LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

Who is we?

Most people (who are afraid to come out and say it), excluding you I guess.

[Kingofthehill]

#politicalcorrectness

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Pink Floyd

You call it "politically incorrect", I call it blatantly racist. There, now I said it.

Nope. I want a Downtown that is commensurate with our city's stature. If it can have diversity, that's a bonus.

It just so happens that "a Downtown that is commensute with our city's stature" also means less "diversity." These shiny new condo buildings will naturally attract certain types of residents over others. So be it. I cannot help that.

[Gram3000]

If you're brown, black, white & have money..WELCOME TO THE NEW DTLA!!!

If you're brown, black, white with no money...go hang out in Skid Row until you're priced out...or better yet GTFO!!

Btw brown ppl are not a race, but of a certain ethnicity/ ethnicity so no one can claim racism. Its more just good ol discrimination mixed with a nice dose of classicism.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

#politicalcorrectness

... is overrated.

I'm not racist. Anyone who's been following me on this board knows I'm a champion of diversity. A place that is 75% Martian doesn't make it any more diverse than a place that is 75% white American. Forgive me for wanting a place that is a middle ground between those two.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by HunterK

And I fully support that.

Anybody who thinks a nice built-in newspaper stand is the same thing as these things is out to lunch though. ThreeHundred don't let your personal issues with me get in the way of seeing that.

Since everyone is saying things, I have something I'd like to say. And it goes a little something like this (hit it!)

Hunter, I don't know you. We've never met. You don't know me and I don't know you. So the issues I have with you are not personal issues because of the simple fact that I am not alone in my thinking when it come's to your posts. If she were alive today, Helen Keller could see and hear the racist undertones in your posts. There is nothing at all that you can say that justifies your repeated history of racist posts. And all of this is coming from a black guy living in Westlake (amongst a hell of a lot of brown people). You essentially insulted me, a person of color, when your world famous quote about brown people and Target glared it's way into the record books. You basically said that I wasn't worthy of shopping at Target. I could say a lot here but I've been on this site for almost 10 years. I don't want to screw that up.

But you are still going to hear it from me. Off topic I know but this needs to be said. And if you are a regular forumer (or even a lurker), then I apologize for this. Race is always going to be a fragile subject and has zero place in this thread but enough is enough.

I said a few days ago that you suck at sarcasm. I was being totally honest when I said that btw. I consider myself a sarcastic person. I'm no Daria Morgendorfer but I know how to read things between the lines. I was born AT night not LAST night. Take what you typed earlier. What you said was this:

These beautiful news stands on Broadway class the place up.

What you meant was this:

Look at these dirty Mexicans. Such low class scum of the earth with their swap meet stores and crappy food places. Why would anyone want a greasy tortilla when they could have a nice meal at Figaro Bistro? They should be tagged and collared and deported to wherever they came from.

I think people would respect you more if you just came out and admit that you have a strong dislike of brown people for whatever reason. People will say, 'HunterK...what an asshole. But at least he's an honest asshole.' But you repeatedly say deplorable things time and time again. And then ignore whenever someone calls you out on your bullshit. Like when you rubbed everyone the wrong way with your 'why are all these people from Westlake shopping here?' Because when I have money in my pocket and a desire to go shopping, I can go wherever the hell I want. And if Maria and Armando wants to come along, perfect. And what was so funny (at least to me) was you went back and deleted about 10 or 15 of your posts. Not really sure what you were trying to accomplish because people who quoted you captured whatever it was you posted.

The ironic thing is that I'm probably wasting my time writing this because you'll read it, say 'meh,' then run off and take a hundred pictures, brag about the amount of pictures you take (as well as being the only person ever in the history of recorded time and space that has ever taken a picture of ANYTHING), throw in some snide comment about something or another, and we'll be dancing in this same circle sometime next week.

