LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0

[Quixote]

May 4, 2008


From Flickr, by alossix


From Flickr, by alossix


From Flickr, by alossix


From Flickr, by alossix


From Flickr, by alossix


From Flickr, by alossix


From Flickr, by alossix

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by DJM19

I personally love the design of the LAUSD Arts school. From what I heard the big weird tower is not being all payed for by taxes..

What do you mean?

[colemonkee]

I bet the district makes it back and then some in filming location fees. Look for this school to start popping up in movies and TV shows a few months after it opens...

[DJM19]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

What do you mean?

I thought I read somewhere that private money was donated toward the construction of this tower (seeing as it is somewhat a sculpture, but with a functional room on top)

[vodila]

Do we know for sure that it is going to be a functional room? I know it sits atop a 950-seat auditorium/theater, but I don't remember ever reading conclusively that it is anything but an architectural quirk. If it is indeed a functional room, would it not have to adhere to the American with Disabilities Act of 1990? There's no way a person in a wheelchair, for example, can get to the top on this spiral assembly. And I do not see an elevator, either.

[colemonkee]

The Residences at the Ritz is on the rise again. Saw it this morning on the way to work and you can see it on the web cam too.

[DJM19]

Originally Posted by vodila

Do we know for sure that it is going to be a functional room? I know it sits atop a 950-seat auditorium/theater, but I don't remember ever reading conclusively that it is anything but an architectural quirk. If it is indeed a functional room, would it not have to adhere to the American with Disabilities Act of 1990? There's no way a person in a wheelchair, for example, can get to the top on this spiral assembly. And I do not see an elevator, either.

Perhaps it isnt, I just assumed. But you can walk up there, so thats sort of a function

[DTLA]

Well, if the spiral structure is in fact a functional room, i would imagine that it wouldn't be something that would be used by the general public, just possibly a room used for the controls for the auditorium or something only used by the staff.

[BrandonJXN]

So I've been talking to Echo Park and we have a question for you: If you had 100 billion dollars to improve downtown, what you do?

This will be really interesting. And please give detailed answers. Don't just say 'I want new skyscrapers.'

[Just-In-Cali]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

So I've been talking to Echo Park and we have a question for you: If you had 100 billion dollars to improve downtown, what you do?

This will be really interesting. And please give detailed answers. Don't just say 'I want new skyscrapers.'

This is a trick question isnt it? Like, We will come up with an idea, just to have you guys pick it apart and tell us how wrong we are?
LOL

In all seriousness. I would start with improving transportation in the whole area. Expand the subway system and possibly get some light rail connectors through the downtown and Wilshire areas. Get rid of the stupid no parking ordinances, update the lighting and safety features on all the major roads. Total revamp of Pershing Square, no more "modern artistic" stuff...more tradtional. Get a good program going to get the homeless off the streets and into jobs, possibly in the area, starting with a larger shelter and training facility. Get the park at Grand Ave and Park Fifth started. LA Central would be going up, but more focused on the hospitality side instead of residential. Give Broadway a makeover which includes a light rail, or trolly car running down its center, and allow the tenants there decide what they want for their individual storefronts. Get a more comprehensive taxi and bus system working so it becomes a more walkable downtown. Possibly get another, larger park built in South Park, put a lake in it...give downtown a semblance of a waterfront, with all the trimmings. It would be located where all those old industrial buildings fill the area just east of the South Development. Get at least two tall mixed use towers going, something to rival the ones that are springing up all over the world. Fill in Dead zones with mid rise, low to moderate income rental and for sale apartments with retail and such at street level. Increase and restore the sidewalks and roads. Get Grand Ave Project done in two years. Finally,a marketing campaign to rival any other product around. (whew!) The amount towards each thing varies, and by all means doesnt mean ALL of them must take place.
The End!
Comments welcome.

[DowntownGymRat]

If I had 100 Billion for downtown, I would continue to create a better way to get around from one area of dt to another. Let's say I wanna go to LA Live, I live within walking distance to the goldline station in Chinatown, but never use it since it takes me to Union Station where I then have to get back off and onto the Red Line, but then I have to get back off AGAIN to jump on the blue line to the Pico Station. Even if I caught all the subways on time, it takes forever to go less than 2 miles. If adding more subs and stops wasn't an option, then I would propose some type of monorail the likes of Vegas. (esp. once Vegas' City Center is complete). I remember a futuristic commercial back in the day where it showed monorails passing through skyscrapers. ...totally impractical but cool nonetheless. I just think a monorail system looping around downtown (24hrs a day) to hit all the districts where people live and play would create a lot of positive things.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

So I've been talking to Echo Park and we have a question for you: If you had 100 billion dollars to improve downtown, what you do?

This will be really interesting. And please give detailed answers. Don't just say 'I want new skyscrapers.'

More subways!!!!

[Echo Park]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

So I've been talking to Echo Park and we have a question for you: If you had 100 billion dollars to improve downtown, what you do?

This will be really interesting. And please give detailed answers. Don't just say 'I want new skyscrapers.'

that should be its own thread

[colemonkee]

^ This could be a great conversation, but echo park is right - it needs it's own thread. Please start one in the California forum.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

The park area between Elleven and Evo.

I wonder why it's taking so long to tear down the small brick bldg that is south of Luma, which is the 3 floor structure visible behind Evo? I recall it looking clearly graffitied & abandoned, esp as seen from the Hope St side.

And the one conversation I'm curious about right now is what is going on, if anything, at 755 Fig.

Beyond that, I have a hunch that no one will be able to talk about a new proj breaking ground before the last few months of the yr, at best.

