LOS ANGELES | Central City Project Rundown 5.0

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by BrianMojo

I didn't really think about this at the time, but it would seem that most of these plans don't involve adapting the actual theater spaces but instead the retail that is in the building surrounding the theaters -- which is a great thing, because it would be sad to lose the theater spaces. Maybe I'm the only one that was worried that would happen?

I'm honestly a little surprised that we haven't heard anything about the plans for converting the Tower retail space into a restaurant (even though it's all impossibly shallow) considering its proximity to Urban Outfitters & Ace -- not to mention the fact that it's the only theater that is no longer actually a 'theater' on the inside, so it's more conducive to other uses without destroying its character.

There are definitely a fair amount of people who care if the theatre interiors are touched. I worry about the entire Delijani plan... I wish they'd sell to better owners who actually cared about DTLA. They have the money to restore all their properties, just lack the motivation.

Everyone should follow the LA Historic Theatre Foundation, which has a heavy presence in DTLA.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LAHTF/

[alki]

Originally Posted by BrianMojo

I didn't really think about this at the time, but it would seem that most of these plans don't involve adapting the actual theater spaces but instead the retail that is in the building surrounding the theaters -- which is a great thing, because it would be sad to lose the theater spaces. Maybe I'm the only one that was worried that would happen?

I'm honestly a little surprised that we haven't heard anything about the plans for converting the Tower retail space into a restaurant (even though it's all impossibly shallow) considering its proximity to Urban Outfitters & Ace -- not to mention the fact that it's the only theater that is no longer actually a 'theater' on the inside, so it's more conducive to other uses without destroying its character.

Between the National Register and CA preservation laws, it would be very difficult to tear one of these theaters down or even alter them irreparably. The danger of losing them was considerable in the '90s. With what's happening in DTLA now, I think their prospects look better than they have for decades.

[colemonkee]

I've been wondering why the facade of the Broad Museum has taken so long, and this article starts to explain why...

Full Article: http://blog.archpaper.com/wordpress/archives/86081

Image Source: MATT Construction

Broad Collection Sues Seele over Problematic Los Angeles Museum Facade
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Sam Lubell

In a recent interview, Diller Scofidio + Renfro Senior Associate Kevin Rice told AN that the “veil” at Los Angeles’ Broad Museum—a facade made of hundreds of molded Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) panels, had been delayed by over a year. “Some of the things took longer to make than they thought, but there aren’t really problems with it,” Rice said.

But now it looks like the issues with the museum’s facade are more severe than initially thought.

The LA Times has reported that the Broad Collection and contractor Matt Construction are suing Seele, the engineer of that facade, seeking $19.8 million in damages relating to the delay. Other damages, according to the complaint (PDF), include breach of contract, fraud in the inducement, and fraud and deceit.

Read the rest of the article here.

[blackcat23]

http://brighamyen.com/2014/06/05/now-ope...n-las-new-beautiful-flagship-zara-store/

Now Open! Feast Your Eyes on Downtown LA’s New Beautiful Flagship Zara Store

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by BrianMojo

I didn't really think about this at the time, but it would seem that most of these plans don't involve adapting the actual theater spaces but instead the retail that is in the building surrounding the theaters -- which is a great thing, because it would be sad to lose the theater spaces. Maybe I'm the only one that was worried that would happen?

I'm honestly a little surprised that we haven't heard anything about the plans for converting the Tower retail space into a restaurant (even though it's all impossibly shallow) considering its proximity to Urban Outfitters & Ace -- not to mention the fact that it's the only theater that is no longer actually a 'theater' on the inside, so it's more conducive to other uses without destroying its character.

I'm sure that's probably the majority sentiment among the LA forumers.

[LA/OCman]

This is crazy. Three new businesses moving into the Arts District. Also, I had lunch at the newly opened Zinc Cafe in the AD and it was great! They have a huge patio with full grown olive trees.