And what truly pisses me off is that *some* of the stuff you say I totally agree with. I totally agree that street parking on Spring needs to end and the sidewalks widened. Walking in the street to bypass thousands of people clogging the sidewalk during Artwalk is not fun. But you negate all of that with some of the stuff you say.

We all want DTLA to thrive. None of us would be on this thread (some of us for over 10 years) if we didn't give a shit about the future of downtown Los Angeles. But my vision of downtown is a downtown that everyone of every demographic can enjoy. If a refined gentleman from Bel-Air wants to drive his Rolls-Royce Silver Dawn across town for a glass of 50 year Scotch at The Edison (as an example), so be it. Nothing wrong with that. If Maria Gonzales from Boyle Heights wants to hop on the Gold Line so she can enjoy whatever catches her eye downtown, awesome. As it should. DTLA is transforming before us into a place that EVERYONE can enjoy.

So again, enough with the racist comments. Such low class especially in an age like today in a city like ours who's entire identity is forever braided with 'brown people.'

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

... is overrated.

I'm not racist. Anyone who's been following me on this board knows I'm a champion of diversity. A place that is 75% Martian doesn't make it any more diverse than a place that is 75% white American. Forgive me for wanting a place that is a middle ground between those two.

I like reading your posts a lot. I know from seeing you on here and SSC that you are a stand out guy who loves DTLA and wants to see it grow and improve as much as anyone. And I agree with this post. But rule number 1 when talking about race: NEVER say that you are not a racist then in the next sentence explain why you are not a racist. What you said is basically the same thing as someone saying, 'I'm not racist. I have 3 black friends.' It's not a good look when you can count how many people of a different race you know. Not calling you a racist at all and I hope you don't take it the wrong way.

[blackcat23]

Excellent post, ThreeHundred.

[ConstructDTLA]

Threehundred I'm sorry that you took serious offense to what I said about Target. I wasn't looking at their race as much as the way people acted when I referred to them being the wrong crowd. I don't want to talk about it anymore, I've contributed more than my fair share to this forum since.

When living in the neighborhood and being bothered by the things that we face here it's hard not to get comedic or sarcastic about such things.

I didn't mean what you said about dirty mexicans.. And I don't like Figaro Bistro 1/10 as much as grabbing tacos at Mai's on Spring or in Grand Central.. I will call shitty, temporary, awful-looking structures what they are regardless of who is operating it. It has nothing to do with race.

So can you accept my apology and stop holding a grudge?

[RuFFy]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

I'm not as extreme as HunterK. I have no desire for DTLA to resemble Santa Monica.

That being said, there's a fine line between a place having lots of Martians and the place feeling like Mars itself.

I don't want swap meets lining one of LA's oldest and most architecturally significant corridors. I think it deserves better than that. What's the problem? Do you not agree?

The problem with your reasoning is that many of these buildings didn't see wrecking balls because rents when broadway thrived with immigrant shoppers were comparable to rents on Rodeo Drive. I for one am grateful for the opportunity to have these buildings and am grateful for these businesses. They've afforded us great opportunity to revive LA History. But even more important than the buildings are the immigrants themselves. Latin, Asian, middle eastern. Los Angeles is so beautiful because of this collision of culture and you're def speaking for yourself if you don't appreciate that. As for Hunter K he makes some good contributions, but it's obvious he's still on the outside looking in. He's got an idea of what a city should be, but doesn't understand what LA already is. It takes time. I hope he comes to see it because it really is an amazing place, and so are those immigrants.

[brudy]

They are working on the Alexandria annex now. I've seen the grill up a few times this week and there is definitely work happening at ground level. Quite exciting.

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by Gram3000

If you're brown, black, white & have money..WELCOME TO THE NEW DTLA!!!

If you're brown, black, white with no money...go hang out in Skid Row until you're priced out...or better yet GTFO!!

Who the f@#$ made you king of the neighborhood?

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by brudy

They are working on the Alexandria annex now. I've seen the grill up a few times this week and there is definitely work happening at ground level. Quite exciting.

