LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 65

LosAngelesDreamin · #**1281** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 4:14 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OneMetropolis

Yeah L.A. has the affect on you. such a glamours city.

Haha LA does has it's affect on me... I always tell my parents I wanna live in dtla one day and settle down there. But my parents are such suburban lovers.. 98% of my family is... I'm the only one who sees living in the city is way more convenient and a healthier lifestyle. When I mentioned dtla my mom said it's dirty, dangerous and scary lol they are pushing me to buy a nice big suburban house which I seriously do not want.

Being from San Diego I loved goin to downtown. But a San diegan visiting the city of la felt like ny to me haha everything is more bigger, taller, denser, trendier, sexier, tastier, beautiful, sophisticated, raw and exciting. Even being in the traffic I was like "omg Jenny we're in LA traffic!!" haha it was exciting kinda... I see the traffic as one of those negative beauties.. LA wouldn't be LA without it. I don't wanna see LA's freeways empty.

I could rant about how much I love Los Angeles for a long time so I'll stop now before it gets too long =]

JDRCRASH · #**1282** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 5:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

Even being in the traffic I was like "omg Jenny we're in LA traffic!!" haha it was exciting kinda... I see the traffic as one of those negative beauties.. LA wouldn't be LA without it. I don't wanna see LA's freeways empty.

Yeah, but I think LA would be even more beautiful if it didn't have it's traffic.

Then again, as LAofAnaheim hammers us over and over again with this fact: Rail Lines, statistically, don't reduce traffic... they create more opportunities.

LosAngelesDreamin · #**1283** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 6:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Yeah, but I think LA would be even more beautiful if it didn't have it's traffic.

Then again, as LAofAnaheim hammers us over and over again with this fact: Rail Lines, statistically, don't reduce traffic... they create more opportunities.

Yeaaa rail lines do SOMETHING at least.. It gets some people off the freeways and yea there's now more options to choose... I would def ride the trains when it does mature more and more

pesto · #**1284** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

Haha LA does has it's affect on me... I always tell my parents I wanna live in dtla one day and settle down there. But my parents are such suburban lovers.. 98% of my family is... I'm the only one who sees living in the city is way more convenient and a healthier lifestyle. When I mentioned dtla my mom said it's dirty, dangerous and scary lol they are pushing me to buy a nice big suburban house which I seriously do not want.

Being from San Diego I loved goin to downtown. But a San diegan visiting the city of la felt like ny to me haha everything is more bigger, taller, denser, trendier, sexier, tastier, beautiful, sophisticated, raw and exciting. Even being in the traffic I was like "omg Jenny we're in LA traffic!!" haha it was exciting kinda... I see the traffic as one of those negative beauties.. LA wouldn't be LA without it. I don't wanna see LA's freeways empty.

I could rant about how much I love Los Angeles for a long time so I'll stop now before it gets too long =]

Before you move to LA, you might want to watch some movies about what life is like here. Mulholland Dr. and Blade Runner are good examples of the day to day lives of most people in LA.

Nice footage of downtown as well.

DistrictDirt · #**1285** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 6:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

When I mentioned dtla my mom said it's dirty, dangerous and scary lol they are pushing me to buy a nice big suburban house which I seriously do not want.

At least you figured that out now. I've heard so many stories about couples that meet in the city, and eventually have kids and move out to the burbs because "that's what they're supposed to do", eventually moving right back to the city when they realize they can't stand the burbs. Not knocking the suburbs, some people love them, but if you feel like you're more of a city guy then don't get locked into a house out there.

LosAngelesBeauty · #**1286** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 7:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

At least you figured that out now. I've heard so many stories about couples that meet in the city, and eventually have kids and move out to the burbs because "that's what they're supposed to do", eventually moving right back to the city when they realize they can't stand the burbs. Not knocking the suburbs, some people love them, but if you feel like you're more of a city guy then don't get locked into a house out there.

I know a few couples that have kids that still choose to live downtown and I think they are the pioneers for the "family category" right now that will hopefully attract the kind of services/amenities needed to make living in Downtown LA plausible for more families.

I mean why not right? I saw TONS and TONS of kids and families living in Madrid, running around on the streets. All we need to do here in LA (and the US) is realize that people should come first, not cars. Once that's ingrained in our thinking, our communities will be 100% better!

DistrictDirt · #**1287** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 8:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

I know a few couples that have kids that still choose to live downtown and I think they are the pioneers for the "family category" right now that will hopefully attract the kind of services/amenities needed to make living in Downtown LA plausible for more families.

I mean why not right? I saw TONS and TONS of kids and families living in Madrid, running around on the streets. All we need to do here in LA (and the US) is realize that people should come first, not cars. Once that's ingrained in our thinking, our communities will be 100% better!

I think its the school thing. No one wants to put their kids in a sub-par school. So they move to a better school district in the burbs. As a European city, Madrid didn't the disinvenstiment/gentrification cycle like an American city. I'm willing to bet the public schools in the heart of Madrid are pretty good.

