LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[colemonkee]

^ I disagree. If a private developer can't beat a slow, bureaucracy-laded entity like the City at their own game, they shouldn't be playing that game. I think this is just a negotiating tactic by AEG. Sad that we likely will lose that design, though. I quite liked it.

[Steve8263]

I'm no Miss Cleo, but lets imagine for a moment that Hunter is right- The recent boom has been incredible and the progress from both new developments and huge renovations like the Bloc has forever changed the fabric of downtown for the better.

I think a lull in the action would be perfectly normal and healthy for the market. Once developers see the new construction is profitable they will come back with new projects in no time at all.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ I disagree. If a private developer can't beat a slow, bureaucracy-laded entity like the City at their own game, they shouldn't be playing that game. I think this is just a negotiating tactic by AEG. Sad that we likely will lose that design, though. I quite liked it.

A private developer is looking to make a profit and unfortunately governments aren't similarly constrained. It's hard to compete against an entity that doesn't care if it loses money. They can offer all kinds of incentives for their hotel.

[blackcat23]

Mia Lehrer and Jason Long of OMA discuss FAB Park design

[citywatch]

By AMANDA LEE MYERS

LOS ANGELES (AP) — I've jumped out of a plane from 13,000 feet. I've ridden 400-foot-tall roller coasters that top speeds of 100 mph, and I once found myself using my fingernails to clutch the side of a rock face way too steep to climb without gear. Heights have never fazed me. Until the Skyslide, a terrifying glass tube on the outside of the U.S. Bank Tower in downtown Los Angeles. It's open to the public Saturday, and journalists were given an early chance to try it out.

Perched 1,000 feet above the ground on the side of the tallest skyscraper west of the Mississippi, the 360-degree glass slide is utterly terrifying. It's is nearly a straight shot down, except for a small turn at the beginning that causes riders to bump against the side of the glass, much to their horror.

I tried not to pay attention to the screams from other people riding the slide as I waited in what seemed like an interminable line. I tried not to think about the fact that just 1¼ inches separated me from a 1,000-foot drop. My heart thumped as I approached the top of the slide. I could see the streets below me and the infinite city straight ahead.

As I hooked each foot into a little mat that helps riders pick up speed and avoid skidding on the glass, I felt my hands trembling. And when I scooched slowly toward the point of no return, I thought strongly about turning around.

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[caligrad]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ I disagree. If a private developer can't beat a slow, bureaucracy-laded entity like the City at their own game, they shouldn't be playing that game. I think this is just a negotiating tactic by AEG. Sad that we likely will lose that design, though. I quite liked it.

I agree. AEG saying "Well we don't want to have to compete with city hall for hotel guests" its just BS. I'm sorry, the last time I checked, we currently have about a dozen hotels currently under construction/adaptive reuse coming online, with many more in the pipeline, AEG doesn't want to compete with LA but has no problem with the 30 others coming online ? STRAIGHT BS.

Like you said, this is a negotiating tactic and by all means a big giant tantrum by AEG. They are still mad and bitter that their convention center/Stadium plan fell through and they are still mad that they couldn't block the Inglewood stadium, lets not forget AEG threatened to file a lawsuit saying that the Inglewood stadium would pose a terrorist threat because of how close it was to the airport.

I used to like what AEG was doing for LA but now they seem to be against the city more than being for the city.

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by black_crow

I think it's the prettiest building in Downtown.

Actually... I could look at it day and night for the rest of my life, but I have a job and responsibility.

I'm guessing you also have respectability, and that should factor it too.

PS please don't feel the need to apologize for your English. Actually, it's very good. You should hear (and read) the English skills of our typically American High School graduates--absolutely pathetic. And they have no excuse.

[bobcat]

I think the issue with the JW Marriott is that AEG was planning to add a lot of extra meeting space which would be competing with space in the other planned hotel.

[black_crow]

I love it to see Metropolis rising.
Every week a new story.

Originally Posted by Wilcal

I'm guessing you also have respectability, and that should factor it too.

PS please don't feel the need to apologize for your English. Actually, it's very good. You should hear (and read) the English skills of our typically American High School graduates--absolutely pathetic. And they have no excuse.

Thank you.

Sometimes it's good to be from Germany because I need more time to write things down.
So sometimes it's like "wow" I really disagree, but I have no time to get really into it.

.. there are times when it really bothers me, but I make my points and you guys are all very respectful.

A good weekend to all of you.

[kaneui]

My latest tally below shows approximately 6,700 downtown hotel rooms in the pipeline (including the J.W. Marriott addition). However, many of those projects will depend on numerous factors, including occupancy levels of the new hotels coming online, future economic conditions, as well as more details and a firm timeline on the convention center expansion--if it actually happens. (And AEG could always revive their cancelled addition, depending on that outcome.)

The openings of the Embassy and Clark will remain a mystery until announced, and I show the Equinox starting next year, with Related facing a Nov., 2017 deadline to break ground on The Grand.


COMPLETIONS
3Q, 2016
Tuck - 14

4Q, 2016
Indigo – 350
Freehand - 200
Clark – 348?
Embassy – 183?

1Q, 2017
InterContinental - 900

3Q, 2017
Proper (1106 S. Broadway) – 148

4Q, 2017
NoMad (Giannini Pl.) - 250

4Q, 2018
Park Hyatt (Oceanwide) - 183


STARTS
3Q, 2017
Equinox (The Grand) - 300

UNKNOWN
Hoxton (1060 S. Broadway) – 150?
Lizard In (633 S. Spring) – 176
City Market (San Pedro/San Julian) – 210
Broadway Trade Center - 153
W (Luxe block) – 250
Fig + Pico – 1,100
L.A. Gateway – 150, 500?
J.W. Marriott addition – 755?
Olympic Tower – 373

TOTAL: 6,693 rooms

[colemonkee]

blackcat, great score getting that interview with Mia Lehrer and Jason Long! Reading through it, this one quote stood out to me:

"Located across from City Hall, the new Federal Courthouse and the Police Headquarters, the character of the space lends itself to be more of a civic space, rather than a more traditional park consisting of expanses of turf and trees such as the immediately adjacent Grand Park, which provides approximately 12 acres of flexible lawn space."

