LOS ANGELES | Central City Project Rundown 5.0

[Jaycruz]

Originally Posted by citywatch

things like this are another reason why I sort of shake my head when ppl become so angst ridden about new projs in dtla not being taller, or not being architecturally good enough, or having too much parking, or lacking stores on the ground level.


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when ppl holler 'that proposed bldg for dtla is too short!!'....or 'that new proj's design looks like something in samo or irvine!'....or 'that devlpr should be cited for including too much parking but no shops on the 1st floor!!!', or 'that proj will take up too much land!'....I think of an owner of something like this becoming upset cuz he doesn't have a fine stereo system to enjoy when driving around town.

I agree with some of the things you say citywatch. I do. But. When I see that first paragraph in ALL of your posts, it becomes hard for me to keep reading. We get it, we heard it. Doesn't need to be in every post. And in this post you felt the need to post it twice.... I promise you if you left that post out of the conversation people would interact with you in a more civil manner.

But yes, another drawn out topic. The homelessness problem needs to be fixed county wide. Talk to the elected officials and the cops who rather give out "failure to utilize your turn signal on a one way street in a residential area with no other cars around" ticket, Which yes I bitterly received this ticket 2 days ago on the west side, While crime is going up and the homelessness problem is going untouched. I had to point out the cop that there was a homeless man taking a dump behind the bushes in mid day next to a school. He barely even gave a damn. ( didn't want to bother with it)

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by brudy

So because a park can't get security

but how will the arrival of even security necessarily affect the comment in the first paragraph in this 2nd section of the article I posted above?





^ the right of a mentally ill homeless person to scream all she wants & her right to sleep in the pk....but presumably at least not at night....is the stated position of a member of the LAPD....& not a local homeless advocate rights group. but I guess if the park is designed wonderfully enough, that will solve one of the biggest problems related to dt? I wish.

similarly, if devlprs are required to install stores on the main level of their bldgs, the amt of customers for such stores will be automatically large enough to keep all those spaces full of tenants & shoppers, with cash registers ringing merrily throughout the day. I wish.

btw, the TCA designed new apt bldgs in little tokyo....which I agree are a visual mess....appear to have booked up faster than almost any other new housing proj built in dtla in the past many yrs.

such is the way of the world, whether you or I like it or not.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by Jaycruz

I agree with some of the things you say citywatch. I do. But. When I see that first paragraph in ALL of your posts, it becomes hard for me to keep reading. We get it, we heard it.

so, jaycruz, would you rather I start most of my posts criticizing the architectural design of new projs in dtla? Should I say for the 1000000 time that while the design of some proposed devlpt isn't great, it could be worse. Oh, lucky us! Or that TCA's designs are horrible, hideous, awful? Or that GH palmer's projs are a travesty to dt? or that LA's auto centric culture is hurting the way dtla is being revived?

okay, I get it. I heard it.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by citywatch

but how will the arrival of even security necessarily affect the comment in the first paragraph in this 2nd section of the article I posted above?


^ the right of a mentally ill homeless person to scream all she wants & her right to sleep in the pk....but presumably at least not at night....is the stated position of a member of the LAPD....& not a local homeless advocate rights group. but I guess if the park is designed wonderfully enough, that will solve one of the biggest problems related to dt? I wish.

similarly, if devlprs are required to install stores on the main level of their bldgs, the amt of customers for such stores will be automatically large enough to keep all those spaces full of tenants & shoppers, with cash registers ringing merrily throughout the day. I wish.

btw, the TCA designed new apt bldgs in little tokyo....which I agree are a visual mess....appear to have booked up faster than almost any other new housing proj built in dtla in the past many yrs.

such is the way of the world, whether you or I like it or not.

The way you phrased the comment makes it sound like "why worry about architecture when there are crazy people in the park?" We can and should worry about both things simultaneously. I live near Pershing Sq - I know all about screaming crazy people, believe me. It is without a doubt the worst thing about living in downtown.

Downtown's explosion is a fait accompli at this point, although it seems east of Olive and south of 6th will be the nicest area. Eventually we will have enough population/tourism/workers to support tons of storefronts. Developers need to plan for 5-10 years out, not next week.