As for public schools in gentrifying neighborhoods in American cities like DTLA, its a catch-22 situation. The schools probably would improve if a critical mass of middle-class people moved to the neighborhood and demanded better of the schools. But most parents don't want their kids to be the guinea pigs. So they move to a different school district.

I'm hoping charter schools shake things up. It would be great to see a bunch of good charter schools downtown, letting parents feel like they can move downtown without sacrificing their children's education or breaking the bank by being forced to send them to a private school.

LAofAnaheim · #**1288** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 11:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Yeah, but I think LA would be even more beautiful if it didn't have it's traffic.

Then again, as LAofAnaheim hammers us over and over again with this fact: Rail Lines, statistically, don't reduce traffic... they create more opportunities.

Name a single city over 1,000,000 residents that has NO traffic? I'm jet talking reality and reasonableness. If you want to be in a place of no traffic, I'd recommend you move to Des Moines, Bismarck, Duluth, Santa Fe, etc....

LA needs more rail alternatives like NY, Chicago, London, Paris etc.... We've already achieved the same traffic levels as those cities....

Orlando · #**1289** Posted **Jun 24, 2011, 11:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej

I won't miss the Statler/Hilton/Omni/Wilshire Grand; I just think it looked better how it originally looked. That's the trouble with Modern architecture; it doesn't age well. For a Modern-style building to look good, it has to be polished/cleaned up, or even architectural elements need to be replaced, like tinted windows; they end up looking oily after over a decade or so. Modern architecture is almost like a machine in that respect. Take the Lever House building in Manhattan. Some years ago, it was "restored," but basically all of the windows and the exterior curtain walls was replaced; so, was it really a "restoration?" I think it looks gorgeous now, though.

I actually wasn't a fan of mid-20th Century Modernism until maybe about 8 years ago or so. I appreciate it now, or at least the philosophy behind it. Some examples of Modernism I find quite striking and attractive. I really like the early International Style/early Modernism from the 1920s and 1930s. Of course I do like other styles of architecture, too.

The way the Wilshire Grand looks now, it's such a horrible mismatch of styles. I'm glad it's going to be gone. That block has evolved a lot in the last 100 years:

First the Foy House:

LAPL

Then it became a Studebaker dealership:

LAPL

Demolition of dealership:

LAPL

Construction of the Statler:

LAPL

Soon to look like this, with epileptic seizure-inducing LED lighting, maybe?

archpaper.com

archpaper.com

Is the LED lighting really necessary?

I'm just a lurker here, but these towers look stunning! I read part of the comments, and I think the architecture of the towers is very strong and clear. But, maybe I just misunderstood the comments. Anyways, so these are on hold right now? I think these towers would be a great addition to downtown L.A. Finally, something with height and a strong architectural statement!

sopas ej · #**1290** Posted **Jun 25, 2011, 12:32 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I think its the school thing. No one wants to put their kids in a sub-par school. So they move to a better school district in the burbs. As a European city, Madrid didn't the disinvenstiment/gentrification cycle like an American city. I'm willing to bet the public schools in the heart of Madrid are pretty good.

Most schools in Spain ARE public, supported by the government and free. There are some private schools there but they are also subsidized by the government. The only true private schools in Spain are religious/parochial schools, and they are attended by a small percentage of the Spanish population. Being that Spain has a standardized system of education, I'm willing to bet that all of their schools are equally good, unlike in the US.

sopas ej · #**1291** Posted **Jun 25, 2011, 12:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

Haha that's exactly why my name is Los Angeles Dreamin... It's the city im dying to live in. Right now I'm working as a navy police in San Diego, when I finish my service I wanna try and work for LAPD, live and work in downtown. That won't be until like 2016 though, just in time for wilshire grand tower

Im originally from San Diego, I have been to LA, but never been west of west Covina, that's where I have family.

Never been west of West Covina? Well then you've never really been to LA before.

Glad you enjoyed downtown!

I've always liked downtown, even before the "renaissance." It's always had character. The Historic Core has soul; LA Live does not--but I'm glad LA Live exists.

JDRCRASH · #**1292** Posted **Jun 25, 2011, 1:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

Im originally from San Diego, I have been to LA, but never been west of west Covina, that's where I have family.

How ironic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

Name a single city over 1,000,000 residents that has NO traffic? I'm jet talking reality and reasonableness. If you want to be in a place of no traffic, I'd recommend you move to Des Moines, Bismarck, Duluth, Santa Fe, etc....

Oh, don't get me wrong, if I had a choice, i would choose urban life over suburban life in a heartbeat. But traffic, at least in this city (greater LA), won't be tolerable until more options are opened up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Never been west of West Covina? Well then you've never really been to LA before.

Glad you enjoyed downtown!

