LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 162

colemonkee · #**3221** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 10:32 PM**

Not sure if this has been posted here, but more detail on the revival of the Regent Theater from Curbed LA. This will be HUGE for the Historic Core.

Image Source: Curbed LA, via Chris Loos

Spaceland Founder To Run Old Bank District's Regent Theater

Music man Mitchell Frank, the man behind The Echo and the former Spaceland, is the new operator of the Regent Theater at Main and Fourth, according to an email he's sent to area residents. After signing a longterm lease, Frank now plans to bring the theater back to life, with live shows, movies, dancing, special events, food, and booze. Frank writes that he's requesting permission from the zoning department to "permit the sale and consumption of a full line of alcoholic beverages in conjunction with an 11,790 square foot theater/restaurant/bar accommodating 933 patrons on the ground floor and 356 in a 1,780 square foot second story balcony for an approximate total of 1,289 patrons with hours of operation from 8:00am to 4:00am and having live entertainment." He's hoping neighbors will get involved at a community meeting planned for this Saturday at 11 am at the theater. Old Bank District developer Tom Gilmore reopened the nearly century old venue in 2006 (Update: he does not own the theater, as previously written)--it closed in 2000 after serving as a grindhouse and porno palace--but it's only hosted sporadic shows since. Frank hopes to reopen in the fall.

Article Source: Curbed LA

THE BIG APPLE · #**3222** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 10:36 PM**

Many agree that what LA needs is a football team and stadium. But it would feel too new to me. It would take a long time to establish a reputation like the Packers or even the Giants. But whatever can help LA should be done.

LosAngelesBeauty · #**3223** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 10:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pesto

There really is no point denying it. Homeless are not just a problem, they are THE problem if you want families or the middle class to consider buying or shopping downtown. Far worse than SF or NY; people from these towns mention it. What to do about it is more difficult, but this had been discussed before.

Interesting that everyone wants them out (business owners, landlords, tenants, visitors) but they stay.

I couldn't agree more. The homeless issue is probably the biggest impediment to DTLA becoming a place for everyone else. I go to NY very often and can say that the homeless issue is pretty much nil compared to DTLA. In all the times I've been going to NYC, I've only been bothered ONCE in the East Village by some crazy man who said he "Hated everyone from Portland, Oregon!"

ziggy331 · #**3224** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 10:42 PM**

AEG to Unveil Plans for New L.A. Convention Center

"The design is described as "light" and "airy," with references to L.A.'s film history, as well as light columns outside similar to those at LAX.

Renderings also show restaurants and patios outside the base of the hall."

Article Source: http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-aeg-convention-center-plans,0,4244279.story

Can't wait to see the renderings! I wonder where they would place restaurants since this is behind the proposed Farmers Field and next to the South Hall, which would put this over Pico?

DistrictDirt · #**3225** Posted **Feb 2, 2012, 11:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

In all the times I've been going to NYC, I've only been bothered ONCE in the East Village by some crazy man who said he "Hated everyone from Portland, Oregon!"

To be fair, it's easy to hate people from Portland. They have a ridiculously awesome city to themselves, and its just not fair to the rest of us that don't get to live there.

Blueseattle · #**3226** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 12:03 AM**

Anybody know what's going on with the 735 S. Broadway conversion or the 537 S. Broadway conversion? Are they going to be lofts, apartments? They've restored the facade, but the building has been left empty for a while now...

DistrictDirt · #**3227** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 12:38 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blueseattle

Anybody know what's going on with the 735 S. Broadway conversion or the 537 S. Broadway conversion? Are they going to be lofts, apartments? They've restored the facade, but the building has been left empty for a while now...

537 S. Broadway is going to be office space, with a retail component on the ground floor. I also heard something about a possible rooftop lounge...did Brigham do a post about that a few months back maybe?

I don't know anything about 735 S. Broadway...that's the first I've heard it mentioned.

Blueseattle · #**3228** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 12:57 AM**

it was mentioned a while back in august
here's the link
http://blogdowntown.com/2011/08/6365-a-thin-residential-conversion-proposed-for

Illithid Dude · #**3229** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 2:42 AM**

They released the renders for the new Convention Center design, and I can't really tell what is going on, at all. Some shapes? Blue stuff? I dunno.

They said that elements of the design will change. From what I can gather, everything blue is a billboard? That might actually be cool, having the electronic advertising being part of the design of the building. I can imagine dozens of small advertisements constantly changing, in a sort of homage to the materialistic nature of both Los Angeles and the Conventions themselves.

