LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[inSaeculaSaeculorum]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

It's actually happening? Whoa.

yeah i had no idea a 101 cap was this far along. i thought it was still in the pipe dream phase.

[inSaeculaSaeculorum]

tbh, I'm more excitied about things like freeway caps, LA river restoration (army corps of engineers is going to approve a version/funding of a plan soon) and expanding the metro system than new buildings.

but I like new buildings too though

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Went to the LA Chamber Park 101 meeting this morning and a few tidbits

LA Planning reps and Park 101 group were there and discussed all the zoning, community plans and development changes coming to the city and its basically EVERYTHING we have been talking about on this site for years. A couple of the more important points...they are looking at ways to set project minimums so that we wont have these squat 5 - 7 story projects in prime, entitled areas; they are looking to implement design standards (this should be out sooner than later) so that, for example, we wont have stucco boxes; and phase 1 of Park 101 is going to be the immediate area around Union station, with a small cap and rerouted on / off ramps that will free up areas for development. Next couple months will be huge for Park 101 as they are now at the EIR stage and should be getting gov funding hopefully. More here at park101.org

it was very very encouraging to see everything we have talked about being implemented in one way or another.

Excellent news.

Design standards and project minimums should have been in place years ago. Did they say if this would just apply to downtown, or the city as a whole?

Re-routing the freeway on/off ramps would open up a ton of land in between Alameda and Broadway. Selling that land and it's air rights to developers could probably raise quite a bit of money for capping the freeway as well.

[Wilcal]

That's a fair point that you bring up about Mr. Shy.
Concerning Palmer and his project at Olympic and Broadway, I would have hoped that the city would allow greater density. That way the buildings on both north and south parcels could be taller and more consistent in height with surrounding buildings. I believe that the south parcel structure is to be 6 story's which would be about 60 to maybe 75 feet high. It would look sort of awkward butting up to the 11 to 13 story building at 11th and Broadway. They would almost be more than two thirds higher. Also the bridge that tends to be ubiquitous in his designs should be discouraged by the city. The whole idea is to stimulate pedestrian traffic and enliven the entire block. If crossing Olympic is facilitated by a bridge it ruins the whole concept of street activity.
It will be nice to see both Palmer's and Shy's projects come to fruition. I predict that some smart developer will purchase and then renovate the derelict buildings at the corner of 11th and Main/Broadway. That effort may finally encourage development of the old Herald Examiner Building. That area will really be a "happening scene" in the future.

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

Excellent news.

Design standards and project minimums should have been in place years ago. Did they say if this would just apply to downtown, or the city as a whole?

Re-routing the freeway on/off ramps would open up a ton of land in between Alameda and Broadway. Selling that land and it's air rights to developers could probably raise quite a bit of money for capping the freeway as well.

I too wonder about the funding for a cap. Perhaps some funds are coming from that "whatever proposition" passed a few years ago to fund parks statewide. How sad it is to reflect though on "what was--and what could have been." If you look at old photos of downtown you see that the 101 went through the most historic part of the city. If they had only thought to tunnel instead of trenching, that historic "fabric" would be astounding. When you think of the era that the freeway was built in (mid 1940's in planning; late 1940's in construction) the planning theories of the time were of a "slash and burn" mentality. I think that the same design/construction time-frame gave both downtown Boston and San Francisco their "transportation solution nightmares." And as we know both cities have been able to "undo" these "nightmares."

[202_Cyclist]

HunterK:

Figaro has little to no chance of surviving. The location really isn't the issue (people brave the shit that is Broadway to go to Macheronni Republic every night).

My girlfriend and I visited LA last summer and stayed downtown. We went to dinner at Umami Burger and Broadway was the only area where we felt unsafe.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by Wilcal

I've read the comments from others in this forum, and the man seems to be a bit smarmy. If he is sincere--bravo! But if he is not, he is nothing more than a "media whore." I have more respect for Geoff Palmer, even though I think he has very bad taste concerning his properties.

