LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0

[Quixote]

Some comments regarding the grandiose vision...


1) Why do we need so many damn soccer fields? Yeah, I know there's a large Latino population in the area (and we all know how much Latinos love their futbol), but six fields is a bit excessive.

2) Interesting how they plan on creating a branch of the Gold Line to run up and down Mission. Considering the level of density they're proposing, wouldn't a subway be better? This would give a reason to extend the Red/Purple Lines eastward using the Alhambra Trench, which is part of the Silver Line proposal. If the current subway is oriented on an east-west axis, which I'm pretty sure it is, then it would be easier to extend the subway underneath Mission rather than along the existing railroad tracks out of Union Station, anyway. From an engineering standpoint, it makes every bit of sense. From a convenience standpoint, it better serves USC University Hospital. The cost differential between a subway and at-grade LRT would only be a couple hundred million dollars, as there would only be one subway station. Another option would be to replace the existing and already grade-separated El Monte Busway with an HRT extension. That would be cheaper, easier, and faster to construct.

3) Freeway barriers still exist to the east and south. Unfortunately, both are elevated freeways.

4) If you're going to go all out, you might as well get rid of the shitty prison facilities north of Union Station. And why not the warehouses and housing projects east of the LA State Historic Park? Make it one large urban park. You're talking about 500 acres! And that's not including the 100-acre Park 101 or the Civic Park that has the potential to be some 40 acres.

5) If this is indeed a serious proposal, then LA is dead serious about becoming a "real city".

[Quixote]

You have the "Piggyback Yards" and the LA State Historic Park along with these two proposals within a few hundred feet of each other. Why not consolidate all four parks?


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[Virtual Urban Vision]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

You have the "Piggyback Yards" and the LA State Historic Park along with these two proposals within a few hundred feet of each other. Why not consolidate all four parks?


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I love the Mia Lehrer + Associate's plan.

[friedpez]

Just out of curiosity, has there every been a proposal to create a lake along the LA River near Downtown, similar to Tempe Town Lake? I always thought that would be kind of neat and could spur some redevelopment along its borders, potentially extending Downtown east a bit.

[DJM19]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

You have the "Piggyback Yards" and the LA State Historic Park along with these two proposals within a few hundred feet of each other. Why not consolidate all four parks?


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Where exactly is this park proposed for?

[Quixote]

^ The DWP site along the LA River.

http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=pp9sfz5...lvl=1&sty=b&where1=Los%20Angeles%2C%20CA

[JDRCRASH]

Westsidelife's comments on how this could affect the Silver Line proposal make me want an NFL stadium here even more.

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Some comments regarding the grandiose vision...


1) Why do we need so many damn soccer fields? Yeah, I know there's a large Latino population in the area (and we all know how much Latinos love their futbol), but six fields is a bit excessive.

That's exactly what I was thinking.

2) Interesting how they plan on creating a branch of the Gold Line to run up and down Mission. Considering the level of density they're proposing, wouldn't a subway be better? This would give a reason to extend the Red/Purple Lines eastward using the Alhambra Trench, which is part of the Silver Line proposal. If the current subway is oriented on an east-west axis, which I'm pretty sure it is, then it would be easier to extend the subway underneath Mission rather than along the existing railroad tracks out of Union Station, anyway. From an engineering standpoint, it makes every bit of sense. From a convenience standpoint, it better serves USC University Hospital. The cost differential between a subway and at-grade LRT would only be a couple hundred million dollars, as there would only be one subway station.

I'd rather see the Silver Line built so we can eventually have rail transit through Echo Park and Silver Lake.

Another option would be to replace the existing and already grade-separated El Monte Busway with an HRT extension. That would be cheaper, easier, and faster to construct.

This is what I think should happen to the Red Line. It could replace the El Monte Busway, and then cross over onto Garvey Ave.

4) If you're going to go all out, you might as well get rid of the shitty prison facilities north of Union Station. And why not the warehouses and housing projects east of the LA State Historic Park? Make it one large urban park. You're talking about 500 acres! And that's not including the 100-acre Park 101 or the Civic Park that has the potential to be some 40 acres.

Wow, that's BIG.

5) If this is indeed a serious proposal, then LA is dead serious about becoming a "real city".

Yeah this might be the most ambitious park plan in LA County i've ever seen.

[yeah215]

Here is a really neat picture of a bookstore in Argentina that was once an old theater. There may be some interesting retail uses, like this, for the Broadway theaters. I imagine a bookstore in the theater section with name of the store across blade sign. The marquee could announce book signings or lectures by authors.

