LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 273

ConstructDTLA · #**5441** Posted **Oct 4, 2012, 11:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

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

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.

I completely agree with you. It made me pretty sad.. Using that entire ground level for a residents only deal is a crime, and definitely the OLD DTLA way of thinking.

Illithid Dude · #**5442** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 12:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

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

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.

Do it. Though, normally, changes like this have to go through City Council, right? And I'm not sure how reliable this source is anyways, as every other source says that Tower II will be built sooner then not.

citywatch · #**5443** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 4:11 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

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).

Heres a couple pics. I took a bunch but I don't want to waste space in this thread if its not what people want to see.

please don't apologize for posting pics like those in this thread. Your pics help keep the dtla proj page alive. btw, if anything, apex should pay you for giving the public a good idea of what the interior of their apt bldg is like.

You don't identify who made the comments about the 2nd tower being built over 5 yrs from now, &, even more so, his or her saying for that to occur, the current owner will have to....or wants to?....be bought out.

the first part sounds reasonable, but only cuz I recall the devlpr of the apt tower at Olympic & Fig saying over 3 yrs ago (?) that their bldg wouldn't have penciled out if they began construction around the time they finally completed their proj & opened its doors to tenants. But then how is the devlpr of the apt tower at 8th & Hope st.....which supposedly will break ground shortly....managing to get their proj to pencil out?

Unless you were talking to a bigwig in the company that owns apex, or maybe a spouse of the owner....or something like that....the comment that the 2nd tower will be built only if they sell their ownership of the land sounds like the type of info that would be considered confidential. Or something that only authorized ppl would be allowed to talk about. if so, & what you were told actually was just hot air, then I wonder if the person you spoke with was trying to be a know it all, & likes making prospective renters a victim of idle gossip.

Mojeda101 · #**5444** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 7:20 AM**

Shame about tower 2. The parking guard made me feel so sure that it was possible in the near future, but 5 years!? Wilshire Grand and Farmers Field will be done by then! Let's home something happens and the demand is there.

SoCalKid · #**5445** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 7:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

Shame about tower 2. The parking guard made me feel so sure that it was possible in the near future, but 5 years!? Wilshire Grand and Farmers Field will be done by then! Let's home something happens and the demand is there.

I would imagine that if Farmers Field were to get built, the whole market would radically change in South Park, and the Apex II tower would be built as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the developer is waiting to see what happens with Farmers Field before even doing the math for the second tower. Fingers crossed that the new owners of AEG can get a team to LA sooner rather than later.

ziggy331 · #**5446** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 3:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

I would imagine that if Farmers Field were to get built, the whole market would radically change in South Park, and the Apex II tower would be built as well. I wouldn't be surprised if the developer is waiting to see what happens with Farmers Field before even doing the math for the second tower. Fingers crossed that the new owners of AEG can get a team to LA sooner rather than later.

Not to mention the streetcar. That's another game changer IMO

RuFFy · #**5447** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 5:59 PM**

The biggest game changer for downtown, IMO, will be the Regional Connector. It'll make the Financial District a 1 seat ride for a lot of people. It'll also increase the talent pool for downtown and increase the appeal of having an office/business downtown.

LAofAnaheim · #**5448** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 7:16 PM**

If you guys have never been, I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE y'all to go to cicLAvia on Sunday. Look at how marvelous downtown becomes when pedestrians and cyclists take over the city. By walking and cycling you'll enjoy more of the city's beauty than riding along in your car. As an added, take Metro rail. Metro will be doing rush hour train service all day on Sunday. Full 6 car subway trains and 3 cars on the Gold, Blue and Expo. Have fun on Sunday and enjoy cicLAvia!

Note: this was a game changer event and helped boost cycling in LA!

BrandonJXN · #**5449** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 7:26 PM**

I imagine there to be a large turn out due to those that are going to arrive via the Expo Line.

LAofAnaheim · #**5450** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 9:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

I imagine there to be a large turn out due to those that are going to arrive via the Expo Line.

True, first cicLAvia with the Expo Line!

StethJeff · #**5451** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 10:17 PM**

CicLAvia is arguably one of the best events in and for DTLA. Loads of fun, tons of people, very chill, and an overall very positive attitude among the throngs that's difficult to describe to those who have never been. I now change my call schedule ahead of time for future events.

