LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Kingofthehill]

hey, guys..i am in dtla, with my camera - any photo requests?

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

hey, guys..i am in dtla, with my camera - any photo requests?

All of it. Make a new photothread! It would also be nice for pictures of The Broad construction, and streetscaping construction you might see, and any new restaurant or store. Oh, and that building on 7th that is getting a complete renovation next to Mas Malo, a picture of that would be really nice.

[JDRCRASH]

Yeah, more pics of the Civic Park construction would be nice.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Yeah, more pics of the Civic Park construction would be nice.

And maybe some around 8th, 9th Spring/Main, Broadway? Walking down that direction towards Pattern Bar lately has reminded me that there are some really gorgeous old buildings in that area.

[LA/OCman]

Regarding retail, I would think that since Forever 21 is headquartered in the Downtown area that they would be looking at a large retail space. Forever 21 has been taking over some large spaces formerly operated by Mervins and Saks (Mission Viejo). Also, Alternative Apparel has showroom near the Angelique Cafe. I think they just opened a retail spot in Venice Beach.

One cafe/bakery that has been very busy is Homegirl Cafe and Homeboy Bakery. I see a lot of young people taking tours, lots of tourists and City Hall folks having a bite to eat. This place has excellent food and pastries...and talk about a great cause. Father Greg should be cannonized by the Catholic Church. Please support this establishment....employees are ex-gang members trying to lead a positive life.

Also happy that the parking lot in front of the Rowan is shut down...preparing for the groundbreaking of Spring St. Park this month.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

Regarding retail, I would think that since Forever 21 is headquartered in the Downtown area that they would be looking at a large retail space. Forever 21 has been taking over some large spaces formerly operated by Mervins and Saks (Mission Viejo). Also, Alternative Apparel has showroom near the Angelique Cafe. I think they just opened a retail spot in Venice Beach.

One cafe/bakery that has been very busy is Homegirl Cafe and Homeboy Bakery. I see a lot of young people taking tours, lots of tourists and City Hall folks having a bite to eat. This place has excellent food and pastries...and talk about a great cause. Father Greg should be cannonized by the Catholic Church. Please support this establishment....employees are ex-gang members trying to lead a positive life.

Also happy that the parking lot in front of the Rowan is shut down...preparing for the groundbreaking of Spring St. Park this month.

I would really love to see Forever 21 take over the Macy's space in Macy's Plaza and of course, doing a complete overhaul remodel of the ugly facade and building new access to the store from the sidewalks.

It would be great since FIDM is literally right across the street (the annex at least) and the main campus a block south.

Also, regarding the Spring Street Park, I am hoping that it coincides with news that a hotel will finally take over the empty commercial building across the street. A new hotel and a new park would add tremendous momentum to the Historic Core.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

A new hotel and a new park would add tremendous momentum to the Historic Core.

Which building do you mean? Has there been talk that it could become a hotel or you're just saying it would be great if it was?

Also, I can't seem to find the article now, but I remember reading that the garage planned for that lot on the west side of Spring between 5th and 6th (adjacent to the Spring Arcade Bldg) will not include ground floor retail now. They had originally wanted to do a space for a grocery store, but Huizar's office put a stop to it because the truck unloading area would interfere with future operations of the Roxie Theater...if its revitalized.

The whole thing stinks. First of all, there's already like 5 garages and 5 parking lots within one block of site, so its not as if its even needed. The one concession was the fact that we might get a grocery store...or at least some kind of retail on the ground floor of the new garage. Now there will be nothing. Just a permanent dead zone in the liveliest block of the liveliest neighborhood, of the liveliest area in LA. And for what? The marginal benefit of being able park in yet another garage. What a waste. I understand that Huizar wants to "bring back Broadway" and all, but his efforts shouldn't have a deliterous effect on neighboring streets. Who knows when and if the Roxie will ever be fixed up?

Edit: Found it:


LA Downtown News


Spring Street Garage Plans Filed

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

I would really love to see Forever 21 take over the Macy's space in Macy's Plaza and of course, doing a complete overhaul remodel of the ugly facade and building new access to the store from the sidewalks.

It would be great since FIDM is literally right across the street (the annex at least) and the main campus a block south.

