LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0 - Page 492

bmfarley · #**9821** Posted **Dec 19, 2010, 3:11 AM**

Thanks for the update and pictures. Pics really do help a discussion.

Just-In-Cali · #**9822** Posted **Dec 19, 2010, 9:47 PM**

citywatch;the only thing that would be different about the office space in the wilshire grand proj is it being owned by a large Korean company & korean tenants possibly feeling they had more of a vested interest in leasing space there. Otherwise, all the other available offices in the hood that have been vacant for yrs should have been no less desirable to ppl from seoul.

The point I had made before might hold true in that even if there is a large amount of vacant office space in DTLA, even class A office space, the newest tower is 18 years old. Companies that might be lured downtown due to the improvements to transportation (purple line, DT connector) entertainment (LA Live, new eateries,) and an increased population locally, in the 5 years it may take to complete the project, a shiny new state of the art office tower might be just what burgeoning companies and classic institutions might be looking for. Los Angeles is the US gateway to the Pacific Rim as well. It might not be as hard as we predict for them to lure companies to this tower from overseas, especially when it will become the most prominant tower not just in LA, but on the west coast. Just a thought.

bobcat · #**9823** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 3:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just-In-Cali

It might not be as hard as we predict for them to lure companies to this tower from overseas, especially when it will become the most prominant tower not just in LA, but on the west coast. Just a thought.

It's true that Downtown may lure other local firms due to its many transportation options and increasing amenities, but the notion that new overseas companies would be lured to LA by a new tower is dubious at best. If it were important for an overseas firm to have branch offices in LA then they would already be here, and if the firms need to set up office in the future they will do so regardless of whether this or any other building is constructed.

IconRPCV · #**9824** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 6:57 AM**

As I walk around and explore downtown the ugly parking structure and the empty lot in front of Disney hall really seem like downtown's biggest eyesore next to arguably LA's most prominent building. Are there any plans for developing these parcels into something?

Just-In-Cali · #**9825** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 7:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobcat

It's true that Downtown may lure other local firms due to its many transportation options and increasing amenities, but the notion that new overseas companies would be lured to LA by a new tower is dubious at best. If it were important for an overseas firm to have branch offices in LA then they would already be here, and if the firms need to set up office in the future they will do so regardless of whether this or any other building is constructed.

While I agree that its not a given that a single new building in Los Angeles will suddenly lure new foreign tenants, my greater point was that due to the fact that this project would take about half a decade to get completed, with proper marketing and strenthening of the economy, some growing companies in the Pacific Rim could eye LA as a place to set up shop, and what better place than a new and prominant tower? My comment was looking to where interests would lie in 2015 or 2016. "Dubious" as it may be, if we expect to see advancement of the downtown area, building structures that attract international attention is a place to spend some capital.

JDRCRASH · #**9826** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 7:17 AM**

^ Maybe less regulation will help, too. I mean, i'm sure the long process of approving a project killed some of them during the recession.

LosAngelesSportsFan · #**9827** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 7:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IconRPCV

As I walk around and explore downtown the ugly parking structure and the empty lot in front of Disney hall really seem like downtown's biggest eyesore next to arguably LA's most prominent building. Are there any plans for developing these parcels into something?

the current park is being redone into our main city park, the parking lot adjacent to Disney hall is going to be the Broad Museum and it breaks ground any day, and the parcels across the street and next to what will be the Broad Museum are part of the Grand Ave project, a Frank Gehry design project with multiple residential and hotel highrises, ranging from 19 - 45 stories. The Grand Ave project is on hold due to lack of financing. the Related Co is building it.

Quixote · #**9828** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 7:26 AM**

They should just scrap the Grand Avenue project altogether. I don't even know why Gehry was commissioned to design it. It would just take away from the drama created by the WDCH.

213 · #**9829** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 8:34 AM**

Speaking o' foreign tenants, someone once told me that L.A.'s highrise boom in the '80s was impelled by speculation that firms would relocate from Hong Kong due to the British handover. Anyone know more about that, or can corroborate...?

Illithid Dude · #**9830** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 10:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IconRPCV

As I walk around and explore downtown the ugly parking structure and the empty lot in front of Disney hall really seem like downtown's biggest eyesore next to arguably LA's most prominent building. Are there any plans for developing these parcels into something?

Thegrandla.com Check it. What is wanted for that price of land is going to be one of the biggest projects downtown.

pesto · #**9831** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 5:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by IconRPCV

As I walk around and explore downtown the ugly parking structure and the empty lot in front of Disney hall really seem like downtown's biggest eyesore next to arguably LA's most prominent building. Are there any plans for developing these parcels into something?

Disney is my personal favorite as well, although there is now a decent effort to cover the lego parking structure with fencing and greenery.