I have more respect for Shy than Palmer. Shy has actually activated sidewalks with either retail or public displays of art. None of his buildings are anti-walkable, Italian crap that is ignorant toward the urban landscape. Palmer's projects are absolutely disgusting that create deadzones ironic to parking lots. He puts 2 - 3 flooras of parking above ground with absolute no consideration of having retail in the ground floor.

If Barry Shy did the buildings he renovated in the Historic Core, in City West, then we'd have more reasons to walk that bridge across the I-110 and visit City West. Right now, it looks like walled fortresses lining the streets of Bixel, 8th, 3rd and 4th. How unfortunate.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

tbh, I'm more excitied about things like freeway caps, LA river restoration (army corps of engineers is going to approve a version/funding of a plan soon) and expanding the metro system than new buildings.

but I like new buildings too though

The 51 mile bike path will be a huge improvement for LA. I lived in Sacramento for a year and a half and one of my favorite things was the American River trail. DC (actually Northern Virginia) also has an excellent multi-use trail that extens 50+ miles west of DC. Investment in trails is a relatively low-cost way to greatly improve the quality of life in a region.

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by Wilcal

I too wonder about the funding for a cap. Perhaps some funds are coming from that "whatever proposition" passed a few years ago to fund parks statewide. How sad it is to reflect though on "what was--and what could have been." If you look at old photos of downtown you see that the 101 went through the most historic part of the city. If they had only thought to tunnel instead of trenching, that historic "fabric" would be astounding. When you think of the era that the freeway was built in (mid 1940's in planning; late 1940's in construction) the planning theories of the time were of a "slash and burn" mentality. I think that the same design/construction time-frame gave both downtown Boston and San Francisco their "transportation solution nightmares." And as we know both cities have been able to "undo" these "nightmares."

Perhaps some of the US DOT TIGER funds will be used for this as well.

[alki]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

HunterK:


My girlfriend and I visited LA last summer and stayed downtown. We went to dinner at Umami Burger and Broadway was the only area where we felt unsafe.

Did you feel unsafe on the part of Broadway where Umami is located?

[StethJeff]

I'd like to think that I'm to the LA River what Citywatch is to parking lots. If there is one project that I think is paramount to LA's future, QOL, image, environment, etc its the revitalization of the Los Angeles River. I'd put it ahead of the Purple Line, Park Fifth, Regional Connector, DTLA/Hollywood cap parks, Millenium Towers, or Farmer's Field.

So, I was excited to hear that something - anything - is happening with the Army Corps of Engineers. Here's the snippet from Curbed that discusses what's been referenced above:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3 Plans on the Table For Major LA River Revitalization
Wednesday, July 24, 2013, by Eve Bachrach

When the Army Corps of Engineers releases its proposals for the LA River next month it will cap off the waterway's most exciting summer since, well, any summer in recorded history. The Corps--which covered much of the river channel in concrete in the 1930s--has been studying the feasibility of improving access to and restoring an 11-mile stretch of river between Downtown and Griffith Park since 2006. According to the LA Times, on August 30 they're expected to choose among three plans they've been studying since 2006:

-- Alternative 13 "calls for concrete removal and ecological restoration at several key sites." Estimated cost: $444 million.
-- Alternative 16 includes redevelopment of the 125-acre Piggyback Yard site across from Union Station and would also "widen the river to accommodate terracing on much of its eastern bank" from Los Feliz Boulevard south to Fletcher Drive. Estimated cost: $774 million.
-- Alternative 20 would do all of that, restore the river ecosystem near the Verdugo Walsh (near the border with Glendale), and provide new connections to the LA State Historic Park near Chinatown. Estimated cost: $1.06 billion.

The Army Corps office in LA had been betting on the most ambitious of these plans to come out on top, but the Times's sources say the least ambitious (13), which would also have the smallest percentage funded by the federal government, is most likely to win the day. But river boosters are still fighting the good fight. Mayor Eric Garcetti says he told the White House and Senator Barbara Boxer "that we would hope that we wouldn't just get the cheapest version." Others are making the case that this LA River restoration is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to complement nearby infrastructure projects like the high-speed rail coming to Union Station, the new Sixth Street bridge, and the Greenway 2020 plan announced yesterday that aims to put bike paths, walkways, kayak rentals, and cafes along the full 51-mile length of the river. So how about it, Army Corps; are you going to give us back our river?

