LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[RuFFy]

Double post. Delete.

[RuFFy]

Images of Miami keep flashing in my head. I'm not sure that's a good thing either.

[blackcat23]

I suppose it's worth mentioning that Onni owns the lot where this tower was once planned to rise. I'm guessing this is the location for the planned tower at an unspecified place "near Staples Center." Might lend some clues as to what we can expect architecturally.

The design for 888 Olive dated back to the previous developer, although modifications were made prior to groundbreaking.

[Gram3000]

I remember there was a lawsuit looming from some residents in the Flower St Lofts next door over the Kurtzman's parking podium blocking sunlight from entering their lofts, so the developer had revised his plans and placed instead of 5 levels above ground to 1 sub/ 4 above. This Nimbyism along with the recession is probably why "the Kurtzman" never saw the light of day. Either way I hope those issues have been resolved or Onni may be in for some resistance with this upcoming project. Hopefully not! Soo cool to see them being bullish on DTLA! May other developers soon follow!

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by Gram3000

I remember there was a lawsuit looming from some residents in the Flower St Lofts next door over the Kurtzman's parking podium blocking sunlight from entering their lofts, so the developer had revised his plans and placed instead of 5 levels above ground to 1 sub/ 4 above. This Nimbyism along with the recession is probably why "the Kurtzman" never saw the light of day. Either way I hope those issues have been resolved or Onni may be in for some resistance with this upcoming project. Hopefully not! Soo cool to see them being bullish on DTLA! May other developers soon follow!

The Flower Street Lofts is a rental building. Views are not protected, it's even stated in their lease agreements. So it's not like they could have blocked or even sued the developer and expected a victory. It would have been a frivelous lawsuit.

[LA/OCman]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

The Flower Street Lofts is a rental building. Views are not protected, it's even stated in their lease agreements. So it's not like they could have blocked or even sued the developer and expected a victory. It would have been a frivelous lawsuit.

The Flower Street Lofts are condos.

[funhaus]

IMO the Flower Street Lofts residents don't stand much of a chance in the way of winning a lawsuit. They purchased units facing an _empty lot_ that was bound to be developed at some point. They're only chance is to be a pain-in-the-butt to adjacent development, but that card was played a while ago. Time to let progress take its course...

[Illithid Dude]

Anyways, Brigham Yen reports on a new two story boutique open in DTLA, called Beautifulful,by LA designer Alejandro Rodriguez. It's a moderately high end place, with shirts retailing for around $200 and leather jackets from around $1000.







For all those complaining about the lack of a retail scene in DTLA, tons of these types of boutique stores have opened up around the Historic Core. I'd rather independent boutiques open up then big mass market stores.

[blackcat23]

Pending stockholder and lender approval, Brookfield Properties will be absorbing MPG Office Trust.

http://www.streetinsider.com/Hot+M+and+A...G%29+Enter+Merger+Agreement/8277712.html

Gas Company Tower, Wells Fargo and KPMG Towers and 777 Tower will all be changing hands. Probably a good thing, since MPG has been cash strapped for years and thus incapable of keeping their buildings competitive.

Also...

http://www.lamag.com/lafood/digestblog/2...rand-central-market-goes-under-the-knife

Downtown's Grand Central Market Goes Under the Knife

by Daniela Galarza

Since 1917, Grand Central Market has been a hub for eating, drinking and meeting in downtown Los Angeles. In recent years though, it has felt more run down and dirty than resourceful and tasty. This year marks a kind of rebirth for Grand Central Market.

The Yellin Company is behind the Market's transformation, which includes structural as well as tenent changes. The vision is more San Francisco's Ferry Building than Farmers' Market, according to people familiar with the design firm who has been hired on to do the refresh, BCV.

Sticky Rice is the first new restaurant to open in the 27,000 square foot market; it's an offshoot of nearby Soi 7. Under the leadership of owner David Tewasart, Sticky Rice started serving home-style Thai comfort food earlier this month.

Starting this May, a new restaurant will open inside Grand Central Market each month. On the roster is another location of high-end butcher Lindy & Grundy, a new seafood restaurant and others. It's a new day for the market at the foot of Angel's Flight.

[LAsam]

The Market at Santa Monica Place said they wanted to be the Ferry Building of LA and failed miserably. Lindy & Grundy is a very good sign though so I have to be a bit optimistic!