Also, I found this online:

It is a rendering of a hotel I have never heard of. Huh. I guess we will see more of this in the future, as the rendering is recent, and dated August 2011.

Trojan · #**3230** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 4:17 AM**

Has anyone noticed the scaffolding and construction on the building in the middle? It is pretty much an empty building shell.

LosAngelesBeauty · #**3231** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 6:30 AM**

Yeah it'll be affordable housing. I think it's being developed by Meta Housing. It'll be great to see the building restored and activated. Will really complement the future Blossom Plaza when that finishes eventually.

travanx · #**3232** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 6:32 AM**

I am driving my GF to her job over in that area about 4 times a week. It's very interesting as it's close to DT, but not too close. That area is pretty dangerous though. I know she has mentioned shooting deaths and stuff like that recently across the street from where she works.

That area at Mariachi Square seems like the beginning of something larger. I could imagine if there were some more cool bars or restaurants opening in those areas that it could take off in 10 years. I guess the closest you get is the One Eyed Gypsy along 1st.

I have a feeling though that once the edge of this area starts building up, downtown becomes that much better.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

Trojan · #**3233** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 6:47 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

Yeah it'll be affordable housing. I think it's being developed by Meta Housing. It'll be great to see the building restored and activated. Will really complement the future Blossom Plaza when that finishes eventually.

Thanks! Found it. It looks like a nice project.

ziggy331 · #**3234** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 7:08 AM**

I'm excited for the redesigned Gilbert Lindsay Plaza. There's a lot of potential to be had for that space.

colemonkee · #**3235** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 3:59 PM**

^ Interesting. I'm assuming those light blue areas in the plaza will be reflecting pools of some sort?

DistrictDirt · #**3236** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 6:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ Interesting. I'm assuming those light blue areas in the plaza will be reflecting pools of some sort?

That photo makes the new wing look every bit as auto-oriented as the existing convention center is. I wish they were planning more ground floor retail like the Philadelphia does, or like the Washington convention center does (on some sides.) There's a way to build these things in such a way that they integrate into the city fabric, rather than feeling like an alien mothership that has landed.

BrandonJXN · #**3237** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 8:40 PM**

Loving this trend of long stalled projects coming back to life.

From brigamyen.com

Quote:

Thanks to reader Patrick Z for pointing out that one of Downtown LA’s long-stalled mixed-use projects at 8th and Hope St in South Park may be getting some new legs soon. LA city permits were filed late last year (12/15/11) with the Dept of Building and Safety for a new, ground-up “22-STORY TYPE I-FR MIXED USED BUILDING OVER 2 LEVEL BASEMENT: 290-UNIT APARTMENT [5TH - 22ND FLOOR], PARKING GARAGE [B1-B2, 1ST-4TH FLOOR], AND RETAIL/OFFICE [1ST FLOOR].”

Originally proposed back in 2006 by developer CIM Group, the project was dubbed “iHope” that would connect seamlessly into the multi-phase $247 million South Village project, which includes the historic Gas Company Lofts and (Ralphs) Market Lofts. The SW parcel at 8th and Hope (currently a surface parking lot) was purchased by developer Wood Partners back in 2008. (Calls and emails to Wood Partners confirming when ground breaking would be were not returned.) Now as the economy slowly recovers, we are starting to see a variety of new projects break ground in Downtown LA, showing a renewed confidence by developers and investors.

This project when completed will be a significant presence and help connect South Park with the Financial District to the north as it pertains to urban aesthetics and pedestrian connectivity. The ground floor will have retail, which will help activate a very barren intersection currently devoid of any retail space whatsoever. This project will hopefully be catalytic enough to spark a renewed interest in rethinking the bunker-like Macy’s Plaza across the street.

colemonkee · #**3238** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 9:14 PM**

If this actually starts construction this year, we may be looking at the beginning of a mini-boom in downtown.

Illithid Dude · #**3239** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 10:15 PM**

Amazing. L.A. seems to just be rolling down the highway right now. I love it. Also, what excited me most about this project is not that it is being built (though that is exciting), but that this tower is the second building of a three building development. The first was Market Lofts, iHope is the second, and the third? Motherfuckin Park Tower. If Park Tower gets built.... well, I will be a happy camper, to say the least. For a diagram of the three building development....

You can clearly see the three buildings in this picture. This is going to be big...

Also, this makes it four 200 feet+ towers breaking ground in downtown this year. That is a mini-boom by any standards. And it is just the beginning.

BrandonJXN · #**3240** Posted **Feb 3, 2012, 10:51 PM**

I would love to see the Park Tower built. Especially since it seems as though work is continuing on converting the Embassy Auditorium into a hotel.