LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 264

LA/OCman · #**5261** Posted **Sep 17, 2012, 8:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

The Broadway specific plans ends at Olympic Blvd. So one side may have stricter design standards, but one may not. Either way, the community should be pressing the Planning Department to be especially strict on Palmer given his record. Instead of being excited about a development, it's saddening to think what could go there.

We need more residents Downtown ASAP but the Palmer buildings do not fit in to the area around the Historic Core. This building was on the market...does anyone know if it sold? South of Olympic on Broadway has great potential. The photo is from you-are-here.com

http://www.you-are-here.com/broadway/citizens.html

JDRCRASH · #**5262** Posted **Sep 18, 2012, 5:26 AM**

So guys, which bridge design do you like the best?

LA/OCman · #**5263** Posted **Sep 18, 2012, 1:08 PM**

This Slate.com article really put things in perspective regarding Downtown being the transportation hub of the future. This is one of the main reasons I am so bullish on future Downtown development.

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/t...ica_s_next_great_mass_transit_city_.html

LosAngelesDreamin · #**5264** Posted **Sep 18, 2012, 8:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdrcrash

so guys, which bridge design do you like the best?

hntb.

mdiederi · #**5265** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 1:10 AM**

Anschutz Co. has put AEG up for sale.
http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-anschutz-aeg-sale-20120918,0,754304.story

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la...put-up-for-sale-20120918,0,4516139.story

Quote:

"I have worked with both Phil Anschutz and Tim Leiweke for years to bring a football team to Los Angeles," said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. "I speak to both of them on a regular basis and I have known about this potential sale for some time. I have the commitment from both of them that this won't affect plans for an NFL team to return to Los Angeles in the near future and so will not affect my support for moving ahead with Farmers Field and the convention center site."

Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes L.A. Live and the proposed NFL stadium, said taxpayer interests would be "well-protected" in the event of a sale.

“Whoever steps into the shoes of the previous owner would have to fulfill all the responsibilities and obligations as the current owner,” Perry said. “The city has been well-negotiated and well-protected.”

The City Council is due to vote Sept. 28 on a set of financial agreements for the 72,000-seat stadium and a related $315-million renovation of the adjacent convention center.

Muji · #**5266** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 1:21 AM**

Icon Plaza at Figueroa and Exposition has actually been done a couple of months but I dont think anyone's posted pictures of the final product. It does look like outdated 90s PoMo but I'd still consider that a step up from most of the new construction around USC these days. From campus, the building is actually quite visible from Childs Way, nearly all the way to Vermont Avenue.

Illithid Dude · #**5267** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 1:54 AM**

Wow. Icon turned out a hell of a lot better then I thought it would. I know, it isn't great, but from the rendering, I expected the worst. Where I thought there would be red spray on stucco, there is brick. From where I thought there would be beige ghetto McMansion stucco there is smooth, white stucco. Sure, it isn't perfect, or even good, but sometimes, adequate is all you need. Is there ground floor retail?

Muji · #**5268** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 2:35 AM**

I remember that the project does include ground floor retail. I haven't actually walked along that side of the street but it doesn't look like any of the retail spaces are open just yet.

SoCalKid · #**5269** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 2:55 AM**

Does the potential sale of AEG endanger the Farmers Field project? Anschutz is the 34th richest man in the US, and his corporation is one of the biggest in this sector. It seems unlikely that there is anyone with deeper pockets to pick up where he left off.

On a side note, here's Los Angeles Downtown News' quarterly update on developments. It looks like things really are picking up!

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/developmen...358635a-fec0-11e1-b98c-001a4bcf887a.html

Illithid Dude · #**5270** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 3:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

Does the potential sale of AEG endanger the Farmers Field project? Anschutz is the 34th richest man in the US, and his corporation is one of the biggest in this sector. It seems unlikely that there is anyone with deeper pockets to pick up where he left off.

On a side note, here's Los Angeles Downtown News' quarterly update on developments. It looks like things really are picking up!

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/developmen...358635a-fec0-11e1-b98c-001a4bcf887a.html

No. As far as I know, AEG was pretty much separate from Anschutz, with a few exceptions. There shouldn't be an issue. And AEG is a big company in its own right! It's worth a couple billion dollars, if I remember correctly.

pwright1 · #**5271** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 4:29 AM**

I took a stroll down Broadway and checked out the new Figaro Bistro u/c next to the Palace Theater. Looks quite nice. Can't wait.

blackcat23 · #**5272** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 4:40 AM**

^^Great pictures. Thanks!

Quixote · #**5273** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 4:59 AM**

All the recent photos I've seen of Broadway show its sidewalks to be immaculately clean. Times have certainly changed.

Coming to Broadway within the next year:

1) Figaro Bistro
2) Ross Dress for Less
3) Ace Hotel
4) Sparkle Factory
5) angelo:Home
6) Urban Outfitters (?)
7) Clifton's Cafeteria (renovation)
8) Palace, Los Angeles, State, and Tower Theaters (entertainment/restaurant/bar)
9) Parker & Barrow

Recent additions:

1) UMAMIcatessen
2) Famima!!
3) Two Boots Pizza

Momentum is building and building.

