LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

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.

Ah yes, i remember this one. i love it and that would be perfect for that corner

[BrandonJXN]

I was always big on the Park Tower. It reminds me of Los Angeles architecture circa 1964. I really want to see this one come into reality.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

I was always big on the Park Tower. It reminds me of Los Angeles architecture circa 1964. I really want to see this one come into reality.

Exactly what I was thinking. Looks like the American Cement Building to me.

[202_Cyclist]

Easy:

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.

I attended a session at the annual Transportation Research Board conference last week and there was a presentation from the main contractor for the Gold Line extension. I asked him about the timeline for the Crenshaw Line, since it recently received federal environmental approval. He said the ceremonial groundbreaking will be in July, with serious work beginning in Aug-Sept.

[Trojan]

Wonder what this is going to look like.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by Trojan

Wonder what this is going to look like.

Are they doing something to the other two entrances on Hope as well? Or how about the Civic Center entrances? Or the 7th Street Entrances? And strange that this has no publicity. Metro is normally very good about saying what they are doing.

EDIT: I think I found some renderings.







I've always wanted a more standardized approach to the Metro stations, and as such, I really like these canopies. They are very sleek and modern looking, which is exactly what Metro needs right now.

[Trojan]

I just hope the new station canopies have homeless repellant. JK :-)

[LosAngelesDreamin]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

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.

woooow =D i really like this one too... A LOT.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

every time i walk by that empty lot, which is probably 3 times a week, i feel sorrow that this beautiful tower isnt built

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

every time i walk by that empty lot, which is probably 3 times a week, i feel sorrow that this beautiful tower isnt built

It's seems, according to the above image, that CIM wanted a little CIM town to match AEG town down south. Maybe, one day in the future, it will happen. Hopefully.

Anyways...

Something interesting I noticed today. I thought that, for some reason, the canopies I dug up for the metro portals looked a little familiar. Turns out, there was a good reason for why they did.

They have been using that particular canopy for every single rendering of a future subway station. This goes for the Westside Extension, the Crenshaw Subway Stations, the Regional Connector Subway stations. It seems that Metro finally wants some continuity in their station designs. And for that, I applaud them.

[Steve2726]

No longer relevant, but here's another render of the old courthouse design-



http://archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=5858

Should be interesting to see what they come up with instead. Will it merit dancing fruit from Crash or the scorn of Ed?

[LA/OCman]

The just came in from the Bringing Back Broadway team:

Famed Jewelry Designer Tarina Tarantino to join Huizar to Announce New Broadway “Sparkle Factory”


The “Sparkle Factory” will feature a flagship retail store, complete design and production center for worldwide distribution and an art gallery in the long vacant historic L.L. Burns’ Western Costume Building, built in 1914


LOS ANGELES (January 3 1, 2012) – One of the Historic Broadway Theatre District’s diamonds in the rough will soon shine again as world renowned jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino brings her talents to Broadway with the support of Councilmember José Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway initiative.



A press conference to announce the new venture is set for Wednesday, Feb. 1st in front of the venue – the long vacant historic L.L. Burns’ Western Costume Building at 908 S. Broadway at the intersection of the historic core and fashion districts.

The seven-story building will now be home to Tarantino’s “Sparkle Factory,” a multi-use space that will house an innovative retail concept including a TARINA TARANTINO jewelry boutique, design headquarters and production studio. Tarantino is creating the multi-approach project along with her business partner and husband, Alfonso Campos, with support from Councilmember José Huizar and his Bringing Back Broadway initiative.



More details on plans for the 23,800-square-foot, seven-story historic building will be released at the press conference.

TARINA TARANTINO Designs, named for its founder, was established in 1995 and has grown into an international brand with stores in New York, Los Angeles, and Milan, with in-store boutiques in Milan, Tokyo and Osaka. In addition, hundreds of stores around the globe sell Tarantino’s brand. This latest announcement comes on the heels of several others regarding new projects and services coming to Broadway under Councilmember Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway initiative, including the purchase of the United Artists Theatre by Ace Hotel, Ross Department store coming to the historic Woolworth’s building and several restaurants and night-life venues announcing new operations on Broadway.

Who: Councilmember José Huizar; Tarina Tarantino & Alfonso Campos with TARINA TARANTINO; Kent Smith, L.A. Fashion District Executive Director

What: Announcement on new “Sparkle Factory” coming to Broadway from famed Jewelry Designer TARINA TARANTINO

When: 9 a.m., Wednesday Feb. 1, 2012
Lobby of historic former L.L. Burns’ Western Costume Building
908 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 90015

[DistrictDirt]

Interesting. The last thing Downtown needs is another jeweler, but this one sounds different...more arsty, unique, and "concept" than the typical jewelers on Broadway and Hill.

