LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by caligrad

Yeah I agree. If the north end doesn't do more to exist, Downtown will be very bottom heavy. I also like Palmers Broadway buildings (cant believe I'm saying that), but my only concern, like yours, was that the brick is too red. But that will fade and darken up over time. My other beef is the bull dogs. I like them, but I think he put too many into the design. Looks like they belong on main street at Disneyland.



I never knew that. Thanks for sharing. This building has so much potential that its unreal that the current owner is just squatting on it.

So many things can happen with this tower. Turn it into Residential, turn the "top of the Crock" area into a very nice restaurant/club combo and it will make tons. I'm all for capitalism and the government not trying to intervene to much into private business (which they do anyway) but the city needs to step in and tell the current owners "Use it or lose it".



Not a horrible idea, his work is awesome, I would love to see one of his murals on that slab. The only problem I see with that is weathering. Not sure if the owners would be cool with having to retouch the paint every 5 or so years. The Marine Life (whaling Wall) Mural on the Long Beach arena weathers quickly and the city hates pumping money into repainting it. But I agree, whether its a mural or massive LED screen/sign, it will become a destination on its own. One more for downtown at least.



Ugh I've heard about them. The worst. I put them in a league with Barry Shy and the other squatting rejects. I swear the city needs to step in and do something. That tower literally hasn't changed not one bit since it was built. When you walk/drive passed it, the white has rust streaks, there is a lot of corrosion and she looks so sad and empty. With towers half the size being able to squeeze in 300-400 units. I can only imagine how many units this one can create. And if not pure residential. Make the bottom half residential and the top half Hotel rooms and the very top a restaurant/club.

The Chetrit group is shameless. They must be taking advantage of tax laws which they and their accountants convolute to the highest degree. I really don't know what the city could do to stop this behavior. I'm wondering what New York has done (the Chetrit Group's headquarters) to discourage their questionable business practices (if they have).

[Easy]

Originally Posted by LAsam

It's being built on a finite amount of space, so that may be the limiting factor on capacity.

More likely it's being built to maximize the amount of money it can generate. Staples could have added and filled thousands of more seats for lakers games but there comes a point of diminishing returns. Besides they have an adjacent stadium for games that need more seating (USA, Mexico, EPL, etc).

[BrandonJXN]

What are the chances of the Rams (who play the Cowboys at the Coliseum tomorrow btw) and LAFC have games at the same time in 2018?

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by headcheckjj

Walking down Flower St. south of 7th, it felt like I was in a ghost town. It's nice to talk about structural density and gleaming towers on this page, but without the human element, without a rich pedestrian life, without the built environment's usage and activity, what is the point?

my own impressions of dt have often toggled back & forth, from good to bad, or bad to good....or sometimes from good to very good.....depending on how busy sidewalks, shops & restaurants have been at the time, or part of dt, I'm paying a visit.

However, the only thing worse than overly quiet street life is when a street in dt is not only a ghost town, but when it's also full of too things like surface parking lots. Those aspects of dt detract from it far more than anything else, even the glorious projs designed by architects like TCA or the Tuscan wonders of GH Palmer.

The seediness of dt that became excessive over 60 yrs ago, along with dt traditionally never being a part of LA where most ppl on the up & up wanted to live, are why original versions of this type of store, which once thrived in dtla when large flagship stores like bullocks & robinsons existed, lost most of its clientele & eventually closed down.

the road to recovery has taken a long time to travel on, but the destination up ahead may finally....finally!.....be coming into view.

Macy’s downtown L.A. flagship store rolls out visitors center Macy's at the Bloc

The second floor of Macy’s downtown Los Angeles flagship was abuzz Thursday evening as attendees celebrated the opening of a visitor center.

It’s the only one at a Macy’s in Southern California and one more signpost for the 250,000-square-foot remodeled flagship that anchors the retail portion of the Ratkovich Co.’s the Bloc mixed-use project in downtown. Most of the tools in Macy’s tool chest were funneled into the store’s major redo, from an incoming restaurant set to open in the spring to shops-in-shop, such as a recently opened LensCrafters, incoming Nike training center and, now, a visitor center that speaks to the tourists the store attracts.

“This is one of the bigger remodels in the Southwest region so it’s a significant investment for our company and it complements what Ratkovich, the developer, is doing,” said Macy’s district vice president Michael Ellmann. “It’s really a transformation and we have the latest, greatest, innovative shopping solutions. It’s all state-of-the-art, both in technology and aesthetics. If you come to our downtown L.A. Macy’s store, you’re seeing Macy’s as a corporation putting their best foot forward for the future. … Every innovative idea that Macy’s has as a corporation is being put into downtown L.A.”

