LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[colemonkee]

pesto, while I personally agree with your view that improving schools is important to future downtown development, I've removed your post and the responding posts to A) prevent a flame war and B) because they don't comment on an actual downtown project.

Keeping things on track, here is some "news" on an actual downtown project from Curbed LA earlier today:


(Image courtesy Curbed LA)

Stirrings At The Embassy Hotel

DOWNTOWN: Another year, another tease at the Chetrit Group-owned Embassy Hotel/Trinity Auditorium building at Grand and Ninth. It was August 2010 the last time we heard about activity at the site; now a reader writes: "There have been lots of contractors on the roof of the old building lately...well, 3 or 4 all last week and now there are probably 10 cutting and sawing away. do you guys know what is going on there?" Chetrit had talked about turning the building into a Gansevoort Hotel and later condos avec skybridge. The developer's also been pretty busy lately at its previously-long-stalled Clark Hotel site near Hill and Fourth.

Read the rest of the story here: Curbed LA

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by pesto

Any thoughts on the routing of the trolley? Fig, 7th, Hill, 1st and down Broadway seems to be the leading candidate. Sounds good to me.

Some are saying that going to Union Station is unnecessary since the Connector will go there. But for tourists, the trolley would seem to be a preferred way of getting from South Park to Olvera, Union Station and Chinatown.

I'm sure at some point the streetcar system can be expanded to include Union Station, the Arts District, the Fashion District, Olvera, etc.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

pesto, while I personally agree with your view that improving schools is important to future downtown development, I've removed your post and the responding posts to A) prevent a flame war and B) because they don't comment on an actual downtown project.

Keeping things on track, here is some "news" on an actual downtown project from Curbed LA earlier today:


(Image courtesy Curbed LA)

Stirrings At The Embassy Hotel

DOWNTOWN: Another year, another tease at the Chetrit Group-owned Embassy Hotel/Trinity Auditorium building at Grand and Ninth. It was August 2010 the last time we heard about activity at the site; now a reader writes: "There have been lots of contractors on the roof of the old building lately...well, 3 or 4 all last week and now there are probably 10 cutting and sawing away. do you guys know what is going on there?" Chetrit had talked about turning the building into a Gansevoort Hotel and later condos avec skybridge. The developer's also been pretty busy lately at its previously-long-stalled Clark Hotel site near Hill and Fourth.

Read the rest of the story here: Curbed LA

i can vouch for this. i see the workers every day. slowly but surely. i looked inside a few months ago, and it looks pretty damn cool. i bet they could finish this in a month if they actually worked on it with a real crew rather than a skeleton crew of 2

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by pesto

Any thoughts on the routing of the trolley? Fig, 7th, Hill, 1st and down Broadway seems to be the leading candidate. Sounds good to me.

Some are saying that going to Union Station is unnecessary since the Connector will go there. But for tourists, the trolley would seem to be a preferred way of getting from South Park to Olvera, Union Station and Chinatown.

i agree, i think the 11th, fig, 7th, hill, broadway route is the best one! i dont think connecting to Union is critical, but im not 100% against it.

[LosAngelesDreamin]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

I'm sure at some point the streetcar system can be expanded to include Union Station, the Arts District, the Fashion District, Olvera, etc.

Yea this is just the first part of the street car's plan.. they will most likely expand to union station, chinatown, usc, and maybe even west towards koreatown.. who knows... maybe in the future.. Hollywood??? =D haha

[LosAngelesDreamin]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

i agree, i think the 11th, fig, 7th, hill, broadway route is the best one! i dont think connecting to Union is critical, but im not 100% against it.

I'm really curious about how they would design the streetcar's bridge on grand ave between 4th and 6th if they do extend the line that far

[JDRCRASH]

Can somebody (that has the time) give me a list of some buildings downtown that are in the process of being renovated?

[Blueseattle]

Anyone know when 537 Broadway is going to be finished? I feel like they've been taking forever!!!

