LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 155

LosAngelesDreamin · #**3081** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 12:06 AM**

is the tower part of the project for the lorenzo???

BrandonJXN · #**3082** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 12:23 AM**

^ Would you really want to see a Geoff Palmer designed 40 story skyscraper?

DistrictDirt · #**3083** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 12:29 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

^ Would you really want to see a Geoff Palmer designed 40 story skyscraper?

Hell no. Althought I've sort of made peace with his other projects...I mean, at least they're mostly in City West. If he ever tries building anything in DTLA proper though...get out the pitchforks.

StethJeff · #**3084** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 2:43 AM**

Wow, an SSP celebrity sighting. I'm pretty sure that the dude wearing a Dodgers hat in front of the Los Angeles Theatre Center this afternoon was Brigham.

colemonkee · #**3085** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 5:10 AM**

LosAngelesDreamin, no I believe the tower portion of the Lorenzo was scrapped, and that it's just a Type III, 5 or 6 story development.

BrandonJXN · #**3086** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 7:40 PM**

From Bringhamyen.com

Quote:

Earlier this month, some newer renderings surfaced of Downtown LA’s next ground up hotel, the 22-story Marriott Courtyard and Residence Inn by LA Live. And now another rendering courtesy the Central City Association (via Downtown News) gives us another perspective on how the new hotel tower will interact with LA Live and the rest of South Park. The newest rendering is a sea change from the ugly initial rendering released back in April 2011.

Of course, the Downtown LA community is very excited about this new dual branded hotel combo as it adds 393 hotel rooms to a growing South Park district aimed at becoming the next entertainment and convention hub of the West Coast. Urban infill projects like this also increase density, which subsequently adds much needed pedestrian activity to the area. Especially since the ground floor of the hotel will have a restaurant/lounge with outdoor patio seating along the sidewalk facing Olympic Blvd.

The Downtown News reports that the developer of the hotel, Williams/Dame & Associates, stated at a Central City Association panel event last week that they “plan to break ground in March” and “the project is 85% financed and is on track to secure all of its funding within 45 days.” Most of the funding was secured through EB-5 investments from American Life, Inc.

And perhaps we will see more exciting large scale developments happen sooner rather than later in South Park as AEG’s Executive VP, Ted Tanner, reportedly stated that “AEG is eyeing partnerships with other area property owners to spur development along Francisco Street to improve connectivity between South Park and the Financial District. The concept is currently dubbed “Avenue of the Angels.”

Illithid Dude · #**3087** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 8:17 PM**

Quote:

“AEG is eyeing partnerships with other area property owners to spur development along Francisco Street to improve connectivity between South Park and the Financial District. The concept is currently dubbed “Avenue of the Angels.”

This, to me is the most interesting part of the press release. It basically confirms that AEG is going to build more hotels/condos along that street. However, what I don't understand is, why that street? To improve connectivity between South Park and FiDi? Francisco Street is already on the edge of Fidi, and when it meets FiDi it is only surrounded by parking lots before being halted entirely. It isn't even a through street, and goes only as far as the freeway exit ramp before stopping. So, why this street? Shouldn't AEG Focus more on getting rid of the deadzones that surround L.A. Live the getting rid of the dead zones on some no-importance street that will never go anywhere? If I were AEG, I'd focus on getting some of the huge parking lots filled on Figueroa before making this 'Avenue of the Angels'. L.A. Central and Jardin, anyone?

Something like this:

[IMG]

[/IMG]

This is an old model (2007-2008) of the area directly around L.A. Live as it was to be developed at the time. You can see Jardin, L.A. Central, and the Hotel Tower we are talking about now on there. This is how I would like the area to be developed.

EDIT: Interesting to note, any project on Francisco street wouldn't have supergraphics, as that area is not zoned to have such signs.

