LOS ANGELES | Central City Project Rundown 5.0

[colemonkee]

Took a couple of pictures yesterday and today, because I know how much everyone likes pictures. Taken with my phone, so excuse the relative quality (though phone cameras are getting pretty damn good).

Ava Little Tokyo
Fencing is down and workers were busy working on the sidewalks and plaza. I'd give this a month before we start to see move-ins. Tough to tell from this shot, but there's some sort of concrete structure, about 6 feet tall, going in the plaza near the corner. Maybe a sign or sculpture thing.


Image by me and my iPhone


Federal Courthouse
Really moving along quickly now. Tough to tell, but this is the first two floors, with the larger cylindrical columns stretching 25-30 feet up. There is one double height floor all around the perimeter, and a mezzanine style second floor on the interior, with the atrium shaping up in the middle. Already very, very noticeable from any point nearby.


Image by me and my iPhone

[brudy]

Originally Posted by Wilcal

"Our design will create a spectacular ‘central park’ of more than half an acre of open space and amenities on the podium deck between the two buildings," said Jeff Berris, managing director, development of MacFarlane Partners. "You will not find this size of private landscaped space anywhere else in downtown Los Angeles." I'm guessing from this statement from developers about creating an open space for the tenants assumes that they will not venture forth less than 100 feet to enjoy Pershing square

Yeah, I'm not that enthusiastic about this at all. While I'm sure as a resident it would be nice, it doesn't play well with their talk of TOD and new urbanism concepts. Too many of downtown's buildings/developments are creating self-enclosed worlds with all their amenities. It's an urban bedroom community, in way.

[alki]

Originally Posted by brudy

Yeah, I'm not that enthusiastic about this at all. While I'm sure as a resident it would be nice, it doesn't play well with their talk of TOD and new urbanism concepts. Too many of downtown's buildings/developments are creating self-enclosed worlds with all their amenities. It's an urban bedroom community, in way.

That's just it..........in DTLA, plazas and open space even on podium decks are considered sophisticated urbanity and an important amenity. At this rate, DT will get all built up and there still won't be any pedestrians on the sidewalks because they will all be hanging out on their private roof decks.* Its why I pretty much object to any proposal that suggests a plaza/open space will be included.

What's interesting is that MacFarlane doesn't seem to be doing that with their projects under development in other cities:

http://www.macfarlanepartners.com/portfolio/

*Before anyone complains that I am being too negative, I just want to state that I was voicing an opinion.

[LA/OCman]

Originally Posted by alki

That's just it..........in DTLA, plazas and open space even on podium decks are considered sophisticated urbanity and an important amenity. At this rate, DT will get all built up and there still won't be any pedestrians on the sidewalks because they will all be hanging out on their private roof decks.* Its why I pretty much object to any proposal that suggests a plaza/open space will be included.

What's interesting is that MacFarlane doesn't seem to be doing that with their projects under development in other cities:

http://www.macfarlanepartners.com/portfolio/

*Before anyone complains that I am being too negative, I just want to state that I was voicing an opinion.

Just remember that Downtown is in the early stages of sidewalk cafes and patios. Some are very successful and others sit empty. The major problem in the past was that diners did not want to get harassed by the homeless…and so they are building better outdoor spaces with more greenery.

We also have the greatest weather compared to most major cities and I can tell you that at the Eastern Columbia, there is no better place to enjoy the outdoors than sitting on rooftop by the pool having a beverage with friends and neighbors enjoying the views of Downtown. They also have social events such as monthly wine club gatherings, a book club and a garden club. The pools Downtown are a major social gathering place. I think the condo pools are much less of a scene than the apartment pools.

Historically, Los Angeles is all about courtyard spaces. I don't see it being a problem. We just have to encourage outdoor dining, benches, fountains and public green spaces. We are in the early stages but we starting to see changes. Who would have thought yoga would be so popular at Grand Park? There is also a proliferation of farmer's markets all over DTLA.

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by alki

That's just it..........in DTLA, plazas and open space even on podium decks are considered sophisticated urbanity and an important amenity. At this rate, DT will get all built up and there still won't be any pedestrians on the sidewalks because they will all be hanging out on their private roof decks.* Its why I pretty much object to any proposal that suggests a plaza/open space will be included.

What's interesting is that MacFarlane doesn't seem to be doing that with their projects under development in other cities:

http://www.macfarlanepartners.com/portfolio/

*Before anyone complains that I am being too negative, I just want to state that I was voicing an opinion.

