LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

A new cultural center headquarters for the SoCal Teo-Chew Association will be starting construction in Chinatown next door to the Jia Apartments.



dtlarising.com


http://brighamyen.com/2013/08/20/new-hea...tion-coming-to-chinatown-in-downtown-la/

I love it! I just have to say it's about time we got an authentic gateway. I can't wait for this to begin. Chinatown really surprised me when I went on my update. I saw all these people getting their groceries and I even bought myself a few trinkets. But i'm alittle confused in regards to the placement. It's going to be directly next to the Jia apartments, but I see cars going through and behind it. Where exactly will the actual gateway be? The Jia apartments aren't seen behind the site in the rendering I'm guessing it's like a parking area behind it leading to the actual structure?

[brudy]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

I love it! I just have to say it's about time we got an authentic gateway. I can't wait for this to begin. Chinatown really surprised me when I went on my update. I saw all these people getting their groceries and I even bought myself a few trinkets. But i'm alittle confused in regards to the placement. It's going to be directly next to the Jia apartments, but I see cars going through and behind it. Where exactly will the actual gateway be? The Jia apartments aren't seen behind the site in the rendering I'm guessing it's like a parking area behind it leading to the actual structure?

I think the gateway will be facing Broadway. That's probably a driveway/parking lot.

[Illithid Dude]

There's a rumor going around that J Brand is going to set up their worldwide flagship in DTLA.

[alki]

Originally Posted by JRinSoCal

Great update as usual Mojeda!

It's disgusting how freaking huge the parking podium at Wilshire and Vermont is! This type of development should be banned in Los Angeles.

Even when parking is not required, developers are still putting in lots of parking pretty much everywhere.........podiums for rental bldgs; underground if they are condos.

[alki]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

There's a rumor going around that J Brand is going to set up their worldwide flagship in DTLA.

Men's jeans at $200 a pop. I think that might be a tough sell DT esp with some of the other stores opening up.

[alki]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

I love it! I just have to say it's about time we got an authentic gateway. I can't wait for this to begin. Chinatown really surprised me when I went on my update. I saw all these people getting their groceries and I even bought myself a few trinkets. But i'm alittle confused in regards to the placement. It's going to be directly next to the Jia apartments, but I see cars going through and behind it. Where exactly will the actual gateway be? The Jia apartments aren't seen behind the site in the rendering I'm guessing it's like a parking area behind it leading to the actual structure?

I know I am probably in the minority here but I like the Jia bldg as well as the gateway.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by alki

Men's jeans at $200 a pop. I think that might be a tough sell DT esp with some of the other stores opening up.

First off, they aren't just mens and many are less than $200. >$150 is pretty standard for well made designy jeans these days. And don't take this the wrong way, but you're not the target market if you think that's too much. With ACNE opening up and a small bevy of other high end denim places in downtown, J Brand would fit right in.

The rumors might come from a racked article where the J Brand CEO said they were opening in a location "a bit off the beaten path" which seemed to exclude the standard WEHO/BH areas.

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by alki

I know I am probably in the minority here but I like the Jia bldg as well as the gateway.

It's not very good looking up close, but it fills in the view of Chinatown from a distance.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by brudy

First off, they aren't just mens and many are less than $200. >$150 is pretty standard for well made designy jeans these days. And don't take this the wrong way, but you're not the target market if you think that's too much. With ACNE opening up and a small bevy of other high end denim places in downtown, J Brand would fit right in.

The rumors might come from a racked article where the J Brand CEO said they were opening in a location "a bit off the beaten path" which seemed to exclude the standard WEHO/BH areas.

Also, the head of J Brand has been mentioning recently how much she likes downtown. And Acne is far more expensive than J Brand, with certain coats retailing even above $3000, so I wouldn't worry too much about J Brand being too expensive.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Also, the head of J Brand has been mentioning recently how much she likes downtown. And Acne is far more expensive than J Brand, with certain coats retailing even above $3000, so I wouldn't worry too much about J Brand being too expensive.

Isn't J Brand's headquarters and factory store already downtown? Pretty sure my wife has bought a few pairs there. She's tiny and J Brand is literally the only designer that makes jeans in her size, so she's kind of locked in. Their factory store definitely has deals though.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by alki

Even when parking is not required, developers are still putting in lots of parking pretty much everywhere.........podiums for rental bldgs; underground if they are condos.

Are you sure it's the developers requirement or the zoning requirement made by the City? Right now, our parking zoning is erreonously high. Developers have to request a lot of waivers to reduce that.

The next important step in the re-zoning is coming in the next 2 years (http://recode.la/). This will be THE most important document that will impact downtown LA. The good news is that downtown LA will be the first neighborhood to be re-zoned. You can follow all the updates here: https://twitter.com/recodela

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by alki

I know I am probably in the minority here but I like the Jia bldg as well as the gateway.

As do I. I feel that's going to be Chinatown's future. Just filled with a ton of 6 story apartment buildings all around. Blossom Plaza might have been delayed a tad, but it's still kicking. This gateway is awesome news, I can't wait to instagram that shit

[alki]

Originally Posted by brudy

First off, they aren't just mens and many are less than $200. >$150 is pretty standard for well made designy jeans these days. And don't take this the wrong way, but you're not the target market if you think that's too much. With ACNE opening up and a small bevy of other high end denim places in downtown, J Brand would fit right in.

