LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[brudy]

The MyFig EIR is complete, according to ladowntownnews. They say that construction would have to begin by january to qualify for the funds.

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/myfig...995610c-0145-11e3-a388-0019bb2963f4.html

My thoughts on 7 story shitboxes vs empty lots has changed over this year. I thought all development was good. But not so much anymore. A sea of these things, and that's what's happening, will result in a much less urban feeling environment lacking the density it needs to bring vibrant street life. Frankly, I'd rather have the lot these days than another bland wooden box, especially when a lot is entitled to be much more. And it just won't look like a city. I don't want Gaslamp for 30 years.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by brudy

The MyFig EIR is complete, according to ladowntownnews. They say that construction would have to begin by january to qualify for the funds.

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/myfig...995610c-0145-11e3-a388-0019bb2963f4.html

My thoughts on 7 story shitboxes vs empty lots has changed over this year. I thought all development was good. But not so much anymore. A sea of these things, and that's what's happening, will result in a much less urban feeling environment lacking the density it needs to bring vibrant street life. Frankly, I'd rather have the lot these days than another bland wooden box, especially when a lot is entitled to be much more.

Exactly. They've crippled LA's downtown for (yet another) generation.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

For those of us still curious about how tall they might build on the Metropolis site, I had a look at the revised tract map that was approved earlier this year. The height limit for the lot is 456 feet above grade.

Pathetic.

[LAofAnaheim]

The problem we have with development in downtown LA is due to ridiculous suburban laws that prevent a lot of developers building higher and denser. Unfortunately, with LA's high minimum parking requirements, a developer has to spend a significant amount of funds on a parking structures, in areas where such a large parking structure/garage/lot is not needed. We should not be building podium buildings like Watermarke, 717 Olympic or 8th/Hope. Also, we shouldn't be requiring 1,000 parking space developments like Apex/Concerto or South developments (Luma, Elleven and Evo). With such high parking requirements, you can only bring in certain developers who can afford to build in downtown LA.

For other developers, who cannot build the McMansion projects (Ritz Carlton, Courtyard Marriott, Omni), they can probably only financially pencil out a 7 story structure like the one's coming up in Block 8 of Little Tokyo, Market Lofts, Packard Lofts or 8th/Grand.

So............I'm going to sound like a broken record...but the problem is not the developers, it's the zoning. We need to update zoning in downtown LA quickly so that we can make development in Los Angeles more simple and relaxed on the ridiculously high parking requirements that is destroying the affordability of our city.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

For other developers, who cannot build the McMansion projects (Ritz Carlton, Courtyard Marriott, Omni), they can probably only financially pencil out a 7 story structure like the one's coming up in Block 8 of Little Tokyo, Market Lofts, Packard Lofts or 8th/Grand.

A Courtyard Marriott is a McManshion project?

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

The problem we have with development in downtown LA is due to ridiculous suburban laws that prevent a lot of developers building higher and denser. Unfortunately, with LA's high minimum parking requirements, a developer has to spend a significant amount of funds on a parking structures, in areas where such a large parking structure/garage/lot is not needed. We should not be building podium buildings like Watermarke, 717 Olympic or 8th/Hope. Also, we shouldn't be requiring 1,000 parking space developments like Apex/Concerto or South developments (Luma, Elleven and Evo). With such high parking requirements, you can only bring in certain developers who can afford to build in downtown LA.

For other developers, who cannot build the McMansion projects (Ritz Carlton, Courtyard Marriott, Omni), they can probably only financially pencil out a 7 story structure like the one's coming up in Block 8 of Little Tokyo, Market Lofts, Packard Lofts or 8th/Grand.

So............I'm going to sound like a broken record...but the problem is not the developers, it's the zoning. We need to update zoning in downtown LA quickly so that we can make development in Los Angeles more simple and relaxed on the ridiculously high parking requirements that is destroying the affordability of our city.

I think parking does play a part, but it's not the deciding factor. For the most part, developers are still being very cautious. Lots of people shot for the moon in the mid 2000's and lost their shirts in the process.

Some of the companies building 5-7 story apartment buildings are large firms with national portfolios (Hanover). Some of the people proposing high rises right now are smaller scale local developers (Shomof, Barry Shy).

Some developers actually want more parking than required, especially if their projects have "destination," type retail. I know Related wants extra parking for Parcel Q of the Grand Avenue project, since they don't think they'll be able to attract retail tenants without it.

Our zoning is woefully out of date, though. Of course, as LASportsFan has mentioned, the Dept. of City Planning has luckily noticed the problem. Hopefully we get a fix sooner rather than later.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

A Courtyard Marriott is a McManshion project?

Compared to 8th/Grand, Olympic/Hill, Market Lofts and the Block 8 developments....yes.

[Illithid Dude]

Just my two cents: I don't think low rises are a huge issue. Downtown Vancouver has a ton of low-rises, and it's one of the better downtowns in the world. Moreover, it's not like we are running out of parking lots, and there are still high rises being proposed. Metropolis, Grand Ave, the stuff on Broadway, Fig Central, and I'm sure more is going to come. Also, eventually, the pace of low rises will slow down, and high rises go up, and all the new development pushes apartment and condo prices up. It's not great, but it's not the downtown ending thing you guys are making it out to be.

