LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[pesto]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

I see a lot of European tourists walking near City Hall, the LAPD HQ and the Caltrans building. interestingly I see a lot on the Red Line. You see working class people, students and white Europeans taking the Red Line. Sadly you do not see many professionals unless they are headed to Union Station to catch the Metrolink to the burbs. I think it will change with the Expo Line but it seems like when young professionals take the train it is like they are doing it for the first time and act like it is some big adventure.

Yesterday I was on 7th and a European couple asked for directions to the Mayfair Hotel on 7th... I pointed out they had to walk over the 110 and head west. We need more affordable hotels in Central Downtown. Why don't more developers convert some of these historic and empty buildings into "Best Western" type hotels like you see in other cities? There is such a market here. Now if only the City would spend money on sidewalks, landscaping, fountains, flowers and clean restrooms.

Agreed. The hotel scene is still much too much either high-end or welfare. By contast, European cities, NY and SF, etc., have large numbers of modest, well-maintained smaller hotels in the center of town that are not ridiculous in price. The good news is that these follow automatically when the developers see the demand. And I think that will come with the Broad, in-fill, etc., that is going on. Remains to be seen if they are the big chains or the trendy smaller places now appearing on the westside and all over NY.

[bobcat]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

We need more affordable hotels in Central Downtown. Why don't more developers convert some of these historic and empty buildings into "Best Western" type hotels like you see in other cities? There is such a market here

The Clark Hotel refurb is showing progress and there have been rumors that it may open in the not too distant future. That said, remember that it's only been in the last year or two that room rates in DTLA have substantially increased. Before that even the business class hotels were pretty affordable, even downright cheap if you booked thru Priceline.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

i would love to see a couple mid range hotels in the old bank district. i think they would be very popular and helpful to the neighborhood.

Lets see whos brave enough to tackle that.

It seems as though mid range hotels and retail are slow to the game.

btw, Blog Downtown has the renders for the new tower next to the Broad.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by pesto

I can't disagree with you because I don't have statistics, but this sounds terribly wrong. I can't think EVER of someone saying let's go to LA Live unless they had a specific reason to go there. Very different from Hollywood, SM, WeHo, Pasadena, the Grove, Venice, or even Jtown, which people actually enjoy going to and hanging in without a set plan of action.

At the end of the day, LA Live is institutional. They could have tried for an urban neighborhood feel (say, Greenwich Village or Lower East Side), but they went to the opposite extreme: large entertainment venues and connected food service. This isn't bad, but it isn't enough. If you want people to linger then the shopping, cafes, streetlife, art galleries, historic sites, parks, plazas, etc., need to be there as well.

pesto......as somebody who lives in South Park (I'm at 9th/Flower) I concur with everybody else's statement about a significant increase in tourism. I also work in Santa Monica and I've met many people over the weeks from Malta, Australia, England, Canada, etc... who are staying in downtown LA hotels and going to Venice/Santa Monica. I think you are still in the pre-2007 mindset of downtown LA as a destination. Please go to Spring street or 7th street after 9 pm on a Friday or Saturday night and you'll see that downtown has changed into a DESTINATION. I have friends, plenty from Anaheim (hence my SN), who say they WANT to go to downtown for Perch, Seven Grand, Standard, LA Live!, etc... Heck, I'll even see on FB posts that some people will remark "Downtown LA is cool".

Last Xmas, I met soooo many people around Union Station from Europe and then the 2 states for College Football (the rallies were at LA Live!..not Pasadena) and they were checking out the neighborhood.

Now, when I travel to New York, I don't spend my money in Soho, even though it's a better established community neighborhood. I wouldn't argue that. But, I, AS A TOURIST, spend my money at Times Square. I met 3 college friends 4 years ago at Times Square (the Hard Rock cafe at Times Square) and they told me "I haven't been here in 2 years". For the locals, Times Square is manufactured...who cares bro.....it brings MONEY!. But, they would rather be in the Little Italy, Soho, Uptown, etc...

pesto, you have this constant negativity about downtown LA. I'd like to know your real experience in traveling (living?) here. Plus, have you been to Spring street or 7th street after 9 pm on a Friday night recently? Your perception will change............

[Illithid Dude]

The renders for the Broad Museum tower, courtesy of Curbed L.A. Designed by Arquitectonica, the building is apartments and will reach 19 stories. I believe it will be sharing parking with the Broad parking structure.

