LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Gram3000]

DAMN IT!! I'll always wonder why Carmel Partners didn't have enough balls nor foresight to of at least had built the 15 story structure and maybe phased out the others or sold off their plots instead, This would've been ICONIC!!

[Chef Boyardee]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Actually, they have done a bunch of stuff around Santa Monica, and were one of the firms working on the Sunset Junction projects. Also, they had a really interesting project in Westwood Village, that was sort of a convenience store. Maybe they weren't working at the level they once were, but they were certainly working. And they closed literally in the past two months, to clarify. Stephan Kanner died in 2010, I believe? Shame, too. L.A. needs all the quality architectural firms it can get. LOHA and Koening Eizenberg, you are our only hope!

Weird sentiment. There are more architects that are known worldwide working in LA than in pretty much any other american city. Whether their fame is deserved is subjective, but it is there. LA has been one of the architectural centers in this country ever since Shindler and Neutra landed here in the 20's. The fact that most of these current architects' work is done elsewhere is another matter entirely.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by Gram3000

DAMN IT!! I'll always wonder why Carmel Partners didn't have enough balls nor foresight to of at least had built the 15 story structure and maybe phased out the others or sold off their plots instead, This would've been ICONIC!!

The Resession altered the state of many projects in DTLA. The Grand Ave project, 8th and Grand, and a few others were put in a state of limbo: are they or are they not cancelled. Do I think that the current 8th and Grand could've been better designed? Yes. The former 8th and Grand was something I would've loved to see built. But am I happy that one of the largest parking lots downtown is being replaced with a nice sized projects that will most likely have a radius effect on nearby plots of land? Absoutely.

But I'm not one to dwell in the past.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by Chef Boyardee

Weird sentiment. There are more architects that are known worldwide working in LA than in pretty much any other american city. Whether their fame is deserved is subjective, but it is there. LA has been one of the architectural centers in this country ever since Shindler and Neutra landed here in the 20's. The fact that most of these current architects' work is done elsewhere is another matter entirely.

Bingo. Gehry Partners and Mophoris are nice, but if they don't build anything in L.A., it doesn't matter. Local firms build in L.A.! We need all the high quality local firms we can get.

[SoCalKid]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

The Resession altered the state of many projects in DTLA. The Grand Ave project, 8th and Grand, and a few others were put in a state of limbo: are they or are they not cancelled. Do I think that the current 8th and Grand could've been better designed? Yes. The former 8th and Grand was something I would've loved to see built. But am I happy that one of the largest parking lots downtown is being replaced with a nice sized projects that will most likely have a radius effect on nearby plots of land? Absoutely.

But I'm not one to dwell in the past.

My thoughts exactly. Just look at that picture posted earlier showing all the surface parking lots in South Park alone. There is PLENTY of space for iconic buildings. Maybe when those all start filling up with development we can complain about projects like 8th and Hope. Although the earlier rendering was far superior, the current one will add density, retail, and foot traffic to DT, which all contributes to a more vibrant Central City. Isn't that what we're all looking for?

[citywatch]

while I can understand the disappointment that some ppl have about the new projs not being as dramatic or exciting as they originally were proposed to be....& I'm still mourning the loss of the parkfifth tower across from pershing sq....for the average person in dt, the fact that new devlpt isn't iconic or taller, or super impressive, is way down on the list of what's important to them.

I've mentioned it before, but when my friend visiting from Nocal & I were in the hood last yr, the thing that turned her off....& me too....wasn't that new bldgs, or any bldg, wasn't taller or flashier, or deserving of a pritzker prize. What seemed to ruin the hood for her, perhaps even more than me, was how much of it is rundown or lifeless....esp all the big, parking lots.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by citywatch

while I can understand the disappointment that some ppl have about the new projs not being as dramatic or exciting as they originally were proposed to be....& I'm still mourning the loss of the parkfifth tower across from pershing sq....for the average person in dt, the fact that new devlpt isn't iconic or taller, or super impressive, is way down on the list of what's important to them.

I've mentioned it before, but when my friend visiting from Nocal & I were in the hood last yr, the thing that turned her off....& me too....wasn't that new bldgs, or any bldg, wasn't taller or flashier, or deserving of a pritzker prize. What seemed to ruin the hood for her, perhaps even more than me, was how much of it is rundown or lifeless....esp all the big, parking lots.

Thats without a doubt the most devastating fallen through development (at least that I know of..). This would've changed downtown as a whole drastically..

[Dale]

Just got back from LA, spent most of one day downtown, my take:

*The skyline is one of the best anywhere. No, not the tallest. No, not the densest. But you rarely find a skyline with such an effective clutch of highrises which, from some perspectives, rise to a natural pinnacle.

*Also, whereas few of the towers are what I would call striking, most are quite handsome. In a world where bad designs equal or even outnumber the good, the notable towers of downtown LA are mostly quite handsome. Think: US Bank, Pacific Gas, Wells Fargo, Arco, Citi, California Plaza, all are easy on the eyes. And the Ritz is a looker.