[dktshb]

So nobody from LA wants to define the Downtown area of LA on The SSP Downtown Population Research Project thread? Right now LA is getting much more scrutiny than the other cities to ensure it doesn't have a worthy population. Areas such as South Park, Fashion District, Little Tokyo and China Town are not being considered part of Downtown. It would be nice if others would take a moment and say what they think. Here's the link to the thread:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=183138

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by dktshb

So nobody from LA wants to define the Downtown area of LA on The SSP Downtown Population Research Project thread? Right now LA is getting much more scrutiny than the other cities to ensure it doesn't have a worthy population. Areas such as South Park, Fashion District, Little Tokyo and China Town are not being considered part of Downtown. It would be nice if others would take a moment and say what they think. Here's the link to the thread:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=183138

This ranking seems pointless to me. The exercise is hugely biased towards monocentric cities and against polycentric cities.

[RuFFy]

This park is an excellent idea and I hope it comes to fruition. I'd prefer this to an NFL stadium ten-fold. If ever any new rail lines need to be introduced I'd prefer them out of sight and underground, at least in the downtown area. An underground line could easily be introduced ala Gold Line under Boyle Hts.

[RAlossi]

Just to update you all, the SSP Downtown LA forum meet-up will be this Saturday at noon. We'll be taking a little tour through Downtown to check out all the updated development and changes that have happened since our last meetup in 2006. Meeting at noon at the Japanese American National Museum plaza at 1st and Central. Check out the Facebook event page, and hope to see you there!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129134600461994

[colemonkee]

^ Sorry guys (and gals?), I'm going to have to sit, er, spike this one out. I'll be at 6-Man in Manhattan Beach all day.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by RuFFy

This park is an excellent idea and I hope it comes to fruition. I'd prefer this to an NFL stadium ten-fold.

Yeah but with so many parks (along with the LA River itself) planned in the area, do we really need that much green space?

[OneMetropolis]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Yeah but with so many parks (along with the LA River itself) planned in the area, do we really need that much green space?

wow can't belive you said that. Even I who dosen't live in LA know's that LA needs all the green space it can get.

[sopas ej]

The funny thing, and somehow ironic thing, is often I've encountered people who move to LA from other parts of the US and say how "green and full of nature" it is compared to the area they moved from.

Example, I recently worked with a guy who moved to LA last year from Miami, and he told me that that was one of the things he likes about LA is how close to nature everything is and how full of nature it is, like trees and an overall "green" appearance, and he really appreciated how you can easily go hiking in the local hills and mountains. He says Miami is basically all concrete (I've never been to Miami myself so I couldn't say).

[OneMetropolis]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

The funny thing, and somehow ironic thing, is often I've encountered people who move to LA from other parts of the US and say how "green and full of nature" it is compared to the area they moved from.

Example, I recently worked with a guy who moved to LA last year from Miami, and he told me that that was one of the things he likes about LA is how close to nature everything is and how full of nature it is, like trees and an overall "green" appearance, and he really appreciated how you can easily go hiking in the local hills and mountains. He says Miami is basically all concrete (I've never been to Miami myself so I couldn't say).

Not to say that LA dosen't have plenty of nature and trees and natural beauty, just it dosen't have enough green urban park space. Like cities such as Chicago and New York, etc. It's good though that LA is getting so many proposal for parkland and redevelopement.

[RuFFy]

I figure places like Manhattan and San Francisco grew vertically because of the lack of space. Los Angeles can create this situation while introducing an amazing park which would serve the members of the community. While I understand Griffith park is Los Angeles' central park or San Franciscos Golden Gate, it is not walking distance for those who choose to live a car free life in LA's developing urban core. I may be wrong, but I view the redevelopment of the LA River as critical to establishing a strong identity for Downtown Los Angeles... And I think the renderings show how sorely needed a project like this is and what it could do visually to improve the city's overall image and experience for residents and visitors alike.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by RAlossi

Just to update you all, the SSP Downtown LA forum meet-up will be this Saturday at noon. We'll be taking a little tour through Downtown to check out all the updated development and changes that have happened since our last meetup in 2006. Meeting at noon at the Japanese American National Museum plaza at 1st and Central. Check out the Facebook event page, and hope to see you there!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=129134600461994

That was in 2006? Seems longer than that. Anyway, I went to LA Live for the first time last night. It was all decked out in X-Games stuff. I wished that I was on acid because that place has an obscene amount of lights and LED stuff. And the lobby of the Ritz is pretty nice. I want to steal some of their chairs.

Oh and I ran into G-list celebrity Sal Masekela. He's actually pretty chill. We talked for about 10 minutes. Though not important enough to get an autograph.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by OneMetropolis

wow can't belive you said that. Even I who dosen't live in LA know's that LA needs all the green space it can get.

Of course LA needs more green space (parks). I meant in one single area.