LOS ANGELES | Central City Project Rundown 5.0

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

Ava looks better in pictures than it does in person. That being said:
A sea of 7-story stucco boxes, all with the same general shitty design. Seems like a great, future-proof plan.

finally!....a photo update of the apt projs in little tokyo. but what's with the balconies & their colored glass sidings?! that doesn't look too good. oh, well.

anyway, when all is said & done....when all the new devlpt has been completed & ppl have moved in, & dt is pushed to the next higher level....I bet most ppl will be far more positive towards the hood than they were ever before.

The 'oops' that have occurred in getting to that point...such as the design work of various architects....will become one big blur as dt progresses to a category it has never occupied in the past: an urban environment where lots of ppl....who aren't pensioners or flophouse tenants....are living in it 24/7.

Some of the new devlpt may be disappointing to fans of quality architecture, but most ppl overall are going to be more attuned to the number of gaps & grunge throughout dt, & the need to fill them in & clean them up, than they will be about almost anything else.

Originally Posted by eclipse

A pic from a few days ago I found on Flickr.

pwright

while I haven't seen photo updates of ava in quite awhile, I haven't seen photo updates of cliftons in an even longer time! It looks like all the formerly filled in window frames have been restored & the lower brown portion look like it hast gotten a good coat of varnish, or whatever it giving it that cleaned up look. I've never been able to figure out why just one planter box of artificial plants survived in that section of cliftons facade, while everything else was torn out.

Cliftons is one rehab proj that I'm more curious about....how it will turn out....than just about any other renovation proj going on in dt. I'm crossing my fingers & hoping the owner is very successful there. I know he's putting lots of money & a version of sweat equity into that proj, so failure is not an option.

[BrianMojo]

Originally Posted by BOYCOTT 90210

CVS on 7th & Spring progressing:



New Awning for Juice Crafters and sandwich shop. Looks better.

CVS is going to do amazing things for that corner. It's one of the major dead spaces on Spring. Exciting!

Also, those awnings would seem to mean that the building is letting go of its one-size-fits-all font & generic branding for its tenants. Thanks great news, it never looked very good.



You beat me to it! I was just going to say that the scaffolding is down at Cliftons and the lower half has gotten a new coat. That said, why is the scaffolding down? Do they not intend on cleaning up the top half of the building? Or adding additional artificial plants? It's very puzzling.

[BOYCOTT 90210]

Originally Posted by brudy

Not sure where you've been, but the rents in these new 7 stories is basically 2kish to start for 600sqft-ish. So there you go. Also, Santa Monica is not downtown.

I wasn't saying so LOL

[202_Cyclist]

I don't understand the excitement about the CVS. Here in DC, CVS are located on every other block. Admitedly, they do increase convenience for area employees and residents.

Downtown L.A. building boom stretching west of financial district


Construction has begun on a 648-unit apartment complex just west of the financial district. When finished, two large apartment buildings will rise along 6th Street (in the background) between Lucas Avenue and Bixel Street. (Mark Boster, Los Angeles Times)

By Andrew Khouri
LA Times
June 25, 2014

"The downtown Los Angeles building boom is spreading outward.

Construction has begun on a 648-unit apartment complex just west of the financial district, in yet another example of downtown's resurgence expanding beyond the neighborhood's traditional boundaries.

When finished, two large apartment buildings will rise along 6th Street between Lucas Avenue and Bixel Street, with retail stores on the ground floor. The developer, Holland Partner Group, also is renovating an adjacent 1920s medical office building into apartments. Altogether, the project is expected to cost more than $200 million.

..."I think you are going to see Koreatown and downtown — along Wilshire — ultimately form into a seamless linear community," said Paul Darrow, a broker with commercial real estate brokerage Marcus & Millichap..."



http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-property-report-20140626-story.html

[brudy]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

I don't understand the excitement about the CVS. Here in DC, CVS are located on every other block. Admitedly, they do increase convenience for area employees and residents.

Well, they provide basic stuff with good hours in parts of downtown that don't have any other options (or good options). There's pretty much nothing else below 7th in that part of DTLA, so I'm sure it will do well. DTLA and LA in general doesn't really have the DC/NYC problem of too many Duane Reades or CVSs. Still, not sure it's worth getting too excited over.