Also, regarding the Spring Street Park, I am hoping that it coincides with news that a hotel will finally take over the empty commercial building across the street. A new hotel and a new park would add tremendous momentum to the Historic Core.

I'd like for the same exact thing that happened to Santa Monica's Macy's to happen to DTLAs Macy's. Add windows and more entrances along the sidewalk where there was formally blank walls, and bump it up to a Bloomingdales or Nordstroms. The only issue is the people who own it don't like to do anything to their properties. I suppose the most we can hope for is 7th and Fig to eat away at Macy's Plazas sales so much that Jamison Properties (who owns Macy's Plaza) would be forced to upgrade.

Oh, and the Spring Street Park is great and all, and I am happy it is breaking ground, but I'm a little worried they are over designing it. The best parks in the world are the parks that are little more then trees, benches, and grass. Spring Street Park has all these other things in it. I just don't want it to turn into another Pershing Square.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Which building do you mean? Has there been talk that it could become a hotel or you're just saying it would be great if it was?

Also, I can't seem to find the article now, but I remember reading that the garage planned for that lot on the west side of Spring between 5th and 6th (adjacent to the Spring Arcade Bldg) will not include ground floor retail now. They had originally wanted to do a space for a grocery store, but Huizar's office put a stop to it because the truck unloading area would interfere with future operations of the Roxie Theater...if its revitalized.

The whole thing stinks. First of all, there's already like 5 garages and 5 parking lots within one block of site, so its not as if its even needed. The one concession was the fact that we might get a grocery store...or at least some kind of retail on the ground floor of the new garage. Now there will be nothing. Just a permanent dead zone in the liveliest block of the liveliest neighborhood, of the liveliest area in LA. And for what? The marginal benefit of being able park in yet another garage. What a waste. I understand that Huizar wants to "bring back Broadway" and all, but his efforts shouldn't have a deliterous effect on neighboring streets. Who knows when and if the Roxie will ever be fixed up?

Edit: Found it:


LA Downtown News


Spring Street Garage Plans Filed

DD, from my understanding of the article, I think the parking structure is ditching the market idea, but not ditching ground floor retail altogether.

From DTLA News:

"The plan represents a departure from an earlier concept that hinged on including a ground-level retail space tailored for a supermarket. Greg Martin, the firm’s vice president, said the market idea was jettisoned in part for planning reasons, but also because it lacked support from Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar."


There is now a much more higher standard in design standards in DTLA than before with a newly adopted "Urban Design Guidelines," which I think would require ground floor retail space in new structures like parking structures.

I hope that helps...

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Which building do you mean? Has there been talk that it could become a hotel or you're just saying it would be great if it was?

There is an office building directly across from the El Dorado on Spring Street which got the green light for hotel conversion a few years ago. Initially, Holiday Inn was looking at it, and now many more hotels are sniffing the property (I have spoken to a prominent hotel developer in Anaheim who is considering developing that into a hotel).

It would be a great addition to the neighborhood to have a hotel as I would expect many from around the world to stay there and add to the diverse mixture of Spring Street's pedestrian demographics. Plus, since there are so many lofts (without bedrooms), it would be also popular for parents visiting their loft-dwelling adult children (or friends of these loft dwellers) who want some privacy of their own.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I'd like for the same exact thing that happened to Santa Monica's Macy's to happen to DTLAs Macy's. Add windows and more entrances along the sidewalk where there was formally blank walls, and bump it up to a Bloomingdales or Nordstroms. The only issue is the people who own it don't like to do anything to their properties. I suppose the most we can hope for is 7th and Fig to eat away at Macy's Plazas sales so much that Jamison Properties (who owns Macy's Plaza) would be forced to upgrade.

Oh, and the Spring Street Park is great and all, and I am happy it is breaking ground, but I'm a little worried they are over designing it. The best parks in the world are the parks that are little more then trees, benches, and grass. Spring Street Park has all these other things in it. I just don't want it to turn into another Pershing Square.

The problem with Pershing Square is not only the amount of tacky yellow and purple crap that they have in there, but the very limited access to the park that has made it an island as opposed to a center for pedestrian circulation. The park's poor design is now a magnet for the homeless and instead of being a great public space where pedestrians would love to walk through on their way to somewhere else, it is usually avoided, which is the worst thing possible for a park.