[StethJeff]

Well, at least its better than the Courtyard and Hampton Inn that'll eventually be built in South Park. It's alright on its own, but if this building was meant to complement the Broad, massive fail.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Well, at least its better than the Courtyard and Hampton Inn that'll eventually be built in South Park. It's alright on its own, but if this building was meant to complement the Broad, massive fail.

It was... They are using cast concrete just like the Broad, so they will compliment each other.

[LA/OCman]

I walked by the old Embassy Hotel on 9th today and there are workers inside. I know it is owned by the same folks who own the Hotel Clark. Maybe my wish will come true soon.

BTW, I like the Apartments Related is building next to the Broad. I used to work for a division of Related and they do quality work. The Senior Housing they own on Olive has been restored with the retail space looking nice with colorful graphics on the windows. Hopefully we will see that retail space filled up soon.

[Quixote]

A few random thoughts:

1) The Arquitectonica tower isn't meant to have a "showpiece design". It shouldn't detract from the nearby Disney or Broad, the two main foci of Grand Avenue.

2) On that note, I wish Related would go back to the drawing board and rethink their plans for Phases I and III. Do we really need another Gehry building? How about getting Calatrava to design something more understated?

3) As this area is becoming nicer and more accessible (Regional Connector, LA Streetcar), a stronger case is being made to demolish those administrative buildings.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

A few random thoughts:

1) The Arquitectonica tower isn't meant to have a "showpiece design". It shouldn't detract from the nearby Disney or Broad, the two main foci of Grand Avenue.

2) On that note, I wish Related would go back to the drawing board and rethink their plans for Phases I and III. Do we really need another Gehry building? How about getting Calatrava to design something more understated?

3) As this area is becoming nicer and more accessible (Regional Connector, LA Streetcar), a stronger case is being made to demolish those administrative buildings.

I would do terrible things for a Calatrava building. Terrible, terrible things.

[all of the trash]

The Broad tower is okay. I have such low expectations for new downtown architecture at this point that I'm just glad to see something that isn't a box on a podium.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

pesto......as somebody who lives in South Park (I'm at 9th/Flower) I concur with everybody else's statement about a significant increase in tourism. I also work in Santa Monica and I've met many people over the weeks from Malta, Australia, England, Canada, etc... who are staying in downtown LA hotels and going to Venice/Santa Monica. I think you are still in the pre-2007 mindset of downtown LA as a destination. Please go to Spring street or 7th street after 9 pm on a Friday or Saturday night and you'll see that downtown has changed into a DESTINATION. I have friends, plenty from Anaheim (hence my SN), who say they WANT to go to downtown for Perch, Seven Grand, Standard, LA Live!, etc... Heck, I'll even see on FB posts that some people will remark "Downtown LA is cool".

Last Xmas, I met soooo many people around Union Station from Europe and then the 2 states for College Football (the rallies were at LA Live!..not Pasadena) and they were checking out the neighborhood.

Now, when I travel to New York, I don't spend my money in Soho, even though it's a better established community neighborhood. I wouldn't argue that. But, I, AS A TOURIST, spend my money at Times Square. I met 3 college friends 4 years ago at Times Square (the Hard Rock cafe at Times Square) and they told me "I haven't been here in 2 years". For the locals, Times Square is manufactured...who cares bro.....it brings MONEY!. But, they would rather be in the Little Italy, Soho, Uptown, etc...

pesto, you have this constant negativity about downtown LA. I'd like to know your real experience in traveling (living?) here. Plus, have you been to Spring street or 7th street after 9 pm on a Friday night recently? Your perception will change............

Easy, compadre. We're all friends here. I love DT and am amazed and gladened by its development. I never questioned the number of foreign visitors DT; they are definitely increasing. That's why I am optimistic about new smaller hotels coming in to join the several smaller refurbs both east and west of Broadway. The demand is there and is growing. (btw, Hollywood could use a few of these to replace the "Motel 6" type places, as well.)

I'm narrowly focusing on LA Live and Staples, which were undoubted boons to DT and attract lots of people. But they're not places to go and hang; and contrary to your comments, I am saying that other parts of DT ARE good places to hang (e.g., Jtown, 7th St., Spring/Main, even Broadway as is and even more in the future). The point is to get the people from Staples (or Conventions or the Music Center) to stay in DT. In my view, attractive human sized spaces, an active street scene, open-air and inviting activities will accomplish this more than just the LA Live plazas, which are designed for moving people not for relaxed lingering.

