LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0

[colemonkee]

Welcome to the forum, Vodila! Good heads up on the glass. I'm at Coachella this weekend, so I won't be able to grab any pics with my camera until next weekend. Hopefully there will be a lot more in two weeks when I have a chance to get down there...

[Echo Park]

Originally Posted by DJM19

About the park: I agree they really cant screw this up. It needs to be an inviting park that 'plain in any sense. Some iconic things would be helpful.

About LA Central: I like the project, but I wish developers would put the large centerpiece buildings of their projects along the main roads. I think the project would be twice as good if the tower was on the corner of Fig instead.

I can't stand that aspect of LA Central. I wonder if the architect traded in girth for height, like they were concerned about making it at least 30 stories but knew they couldn't fill the entire block with a building that height (too many units, too much $$$), so they went with the toothpicks on a podium design, which i CANNOT stand. I would have been VERY happy if it were just 10 stories high but filled out the entire block and fronting both flower and fig. you dont need a bunch of towers to amaze people. look at the ginza district in tokyo, one of the most vibrant urban hoods in the world and its all 10-12 story buildings. really the whole area around staples center sucks. the designs for LA Central, hanover, jardin, etc are all so prosaic. they all look like generic miami/san diego condos.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by vodila

The picture was taken with a cell phone camera, so the quality is nothing to be proud of.

It's more than good enough, esp when a simple snapshot can reveal alot about how a proj is progressing. Or not progressing.

That leads me to say I understand the parking lot of the LA central proj apparently has been modified in a way that indicates the proposed devlpt is now formally on hold?

It's hard to believe the devlpr put up a large construction wall around the site several months ago, & that wall not only didn't verify the proj actually was about ready to breakground, but that the proj actually would remain delayed for months into the future, &, worse of all, perhaps indefinitely.

If Oct-Dec 2008 rolls around & work will have begun on at least the Grand Ave & parkfifth projs, I'll be relieved. Anything else right now will be an unexpected surprise.

Not so much when it comes to the proposed federal courthouse bldg at 1st & Broadway, cuz that was supposed to have been under way by now, if not before. And unlike projs that are dependent on consumer demand, the courthouse will provide new space that's needed right now. At least the big hole in the ground that's already there means the construction ppl will have one less chore to handle---& can move faster---when work on the proj finally has begun.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by Echo Park

the designs for LA Central, hanover, jardin, etc are all so prosaic. they all look like generic miami/san diego condos.

Makes me think of all the forumers who are unhappy about the design of LA live's regal theaters, or who are focusing on form over function. That's fine & all, but there is the matter of function. Or the issue of movie theaters in DT starving for customers---& those Regal theaters being stuck next to the fwy, far removed from other spots that ppl will wanna drop in & visit. And, when it comes to LA Central, the possibility that many major highrise projs will be delayed, if not even cancelled, due to current problems with financing & the falling housing mkt.

I still recall the previous owner of the Roosevelt bldg wanting to convert it to condos over 8 yrs ago, but saying that the price of new housing at that time didn't justify the expense of redoing even an existing bldg, much less constructing a totally brand new one.

And I never forget there are two major sites on Bunker hill, directly south of Disney hall, that were approved for new highrise apt bldgs over 10 to 15 yrs ago. But cuz the devlpr apparently decided the towers wouldn't pencil out, he never did anything with the land, & it's remained vacant ever since then.

[Echo Park]

Originally Posted by vodila

thats nice that they're trying to appeal to generic yuppie douchebags with those billboards. goes nicely with the pedestrian design of hanover. i cant wait to eat at the wolfgang puck's that will occupy the retail floor.

[BrandonJXN]

Can't forget about the yuppie dog.

FIDM needs to get built NOW.

[JDRCRASH]

^Damn right it needs to!!

[JDRCRASH]

Downtown's Park Fifth Offers Up "Pedestrian Connection"

Monday, April 21, 2008, by Dakota

An update on Park Fifth, the planned 76-tower at Fifth and Olive that hit a funding pause late last year. The Downtown News reports the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) approved the building's use of a "Transfer of Floor Area Rights Ordinance," which allows developers to purchase unused space to build taller, denser buildings. In return for building bigger, developers pay out money to local non-profits and offer up other local projects. Via the News: "The development team, led by David Houk, will also build community benefits into the project, such as a pedestrian connection to the nearby Metro Red Line station and two major public art displays in collaboration with the Museum of Contemporary Art." And the CRA approved the project's Environmental Impact Report (EIR), while developer Houk tells the paper he "expects to break ground by the fourth quarter of this year."

[JDRCRASH]

Grand Avenue Project Civic Park Meeting Tomorrow

by Stephen Friday on April 21, 2008

Downtown residents and community groups are invited to attend a public outreach meeting tomorrow to learn more about the new Civic Park plan, a grand 16-acre park (and streetscape improvements) planned to extend from the Music Center to City Hall over four major segments.

During the meeting, community members will learn about design ideas and event concepts for the new green space through model exhibits, presentations and discussions. The Grand Avenue Committee and Related will co-host the event.

Civic Park is an integral part of the master plan of the Grand Avenue Project. According to city officials, Related will not be able to obtain a certificate of occupancy for the first phase of the mixed-use development until the park is complete.