[alki]

Originally Posted by citywatch

things like this are another reason why I sort of shake my head when ppl become so angst ridden about new projs in dtla not being taller, or not being architecturally good enough, or having too much parking, or lacking stores on the ground level. It's not that such aspects of the hood, or its new devlpt, aren't important, but that things do need to be placed in their full, proper context, & that they need to be prioritized.

That's just it........they don't need to be prioritized. Cities are more than capable of dealing with all these aspects simultaneously. However my experience of LA is that typically its handling of neighborhood functions and meeting neighborhood needs were not always its strong suit.........but when directed by residents the city did perform. I continue to advocate for some sort of downtown council made up of residents from the various DT sub neighborhoods and a representative from Huizar's office that tell the city what is not working and what they need to get done including better design, better development, better protection of its open spaces, etc. DT needs a unified voice so that it gets the proper attention.

Prioritizing has become your mantra........but I think its the wrong perspective.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by brudy

The way you phrased the comment makes it sound like "why worry about architecture when there are crazy people in the park?"

I started my post with a comment not about 'don't worry' but about the level of angst that ppl have about changes...or lack of such....to dtla.

The question therefore is not so much about worrying or not worrying what's going on in the hood, as much as it's a question of whether you're more unhappy or less unhappy about new devlpt that doesn't fit your urban ideals compared with your reaction to problems of rampant homelessness or crime on the street, or pets or humans peeing all over the sidewalks, ppl tagging bldgs on a continuous basis, or the shabbiness of swapmeets & parking lots.

in my case, just about all new devlpt will register no worse than a zero on this meter, whereas the problems I've just listed would all fall in the minus territory.



memyselfandilanguage.wordpress.com

Originally Posted by alki

I continue to advocate for some sort of downtown council made up of residents from the various DT sub neighborhoods and a representative from Huizar's office that tell the city what is not working and what they need to get done including better design, better development, better protection of its open spaces, etc. DT needs a unified voice so that it gets the proper attention.

I don't see how your suggestions will be any different from, or have necessarily any better results than, if any at all, what already exists today.







in regards to priorities, see my comments above about how one's approach to issues will register on the happiness/unhappiness meter. iow, it's not so much a matter of priorities & prioritizing being taken literally, as much as it's a question of the way one's priorities register emotionally or viscerally.

[alki]

Originally Posted by citywatch

I started my post with a comment not about 'don't worry' but about the level of angst that ppl have about changes...or lack of such....to dtla.

The question therefore is not so much about worrying or not worrying what's going on in the hood, as much as it's a question of whether you're more unhappy or less unhappy about new devlpt that doesn't fit your urban ideals compared with your reaction to problems of rampant homelessness or crime on the street, or pets or humans peeing all over the sidewalks, ppl tagging bldgs on a continuous basis, or the shabbiness of swapmeets & parking lots.

in my case, just about all new devlpt will register no worse than a zero on this meter, whereas the problems I've just listed would all fall in the minus territory.

I don't see how your suggestions will be any different from, or have necessarily any better results than, if any at all, what already exists today.

Yeah, I've seen them cited before. How effective are they? They've been around since 2002. Their vision statement says all the right things in a very broad sense, but do they have any clout? I ask these questions because I was surprised to see Spring Park looking like a homeless encampment in a very short time since its opening.

in regards to priorities, see my comments above about how one's approach to issues will register on the happiness/unhappiness meter. iow, it's not so much a matter of priorities & prioritizing being taken literally, as much as it's a question of the way one's priorities register emotionally or viscerally.

And again, I say, LA is big enough that it doesn't have to prioritized.

[Docjalby]

Originally Posted by alki

Yeah, I've seen them cited before. How effective are they? They've been around since 2002. Their vision statement says all the right things in a very broad sense, but do they have any clout? I ask these questions because I was surprised to see Spring Park looking like a homeless encampment in a very short time since its opening.

