LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

but rather that they have a problem with the frequency with which you write nearly identical posts.

I've written before about the city's tallest bldg having more than 40%....again that's 40%!....of its space vacant?! that's news to me! btw, the US bank tower is hardly old & decrepit, so I'd never have predicated it would now be so lightly occupied or struggling to attract new tenants.

If anyone here is less shocked by what that may say about other bldgs in dt in general not filling up fast enough or at all, I'd like to meet them.

the forumers who like to analyze, over & over again, about how tall a new bldg is going to be, or may be....& certainly go , over & over again, when a new bldg isn't going to be as tall as they'd like it to be....must know that the height of one floor of offices generally is always taller than one floor of hotel or residential space. So if the owner of the grand wilshire is confident that there is a need for more offices instead of hotel rms or apts or condos, then their tower will automatically be taller. but if the opposite is true, then don't be too disappointed if they're having a tough time making their proj as tall as many ssp forumers would love it to be.

[Dale]

And the flipside is that it is that I do not suspect that a deep-pocketed conglomerate is demolishing a local icon, merely hoping against hope that it can fill or mostly fill the office component of their project (simply because one particular office tower is ailing).

[JDRCRASH]

Maybe it has to do with the TYPE of office space that's in US Bank.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by SoCalKid

Citywatch, I don't think it's that people don't want you to discuss these issues, but rather that they have a problem with the frequency with which you write nearly identical posts.

Substituting smilies for adjectives doesn't help either. I resent being treated like I'm five.

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Substituting smilies for adjectives doesn't help either. I resent being treated like I'm five.

Precisely.

[blackcat23]

One bit of information regarding the issue of office vacancy in Library Tower: the ownership group, MPG Office Trust, is on the verge of insolvency. They've been selling off a lot of their assets trying to stay afloat, but it's a losing battle. MPG can't afford to keep the property competitive, which is why it sits 2/5 empty despite being a world famous landmark.

MPG is rumored to be considering selling itself off though, so hopefully a new ownership group would be able to get things back in order.

Anyway...

Chinatown Gateway, today.

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by brudy

Brigham Yen is reporting that this Macys will receive it's own makeover as well to bring it to flagship status. Pretty cool, although I'd prefer Saks, Bloomingdales, Barneys, or Nordstrom.

http://brighamyen.com/2012/12/14/ratkovich-plans-major-changes-for-macys-plaza-in-downtown-la/

I almost missed this. Almost seems like we'd be learning to run before we can crawl though, given the current dearth of retail in much of the area. Still, this would be giant step forward.

The fact that Macy's is even considering this for downtown says that they feel the future of the neighborhood is bright.

[Chef Boyardee]

Speaking of retail, i know it's a long ways off, but have the wilshire grand people said what they plan to do with the space where the second tower was supposed to be?

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by Chef Boyardee

Speaking of retail, i know it's a long ways off, but have the wilshire grand people said what they plan to do with the space where the second tower was supposed to be?

I believe it's just part of the podium now.

[colemonkee]

Walking up Los Angeles Street on Saturday, I noticed something about the Ava Little Tokyo project that surprised me - in a good way. I was always under the assumption that Ava Little Tokyo was only the property on the corner of 2nd & Los Angeles, but that does not appear to be the case. The picture below shows the property just to the south - fronting only Los Angeles Street, and bound on the north by the small through street that bisects Block 8 - torn up and getting shoring piles. So it looks like both phases are moving forward at once. Just to give you an idea of this scale of this project now, that means the footprint is twice that of Sakura Crossing in the background.


(Image Credit: me and my phone)

[202_Cyclist]

How far is One Santa Fe from this? When we visited LA in August/September, I remember that Little Tokyo has a lot of potential.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Walking up Los Angeles Street on Saturday, I noticed something about the Ava Little Tokyo project that surprised me - in a good way. I was always under the assumption that Ava Little Tokyo was only the property on the corner of 2nd & Los Angeles, but that does not appear to be the case. The picture below shows the property just to the south - fronting only Los Angeles Street, and bound on the north by the small through street that bisects Block 8 - torn up and getting shoring piles. So it looks like both phases are moving forward at once. Just to give you an idea of this scale of this project now, that means the footprint is twice that of Sakura Crossing in the background.

There are actually four parcels of land there. One is the existing Sakura crossing. Two are the ones getting developed now, and the fourth sometime in 2013 (it's also along 2nd st). Here's an article on Brigham Yen's site with images.

http://brighamyen.com/2012/05/21/new-apa...ate-2012-ground-breaking-in-downtown-la/

[brudy]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

How far is One Santa Fe from this? When we visited LA in August/September, I remember that Little Tokyo has a lot of potential.

