LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[QuarterMileSidewalk]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

600,000,000 [square feet]

37,000-story tower? OK!

[blogdowntown]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

^ That's the proposal for the Olympic North site. The bolded part implies that the two hotels are part of a separate project:

This may not have been worded as clearly as it could have been. The soon-to-be-announced hotel(s) would be on the Olympic North site. They could be joined (on the same site) by an additional hotel project that would replace some of the floor area zoned for office.

[colemonkee]

With Hooters taking up another part of this building on 12th and Figueroa, I'd imagine that this would make this building mostly - if not all - leased up. The stucco "restoration" on the facade is pretty abhorrent if you ask me, but at least this will activate this space, which will operate as an island for quite a while.

From Eater LA:


Image Source: Eater LA

iCon LA & Taste of LA Opening Summer 2011

Coming soon to Figueroa Street, across from The Staples Center: iCon LA and Taste of LA. iCon LA is described as a nightclub, fit with a small stage and bar. Taste of LA sounds like a full blown restaurant, though a chef, menu and fleshed-out concept have yet to be announced. Currently hiring, they're aiming to be open just before the Summer season. Stay tuned. [EaterWire]

[Illithid Dude]

It seems I made many typos in my last post. It was late, okay? What I meant to say was 600,000 square feet, and that square-footage of that amount could easily be 500 feet tall. And can someone post what the future Hooters sight used to look like?

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

And can someone post what the future Hooters sight used to look like?

LAPL

Hehe, just being cheeky. This is S. Figueroa and Pico back in 1929.


Undated photo of 1248 S. Figueroa, from DLZ127's flickr.


It was originally part of Paul Hoffman's Studebaker dealership. In the above photo you can even see the faded painted "Studebaker" sign.

[yeah215]

Originally Posted by blogdowntown

This may not have been worded as clearly as it could have been. The soon-to-be-announced hotel(s) would be on the Olympic North site. They could be joined (on the same site) by an additional hotel project that would replace some of the floor area zoned for office.

So are we looking at more than two hotels on that site? Also, is there any rumors about which hotels? I would think they would be related. Maybe a St. Regis and a W? If they are talking about 350 hotel rooms over two hotels, those are pretty small hotels. That isn't a Grand Hyatt, for example. I would also think they would be paired from the same company, like Marriott and Ritz-Carlton.

[StethJeff]

can someone post what the future Hooters sight used to look like?

Originally Posted by sopas ej

LAPL

well done.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

This is S. Figueroa and Pico back in 1929. .

could that photographer be cited as capturing images of the city that single out a particular aspect of its landscape, then & now?

regarding the new hotel or hotels proposed for the LA Live area, this comment struck me as important & relevant. It's one reason why I believe what some ppl may consider an old fashioned chamber of commercy idea---that of "beautifying" the hood----should be taken more seriously....

But hotels survive on a balance of conventions, business travelers and tourists, which poses challenges in downtown Los Angeles, said Carl Winston, director of the hospitality and tourism management school at San Diego State University. "Most tourists, when they think of L.A., don't think of staying downtown. They want to be by the beach, they want to be in West L.A., they want to be in Anaheim. It's not, 'Honey, let's take the kids and go visit the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.'"

this also concerns me, as there already are alot of challenges to getting the new stadium built in the hood. If the new bldg won't serve as much of a resource as intended, will it be harder to get the proposal past the talking stage?...

Together, the halls have 770,000 square feet of exhibition space, making Los Angeles about 15th in the nation. The proposed retractable-roof stadium would increase the useable convention space to about 1.2 million square feet. But AEG acknowledges that in terms of flat, open exhibition space — the kind many exhibitors prefer — it would add only about 165,000 square feet on the stadium floor. That means Los Angeles still would not be among the top 10 cities in the nation, based on industry rankings.

"In the great scheme of space, it's not very much," said Heywood Sanders, a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio and author of several critical convention center studies. "And it doesn't work out particularly well. It's not … particularly functional space to be on the [stadium floor] with a vast roof and lots of empty seats."

^ from article in LA times.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by citywatch

[/b]



this also concerns me, as there already are alot of challenges to getting the new stadium built in the hood. If the new bldg won't serve as much of a resource as intended, will it be harder to get the proposal past the talking stage?...


.

The hotels downtown already are doing very well. People do want to stay downtown, even if it is not the average American type.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

citywatch, regarding that quote from the San Diego University guy, Downtown LA will likely NEVER be a place on the top of "kid friendly" places to visit. So the comment about not taking the kids to Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is ridiculous since it's not for kids anyway. Downtown LA is an urban environment, and although it will likely get MORE kid friendly over time (as Old Pasadena and Santa Monica are today), it will still appeal more to younger or older folks (basically adults) looking for a city vibe to have adult fun (G rated of course).

[bobcat]

Given how spread out area attractions are DTLA doesn't seem to be any worse a location for tourists to base themselves than anywhere else in LA. The key is that visitors need to feel safe and they need to have convenient transportation options available. Fortunately both of those issues are currently being addressed.

[LAofAnaheim]

Looks like somebody wasn't walking the streets during New Years to see all the tourists staying in downtown for a football game played in Pasadena. Think about it. By the way, the rallys for the football teams were at LA Live! and not Pasadena. Again, things are changing. This will most likely be our central gathering spot until Expo Line opens up convenience to Exposition Park from downtown LA and Santa Monica for huge gatherings (100,000 people).

Some tourists look for convenience when making their way to LA. Prior to 2003, most of that convenience were in the beach cities. Now, with the growing Metro rail system, some people look at a map of LA and say "well, the subway station is a block away, I'll stay at the nearest hotel there". Whenever I go to foreign cities, I always ensure their is a nearby Metro rail stop for convenience. So what if they don't know it doesn't go "everywehre a tourist goes" (i.e. venice or santa monica), but they'll see a Metro rail line and think instantly, that helps.