The investment into the downtown store is a significant one in the context of the rest of the Southwest region and happens as its corporate parent looks to shrink its footprint in a bid to restore the business. Macy’s Inc. said Thursday it planned to shutter some 100 stores, which would allow it to focus on digital and the growth of its higher-performing stores. Among the stores being shuttered is the retailer’s men’s-only store in San Francisco’s Union Square.

The store began seeing double-digit growth when the barricades came down in mid-May, with the third and fourth quarters expected to finish out “strong,” in line with projections, according to Ellmann.

[ChargerCarl]

Originally Posted by black_crow

A seating capacity of 22000 is disappointing.
I know soccer isn't such a big deal in the US, but it's becoming more popular. It should have been 30,000+.

The design doesn't look so bad.

Thats pretty normal for a lower tier European team, which MLS basically is.

[ChelseaFC]

Originally Posted by BrandonJXN

What are the chances of the Rams (who play the Cowboys at the Coliseum tomorrow btw) and LAFC have games at the same time in 2018?

What about USC and LAFC?

[black_crow]

Originally Posted by ChargerCarl

Thats pretty normal for a lower tier European team, which MLS basically is.

Well sorry.. but that's not pretty normal for a lower tire European team and I know what I am talking about.
Germany's second division has arenas with over 50,000 and even 60,000 seats. All the top teams there have at least a 30,000 plus capacity and I don't talk about the first division.

L.A. Galaxy as an example has a market value (all players together) of 30 million Dollar.
Not good enough for Germany's first division, but they would be under the top 3 in Germany's second division. Their arena in comparison with these "lower class top teams" has no chance.
They have on average 23,000 - 24,000 viewer and they were sold out in so many games because they have just 27,000 seats. Keep in mind that Galaxy is the number one in the US with 5 MLS Cups.

You could argue that there is no market for bigger arenas in the US, but that wouldn't be true. Galaxy lost in 2015 against the Seattle Sounders FC. A team that attracts on average over 44,000 people.
They have a capacity of up to 69,000 people and were sold out a couple of times.

Someone wrote before that there wouldn't be space for a bigger arena. So that would make sense.
Let's also keep in mind that LAFC is a brand new team. So everything is fine. I just couldn't hold it back that's all.

[ChargerCarl]

Germany's second tier is a much higher level of soccer than the MLS...

Also Germany seems like an outlier when it comes to attendance. Check out Italy.

[black_crow]

Originally Posted by ChargerCarl

Germany's second tier is a much higher level of soccer than the MLS...

Also Germany seems like an outlier when it comes to attendance. Check out Italy.

They are on the same level, check this out it's the most trusted site in Europe (transfermarkt.com). The MLS has also 21,574 viewer on average. That is more than Germany's second division had. (first division has 44,000 on average) Even better.. it's a 64 % increase to 2000. The numbers are going up.

http://www.transfermarkt.com/major-league-soccer/startseite/wettbewerb/MLS1

http://www.transfermarkt.com/2-bundesliga/startseite/wettbewerb/L2


The big gap comes when you compare it to the first division of Germany. That's just insane:

http://www.transfermarkt.com/1-bundesliga/startseite/wettbewerb/L1


PS:

Yes, Germany has a way more viewer than Italy and Spain. BUT - Like I wrote.. The MLS has already more viewer than Germany's second division.. isn't that great?

PS 2:

This is still related to the new arena. (but I am out) The MLS is doing an impressive job. (some numbers surprised even me and I watched soccer since I am 1 year old.. still learning a lot about the MLS)

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by caligrad

Yeah I agree. If the north end doesn't do more to exist, Downtown will be very bottom heavy. I also like Palmers Broadway buildings (cant believe I'm saying that), but my only concern, like yours, was that the brick is too red. But that will fade and darken up over time. My other beef is the bull dogs. I like them, but I think he put too many into the design. Looks like they belong on main street at Disneyland.



I never knew that. Thanks for sharing. This building has so much potential that its unreal that the current owner is just squatting on it.

So many things can happen with this tower. Turn it into Residential, turn the "top of the Crock" area into a very nice restaurant/club combo and it will make tons. I'm all for capitalism and the government not trying to intervene to much into private business (which they do anyway) but the city needs to step in and tell the current owners "Use it or lose it".



Not a horrible idea, his work is awesome, I would love to see one of his murals on that slab. The only problem I see with that is weathering. Not sure if the owners would be cool with having to retouch the paint every 5 or so years. The Marine Life (whaling Wall) Mural on the Long Beach arena weathers quickly and the city hates pumping money into repainting it. But I agree, whether its a mural or massive LED screen/sign, it will become a destination on its own. One more for downtown at least.