[POLA]

but that brick building looks so cool now that its next to all these shiny new towers. They should keep it!

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ This could be a great conversation, but echo park is right - it needs it's own thread. Please start one in the California forum.

Yeah, this one is a clear "Start Your own Thread" question.

[JDRCRASH]

'Crazy' Gideon Kotzer to Enter Adaptive Reuse Market

By Ed Fuentes
Published: Tuesday, May 06, 2008, at 10:15AM

Gideon Kotzer, long time electronics entrepreneur and provider of late night television commercial classics, may be thinking that keeping his warehouse a retail mecca for plasma TV and stereos is now crazy.

The famous store owner, known as “Crazy Gideon,” has begun the permit and application process seeking adaptive reuse that will also add new construction for Crazy Gideon’s Warehouse, located at 830 Traction Ave in the Arts District.

Working with the Elizabeth Peterson Group, the warehouse will be converted into a mixed use development with 76 live/work condos, a rooftop garden, two lower level floors of parking with 139 spaces, and 6,900 square feet of retail space–-split at the entrance with 3,800 on one side, and 3,300 feet on the other.

The plans were presented at last night's Los Angeles River Artists and Business Association meeting.

The real question may not be how funding will be secured in this soft market, but how many times the question “Will I have a TV if I purchase a condo?” will arise. Perhaps “You’ll be crazy not to buy this loft space!” will become a shopworn phrase.

Crazy Gideon marketing references aside, his Arts District land is short on growth options. Like with AMP Lofts, a viable solution to reuse the land in a profitable manner is being sought. In this case, with live/work units and additional parking planned, the changes for this Gideon holding are a benefit to the Arts District.

[vodila]

Originally Posted by citywatch

I wonder why it's taking so long to tear down the small brick bldg that is south of Luma, which is the 3 floor structure visible behind Evo? I recall it looking clearly graffitied & abandoned, esp as seen from the Hope St side.

As far as I remember (need some outside fact-checking on this one), Desmond's (as I assume this is what you are referring to) used to be one of the more prominent focal points of the Los Angeles Apparel Industry, housing one of the major sweatshops in town for decades. I believe right now it is a Meruelo Maddux property (Meruelo Maddux website lists it in their Mixed Use section). There are/were plans to convert this building some time ago. I don't know its current status, but I'd prefer that they significantly clean it up and restore it. It contrasts rather well with the modern style of the South Group buildings.

From Desmond's website (http://www.spaceatdesmond.com/):

Audi slated to sponsor the Rooftop Pool & Lounge.

The Desmond Cafe Group taking 2000 square feet on the 2nd floor offering a full menu and full bar.

Menchie's signed on to take 1000 square feet on the first floor offering the best in frozen yogurt (move over Pink Berry)

GenArt opens discussions to team up with The Space at Desmond.

The Space at Desmond (formerly Ready to Wearhhouse) is coming. With over 200 applications submitted, we are getting busy.

Coming Spring 2008

"The Space at Desmond breaks all the rules. It's Retail. It's Wholesale. It's pure energy. It's live models. It's great music. It's high end. It's the place to be and be seen. It's Fashion Week everyday."

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Also, Angelenic ran a story on Desmond's in January:

fashion retail plans surface for south park’s desmond building

by Stephen Friday on January 25, 2008

Desmond's Building in South Park, Downtown Los AngelesEver since the South Group began transforming the stretch of 11th between Hope and Grand in South Park several years ago, many observers knew it was only a matter of time until the Desmond Building would nab some attention.

The ideally located historic structure has since fetched the interest of big-name chains like Cheesecake Factory, Hooters and 7-Eleven, but its owner Meruelo Maddux Properties has been reluctant to grant the long-term leases these businesses typically require.

Even though the property has remained lifeless amid all the action, plans are now being finalized to a transform the warehouse into a retail/fashion hub called The Space at Desmond. The 80,000 square-foot project purportedly now under construction has been in the works since 2006 by Phillip Dane — the mastermind behind the new weekly South Park Flea Market.

The Space at Desmond venue is set to debut spring 2008 with ground-level shops, wholesale space, a cafe, art gallery, live window displays, designer showrooms and a sexy rooftop area boasting a swimming pool, cabanas and runway for fashion shows. In fact, one retailer has already committed to occupy a 1,000 square-foot space… another fucking frozen yogurt shop called Menchie’s! This is now a bona fide invasion.

Along with the fro-yo onslaught, interest from hundreds of designers, sponsorship from Audi and a possible partnership with GenArt solidify the community’s support for South Park’s new epicenter of cool.


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A bit more of the history of the intersection of 11th Street and Hope Street. As you can see, that part of town looks NOTHING like it does today. I wonder how it's gonna look 100 years more from now...



Description

Photograph of the exterior of the First Christian Church, Eleventh Street and Hope Street, ca.1910. The square bell tower rises to a tall spire on the corner directly over the main entry. The roof consists of three main peaks. Another smaller tower is at right. A traffic signal hangs in the street intersection. Utility poles and lines run along the street. A tree is across the street. Houses are visible adjacent to the church. Constructed in 1897 by Austin and Skilling, the church was demolished in November 1961. The First Christian Church merged with the Wilshire Christian Church in 1940.
Streetscape. Horizontal photography.


Created: [circa] 1910
Creator: [photographer] C.C. Pierce & Company
Publisher: [host] University of Southern California. Libraries

[vodila]

Actually, I might have misunderstood you, citywatch. You weren't referring to Desmond's, were you?.... Now I'm curious what's south of Luma and the history of that building