If you live in DTLA, you should come to the DLANC meetings. The general meeting is the second tuesday of each month in the Los Angeles Theater. Huizar and the people here who actually live here are quite active.

[alki]

Originally Posted by Docjalby

If you live in DTLA, you should come to the DLANC meetings. The general meeting is the second tuesday of each month in the Los Angeles Theater. Huizar and the people here who actually live here are quite active.

Unfortunately, I no longer live in LA.

Is DLANC addressing the problems? It doesn't sound like it from what some posters are saying. Any observations?

[Jaycruz]

Originally Posted by citywatch

so, jaycruz, would you rather I start most of my posts criticizing the architectural design of new projs in dtla? Should I say for the 1000000 time that while the design of some proposed devlpt isn't great, it could be worse. Oh, lucky us! Or that TCA's designs are horrible, hideous, awful? Or that GH palmer's projs are a travesty to dt? or that LA's auto centric culture is hurting the way dtla is being revived?

okay, I get it. I heard it.

No, I would actually prefer you give your current, non outdated/ non over saturated, comment about the topic and projects currently in the topics of discussion and not cutting/copying/pasting that same statement you post in all your posts. I'm not against you, I actually agree with a lot of what you say. I think people tend to ignore your contribution to the thread with that 2 sentence phrase you have coined as your own that you post in all your posts. Change it up a bit. Try not posting it again. Throw something fresh in your posts and I promise you will be taken more seriously and not ignored.

[Jaycruz]

Not sure how significant or realistic this is but I was at Staples Center this past week, parked at that parking lot at the intersection of Flower and Olympic and jokingly told the parking attendant " take good care of my bucket please, its all I have" and he replied " well I will be sure you are one of my last satisfied customers since this lot is going to be off the market soon". I remember seeing something about FIDM building a tower at this intersection but this lot was at the south east corner. the opposite corner.

Has anyone ever proposed anything there ? its easy to miss if youre not paying attention.

[ThomJames]

Originally Posted by Jaycruz

Not sure how significant or realistic this is but I was at Staples Center this past week, parked at that parking lot at the intersection of Flower and Olympic and jokingly told the parking attendant " take good care of my bucket please, its all I have" and he replied " well I will be sure you are one of my last satisfied customers since this lot is going to be off the market soon". I remember seeing something about FIDM building a tower at this intersection but this lot was at the south east corner. the opposite corner.

Has anyone ever proposed anything there ? its easy to miss if youre not paying attention.

The southeast corner was supposed to be a church+ some kind of tower. I think the church was trying to find a developer that would build them a church in exchange for land for a tower.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by ThomJames

The southeast corner was supposed to be a church+ some kind of tower. I think the church was trying to find a developer that would build them a church in exchange for land for a tower.

That's Flower and Pico not Flower and Olympic isn't it?

[ThomJames]

Originally Posted by Easy

That's Flower and Pico not Flower and Olympic isn't it?

Flower and Olympic. Southeast corner

[ConstructDTLA]

Wilshire Grand by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Metropolis by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Emerson, The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Federal Courthouse by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Federal Courthouse by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

LA Times Building by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Rosslyn at 5th & Main by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

6th & Main Project by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Verve Coffee by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Ace Hotel & Palmer Project by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Ace Hotel by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Wilshire Grand crane poking out;
Skyline, Palmer Project, Onni 9th & Olive by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Olympic & Broadway Palmer by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Olympic & Broadway Palmer by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

View Down Olympic by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

8th & Olive by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

[alki]

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

DLANC doesn't really do much. But it is interesting to sit in on the meetings.

I had read stuff before about them, but they sounded more like a chamber of commerce group promoting business DT. I didn't realize they were a neighborhood council even though its spelled out in their name. These neighborhood groups are only effective if the council office is behind them. Given that the perception is certain DT conditions are deteriorating rather than improving, it sounds like DLANC is very advisory.

This country has cured diseases, cracked the atom, sent a man to the moon, etc but struggles with the comparative simply task of city building. Never understood why.

