LOS ANGELES | Central City Project Rundown 5.0

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by bighomey3000

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://www.earthcam.net/projects/webcor/metropolis/

Nice! And bonus: If you use the zoom controls to zoom in to the upper-right corner, it becomes a webcam for the Wilshire Grand Tower

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by Quixote

The previous proposal had a much more egregious 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵, but a more daring design. Which do you prefer?


http://www.cimgroup.com/investments/9th-and-hope

I like the original Park Tower much better. It felt like a design from the 1960's except substantially modernized. However 888 S. Hope is a fine replacement. Lots of retail, nice height, clean modern lines, and not designed by TCA. South Park would greatly benefit with about 5 more of these.

[Illithid Dude]

Obviously the original design was much better, but on its own terms, the newest design is one of my favorites from the recent boom. While not terribly exciting, it just looks nice, and I think that alone is worthy of praise in DTs current architectural environment.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by bighomey3000

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://www.earthcam.net/projects/webcor/metropolis/

Awesome, thanks! I'm a total nerd for watching these things regularly...

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by bighomey3000

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://www.earthcam.net/projects/webcor/metropolis/

Is there anyway that residential units could be built on top of those parking garages? As well as that tinker toy parking structure. That would be a nice place for a 50 story mixed use building.

Nonetheless, exciting times in DTLA. It's almost surreal that Metropolis is under construction 4 presidents late.

[alki]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesDreamin

I actually LOVE Maguire Gardens.. it actually looks and feels like a traditional park.. or mini park.. you see in NYC or in Europe.. not like todays wacky designed parks that have to include playgrounds, A LOT of concrete or that granite powder stuff, a little grass, barely any trees, and some sort of membrane pool thingy. Grand Park is pretty nice though... i liked the big lawn area and fountain thingy.

Yeah, Maguire Gardens is a class act. Its one of my favorite open spaces in DTLA.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Nice! And bonus: If you use the zoom controls to zoom in to the upper-right corner, it becomes a webcam for the Wilshire Grand Tower

And just below and to the right of that, you get that other parking structure under construction. It's a 3-for-1.

Metropolis will be pretty much be an island. Parking garages on two sides, the 110 and it's off ramp on the others.

[ChelseaFC]

Originally Posted by brudy

Metropolis will be pretty much be an island. Parking garages on two sides, the 110 and it's off ramp on the others.

That's why eventually a street realignment to allow a pedestrian connection would be a good idea when the area north of Staples develops further. Otherwise, you're right, there would be no natural inclination for the pedestrian to venture there.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by Jaycruz

^^^ Your so right, that is a very solid tower, Downtown needs more of these on this exact scale in my opinion, towers like this one is what creates good density. But the issue I have is. whats worse in your guys opinion ? a building that goes from the ground up with no podium but a detached parking structure that takes up a parcel of land ? or a building that sits directly on a parking podium like watermark ?


Great to see Metropolis getting off the ground finally, Glad I moved here just in time to see it go up.

I'd take the podium I think, if it's well-dressed.

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by BrandonJXN

Is there anyway that residential units could be built on top of those parking garages? As well as that tinker toy parking structure. That would be a nice place for a 50 story mixed use building.

The lot directly west of 801 Figueroa, where the parking garage is being built now, is limited by zoning to something like 45-50 ft, per an agreement with the City that allowed for the development of 801 Figueroa. I'm not sure if the tinker toy parking structure (which serves the building that houses the Smart & Final) has the same zoning layered over it or not. The parking structure on the far right serves the TCW Tower, and likely isn't going anywhere.

So that would leave the tinker toy garage as the only likely candidate for development, provided it doesn't have the zoning limitations layered upon it. Though I would expect Mani Brothers (who owns 801 Figueroa) to challenge any development there in the same manner they did against Metropolis - a challenge they eventually lost. Theoretically one could knock that garage down once the new garage next door is finished, then develop that parcel into either office or residential (residential is more likely in the near term), with some additional underground parking to service the office building next door.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

The lot directly west of 801 Figueroa, where the parking garage is being built now, is limited by zoning to something like 45-50 ft, per an agreement with the City that allowed for the development of 801 Figueroa. I'm not sure if the tinker toy parking structure (which serves the building that houses the Smart & Final) has the same zoning layered over it or not. The parking structure on the far right serves the TCW Tower, and likely isn't going anywhere.

What's the point of limiting the height in this situation?

[Jaycruz]

^^ Does anyone know why the city imposed those height restrictions to begin with ? its kind of odd to make those restrictions in the central business district, especially making 45/50 feet the limit but allow 500-700 footers all around? seems like more confusion and red take in my opinion. You would think that some of the owners would try to jump on the coat tail of metropolis across the street, subdividing the land to allow the parking structures to be torn down and developed into something mixed use.