[inSaeculaSaeculorum]

8 stories, 50 stories, I don't give a fuck. Just don't turn downtown into the gaslamp district!!!!

(I was just in San Diego last weekend, and toward the end of my trip loud thumping anthemic club music echoed off the building walls of the gaslamp and I was wondering 'where the hell is that coming from?' So I look up and see a bunch of spring breaker types in swim suits on the many balconies of a hard rock cafe hotel above me screaming out 'woo!! yeah!!' and that was when I decided I needed to go back to LA)

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Just my two cents: I don't think low rises are a huge issue. Downtown Vancouver has a ton of low-rises, and it's one of the better downtowns in the world. Moreover, it's not like we are running out of parking lots, and there are still high rises being proposed. Metropolis, Grand Ave, the stuff on Broadway, Fig Central, and I'm sure more is going to come. Also, eventually, the pace of low rises will slow down, and high rises go up, and all the new development pushes apartment and condo prices up. It's not great, but it's not the downtown ending thing you guys are making it out to be.

Low rise buildings are fine, and I'd even say preferable for many parts of downtown. They let in sunshine and make for a less overwhelming pedestrian environment.

The only time I really have a problem with low rise is when they show up on land that clearly has better use (i.e. Avant taking up 1/2 a block of Figueroa right across the street from the Convention Center).

Monstrosities like 8th and Grand should also be avoided. I don't understand why Carmel didn't opt to divide that into two separate buildings.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

8 stories, 50 stories, I don't give a fuck. Just don't turn downtown into the gaslamp district!!!!

(I was just in San Diego last weekend, and toward the end of my trip loud thumping anthemic club music echoed off the building walls of the gaslamp and I was wondering 'where the hell is that coming from?' So I look up and see a bunch of spring breaker types in swim suits on the many balconies of a hard rock cafe hotel above me screaming out 'woo!! yeah!!' and that was when I decided I needed to go back to LA)

Short of being attacked by giant tarantulas, that's one of my worst nightmares.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

8 stories, 50 stories, I don't give a fuck. Just don't turn downtown into the gaslamp district!!!!

(I was just in San Diego last weekend, and toward the end of my trip loud thumping anthemic club music echoed off the building walls of the gaslamp and I was wondering 'where the hell is that coming from?' So I look up and see a bunch of spring breaker types in swim suits on the many balconies of a hard rock cafe hotel above me screaming out 'woo!! yeah!!' and that was when I decided I needed to go back to LA)

Alternatively, Little Italy in San Diego would be a great neighborhood to borrow ideas from. Though, if a bunch of girls in bikinis invaded downtown, I wouldn't complain...

[The Illusive Man]

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

8 stories, 50 stories, I don't give a fuck. Just don't turn downtown into the gaslamp district!!!!

(I was just in San Diego last weekend, and toward the end of my trip loud thumping anthemic club music echoed off the building walls of the gaslamp and I was wondering 'where the hell is that coming from?' So I look up and see a bunch of spring breaker types in swim suits on the many balconies of a hard rock cafe hotel above me screaming out 'woo!! yeah!!' and that was when I decided I needed to go back to LA)

.....and women in bikinis is a problem how? I'm sorry, but women in bikinis>architecture any day of the week. In that case, I hope everything turns into the Gaslamp district.

[inSaeculaSaeculorum]

You guys would turn down a functionally elegant urban city for everyone in exchange for misogynstic pornographic fantasies of women (do I even need to bring up the lack of female-centered retail in dtla?).


SSP. Boys club all day every day

[The Illusive Man]

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

You guys would turn down a functionally elegant urban city for everyone in exchange for misogynstic pornographic fantasies of women (do I even need to bring up the lack of female-centered retail in dtla?).


SSP. Boys club all day every day

Who wants to be a NYC clone? I'll take the ladies any day of the week. Come on now. The ladies bring the true vibrancy. Not some massive buildings that block out the sun.

[BOYCOTT 90210]

Projects also may not get financing if you don't provide enough parking spaces. Some wooden boxes are fine with me, it creates a mixed income neighborhood. Not everyone can afford Watermarke or Apex.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

You guys would turn down a functionally elegant urban city for everyone in exchange for misogynstic pornographic fantasies of women (do I even need to bring up the lack of female-centered retail in dtla?).


SSP. Boys club all day every day

I think downtown has more female centered retail than male. Brigade? Moonbeams and Pokadots? (or whatever it's called). All the other vintage stores and salons?

[fimiak]

I can't even believe someone would think there is a lack of retail stores for women in LA, downtown or otherwise. That's all my gf seems to want to do whenever in LA.

[StethJeff]

DTLA might have the female-centered retail but it certainly does not have the hot females at exist in other parts in DTLA. Totally lacking in that department.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

DTLA doesnt have hot girls? youre crazy. Come by FIDM, Ralphs and Bottega... crawling with beautiful girls