LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by bobcat

First look at the Macy's project.

TG! the rather dark brick & very shadowy quality of the current design....due to the skylight being rather small.....has always been off putting. the area in front of the wide entrance to macys, originally broadway, has long had a dark, gloomy feeling.

this is another improvement that is long overdue!

[brudy]

The courtyard looks cool, the sign a bit Orwellian. I do love all that light pouring out at street level. I think this is going to be great.

So that's 7th at the bottom and we're looking south, right?

[bobcat]

^Yeah, that's 7th on the bottom.

Is there some kind of video screen above the Macy's entrance?

[ByTheBay]

The redesign of Macy's Plaza definitely looks like it took a page out of Figat7th's book, which is a good thing judging on the outcome of that project. There's a parking lot between the two shopping centers and I think it would be great if someone were to develop that lot into another outdoor retail center to create a synergy between the malls...Caruso anyone?

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by eclipse

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

The hearing was delayed based on a request from the applicant. I live in the Higgins Building across the street and the general reaction here is one of panic. Many of the residents today weren't around when Tom Gilmore made his original recommendation, which was pretty well-received at the time, and thoughtfully designed, taking in surrounding building's needs in it's design. I'm trying to talk some sense into my neighbors, but reason tends to fly out the window when fear - especially irrational fear - is involved. It's an uphill battle, but I've turned a couple of people around with the simple explanation that all density approvals being the same, a taller, skinnier building will cast fewer shadows and allow for larger view corridors than a wider, shorter building with the same number of units.

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by ByTheBay

The redesign of Macy's Plaza definitely looks like it took a page out of Figat7th's book, which is a good thing judging on the outcome of that project. There's a parking lot between the two shopping centers and I think it would be great if someone were to develop that lot into another outdoor retail center to create a synergy between the malls...Caruso anyone?

I'd personally rather that entire block be developed up to street level, with no pedestrian throughway cutting through it. Let's activate the streets first before we create more retail plazas. Currently only 1/4th of that block is activated at the street level.

[colemonkee]

On a totally different note, I dropped by Ralph's yesterday and noticed a new structure being built on the roof of the Embassy Hotel. Looks to be a frame for some sort of structure housing mechanical equipment, and definitely wasn't there last time I looked. Those Chetrit boys really are some sneaky bastards.

[bobcat]

Their website is up now and it *does* look like a video screen!
http://www.theblocdowntown.com/

[brudy]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

On a totally different note, I dropped by Ralph's yesterday and noticed a new structure being built on the roof of the Embassy Hotel. Looks to be a frame for some sort of structure housing mechanical equipment, and definitely wasn't there last time I looked. Those Chetrit boys really are some sneaky bastards.

Seriously. What's the cloak and dagger, guerrilla construction process? What are they hiding?

It occurred to me yesterday that once the Clark opens, guests will probably complain and post bad reviews about the homeless situation across the street. If Chetrit had fostered a good relationship with the city maybe they could have worked it out somehow. But because Huizar clearly doesn't like them they'll never get any assistance on that situation.

On the flip side. Tons of new businesses are going in at Grand Central Market. The new coffee place on the western end particularly is having a huge impact. There must have been 15-20 people hanging around their bar the last few afternoons. A mix of office workers, tourists, and coffee nerds. Great coffee as well. The feel of that place is rapidly changing...

[colemonkee]

I walked through that stretch last weekend on the way to get some macaroons from Bottega Louie for the GF, and it dawned on me that it's only a matter of time before the surface lot just south of La Cita (which includes the taco stand) becomes ripe for development. It actually has a decent footprint, and being that close to a transit stop, a developer could - and should - get some serious density variances. Given the proximity of nearby structures, the views in almost every direction would be pretty amazing from that location.

[alki]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

I'd personally rather that entire block be developed up to street level, with no pedestrian throughway cutting through it. Let's activate the streets first before we create more retail plazas. Currently only 1/4th of that block is activated at the street level.

If the retail starts on 7th and wraps into a retail plaza, I think that would have a positive impact. The problem Rakovich faces is that he has a ton of interior retail space which he can't afford to simply jetison. I think he needs to get rid of all that brick....it never worked, put retail on all levels facing the streets.......with the best retail on 7th and use a lot of glass with the interior retail plaza esp if he maintains the basement space and puts in a third floor of retail.