LAofAnaheim · #**5274** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 6:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muji

I remember that the project does include ground floor retail. I haven't actually walked along that side of the street but it doesn't look like any of the retail spaces are open just yet.

Starbucks has signed to open at the Icon by USC.

Y'all remember articles in the Neon Tommy how people complained about losing the Chevron? IMHO, the street corner looks much safer with a dense residential development like the Icon than the Chevron gas station. This is good development!

RuFFy · #**5275** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 2:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

No. As far as I know, AEG was pretty much separate from Anschutz, with a few exceptions. There shouldn't be an issue. And AEG is a big company in its own right! It's worth a couple billion dollars, if I remember correctly.

A couple billion dollars that could be used to buy a football team and leverage even MORE development. And then there's that other thing the NFL commissioner was looking for in a stadium site... the ability to develop it. It's pricey I'm sure, but it may benefit the NFL not to just be in Los Angeles, but to own a chunk of glitzy land with plenty of opportunity to develop it. Who knows... but we're going to find out.

pwright1 · #**5276** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 3:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

The same people who think of Santa Monica when you say 'Lets go to Third Street.' Things sound much better when they are organic. And I'm not talking about Trader Joes.

DTLA should have retail yes but a mall? No. We already have a crappy one (Macy's Plaza). I'd be 100% on board if Macy's Plaza were to undergo a Santa Monica Place type renovation but I don't want to see malls all over DTLA. If there WERE to be a mall, it should be something like LA Central. Or just build LA Central.

It's to bad those jewerly stores along Hill and a few other streets have the best storefronts dt. They're horrible imo and most close way to early. It would be so nice if they were replaced with nice retail.

citywatch · #**5277** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 4:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

And of course Citywatch would find something to complain about with said new project.

illithid, you need to read more carefully. I said nothing bad about that or any proj involving astani & his former angelena proj. I merely was bothered...& worried...that the more visible of the 2 projs, which would sit on a large piece of land closer to the heart of dt, would be delayed. That may be a bit more likely since the new owner is based in nocal &, unlike astani, may take less of a personal interest in improving the hood.

btw, it seems like whenever any new proj is talked about on this board, there almost is always at least a few forumers saying something negative about the design, or complaining about the bldg not being taller, or unhappy cuz the proj won't have any stores on the 1st floor. I'm generally not among those ppl.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Muji

Icon Plaza at Figueroa and Exposition has actually been done a couple of months but I dont think anyone's posted pictures of the final product.

thanks for the pics. that proj went up fast! seems like it was just a few months ago that they had broken ground & were starting to replace the former gas station.

Quote:

Originally Posted by pwright1

I took a stroll down Broadway and checked out the new Figaro Bistro u/c next to the Palace Theater.

another "thanks for the pics".

You have a knack for coming up with the best, most helpful shots of things. whenever I see your name next to a thread in the "my city photos" forum, I always welcome it & say "I know these pics likely will be very good"!

As for the jewelry stores, while most of them have forgettable facades, I think they're less

than most of the swapmeets on broadway. The hood can also handle only so much retail, so if the jewelry trade were to vanish from dt, there'd be either alot of empty storefronts or we'd end up with more of the really bad swapmeets that are still a big part of broadway.

pesto · #**5278** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

Starbucks has signed to open at the Icon by USC.

Y'all remember articles in the Neon Tommy how people complained about losing the Chevron? IMHO, the street corner looks much safer with a dense residential development like the Icon than the Chevron gas station. This is good development!

What was your first clue?

Safer, better, prettier, more urban, more useful. You name it.

BrandonJXN · #**5279** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 5:39 PM**

I quite like Icon Plaza. Fits right in with USC.

pesto · #**5280** Posted **Sep 19, 2012, 5:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuFFy

A couple billion dollars that could be used to buy a football team and leverage even MORE development. And then there's that other thing the NFL commissioner was looking for in a stadium site... the ability to develop it. It's pricey I'm sure, but it may benefit the NFL not to just be in Los Angeles, but to own a chunk of glitzy land with plenty of opportunity to develop it. Who knows... but we're going to find out.

If Anschutz takes cash for the shares of AEG from an investor interested in LA, that's taking money out of LA (that is, someone who could have spent the money investing in LA instead gave it to a Denver based company). But, the good news is that it is likely to be someone willing to put more money into LA since you rarely buy businesses without thinking you can improve them.

We are prersumably talking heavy hitters, so Dr. Soon-Shiong has quickly come up. For example, he could want all of it or may buy them so as to own the Kings and Galaxy and sell off the other assets and projects to whoever is interested. Continuing the speculation, Spanos or Kroenke could be interested in buying the Farmer's Field project.

So it's too early to see the full ramifications, but they should be interesting.