LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 159

citywatch · #**3161** Posted **Jan 29, 2012, 5:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Walked around the neighborhood snapping some photos today, and happened to take one of the theater in question:

TY! That's the first close up pic of the regent I ever recall seeing posted here, so it shows the way the 2 retail spaces have been filled in. amazing what some paint----esp bright red----will do to the life of a bldg. But I wonder why the theater's marquee sign hasn't yet been fully restored or painted?

one disadvantage to retrofitting old bldgs for earthquakes is that unless the work is well done & hidden, fugly steel plates will be exposed on the outer wall. I notice too that the rods inserted into the walls of such bldgs throughout LA rarely are lined up.

I hope other pics you've taken or will take in the future also will be posted here.

citywatch · #**3162** Posted **Jan 29, 2012, 5:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Here's the latest photo update on the progress of the Civic Park revamp...

for anyone who doesn't click to that website, I'll post an image from it....

civicpark.lacounty.gov

^ I thought more work would've been completed by now, esp around the fountain area. One thing ppl overlook when they talk about the lack of easy access to things like the music ctr's plaza & the new civic ctr park is just how hilly that pt of the hood is. I always think of dt as being mostly flat, but the elevation does go up & down around 1st & grand. Ppl may be less willing to drop by a location if there are lots of stairs to climb.

however, I know LAB (or brigham yen) often has complained about the govt bldgs blocking the new park, or how the design of such spaces will discourage ppl from visiting them. But I do know of a nice large green pk in his part of town, in pasadena, that is far more accessible than the music ctr's plaza & the neighboring civic ctr mall. But that park still is strangely empty on most days & most hours of the wk.

btw, you must have missed easy's posting on what he just saw yesterday at the site of the one santa fe proj.

citywatch · #**3163** Posted **Jan 29, 2012, 5:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alki

SOM moved to this building in DT Detroit from one of its suburbs:

when even a city like detroit is getting in on the act of reviving a dt, that shows just how common that change is becoming throughout the country.

speaking of towns in the midwest, & for another segue to projs in dtla, this bit of news may have some importance to the ongoing devlpt of the LA live area...

Quote:

Published January 25, 2012 | Associated Press
Fans are wondering about the fate of football in St. Louis as a deadline approaches for a plan to upgrade the home of the Rams.

Next Wednesday, Feb. 1, is the deadline for the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission to outline how it will transform the Edward Jones Dome into a "first-tier" stadium by 2015. If it fails to do so, the Rams can break their lease — and potentially move — after the 2014 season.

Los Angeles is seeking an NFL team. Rams owner Stan Kroenke is a Missouri native and played a pivotal role in bringing the team to St. Louis 17 years ago. But he owns an estate in Malibu, is reportedly interested in buying the Los Angeles Dodgers and has been noncommittal about the future of his football team.

Adding to the worry was the announcement this month that the Rams would play a "home" game in London each of the next three seasons.

^ I was curious enough about what things are like in st louis that I did a google street view of it. I was surprised that even smaller cities like that, which tend to be overlooked as 'flyover' country, are in some ways cleaner or more well put together than LA

however, a city like st louis does seem kind of zzzzz, but in its own way it's still less gritty than what I'm accustomed to here. same reaction when I looked at mexico city, which I incorrectly assumed would have lots of streets not much better than broadway in dtla. WRONG! So ppl in LA like the mayor & other ppl in govt really do need to get off the stick.

colemonkee · #**3164** Posted **Jan 29, 2012, 7:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by citywatch

TY! That's the first close up pic of the regent I ever recall seeing posted here, so it shows the way the 2 retail spaces have been filled in. amazing what some paint----esp bright red----will do to the life of a bldg.

The Local Tourist Spot has been there for almost a year, if not more. It's a t-shirt shop run by two local artists, who are pretty cool guys. I stopped and talked to them for an hour one afternoon about 10 months ago while walking around taking pictures. I saw them out again last night, and was surprised they were open at 8 p.m. on a Saturday. I think there was some sort of arts "event" last night, though, because most of the galleries in the area were open, which may explain why they were too.

colemonkee · #**3165** Posted **Jan 29, 2012, 7:08 PM**

On the subject of One Santa Fe, I'll be in the area next Saturday and will grab some pics if no one else gets a chance to before then.

Illithid Dude · #**3166** Posted **Jan 29, 2012, 8:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by citywatch

for anyone who doesn't click to that website, I'll post an image from it....

civicpark.lacounty.gov

^ I thought more work would've been completed by now, esp around the fountain area.

A ton has been completed. Ignore the dirt, where the foliage will be. Planting all the trees and bushes will take literally a week. Therefore, it isn't high on their priority list. The rest of the park, though, the buildings and pavement, is what you want to watch out for. That is the part that takes time to complete. It is also the part that is most complete as of now.

Quixote · #**3167** Posted **Jan 29, 2012, 11:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by citywatch

...

btw, you must have missed easy's posting on what he just saw yesterday at the site of the one santa fe proj.

Yes, I did.