[BrandonJXN]

I lived a few blocks away (on 6th and Union) and would walk past this site all the time. This will be a great shot in the arm for City West/Westlake.

Many might not see it now but after living in Westlake for a year, it has loads of potential. It needs to be cleaned up substantially but it's right in the middle of two quickly changing areas (DTLA and Koreatown).

[202_Cyclist]

Originally Posted by brudy

Well, they provide basic stuff with good hours in parts of downtown that don't have any other options (or good options). There's pretty much nothing else below 7th in that part of DTLA, so I'm sure it will do well. DTLA and LA in general doesn't really have the DC/NYC problem of too many Duane Reades or CVSs. Still, not sure it's worth getting too excited over.

I absolutely agree that CVS is very convenient it is just that here in DC, I wish there was more retail variety. It is like having a Starbucks on every street. Nothing terrible about it but some additional variety is nice.

[alki]

Originally Posted by 202_Cyclist

I don't understand the excitement about the CVS. Here in DC, CVS are located on every other block. Admitedly, they do increase convenience for area employees and residents.

Its frequently the little touches that ultimately make the neighborhood.

Downtown L.A. building boom stretching west of financial district

[URL="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-property-report-20140626-story.html"]http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-property-report-20140626-story.html[/URL]

From the article:

"The land is a little less expensive as you get away from downtown," he said. "You can offer rents that are a little lower and justify the construction costs."

In the 90s, DTLA had some of the cheapest land of any west coast city. Land prices must have exploded during the aught years to result in such high rental prices in City West. Its hard to believe developers can get $1500 for a studio in City West.

For those who work from home: US vs Germany, World Cup: starts @ 9 AM.

[alki]

Originally Posted by BrandonJXN

I lived a few blocks away (on 6th and Union) and would walk past this site all the time. This will be a great shot in the arm for City West/Westlake.

Many might not see it now but after living in Westlake for a year, it has loads of potential. It needs to be cleaned up substantially but it's right in the middle of two quickly changing areas (DTLA and Koreatown).

I think MacArthur Park is one of the coolest looking parks in LA. That area has huge potential. I would have loved to get my hands on some of the bldgs around the park.

[LA/OCman]

Originally Posted by alki

Its frequently the little touches that ultimately make the neighborhood.



From the article:

"The land is a little less expensive as you get away from downtown," he said. "You can offer rents that are a little lower and justify the construction costs."

In the 90s, DTLA had some of the cheapest land of any west coast city. Land prices must have exploded during the aught years to result in such high rental prices in City West. Its hard to believe developers can get $1500 for a studio in City West.

For those who work from home: US vs Germany, World Cup: starts @ 9 AM.

I used to call on some accounts (First Interstate Bank) in the 80's and 90's in City West. To me it was like Beirut (the "Baghdad" during that era). What a horrible place it was back then. So glad to see it is really being cleaned up. Downtown used to be an island surrounded mostly by slums. It is really unbelievable the changes that are happening. I do hope apartments will continue to offer affordable housing options along with market rate housing. It sounds like responsible developers are doing so.

I read the Yelp reviews of 1111 Wilshire and the apartment building really gets glowing reviews.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by alki

Its frequently the little touches that ultimately make the neighborhood.



From the article:

"The land is a little less expensive as you get away from downtown," he said. "You can offer rents that are a little lower and justify the construction costs."

In the 90s, DTLA had some of the cheapest land of any west coast city. Land prices must have exploded during the aught years to result in such high rental prices in City West. Its hard to believe developers can get $1500 for a studio in City West.

For those who work from home: US vs Germany, World Cup: starts @ 9 AM.

It's easy to forget how close City West is to downtown. Just a few blocks. It's becoming a more attractive place to live - definitely quieter and a little more sedate, which I don't think is a bad thing.

Speaking of rental prices - One Sante Fe prices are out. Pricey but the layouts look good and roommateable.