EDIT 2: That rendering of the new hotel is amazing, and made me really like the design. With all the new buildings that have the night-time lighting, and the new Grand Hotel with the 'Architectural Lighting' L.A. Might just have the best night-time skyline.

all of the trash · #**3088** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 8:18 PM**

that render is a little more reassuring than the daytime ones. of course most buildings in LA look better at night anyway if you catch my drift

BrandonJXN · #**3089** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 8:40 PM**

The nighttime rendering of the Marriott reminds me of the Cosmopolitan in Vegas. And if it looks like the Cosmo at night, then the Marriott will have a pretty attractive night time scheme.

citywatch · #**3090** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 11:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by sopas ej

I'm actually excited about the new federal courthouse, that's great news.

This LA Times article says that "Plans call for the courthouse to be ready for occupancy no later than March 2016."

TG!!!!

the last I heard about that proj was the city wanted to buy the land or swap it for something else. So I really didn't expect to hear any good news about it for months & months & months.

however, since the actual budget will have to be downsized compared with what they originally intended to do, the article says new architectural work will have to be commissioned?! if so, I would think that will force another delay on actual groundbreaking.

citywatch · #**3091** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 11:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

However, what I don't understand is, why that street? To improve connectivity between South Park and FiDi? Francisco Street is already on the edge of Fidi, and when it meets FiDi it is only surrounded by parking lots before being halted entirely. It isn't even a through street, and goes only as far as the freeway exit ramp before stopping. So, why this street?

illithid, the location of the new hotel actually is closer to or right on a spot that is seen by more ppl than anything east of Fig st.

many ppl's first impression of dt is based on what is visible from LA live north to around what will soon be where the new target is located.

The area north of olympic, west of fig also is worse than the lots east of staples & LA live, since the parking lots from Olympic to 9th St also are mixed in with a bunch of

bldgs.

maps.google.com

another thing: the very popular yardhouse restaurant in LA live looks out over the north side of olympic, so for at least that one business, improving the hood to the north is no less important than fixing it up to the east. I remember eating there & looking out over this view.....

maps.google.com

....& thinking that visitors to the hood won't have the most positive impression of it when seeing things like that ^.

citywatch · #**3092** Posted **Jan 21, 2012, 11:35 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pesto

Again, we have to think of DT as DT, not as "let's put some of everything here and hope it all works out". No need for football stadiums any more than for manufacturing, race tracks, power plants, etc. Try to picture Manhattan or central Paris, not Indianapolis or Jacksonville.

but manhattan is sort of like all of LA rolled into one, inc samo, venice, bev hills, koreatown, weho, pasadena, usc, expo park, mid wilshire. So since things are more scattered throughout LA, it's harder to make dt no longer the place where someone will drop by & ask "is that all there is??!!"

moreover, if the owners of LA live & staples can't make the proposed stadium pencil out, attract a new sports franchise to LA & then finally get it developed, this area will be lost for good----maybe forever----when it comes to having a direct share in the most popular sports in the US &, more important yet, hosting the super bowl.

BTW, this part of the country hasn't played host to each yr's most popular event on TV---coming up shortly----since the early 1990s, or almost 20 yrs ago. that represents $$ that have gone elsewhere.

patriotizzy · #**3093** Posted **Jan 22, 2012, 4:39 AM**

Holy cow, LA is getting some cool proposals. LA Live surely is looking to be a great tourist destination in the near future.

ByTheBay · #**3094** Posted **Jan 22, 2012, 10:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

This, to me is the most interesting part of the press release. It basically confirms that AEG is going to build more hotels/condos along that street. However, what I don't understand is, why that street? To improve connectivity between South Park and FiDi? Francisco Street is already on the edge of Fidi, and when it meets FiDi it is only surrounded by parking lots before being halted entirely.

I think AEG is looking ahead, the parking lot that Francisco street dead ends at is the Metropolis site, and the vibe coming from the last Metropolis rendering update was that they're just waiting to see if Target becomes a success before they go ahead with Phase I. With fig+7th, Metropolis and Avenue of the Angels, FiDi to South Park can finally connect at one part of DT without being broken up by a parking lots and that area could end up being vibrant yet kind of intimate. It might possibly be the commercial and retail corridor that Downtown LA needs, maybe steal some of Broadway's thunder.

