LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by djlx2

Are there style ideas for how plazas on Bway and Main should be designed? What is public reception for the idea of plazas? Also, re:



I'm unclear on where parcel M is supposed to stand. Are there renderings?

Yes, I posted them farther up on the last page of the thread.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by djlx2

Are there style ideas for how plazas on Bway and Main should be designed? What is public reception for the idea of plazas? Also, re:



I'm unclear on where parcel M is supposed to stand. Are there renderings?

I've posted the layout of the block on page 1 under the "Proposed" category.

Here you go:

[ChelseaFC]

Looks like Grand Promenade residents won't get much sun at their pool anymore...

What is the timeframe and developer for these two other parcels?

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by ChelseaFC

Looks like Grand Promenade residents won't get much sun at their pool anymore...

What is the timeframe and developer for these two other parcels?

The developer is Related and the timeline is construction being finished in 2014.

[DtlaCuriousity]

Originally Posted by djlx2

I've seen websites that do something similar in terms of architecture for archival purposes (this website seems to do it more in a commentary way) less than public "art"; I've also seen projects by artists that do something similar but just in an image-based way and not comprehensive. Joel Meyerowitz is probably the most famous archival-projects-based photographer in NYC although his latest project was not about architecture but about its parks.

A link to a review: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/19/joel-meyerowitzs-wild-city-new-york-parks_n_851308.html

To the book: http://www.aperture.org/legacy.html



http://www.joelmeyerowitz.com/photography/images/parks_4.jpg

Is this what you're thinking of--urban archival projects for public art--or did you have something more specific in mind in terms of what of DTLA and how you'd want it documented?

Oh wow, yeah thanks for that link. Yes, something similar although since I'm not really a photographer, the emphasis would be less on the artistic nature of the photograph and more to promote the artistic nature of the buildings.

And yes, I would like to be a little more comprehensive in terms of providing a little written commentary as well on realms like the social interaction among people and between people and public space. But like I said, it's just an idea I've been kicking around in my head. I just like to stare at pretty buildings. I'm actually doing something similar for the San Fernando Valley. It seems to serve a better, or at least, more tangible purpose since any architecture of significance is so spread out and rarely seen and appreciated as public art (most of the buildings are places of worship)

Thanks for the info!

[alki]

This article recently appeared in the Seattle Times. Doesn't discuss the downtown skyscrapers much but I thought you would like to see the article......word is getting out:

Downtown Los Angeles: A once-deserted city center is coming to life again after years of neglect. Credit the revival to a boom in city living, lively new arts and entertainment venues and events such as the Art Walk that are drawing thousands of curious new visitors and locals back to what was the premier theater district and commercial hub in the early 1900s.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2014703138_trdowntownla10.html

[BrandonJXN]

South Park circa 1991 during the LACC's expansion.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lafdhs/5648405371/in/photostream/

[LosAngelesDreamin]

Originally Posted by alki

This article recently appeared in the Seattle Times. Doesn't discuss the downtown skyscrapers much but I thought you would like to see the article......word is getting out:

Downtown Los Angeles: A once-deserted city center is coming to life again after years of neglect. Credit the revival to a boom in city living, lively new arts and entertainment venues and events such as the Art Walk that are drawing thousands of curious new visitors and locals back to what was the premier theater district and commercial hub in the early 1900s.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2014703138_trdowntownla10.html

haha there are two haters from seattle saying LA is a third world garbage city and its very dangerous at night on the comments section of this article

-__-'' haha

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

haha there are two haters from seattle saying LA is a third world garbage city and its very dangerous at night on the comments section of this article

-__-'' haha

[Quixote]

In other words, there aren't enough white people in LA. I agree.

I don't think it's controversial to say that Central LA is more like a second world Latin American/Asian city. The shift in demographics is certainly trending in that direction and I think we can all agree that LA's urban configuration is more Latin American/Asian than anything else. I don't mind that at all. Those type of cities are more chaotic/exciting in my opinion.

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

haha there are two haters from seattle saying LA is a third world garbage city and its very dangerous at night on the comments section of this article

-__-'' haha

I would think anyone from Seattle would think that any other city larger than theirs would be intimidating.

[alki]

haha there are two haters from seattle saying LA is a third world garbage city and its very dangerous at night on the comments section of this article

But the rest are positive......in fact, one guy said he was moving south to LA. There will always be haters.......best to ignore them.

[alki]

I would think anyone from Seattle would think that any other city larger than theirs would be intimidating.

Not really. There is a lot of movement back and forth between the two cities.....lots of cross migration.

[jamesinclair]

This sounds great, I love urban racing.

Rally Cross to be held outside on streets of LA for X Games 17


ESPN will kick off its 17th annual action sports competition to be held in Los Angeles July 28 – 31 and will debut the new discipline of Enduro X, as well as the first-ever rally street circuit running through the downtown area. In its ninth year in Los Angeles, X Games 17 will feature more than 200 athletes at competition venues and event spaces including STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in an effort to further consolidate events to one area and better enable fans to catch all the X Games action from downtown Los Angeles.