*Density *from street level* exceeded expectations. And I left downtown with the feeling that it might take an additional day or two to venture down this and that side street.

*$4 to park all day. Are you freaking kidding ? You can't find that cheap in downtown Orlando.

*The 'food courts' are more like food malls. There must be hundreds of restaurants and eating establishments downtown.

*Broadway is like being in another country for a hayseed like me.

*All-in-all a feast for the eyes, ears and nose and am excited about my soon-to-be new hometown.

[Kingofthehill]

Originally Posted by Dale

*All-in-all a feast for the eyes, ears and nose and am excited about my soon-to-be new hometown.

How does one have a "soon-to-be-new hometown?" You weren't born here, right?

[brudy]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Thats without a doubt the most devastating fallen through development (at least that I know of..). This would've changed downtown as a whole drastically..

I agree. This is the one I also wish had made it. Something that massive would have spurred a lot of development in this part of downtown, which in some ways has missed out on a lot of the positive change occurring elsewhere.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

How does one have a "soon-to-be-new hometown?" You weren't born here, right?

No, born and lived all my life in Florida. Moving very soon to LA.

[Chef Boyardee]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Bingo. Gehry Partners and Mophoris are nice, but if they don't build anything in L.A., it doesn't matter. Local firms build in L.A.! We need all the high quality local firms we can get.

Many of the local young innovative firms' work is done in private residences and since a detached single family house is seen as the devil on ssp, their work is never seen here.

[Kingofthehill]

Originally Posted by Chef Boyardee

Many of the local young innovative firms' work is done in private residences and since a detached single family house is seen as the devil on ssp, their work is never seen here.

Oh, come on. People here, by and large, are opposed to unsustainable, autocentric suburban sprawl - not SFRs. Spanish Revivals, Colonials, Craftsmans, Tudor, Second Empire, Mid-Century, Georgian, Victorian (and even some contemporary ones) homes, estates, mansions, cottages, and bungalows are all quite loved here.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by Chef Boyardee

Many of the local young innovative firms' work is done in private residences and since a detached single family house is seen as the devil on ssp, their work is never seen here.

Yeah, I know. I see modern homes all the time where I live. Next door to me, in fact, is an old Marmol Radzener house. But Kanner was a big architect. It's those we need to keep, not smaller, couple-people firms, which we have plenty of.

[Chef Boyardee]

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

Oh, come on. People here, by and large, are opposed to unsustainable, autocentric suburban sprawl - not SFRs. Spanish Revivals, Colonials, Craftsmans, Tudor, Second Empire, Mid-Century, Georgian, Victorian (and even some contemporary ones) homes, estates, mansions, cottages, and bungalows are all quite loved here.

But there's nothing to oppose then. That stuff (valley style tract houses) hasn't been getting built in LA since the 70's. By "LA" i mean LA city. I don't know about orange county, riverside, etc.

[Valyrian Steel]

Additional info on the plans for City Market. First phase could break ground as early as mid-2014. http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/fashi...34d8352-6bc9-11e2-b229-001a4bcf887a.html





Both images by LA Downtown News

[ChelseaFC]

Trying to get a handle on the hotel development situation in downtown. Are there any that I am missing?

Empire Hotel (Trinity Auditorium)
Ace Hotel (United Artists Theatre)
Courtyard Marriott/Residence Inn
New Wilshire Grand
The LA Hotel (former Downtown Marriott)

[LA/OCman]

Originally Posted by ChelseaFC

Trying to get a handle on the hotel development situation in downtown. Are there any that I am missing?

Empire Hotel (Trinity Auditorium)
Ace Hotel (United Artists Theatre)
Courtyard Marriott/Residence Inn
New Wilshire Grand
The LA Hotel (former Downtown Marriott)

Also the Clark Hotel and Spring St. Hotel. Here is info on the latter from the DT News:

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/spring-str...9404dc6-0102-11e2-81cd-0019bb2963f4.html

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

Also the Clark Hotel and Spring St. Hotel. Here is info on the latter from the DT News:

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/spring-str...9404dc6-0102-11e2-81cd-0019bb2963f4.html

Southern California - HOT for hotel development as values exceed cost.

Monday, 28th January 2013
By Leah Dauer Murphy

"Southern California is undersupplied with modern lodging products; numerous projects currently underway indicate that the economic environment in Southern California is ready for new hotel development.

Hotel transactions in 2012 attained high prices per-room, demonstrating the continued strong demand for Southern California hotels by investors and the feasibility of building new hotels, as values of existing product start to exceed development costs.

Southern California is one of the most desirable markets for hotel investors, given the area’s diverse amount of corporate demand generators, numerous leisure and recreational attractions, extensive networks of transportation routes, ample airlift from several international airports, three major convention centers, and pleasant year-round weather..."

http://www.4hoteliers.com/4hots_nshw.php?mwi=10904

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Dont forget the new hotel that will be built on a parking lot on 4th and Spring