[pesto]

I'm generally upbeat about this: the apartments are an appropriate height for the Disney and Broad and look to be interesting without being distracting. And I won't complain about another Gehry or a Calatrava (at least, not until I see it).

I won't even complain about plazas. But if you have them, they have to have something other than flat, hard surfaces. They need to scale or interact with the buildings, have seating, water or greenery, a statue, a view, something. Give me a reason to want to sit down and enjoy the fabulous architecture and talk about Dudamel or the art.

[Illithid Dude]

This is quite possibly more important then any new development can be. L.A. is going to revise their parking requirements!
http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/09/la...size_fits_all_parking_requirements_1.php

Long story short, they are looking to implement a large verity of things, including maximum parking requirements and no parking requirements. This is great news!

[Vangelist]

Great news for downtown!

http://blogdowntown.com/2011/09/6390-ucla-and-million-dollar-theater-bringingUCLA and Million Dollar Theater Bringing 11 Weeks of Film to Broadway
By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, September 15, 2011, at 08:04AM
Million Dollar Theater Wendell Benedetti/LAHTF

Inside the Million Dollar Theater, built in 1918 by Sid Grauman.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The movies are coming back to Broadway.

Twenty wide-ranging classic and popular films are on the bill at the Million Dollar this fall as the theater partners with the UCLA Film and Television Archive to bring 11 weeks of Wednesday night screenings to the house that Sid Grauman built in 1918.

Kicking off in three weeks with a Belushi / Akroyd double feature—1980's The Blues Brothers and 1981's Neighbors—and wrapping up in December with a pair of rock operas—1975's Tommy and 1973's Jesus Christ Superstar—the lineup should offer a little bit of something for everyone.

All screenings are $10, or $9 for students and seniors. Tickets are available only at the theater's box office, which will open one hour before each 7:30pm showing.

[JDRCRASH]

Sorry i've been really busy this week guys. I'll update page 1 tonight for sure though.

Oh, and Glass Tower is officially dead now guys...

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/09/do...r_throws_in_towel_lists_entitled_lot.php

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Sorry i've been really busy this week guys. I'll update page 1 tonight for sure though.

Oh, and Glass Tower is officially dead now guys...

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/09/do...r_throws_in_towel_lists_entitled_lot.php

I don't think this project was ever really living even in the boom days....

In betters news, the CRA has approved the new residential tower for Grand Avenue. If I am correct, there is only one more approval to go before the tower is officially approved. Wow, that, was quick.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Sorry i've been really busy this week guys. I'll update page 1 tonight for sure though.

Oh, and Glass Tower is officially dead now guys...

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/09/do...r_throws_in_towel_lists_entitled_lot.php

(Hungover from the fight last night. Which was the funniest thing I've seen in a loooooong time.)

Boo. I really liked that tower. Though I knew it didn't have much chance.

And to be quite honest, I don't have a problem with the Broad Tower. I like towers that are sedate in design but are noticeable in their own right.

[ziggy331]

I was just randomly doing some internet research on hotels and came across this: http://www.hotelaka.com/

"AKA, the next generation of luxury extended stay hotel residences, is located in exclusive urban centers: New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, with plans for Los Angeles and London."

I wonder if they would be looking to be downtown or more towards west LA (Beverly Hills? ). It would be a pretty cool addition downtown IMO.

In addition to what dtla already has, I would imagine with an expanded convention center bringing in more business people (*crossing fingers*) and with more companies starting to move into dt, there will be a need for something like this.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by ziggy331

I was just randomly doing some internet research on hotels and came across this: http://www.hotelaka.com/

"AKA, the next generation of luxury extended stay hotel residences, is located in exclusive urban centers: New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC, with plans for Los Angeles and London."

I wonder if they would be looking to be downtown or more towards west LA (Beverly Hills? ). It would be a pretty cool addition downtown IMO.

In addition to what dtla already has, I would imagine with an expanded convention center bringing in more business people (*crossing fingers*) and with more companies starting to move into dt, there will be a need for something like this.

If something like this were to happen, I'd love for a aka hotel to rise on 11th and Fig (next to the Luxe Hotel). I always imagined a chic luxury hotel on that site (like a W Hotel or something).