When: Tuesday, April 22, 2008
6:00 pm to 6:30 pm – Model Viewing
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm – Presentation and Discussion

Where: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion – Grand Hall
At the Music Center
135 N Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90012

[k3d]

Originally Posted by Echo Park

thats nice that they're trying to appeal to generic yuppie douchebags with those billboards. goes nicely with the pedestrian design of hanover. i cant wait to eat at the wolfgang puck's that will occupy the retail floor.

Who WOULD you try to appeal to get all these units leased?

There sure are a lot of things about south park and people in south park you don't like. Thanks for sharing the with us all. We should start a new thread "What and who Echo Park doesn't like in south park"

[Echo Park]

Originally Posted by k3d

Who WOULD you try to appeal to get all these units leased?

There sure are a lot of things about south park and people in south park you don't like. Thanks for sharing the with us all. We should start a new thread "What and who Echo Park doesn't like in south park"

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, k3d.

Preliminary designs for the Grand park are supposed to unveiled today I think. Anyone know anything about this?

[jlrobe]

Originally Posted by Echo Park

I can't stand that aspect of LA Central. I wonder if the architect traded in girth for height, like they were concerned about making it at least 30 stories but knew they couldn't fill the entire block with a building that height (too many units, too much $$$), so they went with the toothpicks on a podium design, which i CANNOT stand. I would have been VERY happy if it were just 10 stories high but filled out the entire block and fronting both flower and fig. you dont need a bunch of towers to amaze people. look at the ginza district in tokyo, one of the most vibrant urban hoods in the world and its all 10-12 story buildings. really the whole area around staples center sucks. the designs for LA Central, hanover, jardin, etc are all so prosaic. they all look like generic miami/san diego condos.

If designed correctly, podiums (3 story buildings) can be much more friendly and a pedestrian scale. Who wants to go eat at a cafe or go grocery shopping in the transamerica building or the bank of america building (two of the tallest buildings in SF).

Also, towers have more dramatic effect on the skyline instead of a thick huge, blocky building. It is good to see the gaps between the needles (tall towers) so long as there are enough other building at 10 stories to fill the space. As south park fills in, the LA central towers will be more effective at shaping the skyline while still allowing a human scale through their lower rise podium and passage ways.

[Echo Park]

I care about our skyline far far less than I care what happens at the street level.

[LongBeachUrbanist]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

"The development team, led by David Houk, will also build community benefits into the project, such as a pedestrian connection to the nearby Metro Red Line station..."

Does anybody know what "pedestrian connection" means? Hopefully, they mean a new entrance for the station on the development site, north of Fifth Street. (They couldn't be suggesting some sort of a bridge from Park Fifth to one of the existing entrances, right?)

Separate topic: I hadn't seen this reported anywhere on this forum, but Second Street is finally being built between Olive and Grand, adjacent to the Colburn School. The CRA has had this on their to-do list for at least a decade. Once built, Second Street will form a continuous path from the Arts District and Little Tokyo all the way up to Disney Hall. I think this will go a long way toward physically reintegrating Bunker Hill with the surrounding neighborhoods.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by Echo Park

Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, k3d.

Preliminary designs for the Grand park are supposed to unveiled today I think. Anyone know anything about this?

Like new pictures and concepts what it will look like?

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by LongBeachUrbanist

Does anybody know what "pedestrian connection" means? Hopefully, they mean a new entrance for the station on the development site, north of Fifth Street. (They couldn't be suggesting some sort of a bridge from Park Fifth to one of the existing entrances, right?)

I know what your saying; in the renderings, I didn't see a bridge over 5th avenue, though.

[Just-In-Cali]

Originally Posted by k3d

Who WOULD you try to appeal to get all these units leased?

There sure are a lot of things about south park and people in south park you don't like. Thanks for sharing the with us all. We should start a new thread "What and who Echo Park doesn't like in south park"

I will agree with Echo that the advertising is a little homogeneous, but then again, it is a fact that you wont see droves of Korean immigrants, Hispanic farm workers, or east side Africans, or trailor dwelling Caucasions rushing to move into high end apartments in the downtown area. They are advertising to their most likely clients, simple as that, no matter how "pedestrian" it may seem.

There have been many great pictures in the last few days. LOVE the plan model for the South Park area. I still dont get the complaining about LA Central and Jardin. They are two contemporary structures that NEED to be designed to attract the largest base they can...that means they may have to sacrafice a little bit of originality to sell space. Its how it always is.
Mariah Carey didnt become a huge star with all these hit songs because she was edgy and creative.
And I hate that I used that reference, but couldnt think of any others...(sighs)
Where is that model located depicting South Park?

[POLA]

Originally Posted by Just-In-Cali

but then again, it is a fact that you wont see droves of Korean immigrants, Hispanic farm workers, or east side Africans, or trailor dwelling Caucasions rushing to move into high end apartments in the downtown area.

I won't say where, but I worked for a new rental building in DTLA, and I our demo was about 40 percent asian immigrants. The majority being from Korea. So, no, it's not all just white yuppies in DT.

[JDRCRASH]

Does anybody know what the Gilbert Lindsay Plaza is used for? Another skyscraper would be able fit there and would look nice, IMO.

[colemonkee]

I deleted a bunch of off-topic posts regarding quoting images. It's fine to quote images, just make sure that you're commenting on something specific in the image, not just saying "cool" or "thanks!" or posting smileys. Also, there's no need to quote an image if you are going to be the next post in line. Simply use the "^" character.

EchoPark's post is a good example of how to quote an image - he talks specifically about something inside the picture, and his post is on a totally separate page, which kind of requires an image quote to get the gist of the comment.