It will take either a shift in thinking in philanthropy or the Quimby funds from a large Park Fifth-like project to fund a major overhaul of this disastrous travesty.

Spring Street Park will not be meant for cross-flow circulation as much as its role as a pocket park meant for being more intimate as a gathering spot. The high density of new loft dwellers (aka non-homeless) on Spring, Main and Broadway is the best assurance that the park will be used and not abandoned. Plus, it has decent access to the park from the renderings we have seen.

[LosAngelesDreamin]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

I would really love to see Forever 21 take over the Macy's space in Macy's Plaza and of course, doing a complete overhaul remodel of the ugly facade and building new access to the store from the sidewalks.

It would be great since FIDM is literally right across the street (the annex at least) and the main campus a block south.

Also, regarding the Spring Street Park, I am hoping that it coincides with news that a hotel will finally take over the empty commercial building across the street. A new hotel and a new park would add tremendous momentum to the Historic Core.

Yes a XXI in downtown los angeles would be very exciting.. also include a huge men's section...the ones here in san diego is just a small square section =/ would be nice if XXI opened a flagship in downtown.. Like mentioned before Broadway should become, once again, DTLA's shopping and theater district =D

I can't stop thinking of that one video of LA in the 1940's i think it was?? where it showed a swarm of people walking and shopping around Broadway when it used to be THE PLACE to shop, with flagship department stores.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

DD, from my understanding of the article, I think the parking structure is ditching the market idea, but not ditching ground floor retail altogether.

From DTLA News:

"The plan represents a departure from an earlier concept that hinged on including a ground-level retail space tailored for a supermarket. Greg Martin, the firm’s vice president, said the market idea was jettisoned in part for planning reasons, but also because it lacked support from Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar."


There is now a much more higher standard in design standards in DTLA than before with a newly adopted "Urban Design Guidelines," which I think would require ground floor retail space in new structures like parking structures.

I hope that helps...

I hope you are right. How do the urban design guidelines work? Are they enforced? Or merely suggestions that may or may not be followed?

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I hope you are right. How do the urban design guidelines work? Are they enforced? Or merely suggestions that may or may not be followed?

Merely suggestions. Which is good, for there are some things in it that aren't necessarily good. For example, it says that towers must be eighty feet apart, which is way too far in my opinion. I do like the stuff it says about having no stucco, though.

[jamesinclair]

You guys were talking about a downtown Fresh and Easy...

Looks like theyre experimenting with extra small format stores.

We've now discovered what will likely be the first smaller-format Fresh & Easy store to open. That unit, in Southern California, will be a 4,000 square-foot store at Sixth and Gaffey Streets (here) in San Pedro, which is a community in and around Los Angeles' harbor area and home to the Port of Los Angeles.

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market currently plans to call the 4,000-5,000 square-foot stores Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market "Express," according to our sources, to differentiate the smaller units from the flagship (10,000 square-foot) Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market stores, which it currently has 176 of in California (127 units), Metro Las Vegas, Nevada (21 units) and metro Phoenix, Arizona (28 units)

http://freshneasybuzz.blogspot.com/

[sopas ej]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

I'm sorry, but the Starbucks culture changed the need for libraries as people can just bring their book, laptop or iPad, have a cup of coffee, and read/study at their leisure there. I stopped using libraries when I studied for the CPA as the Coffee Bean and Starbucks experience was way more fun and felt studious.

Yeah, instead of the library, let's let our kids go to Starbucks and let their imaginations run wild there. Free access to out-of-print books, historical maps, genealogy and census tracts be damned.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by jamesinclair

You guys were talking about a downtown Fresh and Easy...

Looks like theyre experimenting with extra small format stores.




http://freshneasybuzz.blogspot.com/

Wow that would totally work in Downtown LA, especially somewhere near all the residents around Spring, Main, and Broadway. Or even down in South Park further south of Ralphs where numerous high-density projects are under served right now including: Evo, Luma, Elleven, Grand Lofts, Flower Street Lofts, The Met, and Packard Lofts.

[alki]

Originally posted by Brigham Yen

In Downtown LA, there is no better ideal situation for retailers than the Historic Core on those three streets because they were built for pedestrians with back-to-back, pretty much uninterrupted commercial spaces.

