LOS ANGELES | METRO Project Rundown 2.0 (non-downtown)

[patriotizzy]

Originally Posted by OneMetropolis

Holy cow tongue! That looks bloody awesome! Keep posting updates on this, and if you can, take pictures closer

[LosAngelesBeauty]

9 out of 10 people in LA probably don't know that LAX is being expanded/remodeled RIGHT NOW! Boy, what a surprise they'll get when the brand new terminal opens in 2013!

[LAsam]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesBeauty

9 out of 10 people in LA probably don't know that LAX is being expanded/remodeled RIGHT NOW! Boy, what a surprise they'll get when the brand new terminal opens in 2013!

I know, right? This city does a very poor job of selling itself to the locals. There's a ton of investment going on at the Natural History Museum as well... but very little fanfare.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LAsam

I know, right? This city does a very poor job of selling itself to the locals. There's a ton of investment going on at the Natural History Museum as well... but very little fanfare.

Not to mention the LA Zoo, which is going through, or just finished going through, some serious renovations.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

A symptom of fragmentation caused by a lack of urban cohesion.

LA is not a city, it's a small country.

[bmfarley]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Twenty, thirty? What is shown in that picture is a fifth or less of what the whole construction is.

http://www.earthcam.com/clients/lax/?project=cam1&page=pano

The link is a panoramic construction camera of the whole project. As you can see, it's huge.

Fun Fact: At 1.4 billion dollars, the new terminal is the largest public works projects in Los Angeles EVER. Maybe California, too, but I am not sure.

No, not by far. California High Speed Rail is the largest, ever. Over 40 billion dollars.

And, right now there is Exposition LRT that is about 1.7 billion dollars. More rail projects to come.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by bmfarley

No, not by far. California High Speed Rail is the largest, ever. Over 40 billion dollars.

And, right now there is Exposition LRT that is about 1.7 billion dollars. More rail projects to come.

Perhaps he was thinking of a different "public works project."

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by bmfarley

No, not by far. California High Speed Rail is the largest, ever. Over 40 billion dollars.

And, right now there is Exposition LRT that is about 1.7 billion dollars. More rail projects to come.

California High Speed Rail is A) still a proposal and B) mostly being funded w/ private money. Exposition is split into phases. If you want to talk phases, the LAX renovation probably hits about 3 billion.

[Sodha]

Originally Posted by bmfarley

No, not by far. California High Speed Rail is the largest, ever. Over 40 billion dollars.

And, right now there is Exposition LRT that is about 1.7 billion dollars. More rail projects to come.

Expo Phase II has a price tag of $1.7 billion (that's not including Phase I). http://zev.lacounty.gov/blog/all-aboard-expo-to-the-westside

Note: $1.5 billion was in 2008 dollars...expect that number to increase to $1.7 billion (i.e. like how Phase I shot up from $640 million to $808 million overnight because they had to re-align for current year dollars..same thing is expected for Phase II Expo).

[202_Cyclist]

Fun Fact: At 1.4 billion dollars, the new terminal is the largest public works projects in Los Angeles EVER. Maybe California, too, but I am not sure.

Not at all. In real dollars, the California Aqueduct is probably several times as much. Currently, rebuilding the Bay Bridge costs $5.5B, maybe more. In real dollars, building I-5 is also far more than $1.4B-- widening I-5 in San Diego County is expected to cost $3B - $4B alone:

http://www.cahsrblog.com/2010/06/now-thats-a-boondoggle/

[Quixote]

Southwest corner of Lexington/La Brea...

West Hollywood's Latest Project for La Brea Avenue

By Dakota Smith
February 17, 2011

WEST HOLLYWOOD: A tipster who attended a recent community meeting in West Hollywood for a new low income housing project, passes on this photo taken during the meeting. And some more information on this planned development: "It's on La Brea between the McDonalds and Lexington Ave. I think the address is 1150 N. La brea. Design is pretty cool. It's 37 units with 1,200 feet of retail on bottom floor....This is a West Hollywood Housing Corporation project...The white "ribbons" are some sort of Plastic composite material that is stain resistant and the front La Brea facing part is actually articulated in and out with a very faint color graduated from greens to blues. And every unit has a balcony." Looking forward to hearing more. [Curbed InBox]

...

