LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by citywatch

It comes down to what the economy will bear....meaning the amt of demand for new apts & condos in dt.

the most recent example of a high rise....& a rather expensive one for residential use....being completed & open for business in dt was the Apex...formerly concerto. The owner started leasing a bit less than a yr ago. I bet if they had fully booked up almost overnight....instead of today still sitting with about 20% of their apts unleased....other devlprs would have noticed....& swooned....& gotten excited by what they could do in their part of dt.

btw, I still see ads...here at ssp.com....for totally new condos in the Evo condo bldg....& how long ago was it when that bldg was completed & open for sales?

Citywatch you've got to stop with the depressing facts about DTLA! This is a place for positiveness. For us to be ignorant of other Downtowns and call ours 'one of the best in America'.

[LAofAnaheim]

I agree a bit that the 7 story buildings actually bring more life to our downtown streets than unfortunately those in the 30 story range. Look at the streetscape/retail at Market Lofts, and then compare that to 717, Watermarke and Concerto. Market Lofts, itself, has more people walking around than the 3 of those taller residential towers combined. Granted, there is 5 retail spots at the bottom, but those taller towers should have more residents and can't they make better use of their leasable space?

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Citywatch you've got to stop with the depressing facts about DTLA! This is a place for positiveness. For us to be ignorant of other Downtowns and call ours 'one of the best in America'.

Not to mention delusional thinking like Broadway being forever doomed because Ross and Urban Outfitters are moving in.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by eclipse

Not to mention delusional thinking like Broadway being forever doomed because Ross and Urban Outfitters are moving in.

Urban Outfitters is a plus. I do stand by everything I said about Ross though. Anyone who lives here and actually frequents Broadway would agree to that.

[The Illusive Man]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Citywatch you've got to stop with the depressing facts about DTLA! This is a place for positiveness. For us to be ignorant of other Downtowns and call ours 'one of the best in America'.

Ok, you win. Downtown sucks and should be shut down. Happy now?

[alki]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Well the good news is that Playa Vista is SMALL compared to downtown, and because of the environmental actions taken, it likely won't expand much more, if at all. There's a finite supply of office conversions available.

I understand but the bad news is that there are not that many companies, tech or otherwise, looking for 300K sq ft of office space these days. DTLA needs to snag at least one of them. A thousand tech jobs could lead to 500-1000 more apts DT.

[alki]

Originally Posted by Munchitup

Here's a question I have been wondering as you guys go back and forth about these boxes -

What happens if the planning commission puts a firm foot down and requires more expensive steel frame construction / greater design standards and developers just say, "Eh... never mind we'll go build elsewhere in the city".

Excellent question. Its likely bldg will stall out if developers are required to build taller bldgs which meet earthquake specifications. At the current time, prices are barely strong enough in DTLA to build hi rise condos let alone hi rise rentals.

[alki]

Originally Posted by HunterK

I agree COMPLETELY.

Would they consider DTLA...Maybe, but probably not.

What do others think......would tech consider DTLA?

[alki]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

First, L.A. needs a major tech company. DT does seem to be becoming the center of the L.A. fashion world, though, so that's good.

I agree that DTLA is attracting fashion companies but I don't think they have the numbers of employees, the salaries and the growth curve that tech cos have.

BTW LA based Riot Games has 1000 employees and will be absorbing 300K sq ft of office space. Its not a Google or a Microsoft but by comparison Twitter has only a thousand employees. Furthermore, if a developer could land Riot Games DT, that would be enough of an anchor to start construction on a 500 sq ft office tower that's 30-40 stories tall. There's that.

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by alki

What do others think......would tech consider DTLA?

I don't know enough to say if larger companies like Riot would, but I know small tech start ups have. The company my brother works for has main office in Downtown. They were looking to expand a few months back, but opted to space in Irvine since the rents were cheaper.

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Urban Outfitters is a plus. I do stand by everything I said about Ross though. Anyone who lives here and actually frequents Broadway would agree to that.

I've been a homeowner and lived in that home downtown for over 8 years now, frequent Broadway, and disagree with that statement.

[LAofAnaheim]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Urban Outfitters is a plus. I do stand by everything I said about Ross though. Anyone who lives here and actually frequents Broadway would agree to that.

Agreed with colemonkee. HunterK, I've lined in DTLA since 2007 and if you think Ross was damaging to downtown, then you are the one that is delusional. It was the first major department store to return to Broadway after the Suburban flight post - WWII. It's similar to how huge news it was when Ralph's opened in 2007. Yes, it's a Ralph's and not WF or TJ's, but a sign of big name companies willing to bet on downtown again. Just like Ralph's helped bring in Smart & Final and WF's, Ross will do the same for Broadway.

And not "everybody" hates it, your generalization statements undermine the qualities of your thought. Your hidden negatives are much worse than citywatch's constant parking lot comparisons.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

I don't know enough to say if larger companies like Riot would, but I know small tech start ups have. The company my brother works for has main office in Downtown. They were looking to expand a few months back, but opted to space in Irvine since the rents were cheaper.

I think it's crazy that when looking at locations Irvine and dtla are said in the same breath? They're so far apart, that's life changing distances for employees.

[brudy]

And here I thought the Broadway Ross dead horse was already beaten? Personally, I don't like Ross (I'm fine with marshalls or tj maxx). Whether or not it's done any good for the street, who knows? When I walk by it looks pretty dead in there. You could argue that other companies looked to it and saw them taking a chance, and it is one less dumpy storefront on the street. But whether it is actively contributing to the street, I don't know. It's definitely not the worst thing in the world.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by citywatch

I notice that when I haven't been in dt for quite awhile, I find myself becoming rather forgiving of its weaknesses....of its qualities....& start to romanticize its good points. But then I'll drop by the hood for a direct visit &.... KERPLUNK!....I'll suddenly feel like someone has just bopped me on the head.....meaning the amt of blight & grit & areas in sore need of new devlpt becomes overwhelmingly obvious all over again.

Yeah, it's easy to do that. I always over romanticize places as well. Grass is greener and such.

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by brudy

And here I thought the Broadway Ross dead horse was already beaten? Personally, I don't like Ross (I'm fine with marshalls or tj maxx). Whether or not it's done any good for the street, who knows? When I walk by it looks pretty dead in there. You could argue that other companies looked to it and saw them taking a chance, and it is one less dumpy storefront on the street. But whether it is actively contributing to the street, I don't know. It's definitely not the worst thing in the world.

I'm also not fond of Ross, but the bright side of its presence is that if it fails and decides to close it would allow a nicely renovated retail space to be marketed to another more appropriate (and perhaps more successful) retailer.

[gerryberry]

there´s a new official "the bloc" website online now with amazing new renderings of the renovated plaza...
http://www.theblocdowntown.com

[LAofAnaheim]

Remember, forumers, nobody thought downtown would ever get into the entertainment industry, but ESPN changed that, and now we have daily late night filming happening in downtown LA for Sportscenter. Some other ESPN broadcasts also now film in LA Live!. It could be a catalyst for other entertainment firms, but we do need to attract more higher-named companies into downtown LA.

If entertainment/media returned with ESPN, Riot can do the same for gaming or another tech company....

[BrandonJXN]

[inSaeculaSaeculorum]

^Is that a Metro sign in the last two images? Have they talked about building a new portal for the 7th/Metro stop?