First, a Tea Room based in Beverly Hills:

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/restaurant...e938fba-ed93-11e3-9b61-0019bb2963f4.html

Second, a huge Arts Complex according to the LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-cm-schimmel-arts-center-20140606-story.html#page=1

Thirdly, a clothing store relocating from Melrose to the AD:

http://la.racked.com/archives/2014/06/06/cerre_moves_its_minimalist_melrose_digs_to_dtla.php

[mdiederi]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

a huge Arts Complex according to the LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-cm-schimmel-arts-center-20140606-story.html#page=1

Wow! Hauser & Wirth is one of the most important contemporary art galleries in the world, Complex magazine listed Hauser & Wirth as number 4 on its list of the World's 100 Best Art Galleries, and many of their stable artists started in LA. With free admission to seven buildings of exhibition space this has the potential to be a major destination, attracting national and international art enthusiasts daily, and acknowledges the art district's heritage.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

This is crazy. Three new businesses moving into the Arts District. Also, I had lunch at the newly opened Zinc Cafe in the AD and it was great! They have a huge patio with full grown olive trees.

First, a Tea Room based in Beverly Hills:

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/restaurant...e938fba-ed93-11e3-9b61-0019bb2963f4.html

Second, a huge Arts Complex according to the LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-cm-schimmel-arts-center-20140606-story.html#page=1

Thirdly, a clothing store relocating from Melrose to the AD:

http://la.racked.com/archives/2014/06/06/cerre_moves_its_minimalist_melrose_digs_to_dtla.php

Crazy that businesses are moving south of 7th. The tea place is near Stumptown and Bestia, but the last place, Cerre will be on Mateo. It's a destination type store though, so I guess it doesn't need walk-in traffic (or else it wouldn't be moving there). I also heard that something was going on with that warehouse across the street from Stumptown - it was either being demoed or converted, but the source was dubious on that.

The gallery is partly owned by Paul Schimmel (of MOCA infamy), but this sounds amazing. In a year or two you won't recognize the northern part of the AD.

[ConstructDTLA]

Todays minor update:

Coco Laurent closed. On the door it says their doing renovations but the crowd there has been dismal for months.

Zara had bad sales figures today & yesterday. Even below the low number they expected... This baffles me. Urban Outfitters had incredible sales numbers the first few days.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

Zara had bad sales figures today & yesterday. Even below the low number they expected... This baffles me. Urban Outfitters had incredible sales numbers the first few days.

I think it makes sense. First of all, no one knew when Zara was going to open. Zara had multiple opening dates that they kept pushing back. It wouldn't surprise me if many people still didn't know that Zara has opened up. Secondly, the location simply isn't that great. Broadway is simply draws more shoppers than 7th and Fig. I know 7th and Fig has a huge lunchtime crowd, but how many of those eaters want to shop at Zara? Do you know how well H&M does? I figure that's the best store to compare Zara with.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I think it makes sense. First of all, no one knew when Zara was going to open. Zara had multiple opening dates that they kept pushing back. It wouldn't surprise me if many people still didn't know that Zara has opened up. Secondly, the location simply isn't that great. Broadway is simply draws more shoppers than 7th and Fig. I know 7th and Fig has a huge lunchtime crowd, but how many of those eaters want to shop at Zara? Do you know how well H&M does? I figure that's the best store to compare Zara with.

I agree its an awful location.

Had they gone to Broadway with a store this large Broadway would've been changed overnight for the better. It would've exploded with retail development. Instead their in this depressing hole-in-the-ground mall that feels like its in one of the awful cities 20 miles away.

I'm not sure how H&M is doing. I've been in twice. Both times I went it was messier than any retail store I've ever been to, and empty.

[Hubris]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Do you know how well H&M does?

I was there last Saturday at around 5pm, with about 30 other shoppers.

My wife is a big fan of Zara kids clothing. The FIGat7th store is one of the few that carries them, so that will be a draw.

[ThomJames]

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

I agree its an awful location.

Had they gone to Broadway with a store this large Broadway would've been changed overnight for the better. It would've exploded with retail development. Instead their in this depressing hole-in-the-ground mall that feels like its in one of the awful cities 20 miles away.

I'm not sure how H&M is doing. I've been in twice. Both times I went it was messier than any retail store I've ever been to, and empty.

Was in H&M last Saturday night of all things, and store was clean and relatively busy. (20 people in line waiting to pay). See people carrying shopping bags all over downtown.

As far as Zara goes, this isn't an AWFUL location. Just because you would have personally preferred this store on Broadway, doesn't make this location bad. Like Target and H&M, I think Zara will do quite well at this location. And in comparison to my days at USC in the 90's, this plaza was hopping for a Saturday night.

