LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0

[DowntownCharlieBrown]

Originally Posted by Just-In-Cali

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"?

I believe that when the DT News checks with the developers as to the progress of their projects, the developers give them the best case scenario if everything falls in place without any hitches. And hitches ALWAYS happen. So for the properties that have been reported to break ground this spring and we here on SSP haven't been talking about it, I would guess it ain't gonna happening as reported. It was probably some time ago that DT News was updated by these particular developers and Spring 08 was the best case scenario for these projects at that time.

As long as I have been following the DT LA thread, I can't think of a single time there was a ground breaking and all the forumers were surprised. There is always buzz in the media and here on the thread before actual ground breaking. And I don't mean the kind of buzz like "the observation deck on the roof is going to be cool", I mean chatter like "I spoke to someone with the city and they said..." Right now the only buzz I am hearing is on The Grand and to some extent Park Fifth. There was some buzzing going on about Residences at Bixel, but that has quieted down and that is usually not good for a ground breaking. But you never know.

[JDRCRASH]

Wait, you don't think....................it's been secretly cancelled, do you?

I mean, there is now a sovereign fund owned family thats in pretty high places that is investing in the project; don't you think someone of that authority wouldn't waste money in funding something they thought wouldn't break ground?

Edited,

JDRCRASH

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Wait, you don't think....................it's been secretly cancelled, do you?

I mean, there is now a sovereign fund owned family thats in pretty high places that is investing in the project; don't you think someone of that authority wouldn't waste money in funding something they knew wouldn't successful?

Why will the Grand not be successful?

[DowntownCharlieBrown]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Wait, you don't think....................it's been secretly cancelled, do you?

I mean, there is now a sovereign fund owned family thats in pretty high places that is investing in the project; don't you think someone of that authority wouldn't waste money in funding something they knew wouldn't successful?

I don't know if I should do this but...



Who are you talking to?



What are you saying?



And why would you ask that?

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by DowntownCharlieBrown

I don't know if I should do this but...



Who are you talking to?



What are you saying?



And why would you ask that?

That wouldn't be the first time people have questioned any of JDR's posts.

Florida weather is off the chain. It would have to be if I use slanguage such as 'off the chain.' I've never experienced humidity like this. Plus it looks hurricane like. Tampa looks like Riverside with water and causeways everywhere. Makes me miss LA a bit.

Originally Posted by DowntownCharlieBrown

As long as I have been following the DT LA thread, I can't think of a single time there was a ground breaking and all the forumers were surprised. There is always buzz in the media and here on the thread before actual ground breaking. And I don't mean the kind of buzz like "the observation deck on the roof is going to be cool", I mean chatter like "I spoke to someone with the city and they said..." Right now the only buzz I am hearing is on The Grand and to some extent Park Fifth. There was some buzzing going on about Residences at Bixel, but that has quieted down and that is usually not good for a ground breaking. But you never know.

Well..there was the time 717 Ninth broke ground and people thought that the steel beams that were on site were for Market Lofts and/or Concerto. There was a big debate as to where the steel would go to and sure enough, it was for 717 Ninth.

And in regards to the Residences at Bixel: The shitty printing shop was destroyed on the site a few months ago but groundbreaking won't happen until later on in the year.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by DowntownCharlieBrown

I don't know if I should do this but...



Who are you talking to?



What are you saying?



And why would you ask that?

Ummm.....you?

Ummm.....why would one invest in something that they didn't think would break ground?

Ummm.....because they may have a better prediction that the LA Downtown News would?

[ladowntowner]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

Florida weather is off the chain. It would have to be if I use slanguage such as 'off the chain.' I've never experienced humidity like this. Plus it looks hurricane like. Tampa looks like Riverside with water and causeways everywhere. Makes me miss LA a bit.

Good to see you still coming around, ThreeHundred. I think it has something to do with the fact that they actually have weather in Florida.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by DowntownCharlieBrown

As long as I have been following the DT LA thread, I can't think of a single time there was a ground breaking and all the forumers were surprised. There is always buzz in the media and here on the thread before actual ground breaking. And I don't mean the kind of buzz like "the observation deck on the roof is going to be cool", I mean chatter like "I spoke to someone with the city and they said..." Right now the only buzz I am hearing is on The Grand and to some extent Park Fifth. There was some buzzing going on about Residences at Bixel, but that has quieted down and that is usually not good for a ground breaking. But you never know.