Therein lies the fundamental problem with their design: they see this as a civic plaza, not a park. If that's the case, let's stop calling it a park, which it is not in the current design space. Call it the FAB Plaza. Or the FAB Civic Center. Just don't call it FAB Park. If you call it FAB Park, it needs to have some usable green space.

[caligrad]

Originally Posted by bobcat

I think the issue with the JW Marriott is that AEG was planning to add a lot of extra meeting space which would be competing with space in the other planned hotel.

True. That may be the case but with all of the hotels coming online downtown, and in the rest of the city, with most coming with event/meeting space...it still feels like a cop-out on AEGs part and more like a giant temper tantrum. I mean, saying it doesn't want to compete against the city with event space and hotel guests is absurd since

1. its literally about to be surrounded on all sides by hotels and residential units and

2. The convention center (event/meeting mega space) across the street is expanding and isn't going anywhere ever and AEG already knew this

So it still seems like a ridiculous tactic to get their way. Wont work, The quicker Ocean wide and the others come online, the more idiotic AEG will seem with their decision. Ever since new management has taken over AEG, they have become a very selfish and greedy company.

[cesar90]

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Thank you NativeOrange

˅˅.

[NativeOrange]

^^Beautiful. Especially that shot down Fig.

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by caligrad

True. That may be the case but with all of the hotels coming online downtown, and in the rest of the city, with most coming with event/meeting space...it still feels like a cop-out on AEGs part and more like a giant temper tantrum. I mean, saying it doesn't want to compete against the city with event space and hotel guests is absurd since

1. its literally about to be surrounded on all sides by hotels and residential units and

2. The convention center (event/meeting mega space) across the street is expanding and isn't going anywhere ever and AEG already knew this

So it still seems like a ridiculous tactic to get their way. Wont work, The quicker Ocean wide and the others come online, the more idiotic AEG will seem with their decision. Ever since new management has taken over AEG, they have become a very selfish and greedy company.

That was my initial thought when reading this piece in the Times. Since AEG is effectively involved in the day to day operation of the convention center how could it have not known about this "sudden competition"? Doesn't make sense. I'm with Colemonkee in thinking that this is just a ploy to extract a greater concession from the powers that be in the form of bed tax returns. The same as for The Grand (Equinox), Wilshire Grand, Metropolis, Hazen, Oceanwide...etc. The best question is, will the city council see this, and as Colemonkee said "cave?" In addition to this point anyone with a knowledge of economics and market forces would agree that to a point of passing a balance of supply and demand, any new additions to hotel keys is synergistic to the market not "competition' in the long run. In fact, I seem to I recall years ago the manager of Bonadventure started a complete row with the city over "bed tax give-always and unfair competition" just before the AEG hotel broke ground. The issue was resolved when the city cut him a deal of some sort just to shut this ass up. Sound familiar?

[citywatch]

Lucas Museum Could Come to Los Angeles

Iconic filmmaker George Lucas has given up on Chicago – at least as a home for his new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The facility will instead be built in California, according to the executive leadership of the museum, who made the announcement on Friday.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti expressed interest in bringing the new museum into the city’s fold of arts institutions.

“The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art would be perfect for Los Angeles,” said Garcetti in a statement. “Tens of millions of people visit our city every year — and L.A. has unquestioned stature as a world arts capital, thanks to institutions like the Broad, the Getty, MOCA, and LACMA.”

Lucas, whose Lucasfilm Ltd. was purchased by Walt Disney Co. in 2012 for $4 billion, serves as chairman of the museum and has said he will pay the $1.5 billion it would cost to build it out of his own pocket. The institution is expected to feature programs centered on art forms that most people engage with in their daily lives, including film, illustration, comic art, digital media, and many other forms.

^ FWIW, Lucas's taste in art is very mass oriented, geared to fans of pop culture. His museum will tend to please the type of ppl who don't have major problems with things like GH palmer's kitschy style of architecture. But ymmv. So if SF does get it.....there's now talk of it being built on treasure island in the middle of the SF bay.....it won't be exactly like losing the getty or broad.

[bobcat]

Originally Posted by citywatch

^ FWIW, Lucas's taste in art is very mass oriented, geared to fans of pop culture. His museum will tend to please the type of ppl who don't have major problems with things like GH palmer's kitschy style of architecture. But ymmv. So if SF does get it.....there's now talk of it being built on treasure island in the middle of the SF bay.....it won't be exactly like losing the getty or broad.

Lucas's so-called art collection isn't all that impressive, but I can see the museum having a lot of interesting special exhibitions. I've said this before but I'd like to see a corner of the Grand Ave project carved out for this. The current proposal is significantly downsized so adding this to the project would bring it back closer to the original proposal.

[King Kill 'em]

So I was just at the skyspace and it was awesome but it was a bit smoggy today and you couldn't see too well past Koreatown so I didn't get to photograph all the projects I wanted to. I still got some good shots I think of all the downtown projects (except metropolis which is blocked by the wilshire grand, 777 and Ernst and young) and some low profile infill developments in Westlake, echo park, and Boyle heights. I'll upload when I get home.

[cesar90]

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[Valyrian Steel]

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