Well, it's not right next door, but close enough to walk. Little Tokyo is a great neighborhood now, at least I think so. It's relatively compact, but it's very walkable with a lot of restaurants and shopping and things are open later. It also has two great museums and a gold line stop. It's one of the few parts of downtown that feels consistent, fun, and safe.

I think as the Arts District builds out, Little Tokyo will be the bridge between it and the historic core/financial district. We'll often grab ramen in LT and then walk to the Pie Hole, for example. But it's hampered by the existing infrastructure. 3rd st. is the edge of Skid Row and what's there now, especially on the southern side of 3rd is complete crap (drug stuff). The government buildings on Temple block growth to the north and also to the west/nw. The new buildings on 2nd will definitely help connect it to the historic core and bring more people into the area, but the borders seem pretty set. On the eastern side, Alameda sometimes feels like the Grand Canyon - trying to cross 2nd and Alameda is an adventure in itself.

There are also cultural and demographic factors at play, with the japanese population of the area said to be diminishing.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by brudy

There are also cultural and demographic factors at play, with the japanese population of the area said to be diminishing.

Is everything north of 1st and east of Alameda part of Little Tokyo?

[brudy]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Is everything north of 1st and east of Alameda part of Little Tokyo?

Not sure in terms of official designation, but for all practical considerations I'd say little Tokyo is Alameda to Los Angeles, along 1st and 2nd, with a few things on 3rd (Buddhist temple, Woori Market, among a few other things). North of 1st seems all government stuff to the 101.

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by brudy

There are also cultural and demographic factors at play, with the japanese population of the area said to be diminishing.

The Japanese population in J-Town has really been dying out since the 50's, so this isn't a new phenomenon. A lot of Japanese Americans relocated there after being let out of the internment camps, but moved to other parts of LA as soon as they could afford to.

It still remains a cultural hub, though. A lot of Japanese owned businesses, the museums, plus Nishi and Higashi temples bring a lot of people in on weekends.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by brudy

Two are the ones getting developed now, and the fourth sometime in 2013 (it's also along 2nd st).

it's a nice change of pace to learn of a proj that is going to be moving up its phases of devlpt, or what I originally assumed was going to be a delay in getting work started on the property south of the 1st phase. I remember noting that the planned apt bldgs on the east side of LA st were even more important, if only cuz they'd help create continuity between the improved part of the hood to the east & the proposed community gymnasium planned across the street....which has a red circle next to it. the site shown in colemonkee's pic is the parking lot on the right side....


maps.google.com


pacificcitizen.org


rafu.com


pacificcitizen.org

^ this proj will be a great help in bringing back families to the hood...from sports facilities scattered all over Socal...most of them in the burbs....to dtla. Filling in the gaps across the street from the future gym will help make the gym itself less isolated, &, in turn, filling in the gap that now exists where the gym will go will help give the new apt bldgs a friendlier sense of place.

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by citywatch

it's a nice change of pace to learn of a proj that is going to be moving up its phases of devlpt, or what I originally assumed was going to be a delay in getting work started on the property south of the 1st phase. I remember noting that the planned apt bldgs on the east side of LA st were even more important, if only cuz they'd help create continuity between the improved part of the hood to the east & the proposed community gymnasium planned across the street....which has a red circle next to it. the site shown in colemonkee's pic is the parking lot on the right side....


maps.google.com


pacificcitizen.org


rafu.com


pacificcitizen.org

^ this proj will be a great help in bringing back families to the hood...from sports facilities scattered all over Socal...most of them in the burbs....to dtla. Filling in the gaps across the street from the future gym will help make the gym itself less isolated, &, in turn, filling in the gap that now exists where the gym will go will help give the new apt bldgs a friendlier sense of place.

I didn't realize the Budokan was right across the street! I agree, those two projects together will really lively up that area.

[blackcat23]

Decided to see what the Taste food court looks like inside.



The Greek place was doing very well, seating was pretty much full. The side with the Melt was mostly empty, but that's because it's a larger room built to accommodate multiple vendors.

I walked down to take a look at the double Marriott today, and was surprised to see digging going on at the car wash site.



Unfortunately, all that's happening is tank removal, since they've decided to stop selling gas. The employee I spoke to said he heard that even though the lot had recently sold, construction was still several years away.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

Unfortunately, all that's happening is tank removal, since they've decided to stop selling gas. The employee I spoke to said he heard that even though the lot had recently sold, construction was still several years away.

Do we even know what is planned for that lot?