Alki, you are not being negative, you are speaking the truth. I have no issue with certain amenities being incorporated into a development. But when they are so vast and satisfying to the point where the resident does not want to leave the premises to interact with said amenities in the city, than the concept of gentrification is weakened. In other words a "self contained" living environment is desirable to a certain point, but if the resident leaves the building to shop, eat, mingle at bars, whatever, by getting into his or her automobile and driving to their destination in DTLA the efforts to create urbanity are wasted. As far as Pershing square is concerned it will change (albeit slowly) when desirable (for lack of a better term) people patronize it. People perceive safety in numbers, and when there are enough of "like people" who congregate in an area those who are undesirable slowly drift away. The process is slow but it will happen. I know I going to get hate mail for saying that, but I believe it's the truth. If a development has a very spacious garden incorporated into its design, then a resident has an option to stay in the safe and comfortable environment within his or her building. And, based upon the current condition of Pershing square, they probably will.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by Wilcal

If a development has a very spacious garden incorporated into its design, then a resident has an option to stay in the safe and comfortable environment within his or her building. And, based upon the current condition of Pershing square, they probably will.

Yeah, I agree. It's also the precise problem. If there's no reason to go to parks, no political pressure, then the city isn't going to give a crap to build parks. Who cares about Pershing when I have a great park in my building?

For me, so many of the problems I have with developments here in DTLA go back to lot size. Make developers go up by forcing the subdivision of these huge lots like Park 5th or 8th and Grand, for example. I think it changes the equation from design to density to perhaps amenities if you don't give developers suburban-sized acreage. These massive lots are creating little fiefdoms.

[citywatch]

speaking of rooftops, here is a vid shot just a few days ago from the roof of the fashion mart. At 0.41 it's obvious one of the 2 parking lots....this one across from the ace hotel.....where the palmer apt bldg is supposed to be built remains a parking lot.

At 0.57, the 2nd site where the 1st phase of his apt devlpt on broadway is supposed to go up shows something going on right next to the bldg painted pink, which would be on the extreme south side of that 1st phase bldg. But those small mounds of dirt were there a few months ago, so maybe the only other sign that work is about to begin is one lane of main st has been closed down with a concrete barricade?


• Video Link


The video is another reminder of just how much land in dt still needs to be fixed up & filled in. I think that's one reason why projs like the one where the original park fifth towers were to be built use their space so luxuriously, with lots of areas set aside for rooftop parks or open upper decks.

There's still no shortage of land in dt that is ripe....that is crying out....for new devlpt, & builders like the macfarlane co know that. They also have to dilute the density of their projs....or downsize them....cuz the economy still isn't as strong as it could be.

Macfarlane probably would omit large upper areas for swimming pools, party decks & rooftop parks if there was such a huge demand for office, hotel & shopping space in dt.....& if they were also totally sure they could build a million apts & still not saturate demand for them.....that they'd be forced to use every square inch of their lots as carefully as possible.

the youtube vid makes me think that if the negative label 'shitbox' has to be applied to properties in dtla, it should be reserved for all the millions of old industrial bldgs.... most of them no more than 1 to 2 floors tall....that were put all over the hood about 50 to 70 or more yrs ago. They truly deserve to be called 'shitboxes'.

[bobcat]

Interesting interview with a Brookfield exec in the California Apparel News. A possible Figat7th expansion?
http://www.apparelnews.net/news/2014/jul/03/brookfields-hogan-why-figat7th-retail-center-paid-/

CAN: Will Brookfield be developing any other retail properties in California?

EH: We’re evaluating Phase 2 at FIGat7th. We bought the lot that sits between FIGat7 and the parking structure. We are studying it now—if we can expand our retail and what uses we can add to that. We still have a lot of interest from retailers in FIGat7th.

CAN: Will you be making an announcement on Phase 2 soon?

EH: We just started studying it. We’re asking ourselves, “Does it make sense to do a Phase 2 and what does Phase 2 look like?” I didn’t think that we’d be looking at Phase 2 this fast. It is indicative of the success of FIGat7th.

He also shares some interesting thoughts on parking in DTLA.

[caligrad]

^^ So they are thinking of planning phase 2 of fig7th on the lot that was suppose to hold the Proposed 755 tower? its a descent sized lot. The walk from the parking structure to the stores is so dead, it begs for something, it has a lot of potential.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Interesting interview with a Brookfield exec in the California Apparel News. A possible Figat7th expansion?
http://www.apparelnews.net/news/2014/jul/03/brookfields-hogan-why-figat7th-retail-center-paid-/



He also shares some interesting thoughts on parking in DTLA.

Yeah, that's an interesting interview. Not sure I entirely agree, and he somewhat disagrees with himself as he also says the metro is one of the huge pluses for Figat7th. He also makes some dubious comparisons between SOHO and the historic core. For those who don't want to read it, he's basically saying parking is very very important, even in DTLA, for all businesses.

