LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by bobcat

No offense, but this explains a lot.

There is a saying: People usually say no offense before they say something offensive. Illithid Dude is one of the more sensible people in the LA thread. Regardless if he's 16 or 106.

And I'm going to chime in with my own opinion of downtown LA: LA is just too huge of a city or it to have a skyline that resembles NY or Chicago. We barely edge out Houston in that department. But as we all are aware, the biggest challenge in downtown is not a 40 story skyscraper in South Park. To be perfectly honest, I would much rather see 5 buildings ranging from 7-15 stories than one large 40 story tower. And I sure as shit don't want to see high rises near Union Station (MTA HQ is quite nice inside though I must say).

I agree with edluva in a lot of ways. While it's awesome for downtown to be getting a new bike lane on Spring Street or a new high end noodle shop/rooftop lounge overlooking some parking lot, it does nothing for the city of Los Angeles AS A WHOLE. People from Beverly Hills are not going to waste their time in traffic just to go to The Edison. No matter how high end The Edison is (and by The Edison I mean any sort of new hip thing). What will bring people back to LA is transportation. LA is a great city. I love LA to death. But in order for downtown to truly awaken, there needs to be more ways to get here. I would love to take a subway from WeHo to LA. Subways would transform the landscape overnight.

Also, downtown is lacking in terms of new architecture. I mean the recent stuff that has been built is really nice (CalTrans, LAPD HQ, Buck Rogers High). But when I see cities like Milwaukee build things like this and LA gets nonsense like Palmers Tuscans, it really makes me not only angry but sad. Stuff like this needs to be not only in downtown but all over LA. We really need to wake up and reintroduce the world to the creative side of Los Angeles.



http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=5012464&postcount=1304

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=4844894&postcount=1264

[SD_Phil]

Screen stretch is the kiss of death. Can you resize that first image so I can read your post sensibly?

[BrandonJXN]

I just deleted it. Sorry about that.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by citywatch

you're partly correct, although we're already spending big $$ on transit & the many new school bldgs throughout LA.

Not really. Measure R's money is spread out over three decades. If 30/10 is approved, then you'd REALLY start to see the spending on transit pay off THIS DECADE.

Originally Posted by citywatch

oh, really? that's hard to believe when a person is surprised & unhappy that some big fancy tower isn't going to have a groundbreaking, & then----most importantly of all----getting so that a smaller bldg instead will be built in its place.

I am becoming less unhappy when a smaller building is built. After all, credit is still tight and we are still in a recession (whether the fed admits it or not).

Although, that post you mentioned about how the Park Fifth property being vacant for decades is a referendum on any new high-rises in Downtown LA at least until "we are old and gray" or "until we have kids in middle school", is misleading. I mean what is the history of things proposed for the site? The fact that something was even proposed on this scale there is remarkable. And all of the changes downtown has undergone (and WILL continue to undergo) makes it more definite than ever that a high-rise (even if it's smaller than Park Fifth) will almost certainly happen at this site, as well as at LA Central and Metropolis. Don't forget that it was the economy that killed/stalled these very real projects.

btw, anyone who cites one of the biggest trolls on ssp loses credibility in my eyes.

Definitely agree, but anyone who declares and sincerely believes that no high-rises will be built in Downtown LA "at least until were old and gray" ALSO loses credibility.

EDIT: I played around with the diagrams over the weekend and found out there is no time span of even 10 years in Downtown LA's history (let alone LA in general) that no highrises (taller than 200 ft) have been built since the 1950's. And downtown lifestyle was a FAR different world since then, so that makes it even more likely that highrises will be built this decade.

Like I said, your rationale makes no sense.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by alki

Let me say this.......when you see Macy's DT do a major upgrade so that its like other Macys; when you see Macy Plaza punch some holes in its exterior walls so that its part of the streetscape on 7th rather than turning its 'back' on the street; then and only then will you hear talk about a major dept store coming to DTLA.

That may actually happen sooner than we think. There are talks going on right now behind closed doors to remodel/renovate Macy's and potentially the rest of Macy's Plaza.

[milquetoast]

That would be nice, considering that they'd have anything left over from that 400 million renovation.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Definitely agree, but anyone who declares and sincerely believes that no high-rises will be built in Downtown LA "at least until were old and gray" ALSO loses credibility.

actually, jdr, when I say "old & gray", I'm referring to how long it takes before specific locations, specific type of projs see groundbreaking. after all, a highrise was built & completed not too long ago, meaning the new hotel at LA live. but when it comes to highrise condos or apts now & well into the future? I don't see that happening for a long, long time.

