LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0

[LAsam]

Originally Posted by vidgms

What the heck is this? I drove by it a few weeks ago and can't figure out what the heck it is.

Obviously it's an urban waterslide...

Really though, it's LAUSD High School for the Visual and Performing Arts #9

[vidgms]

Oh ok. I was wondering where that school was going to be. I saw some renders for it and was impressed that it was going to be a high school. I will have to keep my eye on this one.

[StethJeff]

What the hell is that metal contraption? High-dive, detention?

[RuFFy]

^^^^ We just covered that.

[dlbritnot]

I think StethJeff is wondering what function that metal structure has for the hs. I'm wondering the same thing.

[LAsam]

Originally Posted by dlbritnot

I think StethJeff is wondering what function that metal structure has for the hs. I'm wondering the same thing.

I'm guessing this is an example of form over function.

[ladowntowner]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

What the hell is that metal contraption? High-dive, detention?

Is it too small for some sort of intimate performance space/auditorium?

Barring that, perhaps the principal's office will be located there to afford him a bird's eye view of the school grounds, not unlike a guard watchtower within a prison?

[DJM19]

As far as I know, its completely non-functional, merely a sculpture.

[ladowntowner]

Originally Posted by DJM19

As far as I know, its completely non-functional, merely a sculpture.

Dunno, but that sure seems like a lot of effort and expense to put into something that's "merely a sculpture." If that's the case, as a taxpayer, I'll be royally pissed! What a waste. If you want to make a statement on a public building, that's fine, great - no problem with that, but also make it functional, serve a purpose.

[JDRCRASH]

From Curbed:

(This is sad; that money could be used to completely fund the Subway-to-the-Sea, but Orange County officials continue to insist that widening highways will be effective. Maybe that's why I believe that "more people will be traveling TO Orange instead of L.A. County in the coming decades" prediction is a bunch of garbage.)

Study: SoCal Traffic Crashes Add Up To $11B

POSTED: 12:49 pm PST March 5, 2008
UPDATED: 2:40 pm PST March 5, 2008


LOS ANGELES -- Traffic crashes in the Los Angeles and Orange County region cost nearly $11 billion annually -- more than the price tag associated with traffic congestion, according to a study released Wednesday.

AAA: Study
Traffic Page

According to the study -- conducted on behalf of the American Automobile Association by the transportation policy firm Cambridge Systematics -- traffic congestion costs the Los Angeles/Orange county region $9.3 billion annually, while traffic crashes cost $10.85 billion.

The price tag of auto accidents includes police, medical and emergency services, property damage, lost productivity and general "reduced quality of life," according to AAA.

"The study clearly demonstrates that both traffic safety and traffic congestion are a tremendous challenge to Southern California in terms of out-of- pocket costs and reduced quality of life," said Alice Bisno, the Automobile Club of Southern California's vice president for public affairs.

The report "Crashes: What's the Cost to Society?" reveals that in most areas of the country, the cost of traffic crashes far outweighs the cost of traffic congestion, said Jeffrey Spring of the Auto Club.

In Los Angeles and Orange counties, traffic congestion is at such a high level that its "cost to society" is just slightly lower than that of traffic crashes, Spring noted.

The Los Angeles/Orange County metropolitan area has the highest "cost of congestion" and the second-highest "cost of crashes" among all metropolitan areas in the country, according to the study.

The metropolitan area with the highest cost of crashes annually encompasses New York City and Newark/Edison, N.J., according to AAA.

The Auto Club called on government leaders to focus increased attention on preventing crash deaths and injuries.

Reductions to both vehicle crashes and traffic congestion can be achieved by actions such as enhanced traffic-law enforcement, improved highway safety and better management of traffic incidents, Bisno said.

The study supports a national safety goal of cutting the number of surface transportation fatalities in half by 2025, as recommended by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission.

[DJM19]

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

Dunno, but that sure seems like a lot of effort and expense to put into something that's "merely a sculpture." If that's the case, as a taxpayer, I'll be royally pissed! What a waste. If you want to make a statement on a public building, that's fine, great - no problem with that, but also make it functional, serve a purpose.

I agree, it does seem a waste. But just imagine if it was a principles office. Talk about pretentious! And quite the intimidating walk up.

[JDRCRASH]

Also from la.curbed.com:

Councilman Jose Huizar: Make Arts District Bigger To Encourage Development

First, Little Tokyo wanted to secede from the rest of downtown. Now the battle over how/where to develop downtown wages on with the news that at 2pm today, the Planning and Land Use Committee will hear a motion from city councilman Jose Huizar, who is proposing expanding the arts district's boundaries south from 6th St. to Violet St., and east from Mill St./Wilson to the L.A. River. (The current boundaries via the perhaps faulty Wikipedia .) A tipster reminds us that the Planning Department’s Industrial Land Use Policy calls for allowing artist-in-residence adaptive re-use projects in the area between 6th and 7th Streets, but the remaining area is pegged as a zone where the conversion of industrial property to residential and commercial uses should not be allowed; Huizar's motion encourages development of the warehouses into mixed-used and residential projects. If the Planning and Land Use Committee approves the motion, it'll be heard before the city council within the next week. This should be interesting. [Image via Carifactmaps] UPDATE: The motion passed, reports blogdowntown, and tomorrow it'll head to the City Council.

