LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[DistrictDirt]

An infant was killed last night at Artwalk when someone trying to parallel park accidentally jumped the curb and sheered off a parking meter.

I hope this tragic event is the catalyst that finally gets Spring Street shut to cars during Artwalk. 50,000 people overflowing the sidewalks + cars trying to maneuver through it all was an accident waiting to happen.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

An infant was killed last night at Artwalk when someone trying to parallel park accidentally jumped the curb and sheered off a parking meter.

I hope this tragic event is the catalyst that finally gets Spring Street shut to cars during Artwalk. 50,000 people overflowing the sidewalks + cars trying to maneuver through it all was an accident waiting to happen.

Or at least gets the sidewalks widened? Last time I was on Spring, I thought they were a little narrow,and now me going to urban cities around the world for the past weeks makes me realize that they were, in fact, a little narrow. And need more trees.

[LAofAnaheim]

It's not an "accident"...it's a "crash". Let's use the right terminology here. "Accidents" are when you shart instead of fart in your pants. A crash is a horrific incident..and that happened last night.

No need to close streets to cars; I think they should do what happens in New York; extend barricades out a couple of lanes to give pedestrians greater room space. The sidewalks are too narrow...and interim word is that the LADOT is looking to make Main street WIDER for cars between 1st and 5th street (which is terrifying).

By continue prioritizing cars..this is what happens...........

There's thousands of car crashes a day..but yet we only talk about the 1 train crash in 2008 (Metrolink getting tons of anti-press today). Nobody thinks about the dozens killed per day by cars....

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

The sidewalks are too narrow...and interim word is that the LADOT is looking to make Main street WIDER for cars between 1st and 5th street (which is terrifying).

Is LADOT really going to widen Main? I don't think they would, not in this day and age. If anything, I have heard rumors about sidewalk widening and such. Do you have a source on this information?

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

The sidewalks are too narrow...and interim word is that the LADOT is looking to make Main street WIDER for cars between 1st and 5th street (which is terrifying).

I just heard about this last week, and I've been trying to get the word out. This seems to go against the current positive transformation Downtown in every possible way. Besides that, it just seems totally unnecessary. Main is extremely wide in that section already..maybe 5-6 lanes. And I've never seen that part jammed. I really don't understand what LADOT's objective here is.

[RuFFy]

It's like every other week the "why don't you put the baseball stadium by LA Live" comment appears and it's usually followed with the "because it would encroach on the convention center". It needs to become clear that a baseball stadium at LA Live is a bad idea because at 70+ games a year the "events center" basically turns into a smaller convention center with a baseball stadium. Anyhow, Taylor yards is a bad idea as well because the community would be much better served with an LA River park. IMO, Dodger Stadium needs to stay right where it is or maybe, and this is a stretch, at exposition park.

[ziggy331]

Here's a picture I took of the crowd at 5th and Spring last night. There was an insane amount of people there which was great to see. However, w/ street performers on the side walks and people gathered around to watch, some had no choice but to walk on the street. Definitely dangerous at times.

Prayers go out to the family of the victim last night.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/R_efdvOgMhQy9Id1lZvMLPUEtT-8aDECPuMjWZubI-s?feat=directlink

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I just heard about this last week, and I've been trying to get the word out. This seems to go against the current positive transformation Downtown in every possible way. Besides that, it just seems totally unnecessary. Main is extremely wide in that section already..maybe 5-6 lanes. And I've never seen that part jammed. I really don't understand what LADOT's objective here is.

Where are you hearing this terrible information? I did a quick Google search on the subject and nothing turned up. Is this a baseless rumor, or truly a concrete thing?

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by all of the trash

Even if this is true, why would you give precedence to a foothill extension in a climate of limited resources? Would you put this project before a Crenshaw line, westside purple line extension, silver line, pink line, vermont HRT, etc?

No of course not. But at least it deserves some Tier II or Tier III status.

Thats why everyone here thinks foothill extension is a joke. Not because it might produce TODs in the SGV, but because its the last thing we need as far as rail that we need in LA city proper.

The main argument against the Gold Line that i've seen so far in this thread is that it is distance and density.