I've always liked downtown, even before the "renaissance." It's always had character. The Historic Core has soul; LA Live does not--but I'm glad LA Live exists.

Yeah the older part of downtown is just gorgeous. Such a shame so many still don't realize it exists.

jamesinclair · #**1293** Posted **Jun 25, 2011, 4:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Big Wangs is on Grand between 8th and 9th, on the east side of the street. If you go there, I would call ahead. For the World Cup Final match, every table inside was reserved, and the only open seating was outside, where the glare made the match more difficult to watch. But they'll definitely have the game on. There's not much else on sports at the moment with NBA and NHL done, and MLB in mid-season games. So for a final match like this, they'll have it on most, if not all, of the TVs.

Well the gold cup isnt exactly the world cup...

Of course, every mexican place in the city will have the game on, but Ive never heard of a Mexican sports bar, just restaurants with 26 inch CRT TVs in the top corner

Illithid Dude · #**1294** Posted **Jun 25, 2011, 5:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orlando

I'm just a lurker here, but these towers look stunning! I read part of the comments, and I think the architecture of the towers is very strong and clear. But, maybe I just misunderstood the comments. Anyways, so these are on hold right now? I think these towers would be a great addition to downtown L.A. Finally, something with height and a strong architectural statement!

Not on hold. Demolition of the current building is starting this winter, with construction to start as soon as that is done.

LosAngelesDreamin · #**1295** Posted **Jun 25, 2011, 9:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Never been west of West Covina? Well then you've never really been to LA before.

Glad you enjoyed downtown!

I've always liked downtown, even before the "renaissance." It's always had character. The Historic Core has soul; LA Live does not--but I'm glad LA Live exists.

yeaaa... i love LA Live!!, but i love the historic core a lot more... it needs more cleaning but its still amazing.

LosAngelesDreamin · #**1296** Posted **Jun 25, 2011, 9:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

How ironic.

Oh, don't get me wrong, if I had a choice, i would choose urban life over suburban life in a heartbeat. But traffic, at least in this city (greater LA), won't be tolerable until more options are opened up.

Yeah the older part of downtown is just gorgeous. Such a shame so many still don't realize it exists.

I think because the historic core isn't tall enough for the skyline.. so people don't see and recognize it until they actually walk into it from the skyscraper area.

What i wanna see is more skyscrapers in the historic core, i wonder which architect can pull that off... you see a lot of that in New York like the area surrounding the empire state building... i think it's beautiful. plus the historic core is medium in height so a skyscrapers in the area would really stand out and might actually open peoples eyes that downtown does go farther out east from the financial and south park districts

tommaso · #**1297** Posted **Jun 26, 2011, 5:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

I think because the historic core isn't tall enough for the skyline.. so people don't see and recognize it until they actually walk into it from the skyscraper area.

What i wanna see is more skyscrapers in the historic core, i wonder which architect can pull that off... you see a lot of that in New York like the area surrounding the empire state building... i think it's beautiful. plus the historic core is medium in height so a skyscrapers in the area would really stand out and might actually open peoples eyes that downtown does go farther out east from the financial and south park districts

Too much NIMBY-ism and not enough like minded cash heavy developers with our mindset to pull this off in the Old Bank District. You're right, there is a way to forest and populate Old Bank with high rise and simultaneously preserve the old structures. Find the financial and political will to do it. I don't think L.A. has reached that level in its history, at least not yet.

In the meantime, I certainly hope we can prevent prime surface lots from turning into 4 to 6 story stucco nightmares. The zoning laws are important. Most DTLA neighborhoods need to be up-zoned to a minimum building height and a minimum density level. 6 stories just won't cut it. That's too short and not dense enough and the visual impact on the pedestrian is often nightmarish both aesthetically and functionally.

SD_Phil · #**1298** Posted **Jun 26, 2011, 5:57 AM**

6 floors is better than a parking lot and makes the taller new construction eventually possible.

pesto · #**1299** Posted **Jun 26, 2011, 3:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SD_Phil

6 floors is better than a parking lot and makes the taller new construction eventually possible.

I'm with Phil. Once again, if you go to NY, the 'hoods anyone wants to hang in (Greenwich Village, SoHo, Tribeca, Chelsea, the LES in general, Billyburg) are NOT high-rise. They are not even medium-rise in most cases. Conversely, Wall St. and mid-town tend toward concrete, sterility and emptiness evenings and weekends.

Most of these hoods have sprung up from abandoned warehouses and marginal areas which are attractive BECAUSE they are low-rise and on a human scale. They can be converted to human use, where big projects can't.

Btw, even in mid-town, 6 story buildings far outnumber high-rise.

Orlando · #**1300** Posted **Jun 27, 2011, 2:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Not on hold. Demolition of the current building is starting this winter, with construction to start as soon as that is done.

Great! Will this be a new tallest for L.A. It looks like it is close to 80 floors. Or, am I way off?