LOS ANGELES | Central City Project Rundown 5.0

[alki]

Originally Posted by Wally West

Oh blackcat23, you're the hero we need but don't deserve.

Well said.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by Gram3000

I think Ava's design is definitely eye-catching in good & bad ways more of acquired taste.

that best sums things up.

there's also a famous saying that beauty is altogether in the eye of the beholder.

one of the forumers said a few wks ago that he has worked with ppl in no less than the creative field....art directors or ppl involved in interior design....who he thought sometimes had a surprisingly poor sense of visual quality. I'm paraphrasing his comments, but they were along those lines.

If dtla had the history of paris, vienna or rome, or if new devlpt there had to be placed in the context of some classically beautiful city in europe....then probably everyone of us would perceive things differently about new projs like ava or any of the other devlpt throughout dtla. I know I'd have to judge things in a totally different way.

I have a hunch most ppl visiting or living in little tokyo in the next few yrs will be more aware of...& more bothered by....the sometimes overly quiet sidewalks of the hood, or aggressive panhandlers, or things like the desolate parking lot on Los angeles st....across from ava....where the little tokyo community gym is supposed to be built.

however, it will be a sign that dtla has finally truly arrived & is in an ideal sweet spot when poor architectural design of new devlpt really will be the only noticeable....or most troubling.....weakness of the hood.


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[BrianMojo]

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.

It's less about the fact that it's a CVS than the fact that it will activate a spot on that corner that has sat vacant for years and years. It also seems like something that will be genuinely beneficial to the neighborhood.

I took a small walk along Spring tonight, a few minor details to report (will add pics later, I'm on mobile right now):
- Looks like a cafe will finally fill the space on the NW corner of Spring & 6th. An awning has been installed that reads "Springtime in New York Cafe" which is a hell of a weird name but whatever.
- The Security Building Loft has repainted its columns and installed brighter lights (not too big a deal)
- Guisados Tacos looks close to opening, they've got decorative curtains installed in the 2nd story windows.
- The Falls has installed a permanent outdoor awning, one would assume to better compete with Beelman's pub.
- The Globe marquee was off when I walked by. Looks like it'll only be on for special occasions/events.

Anyways, that's just some of the ridiculously small things I notice. Ha

[Muji]

Originally Posted by BrianMojo

- Looks like a cafe will finally fill the space on the NW corner of Spring & 6th. An awning has been installed that reads "Springtime in New York Cafe" which is a hell of a weird name but whatever.

Whoa, I'm pretty shocked that they are still moving forward with that. Brigham first wrote them almost two years ago!

[colemonkee]

Nice report, BrianMojo. Further north along Spring, there's activity in the old Coffee44 and the neighboring spot (which used to be a French bistro who's name escapes me) at the Douglas Building. There is brown butcher paper inside the windows (which was not there a couple of weeks ago), and the door was open this morning revealing that interior work is indeed underway. Not sure what's planned here, but there was a French restaurant rumored to go into the corner spot that originally held the awful sushi place.

In South Park, the Marriott double hotel now has its exterior LED lights lit, and they look pretty cool from the freeway. Gimmicky for sure, but they make a visible impact and visually liven up the area at night. No pictures as I was driving, but worth a look.

[Gram3000]

^^^ Fyi..That upcoming French restaurant in the Douglas is called "Spring" they were initially gonna take up the whole ground floor in phsses, maybe that's still the plan, the owner of church & state has brought on the French chef from c & s to this new venture, should be very interesting.

[colemonkee]

I knew there was a French restaurant going in there, but didn't know they were taking all three spaces. Can't wait to see what they do with it!

[BrianMojo]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

I knew there was a French restaurant going in there, but didn't know they were taking all three spaces. Can't wait to see what they do with it!

Isn't the restaurant under development on the first floor of the El Dorado building also supposed to be a French restaurant?? Sooner or later they're going to call the historic core "Little Paris!" Hah

Oh, and I forgot to mention that the artist on the 1st floor of the building between the El Dorado and The Continental Building looks to be moving out to join the gallery in the Continental Building. I'm curious if this means something else is going into that space!