It's like Italy, we stayed by the Metro rail but then realized the Metro doesn't even go into the heart of Rome where the famous tourist attractions are (you think LA misses things, wait until you see Rome!).

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

Looks like somebody wasn't walking the streets during New Years to see all the tourists staying in downtown for a football game played in Pasadena. Think about it. By the way, the rallys for the football teams were at LA Live! and not Pasadena. Again, things are changing. This will most likely be our central gathering spot until Expo Line opens up convenience to Exposition Park from downtown LA and Santa Monica for huge gatherings (100,000 people).

Some tourists look for convenience when making their way to LA. Prior to 2003, most of that convenience were in the beach cities. Now, with the growing Metro rail system, some people look at a map of LA and say "well, the subway station is a block away, I'll stay at the nearest hotel there". Whenever I go to foreign cities, I always ensure their is a nearby Metro rail stop for convenience. So what if they don't know it doesn't go "everywehre a tourist goes" (i.e. venice or santa monica), but they'll see a Metro rail line and think instantly, that helps.

It's like Italy, we stayed by the Metro rail but then realized the Metro doesn't even go into the heart of Rome where the famous tourist attractions are (you think LA misses things, wait until you see Rome!).

This. Seeing as how downtown was flooded with people (tourists) days before
an event in PASADENA, should tell you something about how things are turning around.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

...

It's like Italy, we stayed by the Metro rail but then realized the Metro doesn't even go into the heart of Rome where the famous tourist attractions are (you think LA misses things, wait until you see Rome!).

It doesn't? I remember taking the Metro to see the Coliseum and Vatican City.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

Looks like somebody wasn't walking the streets during New Years to see all the tourists staying in downtown for a football game played in Pasadena. Think about it. By the way, the rallys for the football teams were at LA Live! and not Pasadena. Again, things are changing. This will most likely be our central gathering spot until Expo Line opens up convenience to Exposition Park from downtown LA and Santa Monica for huge gatherings (100,000 people).

Some tourists look for convenience when making their way to LA. Prior to 2003, most of that convenience were in the beach cities. Now, with the growing Metro rail system, some people look at a map of LA and say "well, the subway station is a block away, I'll stay at the nearest hotel there". Whenever I go to foreign cities, I always ensure their is a nearby Metro rail stop for convenience. So what if they don't know it doesn't go "everywehre a tourist goes" (i.e. venice or santa monica), but they'll see a Metro rail line and think instantly, that helps.

It's like Italy, we stayed by the Metro rail but then realized the Metro doesn't even go into the heart of Rome where the famous tourist attractions are (you think LA misses things, wait until you see Rome!).

Yes, I completely agree with you that many people now expect larger cities to have GREAT public transit system and look for hotels/lodging next to stations. I know I sure do. Even a city as small as Salt Lake City now has a growing metro system that allows visitors to stay near light-rail stations. In fact, the last time I was in SLC, I stayed at the Chase Suites literally one block from the light rail station. While I was staying there, I actually didn't have to use my car half the time because for what SLC had, most of it was accessible by rail! Amazing for such a small city.

Anyway, my point is, Downtown LA has a great advantage being the undisputed hub of a growing transit network, and as development continues to make DTLA nicer and more "family friendly," it will be a very desirable area in the future for visitors to stay in (we do need more hotels though) when our rail network is mature and there are 4 times more things to see and do in the city.

[SantaCruzGuy]

Is there a website available to find rentals in downtown LA? I visited Bottega Louie and I was impressed with all the positive changes in the neighborhood. I would love to move DT.

[RAlossi]

Originally Posted by SantaCruzGuy

Is there a website available to find rentals in downtown LA? I visited Bottega Louie and I was impressed with all the positive changes in the neighborhood. I would love to move DT.

My advice: Forget a website. What I'd do is spend a day in Downtown, find a neighborhood you like, and really explore the different neighborhoods. When you find a neighborhood you love (some people are really drawn to South Park, others like the urban character of the Historic Core, some like proximity to nightlife and restaurants in Little Tokyo, and I love the central location of the Financial District), then just walk around and look for different buildings. 99% of the ones that are renting will have signs out front.

Go to Downtownla.com if you'd like to sign up for their housing tour that shows you around 5 or 6 different buildings once a month.

[colemonkee]

This is fantastic news for anyone who lives in the Old Bank District, frequents the neighborhood, or supports the activation of the area around Pershing Square at night.

From the Downtown News:

The Must Perches at Pershing Square
Wine Bar to Reopen in the Fall and Partner In Rooftop Eatery

by Ryan Vaillancourt, Staff Writer
Wednesday, March 23, 2011

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES – Eight months since a bizarre property dispute led to The Must wine bar abruptly closing, the owners have signed a new lease at the Pershing Square Building at Fifth and Hill streets.

Proprietors Rachel Thomas and Coly Den Haan plan to re-open The Must in September in a bigger space, upping their capacity from 80 to about 140. But they’ll be serving up drinks and food before then. In partnership with building owner Jeffrey Fish, the pair is also opening Perch, a three-level rooftop bar and restaurant due to open in early June.

Read the rest of the article here:

[Suffice]

^^^ Great news! Though I never went to the Must, it was a really nice addition to the area when it opened, and helped revive the "Art Walk" zone. No doubt it will be a contribution to Pershing square, and will hopefully spark further developments along 5th st through Broadway.

Does anyone know where the "Perch" bar will be located?

[colemonkee]

Perch will be atop the same building as the new location for the Must, at 5th and Hill, across the Title Guarantee Building.