LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

In the last year, about a third of all proposed housing developments downtown have been put on hold or canceled. They include the 50-story Zen tower on 3rd and Hill streets, the Mill Street Lofts in the industrial district, the multitower Metropolis off the 110 Freeway and the conversion of the former Herald Examiner building.

Well, that's not good. Can you guys verify exactly which project is cancelled or proposed?

The three-phase Grand Avenue project ultimately could include eight condo and office towers, retail stores, a boutique hotel and public park. The first phase includes two towers at opposite ends of the block east of Disney Concert Hall -- set that way to preserve sightlines to the venue from many parts of downtown. The taller tower -- 48 stories -- would include rooftop pools, 264 high-end condo units, a 289-room Mandarin Oriental and an Equinox health club.

The second, 19-story tower would include nearly 100 rental units -- designated as affordable housing -- and 126 condominiums. Phase one also includes the civic park northeast of the concert hall.

The second phase is to be built on the block south of Disney Hall, with preliminary plans calling for two 30- to 35-story residential towers, one five- to six-story residential building and more retail stores and parking. The third phase would go two blocks east of the concert hall. Preliminary plans call for a 35- to 40-story residential building that would include some retail shops and possibly a 15- to 20-story building with office space or condos.

So does this mean you can edit Grand Avenue's characteristics on page 1, Colemonkee?

[k3d]

Thanks for the comments everyone. Yes, quite spectacular from this vantage point, especially for the Ritz's steel is just peeking up over the back of LA Live. So it looks like we will have a good record of it's construction from this angle as well.

[Steve2726]

Regarding the L.A. Times article, the hard copy has a render with a side view of a retail portion that I believe is new. I looked for it online but couldn't find it. If anyone has a scanner... It is located on page B6.

[k3d]

^^^ Yes, it is getting old, to say the least. Not that this forum is the most exciting place on the planet....

Although.... from my perspective this is what I see regarding LA Live. Roughly 5 nights out of 7 there is an event at Staples and possibly a simultaneous event at Nokia theater. From my unit I can see the crowds gathering from the surrounding parking lots around 5pm. Prior to the event most restaurants or bars within the vicinity are much "busier" than on non event nights. After the event hundreds (thousands?) let out like ants from within the staples complex, most on there way back to their vehicles but many again stopping at the local venues for food, drinks, etc. Right now it is a very busy location.

Not exactly Times Square but if you will a "center" in the city of Los Angeles with the Regal Theaters, the Grammy Museum, Club Nokia, the restaurants, the bowling alley, the surrounding venues opening, etc... that place will be packed!

[BrandonJXN]

So how about that 9th and Figueroa Tower? I heard it's pretty tall.

No I'm dead serious. What happened to it?

[San Marino Guy]

I think it was cancelled.

[BrandonJXN]

Welp that settles that.

Now on with the show.

[San Marino Guy]

So has the California Plaza Tower Three been officially canceled?

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by San Marino Guy

So has the California Plaza Tower Three been officially canceled?

Yes, please look at the diagrams.

[DowntownCharlieBrown]

QUOTE

originally posted by JDRCRASH;
BTW, i've been in the New York Forums for a while now, and NOBODY has attacked my "L.A. Live = Times Square of the West", thank you very much.

The statement doesn't mean as much to New Yorkers as it does to the Angelinos that visit this thread, which is probably why they don't comment on it. To many of us here, we don't want to see something from another city recreated here. We would rather have something unique to LA.

Wouldn't you rather see something unique?

And to some of us it is offensive that developers feel they need to "copy" something, or imply it is going to "be like" instead of giving LA something new. I've been to Times Square and I can see where LA Live is going, and personally, I don't think they compare. But I understand for marketing purposes, the developer had to sell it as the "Times Square of the West" to get people who couldn't rap there head around the concept of what it "actually is" to buy into it.

[KevinFromTexas]

I've deleted several posts.

First of all, if anyone on this forum is annoying you, then put them on your ignore list. That's what that feature is for. Also if someone is annoying you and you think they're disruptive to the flow of the thread, then wouldn't it be better not to encourage them? If you have an issue with a post report it, or send me a PM about it. But don't reply to them in that situation, don't encourage them and don't insult them.

I've warned you guys before about insulting other forumers with name calling and such. Consider this another warning, stop with the name calling and insults. And to a certain forumer involved with this. If your reason for posting is to get responses like these, then I'll tell you right now, stop.