[BrianMojo]

Originally Posted by Muji

Whoa, I'm pretty shocked that they are still moving forward with that. Brigham first wrote them almost two years ago!

Seriously? That is nuts!

[ConstructDTLA]

Something nice:

[BrianMojo]

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

With all the Arcade Building excitement its easy to forget just what we're dealing with. How ugly the Broadway-fronting businesses are, and how horrible the roll down gate & structure is. (Not to even mention the hideousness of the interior).

This is true! However, if you take a look inside you'll see that the roll-downs are being traded for glass. It's been a process, but about half of them have been converted, and they look much improved.

Also, I just noticed tonight that the electronics store opposite Guisado's on the Spring side has a moving notice -- to Broadway, of course.

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

To leave you with something nice:

This looks like a rendering! Fantastic shot.

[BrianMojo]

I promised pictures, and pictures you shall have! Although they certainly look a bit diminished when put up directly after DTLAdenizen's!









Urban Outfitters has theirs on, as did the Palace for some reason (not pictured) but not The Globe.



Great news for the Spring St. side of the Spring Arcade and honestly this business will probably make more sales on the Broadway side.



Uli has a fancy new sign now that they've officially opened.



Decorative window... things at Guisados.



The new storefronts in the Spring Arcade building.



There was a vigil for Ricky the Pirate tonight in the Spring Arcade. It was really touching, he was a kind hearted guy who everyone seemed to genuinely like.

[citywatch]

brianmojo, colemonkee & dtladenizen, you're among the reasons this forum is very helpful & interesting.

But OMG! the pics of ava in full daylight are shocking. They'll probably make even brandonjxn change his POV. I'm stunned. brudy was correct. Yikes.

only thing that makes that less of a disturbing revelation is the sight of the graffiti on the fencing around ava, the graffiti on the 3rd floor window of the arcade bldg, & the truly horrific condition of the roxy theater.

Not much less discouraging are seeing swapmeets on broadway hanging on like bedbugs in a fleabag motel. They're about as resilient as the taggers who somehow managed to get to the 3rd floor of the arcade theater.

how the heck do those vandals do that??! If they were half as resourceful & dedicated in doing something constructive as they are in graffiti, they'd be neurosurgeons or among the most prized employees in silicon valley.

Such things make the struggles of the figaro restaurant....much less the idea of it eventually shutting down.....even more galling.

a forumer mentioned that the scaffolding has been removed from the front of cliftons....& I just now realize that..... which is why I was wrong to have previously assumed the owner was still in the process of restoring the top half of the bldg. I guess not.

He must be going for a look of worn out authenticity, sort of like what the owner of the ace hotel was aiming for. Some of that deconstructionist philosophy is a bit too hipsterish for my tastes....which is why I really hope the owner of the bldg next door to cliftons at least either cleans up or removes the large, faceless rusting blade sign.

all in all, it's still an exciting time in the ongoing history of dtla.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by BrianMojo

Great news for the Spring St. side of the Spring Arcade and honestly this business will probably make more sales on the Broadway side.

uli, the gelato place in the spring arcade court, has consistently good reviews in yelp. I really want to drop by there when I'm next in dt. I hope they do very well....just a bit worried that the owners may find that a tougher challenge than it otherwise would be since so many ppl with $$ have long gotten out of the habit of shopping around broadway as it increasingly became a grungy swapmeet haven starting over 40 yrs ago.

[BrianMojo]

Originally Posted by citywatch

uli, the gelato place in the spring arcade court, has consistently good reviews in yelp. I really want to drop by there when I'm next in dt. I hope they do very well....just a bit worried that the owners may find that a tougher challenge than it otherwise would be since so many ppl with $$ have long gotten out of the habit of shopping around broadway as it increasingly became a grungy swapmeet haven starting over 40 yrs ago.

They're closer to the Spring St. side and they consistently have people hanging around and eating whenever I visit. I really think they're going to do well -- it doesn't hurt that it's honestly great gelato made fresh daily!