And yeah, the walk from the garage to the hole is terrible, and really long. I made the huge mistake of driving there. It would have been faster to drive home and walk than park in that garage.

[caligrad]

I agree Brudy. The walk from the parking structure to the stores is so uninviting. If you didn't know the stores were there to begin with, you would think you were just walking into the lobby of the office buildings. But his opinion on the parking issue of LA, i'm on the fence about.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Metropolis underway!

[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by brudy

Yeah, that's an interesting interview. Not sure I entirely agree, and he somewhat disagrees with himself as he also says the metro is one of the huge pluses for Figat7th. He also makes some dubious comparisons between SOHO and the historic core. For those who don't want to read it, he's basically saying parking is very very important, even in DTLA, for all businesses.

And yeah, the walk from the garage to the hole is terrible, and really long. I made the huge mistake of driving there. It would have been faster to drive home and walk than park in that garage.

From the sound of things, the Phase 2 would solve exactly that problem:

CAN: Will Brookfield be developing any other retail properties in California?

EH: We’re evaluating Phase 2 at FIGat7th. We bought the lot that sits between FIGat7 and the parking structure. We are studying it now—if we can expand our retail and what uses we can add to that. We still have a lot of interest from retailers in FIGat7th.

CAN: Will you be making an announcement on Phase 2 soon?

EH: We just started studying it. We’re asking ourselves, “Does it make sense to do a Phase 2 and what does Phase 2 look like?” I didn’t think that we’d be looking at Phase 2 this fast. It is indicative of the success of FIGat7th.

Its funny because I had the exact same thought- that someone should develop that skinny lot and wrap the ground floor adjacent to the Fig@7 parking walkway with retail. I figured it would never happen so its wild to hear the developers talk about the possibility of doing something similar.

[Gram3000]

METROPOLIS LETS GOO!!!

I wonder if the old Robinson's structure on 8th next to 777 tower would be renovated and used as a flagship or smaller concepts in light of phase 2 as well?, good to see these types of developers being bullish on DT!!

[brudy]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

From the sound of things, the Phase 2 would solve exactly that problem:



Its funny because I had the exact same thought- that someone should develop that skinny lot and wrap the ground floor adjacent to the Fig@7 parking walkway with retail. I figured it would never happen so its wild to hear the developers talk about the possibility of doing something similar.

Yeah, it kills two birds with one stone. It gets rid of the nasty long walk and we get a ton more retail.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Metropolis underway!

Exciting stuff. I wonder if there will be a webcam?

[alki]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Interesting interview with a Brookfield exec in the California Apparel News. A possible Figat7th expansion?
http://www.apparelnews.net/news/2014/jul/03/brookfields-hogan-why-figat7th-retail-center-paid-/

He also shares some interesting thoughts on parking in DTLA.

I thought this was interesting observation as well:

Also, every neighborhood in Southern California was anti-development … except for downtown. It was very pro-development. In addition to the success of LA Live opening, it was really effective at how it pulled people from all over Los Angeles into downtown. It didn’t register with a lot of people then. I used to ask people, “Do you ever go to downtown?” They’d say, “I never go there.” I’d ask, “But did you go to the Lakers game? Did you go to [downtown restaurant] Bottega Louie?” They’d answer yes.

[blackcat23]

http://brighamyen.com/2014/07/07/new-ren...oming-888-s-hope-downtown-la/#more-12808

New Renderings Reveal Lots of Ped-Friendly Retail Coming to 888 S Hope in Downtown LA



t’s been three months since construction first began on the parking structure that will be attached to the new and exciting 888 S Hope, a brand new 33-story residential tower about to break ground later this year in burgeoning South Park. Being developed by LA-based CIM Group, new renderings from RTKL — the architect firm designing the project — show lots of retail space on the ground floor of both the parking structure and the tower itself. As you can see in the renderings (above and below), ample retail space will face Hope Street and wrap around the tower along 9th Street bordering the upcoming boutique Empire Hotel.

The auto-oriented driveway for the parking structure is supposed to be placed on Hope Street adjacent to the tower, but with so much retail, the entire project will still act as a strong pedestrian connection between South Park and the Financial District working in concert with the Market Lofts and the brand new 8th and Hope tower across the street. The parking structure is scheduled for completion in summer 2015 and the tower is slated to break ground this fall 2014 (possibly in late September) finishing up in 2016.

[Valyrian Steel]

[Illithid Dude]

That's a solid tower! Should shoot right up too since there's no underground parking. I think this little area is going to be the first "complete" part of DT, as between iHope, the Ralphs building, and this, all the parking lots in that intersection are officially gone!