When I would walk the streets of DTLA, I always envisioned Broadway as developing into a La Brea circa late 90s and 7th Street becoming high end retail.......not high, high end but stuff like Nike's or Banana Republic. I always saw the Bank District as a potential Soho.

Restaurants tend to be urban pioneers that are low margin affairs even if they serve alcohol. Typically, they are the first wave into a commercial strip that has the potential to turn around. That was 7th Street a few years back and the restaurants are doing what they typically do.....bringing new life to the street.

However, I don't think this is the final configuration for 7th. It really lends itself to retail. Macy's could be a formidable anchor.....esp. if the damn building is renovated and opened up to the street. The old Robinson's store could be another anchor.....with its high ceilings......the upper floors could be turned into a mid rise mall or offices. Then there is the old Bullock's store at the corner of 7th and Broadway. What's happening with it?

Given the greediness of LA landlords and their propensity to take advantage of a street that's turning, I don't see restaurants staying long term on 7th. I bet in ten years more and more retail will be on 7th and it will act as a connector between Fig@7h and Broadway. FWIW.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by alki

Originally posted by Brigham Yen



When I would walk the streets of DTLA, I always envisioned Broadway as developing into a La Brea circa late 90s and 7th Street becoming high end retail.......not high, high end but stuff like Nike's or Banana Republic. I always saw the Bank District as a potential Soho.

Restaurants tend to be urban pioneers that are low margin affairs even if they serve alcohol. Typically, they are the first wave into a commercial strip that has the potential to turn around. That was 7th Street a few years back and the restaurants are doing what they typically do.....bringing new life to the street.

However, I don't think this is the final configuration for 7th. It really lends itself to retail. Macy's could be a formidable anchor.....esp. if the damn building is renovated and opened up to the street. The old Robinson's store could be another anchor.....with its high ceilings......the upper floors could be turned into a mid rise mall or offices. Then there is the old Bullock's store at the corner of 7th and Broadway. What's happening with it?

Given the greediness of LA landlords and their propensity to take advantage of a street that's turning, I don't see restaurants staying long term on 7th. I bet in ten years more and more retail will be on 7th and it will act as a connector between Fig@7h and Broadway. FWIW.

I can see that vision coming to fruition especially when demand picks up. However, even though 7th Street SHOULD be the east-west corridor connecting Fig and Broadway, we can't ignore 6th, 8th, and 9th Streets with all so much potential if we can just get some damn good infills to replace those ugly surface parking lots.

Downtown LA's 7th Street is like Broadway in NY through SoHo. Then there are the side streets with more interesting boutiques, galleries and cafes that branch off of Broadway such as Prince or Spring Streets. Most of the UBER high end stores in SoHo are not on Broadway like Prada, Alexander Wang, etc.

Macy's Plaza is hands down the most valuable location right now because it sits right smack dab in all the activity happening around it. With FIGat7th and Metropolis attracting big time names, there will be a high chance another national company like Brookfield will come and purchase Macy's Plaza from the apathetic Jamison Properties.

[milquetoast]

Over time there has been a sense of "settling" for less and being satisfied with that prospect in Los Angeles. There has been the sense that civic planners, over time, have failed at providing a well considered master plan for downtown. Or the city as a whole for that matter, where one can find the kinds of construction that makes one wince. The expanded footprints, the compromise of stucco.

.

And we have settled for it.

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Well, I was boppin' around downtown and Century City taking pictures when most of you were quite young, if existant at all! I saw in a few short years' time an emergence of a skyline where there was none before. Most will complain of the boxy attitude of those structures but the Fire Department is "solely" in charge of that. Regardless, these developments were exciting to see.

.

Now, with the possible exception of the Koreans, we have almost nothing to look forward to in major construction, even at a time when construction materials are at their cheapest.

I know the economy is severely lacking now, but other areas aren't waiting around ......... why are we?

.

Now, we have a supreme compromise on a plot of land that cost about 50 million dollars years ago; a plot that sat empty for years ... waiting ... and we're about to get that project that we will regret. The kind of project that we know we will complain about. A companion piece to Staples Center and LA LIVE that will hang around for decades. And, judging by the design of it, it will age poorly.

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Isn't it ironic- that a Los Angeles firm hires a Miami design house, Collarmele, when Miami's Brickell Citicentre will be 4+ million square feet?

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Do you hear laughter, Villaraigosa? Time to wake up.