LOS ANGELES | METRO Project Rundown 2.0 (non-downtown) - Page 84

RST500 · #**1661** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 12:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

as i mentioned at curbed... i like it but i think that it would look better if the building was taller.

I dont expect this thing to break ground anytime soon unfortunately. Nimbys, funding and approvals will stretch this thing out for a couple years

I agree that it is to fat and not tall enough. I like the old renderings sleek and tall. Is there still room for another tower on that site or is the rest being turned into a park or plaza?

JDRCRASH · #**1662** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 1:09 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RST500

I agree that it is to fat and not tall enough. I like the old renderings sleek and tall. Is there still room for another tower on that site or is the rest being turned into a park or plaza?

According to Illithid, a park.

Illithid Dude · #**1663** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 1:35 AM**

Some good news and some bad news. Via Curbed LA, some details on the Wilshire/Vermont condo project. First, it is being called The Vemont. Second, they are doing some redesigns, which may include getting rid of the little driveway thing. Third, they are putting in a plaza (speak of the devil). Fourth, and worst of all, they are going to put in, wait for this... 1000 PARKING SPACES. This is for only a little under 500 residential units. I mean, damn, that seems like a lot of parking spaces. Especially for something that could easily be a TOD as it is RIGHT NEXT TO THE RED LINE VERMONT STOP! Okay, I'm a little angry. I'll stop. But still. Eegh.

colemonkee · #**1664** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 3:53 AM**

That is a little ridiculous, being so close to a Red and Purple Line stop. It really shouldn't have more than 650 parking spots, even with all the retail. And one could make a pretty good argument for far less. This is one time where an exception needs to me made to the parking requirements.

colemonkee · #**1665** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 4:04 AM**

As for the "park" on the Johnson Fain tower in Century City, you guys need to brush up on your reading skills. The park is on the roof of the parking garage, so it won't be an at-grade park - it will be what appears to be 2-3 stories high - though it may be accessible to the public. From the LA Times article posted on the previous page:

Quote:

JMB officials say the $350-million high-rise would be one of the most environmentally friendly tall buildings in the country, with a lush rooftop garden over the garage and a portal to a proposed subway station.

You can see clearly here in the rendering below that there is a driveway that goes directly into the park from Constellation Blvd. (look just right of center bottom):

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

In terms of a second tower, that is clearly not planned. And the original two-tower residential project was not killed by community opposition, but by a crashing housing market.

JDRCRASH · #**1666** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 4:41 AM**

And colemonkee, you need to relax.

Whether the garden is at-grade or not is irrelevant; it still has the same affect of discouraging density when done on a large scale. The area has PLENTY of open space, like downtown's financial core. Ex. Union Bank, BofA, Boneventure, all of which have HUGE elevated gardens/parks/plazas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

And the original two-tower residential project was not killed by community opposition, but by a crashing housing market.

2003 (when it was proposed) was well before the housing crash. And as the article in the Times hinted, community opposition clearly played a major role in the project's demise.

Illithid Dude · #**1667** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 5:12 AM**

You're right, ColeMonkey, it is the top of the parking garage. Still, though, the parking garage is ringed by street fronting retail, creating a pedestrian area.

LAofAnaheim · #**1668** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 7:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Some good news and some bad news. Via Curbed LA, some details on the Wilshire/Vermont condo project. First, it is being called The Vemont. Second, they are doing some redesigns, which may include getting rid of the little driveway thing. Third, they are putting in a plaza (speak of the devil). Fourth, and worst of all, they are going to put in, wait for this... 1000 PARKING SPACES. This is for only a little under 500 residential units. I mean, damn, that seems like a lot of parking spaces. Especially for something that could easily be a TOD as it is RIGHT NEXT TO THE RED LINE VERMONT STOP! Okay, I'm a little angry. I'll stop. But still. Eegh.

Hence the reason it's so hard for developers to build anything in Los Angeles. These high parking requirements create such a funding problem. You think the developer would need a $17 million loan if the parking was significantly scaled back. We need some parking.........but 900 spaces (not 1,000..it's actually 900) is ludicrous. Especially, yes, in a cross junction of the Red and Purple Lines. Why should somebody bother going Metro when there is very convenient parking in the development?