Studios (363 to 670 square feet): $1,480 to $2,035
One-bedroom/one-bathroom (526 to 690 square feet): $1,980 to $2,410
One-bedroom/one-bathroom (703 to 913 square feet): $2,135 to $3,135
Two-bedroom/two-bathroom (899 to 982 square feet): $2,385 to $2,810
Two-bedroom/two-bathroom (1,002 to 1,103 square feet): $2,460 to $2,810
Two-bedroom/two-bathroom townhouse (1,241-1,422 square feet): $3,585 to $4,530

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

Ava looks better in pictures than it does in person. That being said:







A sea of 7-story stucco boxes, all with the same general shitty design. Seems like a great, future-proof plan.

I'm alone in this but I quite like Ava. It's absolutely not as bad as people make it out to be. It fits perfect with Little Tokyo and will add quite a bit into that node.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by BrandonJXN

I'm alone in this but I quite like Ava. It's absolutely not as bad as people make it out to be.

You're right, it's worse.

[Gram3000]

I'll admit in those nighttime photos do bring it a slight air of sophistication amid the wackiness & quirkiness of the overall design. Can't wait for the Vibiana lofts down the way which I think will play off Ava's design & synergy in a classier way IMO. OveralI, I think Ava's design is definitely eye-catching in good & bad ways more of acquired taste.

[blackcat23]

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-biltmore-lease-20140626-story.html

NationBuilder to rent at Biltmore

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by brudy

You're right, it's worse.

No.

Say what you will but a large parking lot in the middle of Little Tokyo is gone. That's a pretty big deal. The eastern part of downtown is going to come alive. That's hugely important.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by BrandonJXN

No.

Say what you will but a large parking lot in the middle of Little Tokyo is gone. That's a pretty big deal. The eastern part of downtown is going to come alive. That's hugely important.

We're arguing two different things. It will help the street, but it's an ugly as sin building that we'll be stuck with for decades.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by brudy

We're arguing two different things. It will help the street, but it's an ugly as sin building that we'll be stuck with for decades.

Ugly compared to nothing at all?

[alki]

Originally Posted by LA/OCman

I used to call on some accounts (First Interstate Bank) in the 80's and 90's in City West. To me it was like Beirut (the "Baghdad" during that era). What a horrible place it was back then. So glad to see it is really being cleaned up. Downtown used to be an island surrounded mostly by slums. It is really unbelievable the changes that are happening. I do hope apartments will continue to offer affordable housing options along with market rate housing. It sounds like responsible developers are doing so.

I read the Yelp reviews of 1111 Wilshire and the apartment building really gets glowing reviews.

If the city wants to have some affordable housing built, best bet is to include in the regs a provision that encourages development of that kind of housing. Developers usually need an incentive to build affordable units; they won't do it on their own.

What I like about City West is that the streets are more narrow than those in DT and that part of DT is somewhat hilly.

[alki]

Originally Posted by brudy

It's easy to forget how close City West is to downtown. Just a few blocks. It's becoming a more attractive place to live - definitely quieter and a little more sedate, which I don't think is a bad thing.

Yeah, I think City West can be an incredible neighborhood; kind of like Chelsea in NY.....not in terms of price but in terms of environment; not as busy and urban as neighborhoods on the avenues. Like I said in prior posts, I like the narrower streets; that its a bit hilly and that the western end fronts on MacArthur Park.

Speaking of rental prices - One Sante Fe prices are out. Pricey but the layouts look good and roommateable.

Studios (363 to 670 square feet): $1,480 to $2,035
One-bedroom/one-bathroom (526 to 690 square feet): $1,980 to $2,410
One-bedroom/one-bathroom (703 to 913 square feet): $2,135 to $3,135
Two-bedroom/two-bathroom (899 to 982 square feet): $2,385 to $2,810
Two-bedroom/two-bathroom (1,002 to 1,103 square feet): $2,460 to $2,810
Two-bedroom/two-bathroom townhouse (1,241-1,422 square feet): $3,585 to $4,530

That small studio is not much bigger than a micropod.....and $1480 is definitely pricy for a unit that small. Per sq ft, its considered luxury. Are the amenities in Sante Fe commensurate with rents that high? I guess developers think they can get those rents.