LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0 - Page 196

Wright Concept · #**3901** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 2:06 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

The main argument against keeping it above ground is and will be cost savings.

Of course, the issues are much more complex, and there are additional arguments that could be made for underground, but that's the best way to boil it down.

I'll repost something I wrote back of October 2007 when this question was asked. Some of you could use that as your talking points (in your own language of course) when submitting your support of Alternates 5 and 6 to the connector team and Metro board.

Simple explaination, Connectivity

1) Enables riders traveling longer distances to more destinations along our LRT system without additional transfers mimicing the freeway networks and adding riders.
2) Relieves operational, capacity and train turnaround constraints to the busy Blue Line and soon to be busy Expo Line at 7th Street Metro Center.
3) Allows for Gold Line riders direct access into Downtown without transfering to the Red/Purple Lines which would dramatically remove the capacity constraints of that line if and when it's extended Westward. So the connector would help allow an extension Westward of the Purple Line to happen.
4) For the amount of $$$ spent, Downtown Connector (even as a full subway) is the more cost-effective project than the Purple Line westward because you're connecting lines together in a transit corridor hitting important job, recreation destinations. Think of it as our version of SF Muni Metro or Boston's Green Line which has it's train lines run from the outer areas into the core and hitting the major stops along the way.
5) Enables future LRT extensions running outward from the Downtown Core to other regions.

colemonkee · #**3902** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 4:28 AM**

LAPD Headquaters

They're really moving on the Spring Street facade. These pictures were taken on my way to work this morning. On my way home, they had installed the rest of the panels on that side.

Closer on the glass on the Spring St. side. Same reflectivity and color as on the 2nd and Main St. sides, but inset a bit to add some texture.

k3d · #**3903** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 6:57 AM**

^Nice photos. Those are three of my favorite buildings downtown.

Echo Park · #**3904** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 7:33 AM**

really, the lapd headquarters is among your three favorite buildings in downtown

ladowntowner · #**3905** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 8:03 AM**

^If you look carefully, you'll see LAPD Headquarters, City Hall and Caltrans..

To me Caltrans looks like the DeathStar, I'm quite undecided on LAPD Headquarters, but I have always admired City Hall immensely.

Come to think of it, maybe Caltrans and LAPD should swap locations upon completion, as the DeathStar would be an even more fitting home for the LAPD... hmmm...

KevinFromTexas · #**3906** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 8:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

Come to think of it, maybe Caltrans and LAPD should swap locations upon completion, as the DeathStar would be an even more fitting home for the LAPD... hmmm...

That's no moon, it's a police station.

k3d · #**3907** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 9:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Echo Park

really, the lapd headquarters is among your three favorite buildings in downtown

City hall and the new LAPD are not my favorite but among them. Caltrans is my favorite overall. Mostly because of how it reconfigures itself. I like City Hall because it is so iconic of Los Angeles. I always thought City House and Olympic would go well with City Hall if built, sort of the Twin Towers of the west. The new LAPD building just because it is so unique and gives the impression of an optical illusion depending on the angle you look at it from.

k3d · #**3908** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 9:30 AM**

For anyone that didn't know, there is a forum member over a Skyscraper City named Wolverineman that works at the Ritz Carlton site who said:

"The steel will be complete approximately February/March of 2009. The first column was stood on January 23rd. We are going up at about 1 1/2 + floors a week. 58 levels of steel counting the basement levels. Still this is very fast and with the exterior skin and glass going up just behind the steel erection it will be exciting to watch. The theater and ballrooms steel start is mid April. Stay tuned"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2158/2299880390_bee32cebbe.jpg?v=0

Echo Park · #**3909** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 2:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by k3d

City hall and the new LAPD are not my favorite but among them. Caltrans is my favorite overall. Mostly because of how it reconfigures itself. I like City Hall because it is so iconic of Los Angeles. I always thought City House and Olympic would go well with City Hall if built, sort of the Twin Towers of the west. The new LAPD building just because it is so unique and gives the impression of an optical illusion depending on the angle you look at it from.

oh cal trans is my favorite building downtown, and city hall is an icon obviously (hence my avatar). but LAPD headquarters? i could probably think of a couple dozen buildings better than LAPD headquarters in Downtown la.

JDRCRASH · #**3910** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 4:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by k3d

For anyone that didn't know, there is a forum member over a Skyscraper City named Wolverineman that works at the Ritz Carlton site who said:

"The steel will be complete approximately February/March of 2009. The first column was stood on January 23rd. We are going up at about 1 1/2 + floors a week. 58 levels of steel counting the basement levels. Still this is very fast and with the exterior skin and glass going up just behind the steel erection it will be exciting to watch. The theater and ballrooms steel start is mid April. Stay tuned"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2158/2299880390_bee32cebbe.jpg?v=0

I've heard of him. But I didn't know he works at the site!

Hmm...1 1/2 floors a week sounds pretty good.

Just-In-Cali · #**3911** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 4:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by k3d

For anyone that didn't know, there is a forum member over a Skyscraper City named Wolverineman that works at the Ritz Carlton site who said:

"The steel will be complete approximately February/March of 2009. The first column was stood on January 23rd. We are going up at about 1 1/2 + floors a week. 58 levels of steel counting the basement levels. Still this is very fast and with the exterior skin and glass going up just behind the steel erection it will be exciting to watch. The theater and ballrooms steel start is mid April. Stay tuned"

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2158/2299880390_bee32cebbe.jpg?v=0

This sounds great! Imagine, a building in Los Angeles taking less than a decade to go up!
I think I'll go get a face lift in celebration!

k3d · #**3912** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 4:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

I've heard of him. But I didn't know he works at the site!

Hmm...1/2 floors a week sounds pretty good.

You meant one and a half floors a week.

JDRCRASH · #**3913** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 6:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by k3d

You meant one and a half floors a week.

DowntownCharlieBrown · #**3914** Posted **Feb 29, 2008, 11:06 PM**

Ritz photos from Wolverineman at SSC

BrandonJXN · #**3915** Posted **Mar 1, 2008, 12:56 AM**

Good lord this thing is rising fast.

Marrson · #**3916** Posted **Mar 1, 2008, 1:55 AM**

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES NEWS REPORTS: http://www.downtownnews.com/articles/2008/03/03/news/news04.txt

colemonkee · #**3917** Posted **Mar 1, 2008, 2:21 AM**

^ Very interesting stuff. This article gives you a peek into how construction financing is working these days. Assuming the Downtown News got their numbers right, which is always a stretch, it would go down like this:

Istithmar committed $100 million, or about 40% of the equity for Phase 1. That would put the expected equity for Phase 1 at $250 million. Let's assume the stated $600 million construction loan covers the rest of the costs for Phase 1, for a total Phase 1 cost of ~$850 million. That puts the required equity stake to get construction financing at just under 30% - for a very deep-pocketed developer with a good track record.

That means that the developers of Park Fifth, LA Central, etc. are going to need to come up with at least 30% of their respective project's construction costs before they can move forward. That's assuming they can get similar financing. So any project that wants to move forward in this climate will need to secure a pretty large amount of liquid capital before they start moving any dirt.