[gerryberry]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

Pending stockholder and lender approval, Brookfield Properties will be absorbing MPG Office Trust.

http://www.streetinsider.com/Hot+M+and+A...G%29+Enter+Merger+Agreement/8277712.html

Gas Company Tower, Wells Fargo and KPMG Towers and 777 Tower will all be changing hands. Probably a good thing, since MPG has been cash strapped for years and thus incapable of keeping their buildings competitive.

Also...

http://www.lamag.com/lafood/digestblog/2...rand-central-market-goes-under-the-knife

Downtown's Grand Central Market Goes Under the Knife

by Daniela Galarza

great news...here´s some more on eater l.a.

G&B Coffee Enters Grand Central

http://la.eater.com/archives/2013/04/25/gb_coffee_enters_grand_central_with_espresso_tea.php

[Illithid Dude]

Gotta say, I'm really not a fan of Grand Central Market being done up like this. To me, this is gentrification at its worst.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Gotta say, I'm really not a fan of Grand Central Market being done up like this. To me, this is gentrification at its worst.

I mean, its kind of inevitable. Currently its super low-end. How long can that last when its increasingly surrounded by half-million dollar lofts and planned 20 story highrises?

I don't think some coffee shops and mid-priced restaurants are going to kill the place. Something like Philly's Reading Terminal Market, or Seattle's Pike Place Market, or DC's Eastern Market would be amazing. And Grand Central's going to have to get a lot higher end to get to the level that those markets are already at.

[brudy]

On Spring St park, nobody I've talked to here in downtown is too excited by the design. Glad it's here and not an abandoned lot, but wanted more grass and way too much hardscape. It does look better in real life than the pics, and I think that fence is just temporary.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by brudy

On Spring St park, nobody I've talked to here in downtown is too excited by the design. Glad it's here and not an abandoned lot, but wanted more grass and way too much hardscape. It does look better in real life than the pics, and I think that fence is just temporary.

Yeah, that fence is definitely not in the renderings:


Source: Lehrer Architects

I wish you were right about it being temporary, but I don't think that's the case. Look at the decorate metal mesh stuff that they put on it:


Source: Curbed LA

Bummer.

[DistrictDirt]

Un-freaking-believable. According to the springstpark.com website, the park doesn't have a maintenance fund, and they're taking donations. They have a Save the Park page up, and the park isn't even open yet. Its this kind of thing that makes me want to just give up on this city.

Can someone please explain the definition of insanity to City Hall?

[alki]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Un-freaking-believable. According to the springstpark.com website, the park doesn't have a maintenance fund, and they're taking donations. They have a Save the Park page up, and the park isn't even open yet. Its this kind of thing that makes me want to just give up on this city.

Can someone please explain the definition of insanity to City Hall?

Unfortunately, this kind of stupidity has been happening in LA since its birth. I think its built into the city's DNA.

[alki]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I mean, its kind of inevitable. Currently its super low-end. How long can that last when its increasingly surrounded by half-million dollar lofts and planned 20 story highrises?

I don't think some coffee shops and mid-priced restaurants are going to kill the place. Something like Philly's Reading Terminal Market, or Seattle's Pike Place Market, or DC's Eastern Market would be amazing. And Grand Central's going to have to get a lot higher end to get to the level that those markets are already at.

I agree these kind of DT markets eventually become tourist attractions. I take visitors to Pike's Peak but I shop at the local farmer's market.

[alki]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Anyways, Brigham Yen reports on a new two story boutique open in DTLA, called Beautifulful,by LA designer Alejandro Rodriguez. It's a moderately high end place, with shirts retailing for around $200 and leather jackets from around $1000.

For all those complaining about the lack of a retail scene in DTLA, tons of these types of boutique stores have opened up around the Historic Core. I'd rather independent boutiques open up then big mass market stores.

With this store, the real money maker is the design studio/showroom on the second floor. So whatever the the first floor does is gravy.

I am more curious to see how Acne does........I think they are much more dependent on their retail sales.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I mean, its kind of inevitable. Currently its super low-end. How long can that last when its increasingly surrounded by half-million dollar lofts and planned 20 story highrises?

I don't think some coffee shops and mid-priced restaurants are going to kill the place. Something like Philly's Reading Terminal Market, or Seattle's Pike Place Market, or DC's Eastern Market would be amazing. And Grand Central's going to have to get a lot higher end to get to the level that those markets are already at.

I have to agree with you. I'm excited about a speciality coffee place in this part of downtown. It's needed. I'm excited about making Grand Central a little higher end. It needs it, and downtown needs it.