BrandonJXN · #**3095** Posted **Jan 22, 2012, 5:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ByTheBay

I think AEG is looking ahead, the parking lot that Francisco street dead ends at is the Metropolis site, and the vibe coming from the last Metropolis rendering update was that they're just waiting to see if Target becomes a success before they go ahead with Phase I. With fig+7th, Metropolis and Avenue of the Angels, FiDi to South Park can finally connect at one part of DT without being broken up by a parking lots and that area could end up being vibrant yet kind of intimate. It might possibly be the commercial and retail corridor that Downtown LA needs, maybe steal some of Broadway's thunder.

I've been saying this for a LONG time: The parking lots directly to the north of LA Live is becoming more and more tempting for developers. This picture perfectly details my point.

All of the businesses that are there are expendable (I think a Salvation Army is there). But the amount of space that can be developed on is a lot. The lot behind Hotel Fig is huge enough too but I think a site like that warrants an office tower and I think that's a ways off. Same goes for the lot next to the 801 Tower (which is a very attractive building I must say).

Easy · #**3096** Posted **Jan 22, 2012, 5:37 PM**

I wonder what AEG promoting Francisco Street means for LA Central? Does it mean that AEG thinks that LA Central doesn't need (or want) their help and will move forward without them? Or does it mean that they think that LA Central isn't going to happen soon and they are looking for alternative ways to connect with the rest of downtown? Because to me that appears to be the most important piece of land for LA Live if it wants to connect with the rest of downtown. Connecting to Metropolis is a joke. Maybe Metropolis will happen one day, but I won't take it seriously considering how many reworks and promises they've made over the last two decades. I don't know how serious they are about building anything really. They've never come close to having anything approved or arranging financing as far as I'm aware. It's a larger version of the glass tower.

BrandonJXN · #**3097** Posted **Jan 22, 2012, 6:17 PM**

Why is it that no matter what happens in terms of development in DTLA, everyone has to be so damn negative all the time?

pesto · #**3098** Posted **Jan 22, 2012, 7:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by all of the trash

that render is a little more reassuring than the daytime ones. of course most buildings in LA look better at night anyway if you catch my drift

Easy · #**3099** Posted **Jan 22, 2012, 7:20 PM**

I'm not negative about downtown LA at all. I look forward to a big year this year with many projects that I'm excited about including One Santa Fe (has that broken ground yet?), Courtyard/Residence Inn, Expo Phase 1, The Broad, Farmers Field, and others. However I am skeptical of a few projects and one of those is Metropolis. I know that you've been a cheerleader for this project for years, so I apologize if I struck a nerve.

pesto · #**3100** Posted **Jan 22, 2012, 7:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by citywatch

but manhattan is sort of like all of LA rolled into one, inc samo, venice, bev hills, koreatown, weho, pasadena, usc, expo park, mid wilshire. So since things are more scattered throughout LA, it's harder to make dt no longer the place where someone will drop by & ask "is that all there is??!!"

moreover, if the owners of LA live & staples can't make the proposed stadium pencil out, attract a new sports franchise to LA & then finally get it developed, this area will be lost for good----maybe forever----when it comes to having a direct share in the most popular sports in the US &, more important yet, hosting the super bowl.

BTW, this part of the country hasn't played host to each yr's most popular event on TV---coming up shortly----since the early 1990s, or almost 20 yrs ago. that represents $$ that have gone elsewhere.

That's my point: DT LA standing alone isn't what is relevant; it's just a part of the REAL DT, which is from the River to the sea. It's like someone going to Wall St. and asking is this all there is? Where's the football, opera, theaters? Or going to the Upper West Side and saying, the shopping is really weak here and where's the sports facilities?

These are Jacksonville or Memphis questions, because if you don't see something within 3 blocks of DT, chances are they don't have one. Not so in NY, LA, Paris, London, Berlin, etc.

Same for going ga-ga for the Super Bowl. It's a big deal for hick towns; not so much in NY, Chicago, LA .