LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 357

Dale · #**7121** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:43 PM**

Very pleasantly surprised here.

brudy · #**7122** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:46 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

Awesome!

It's not amazing, but its nice. If he builds that I will withdraw my negative opinion of him.

Yep, it's not too bad. I'm glad the city has those design standards in place, otherwise I'm sure it would have been worse. We need to see more though, since that lot is fairly large.

Kingofthehill · #**7123** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:48 PM**

Yeah, it actually doesn't look bad!

ConstructDTLA · #**7124** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:48 PM**

The more I look at this the more I like it.

Could be the start of a good (historic inspired) direction for new developments in downtown.

Built it already!

202_Cyclist · #**7125** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:51 PM**

Pedestrian bridges are absolutely awful urbanism and help to reduce vibrant street-life. That should be removed from this building.

202_Cyclist · #**7126** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

Yeah, it actually doesn't look bad!

You and District Dirt have both lived in DC. It doesn't look bad, but it looks like the 9-12 floor retro-style buildings that seem to be the only thing built in Washington.

brudy · #**7127** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

The more I look at this the more I like it.

Could be the start of a good (historic enspired) direction for new developments in downtown.

Built it already!

One thing I'd like to be made clearer is the setback - are those columns decorative or actually supporting something - creating an overhang in front of the retail spaces?

BrandonJXN · #**7128** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:57 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Pedestrian bridges are absolutely awful urbanism and help to reduce vibrant street-life. That should be removed from this building.

I disagree. Minneapolis is known for it's numerous skybridges that connect buildings downtown. Sure they were designed with weather in mind (what with Minneapolis's frigid winters) but downtown Minneapolis is thriving just fine with them.

http://s3.amazonaws.com/production.mediajoint.prx.org/public/piece_images/128529/sky1.jpg

ConstructDTLA · #**7129** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brudy

One thing I'd like to be made clearer is the setback - are those columns decorative or actually supporting something - creating an overhang in front of the retail spaces?

It will be interesting to see. When it's completed this block will be bustling!

It's not perfect. But IMO better (looking) than whatever tower goes at 4th/broadway, 9th/olive, 8th/grand, 8th/hope. Call me crazy.

brudy · #**7130** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 6:59 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

Pedestrian bridges are absolutely awful urbanism and help to reduce vibrant street-life. That should be removed from this building.

What would be the point of the bridge here? Consolidating amenities in one building and residents could access them without going outside? Easier maintenance? Or just a bit of "iconic" Palmer design? I can understand bridges in his other complexes, but it just doesn't make sense here.

blackcat23 · #**7131** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

It will be interesting to see. When it's completed this block will be bustling!

It's not perfect. But IMO better (looking) than whatever tower goes at 4th/broadway, 9th/olive, 8th/grand, 8th/hope. Call me crazy.

We haven't even seen a rendering for 4th/Broadway.

202_Cyclist · #**7132** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:01 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

I disagree. Minneapolis is known for it's numerous skybridges that connect buildings downtown. Sure they were designed with weather in mind (what with Minneapolis's frigid winters) but downtown Minneapolis is thriving just fine with them.

Skybridges don't make the connection

"Skybridges also foster less public investment in the street. After all, if people are supposed to cross upstairs, we don't need those crosswalks any more. Maybe we can get rid of this light. How about an extra turn lane in front of this new complex? Wouldn't traffic move better with a flyover ramp in addition to the walkway? And before you know it, the street that was formerly a suburban arterial has practically turned into a freeway—the exact opposite of the boulevard citizens want. Once you take away pedestrians, there's no reason to engineer what remains for pedestrians, and the cycle of auto dependency gets deeper..."

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/654/skybridges-dont-make-the-connection/

ConstructDTLA · #**7133** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcat23

We haven't even seen a rendering for 4th/Broadway.

Will it be a beautiful Art Deco inspired tower? (My dream come true).

Or will it look like something from Vancouver, basic and glass covered.

The jury is out but I'd put my money on it looking extremely similar to the 8th/hope 9th/olive towers.

DistrictDirt · #**7134** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

Yeah, it actually doesn't look bad!

I'm very very glad to have been proven wrong on this one. PHEW.

DistrictDirt · #**7135** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

Will it be a beautiful Art Deco inspired tower? (My dream come true).

Or will it look like something from Vancouver, basic and glass covered.

The jury is out but I'd put my money on it looking extremely similar to the 8th/hope 9th/olive towers.

I still don't get the references to Vancouver being bland. I was up there a couple months ago and I thought a lot of the towers were stunning. They're glassy, but far from "basic". I thought the ones around Yaletown that you see as you take the water taxi in from Granville Island are especially nice looking:

We should be so lucky to have a skyline like that.

Yes I know this is city-vs-city and will probably get deleted. But I just really don't get the Vancouver hate and am trying to understand it. They have some of the best urbanism in North America.

DistrictDirt · #**7136** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

You and District Dirt have both lived in DC. It doesn't look bad, but it looks like the 9-12 floor retro-style buildings that seem to be the only thing built in Washington.

KingoftheHill has lived in DC too!

And yeah, the 12 story retro thing is way played out in DC. I would prefer we didn't do it in DTLA either, but I'm just relieved that he's not doing the faux-tuscan crap on this project, and that the retail space in the 1st floor actually looks somewhat inviting, and not the typical dungeon looking spaces he's done on his other projects.

EDIT: Misread your comment. Thought you were saying you and I have lived in DC, not King.

brudy · #**7137** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

KingoftheHill has lived in DC too!

And yeah, the 12 story retro thing is way played out in DC. I would prefer we didn't do it in DTLA either, but I'm just relieved that he's not doing the faux-tuscan crap on this project, and that the retail space in the 1st floor actually looks somewhat inviting, and not the typical dungeon looking spaces he's done on his other projects.

That's what happens when the bar is so low - you accept something lesser just because it's not as bad as you thought it would be.

citywatch · #**7138** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:43 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcat23

OMG. wow! so totally unexpected, both in terms of timing & what even I imagined Palmer was more likely to come up with. I thought even a vague concept of his proj on broadway wouldn't be presented until later in the yr.

I can understand why ppl like Steve Needleman are saying they're excited. For the sad condition that broadway has been in for yrs & yrs & yrs, this is long overdue!

the skybridges do make sense in a city where ppl often are being cited.....& having to pay big $$$....for jaywalking tickets. when the distance between crossing walks at either end of a block is very, very long, & one wants to cut across to the other side of the street towards the middle, beware of the watchful eye of the traffic cop.

DistrictDirt · #**7139** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 7:45 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brudy

That's what happens when the bar is so low - you accept something lesser just because it's not as bad as you thought it would be.

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good, as they say. This a major crisis averted. There are planty of other opportunities for higher quality architecture in DTLA. But for now the Tuscan threat has been defused.

DistrictDirt · #**7140** Posted **Feb 22, 2013, 8:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by citywatch

The skybridges do make sense in a city where ppl often are being cited.....& having to pay big $$$....for jaywalking tickets. when the distance between crossing walks at either end of a block is very, very long, & one wants to cut across to the other side of the street towards the middle, beware of the watchful eye of the traffic cop.

Skybridges are terrible- they send the message that streets are for cars not people.

That being said, I can't help but be amazed by Minneapolis' skybridge system. Last time I stayed there for a conference, I was literally able to walk 1 mile from my hotel the the convention center without setting foot on the ground.