[alki]

Originally Posted by DTLAdenizen

Emerson, The Broad, Walt Disney Concert Hall by HunterKerhart.com

Really like the simply lines of this apt tower but could do without the hood ornament at the top. Makes the bldg look cheap.

Verve Coffee by HunterKerhart.com, on Flickr

Whoa! Where did you find this hot mess? This would be a fun one to redo.

[cargocultpants]

There's also 3033 Wilshire, and Sunset Bronson (although the latter might still just be excavating)

Originally Posted by RaymondChandlerLives

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that puts the number of 10+ floor buildings UC in LA County at 20, yes?

Wilshire Grand - 73 floors
The Current Long Beach - 17 floors
888 S. Olive - 33 floors
888 S. Hope - 33 floors
Columbia Square - 20 foors
Federal Courthouse - 10 floors
Metropolis (4 towers) - 19/38/40/58 floors
10000 Santa Monica Blvd - 40 floors
Broadway Palace - 10 floors
Waldorf-Astoria BH - 12 floors
Sunset La Cienega (two towers) - 10/10 floors
Fig Central (three towers) - 49/40/40 floors
801 S. Olive - 33 floors
Glass Tower - 24 stories

Not bad.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by Jaycruz

No, I would actually prefer you give your current, non outdated/ non over saturated, comment about the topic and projects currently in the topics of discussion and not cutting/copying/pasting that same statement you post in all your posts.

since I don't recall your contributing much to this thread through the yrs, I didn't know exactly where you were coming from. I did a quick search of your name & now realize you've been a part of this thread since only last yr. At that time you said you had recently moved to LA & mentioned how you wished tall skyscrapers extended all the way towards the LA river. Not the most realistic of wishes.

That's fine & all, but I have a hunch you therefore wouldn't be quite so bothered if I said....over & over again....how unfortunate it is that new projs in dtla aren't taller. I've run into that complaint on so many occasions, so much so that I want to reply with....'okay, i get it!' Let's move on!' But I don't cuz....as you say....it's better for me to sidestep such posts...or not take them seriously...or simply ignore them.

btw, I'm not interested in using this forum as a social gathering spot, as much as I'm interested in its role as sort of a community bulletin board....and bulletin boards generally don't have lots of interactivity. So whether there's chit chat here or not doesn't really concern....or even interest....me.

I mainly prefer posts like the one you did on what the parking lot attendant told you about the lot across from where the FDIM apt tower is supposed to go up....far, far more than quips or replies similar to 'I don't like that'....or "in my opinion that sucks....or 'I believe the devlpr is from portland', or snappy one liner posts like that.

my favorite posts are the ones containing photo updates....such as dtladenizen's post above....or the ones from the guys managing the urbanize la website. among other forumers, losangelessportsfan has a knack for often coming up with brief but very revealing posts about changes taking place in dtla. Much of everything else posted here I tend to breeze through, just as I'm sure most of what I post here is bypassed. but that's fine....& c'est la vie.

meanwhile, the first new major retail space in the one santa fe lots bldg recently opened, & my greatest concern is not that projs like that one aren't architecturally better, bigger or taller, but whether they'll be adding enough new ppl to the hood, both residents & daytrippers, to keep the cash registers of the businesses in such projs ringing throughout the day & evening....


• Video Link

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by RaymondChandlerLives

Correct me if I'm wrong, but that puts the number of 10+ floor buildings UC in LA County at 20, yes?

Wilshire Grand - 73 floors
The Current Long Beach - 17 floors
888 S. Olive - 33 floors
888 S. Hope - 33 floors
Columbia Square - 20 foors
Federal Courthouse - 10 floors
Metropolis (4 towers) - 19/38/40/58 floors
10000 Santa Monica Blvd - 40 floors
Broadway Palace - 10 floors
Waldorf-Astoria BH - 12 floors
Sunset La Cienega (two towers) - 10/10 floors
Fig Central (three towers) - 49/40/40 floors
801 S. Olive - 33 floors
Glass Tower - 24 stories

Not bad.

There's also a 12 story near the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills, and I believe the Richard Meier project right on the border of Beverly Hills and Los Angeles off of Wilshire is under construction as well.