Oh I am definitely not the target market.......I wouldn't pay over $100 for jeans. However, there is definitely those who are willing.......I just don't see that many of them DT. I also don't think J Brand typically does stand alone stores. With ACNE they have a couple things going on......a second floor design studio I think. J Brand will have just its clothes.........trying to prove it can stand alone. Pretty risky IMO.

Having said that, frankly, I don't think any of these hi end stores expect to make money when they first open. I think they are opening in DTLA because its the new thing......what all the 'cool kids' are doing. And after all, its LA......the second largest market in the country......and home to Hollywood.

It just surprises me how many of them are jumping on so quickly.

[alki]

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

Are you sure it's the developers requirement or the zoning requirement made by the City? Right now, our parking zoning is erreonously high. Developers have to request a lot of waivers to reduce that.

The next important step in the re-zoning is coming in the next 2 years (http://recode.la/). This will be THE most important document that will impact downtown LA. The good news is that downtown LA will be the first neighborhood to be re-zoned. You can follow all the updates here: https://twitter.com/recodela

Even in markets where parking requirements are minimal they are building parking.....podiums for rentals; underground for condos. I know because I am in one of them....and its frustrating.

Apparently developers don't think people are ready to give up their cars. The only major hi end, hi rise I've seen go up in the last two years without parking is in Miami of all places. And everyone there is saying the developer is crazy.

[alki]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

As do I. I feel that's going to be Chinatown's future. Just filled with a ton of 6 story apartment buildings all around. Blossom Plaza might have been delayed a tad, but it's still kicking. This gateway is awesome news, I can't wait to instagram that shit

Yeah......I think its Chinatown's future as well. It would be incredible if Chinatown becomes as urban as Little Tokyo. It would put more pressure for platforming over the 101 and hooking up Chinatown with DT.

[alki]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

It's not very good looking up close, but it fills in the view of Chinatown from a distance.

Yeah, photos can be deceiving.......I like the raised roof in the front.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by alki

Oh I am definitely not the target market.......I wouldn't pay over $100 for jeans. However, there is definitely those who are willing.......I just don't see that many of them DT. I also don't think J Brand typically does stand alone stores. With ACNE they have a couple things going on......a second floor design studio I think. J Brand will have just its clothes.........trying to prove it can stand alone. Pretty risky IMO.

Having said that, frankly, I don't think any of these hi end stores expect to make money when they first open. I think they are opening in DTLA because its the new thing......what all the 'cool kids' are doing. And after all, its LA......the second largest market in the country......and home to Hollywood.

It just surprises me how many of them are jumping on so quickly.

It would be J Brands first store, but that they are opening a store in Los Angeles is confirmed. It's where that is the mystery. And just form walking around downtown, it seems that many residents are more fashionable then the average Angelino. I think brands know this, and are catering to that market.

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Isn't J Brand's headquarters and factory store already downtown? Pretty sure my wife has bought a few pairs there. She's tiny and J Brand is literally the only designer that makes jeans in her size, so she's kind of locked in. Their factory store definitely has deals though.

Well, Saint Laurent makes crazy small jeans, though it's also crazy expensive. I'm wearing a size 29 right now, and it barely fits me, and I normally wear a 28 in everything else.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by alki

Even in markets where parking requirements are minimal they are building parking.....podiums for rentals; underground for condos. I know because I am in one of them....and its frustrating.

Apparently developers don't think people are ready to give up their cars. The only major hi end, hi rise I've seen go up in the last two years without parking is in Miami of all places. And everyone there is saying the developer is crazy.

There was one building opened in Chinatown recently that had no parking, the name escapes me. I think it was an adaptive reuse project, hence why the variance was allowed. Of course, it filled up nicely. So this expectation that "everybody needs a car" is no longer true; it's a person's own choice.

I know the area around the Cornfield was recenlty approved for zoning without mandatory parking requirements, so it will be interesting how that area develops and the demand for livability. I'm assuming it will be gentrified just like our Historic Core. It's only people from the suburbs who will complain about lack of parking, that's their choice. Just like you have plenty of parking in the suburbs, that's your choice to buy a car, not everybody needs it.

I just hope gas prices keep spiking! Eventually, cars will become a luxury and not a necessity, that's my hope!

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by alki

Yeah......I think its Chinatown's future as well. It would be incredible if Chinatown becomes as urban as Little Tokyo. It would put more pressure for platforming over the 101 and hooking up Chinatown with DT.

Little Tokyo isn't even done! Ava and 2nd/San Pedro are going up, and I wouldn't doubt once the Regional Connector begins, development will follow suit. For Chinatown, it'll take some time, but I can see a completely different Chinatown in 15-20 years. I wish they could have ran the red or purple lines into Chinatown. Would definitely improve that district.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

Little Tokyo isn't even done! Ava and 2nd/San Pedro are going up, and I wouldn't doubt once the Regional Connector begins, development will follow suit. For Chinatown, it'll take some time, but I can see a completely different Chinatown in 15-20 years. I wish they could have ran the red or purple lines into Chinatown. Would definitely improve that district.

Little Tokyo can only go south, so it will be interesting to see what happens. 3rd street is a almost complete waste with stupid head shops and is ripe for development. Once that 3rd and Main complex comes along, that might spur inroads.