LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0 - Page 339

Just-In-Cali · #**6761** Posted **Mar 31, 2009, 7:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by citywatch

This was in today's USA today. Since my cable TV doesn't include Bravo, I've never seen this person's show. However, I read last yr that the reality program was filmed in DTLA, & I understand the ralph's that's being mentioned is the one on 9th St.

I wonder if Gunn would have been less pleased if he was on an extended stay in the hood 5 yrs ago, or certainly 10 or more yrs ago?

.

Wow...I could even hear Gunn's effected Hamptons accent in my head as I read that.

Nice to hear that even HE, a cultural man of men, so to speak, of NY no less, lavishing praise on our wayard lil metropolis.

Great Pics BTW everyone...you guys have been on your game A LOT lately!

Love the shots of LA Live. Everytime I have been passed there, it seems to be getting more and more..well..Lively.

I have a small question...and it just came to me when hearing of all the earthquake swarms that have been rattling the desert on the San Andreas as of late.
Does anyone know if all these adaptive reuse projects that have become the darling of downtown in the last few years...if any of the "adapting" included seismic retrofitting? I know there was worry several years back about even the modern skyscrapers not having weld connections up to par, but these 50+ year old buildings downtown would be a deathtrap in a major temblor.
Sorry if it has been discussed before, but I was curious.

That is the end of my emoticon laden blather...

Quixote · #**6762** Posted **Mar 31, 2009, 9:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

What's the name of this building? ...

That's the Van Nuys Building. It's senior housing.

BrandonJXN · #**6763** Posted **Mar 31, 2009, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

Thanks. Man, I sure am clumsy tonight

As I walked by, there was a meeting of sorts in the Bottega Louieis space. Lots of suit-types, but also a sizable contingent of guests in chef attire (white aprons, etc).

Now that I think about it, the Brockman is probably my favourite conversion in DTLA. It was just done right. No corners were cut, and from my outsider view, it appears to use high-quality materials. Oh, and the shiny cream colour? It just exudes class. Yum.

What is your favourite conversion in DTLA?

I have 4 favorites: 1100 Wilshire, 1010 Wilshire, The Roosevelt, and The Brockman. I would kill to live in any of those.

JDRCRASH · #**6764** Posted **Mar 31, 2009, 6:16 PM**

Gotta say, my favorite conversions are Roosevelt, Eastern Columbia, Great Republic, and Rowan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

I can just see that building just waiting to be converted into fancy lofts.

ladowntowner · #**6765** Posted **Mar 31, 2009, 11:34 PM**

^ Dunno. The top portion of the building is pretty amazing (the lower portion looks like it was butchered somewhere along the way as it doesn't match - almost like cinder blocks), but it's a bit smallish, therefore not sure if it would pencil out unless the units went for extreme sums, which is unlikely. Just doesn't look like there's a critical mass of space within the structure to make it able to turn a profit otherwise.

My favorite conversions would have to be the Eastern Columbia and Brockman. They are both extremely classy and well done.

edkao · #**6766** Posted **Apr 1, 2009, 6:34 AM**

Noticed tonight that the Wine Bar located in Evo is open? Or opening soon?

ladowntowner · #**6767** Posted **Apr 1, 2009, 7:08 AM**

Passed by the Brockman tonight... the ground floor was all lit up with a lot of people milling about inside. Bottega Louie is looking just smashing. Just after that, I was nearly creamed by an idiot running a red light at 7th & Flower. Yikes! Chased the clueless woman down to inform her what she had just done.

I'm worried that the jungle/forest crap draped over the parking podium of 717 9th will become a permenant fixture. Why else did it show up on some of the renders well before making it's horrid real world debut? Anybody have information to the contrary? Please?

ChrisLA · #**6768** Posted **Apr 1, 2009, 8:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

Passed by the Brockman tonight... the ground floor was all lit up with a lot of people milling about inside. Bottega Louie is looking just smashing.

I had passed by Saturday evening, and I agree it looks good. I'm very excited about this corner. I used to work at a upscale sandwich shop in this building during the summer of 1982 when I was a teenager. At the time there was a Brooks Brothers on the corner where Bottega Louie is now. It was a nice clothing store that always had attractive window displays. Plus across the street the upscale department store Robinsons was still open. It was quite nice, and an active intersection full of pedestrians. I like to see it return to that glory.

So if anyone goes in and check it out, please let us know what you think. I think the downtown news said it will open on Thursday. If I get some time Friday, I may head downtown to check it out.

colemonkee · #**6769** Posted **Apr 1, 2009, 2:33 PM**

I'll be checking it out this weekend fo' sho'.

ChrisLA · #**6770** Posted **Apr 1, 2009, 6:46 PM**

details please, and pictures too.