By the way, 908 Broadway is this building:



Apparently its a popular spot for international street artists- there' a Bansky piece on one side, and a Shepard Fairey wheatpaste on the other side.

[colemonkee]

Even if Federal Courthouse were built like that - which it won't - that rendering is so grossly out of scale that it's almost laughable. Those floors on the blank wall portion would literally have to be 20-30 ft. Keep in mind that the building in front of it is a 10 story office building. This thing is behind it, and still appears 3 times taller, despite being only a 16 or 18-story building, if I remember correctly.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

The just came in from the Bringing Back Broadway team:

Famed Jewelry Designer Tarina Tarantino to join Huizar to Announce New Broadway “Sparkle Factory”

While I like the idea, and love that another high-end store is opening up downtown, I don't like the location. At all. The building is super out of the way, way south of where the majority of DT residents live. This means that there will be very little foot traffic, and the store won't do as well as it could. Really, I can't understand what Huizar is focusing so much on this isolated corner of Broadway. It just feels disconnected with the rest of L.A., and has much more dead zones (parking lots) then any other place on Broadway. I'd much rather all of these new buisnesses and hotels to open up over between 5th and 7th Streets on Broadway, which is much closer to the main hub of L.A.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

While I like the idea, and love that another high-end store is opening up downtown, I don't like the location. At all. The building is super out of the way, way south of where the majority of DT residents live. This means that there will be very little foot traffic, and the store won't do as well as it could. Really, I can't understand what Huizar is focusing so much on this isolated corner of Broadway. It just feels disconnected with the rest of L.A., and has much more dead zones (parking lots) then any other place on Broadway. I'd much rather all of these new buisnesses and hotels to open up over between 5th and 7th Streets on Broadway, which is much closer to the main hub of L.A.

I don't mind so much..the south end of Broadway needs some love too. Perhaps all the new businesses opening in that area will help spur some new construction, eliminating some of those parking lots, and forming better connections between the Historic Core and the Fashion District.

EDIT: Also, I was out at that intersection taking photos last Saturday, and I saw a fair amount of foot traffic. Remember, lots of residents live in the Orpheum, Eastern Columbia, and the Blackstone bldgs, plus Pattern Bar, Woodspoon, L'Angolo Cafe, New Moon, and Peace Yoga are all within a block of the location.

[LA/OCman]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

While I like the idea, and love that another high-end store is opening up downtown, I don't like the location. At all. The building is super out of the way, way south of where the majority of DT residents live. This means that there will be very little foot traffic, and the store won't do as well as it could. Really, I can't understand what Huizar is focusing so much on this isolated corner of Broadway. It just feels disconnected with the rest of L.A., and has much more dead zones (parking lots) then any other place on Broadway. I'd much rather all of these new buisnesses and hotels to open up over between 5th and 7th Streets on Broadway, which is much closer to the main hub of L.A.

I don't think you understand the area very well. The Ace Hotel/UA theatre is across the street as is the Blackstone and the Eastern Columbia lofts. The Broadway Bar, the Pattern Bar, the Opheum, the Orpheum lofts, Two Bits Pizza, Wood Spoon, Gary Leonard's Gallery are all steps away. Umami is opening a huge flagship location a few doors down and there is a lot of walking traffic during the day..especially weekends...by shoppers going to the Fashion District. This building is so beautiful I have watched it sitting there empty for the five years I have owned in the Eastern. I am sure someone will snag the building next door as well. 7-11 was interested in the space but the city and residents rejected that proposal. I am hoping the old Herald Examiner Building will reactivate in the near future. 9th Street near Broadway is really quite busy with the Cooper Bldg and the New Mart close by.

[pesto]

It looks like the whole idea of south Bway being easier to redevelop than north of 7th, is now coming to fruitiion. I expect some large new developments to hit there eventually.

In any event, anything from Chinatown to the 10 helps every other piece of DT. It makes for a larger number of things and people that can be reached in 10 minutes without a car.

[Trojan]

What are your guys' take on Boyle Heights being the next 'it' neighborhood, say in 5-10 years? I'm pretty sure Highland Park will continue to see more action (gentrification) this year and next and continue to get even stronger in a couple years. We've seen what has happened in Silver Lake and Echo Park, so what are the possibilities a similar situation will happen in Boyle Heights? I'm sure in some point in time it will happen, but when?

Boyle Heights has good bones:

• new Gold Line stations
• cheap housing stock
• older buildings with history and cheap rents
• new police station and several public schools
• pocket parks and Hollenbeck Park
• very close to downtown and arts district

It has some attractive features, especially the possibility of building up 1st Street where the lightrail runs through. Having access to the Gold Line is a great advantage because people will be able to easily go to downtown and other parts of the city.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

i think its a no brainer. its also close to USC medical with its thousands of employees, Cal State LA and Pasadena.

The draw backs are that its not the safest area, but that can change