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

[LAmarODom420]

"Building with no 🞵🞵🞵(hat) ain't got ish."

- L'il Wayne, Architect

[BrandonJXN]

This I thought was interesting.

From Autoblog.com

Every year, more than 150,000 folks stroll through the halls of the Petersen Automotive Museum. The crowds have been coming to the Los Angles auto-institution since 1994, when the doors were first opened. And it looks like those doors will remain open for many years to come thanks to a very large donation by Margie Petersen and the Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation. When we say "large" we mean it, because Mrs. Petersen just handed over $100,000,000 to the Petersen Museum Foundation.

Now, before you jump out of your seat because of all those zeros, we have to explain a bit more about that figure. This $100,000,000 donation is comprised of the 300,000 square foot building, cars that were part of Robert E. Petersen's personal collection, an undisclosed influx of cash (described as a "substantial unrestricted financial gift") and a "matching challenge."

We wanted to find out a little more with regards to just how this $100 million donation breaks down. A quick call to Buddy Pepp, Executive Director of the Petersen Automotive Musuem, helped shed some light on the matter. While Mr. Pepp could not disclose the exact amount of the cash gift they're receiving, he did say that value is "enormous." He went on to state that it's "breathtaking" and will "enable us to do all the things we've wanted or need to do. It will catapult us to a world-renowned status. This donation will allow us to fulfill Bob Petersen's vision." Not only that, the "matching challenge" will make sure that the directing board keeps pushing to help the museum continue to grow.

We were hoping to get to the juicy details, and hear an exact figure, but it's good to know that the Petersen Museum is going to allow people of all ages to get a glimpse of automobiles from all eras. In fact, the total number of vehicles being donated from Petersen's private stock is 135, and that includes a handful of motorcycles as well. It's an incredibly generous gift from a couple that already give to many other groups and charities.

[pesto]

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/04/ma...upes_they_want_boats_not_buildings_1.php

New developments for MDR that raise interesting issues for me. These developments eliminate 3 parking lots plus parking around existing buildings to be demo'd and replaced, even though there is no rapid transit existing or planned for the area. Apparently demand is expected there in spite of transporation issues.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

This I thought was interesting.

From Autoblog.com

I want to see some of that money the auto museum is getting go to improving the actual building's ugly facade. I'm sure it's pretty well-known even by museum board and staff that their museum turns their back on Wilshire and is completely pedestrian-unfriendly and loses out on a whole lot of people who would probably go to the museum if it were actually VISIBLE from the street.

That museum is a shame.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by Muji

Two shots from over the weekend.

The Madrone in Hollywood:

The Madrone was renamed The Avenue I think.

That is lovely infill density right there!

[ChelseaFC]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

An 8-story mixed use development at that busy intersection is perfect. The fact that it'll also have a Trader Joes means that it'll be busy as well with many pedestrians from the neighboring areas that will be walking there.

Haven't you ever heard of the TJPP effect? Trader Joes Pedestrian Phenomenon

I wrote about it here:

http://brighamyen.com/2010/10/25/the-trader-joes-pedestrian-phenomenon/

So I drove by the site the other day and wondered what the construction site was, so I looked it up. And I'll guarantee that it won't be a truly desirable location until they fix the damn road. That intersection is easily in the top 5 of worst-maintained major intersections in LA. Driving along Sunset (now fixed), western Hollywood Blvd, and La Cienega is a pretty bad experience.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by ChelseaFC

So I drove by the site the other day and wondered what the construction site was, so I looked it up. And I'll guarantee that it won't be a truly desirable location until they fix the damn road. That intersection is easily in the top 5 of worst-maintained major intersections in LA. Driving along Sunset (now fixed), western Hollywood Blvd, and La Cienega is a pretty bad experience.

And not only here. LA City has the worst US roads in my experience. South central, Boyle Heights, downtown, Wilshire, you name it. Sidewalks too. If serious funds aren't directed at this, it will be what Mayor V. is best remembered for.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by pesto

And not only here. LA City has the worst US roads in my experience. South central, Boyle Heights, downtown, Wilshire, you name it. Sidewalks too. If serious funds aren't directed at this, it will be what Mayor V. is best remembered for.