I know that this is only phase 1 of the project, I remember reading a couple of pages back but cant remember, when does phase 2 of metropolis begin ??

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

The lot directly west of 801 Figueroa, where the parking garage is being built now, is limited by zoning to something like 45-50 ft, per an agreement with the City that allowed for the development of 801 Figueroa. I'm not sure if the tinker toy parking structure (which serves the building that houses the Smart & Final) has the same zoning layered over it or not. The parking structure on the far right serves the TCW Tower, and likely isn't going anywhere.

So that would leave the tinker toy garage as the only likely candidate for development, provided it doesn't have the zoning limitations layered upon it. Though I would expect Mani Brothers (who owns 801 Figueroa) to challenge any development there in the same manner they did against Metropolis - a challenge they eventually lost. Theoretically one could knock that garage down once the new garage next door is finished, then develop that parcel into either office or residential (residential is more likely in the near term), with some additional underground parking to service the office building next door.

Im pretty sure it wasnt limited by zoning, rather a covenant by the builders of 801 fig.

[LosAngelesDreamin]

I've always imagined the part of the 110 cutting downtown and mid town being lined by skyscrapers.. to create a skyscraper canyon effect on the freeway.. like those in Tokyo or other asian cities... highly unlikely but it looks like its alread a start with downtown on the east of it and a few high-rises west.. Metropolis and Wilshire Grand only add to this effect.

[Jaycruz]

^^ I think one of the reason why theres no canyon affect with the 110, yet, is because the overpasses and underpasses are so anti pedestrian. all the action is happening downtown and people want to get to it but the overpasses sidewalks are so narrow and the underpasses are so dark at night. My first observation when some friends and I tried to be cheap and parked on the opposite side of the 110 is how walking over and under the 110 is not a pleasing situation.

[LosAngelesDreamin]

Originally Posted by Jaycruz

^^ I think one of the reason why theres no canyon affect with the 110, yet, is because the overpasses and underpasses are so anti pedestrian. all the action is happening downtown and people want to get to it but the overpasses sidewalks are so narrow and the underpasses are so dark at night. My first observation when some friends and I tried to be cheap and parked on the opposite side of the 110 is how walking over and under the 110 is not a pleasing situation.

I agree... last time i walked under the freeways was when i went to go see my Queen Britney Spears' concert at the Staples Center at night... like talk about sketchyyyyy.

[Illithid Dude]

i once popped a tire under a freeway underpass downtown at like 10pm. probably the sketchiest situation i've ever been in.

[Jaycruz]

^^^ yeah, very sketchy to say the least. we went to a kings game and didn't feel like paying the $18 for parking. That was beer money LOL. we lucked out and found a spot on the other side of the 110. less than 2 blocks away but we regretted it after.

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Im pretty sure it wasnt limited by zoning, rather a covenant by the builders of 801 fig.

Exactly. But a covenant, once recorded, effectively becomes part of the zoning - or rather a condition to the zoning - on the property moving forward, unless the covenant is released by both parties. I don't see Mani Brothers releasing that any time soon. Or as long as they hold on to 801 Fig.

Jaycruz and brudy, to answer your questions, the City didn't force the height limit on the property, but Mani Brothers negotiated a covenant on that property (and possibly others nearby) as a condition of developing 801 Figueroa, likely to preserve western views for their tenants. It's akin to buying the air rights to the property next door and building higher on an adjacent lot.

The real question is whether or not that covenant applies to the parcel that the tinker toy parking garage sits on. If not, that could easily be an attractive development parcel once Metropolis is fully developed and the area becomes a popular, thriving area.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Exactly. But a covenant, once recorded, effectively becomes part of the zoning - or rather a condition to the zoning - on the property moving forward, unless the covenant is released by both parties. I don't see Mani Brothers releasing that any time soon. Or as long as they hold on to 801 Fig.

Jaycruz and brudy, to answer your questions, the City didn't force the height limit on the property, but Mani Brothers negotiated a covenant on that property (and possibly others nearby) as a condition of developing 801 Figueroa, likely to preserve western views for their tenants. It's akin to buying the air rights to the property next door and building higher on an adjacent lot.

The real question is whether or not that covenant applies to the parcel that the tinker toy parking garage sits on. If not, that could easily be an attractive development parcel once Metropolis is fully developed and the area becomes a popular, thriving area.

Thanks for the explanation, Colemonkee. It's a little sad that this lot may never get redeveloped, or at least to any height. It's one thing to buy air rights in Manhattan where the existing structures are most likely already a decent size, but it's another here where we're talking just a few stories.