This is what I was talking about......I never said that The Grand wouldn't be successful; what I meant to say is that if it was not going to break ground, why would a company needlessly put money into it?

I'm starting to wonder if what Colemonkee said was right; that there are MANY trolls on this thread who just question material because they don't understand it, and that i'm just making it worse by trying to make them see it. Maybe having the Ignore List is a good thing.

[ladowntowner]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

This is what I was talking about......I never said that The Grand wouldn't be successful; what I meant to say is that if it was not going to break ground, why would a company needlessly put money into it?

I know I said I was going to stay out of this, but, oh hell, here goes...

I know what you were trying to say, but that's not what you originally said, even if that's what you thought you had said. That's why everyone is acting confused - it was not articulately stated.

To answer your question: It's because they are betting that it will break ground, that it will be successful - making their bet pay off and earning them a nice tidy ROI. It's done all the time, but isn't a guarantee of anything. Fortunes are made and lost on this stuff on a daily basis...

[JDRCRASH]

Well, they sure must feel pretty darn happy about this project, because they injected $75 Million in something that may not break ground in the summer.

BTW, I edited my comment.

[DowntownCharlieBrown]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

I'm starting to wonder if what Colemonkee said was right; that there are MANY trolls on this thread who just question material because they don't understand it, and that i'm just making it worse by trying to make them see it.

Yes, we question things we don't understand!



The reason I asked you this time and specifically asked "who are you talking to" is because your question seemed to be directed at me, and it was. From what I said, why would you ask me:

"Wait, you don't think....................it's been secretly canceled, do you?"


While it is fine to bring up a point that a new investor believes a project is going to move forward, every project that failed had an investor that believed it would be successful. I have no idea if the Dubai investor is any more or any less a wise investor.

Nobody has posted any trolling remarks above. Just letting you know that your posts are often hard to understand.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

Good to see you still coming around, ThreeHundred. I think it has something to do with the fact that they actually have weather in Florida.

Weather indeed. 80 degrees, 100% humidity (I can hardly breathe) and there is a tornado watch until 5pm (EST).

Awesome!!

[colemonkee]

^ That sounds pretty sweet. If you see Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton roll up in a tricked out van, please punch Bill and slap Helen for me. I can't stand either one of them. Actually, I loved Bill Paxton in Aliens. "Game over, man! Game fucking over!"

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

I'm starting to wonder if what Colemonkee said was right; that there are MANY trolls on this thread who just question material because they don't understand it

JDR, DowntownCharlieBrown is definitely not one of those trolls. You gotta read some of these messages a little more closely...

[ladowntowner]

I was out today with my ancient camera. Thought I'd finally give back to the forum with other than smart ass comments. Tell me if the quality is too poor and I will cease to post in the future, at least until I get a better camera.


Evo


Ritz


Another angle of Ritz



Hanover w/completed corner banner backing


Concerto


Peeking over the fence @ Concerto


717 9th


Former Rite Aid storefront (note see-through security gates!)


The Judson w/Snakeman in foreground


Rowan façade work


LAPD Headquarters

and finally...


The Brockman w/leased restaurant sign! Anyone know what's locating there?

[ladowntowner]

^ BTW - the Brockman and Judson photos were stitched with a great program called Hugin Panorama Creator I discovered this evening, using Linux - my OS of choice. I can't see any distortion whatsoever. Whatcha think?

[StethJeff]

No need to worry about image quality - the photos turned out great.

[milquetoast]

The 'ancient' camera looks fine and as far as the Dubai investors, they've invested with Gehry before and aren't as tight with their money- 'cause they GOT money.

[Echo Park]

that photo quality is terrible, ladowntowner! i can't show those photos in an art gallery. i demand you immediately cease posting construction pics. i mean what is this a downtown constructionn thread or something? get lost!

[k3d]

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

The Brockman w/leased restaurant sign! Anyone know what's locating there?

I think I remember someone here said it was a market going in the Brockman.

Great photos! Thanks.
(I think I see a little seam at the top of the 4th floor on the corner. )

[JRinSoCal]

Great photos! The Brockman is one of the most beautiful buildings in all of Los Angeles. I would kill to live there.