Your passion for SGV rail just seems frivilous in contrast to the lines in LA we actually need. Thats the contention here.

As an SGV resident, I admit there is likely some bias from me. I just feel that it is really bagged on and underrated.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by pesto

You could conceivably integrate a new baseball stadium with the Piggyback Yards proposal, moving the train yard underground like Millenium park in Chicago.

This makes some sense; but why not put the football stadium over there and New Dodger Stadium at LA Live? This spreads out the public facilities while expanding the area of development within DT.

Can a Baseball stadium be used as convention space more than a football stadium? Whichever is greater is what should be built on the old West Hall site.

Originally Posted by RuFFy

Anyhow, Taylor yards is a bad idea as well because the community would be much better served with an LA River park.

I wasn't talking about Taylor yards. thats a little north of the Piggyback Yard.

IMO, Dodger Stadium needs to stay right where it is or maybe, and this is a stretch, at exposition park.

There's no room at exposition park. Unfortunately the coliseum is positioned on the property in such a way that all the parking lots surrounding the stadium aren't big enough to accommodate a baseball stadium.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Where are you hearing this terrible information? I did a quick Google search on the subject and nothing turned up. Is this a baseless rumor, or truly a concrete thing?

At a downtown neighborhood community meeting last week.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

We have to do everything in our power to NOT allow Main Street to be widened.

The LADOT can be FUCKING idiots sometimes.

I'm with DistrictDirt, what is their intention/objective???

Makes my blood boil...

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

At a downtown neighborhood community meeting last week.

Oh no! If the community was there, how was their response? Did it seem like LADOT was going to go forward with it, or did it just sound like spitballing? Either way, this is troubling news.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

At a downtown neighborhood community meeting last week.

LOL...That's where I heard about the widening also- the Spring & Main Complete Streets Working Group meeting. Lemme' find out that LAofAnaheim was at the same meeting I was, and I didn't even realize it!

Do you remember who actually mentioned the widening? Was it Valerie?

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

You could conceivably integrate a new baseball stadium with the Piggyback Yards proposal, moving the train yard underground like Millenium park in Chicago.

A baseball stadium would definitely work there. With that said though, a huge open manicured park integrating the river is the best possible idea in that space. Ideally, I'd want a park there to somehow be bigger if it were possible. Placing a stadium there just takes up space that would be better served with open parkland. I wouldn't want to have another exposition park there.

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

There's no room at exposition park. Unfortunately the coliseum is positioned on the property in such a way that all the parking lots surrounding the stadium aren't big enough to accommodate a baseball stadium.

A baseball stadium could probably fit on the southeast portion of the property that the arena currently sits on. That site would work well since it'll be along the Expo line, has proximity to other sporting/cultural venues, brings increased revitalization to an area that is already getting some work done (Coliseum improvements, NHM Dinosaur Hall and new entrance, ENDEAVOUR at the ScienCenter ).

Still, if you're going to build a new baseball stadium in this era, it's gotta be downtown. Watching summer baseball games in other cities on TV is just a constant reminder of how amazing Dodger Stadium would be if it were downtown.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

LOL...That's where I heard about the widening also- the Spring & Main Complete Streets Working Group meeting. Lemme' find out that LAofAnaheim was at the same meeting I was, and I didn't even realize it!

Do you remember who actually mentioned the widening? Was it Valerie?

That's why we go by code names on the Internet DistrictDirt; we protect our real identity

Yes, Valerie mentioned it. The response was shock and anger. But this is LADOT's suggestion. LADOT will be coming to a future meeting to discuss this. I'm assuming this may have something to do with the streetcar taking one of the northbound lanes on Broadway, thus they are looking at a parallel northbound street and Main is it. That's my guess...not a rumor

Personally, if they want to widen Main, it would be fine as long as the new lane is a bike only lane like Long Beach or at a minimum like Santa Monica boulevard in West Hollywood. Have 3 lanes for north bound movement, 1 lane for bikes and 2 parking lanes (24 hour parking...not restricted). Currently, it's 5 lanes (2 parking, with restricted parking and 3 northbound)....LADOT is proposing 2 parking lanes 24 hours and 4 northbound lanes.

