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

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by pesto

This whole area is "midtown" in the sense of density, commercial activity and no freeways. One of the few areas outside DT where there is a real grid of medium-rise buildings and destinations (Farmer's Mkt/the Grove, Melrose, Beverly Center, Cedars, LACMA, Park La Brea, La Cienega, the whole design district). The opening of the Red Building will not help.

San Vicente is the main issue, since it is a bit of an expressway slanting from Pico in mid-town to Santa Monica in WeHo. That particular intersection really cries out for work. I don't know if there is a short-term solution.

The longer term solution is to take at least San Vicente (preferably the whole intersection) underground and to build the Pink Line (Hollywood to BH). Like I said, long-term.

Do you mean that the Red Building WILL help? I don't see how it is a detriment.

[Allnatural85]

I was driving home yesterday ... Loving the etra daylight now... and I saw they are starting to put up the red clad on the new PDC building... someone shot take some shots =)

[202_Cyclist]

The Wall Street Journal has an article and slideshow today about the high office occupancy rates in Santa Monica.


Sand and Surf Help Spur Real-Estate Revival

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424...ml?mod=WSJ_hp_MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsFifth

[pesto]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Do you mean that the Red Building WILL help? I don't see how it is a detriment.

No, I meant that Red will just attract more traffic through that intersection (it is on San Vicente, a few blocks up). Cedars also has new buildings on the way.

cole: I agree that "protecting" pedestrians is closer than "facilitating" them in this area. Significant numbers of TJ's shoppers will slow traffic even more and create more temptation to speed, jump lights or make unsafe turns.

[LAofAnaheim]

All the greatest cities in the world have high traffic. Why would you want less? I'd rather be like London, Paris, New York, Tokyo, Beijing, etc.. all high traffic areas. Not Dallas, St. Louis, Indianapolis, etc.. that have low traffic. We are Los Angeles, the 2nd largest city in the United States.

[Muji]

I passed by 5th and Western today for the first time in a couple of weeks, and noticed that California Market has closed, leaving behind a nasty bombed out shell reminiscent of the LA riots aftermath. But on the bright side, signs posted around the lot indicate that construction is to begin on a new store called "The G" Gaju Marketplace, scheduled for a late 2012 opening.


Source: Visit Koreatown

While it's no enormous news, I'm very happy to see from the rendering that the new building will be built out to the sidewalk like it should be. This part of Western Avenue could really use many more developments like this.

[Quixote]

Wonderful.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by Muji

I passed by 5th and Western today for the first time in a couple of weeks, and noticed that California Market has closed, leaving behind a nasty bombed out shell reminiscent of the LA riots aftermath. But on the bright side, signs posted around the lot indicate that construction is to begin on a new store called "The G" Gaju Marketplace, scheduled for a late 2012 opening.


Source: Visit Koreatown

While it's no enormous news, I'm very happy to see from the rendering that the new building will be built out to the sidewalk like it should be. This part of Western Avenue could really use many more developments like this.

Much better then an abandoned strip mall. Still, though, I have a feeling it will turn out to be a stucco mess.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Still, though, I have a feeling it will turn out to be a stucco mess.

I hope not. We have too much of that already. And that's only in the city of LA. Out here in the SGV, i'm starting to notice more and more projects are being stucco-fied, whether it's new buddhist temples, condos, or fast food restaurants. It really is out of control.

[Chef Boyardee]

An update on that planned Emerson College building in Hollywood. Doesn't sound like it's gonna happen any time soon.

http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/?p=467

[colemonkee]

So according to East West Studios, no one can build anything on that lot - ever - because it would disrupt their work. So the owner of that land has no right to construct anything there. Yeah, that'll stand up in court. Long enough for the suit to be thrown out.

[pesto]

Hopefully. This is obviously just theft as there is minimal usage of the studio and there has been recent construction of apartment buildings and office buildings in the neighborhood. And this is Sunset Blvd. between 101 and Vine, not exactly Shady Lane in Sleepytown so its hard to claim you are in a previously quiet area.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

What a bunch of fucking bull shit. I am so sick and tired of "neighbors" blocking development like this. I can't wait until this college breaks ground.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

8500 Burton Way broke ground!

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Stopped by the newly remodeled Westfield Culver City and thought it looked really nice! I took some pics because I think that for what used to be a tired and dilapidated "Fox Hills Mall," Westfield was able to turn it around completely into one of the nicer looking malls in the region.

I wish Taubman, who owns Beverly Center, would take some cues from Westfield. Beverly Center is one of the better malls in the region with a really strong mix of stores (Prada, Super Dry, flagship H&M, Bloomingdales, Henri Bendel, etc.), but the mall itself looks like shit. Such a waste of potential!!!


Here are some pics of the Westfield Culver City:


Expansive! Reminds me of an airport terminal!



The Dining Terrace has really good food for a mall, like Kyochon, Viet Noodle Bar, etc.



I read the Target/Best Buy do better than the department stores in the mall, we should have a Best Buy for DTLA's new 7+FIG



Seating area



Cool art piece with images of Culver City

[patriotizzy]

Wow, that mall looks slick. Any pics of how it looked like before the renovation? Thanks

[Easy]

Fox Hills Mall needed the upgrade, but I don't recall it ever being "dilapidated".

[colemonkee]

Beverly Center just went through an exterior upgrade of the escalators (which look very much improved over the dated 80's design), just completely revamped the bar at the center level to the new Mozzarella bar concept (can't remember the name) and upgraded the space at the corner of Beverly and San Vicente to Capital Grille, a high-end steakhouse. I wouldn't expect a serious upgrade anytime in the near future.

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Beverly Center just went through an exterior upgrade of the escalators (which look very much improved over the dated 80's design), just completely revamped the bar at the center level to the new Mozzarella bar concept (can't remember the name) and upgraded the space at the corner of Beverly and San Vicente to Capital Grille, a high-end steakhouse. I wouldn't expect a serious upgrade anytime in the near future.

I kinda miss the Pompidou Center-wannabe escalators. The way they zig-zagged and were lit in neon at night, they were the only visually interesting thing about the Beverly Center's exterior.

[colemonkee]

^ Yeah, they did have a certain kitsch value to them, but I quite like the new treatment. Though I'm sure what they have now will feel dated in 20 years. Such is the cycle of life. And mall architecture.