I am envisioning something like this......a highly successful, DT retail center:

http://www.westlakecenter.com/

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

The hearing was delayed based on a request from the applicant. I live in the Higgins Building across the street and the general reaction here is one of panic. Many of the residents today weren't around when Tom Gilmore made his original recommendation, which was pretty well-received at the time, and thoughtfully designed, taking in surrounding building's needs in it's design. I'm trying to talk some sense into my neighbors, but reason tends to fly out the window when fear - especially irrational fear - is involved. It's an uphill battle, but I've turned a couple of people around with the simple explanation that all density approvals being the same, a taller, skinnier building will cast fewer shadows and allow for larger view corridors than a wider, shorter building with the same number of units.

Someone moves to Los Angeles and opts to live in one of the few neighborhoods with substantial high rise development...and then freaks out when there could potentially be a skyscraper built across the street?

This is the dumbest kind of NIMBYism.

[gerryberry]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Their website is up now and it *does* look like a video screen!
http://www.theblocdowntown.com/

well the vision is bold! they seem to be confident to get all the high end domestic and international fashion retailers. after the announcements of urban outfitters and zara i guess its a reasonable guess.
what i really love about this project is that it will actually -as a single development- have such a significant impact on downtown. it will define what a lot of people see as the center of downtown and thus the lasting impression it makes on a lot of people. and the best thing is that its only a little more than two years away and not some vision for the distant future...

[brudy]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

I walked through that stretch last weekend on the way to get some macaroons from Bottega Louie for the GF, and it dawned on me that it's only a matter of time before the surface lot just south of La Cita (which includes the taco stand) becomes ripe for development. It actually has a decent footprint, and being that close to a transit stop, a developer could - and should - get some serious density variances. Given the proximity of nearby structures, the views in almost every direction would be pretty amazing from that location.

Agreed. That's going to be prime real estate in a year or two after the 4th and Broadway buildings start going up. Taco #1 and La Cita can't be long for this world. That would also probably end the blightyness of the two metro plazas.

I'll tell ya though, standing there in Grand Central at the coffee bar, watching Angel's Flight go up and down packed with tourists, the jacarandas blowing in the breeze, loads of people passing through GCM, it felt pretty awesome.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

I walked through that stretch last weekend on the way to get some macaroons from Bottega Louie for the GF, and it dawned on me that it's only a matter of time before the surface lot just south of La Cita (which includes the taco stand) becomes ripe for development. It actually has a decent footprint, and being that close to a transit stop, a developer could - and should - get some serious density variances. Given the proximity of nearby structures, the views in almost every direction would be pretty amazing from that location.

That was the site of Zen no?

[blackcat23]

Zen is one block north on 3rd.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

It's an uphill battle, but I've turned a couple of people around with the simple explanation that all density approvals being the same, a taller, skinnier building will cast fewer shadows and allow for larger view corridors than a wider, shorter building with the same number of units.

You're doing god's work, colemonkee.

[BOYCOTT 90210]

I don't want to bring up the white supremacist argument again, but what's Ratkovich gonna do about all the people who wait for the bus on 7th in front of Macy's Plaza? Just saying...

[bobbyv]

Originally Posted by BOYCOTT 90210

I don't want to bring up the white supremacist argument again, but what's Ratkovich gonna do about all the people who wait for the bus on 7th in front of Macy's Plaza? Just saying...

I'm sure they will be diluted

[brudy]

Originally Posted by BOYCOTT 90210

I don't want to bring up the white supremacist argument again, but what's Ratkovich gonna do about all the people who wait for the bus on 7th in front of Macy's Plaza? Just saying...

I don't know anything about transit design, but the way all the bus stops are clustered in downtown is pretty rough if you live or work near one of these. In other cities I've lived in I haven't seen stops clustered so heavily. Along 5th and 6th, including where I live, there might be 30 people waiting for the buses outside my door, depending upon time of day. The other day on 6th/grand I saw 5 buses pulled over at stops at once. Is that normal or optimal for transit design? I understand that people are connecting, but it treats downtown as nothing more than a transit hub.