[jamesinclair]

This may be too late to be of any help but...

Im going to the USC-Stanford game tomorrow, driving from Fresno

I know parking is tough, and transit is obviously not an option.

If I were to arrive 2 hours before the game, and find that the USC lots are full, anybody know of a proper backup plan? Any hotels, schools, churches etc nearby that offer game parking on their lawn or something? Google maps actually brings up NOTHING for parking near the stadium, besides the official lots.



Also, anything I should take a picture of that forumers here are interested in?

[SC_00_05]

Originally Posted by jamesinclair

This may be too late to be of any help but...

Im going to the USC-Stanford game tomorrow, driving from Fresno

I know parking is tough, and transit is obviously not an option.

If I were to arrive 2 hours before the game, and find that the USC lots are full, anybody know of a proper backup plan? Any hotels, schools, churches etc nearby that offer game parking on their lawn or something? Google maps actually brings up NOTHING for parking near the stadium, besides the official lots.



Also, anything I should take a picture of that forumers here are interested in?

Yes, across from Mt. St. Mary's is a good place to park. $20, nice spot. West on Adams St off of Figueroa, will be on your left hand side Just to the west of an off campus USC building.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

pesto, while I personally agree with your view that improving schools is important to future downtown development, I've removed your post and the responding posts to A) prevent a flame war and B) because they don't comment on an actual downtown project.

Keeping things on track, here is some "news" on an actual downtown project from Curbed LA earlier today:


(Image courtesy Curbed LA)

Stirrings At The Embassy Hotel

DOWNTOWN: Another year, another tease at the Chetrit Group-owned Embassy Hotel/Trinity Auditorium building at Grand and Ninth. It was August 2010 the last time we heard about activity at the site; now a reader writes: "There have been lots of contractors on the roof of the old building lately...well, 3 or 4 all last week and now there are probably 10 cutting and sawing away. do you guys know what is going on there?" Chetrit had talked about turning the building into a Gansevoort Hotel and later condos avec skybridge. The developer's also been pretty busy lately at its previously-long-stalled Clark Hotel site near Hill and Fourth.

Read the rest of the story here: Curbed LA

I agree on the removal of my post. We should stick to projects and their immediate implications on DT (business, families, future growth, etc.). But are we really never going to mention the homeless or gentrification or xyz political group destroyed the economy and killed DT? I guess we can try.

The old Embassy Auditorium is a real treasure and could become another Biltmore or something less. If the convention business ever really booms downtown (which I tend to doubt, given the general decline in business travel) it is a natural for awards ceremonies, etc. Class in an NY or SF kind of way. Unfortunately, may not be on the main trolley route.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

Yea this is just the first part of the street car's plan.. they will most likely expand to union station, chinatown, usc, and maybe even west towards koreatown.. who knows... maybe in the future.. Hollywood??? =D haha

I'm on-board. The extension to SC will be controversial because Expo will duplicate it (assuming you are near Expo or don't mind connections). But extensions some distance south along Alameda and east wherever density looks to be occurring seems reasonable eventually.

Assuming some reasonable re-birth of DT shopping and entertainment, along Sunset into Silver Lake seems to be a natural. The neighborhoods along Sunset are near DT, dense, lower income and have few shopping opportunities locally. They seem to be a natural for commuting and shopping downtown.

Hitting the Red Line in Hollywood doesn't make as much sense for me. If the leg from Sunset/Vermont into Silver Lake can justify its own existence then the whole thing all the way to DT should become lightrail and be done with it. Otherwise, there's already Red Line to Hollywood.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by jamesinclair

This may be too late to be of any help but...

Im going to the USC-Stanford game tomorrow, driving from Fresno

I know parking is tough, and transit is obviously not an option.

If I were to arrive 2 hours before the game, and find that the USC lots are full, anybody know of a proper backup plan? Any hotels, schools, churches etc nearby that offer game parking on their lawn or something? Google maps actually brings up NOTHING for parking near the stadium, besides the official lots.