I agree. The road and sidewalk conditions in LA are the worst I've seen in the states. It definitely gives the city a third-world vibe. I get that the city is broke, but c'mon, think long term. Repaving and streetscaping increases the desirability of a neighborhood, which in the long term increases tax revenue for the city. Letting everything degrade doesn't help anybody.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by pesto

And not only here. LA City has the worst US roads in my experience. South central, Boyle Heights, downtown, Wilshire, you name it. Sidewalks too. If serious funds aren't directed at this, it will be what Mayor V. is best remembered for.

Hmmm.....I'm very sure Antonio Villairaigosa will be remembered for Measure R and the dozen of transit projects we'll get because of him.

Remember, those roads were in s***ty condition with Mayor Hahn and other previous mayors, why don't we talk about them? Because it's not a memorable occurence. It's like how Mayor Hahn will be rememberred for Adaptive Reuse ordinance that passed in 1999 which spawned the conversion of historic buildings into mixed uses and lofts. That's memorable. In a lasting legacy, Antonio will have the credibilty of being the "subway mayor" and overturning the Methane Gas federal ban in 2007 when first elected mayor (that was a huge victory in itself, so that LA can get federal funding of subways). I will say, cicLAvia has the POTENTIAL to be another event Antonio will be remembed for if it truly does develop into a monthly event. It wouldn't have happened, without his tremendous support.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I agree. The road and sidewalk conditions in LA are the worst I've seen in the states. It definitely gives the city a third-world vibe. I get that the city is broke, but c'mon, think long term. Repaving and street scaping increases the desirability of a neighborhood, which in the long term increases tax revenue for the city. Letting everything degrade doesn't help anybody.

its my biggest annoyance about LA and i hate that nothing is being done or very piecemeal fixes are done. Perception is everything and we need better sidewalks, roads and maintenance

[pesto]

I don't want to argue this particularly since I was mostly complaining about roads and sidewalks. But Hahn will not be remembered for adaptive re-use, or probably for anything at all. Similarly, rail transit is way down on the average LA County resident's list of priorities: education, jobs, street repair, local services, taxes, city wastefulness, local zoning and nuisances and others just swamp it in importance.

As DD and others note, roads and streescape are part of what makes a city livable and attracts people.

I strongly agree with the idea of more transit in certain areas of LA. But Mayor V.'s main contribution in transit is to package in useless projects with useful ones and then trying to get federal loans to be paid out of future transit revenues and taxes. What praise is deserved for taking all the credit and leaving his successors with a debt burdened city? This is unfortunately standard political operating procedure.

[RAlossi]

Originally Posted by pesto

I don't want to argue this particularly since I was mostly complaining about roads and sidewalks. But Hahn will not be remembered for adaptive re-use, or probably for anything at all. Similarly, rail transit is way down on the average LA County resident's list of priorities: education, jobs, street repair, local services, taxes, city wastefulness, local zoning and nuisances and others just swamp it in importance.

As DD and others note, roads and streescape are part of what makes a city livable and attracts people.

I strongly agree with the idea of more transit in certain areas of LA. But Mayor V.'s main contribution in transit is to package in useless projects with useful ones and then trying to get federal loans to be paid out of future transit revenues and taxes. What praise is deserved for taking all the credit and leaving his successors with a debt burdened city? This is unfortunately standard political operating procedure.

I agree on some of the less useful rail projects. But AV's not saddling the city with debt. These taxes are already in place and will be for 30 years. Seeking federal funds is part of the big picture and will happen simultaneously.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by RAlossi

I agree on some of the less useful rail projects. But AV's not saddling the city with debt. These taxes are already in place and will be for 30 years. Seeking federal funds is part of the big picture and will happen simultaneously.