The next time a problem comes up, no matter who starts it, it'll be suspensions, not warnings, since I've already warned you guys a few times before to stop.

And please respect everyone's opinions.

[BigDan35]

Anyways...

[Quixote]

Poor Kevin. Thank you for going through the trouble of cleaning up this thread.

[San Marino Guy]

Can somebody tell me what building this is listed under construction on the diagrams? South Village - Lofts @ 9th & Flower. I don't think it's 717 Ninth or Concerto because there listed under their own descriptions on the diagram. I'm really confused.

[JDRCRASH]

I've removed the L.A. Live=Times Square of the West from my signature.

[JDRCRASH]

I've never heard of an empty site called Mangrove, is it new?

A Stakeholder Speaks Out

By Ed Fuentes

Published: Wednesday, March 19, 2008, at 01:54AM
Architects and developers can be deeply ambivalent about projects with a RFD requiring input from community, much less two. For the city-owned parcel bounded by Alameda, First, Temple, and a Hewitt Street footprint, the mandate included “Any future development maintains the community spaces of Little Tokyo and the Arts District.”

Emerging into community feedback at the conceptual stage empowers advocates the opportunity to bring into a neighborhood far reaching goals, and can be a difficult balancing act, as seen at last weeks proposals for First and Alameda, aka the "Mangrove" site.

First up was The Nikkei Center's direct walk from Japanese-American Little Tokyo that has only a slight nod to the heavily invested Arts District. The team of Kaji & Associates, Urban Partners and the Little Tokyo Service Center was well received by some members of the Little Tokyo community in attendance at the meeting.

Also presented was the Tokyo Artpark Crossing's high density in multiple towers, exciting those who like the idea of a modern commercial Tokyo. To me, it offers the Arts District a pathway to shop but not necessarily a way participate, and acts to isolate Los Angeles Japanese-American culture.

Both concepts bring in elements of a contemporary Japan, yet bypasses what Little Tokyo now offers to all residents surrounding it–– an intimate and accessible community.

In between those two was an unnamed proposal designed to make the parcel a gateway to Little Tokyo. With the Gold Line as part of the plaza, the corner also becomes a gateway to the rest of Downtown.

The use of retail space that supports small shops will promote an active street life, as seen at Second and Central. Yes, there is question and concern of the on-going loss of Japanese-American character, but the very site the public meeting was held, the Japanese American National Museum, is a contemporary building with no obvious Japanese architectural flourish. There is no question as to JAMN's importance to the community.

The unnamed project by Niemann and RSA compliments both Little Tokyo and the Arts District with a series of buildings that contain 400 living units, an office tower at Temple and Alameda streets that doesn’t block evening sun, 40-foot setbacks that compliment the Gold Line and space for outdoor street life along First street. The buildings themselves form four plazas, not including the proposed park space.

Just as important, it is the only proposal that plans to be completed in one phase.

I can’t help notice that First and Alameda Partners have both established communities considered. Like a restored Hewitt Street, Little Tokyo and the Arts District become functional components.

That makes the two neighborhoods the identity for the proposal, that for now will remain nameless

[San Marino Guy]

To bad the Gold Line turns north towards Union Station instead of going through Downtown!

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

I've removed the L.A. Live=Times Square of the West from my signature.

thank you.

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by San Marino Guy

Can somebody tell me what building this is listed under construction on the diagrams? South Village - Lofts @ 9th & Flower. I don't think it's 717 Ninth or Concerto because there listed under their own descriptions on the diagram. I'm really confused.

That's most likely referring to the Market Lofts, which were completed last July. That's the only project that's part of CIM's South Village located on the corner of 9th and Flower.

Originally Posted by San Marino Guy

Too bad the Gold Line turns north towards Union Station instead of going through Downtown!

It will go through downtown eventually. The MTA is holding public commenting meetings on the Downtown Connector, which will connect the Gold Line to the Blue Line and the Expo Line.

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

I've never heard of an empty site called Mangrove, is it new?

The site isn't anything new, but I've personally never heard it referred to by that name. It's a very large vacant lot directly north of the Savoy in Little Toyko. It's been a construction staging area for the Eastside Gold Line extension for a long time.

What's interesting about these proposals is that one of the options for the Downtown Connector has a portal on this property on the First St. side, which would effect how they design it. I wonder if these proposals being announced now means that the MTA has already nixed that option internally.