Thats great news! Thanks for the correction. I'll have to get over there and snap some pics as they work.

[Illithid Dude]

Clearly, since bringing up race issues is not leading anywhere, perhaps it would be better to ignore it all together? I mean, seriously. We're like a dog chasing it's tail, going round and round, never ending. I hate to say it, but we aren't going to catch that tail!

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by RuFFy

The problem with your reasoning is that many of these buildings didn't see wrecking balls because rents when broadway thrived with immigrant shoppers were comparable to rents on Rodeo Drive. I for one am grateful for the opportunity to have these buildings and am grateful for these businesses. They've afforded us great opportunity to revive LA History. But even more important than the buildings are the immigrants themselves. Latin, Asian, middle eastern. Los Angeles is so beautiful because of this collision of culture and you're def speaking for yourself if you don't appreciate that. As for Hunter K he makes some good contributions, but it's obvious he's still on the outside looking in. He's got an idea of what a city should be, but doesn't understand what LA already is. It takes time. I hope he comes to see it because it really is an amazing place, and so are those immigrants.

This is a city that has never been averse to evolution, which is essentially the main narrative of LA (more so than ever since we're trying to get away from the car culture that has now defined our city for more than half a century). The demographics of this city are always changing. Boyle Heights, once a Jewish nabe, is now Mexican. Compton, once majority black, is now majority Latino. San Marino, once WASP, is now majority Chinese/Taiwanese. The same can be said for that other big city on the opposite coast.

Broadway won't be any exception. Ten years from now, most (if not all) of those wholesale retailers will be a thing of the permanent past and they will be replaced with businesses that cater to a markedly different demographic. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we all celebrate the rumor of Urban Outfitters coming to Broadway? I don't understand why, when put in racial terms (with a bit of candor), the reaction is so different? It's the same thing guys. So another demographic will be displaced. Big deal. It's been happening for as long as the city has existed.

[Quixote]

Okay, moving on...

Great pics, Hunter! That's a shitty newspaper stand, but my I just LOVEEEE the new color of the base of the Apex. Much classier looking.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Threehundred I'm sorry that you took serious offense to what I said about Target. I wasn't looking at their race as much as the way people acted when I referred to them being the wrong crowd. I don't want to talk about it anymore, I've contributed more than my fair share to this forum since.

When living in the neighborhood and being bothered by the things that we face here it's hard not to get comedic or sarcastic about such things.

I didn't mean what you said about dirty mexicans.. And I don't like Figaro Bistro 1/10 as much as grabbing tacos at Mai's on Spring or in Grand Central.. I will call shitty, temporary, awful-looking structures what they are regardless of who is operating it. It has nothing to do with race.

So can you accept my apology and stop holding a grudge?

I'm not one to hold a grudge. Especially on an internet forum. But whatever. Post away. And continue to take your great pictures.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Thats great news! Thanks for the correction. I'll have to get over there and snap some pics as they work.

I should just bring my camera in the mornings when I'm going for coffee - that's when I've seen the gate up. I guess they have to build stairs up so they probably have a lot of work to do before we see activity on those floors.

[IMBY]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

I believe MPG has sold it's remaining ownership stakes in Cal Plaza 1 and 2 as of the end of 2012. Probably explains why Cal Plaza 2 is receiving much better marketing as of late.


Across the street, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Grand Avenue Rental Tower is today.

Another rendering, courtesy of the LA Times

I can't believe it, this an Arquitonica-designed building! It just can't be!!!

It's obvious the bean-counters were really counting the beans on this one! Why not just call it the Beans Tower!!!

[kpexpress]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

please elaborate

It's been redesigned.

[IMBY]

After going at a snail's pace for the past few months, the Courtyard Marriott has sped up a little bit.

[/QUOTE]

I've yet to be impressed with the architecture of the majority of Marriott hotels, particularly their Courtyard lines, and after it's finished you'll probably had wished the construction had gone on for 10 years, or they halted construction midway!