LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[blackcat23]

http://file.lacounty.gov/bos/supdocs/76603.pdf

These are the minutes from the 4/29/13 meeting of the Grand Avenue Authority, featuring an audio link to the presentation from Bill Witte and Bea Hsu of Related.

As previously reported, Related is planning to implement the original first phase (Parcel Q) in two separate steps (Phase IA and Phase IB). Phase IA would be a residential tower with some ground floor retail/restaurant space towards the 2nd/Grand corner of the site.

Phase IB would be a 250 key hotel tower towards 1st street with the possibility of some condos branded by the hotel chain on the upper floor (if the market justifies it). Most of the major retail/restaurant space would be concentrated in Phase IB. Ralphs is still very interested in opening up a second downtown location as part of the Parcel Q development.

The entire residential portion of Phase IA/IB is planned to be 430 units, down from 480 in the original plan. That number could shrink more if the 50 planned condo units in the hotel tower don't pan out.

Wasn't able to glean any specifics on the heights of the buildings, although the residential tower will definitely be taller than the under construction Parcel M.

Considering this meeting was over one month ago, I'm not exactly sure what decisions were made. Minutes are only posted up to May 6th. It does sound like the Grand Avenue Authority has some big concerns with the new plans, particularly in regards to the pedestrian central plaza. Huizar and Molina both expressed concern that the central plaza was going to be oriented away from public view, citing California Plaza as an example.

Bill Witte stated that March 2015 is the likely groundbreaking date.

One other interesting thing mentioned by Huizar was that Macy's Plaza might be "demolished." Not sure if he meant that literally or just that there would be a drastic remodel.

[brudy]

Thanks for that update Blackcat. I was excited till I saw that 2015 date. Two more years of wasting that land and staring at that awful garage.

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by brudy

Thanks for that update Blackcat. I was excited till I saw that 2015 date. Two more years of wasting that land and staring at that awful garage.

I cosign on this. But I'm not too disappointed, by then the majority of the current projects will have been completed and we will be needing something under construction in order to keep us sane It's projects like those that will reinvent the skyline, and the Wilshire Grand will be right there as this begins to go up

[brudy]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

I cosign on this. But I'm not too disappointed, by then the majority of the current projects will have been completed and we will be needing something under construction in order to keep us sane It's projects like those that will reinvent the skyline, and the Wilshire Grand will be right there as this begins to go up

Ha! So true. We'll probably be able to watch the buildings go up from the Wilshire Grand at this rate. I'm impatient because this area has so much potential. With all the performance spaces, this area should have a ton of foot traffic at night but feels pretty dead at the moment as there is nowhere to go. World class institutions deserve world class surroundings.

With restaurants, shops, Grand Park and more residential, this could be a great neighborhood to live I think. Dynamic but without some of the craziness of other parts of downtown.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by gerryberry

this is an interesting video... a usc panel talking about the revitalization of downtown and especially about the wilshire grand! among others - chris martin (architect of the new wilshire)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbc5LsryWf0

Thank you for posting this, Gerryberry. I wound up watching the whole thing. It's nice to see that our elected officials, journalists, deep-pocketed developers, and academic institutions are as pumped about DTLA's future as some of us are!

[blackcat23]

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/devel...b170938-cd6c-11e2-9470-0019bb2963f4.html

Developer Plans New Main Street Apartments

by Ryan Vaillancourt

Jade Enterprises, a development company that primarily works in the Fashion District, is expanding its reach: the firm has submitted plans for a 159-unit apartment complex in the Historic Core.

Jade is looking for city approvals to erect a seven-story building at 540 S. Main St. on what is now a parking lot.

The site, which is just north of the Santa Fe Lofts at Sixth and Main streets, stretches between Main and Los Angeles streets.

Jade officials would not comment on the plans, but according to documents filed with the city, the project, which is dubbed Topaz, would cover the entire lot.

The proposal would require some special city approvals, including a transfer of floor area rights needed to allow the proposed density. A hearing has not yet been scheduled for the project.

While a timeline is unclear, a groundbreaking is likely at least a year away due to the project’s current status and needed approvals.

Jade is also behind another proposed apartment complex in South Park. The company is working on plans for a 419-unit, two-building complex at Pico Boulevard and Flower Streets on two side-by-side parking lots, according to documents filed with the city.

Also, a picture of the Los Angeles Street frontage.

[Quixote]

^ Ruh roh, it looks like stucco (aka public enemy #1)!

[DistrictDirt]

I like its looks, but does every new residential project downtown have to be apartments? Condo supply is super constrained and the sky high prices reflect that. I'd like to be able to afford something this decade.

[bobcat]

Pretty big news on Macy's Plaza redevelopment.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0606-property-report-20130606,0,1437242.story

Highlights:

--$160 mil renovation
--removal of atrium roof
--removal of brick walls
--addition of sidewalk shops and restaurants
--addition of subway portal
--to be renamed "The Bloc"
--upgrade of Sheraton

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by brudy

Ha! So true. We'll probably be able to watch the buildings go up from the Wilshire Grand at this rate. I'm impatient because this area has so much potential. With all the performance spaces, this area should have a ton of foot traffic at night but feels pretty dead at the moment as there is nowhere to go. World class institutions deserve world class surroundings.

