LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Absolutely. Supposedly theres a good chance it will be built..

I asked and that's what the parking guard told me. If I recall correctly, I walked up while a car was leaving and I asked, "do you know if they are still building the second tower?" and he looked and me and said "I was actually talking with my co-worker about that earlier. We asked our boss and he told us if all the units are leased in a short amount of time, and the demand is there, tower 2 will be on their to-do list." I nodded and said thanks and left.

So anyone who wants to move, get a spot at the Apex tower, and let's get tower 2 built =]

[Easy]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Damn I've been meaning to try that juice place too.

O well, Wetzels deliciousness it is. I hope they do well.

Where the Rush Snack Bar used to be? When did that close?

I guess that I had noticed a couple of times that the snack bar was closed a while back and also did see that it looked different recently, but hadn't realized that it had actually changed to a new business. That has evidently also folded now.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

Zen hasn't made a peep in years one way or another so who knows really?

True. IIRC Brigham was the one that broke the news about Zen on this forum and that was well before he had his current blog or even the one before that. Some secret Asian investors wanting to build a thin Asian tower (which I don't like btw). It had to be at least 7 years ago. I don't recall hearing much of anything after that other than speculation here. In my mind Zen was dead even before the last "boom".

[BOYCOTT 90210]

Does anyone know how the leasing is doing at the Brockman? If it's going well, it will be interesting to see that luxury apartments are actually being leased and hopefully that will translate to APEX. But I swear, every time I walk by the Brockman building, the windows still seem dirty. Are they clean and it's just cause the windows are old?

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by BOYCOTT 90210

Does anyone know how the leasing is doing at the Brockman? If it's going well, it will be interesting to see that luxury apartments are actually being leased and hopefully that will translate to APEX. But I swear, every time I walk by the Brockman building, the windows still seem dirty. Are they clean and it's just cause the windows are old?

As far as I can recall, The Brockman was leasing at an extraordinarily fast rate. If the only barrier to Tower 2 being built is leasing (which it isn't, I know, but for arguments sake...) then I expect to see cranes in the air very soon.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by BOYCOTT 90210

Does anyone know how the leasing is doing at the Brockman?

Their website currently shows that out of 80 units, 41 are leased, 39 still are available. So the bldg is a bit more than 50% full.....not sure how up to date their info is, but I'm guessing it's kept refreshed by the owners...or their webmaster....so it's probably fairly reliable.

one of the few devlprs of apt bldgs in dt whose website has always provided to the public a list of the specific apts that are unleased in their projs is GH Palmer, the owner of the dreaded faux euro bldgs. that's always made it easy for me to know what kind of response his apts have gotten from prospective apt users. He was the first person around the start of the 21st century to add large new apt bldgs to dt....I still remember him saying he was worried his projs would swamp the hood....that he'd cause too much product, not enough demand.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

So we're definitely calling this building "the Radiator", right?

I don't care for that design.....it looks kind of to me, or sort of goofy doofy.

I was hoping the original design was going to be kept but downsized, if only cuz I thought that would allow a shorter length of time before work....meaning an actual groundbreaking.....begins on the new courthouse.

as for the location of the new apt tower at 8th & hope, & the apt proj at 2nd & LA sts,...the fence around the lot across from the double tree hotel....formerly the new otani....has always been there....it's just now covered with a green tarp....so I definitely await word on actual workers & equipment moving into that property before it can be considered a startup.

I still recall all the excitement that was caused when a large wood construction wall went up around the block....on Fig across from Staples ctr....where the LA central proj was supposed to be built. We all know how that turned out.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

great update!

Those markings at IHope are new, they are probably for utility relocation.

The Embassy has had a lot of work on it, especially the roof, since the announcement, although its been pretty quiet for about a week now.

Ace hotel is gonna be one of the best in the entire city. cant wait for that. Game changer for broadway for sure.