In this case, both of you have a valid point. What he is doing isn't saddling L.A with debt, since Measure R pays back everything that is being spent on transit. However, Antonio is totally building unnecessary projects and half-assing many of the necessary ones. You know that the Expo Line should have been grade separated. Hell, it could have even been heavy rail, due to the amount of riders it is expected to get. The Crenshaw line is good in theory, but not in the place they are building it. What needs to happen is connecting the Expo Line to the soon to be very highly ridden Purple Line, not the Expo Line to the unnecessary Green Line. Also, that 710 tunnel? 1.5 billion dollers on a project that not only does nobody want, but would be bad for the future of Los Angeles. Yet, good is still being done. The Purple Line, the Regional Connector. These are projects that are great and are vital. Because of all of these contrasting variables, I am sort of unsure about what my feelings are on the current slate of transit projects. This is a classic case of quanitiy before quality. We are getting the transit projects that we need, but not at the quality that we want. Is this good? Is this bad? I suppose we will really only know in the long run.

[SD_Phil]

^I'd assume it's easier to get funds to improve an existing project than it is to get funds to begin the process of creating a needed project. In that respect I think AV is doing us all a huge favor.

[WillPostPix]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

In this case, both of you have a valid point. What he is doing isn't saddling L.A with debt, since Measure R pays back everything that is being spent on transit. However, Antonio is totally building unnecessary projects and half-assing many of the necessary ones. You know that the Expo Line should have been grade separated. Hell, it could have even been heavy rail, due to the amount of riders it is expected to get. The Crenshaw line is good in theory, but not in the place they are building it. What needs to happen is connecting the Expo Line to the soon to be very highly ridden Purple Line, not the Expo Line to the unnecessary Green Line. Also, that 710 tunnel? 1.5 billion dollers on a project that not only does nobody want, but would be bad for the future of Los Angeles. Yet, good is still being done. The Purple Line, the Regional Connector. These are projects that are great and are vital. Because of all of these contrasting variables, I am sort of unsure about what my feelings are on the current slate of transit projects. This is a classic case of quanitiy before quality. We are getting the transit projects that we need, but not at the quality that we want. Is this good? Is this bad? I suppose we will really only know in the long run.

man, I've been out of the loop too long, I guess but...what is the 710 tunnel? For some reason I thought that someone had called a halt on connecting the Expo Line to the Purple Line. Clearly I was wrong though...

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by pesto

I don't want to argue this particularly since I was mostly complaining about roads and sidewalks. But Hahn will not be remembered for adaptive re-use, or probably for anything at all. Similarly, rail transit is way down on the average LA County resident's list of priorities: education, jobs, street repair, local services, taxes, city wastefulness, local zoning and nuisances and others just swamp it in importance.

As DD and others note, roads and streescape are part of what makes a city livable and attracts people.

I strongly agree with the idea of more transit in certain areas of LA. But Mayor V.'s main contribution in transit is to package in useless projects with useful ones and then trying to get federal loans to be paid out of future transit revenues and taxes. What praise is deserved for taking all the credit and leaving his successors with a debt burdened city? This is unfortunately standard political operating procedure.

Do you think Los Angeles is the ONLY city in America that has a debt problem during the Great Recession? Maybe you should read about Chicago, New York, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Charlotte, etc.... It's not an LA problem...it's an ECONOMIC national problem. It's a problem for Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by SD_Phil

^I'd assume it's easier to get funds to improve an existing project than it is to get funds to begin the process of creating a needed project. In that respect I think AV is doing us all a huge favor.

Right. Is there any other mayor who's been championing a culture change in Washington DC with America Fast Forward? Truly, if this thing goes through, which is Antonio's puppy on a NATIONAL agenda....it will seal Antonio's legacy as one of the most influential mayors in a long time!

[BrandonJXN]

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2011_04_worknotice.jpg

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by WillPostPix

man, I've been out of the loop too long, I guess but...what is the 710 tunnel? For some reason I thought that someone had called a halt on connecting the Expo Line to the Purple Line. Clearly I was wrong though...

The 710 tunnel is going to be a big 'ole new freeway that will connect two existing freeways.

[pesto]

I guess sidewalks and roads are on everybody's mind. Quite righly, the merchants of Weswood believe that improve sidewalks will make people want to live and shop there. And UCLA is kicking in, because they are competing with Stanford, Berkeley, etc., and these areas have new and beautiful streetscaping on University, Shattuck and many other streets.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/05/ca...nt_district_perk_up_westwood_village.php

The disturbing part is that basic sidewalk repair needs to be funded by ADDITIONAL taxes. What is the city wasting its money and human talent on? You would think basic maintenance is the last thing to go in a well-managed city.