Even the grand wilshire proj that's supposed to start in a few months----although it will at first be nothing but demolition work until the end of 2012----will be a highrise hotel. The 2nd phase highrise office bldg? The owner may get funding for that & begin work on it when you're expecting your first newborn.

however, now that I think of it----since you mentioned the park 5th proj----i do have to sympathize with those ppl who got very disappointed when a lowrise apt bldg was announced across from the convention ctr instead of the flashy libeskind tower. that's cuz I really would like a huge bldg around pershing sq to make a loud, clear announcement that a part of the hood that connects the new west to the old east has finally arrived. still, I hate the large deadzone parking lot at 5th & olive so much that if the owner decides to replace it with a much smaller proj, while I won't be thrilled, I also won't go into mourning.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

Subways would transform the landscape overnight.

but within reason---assuming we're never gonna have $3 trillion to spend on transit----I think you're overemphasizing the positive effect that transit will have on LA. the red line has been open now since 1993----going on 18 yrs---& I'm surprised that, as one example, lots of businesses & ppl still favor working & living in Samo or other hoods far removed from dt.

so if i had a magic wand & could alter one----and only ONE----thing about the city, it wouldn't be so much to have subways every 2 or 4 blocks. It would be to scrap clean lots of the old debris that takes up most of all the hoods throughout LA. LA has way too much shackcity grit & grime than is normal or healthy, & that turns off way more ppl who are familiar with cleaner, nicer cities than whether our bldgs are too short or aren't winning prizes for architectural merit, or whether our transit isn't as good as it can be (& it isn't).

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by citywatch

actually, jdr, when I say "old & gray", I'm referring to how long it takes before specific locations, specific type of projs see groundbreaking. after all, a highrise was built & completed not too long ago, meaning the new hotel at LA live. but when it comes to highrise condos or apts now & well into the future? I don't see that happening for a long, long time.

Oh okay.

I was just responding to what you clearly said a couple pages back, that's all...

Even the grand wilshire proj that's supposed to start in a few months----although it will at first be nothing but demolition work until the end of 2012----will be a highrise hotel. The 2nd phase highrise office bldg? The owner may get funding for that & begin work on it when you're expecting your first newborn.

Yeah the office market has a ways to go. Now... THAT is one thing I don't expect to recover for years, which is why i'm willing to wait longer for the Wilshire Grand Office tower and 755 Fig instead of hotels and condos/apts.

however, now that I think of it----since you mentioned the park 5th proj----i do have to sympathize with those ppl who got very disappointed when a lowrise apt bldg was announced across from the convention ctr instead of the flashy libeskind tower. that's cuz I really would like a huge bldg around pershing sq to make a loud, clear announcement that a part of the hood that connects the new west to the old east has finally arrived. still, I hate the large deadzone parking lot at 5th & olive so much that if the owner decides to replace it with a much smaller proj, while I won't be thrilled, I also won't go into mourning.

Park Fifth has gotta be one of the most desirable parking lots in all of Los Angeles. Right in the heart of downtown, next to a subway station, next to the planned streetcar, and near a beautiful historic district that continues to revitalize.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

That may actually happen sooner than we think. There are talks going on right now behind closed doors to remodel/renovate Macy's and potentially the rest of Macy's Plaza.

TG for that! hope any talk & plans they do have don't fizzle out or get value engineered into a big nothing. but any renovation they do give macys plaza won't be worth it unless they get rid of all the brick flooring used throughout that bldg. not only is the mottled dark brick surface gloomy to look at, but its somewhat bumpy surface is oddly uncomfortable to walk on. but replacing all that flooring alone will take big $$, so who knows whether such a basic wish I have for that mall is realistic or not.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by citywatch

but within reason---assuming we're never gonna have $3 trillion to spend on transit----I think you're overemphasizing the positive effect that transit will have on LA. the red line has been open now since 1993----going on 18 yrs---& I'm surprised that, as one example, lots of businesses & ppl still favor working & living in Samo or other hoods far removed from dt.

so if i had a magic wand & could alter one----and only ONE----thing about the city, it wouldn't be so much to have subways every 2 or 4 blocks. It would be to scrap clean lots of the old debris that takes up most of all the hoods throughout LA. LA has way too much shackcity grit & grime than is normal or healthy, & that turns off way more ppl who are familiar with cleaner, nicer cities than whether our bldgs are too short or aren't winning prizes for architectural merit, or whether our transit isn't as good as it can be (& it isn't).

