 years ago). Well, I most assuredly did not invest and got the hell out of there as fast as I could. That place, the people and living conditions would scare the — out of the most "ghettoized" (as you put it) resident of South Central L.A. you could ever possibly find. Trust me on that.

Well I have, South Dallas is poor and I agree some of the areas off 175 is down right depressing. I also agree the condions are worse than anything in south central LA. LA ghettos does not have than abandoment feeling you often see in many ghettos in many mid-western cities, and in this case Dallas.

Now with that being said, I have some relatives who live close to South Dallas, in fact many consider Pleasant Grove (South East Dallas) not the greatest. For the most part P.G. is more blue collar, and not really slummy but its still rather ugly, especially the commerical blvds.

So yes I know where south Dallas is, and pass through it many times. Even go there to get Fried Chicken. I'm not saying there aren't folks who aren't ghetto. What I am saying is I noticed many lower income Dallas residents seem to have a sense of being more comopolitian than our poor. Of course most have that Texan twang, but it does not take away from having a bit more class about them.

ChrisLA · #**3071** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 5:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlrobe

I hate to say it but I feel like I could get lynched 15 miles outside of dallas it is so COUNTRY. LA's poor is ghetto urban, but Dallas' poor is straight up Alabama country IMHO.

Its true, you do get this sense, ever been to Greenville, TX?

Yet I also felt the same just outside Atlanta if not more so in Georgia. Hell for that matter I've stopped in a small town in upstate New York for gas on my way to Canada. I swear we were in some backwater southern town. The only difference was they had a northeast accent.

Echo Park · #**3072** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 8:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edluva

And your comment about poor folk in TX being more "cosmo" - I kinda noticed that too. I'm going to say it. LA's poor can be straight up "ghetto" for some reason vs those in Dallas. Can't say the same for houston tho. They are pretty different vibes.

I don't see L.A's poor residents as trashy at all. I work in Watts and for the most part people are nice or they keep to themselves with a few, albeit visible, bad apples. I don't feel uncomfortable here at all. That's probably your problem.

Just-In-Cali · #**3073** Posted **Dec 28, 2007, 9:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echo Park

I don't see L.A's poor residents as trashy at all. I work in Watts and for the most part people are nice or they keep to themselves with a few, albeit visible, bad apples. I don't feel uncomfortable here at all. That's probably your problem.

Echo and I agree on something!?! Get out the band.
To catagorize the "ghetto" people from one city to the next is a bit simple.
Yes, that southern charm and accent may put some more at ease...but when they stab you in the gut and take your wallet...it doesnt matter how nice they were about it. I have lived in the burbs most of my life, and have been to the ghettos in Mobile and Houston. It really is a person by person basis...and this ongoing mentality that somehow, again, people in LA are less "anything" than some other area is just the usual bias people feel about the city and its residents.
Now, I read on skyscraper.com that 717 is 40 stories? Is that a misprint? Also, I drove by the LA Central site a week ago, and they are still using it as expansion parking...I hope this is only until they finish a parking structure for LA Live.

colemonkee · #**3074** Posted **Dec 29, 2007, 1:51 AM**

^ 717 is 35 stories.

Quixote · #**3075** Posted **Dec 30, 2007, 6:51 AM**

South Figueroa (Formerly Jardin) Pushed Back a Year

By Rico
December 28, 2007

Downtowners following South Park developments were expecting to see groundbreaking on South Figueroa in the last quarter of 2007.

As December advanced and a new year approached, many wondered whether the two-tower, 648-unit condo development was delayed.

They were correct. A source from South Group, the developer behind the project (also of Evo, Luma and Elleven), tells us that groundbreaking has been pushed back to late 2008.

South Group isn’t discouraged about Downtown’s real estate market. The developers remain optimistic on Downtown and are certain about a 2008 groundbreaking. Still, we will have to get used to that ugly parking lot being there for a while.

The project’s site — a surface lot bounded by 12th, Figueroa, Pico and Flower — is one of the most crucial parcel developments in the city’s plan to make South Park a 24-hour destination.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: angelenic

ocman · #**3076** Posted **Dec 30, 2007, 7:51 AM**

Gelsons is an anomaly. It's petit bourgeois. It's like a more costly Ralph's: American meat and potatoes. In other words, if you're making something more complex than a Rachel Ray recipe, or anything ethnic, they won't have what you need. But Bristol Farms will have it especially if it's gourmet items. Actual Prime grade prime rib, foie gras, duck fat, white and black truffles. It may be expensive, but you're just grateful they have it.

JDRCRASH · #**3077** Posted **Dec 31, 2007, 6:31 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

South Figueroa (Formerly Jardin) Pushed Back a Year

By Rico
December 28, 2007

Downtowners following South Park developments were expecting to see groundbreaking on South Figueroa in the last quarter of 2007.

As December advanced and a new year approached, many wondered whether the two-tower, 648-unit condo development was delayed.

They were correct. A source from South Group, the developer behind the project (also of Evo, Luma and Elleven), tells us that groundbreaking has been pushed back to late 2008.

South Group isn’t discouraged about Downtown’s real estate market. The developers remain optimistic on Downtown and are certain about a 2008 groundbreaking. Still, we will have to get used to that ugly parking lot being there for a while.

The project’s site — a surface lot bounded by 12th, Figueroa, Pico and Flower — is one of the most crucial parcel developments in the city’s plan to make South Park a 24-hour destination.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: angelenic

Great. Well, at least they say they're optimistic.

LAofAnaheim · #**3078** Posted **Dec 31, 2007, 8:21 AM**

TJ's is great and all....but have you tried Fresh 'n Easy? The new supermarket by Tesco? It's great! Hope to see them enter the downtown market.

edluva · #**3079** Posted **Dec 31, 2007, 2:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ocman

Gelsons is an anomaly. It's petit bourgeois. It's like a more costly Ralph's: American meat and potatoes. In other words, if you're making something more complex than a Rachel Ray recipe, or anything ethnic, they won't have what you need. But Bristol Farms will have it especially if it's gourmet items. Actual Prime grade prime rib, foie gras, duck fat, white and black truffles. It may be expensive, but you're just grateful they have it.

agreed. i get the sense there are things at Bristol you simply will not find at Central Market. And in a sense, what someone said was right about CM covering a niche that LA already has better covered by specialty shops such as cheese shops etc for real purveyors. Dallas probably lacks these, and therefore CM makes sense in TX.

colemonkee · #**3080** Posted **Dec 31, 2007, 6:51 PM**

The LA Times has a great piece on the construction of the LAPD HQ building. Some of the photos are a bit out of date, but they're amazing. Click here for the article. Click here for a pretty kick — photo essay.

Catching top-floor thrills
The 10th floor of the LAPD headquarters being built downtown lends spectacular views of the city. One construction worker likes to sneak up to enjoy the sights.

By Jason Song, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
December 31, 2007

You could get a good look at the downtown skyline from, say, the BonaVista Lounge while listening to Norah Jones and sipping an Amstel Light.

But if you want something more raw, hang 10 stories in the air, leaning over the side of the new LAPD building's skeleton with saws roaring behind you like nuclear-powered dental tools, sparks from welders raining down behind you and nothing except two thick wires between you and a long fall.

Click for the rest of the article.