...
The new addition will be one of eight Moto X competitions taking place inside STAPLES Center, while the downtown Los Angeles street circuit will offer a unique and exciting setting for the disciplines of Rally Car Racing on Saturday and RallyCross on Sunday.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/28/rally...-streets-of-la-for-x-games-17/#continued

Previous events were held at the Home Depot Center.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by jamesinclair

This sounds great, I love urban racing.




http://www.autoblog.com/2011/04/28/rally...-streets-of-la-for-x-games-17/#continued

Previous events were held at the Home Depot Center.

I like the outdoors idea. Must be some way to incorporate the LA River or its bridges or the ramps from the freeways onto Grand or other streets.

3rd world garbage: I like to think of them as people born in complete poverty with zero education or other help from their local governemts who are here trying to make lives for themselves and their kids.

[Troubadour]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

I would think anyone from Seattle would think that any other city larger than theirs would be intimidating.

I think what bothers them is the climate and its effects on the appearance of the city. In Seattle, Portland, and the NW in general, trees and foliage are everywhere, so ugly, low-rise sprawl isn't as obvious even though there's plenty of it: The greenery hides it both from a distance and up-close. In LA, the greenery is subordinate to the built environment - which only looks good when the built environment is vertical (e.g., New York, Tokyo, etc.), but LA is painfully horizontal. There's also the quality of the light filtered through smog, which washes out colors and makes everything look less vibrant.

Compare these two images: The first is Seattle as it really looks on rare sunny days, and the second is Seattle with washed-out colors, brighter light, and less foliage (done in the crudest way possible, so don't bother criticizing my 'shop skills):


seattle by troubadour1, on Flickr


alternateseattle by troubadour1, on Flickr

The second one looks a lot more like LA, doesn't it? So critics of LA should be mindful of the difference between things that are under the control of residents - zoning, street design, etc. - vs. things that aren't (the color of the damn sunlight, and the availability of water for foliage, being two examples).

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by Troubadour

There's also the quality of the light filtered through smog, which washes out colors and makes everything look less vibrant.

It's definitely smog if it's brown, but what many people think is smog is actually a marine layer, which is typical of LA and other areas with Mediterranean climates around the world during certain times of the year; that marine layer is that white haze that you see hanging in the air at times, which comes in from the Pacific, especially during that June gloom period (which actually starts around the end of April, goes through May and then into June) when that marine layer seems to take all morning and into the afternoon to finally burn off. I've been to cities on the Mediterranean and the way the light falls (as well as the natural landscape with chaparral etc.) is very similar to LA; you see that white haze there too.

[Troubadour]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

It's definitely smog if it's brown, but what many people think is smog is actually a marine layer, which is typical of LA and other areas with Mediterranean climates around the world during certain times of the year

That's true. LA air is usually partway between a normal marine layer (like you can get in, say, Orange County) and full-blanket smog. Either way, the effects on the light are unpleasant: It makes the whole sky glare, and bleaches the appearance of colors.

[LVND_W2NX]

Originally Posted by Troubadour

That's true. LA air is usually partway between a normal marine layer (like you can get in, say, Orange County) and full-blanket smog. Either way, the effects on the light are unpleasant: It makes the whole sky glare, and bleaches the appearance of colors.

so true, and so offensive on an aesthetic level for anyone who might like to do something artistic such as take photos of it. I am sending a letter to mother nature and telling her to make the california climate better able to evaporate the effects of its industry! LA has nothing to do with natural effects and natural climate; it is about the appearance of them to its critics! :shakes fist:

[Kingofthehill]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

In other words, there aren't enough white people in LA. I agree.

I don't think it's controversial to say that Central LA is more like a second world Latin American/Asian city. The shift in demographics is certainly trending in that direction and I think we can all agree that LA's urban configuration is more Latin American/Asian than anything else. I don't mind that at all. Those type of cities are more chaotic/exciting in my opinion.

How so? To which cities does it compare favorably to? Most of LA is too low-slung, auto-centric, and doesn't have good enough transit to compete with most Latin American or worse, Asian cities. And the differences in pedestrian activity, too, are worth mentioning. Walking and using mass transit is more or less the norm in such places; as it stands, in LA, it is the exception. Hopefully that will change, though.

And yes, it is not at all to controversial to say Central LA can use more white people. Or really, any sort of non-Mexican people. Some 70% of LA´s Hispanics are from one country (México). East and Southeast LA both have numerous census tracts where the demographics are in upwards of 90% Hispanic. Although I speak Spanish and generally enjoy Latin American cultures (and live in a Latin American city!), for the sake of multiculturalism, I hope LA doesn't go the same route as Miami.