DistrictDirt..here's a hint to who I am..I want the new lane to bike only and I'm the one who told Valerie and the group that we NEED street parking for the urban environment (slows down cars, prevents freeways), and instead of 4 northbound lanes..3 was plenty. Hopefully that helped!

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

That's why we go by code names on the Internet DistrictDirt; we protect our real identity

Yes, Valerie mentioned it. The response was shock and anger. But this is LADOT's suggestion. LADOT will be coming to a future meeting to discuss this. I'm assuming this may have something to do with the streetcar taking one of the northbound lanes on Broadway, thus they are looking at a parallel northbound street and Main is it. That's my guess...not a rumor

Personally, if they want to widen Main, it would be fine as long as the new lane is a bike only lane like Long Beach or at a minimum like Santa Monica boulevard in West Hollywood. Have 3 lanes for north bound movement, 1 lane for bikes and 2 parking lanes (24 hour parking...not restricted). Currently, it's 5 lanes (2 parking, with restricted parking and 3 northbound)....LADOT is proposing 2 parking lanes 24 hours and 4 northbound lanes.

DistrictDirt..here's a hint to who I am..I want the new lane to bike only and I'm the one who told Valerie and the group that we NEED street parking for the urban environment (slows down cars, prevents freeways), and instead of 4 northbound lanes..3 was plenty. Hopefully that helped!

What I love about downtown is it is the one place in the city where not only do people not want there streets to be widened, but they actively want the streets to be narrowed and more attractive to alternative forms of transit. I remember the last time LADOT wanted to narrow a street. Didn't happen due to public outcry, and this was back in '08 when there wasn't even as much people living in downtown to outcry. I doubt it will happen. LADOT after all, is only there to serve the communities transportation needs. When the community doesn't have the need that LADOT is proposing, said proposal doesn't happen. The end. It would be nice, though, if they narrowed the street, added more trees, and separated bike lanes. I bet the community would be all over that. I'm in Berlin right now, and was in Munich two days ago, and shall be going to Copenhagen in two more days. EVERYONE rides their bikes. It is amazingly wonderful. I see literally dozens of people riding their bikes at any given moment. I love it. The thing is, though, there is the infrastructure to support such a thing. Bike lanes are everywhere, and many of them are separated from the street in some form or fashion, making bike riding not only enjoyable, but quick and safe. If the same was to happen in the urban, progressive parts of L.A., I bet you a relatively large portion of the population would begin to ride bikes.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

A baseball stadium would definitely work there. With that said though, a huge open manicured park integrating the river is the best possible idea in that space. Ideally, I'd want a park there to somehow be bigger if it were possible. Placing a stadium there just takes up space that would be better served with open parkland. I wouldn't want to have another exposition park there.

Have you seen the vision for this area of downtown? Believe me, that area is going to have PLENTY of parks. There is such a thing as "overdoing it", even with parks. And a stadium, believe it or not, would only take up a small portion of the Piggyback Yard anyway.

I mean, really, the site is 130 acres. That's MORE than enough to put a stadium, a few underground parking structures, AND have most of the site left for parks and recreation.

Plus, the Silver Line and Metrolink would both run through the site, not to mention it's close proximity to the freeway interchange (as much as we hate cars).

Originally Posted by StethJeff

A baseball stadium could probably fit on the southeast portion of the property that the arena currently sits on. That site would work well since it'll be along the Expo line, has proximity to other sporting/cultural venues, brings increased revitalization to an area that is already getting some work done (Coliseum improvements, NHM Dinosaur Hall and new entrance, ENDEAVOUR at the ScienCenter ).

Wasn't the LA Sports Arena recently renovated?

[ChelseaFC]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Wasn't the LA Sports Arena recently renovated?

Not that I know of. It's a moot point though, because the Commission is planning to tear the thing down anyway.

I've been an advocate of Dodger Stadium at Exposition Park from day one. It's the perfect spot really. The potential for investment on Figueroa along with the ease of public transit access from Pasadena, Hollywood, Long Beach, Santa Monica, and East LA would make the site perfect for creating an urban baseball atmosphere. (Not to mention it's not too far away from LA's old Wrigley Field) Plus a great skyline view!