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/02/west_hollywoods_latest_project_for_la_brea.php

[LosAngelesBeauty]

More details about the Koreatown Wilshire/Vermont twin towers:

"The project team plans to begin construction on the already-entitled property as soon as the summer of 2011, with an estimated completion date in 2013. When developed, the property will feature two residential towers with ground-floor retail surrounding a quarter-acre central courtyard. The north and south towers will be 25 and 30 stories tall, respectively, and include a total of 464 one and two-bedroom apartments. The street level will have approximately 41,000 square feet for neighborhood-serving retail uses, including restaurants, a grocer, bank, dry cleaner and coffee house."

Source


So it looks like we may not be seeing exactly what kind of interaction the ground level will be like. We initially thought that there would just be a driveway, and I thought that there would be no retail fronting Vermont, BUT with 41,000 square feet of retail (that's A LOT), I have to assume that there will be retail space fronting both Wilshire AND along Vermont.

[pesto]

La Brea: I like stuff that's off-beat. LA has too much blah. I think this will be good for La Brea although I might expect more on Wilshire, Sunset, etc.

Both this and Wilshire/Vermont promise retail. Is there that much demand for retail? I admit that those areas are appropriate for it but wonder if the demand is there. Hopefully increased density will help.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by pesto

La Brea: I like stuff that's off-beat. LA has too much blah. I think this will be good for La Brea although I might expect more on Wilshire, Sunset, etc.

Both this and Wilshire/Vermont promise retail. Is there that much demand for retail? I admit that those areas are appropriate for it but wonder if the demand is there. Hopefully increased density will help.

We all wonder if any of this "urban stuff" is going to work. But I guess we won't know until it's built right! That's what many people said 10 years ago "I wonder if Downtown LA is a place anyone would really want to live in?" Well, a walk down Spring St at NIGHT, with residents everywhere (walking and in their homes high above) answered that 10-year old question.

Actually, there is no need to "wonder" since we all know that LA's potential is still completely untapped. It's large population is still under served by ENOUGH urban retail options outside of malls. Once you build a walkable environment, people will start walking (it's as natural as putting fish back into water). Walking next to retail, restaurants, museums, etc. is A LOT more interesting than blank walls.

[pesto]

LAB: good response. I'm cheered up already. How about your thoughts on the DT to Fairfax street scape in 20 years:

In some areas the retail is actually quite dense, but disguised by being in a multi-story strip mall with parking in front. However, these are rarely traditional middle-market retail (clothing and other "mall" stores) but focus on food and services.

Can Vermont, Wilshire, etc. become clothing, gift, stationary, small furnishings stores again or are the economics of malls too strong? Will there ever be 10 Ann Taylor's and Restoration Hardwares on LA streets? Or are vertical malls the future?

Specialty clothing (Melrose) and upscale (Melrose, BH, WeHo) are there. But can multiple LA streets look like, say, Colorado Blvd. or SM 3rd St. or Brand in Glendale?

[Sodha]

Originally Posted by pesto

La Brea: I like stuff that's off-beat. LA has too much blah. I think this will be good for La Brea although I might expect more on Wilshire, Sunset, etc.

Both this and Wilshire/Vermont promise retail. Is there that much demand for retail? I admit that those areas are appropriate for it but wonder if the demand is there. Hopefully increased density will help.

Didn't Wilshire/Vermont station apartments retail fill up pretty fast? Also, Solair was doing well until the fire dept emergency problem.

If you build it, people come...unless if you are Medici where you put in buildings and nobody wants to lease your gawd awful faux-Italian retail units. 41,000 sq ft of retail will do fine. This area is a bustling spot of devoid retail. With 2 subway lines, it would be better to have more shopping here than in other areas.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by pesto

LAB: good response. I'm cheered up already. How about your thoughts on the DT to Fairfax street scape in 20 years:

In some areas the retail is actually quite dense, but disguised by being in a multi-story strip mall with parking in front. However, these are rarely traditional middle-market retail (clothing and other "mall" stores) but focus on food and services.