Of course, somebody will complain there is "no parking". Which really means, "there isn't free parking right outside my doorstep"

RST500 · #**1669** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 7:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Reminds me a bit of BLUE in NYC, only less mosaic-y:

Where in NYC is that? I would love to see something like that in LA especially in the Fairfax District/Beverly Center area along 3rd and Beverly. They could easily fit onto the lots were there are currently strip malls.

pesto · #**1670** Posted **Apr 22, 2011, 11:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChelseaFC

New Midtown Crossing renders: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/04/la..._midtown_crossing.php#midtown-crossing-2

Thanks for the post. As noted, part of this is complete and the rest is well under way.

For most people this area is really under the radar but it has interesting potential since it's at the edge of better areas. It is almost to La Brea, where there is a considerable upgrade in the quality of housing and neighborhood. To the north is Hancock Park and other lesser hoods with large lots and beautiful older houses, turning Korean. And just south and east (off of Venice) is La Fayette Sq., a gated community of Brentwood style villas (btw, this is a fascinating 200 home tour of Mission, Craftsman, Georgian and other American vernaculars with very little modern).

But, as usual with this part of LA, many of the surrounding homes have been informally subdivided and have 5 or 6 cars parked on the driveway or former front lawns.

Some further city action like the divider on Pico or gating of communities where residents or investors commit to restorations would create an attractive, mixed-ethnic hood.

Illithid Dude · #**1671** Posted **Apr 24, 2011, 12:45 AM**

So, I walked around West Hollywood today, and got pictures of a few things under construction.

And the new Library:

colemonkee · #**1672** Posted **Apr 24, 2011, 6:10 AM**

Nice. Is the new WeHo library designed by the same firm that designed the new LA City College buildings? They have some distinct similarities.

milquetoast · #**1673** Posted **Apr 24, 2011, 11:19 AM**

Photographic updates on Red. Finally!

alphachapmtl · #**1674** Posted **Apr 24, 2011, 2:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RST500

Where in NYC is that? I would love to see something like that in LA especially in the Fairfax District/Beverly Center area along 3rd and Beverly. They could easily fit onto the lots were there are currently strip malls.

Designed by world renowned Bernard Tschumi, the NYC BLUE Condominium condominium tower is a work of art and represent one of the most dynamic architectural landmarks.
The building is located on Norfolk Avenue, between Delancey and Rivington Avenues in Manhattan's Lower East Side.
It can be reached by the F,J,M,Z to Delancey St or Essex St.

BLUE Condominium
105 Norfolk Street
New York, NY 10002-3314
(212) 673-2470

http://www.nyc-architecture.com/LES/LES038.htm
http://www.bluecondonyc.com/

Illithid Dude · #**1675** Posted **Apr 24, 2011, 5:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Nice. Is the new WeHo library designed by the same firm that designed the new LA City College buildings? They have some distinct similarities.

It is. His name is Johnson Favaro.

dktshb · #**1676** Posted **Apr 25, 2011, 4:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

So, I walked around West Hollywood today, and got pictures of a few things under construction.

And the new Library:

The red building is coming along nicely. Oh and that is one massive ugly parking structure for the library which is really unfortunate!

Kingofthehill · #**1677** Posted **Apr 25, 2011, 7:50 PM**

Does anybody know what the latest is on the TOD development rising at the MacArthur Park subway station?

RAlossi · #**1678** Posted **Apr 25, 2011, 8:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

Does anybody know what the latest is on the TOD development rising at the MacArthur Park subway station?

Affordable housing development, IIRC. I think it's just the first phase. The second is supposed to rise over the plaza.

DistrictDirt · #**1679** Posted **Apr 25, 2011, 8:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

Does anybody know what the latest is on the TOD development rising at the MacArthur Park subway station?

I pass it on the 720 bus every day. They are well into the framing. Not sure when completion date is supposed to be but I'm guessing maybe a year.

Muji · #**1680** Posted **Apr 25, 2011, 10:36 PM**

Two shots from over the weekend.

The Madrone in Hollywood:

An unnamed medical office building going up at Olympic and Normandie. Yeah it's going to be ugly, but it's at least it's mostly built out to the sidewalk.