Also, anything I should take a picture of that forumers here are interested in?

Park in dowtown and take the F Dash for .35 cents.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

The scaffolding and the cover has been removed from the rehabbed building next to Mas Malo and i gotta say it looks pretty damn good. Modern with tile and glass finishes. Great infill for the area!

also, the building next to Goivanni Place on Olive is also getting a facelift. Anyone know anything about it?

Lastly, the block of 7th between Olive and Hill has tremendous opportunity. there are three buildings on the south side and all of them has great detail and potential, but have been ruined with crap first floor facades and general neglect. All three would be a savvy purchase by a developer who has some balls and vision.

[LosAngelesDreamin]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

The scaffolding and the cover has been removed from the rehabbed building next to Mas Malo and i gotta say it looks pretty damn good. Modern with stone and glass finishes. Great infill for the area!

also, the building next to Goivanni Place on Olive is also getting a facelift. Anyone know anything about it?

Lastly, the block of 7th between Olive and Hill has tremendous opportunity. there are three buildings on the south side and all of them has great detail and potential, but have been ruined with crap first floor facades and general neglect. All three would be a savvy purchase by a developer who has some balls and vision.

The former Warner Bros Theatre now diamond store whatever has Great potential also.. It already has the looks of a flagship store.. we just need something better to move in there. I mean the jewelry stores are nice and all but the signage is sooo fugly... they are bland, dirty and old looking

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

The scaffolding and the cover has been removed from the rehabbed building next to Mas Malo and i gotta say it looks pretty damn good. Modern with stone and glass finishes. Great infill for the area!

Oooh, exciting! Pictures, please!!!

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Oooh, exciting! Pictures, please!!!

ill try to take a couple tomorrow. btw i should have said tile, not stone.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

The scaffolding and the cover has been removed from the rehabbed building next to Mas Malo and i gotta say it looks pretty damn good. Modern with tile and glass finishes. Great infill for the area!

also, the building next to Goivanni Place on Olive is also getting a facelift. Anyone know anything about it?

Lastly, the block of 7th between Olive and Hill has tremendous opportunity. there are three buildings on the south side and all of them has great detail and potential, but have been ruined with crap first floor facades and general neglect. All three would be a savvy purchase by a developer who has some balls and vision.

Yes it's off! I saw it on Friday. It makes the block look so much nicer. Very very nice.

Here's a glimpse:



Photo by Brigham Yen


More "Before & After" pics...

[Illithid Dude]

OMG!!!!!!!!! That building makes me talk like a tween! That is exactly what downtown needs. Not something shitty like Piero, but something classy like that. PERFECT, BRILLIANT. That made my night.

[Muji]

A very nice renovation indeed! Now if only someone would do the same to the nasty former Primavera building a block to the west.

Somewhat lost in the announcement of the upcoming Spring Street green bike lane (by the end of November!) is another plan to replace two parking spots on the 600 block with "parklets." According to LA Downtown News:

Spring Street to Get Bike Lane, 'Parklets'
October 28, 2011
Ryan Vaillancourt, Staff Writer

...

In the coming month, DLANC will help the department do outreach to residents and businesses to explain the bike lane project and a concurrent plan to add two "parklets" on the 600 block of South Spring Street. The mini-parks will take over two parking spaces on the west side of Spring Street in front of Syrup Desserts and L.A. Café, Watson said.

The parklets, which still need city approval and up to $20,000 in funds, are not expected to go in until early next year, Watson said. Meanwhile, the DOT is working on plans for a Main Street bike lane. Fremaux said the northbound path will likely debut in the first half of 2012.

This could definitely be a boon for Spring Street, and I'm glad to see someone in LA picking up the idea. For those who haven't seen one before - here's a recent example from Philadelphia:



source: PhillyShark