I just found out I may be baby sitting my 5 month old nephew (why me

) this weekend. So unless I go early Friday I may have postpone a trip downtown about a week.

petescafe · #**6771** Posted **Apr 2, 2009, 2:48 AM**

More pics.

The parking garage has topped out on one side.

The inner park area is also taking shape.

And someone has already tagged the unfinished structure.

JDRCRASH · #**6772** Posted **Apr 2, 2009, 2:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

The top portion of the building is pretty amazing

It kinda reminds me of the old City House proposal.

KarLarRec1 · #**6773** Posted **Apr 2, 2009, 3:32 AM**

Guys, I think Bottega Louie opens on Monday, not this weekend. I think that's what I remember their Twitter account saying.

Kingofthehill · #**6774** Posted **Apr 2, 2009, 6:40 AM**

http://devanwells.blogspot.com/2009/03/downtown-los-angeles.html
http://devanwells.blogspot.com/2009/04/other-downtown-los-angeles.html

Lots of recent photos there..

RuFFy · #**6775** Posted **Apr 3, 2009, 3:00 AM**

I saw this on Curbed.

Downtown News: $1 Billion Development Planned for Downtown
Thursday, April 2, 2009, by Dakota
This email from the Downtown News just hit the Inbox. Looks like they've got a big scoop, but they're just teasing everyone with this snippet: "Downtown Developer Plans $1 Billion Project, Mixed-Use Effort Will Replace Existing Local Structure, by Anna Scott, Staff Writer. A major Downtown developer is planning a new, $1 billion project, Los Angeles Downtown News learned today. The project includes hotel, residential and office components and will replace an existing Downtown structure. It is expected to break ground by 2011, and construction could take up to three years. Full details will be given in an article that will be posted online at midnight tonight." Replace an existing structure? They're gonna tear down LA Live and start over? Yeah! Seriously, we have no idea what this will be. UPDATE: The News just emailed to clarify that they weren't being cute, but have an embargo. So that gives everyone else six hours to try and scoop them. C'mon, commenters! Tips: [email protected]. [Curbed InBox]

Don't ask me why, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were a stimulus court house or something.

colemonkee · #**6776** Posted **Apr 3, 2009, 3:18 AM**

Hmmmmm, interesting. Thanks for posting, RuFFy. Guess we'll have to wait and see...

colemonkee · #**6777** Posted **Apr 3, 2009, 3:23 AM**

Apparently it's the Wilshire Grand Hotel to be torn down, and replaced by a development with an office tower and a hotel tower. Here's the story from blogdowntown:

Wilshire Grand to be Torn Down; Replaced with Office, Hotel Towers
By ERIC RICHARDSON
Published: Thursday, April 02, 2009, at 07:59PM

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Multiple sources confirmed tonight that the Wilshire Grand hotel is slated to be torn down, replaced by a new development featuring office space and a smaller hotel. The giant hotel opened in 1952 as the Statler, and has been showing its age despite recent renovations. It is currently owned by Korean Airlines.

Sources say that Downtown developer Thomas Properties Group will be a partner on the development, said to consist of a pair of towers: one office and one hotel.

The Downtown News sent out an email this afternoon teasing the story and saying that the project would cost $1 billion and break ground in 2011. Their email, which was posted on Curbed LA, said the paper's story would run at midnight.

The Downtown office market hasn't seen any additions since the building boom of the 1980s. Maguire Properties proposed a tower on 8th street, but plans for that project have not moved forward and the company has experienced financial troubles.

Before becoming the Wilshire Grand, the structure was the Statler, the Statler Hilton and the Omni Hotel. Sources say that the hotel will continue to operate for up to two years.

The hotel, at 930 Wilshire, occupies the block bounded by 7th, Figueroa, Wilshire and Francisco streets.

ladowntowner · #**6778** Posted **Apr 3, 2009, 3:37 AM**

^Could this be an April Fool's Day gag, and the LA Downtown News got the date wrong (as per usual)?

kaneui · #**6779** Posted **Apr 3, 2009, 3:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Apparently it's the Wilshire Grand Hotel to be torn down, and replaced by a development with an office tower and a hotel tower. Here's the story from blogdowntown:

Wilshire Grand to be Torn Down; Replaced with Office, Hotel Towers

^Interesting proposal, since I believe they recently coughed up $40M or so to refurbish all the guest rooms. It's too bad they would have to tear down a perfectly good building for this project--downtown would be better off if it were built on one of the giant vacant parcels being held for Metropolis, L.A. Central--or even Grand Ave.

kaneui · #**6780** Posted **Apr 3, 2009, 3:45 AM**

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