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

Excellent news.

Design standards and project minimums should have been in place years ago. Did they say if this would just apply to downtown, or the city as a whole?

Re-routing the freeway on/off ramps would open up a ton of land in between Alameda and Broadway. Selling that land and it's air rights to developers could probably raise quite a bit of money for capping the freeway as well.

Yes, Downtown would be the first community to have these implemented in.

And you are exactly right about the selling land to fund the capping. If i recall correctly, the first phase should cost no more than 40 million and they will be starting there because it will be linking Union Station to the City Hall Area. The LA Mall is also a development opportunity (sorely needed there)

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Also, another very interesting tidbit that i heard from a little birdie....

Park Fifth will potentially be sold fairly soon and the potential purchaser will build the current project Ill update if i ever hear more on this.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

If there is one project that I think is paramount to LA's future, QOL, image, environment, etc its the revitalization of the Los Angeles River. I'd put it ahead of the Purple Line, Park Fifth, Regional Connector, DTLA/Hollywood cap parks, Millenium Towers, or Farmer's Field.

I'd share your passion if the LA river ran south of the hollywood hills instead of north of them, & were near hollywood blvd instead of on the north side of griffith park, & if the river were further west, closer to the center of dtla instead of way east, east of the arts district. iow, much of the river tends to be in parts of the city that aren't highly visible, at least from important locations like wilshire blvd. So, of course, if the river ran parallel to wilshire, & could be seen easily from such vantage points, it would jump greatly in importance. but since that's not the case, I personally like ranking the projs you list as higher on the scale of importance.

as for plans or talk about covering over sections of fwys around dt, not to mention around hollywood, I tend to be less enthusiastic or interested in that than other ppl since I don't know if such plans are likely to go beyond the talk stage before the next ice age, or before everyone is old & gray.

Covered fwys would open up alot of new space for devlpt, which would be built on top of concrete pads. So the value of those pads would depend on what's placed on them. There's still plenty of existing land throughout dt that desperately needs to be filled in.....including all the land across from disney hall, & all the land in the rest of dt, & so while fwys with roofs over them would help connect chinatown & areas west of the main part of dt, that will have more meaning to me when the hoods south of chinatown & east of the pasadena fwy are closer to being completely tapped out & fully fixed up.

maybe that's why talk about the park fifth proj possibly....possibly....coming back from the dead is a bit more interesting or exciting to me at this time.

[gerryberry]

an announcement for the metropolis site should come soon i guess.
this is a great video just showing ones again how important that site will be for downtowns development...
http://vimeo.com/66332001

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by gerryberry

an announcement for the metropolis site should come soon i guess.
this is a great video just showing ones again how important that site will be for downtowns development...
http://vimeo.com/66332001

Metropolis is a world class development opportunity. Actually the entire area bounded by the 110, Olympic, Figueroa, and James M Wood need to get redeveloped. Something on the lines of Hudson Yards in New York City. This needs to create a seamless link from LA Live/South Park to the middle of the Financial Center.

I have very high expectations for Metropolis. This needs to be a real winner.

[blackcat23]

http://metropolis-la.com/

I know they're not the actual designs for the project, but couldn't they have designed some nicer looking fake buildings?

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Also, another very interesting tidbit that i heard from a little birdie....

Park Fifth will potentially be sold fairly soon and the potential purchaser will build the current project Ill update if i ever hear more on this.

What do you mean by current project? The original project?

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

sorry, yes original

[Quixote]

Metropolis...

Is that all the site is entitled for? Seems like a bit of a waste. It'd be nice if there was some height variation, with at least one tower as tall as the nearby TCW Building. Or do you guys prefer this over 3 tall(er) towers with more public space (plazas) in between?