[Kingofthehill]

Christ, that Ace Hotel is going to incredible!

[LA/OCman]

HunterK:

I was concerned about the lack of progress on the Sparkle Factory buiding and was told last week by the Bringing Back Broadway folks that the renovation was "underway but they have a lot of work to do"...ETA maybe a year to complete. I also asked about if there would be sidewalk dining at the new Figaro Bistro on Broadway and the answer was "YES"! I said the model for sidewalk dining should be Baco Mercat. Here is a pic from "MyLastBite" blog of the greenery and seating at Baco:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylastbite/7165350607/

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

HunterK:

I also asked about if there would be sidewalk dining at the new Figaro Bistro on Broadway and the answer was "YES"! I said the model for sidewalk dining should be Baco Mercat. Here is a pic from "MyLastBite" blog of the greenery and seating at Baco:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylastbite/7165350607/

I agree that the way Baco did it is pretty nice. A little barricade-ish but looks nice nonetheless.

That is a bold move for Figaro to have patio seating. That area of Broadway is still quite unappealing (to put it nicely). I hope their menu is approachable and the place is a hit!

[colemonkee]

Umamicatessen and Los Angeles Brewing Company already have sidewalk dining on Broadway, and when they opened, people said the same thing. And I see people enjoying themselves in both spaces every time I walk or drive by. I don't think it will be any less of an issue than it is for Pete's or Baco Mercat, who have the same issues with homeless panhandling and much narrower sidewalks to handle the pedestrian traffic.

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

HunterK:

I was concerned about the lack of progress on the Sparkle Factory buiding and was told last week by the Bringing Back Broadway folks that the renovation was "underway but they have a lot of work to do"...ETA maybe a year to complete. I also asked about if there would be sidewalk dining at the new Figaro Bistro on Broadway and the answer was "YES"! I said the model for sidewalk dining should be Baco Mercat. Here is a pic from "MyLastBite" blog of the greenery and seating at Baco:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mylastbite/7165350607/

further solidifies my opinion that baco is the best freaking restaurant ever.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

further solidifies my opinion that baco is the best freaking restaurant ever.

Agreed! When we visited LA over Labor Day, we went to Baco Mercat for dinner and it was absolutely delicious and a nice atmosphere outside. We also went to the restaurant/bar next door beforehand b/c the wait was an hour for a table and that restaurant had very good truffle french fries.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Petes bar must make a killing just from people waiting for Baco, cause ive done that every time ive been to Baco lol

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Petes bar must make a killing just from people waiting for Baco, cause ive done that every time ive been to Baco lol

Yep. I also enjoyed a good Belgian beer there that must have had 10% alcohol as well.

[JDRCRASH]

Curbed has updated the courthouse article and is reporting that the renderings are indeed a decade old.

[BOYCOTT 90210]

Hello fellow Downtown lovers, I heard there's a Sprinkles Cupcake sign up at Fig at 7th! Great news!

[SD_Phil]

^Great photos and a nice view in that last one. Those are pretty steep though I'll admit to being completely ignorant about what the market rate is in that area for lofts and/or apartments.

[colemonkee]

Thanks for the update - and the detective work - HunterK.

Originally Posted by HunterK

They bought the Apex plans specifically for this building with NO intention of building Apex Tower II, where Tower II SHOULD be is going to be filled in and be a gravel / grass area (gated off for Apex residents). I was told if Apex Tower II DOES happen it won't be for at least 5 - 7 years (when a new company buys them out).

Not only is this horrible from an urban design standpoint (gating off nearly an entire span - and converting ground level retail space along Figueroa to a private amenity space - but it's a pretty shitty amenity for the residents. Who wants to use a "private green and gravel" space surrounded by gates and a 4-story concrete wall?

I sincerely hope these guys only lease 5 of these units and are forced to sell to a deeper-pocketed developer with more urban experience and a sense of place. I have the right mind to write the City Council to protest this.