I'm just happy to know that prep work has begun at the site, even if actual construction is still a few months down the road. This looks to be a very auspicious year for Downtown:

1) One Santa Fe
2) Angelena (8th and Grand)
3) Courtyard/Residence Inn
4) FIGat7th
5) Metropolis
6) Broad Museum tower
7) Expo Line
8) Spring Street Park
9) King & Grove Hotels
10) Ace Hotel
11) New federal courthouse
12) Farmers Field
13) Civic Center Park
14) Wilshire Grand

Anything else?

colemonkee · #**3168** Posted **Jan 29, 2012, 11:34 PM**

^ The New Genesis Apartments on Main should be finished later this year, as well as the loft conversion of the building on Winston between Main and Los Angeles.

We should also see 1027 Wilshire top out, and possibly, though not probably, come to completion as well.

citywatch · #**3169** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 12:31 AM**

colemonkee & westsidelife, I think you both are forgetting a proj----& a rather major one too----that I also omitted by mistake when I was listing all the projs underway or soon to be underway in the hood a few months ago: the chinatown gateway proj....

maps.google.com

^ in terms of the size of a former deadzone that's being replaced, the gateway proj is one of the biggies now under construction. I recall all the yrs I'd be on broadway going south & coming towards the fwy, with city hall looming up ahead, & see the huge gap to the right, & feel

for that part of dt.

so now & upcoming months----esp somewhat sooner for possible news about aeg & farmers field?----may be a time worth....

Illithid Dude · #**3170** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 12:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Yes, I did.

Anything else?

Everything not announced yet

202_Cyclist · #**3171** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 12:50 AM**

Although it is not downtown, the Crenshaw-LAX line will begin construction this July.

DistrictDirt · #**3172** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 1:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Although it is not downtown, the Crenshaw-LAX line will begin construction this July.

Crazy to think that the Crenshaw Line, Expo Phase 2, and the Regional Connector will all be under construction at the same time around 2014-2015. Don't know of another American city that can claim to have that many rail projects going at once these days.

Easy · #**3173** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 3:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Although it is not downtown, the Crenshaw-LAX line will begin construction this July.

That's what they have listed on their schedule, but I find that hard to believe considering that not only have they not yet selected a contractor, but they haven't even gone out for bid yet. They have sent out an RFQ (request for qualifications) but I don't think that an RFP will be issued until February or March. Probably will be due in April and they probably won't select a winner until May or June. And then the board has to confirm.

LosAngelesSportsFan · #**3174** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 3:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Yes, I did.

I'm just happy to know that prep work has begun at the site, even if actual construction is still a few months down the road. This looks to be a very auspicious year for Downtown:

1) One Santa Fe
2) Angelena (8th and Grand)
3) Courtyard/Residence Inn
4) FIGat7th
5) Metropolis
6) Broad Museum tower
7) Expo Line
8) Spring Street Park
9) King & Grove Hotels
10) Ace Hotel
11) New federal courthouse
12) Farmers Field
13) Civic Center Park
14) Wilshire Grand

Anything else?

Chinatown Gateway and the south park twin 7 story "towers"

Amazing start to the year. i hope we get a few more conversions going and a couple more towers announced this year!

LosAngelesSportsFan · #**3175** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 3:52 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Crazy to think that the Crenshaw Line, Expo Phase 2, and the Regional Connector will all be under construction at the same time around 2014-2015. Don't know of another American city that can claim to have that many rail projects going at once these days.

and if all goes well, the Purple line should start in 2013

Illithid Dude · #**3176** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 4:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Amazing start to the year. i hope we get a few more conversions going and a couple more towers announced this year!

Please announce Park Tower...Please announce Park Tower...Please announce Park Tower...

LosAngelesSportsFan · #**3177** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 4:56 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Please announce Park Tower...Please announce Park Tower...Please announce Park Tower...

Park fifth? that would be ideal. if that project and the park rehab are completed as proposed, 5th street would be built out from fig to los angeles street and almost every building would be maximized as to its usage. i REALLY REALLY wish that project was built.

plinko · #**3178** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 4:59 AM**

OT, but was one of you guys out taking photos along Figueroa at 7th about 4pm today (Sunday)?

Illithid Dude · #**3179** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 5:10 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Park fifth? that would be ideal. if that project and the park rehab are completed as proposed, 5th street would be built out from fig to los angeles street and almost every building would be maximized as to its usage. i REALLY REALLY wish that project was built.

Park Fifth is like my wet dream, but that is not what I was referring to.

This is park tower. I think it is one of the greatest designs of a high-rise proposed right now. It looks like no other high rise, and I love that. The building is only 490 feet tall, so I could see it being feasible as, like, apartments or something. It is proposed for the parking lot across the street from Ralphs.

plinko · #**3180** Posted **Jan 30, 2012, 5:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

This is park tower. I think it is one of the greatest designs of a high-rise proposed right now. It looks like no other high rise, and I love that. The building is only 490 feet tall, so I could see it being feasible as, like, apartments or something. It is proposed for the parking lot across the street from Ralphs.

Where's the 'LIKE' button?