With restaurants, shops, Grand Park and more residential, this could be a great neighborhood to live I think. Dynamic but without some of the craziness of other parts of downtown.

Whenever people ask me,"what's it like living in DTLA?" I always have to remind them that our experience on Bunker Hill is different. I call it "Downtown Light." It's just like the rest of DTLA without all the calories. It's dense, walkable, and has some nearby amenities and transit. However, we clearly lack the homelessness, jewelry stores, and smell of urine throughout the rest of DTLA.

I'd buy a condo here if there were any available

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Pretty big news on Macy's Plaza redevelopment.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0606-property-report-20130606,0,1437242.story

Highlights:

--$160 mil renovation
--removal of atrium roof
--removal of brick walls
--addition of sidewalk shops and restaurants
--addition of subway portal
--to be renamed "The Bloc"
--upgrade of Sheraton

Love that idea. Someone can correct me but I can only assume that it's the busiest station in our system. IMO, its certainly the most important with 4 lines converging, all in the heart of DTLA. Glad to see that it's getting increased access.

[alki]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Pretty big news on Macy's Plaza redevelopment.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0606-property-report-20130606,0,1437242.story

Highlights:

--$160 mil renovation
--removal of atrium roof
--removal of brick walls
--addition of sidewalk shops and restaurants
--addition of subway portal
--to be renamed "The Bloc"
--upgrade of Sheraton

Its a monster rehab...........can't wait to see the renderings.

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Love that idea. Someone can correct me but I can only assume that it's the busiest station in our system. IMO, its certainly the most important with 4 lines converging, all in the heart of DTLA. Glad to see that it's getting increased access.

You are correct: 7th Street is Metro's busiest station. The Red/Purple/Gold lines at Union Station are a close second, at least based on my observations.

As for Macy's Plaza, I recall several people clamoring for a subway portal directly into the mall when the sale was first announced. Glad to see that Ratkovich recognizes that having an adjacent Metro station is a huge benefit. I'd like to see more station adjacent developments build subway portals directly into the property (looking at you, Blvd 6200 Phase II).

The redevelopment plans sound promising; can't wait to see designs. It's not as important as fixing the ground level, but perhaps they could re-do the exterior of the parking structure? One thing I don't like is the apparent rename. "The Bloc?" Seriously?

Also should be interesting to see how Macy's own upgrades will play into this.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Whenever people ask me,"what's it like living in DTLA?" I always have to remind them that our experience on Bunker Hill is different. I call it "Downtown Light." It's just like the rest of DTLA without all the calories. It's dense, walkable, and has some nearby amenities and transit. However, we clearly lack the homelessness, jewelry stores, and smell of urine throughout the rest of DTLA.

I'd buy a condo here if there were any available

I'm trying to buy right now. It's brutal. There's always somebody willing to pay more with large buckets of cash. And like DistrictDirt says, there are just so few condos in downtown, especially if you aren't loaded. And the only two coming up that I can think of are Needleman's 8 story/1 unit per level building and the Title Insurance on Spring (I don't think they are working on them yet).

[brudy]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Pretty big news on Macy's Plaza redevelopment.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0606-property-report-20130606,0,1437242.story

Highlights:

--$160 mil renovation
--removal of atrium roof
--removal of brick walls
--addition of sidewalk shops and restaurants
--addition of subway portal
--to be renamed "The Bloc"
--upgrade of Sheraton

All of this sounds reasonable to me, with the timeline being construction begins in early 2014 and re-opens late 2015. I agree with blackcat - the name is terrible. I used to go to a punk club called that when I was a kid.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Pretty big news on Macy's Plaza redevelopment.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0606-property-report-20130606,0,1437242.story

Highlights:

--$160 mil renovation
--removal of atrium roof
--removal of brick walls
--addition of sidewalk shops and restaurants
--addition of subway portal
--to be renamed "The Bloc"
--upgrade of Sheraton

Don't care for the name, but...



Also, Johnson Fain, a quality architect who did a ton of high rises in Century City, is working on this project, which is a relief in this age to TCA ruling the proverbial downtown roost.

[Valyrian Steel]

Well, June 5th snuck up on me. Did anyone here attend the public hearing at City Hall today for the St. Vibiana Tower?

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Pretty big news on Macy's Plaza redevelopment.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-0606-property-report-20130606,0,1437242.story

Highlights:

--$160 mil renovation
--removal of atrium roof
--removal of brick walls
--addition of sidewalk shops and restaurants
--addition of subway portal
--to be renamed "The Bloc"
--upgrade of Sheraton

Hell yes!

[Muji]

Heres an interesting tidbit from The Source. Starting June 23, Metro is rerouting some bus routes on Broadway for streetscape work as part of Bringing Back Broadway, a good sign that work is starting sooner than later. One lane is being removed on both sides for widened sidewalks between 1st and 11th.

Link: http://thesource.metro.net/2013/06/05/he...uent-mid-day-service-on-the-orange-line/

[bobcat]

First look at the Macy's project.