Agree. Repairing streets, cleaning buildings, etc., will do more than any transit or high-rise.

Transit only works if there is a REASON or DESIRE to go downtown in the first place. Otherwise you could build a train to the Mojave and make it into NY. Likewise, you can build all the highrise you want and they will sit there empty if people don't have a reason or desire to live there. That's where the clean and functional come in.

NY had zillion high-rises and subways, and people were leaving as fast as they could. Giuliani fixed and cleaned the subways and streets, cracked down on derelicts and criminals, and the next thing you know, Soho goes from needle city to unaffordable. No new high-rises, no new subways.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

That may actually happen sooner than we think. There are talks going on right now behind closed doors to remodel/renovate Macy's and potentially the rest of Macy's Plaza.

This would be huge. that place has so much potential.

[ByTheBay]

I don't know who owns the parking lot in front of figat7th but you could see all the way across to Macy's, it would be smart to develop those lots as a link that would bridge those 2 centers together, perhaps as a pedestrian mall. Also there's a lot between figat7th and metropolis and that leaves potential to link all 3 centers together.

[alki]

Originally Posted by tommaso

Eli Broad is carving out his own reality in DTLA. There are hundreds of other brokers like this man, some power brokers, some lower level. These men and women create the physical landscape of the DTLA that we know. We want change here. We want it now. And the moneyed elite are investing here and they walk, talk and spend money here. It's only a matter of time. You just wait and watch. They are as aggressive as ever and they will change our city for better once and for all. We want their money and we want them to spend it without restriction or reservation. We will build and we will build tall and strong. Be ready to tackle the power moves because they are in the works behind closed doors and this city will never be the same again. It's time and we're finally going someplace in L.A., especially in downtown.

OK. We'll see when the first hi end dept store gets built.

[alki]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

That may actually happen sooner than we think. There are talks going on right now behind closed doors to remodel/renovate Macy's and potentially the rest of Macy's Plaza.

I would hope so.......if ever a building could be dead space, Macy's Plaza is in contention. I was punching holes in it back in the mid 90s.

[Illithid Dude]

So, the new bike lane on Spring Street went up, and.... it looks terrible. The rain washed away much of the paint, leaving a ragged, green trail. DistrictDirt, since apparently you worked to bring the bike lane to Spring, do you know of any plans to repaint it?

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

So, the new bike lane on Spring Street went up, and.... it looks terrible. The rain washed away much of the paint, leaving a ragged, green trail. DistrictDirt, since apparently you worked to bring the bike lane to Spring, do you know of any plans to repaint it?

I don't actually. My function with the Complete Streets Working Group has been to work with a couple of other people on the website. I can ask Valarie, but she may not even know, as its sort of in LADOT's hands now.

EDIT: I agree with you though- the bike lane looks terrible and needs to be fixed. I understand they used the thermoplastic instead of paint on the 1st Street lane in Boyle Heights, and that it is faring much better so far. I hope they can redo the Spring St lane with the same material. It is after all the showcase lane, on DTLA's most gentrified street.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

im pretty sure i read on Blogdowntown that the city is looking into repainting the lane

[jamesinclair]

RE: Downtown department store

Originally Posted by Easy

I'm going to guess Forever 21 or XXI.

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Those aren't department stores. Those are just big stores. I did here that Forever 21 was actively looking for a place downtown, though...

And the world's most condescending post.

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

haha i know but its cute that they meant dept stores like Neiman Marcus or Barney's New York and you so confident and serious say forever 21 lol u were so off

Forever 21 is now a department store. Just visit their Fresno location, home to what was once a giant 3 story Gotschalks. Bakersfield has a similar, slightly smaller one, as well. Their Fresno location is the worlds largest, btw. Obviously, theyll want an even bigger one in LA.

Forever 21 has a department store format, besides their old mall-store format. I find it cute that LosAngelesDreamin thinks otherwise.

[BrandonJXN]

Why is Forever 21 still being talked about?