Retail, and a lot of it, will land on Broadway but it is going to be a process.

[citywatch]

I think some of you are living in dreamland if you believe zara should have opened its main branch on broadway & that a store located there would do better than their location at fig at 7th. Such an assumption is ridiculously naive since broadway still is a largely low rent district & still has too many sections that are unappealing to the typical, discerning shopper.

I'm talking about shoppers who are generally (1) women, (2) have plenty of credit cards or cash at their disposal, & (3) will therefore be a bit more cautious about their surroundings, inc whether a location is safe, clean & attractive.

Is much of broadway....not in the future, but today....safe, clean & attractive??!

and even if the ace hotel on broadway is doing well, that's a different dynamic since it attracts mostly ppl who are couples or groups of ppl, travelers, tourists.....& not....once again....just women who are out doing serious shopping for the day.

If ppl don't understand this basic point, they may miss understanding the bigger picture. One of those being that dtla, even though its population has increased over the past few yrs, still doesn't have a very plentiful number of ppl....esp women....who guarantee that a new store....a nice one....will be a guaranteed success.

there are quite a few forumers who are very picky about whether new projs in dt are tall enough, large enough, well designed enough....whether they fit some type of urban ideal. I mention that cuz I'm fascinated by the way that some of those forumers judge the new blvd 6200 apt proj on hollywood blvd. I think it's one of the most atrocious looking new bldgs out there....with a horrible dark brown & salmon color....very disappointing compared with the original renderings of it.....& yet I notice certain ppl who have fairly discriminating tastes don't seem as bothered by it as I am.

I mention that cuz when it comes to the finer details of what makes dt good or not.....meaning the more technical aspects of new devlpt.....beauty is altogether in the eye of the beholder. That's why I'm more concerned about the weak aspects of dtla that most ppl....not all ppl, but most ppl....are aware of. For instance, the fact that broadway still is full of frowsy swapmeets & rundown bldgs, & not that a new proj on it may or my not fit everyone's idea of wonderful architecture.

[alki]

LA is included on the list and you might be surprised by what you see.

The U.S. Cities That Sprawled the Most (and Least) Between 2000 and 2010

Two maps and six charts take sprawl rankings to another level.

http://www.citylab.com/housing/2014/06/t...-and-least-between-2000-and-2010/372105/

[caligrad]

You beat me to it Alki, was just reading a similar article on Curbed about how LA is one of the most compact cities in the nation. Its a head scratcher.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by alki

LA is included on the list and you might be surprised by what you see.

The U.S. Cities That Sprawled the Most (and Least) Between 2000 and 2010

Two maps and six charts take sprawl rankings to another level.

http://www.citylab.com/housing/2014/06/t...-and-least-between-2000-and-2010/372105/

The first chart 'Most Compact Cities 2010' lists NYC as #10.

The information these charts are based on is obviously very flawed. Laughably so.

[caligrad]

^^^

My thoughts exactly. I'm not sure how they are measuring the density factor. There's a heated debate about it currently on curbed. the comment section was making me laugh. Being an LA native I know LA has some dense corridors but I wouldn't rank us as high as the chart does in the compact category.

[sportbiker]

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

Todays minor update:

Coco Laurent closed. On the door it says their doing renovations but the crowd there has been dismal for months.

Zara had bad sales figures today & yesterday. Even below the low number they expected... This baffles me. Urban Outfitters had incredible sales numbers the first few days.

A couple of weeks ago I spoke to some employees at Sport Chalet. They said the business is now meeting projections, but it took almost a year to ramp up. Not every business will be a barn-burner from day-one.

[mdiederi]

It will be interesting to see if Hauser Wirth & Shimmel can draw the buyers to that location, some of the art they sell is priced a lot higher than the average condo downtown. However, they aren't buying the buildings, it's a ten year lease with extension options. The free admission is going to be awesome though, Hauser & Wirth is known for putting on museum quality exhibitions, sometimes going to the expense of borrowing artworks from private collections and museums that aren't for sale, just to make the shows more meaningful, and this location will have mega-space to show very large pieces, and multiple shows simultaneously.


http://www.hauserwirth.com/