LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 452

Illithid Dude · #**9021** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 12:03 PM**

This year? Sounds... optimistic, to say the least. But I'll be interested to see where this goes.

blackcat23 · #**9022** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 12:51 PM**

Excellent news. I guess we'll find out soon how much $1 billion gets us when divided between four or five towers.

A 2013 start for construction seems very optimistic. I can't find any indication that they've submitted any plans/permit applications to DBS. Assuming they start working for the necessary approvals literally right now, I'd still guess 2014 is more likely.

Perhaps the Greenland Group doesn't realize how slowly the process moves in LA?

gerryberry · #**9023** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 2:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcat23

Excellent news. I guess we'll find out soon how much $1 billion gets us when divided between four or five towers.

A 2013 start for construction seems very optimistic. I can't find any indication that they've submitted any plans/permit applications to DBS. Assuming they start working for the necessary approvals literally right now, I'd still guess 2014 is more likely.

Perhaps the Greenland Group doesn't realize how slowly the process moves in LA?

totally agree. hopefully some more detailed info on the deal and the plans will come out soon. on the metropolis website it says gensler designed a masterplan for the site, wondering which one that is? but anyway i think it´s great things are finally happening this will be significant for dt...

chris08876 · #**9024** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 2:20 PM**

Great news for downtown!

chris08876 · #**9025** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 2:24 PM**

Barry Shy Planning Four New Buildings:

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Historic Core apartment king Barry Shy turned heads in 2010 when, in the lobby of his latest property, he commissioned a mural that depicts the Downtown skyline with African lions perched atop each of his buildings.
If all goes according to Shy’s plans for the next few years, he’s going to have to call back his muralist to add four more lions.
Shy, whose most recent project was the SB Tower that opened in 2010, is working on plans for four separate residential projects on which he expects to break ground within 12 months.

One of his four planned projects would be a 40-story, 500-unit tower on what is currently a parking lot on the southwest corner of Sixth and Main streets.
The other three projects, however, are located a bit beyond Shy’s normal Historic Core stomping grounds.
He bought a 12-story building at 939 S. Broadway, just south of the United Artists Theatre, which is being turned into an Ace Hotel. Shy plans to convert the current garment-maker building into 150 apartments.
Immediately to the south, Shy also bought the adjacent parking lot at Broadway and Olympic Boulevard. There, he plans to build 250 units in a new building that will rise to about 13 stories along Broadway and about 20 stories along Olympic Boulevard. Then, at 916 S. Hill St., which is currently a parking lot, Shy plans to build another 250 units in a 20- or 21-story tower.

=========================
Ryan Vaillancourt , July 24, 2013 http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/a-not...958ecba-f2ea-11e2-ab6e-001a4bcf887a.html

Just-In-Cali · #**9026** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 2:54 PM**

Interesting news. Considering the history of the site, Ill be excited when construction starts. Hasnt the site been entitled for high rises up to 50 stories, as well as EIR for two decades now? If all that is still in place, (which is the most time consuming part) and the permitting for construction goes as quickly as it has with many projects recently, they could be ambitious enough to start this year. Guess we'll see, but potentially a game changer on scale with Fig Central.

brudy · #**9027** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 3:25 PM**

Between Park 5th and Metropolis, this is some potentially awesome news. Especially Park 5th if they build anything close to the original plan. And if redoing Pershing comes with the deal, even better.

I do wonder what the film industry will do once that lot is gone. It's used all the time as a staging area. Move a bit north I guess.

Wilcal · #**9028** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 4:29 PM**

The city would be smart to expedite this project, since it has been languishing for so long. And now that there is actual monied interest both the hotel and residential component of this project should be the first to start--since the market is really hot. Perhaps even the office component will follow fairly soon as that market may tighten. As far as the design is concerned, one hopes that the buyers would use an American firm (maybe one locally). I know the designs used for the projects sale and promotion were conceptual but just the though of uniform towers in height and all on podiums sent chills through my spine that "blocky look"--ugh. Has anyone wondered that perhaps the Korean Air investment downtown was somewhat of an impetus for the Chinese interest?