[Mojeda101]

Uli is amazing. I honest to go for their gelato whenever i'm in downtown. There was a concern I had today. It was around 3pm and the rolldown gate for the arcade on the Broadway side was down for some reason? I couldn't get in the alley to access Uli from Broadway. Unbelievable.

In regards to Globe. Globe won't be on everyday unfortunately. It's not a retailer that makes consist money. I fear it'll only be on during times of events or when it's a full fledged night club(2-3 months from now) so don't expect to see it on anytime soon. A lot of people are against the idea of Globe being a nightclub but isn't that what people are asking for? Night life on Broadway? That's exactly what it would create. It could've been restored completely but do you honestly think it would survive? I'm certain that's why the Delijani's want to make all their theaters into bars and clubs.

I really wish someone would buy the triplets(Arcade, Cameo, & Roxie) and make something out of them. I remember on the DTLA facebook group someone suggested AMC buy the three and make it a little mini movie plex. That would've been interesting to see.

[LA/OCman]

DTLA Denizen's pics are awesome, especially the Grand Park pic and the Hall of Justice. The HOJ is my favorite building under construction right now. The exterior was done right. Ava is odd. I think my problem with it is the colors. I look at it and think in a couple of years they will make some modifications to make it more appealing. Some will like it, most won't. I am not big on Sakura Crossing either. I do go back to 1111 Wilshire and I do like that building. Enough about Ava.

I have to hand it to the folks at Figaro. They are trying and I hope they are successful. There are a lot more patios opening up. The successful Persian restaurant across from The Stocking Frame (on Hill, south of 9th) is now open a few days a week for dinner and they have added a nice outdoor patio. Also, the patio at Beelman's on Spring is awesome…as well as the olive tree shrouded patio at Zinc Cafe in the Arts District.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by BrandonJXN

Ugly compared to nothing at all?

It's not a zero sum game though. We could have easily had a building that wasn't this ugly. It's like TCA went out of its way to make this thing hideous. In 10 years this one will be a totally out of date eyesore and it's sad because it didn't have to be that way. It's a missed opportunity. The building behind it (with the green) is going to be just as bad. We shouldn't be settling for second-rate architecture. According to everybody downtown is the hottest neighborhood in the country - why are we getting a building that looks like it should be a hotel at Legoland? And even that is giving it too much credit.

What's done is done and I know I'm beating a dead horse but it's frustrating that this is how downtown is building out (and I'm not even touching density here).

[brudy]

Originally Posted by citywatch

uli, the gelato place in the spring arcade court, has consistently good reviews in yelp. I really want to drop by there when I'm next in dt. I hope they do very well....just a bit worried that the owners may find that a tougher challenge than it otherwise would be since so many ppl with $$ have long gotten out of the habit of shopping around broadway as it increasingly became a grungy swapmeet haven starting over 40 yrs ago.

You realize that a ton of people live in the immediate area? And many of these people eat gelato. Gelato isn't exactly a destination food, this is a neighborhood place and if you've read any interviews with the owners or talked to them (if you go), you'll find out that all they want is to help build the neighborhood they live in. Very nice people.

[colemonkee]

Uli is owned by Uli and Ryan Villiancourt, the latter of whom wrote for the Downtown News for many years and kept this forum alive to some degree with his reporting. For that reason alone, everyone on this forum should support this business when you're in the area. Not to mention that they're incredibly nice people, and make genuinely great gelato. The design by Raveled Studio (also a downtown firm and in full disclosure, good friends of mine), is also very well executed and thoughtful - they installed dog hooks in the exterior fencing knowing that people would want to sit and eat gelato and have a place to tie up their dogs.

On the subject of Ava Little Tokyo, I drove by it last night and it only gets weirder. Those blue and brown squares have LED lighting around them so that the building screams "look at me!!!" even more at night. And will likely serve as a light-polluting reminder to the residents of how abysmal the exterior design of their building really is. It's so bad that it's becoming comical at this point.