Can Vermont, Wilshire, etc. become clothing, gift, stationary, small furnishings stores again or are the economics of malls too strong? Will there ever be 10 Ann Taylor's and Restoration Hardwares on LA streets? Or are vertical malls the future?

Specialty clothing (Melrose) and upscale (Melrose, BH, WeHo) are there. But can multiple LA streets look like, say, Colorado Blvd. or SM 3rd St. or Brand in Glendale?

Strip malls are anti-pedestrian so I don't see how that plays into your skepticism. Obviously, the project we are discussing is a high-density mixed-use development with street front retail, which is VERY counter strip mall.

And Sodha is exactly correct in that the Wilshire/Vermont TOD does contain multiple retail spaces and they are mostly filled up now with Nine West shoe store (a name brand), accessories, mini-mart, sushi restaurant, two other fast casual restaurants, Chase bank, nail salon, Coffee Bean, and I think an optometrist. That is exactly the kind of mix I like to see and believe will happen across the street from this VERY busy intersection serviced by the Purple Line, that will be extended possibly to Santa Monica in the next 20 years (the time frame your asking). Will it get even busier with foot traffic if you build more mixed-use projects, further densifying this area and expanding the sphere of walkability? Hell fucking yes.

[tommaso]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Southwest corner of Lexington/La Brea...



http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/02/west_hollywoods_latest_project_for_la_brea.php

Looks like a prison. Unfortunately visually unsuitable even for those seeking low income housing. Well, I didn't pick the architect. This is what happens when...

[tommaso]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesBeauty

Strip malls are anti-pedestrian so I don't see how that plays into your skepticism. Obviously, the project we are discussing is a high-density mixed-use development with street front retail, which is VERY counter strip mall.

And Sodha is exactly correct in that the Wilshire/Vermont TOD does contain multiple retail spaces and they are mostly filled up now with Nine West shoe store (a name brand), accessories, mini-mart, sushi restaurant, two other fast casual restaurants, Chase bank, nail salon, Coffee Bean, and I think an optometrist. That is exactly the kind of mix I like to see and believe will happen across the street from this VERY busy intersection serviced by the Purple Line, that will be extended possibly to Santa Monica in the next 20 years (the time frame your asking). Will it get even busier with foot traffic if you build more mixed-use projects, further densifying this area and expanding the sphere of walkability? Hell fucking yes.

Speaking of mixed use. What's the deal with that new development just off Wilshire on Bixel in City West? Is there any retail planned for the Bixel side? I could see right through the arches and based on my assessment, it looks like there can't be any retail at the bottom. I ask one of you to look closely where I looked and I can't figure out where that retail would be, particularly on the Bixel side of the construction site. Well, that's what you guys are here for. Us city architecture buffs, we've got to back each other up when we can

Good night to you guys and lets get ready for the All Star Game!!! Go D. Rose and Amare!!! He's on ads on our city buses wearing his Knicks jersey! It's great to host important sporting events here in downtown L.A.! That's the way it should be, exciting all the time! It makes you love L.A. and be proud that you're here! You know what I mean. This kind of excitement is contagious, we've got to have it! No way I'm supporting any NIMBY's ever! It can't be done. Are you kidding me!

Oh and if you're watching the news, Farmer's Field is getting bigger and bigger, the media attention is ridiculous! That's it, once this thing gets built, there's no reason to live anywhere but downtown! There's too much going on here, too much activity to miss out on. You don't want to be out on the Westside or someplace else. It's not worth it. Get in gear and let's all get with the downtown program! It's fun, it's active, it's exciting, it's rich, it's cool, it's stylish, it's fabulous, it's the city for God sakes and it's got everything you need!

[pesto]

LAB: Nine West is a very good sign. A coffee, fast food or nail place, etc., doesn't mean as much since these are already common in the area; not necessarily a sign of new business.

The strip malls are relevant because they provide and control parking and because they are there, attracting people. This hurts foot traffic, which is the life blood of retail, and which malls provide to retail stores in spades. That's why I wonder if "mall style" retail, as opposed to coffee and fast-food, can get a foothold outside of "vertical malls" which try to concentrate foot traffic.

A large factor is density and another is spendable income. Hopefully, both will increase. I suspect it is too late to limit strip malls, since they are already the norm in many areas. New ones, of course, should be banned.