[Echo Park]

When the the LA Weekly become the Daily News? Last I recall LA Weekly was a progressive left wing mag or was that in my imagination? Because now, like LA Times' Steve Lopez, they've become a mouthpiece for self-interested, conservative NIMBYs. A week back they had a cover story about city hall's "density hawks." The article for the most part fawned over Zev Yaroslovsky and painted him as a lone rebel speaking up for the people and fighting against the evil kabal of politicians and developers in city hall.

[WonderlandPark]

Originally Posted by Echo Park

When the the LA Weekly become the Daily News? Last I recall LA Weekly was a progressive left wing mag or was that in my imagination? Because now, like LA Times' Steve Lopez, they've become a mouthpiece for self-interested, conservative NIMBYs. A week back they had a cover story about city hall's "density hawks." The article for the most part fawned over Zev Yaroslovsky and painted him as a lone rebel speaking up for the people and fighting against the evil kabal of politicians and developers in city hall.

The same has happened with many of the old progressive rags like the Willamette Week, Guardian and others. They used to be a far left, now these papers serve the wealthy left. Those that live on the west side, are comfortable in their million dollar homes and now don't want any change whatsoever. It sucks that "progressive" political papers have become so disconnected from progressive planning. Build absolutely nothing anywhere near anybody. That is the mantra they preach. (and I still don't know why the banana is so popular on a pro-urban site like this, see previous sentence)

[ladowntowner]

Originally Posted by WonderlandPark

The same has happened with many of the old progressive rags like the Willamette Week, Guardian and others. They used to be a far left, now these papers serve the wealthy left. Those that live on the west side, are comfortable in their million dollar homes and now don't want any change whatsoever. It sucks that "progressive" political papers have become so disconnected from progressive planning. Build absolutely nothing anywhere near anybody. That is the mantra they preach. (and I still don't know why the banana is so popular on a pro-urban site like this, see previous sentence)

Uhm... I followed everything perfectly until the last sentence. Can you please explain the banana reference?

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by RuFFy

^^^^ We just covered that.

ass.

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by Echo Park

When the the LA Weekly become the Daily News? Last I recall LA Weekly was a progressive left wing mag or was that in my imagination? Because now, like LA Times' Steve Lopez, they've become a mouthpiece for self-interested, conservative NIMBYs. A week back they had a cover story about city hall's "density hawks." The article for the most part fawned over Zev Yaroslovsky and painted him as a lone rebel speaking up for the people and fighting against the evil kabal of politicians and developers in city hall.

That article killed me when I read it earlier this week.

[ladowntowner]

Originally Posted by Echo Park

When the the LA Weekly become the Daily News? Last I recall LA Weekly was a progressive left wing mag or was that in my imagination? Because now, like LA Times' Steve Lopez, they've become a mouthpiece for self-interested, conservative NIMBYs. A week back they had a cover story about city hall's "density hawks." The article for the most part fawned over Zev Yaroslovsky and painted him as a lone rebel speaking up for the people and fighting against the evil kabal of politicians and developers in city hall.

We passed the point in Los Angeles where arguing against density made any sense at all about 60-70 years ago. BUT, and it's a huge but, if we are encouraging density it needs to be at the expense of sprawl and with the stipulation that it occur along and in accordance with mass transit lines.

[JDRCRASH]

^
My friend, it was long before that! Try 80-85 years ago!

From Wikipedia:



Note the L.B.C....you know what that stands for, right?



Much of the state's taxpayer revenue must go to light-rail, subway, monorail, high-speed rail, and high-speed maglev projects.
I just hope the Republicans in Sacramento don't cut that vitally needed funding as they are with Education.

[Just-In-Cali]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

What the hell is that metal contraption? High-dive, detention?

Don't worry, all it will take are some dumb teenagers to get high and dare each other to do a jackknife onto the 101, and it will be torn down. Thats how we roll in America! We cant put something artsy on anything, cause some mogoloid will most defiantly impale, jump off or on, fall into, or be fell upon by said structure.
Thats why we have padded playgrounds and warnings on shampoo.
In other news,
This suburban push by the NIMBYs is typical of the people that have gained a lil money, now want the world to freeze in its form for them. Its kinda the same for how after all the Euros immigrated here, then decided that we cant have any more immigrants. They will fight tooth and nail to keep mass transit from entering the city on a large scale because it might interfere in their driving their luxury cars around. Thats where elitist liberals and right wing conservatives share a common goal. Once you have something, make sure NO one else can get it.
Also, I cant help but notice there are a number of other projects said to be breaking ground this year that havent been talked about much...any news on them. This is all based on the DTnews list though, so we know the accuracy may be in question, but projects like: 1027 Wilshire(52 stories) final approvals pending, 1133 Hope (29 stories) entitlements, the much maligned Glass Tower (25 stories) to allegedly begin this spring, LA Lofts (25 stories) set for before June, Shy Barry tower 2 (40 stories) getting approvals, hopes to start in 8 months, Zen Tower due in January of 09.
Just to name a few. Any other information on any of these that appear to be "near groundbreaking"?