BrandonJXN · #**9029** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 4:37 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quixote

I know, I'm just saying that they're not demonstrating the full potential of the site with bland designs and renderings. These buildings look like they belong in Irvine.

Could be worse. Metropolis could have very easily looked like this.

Circa 1990.

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2011.07_metropolis1990.jpg

WonderlandPark · #**9030** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 5:08 PM**

Ah, yes, the Michael Graves proposal. Seems like from the get go, the idea here was to have a bunch of towers roughly the same height.

202_Cyclist · #**9031** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 5:27 PM**

Wilcal:
"Has anyone wondered that perhaps the Korean Air investment downtown was somewhat of an impetus for the Chinese interest?"

I was wondering if the planned investment in the streetcar and the Regional Connector has encouraged any of these recent developments.

I think that a focus from the political leadership on attracting Chinese foreign direct investment is more significant than any rivalry with a Korean company. Jerry Brown visited China in April to seek investment and build trade ties and Antonio Villaraigosa did the same in May. These junkets and trips are often viewed as frivolous in the media, but who knows, perhaps it produced some significant results.

Separate Chinese firms were also interested in investing nearly $2B in a Treasure Island development in San Francisco but that deal fell apart and the CA High Speed Rail Authority has also courted Chinese investment to fund this important infrastrutcure investment.

Mojeda101 · #**9032** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 6:54 PM**

2014 could be an awesome year for development

inSaeculaSaeculorum · #**9033** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 8:06 PM**

While all this news is exciting this isn't the first time I've heard rumbling over the metropolis and Park Fifth sites. Seems like deja vu. So I'm just cautiously optimistic but I'll bring out the champage once when we actually see holes in the ground.

StethJeff · #**9034** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 10:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by brudy

Between Park 5th and Metropolis, this is some potentially awesome news. Especially Park 5th if they build anything close to the original plan. And if redoing Pershing comes with the deal, even better.

I do wonder what the film industry will do once that lot is gone. It's used all the time as a staging area. Move a bit north I guess.

They can always consult citywatch's map if they need to find another abandoned lot in DTLA. I'm sure they'll be able to find something

Quixote · #**9035** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 10:52 PM**

Greenland better not commission Gensler to design their Metropolis project. Check out the tower in Sydney they're currently developing or the one in Wujiang, China. Pretty sleek.

Quixote · #**9036** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 10:58 PM**

Thank goodness we're not getting this:

http://brighamyen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1.jpg

LosAngelesSportsFan · #**9037** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 11:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quixote

Greenland better not commission Gensler to design their Metropolis project. Check out the tower in Sydney they're currently developing or the one in Wujiang, China. Pretty sleek.

wow, those two look awesome!!

i really really hope this group gives us something special. i would gladly take two awe inspiring towers over 5 bland ones any day

article with pics of towers below

http://www.propertyobserver.com.au/news/...nto-sydney-high-rise-scene/2013031459857

RuFFy · #**9038** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 11:40 PM**

The Metropolis site could easily become the site of the next Super Tall. It has an advantage that it's in front of both the US Bank Building and the Korean Air building from the angle most viewed as the front of Downtown. Not to mention, I could easily see the Chinese wanting to place their mark on the LA Skyline and like Korean Air gaining worldwide notoriety each time the skyline is televised around the globe.

StethJeff · #**9039** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 11:40 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quixote

Thank goodness we're not getting this:

http://brighamyen.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/1.jpg

This is the disaster that I'm most afraid of. It's such a low bar for what is possible here that any other bland proposal seems refreshing by comparison.

StethJeff · #**9040** Posted **Jul 26, 2013, 11:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuFFy

The Metropolis site could easily become the site of the next Super Tall. It has an advantage that it's in front of both the US Bank Building and the Korean Air building from the angle most viewed as the front of Downtown. Not to mention, I could easily see the Chinese wanting to place their mark on the LA Skyline and like Korean Air gaining worldwide notoriety each time the skyline is televised around the globe.

Exactly.

Having the crown jewel of the Frankfurt, Atlanta, Guangzhou, or Dallas skyline buys you exactly zero compared to the worldwide attention you get for having the centerpiece of the LA skyline. In fact, I think New York is the only city where you get more free attention for an amazing building.