Hope everyone makes it out.

And expect the entire Metro system to be somewhat packed on Sunday.

ConstructDTLA · #**5452** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 12:18 AM**

I'll be there. CivLAvia is some of the most fun I've ever had.

DistrictDirt · #**5453** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 4:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

I'll be there. CivLAvia is some of the most fun I've ever had.

Wifey and I will be there too! Wouldn't miss it.

Quixote · #**5454** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 6:01 AM**

Per Brigham's very informative blog, City Target at the revamped Figat7th opens on October 14th. And as already mentioned, Sprinkles Cupcakes will be a tenant.

In other news... I just found out that there's a Corner Bakery in DT (across from 777 Figueroa). Am I the only one who didn't know that?

Mojeda101 · #**5455** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 6:14 AM**

Going back to Downtown next weekend to grab more pictures. Unfortunately I won't this weekend since it's a bit too soon. I hope Onni's site is fenced off by then. Would be nice to have three towers going up at the same time. The thread would finally constantly be updated with all the updates =]

pwright1 · #**5456** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 8:27 AM**

Also Grand Park will finally open phase 3 in front of City Hall on Saturday. The entire park will have festivities and live music throughout the day and into the night.

SoCalKid · #**5457** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 6:55 PM**

I was in downtown yesterday and was very excited by what I saw going on. 7th street was so active it could've been Manhattan, literally. Granted I was walking around at 1:30, so part of that could have been an end of lunchtime boost, but it felt very diverse. I took some pictures of Figat7th because I was so impressed by the entrance, but Brigham Yen has much better and more extensive photos on his blog so check that out if you're interested. I think I have been underestimating that project because I thought of it as a "mall". But after really checking out the finished product I've changed my mind. It interacts with the sidewalk very nicely, and will definitely activate that part of the street. Its entrance looks very urban; it almost reminded me of something you would see in time square (not that we want Fig to become Time Square-like, but it looks really cool in this case)

I also swung by eighth and hope to check out the progress there. The fences were up with a sign for the construction company, and workers were using a large machine to bore holes in the ground. I'm no engineer and have no idea what that is for, but it looked like they're really beginning work!

I'm very bullish on Downtown. With Farmer's Field (hopefully) on the way, Bringing Back Broadway and the streetcar, the recently opened Grand Park, a scaled-down but likely still impressive Grand Avenue Project, the Wilshire Grand, and the rapid expansion and improvement of rail with DT as the central point, Downtown is set to become one of the most impressive urban cores in the country in the next decade or two. Move aside SF, LA is here to claim the title of California's best in urbanity.

Mojeda101 · #**5458** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 7:08 PM**

Anyone else going to downtown to see the show at Grand Park today? They are going to finally open the lawn at 4pm, and the park will be complete! There's supposed to be a ton of live music, notably world class jazz. On the other side, there will be a show of pyrotechnics which I will definitely attend! If you're going, you're going to want to stay a while because at 7:45, they are going to be Bandaloop dancers on the exterior of city hall! I'll be sure to get pictures of the event for you guys!

Since SoCalKid mentioned it, I might head on over to eight and hope to see the little progress if I have time.

BrandonJXN · #**5459** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 7:09 PM**

Why have there never been any serious proposals of ANY kind for the huge lot on 8th and Figueroa? That lot is prime real estate.

ConstructDTLA · #**5460** Posted **Oct 6, 2012, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

Anyone else going to downtown to see the show at Grand Park today? They are going to finally open the lawn at 4pm, and the park will be complete! There's supposed to be a ton of live music, notably world class jazz. On the other side, there will be a show of pyrotechnics which I will definitely attend! If you're going, you're going to want to stay a while because at 7:45, they are going to be Bandaloop dancers on the exterior of city hall! I'll be sure to get pictures of the event for you guys!

Since SoCalKid mentioned it, I might head on over to eight and hope to see the little progress if I have time.

I'll be there at least for the Bandaloop deal. Sounds pretty cool!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

Why have there never been any serious proposals of ANY kind for the huge lot on 8th and Figueroa? That lot is prime real estate.

1st post of this thread. 8th & Fig, 40 story hotel.