Two other great juxtapositions are down Fig, where the Auto Club building and St. Vincent's on one side are matched across Fig by Popeye's and a gas station or something similar.

pesto · #**9832** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 5:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

They should just scrap the Grand Avenue project altogether. I don't even know why Gehry was commissioned to design it. It would just take away from the drama created by the WDCH.

I suppose it could but you would think Gehry would plan so as not to detract from the Disney. Besides, what are the choices: something blah on half a dozen sites around Grand Av.? Or remain as is?

Until something better is proposed, I can't criticize it. Of course, the longer they wait to start, the more likely a better proposal will come along.

Troubadour · #**9833** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 6:55 PM**

The ratio of photographs to talk has declined badly in this thread. Nothing is happening in LA. It's sad that entertainment companies aren't as interested in building skyscrapers as banks and brokerages or LA might have a better skyline by now.

BrandonJXN · #**9834** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 8:18 PM**

Well there isn't much physical change in terms of skyscrapers or new development but things are changing. Plus I don't think anyone in their right mind would want to venture out in this non stop maelstrom to take pictures.

But you have other websites like la.curbed.com or blogdowntown.com to check out.

pesto · #**9835** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 8:53 PM**

I'm not real optimistic about commercial highrise except for Asian funded.

1. There is no reason to believe a large company will leave City X and move to DT LA. It just hasn't happened in the past and the cost, tax and regulation detriments of doing so are large.

2. Highrises tend toward law, accounting, consulting, finance and such. These tend to grow organically with the city, not in big spurts detached from the region in general.

3. My guess: the economics of highrises rarely penicls out. The bigger ones are built more to get your name on the top, which has sort of an intangible image benefit worldwide. Entertainment companies need this less since they are already really well known compared to insurance companies, business-to-business suppliers, etc.

4. I can only picture Asians wanting to enhance image in LA at the moment. It doesn't strike me that many East Coast or European companies would consider LA necessary in the same way that NY, London, etc., might be. Koreans, Japanese and maybe Indian I can see, given the demographic and commercial ties.

4. But who the hell knows, really.

BrandonJXN · #**9836** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 9:54 PM**

But above all else, I would much rather see the Historic Core filled with residences and South Park built up with numerous 7-15 story midrises. I think we are in mutual agreement that Los Angeles will never have a massive skyline along the lines of Chicago or Miami. Hell..we barely edge out Houston. And you know what? I'm perfectly fine with that. Infill and the improvement on the downtown that we already have is what's important to me. DTLA is one of a handful of truly urban downtowns in the US and I want to see people fully embrace that fact. Leave all the 'lets put a skyscraper here and see what happens' mentality to Dubai and Miami.

DJM19 · #**9837** Posted **Dec 20, 2010, 10:22 PM**

I think that is the future of south park, and of a lot of LA, especially from downtown up through Hollywood, and down Wilshire. There will be the occasional really tall building.

I think what LA needs more of is real scrutiny of proposed mid and low rise buildings. A lot of duds get passed through in the name of "better than a parking lot/what was there before" but that shouldn't be good enough. An ugly building proposal can be made nicer without price escalating beyond economic viability.

RuFFy · #**9838** Posted **Dec 21, 2010, 1:24 AM**

I'm no expert by any means, but I believe more and more people are opening up to the possibility of living car free. After having lived in NY (this is not a comparison) I'd LOVE nothing more than to live car free, permanently. I believe more people are going to be willing to give up yards and the typical suburban California stuff in favor of walkable neighborhoods and that downtowns growth trend will continue. Now, I don't believe this specifically will create more skyscrapers, but I believe cleaned up neighborhoods might open the eyes of those who don't really look downtown to the possibility. What I believe will lead to more skyscrapers is the transportation system meeting in downtown. It's in a company's best interest to locate itself in a place accessible to a larger populace, and hopefully a more educated one as well. Now, I'm not saying downtown is the only place positioned to take advantage of this access, but it is increasing more and more. I imagine as people start to move toward the central city, perhaps some businesses will follow them.

JDRCRASH · #**9839** Posted **Dec 21, 2010, 1:32 AM**

Building mid-rises is cool, but if a developer proposes a high-rise or perhaps even a supertall, i'll take it.

Troubadour · #**9840** Posted **Dec 21, 2010, 5:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Building mid-rises is cool, but if a developer proposes a high-rise or perhaps even a supertall, i'll take it.

Yes. Every global city deserves one iconic supertall that embodies its spirit, and LA is long overdue. Doesn't have to be a world-beater, just something inspiring, unique, and hauntingly appropriate. LA has more than enough artistic visionaries to bring out its spirit in this way - it would just be nice if the business community were able to connect with them and make it happen. In fact, I believe I'll start a thread on that topic.