Ugh I've heard about them. The worst. I put them in a league with Barry Shy and the other squatting rejects. I swear the city needs to step in and do something. That tower literally hasn't changed not one bit since it was built. When you walk/drive passed it, the white has rust streaks, there is a lot of corrosion and she looks so sad and empty. With towers half the size being able to squeeze in 300-400 units. I can only imagine how many units this one can create. And if not pure residential. Make the bottom half residential and the top half Hotel rooms and the very top a restaurant/club.

This should make a few posters happy.


611 Place has a lot of potential . In an ideal world, it would function perfectly as a mixed use hotel/condo building. It has a lot of potential. Not to mention that it's not an ugly building by any means.

In an ideal world, I'd reclad 611 Place in a similar way they did First Canadian Place in Toronto. Reclad it in such a way as to make it look like a modern building without taking away too much of it's original architecture.


http://mdeas.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Progress1.jpg

[cesar90]

• Video Link

[Wilcal]

[QUOTE=BrandonJXN;7529852]This should make a few posters happy.


611 Place has a lot of potential . In an ideal world, it would function perfectly as a mixed use hotel/condo building. It has a lot of potential. Not to mention that it's not an ugly building by any means.

Brandon, you made my Saturday. Thank you kid. Yes, she was a beauty. Strikingly modern. When approaching downtown heading west on the 101 the Federal building, city Hall, Connecticut Life (Union Bank) and the Occidental Life buildings were it as far as downtown Los Angeles' skyscraper muscle were concerned in the 1960's. This, while other less important cities (respectively speaking, of course), like Boston--I was so envious of the Prudential Center, San Francisco, etc. already had taller towers. Notice the weird-assed church which hugged the building, Now gone it was the one which had the embarrassing (I thought) "Jesus Saves" sign atop its roof. And for the life of me of all the times that my mother brought me downtown, I cannot remember the Richfield tower (yet I do remember the signage of their gas stations. Best of all though, I do remember taking a car trip with family friends from Chicago, and I was so proud of the DWP building brilliantly lit at night so as to be visible from all directions of the freeways entering down town. What a sight. Sadly, this sight is now grotesquely marred by the appearance of Palmer's — designs.

[citywatch]

^ your comments are fascinating to me since they call to mind the past & the present, but also the future. btw, I personally have always had mixed emotions about the former Crocker bank bldg due to its huge west facing blank wall. Since some of the best views would have been from offices on that side of the bldg, I've never understood why the architect chose to design it that way.

The water & power bldg is one of the best in dtla, although it originally had very extensive exterior flood lighting that hasn't been switched on in yrs. Too bad its fountains also barely operate, so the view of that bldg from the fwy no longer is as dramatic as it was yrs ago. the small street in front of the palmer Da vinci apt bldg no longer has the huge ficus trees that once created an amazing amt of shade in that part of dt. But the bldg's design & the way it blocks views from the fwy notwithstanding, when going through that part of dt nowadays, it no longer feels & looks so lonely or semi abandoned.

I've just watched this vid, which has a good series of images of dt of the past....background music not necessarily to my liking.....& then think of my recent visits to dt. I still feel pangs of impatience & dissatisfaction with the pace of change when I go there & all the things that I notice still need to be fixed up. For example, I'm looking at you, parking lot across from disney hall! But then I'm also reminded of what things were like yrs ago & find myself actually shocked at just how insubstantial dt was way back when.


• Video Link


^ The shock of reliving the past is like a wake up call. It forces me to realize that in some major ways, today really is better....much better....than the past.




there has been talk that the proj next to the metro417 bldg was cancelled or put on hold, due in part to reports of the owner now seeking additional funding from foreign sources to help pay for the devlpt. so I wasn't totally sure if a few limited pics of the old red car shed being torn down & statements from some outsiders about groundbreaking taking place on the proj were accurate. But a press release from the owner indicates that, yes, the devlpt next to the former subway termina bldg is underway.

Press Release
MacFarlane Partners Announces Park Fifth Groundbreaking

August 10, 2016

MacFarlane Partners, a real estate investment manager that specializes in investments that promote smart growth, urban revitalization and sustainability, has announced the groundbreaking of the first phase of its Park Fifth development in downtown Los Angeles.

The first phase of Park Fifth will be a seven-story residential building consisting of 313 rental apartments and 7,500 square feet of retail space. Construction of the mid-rise building began on July 25 and completion is expected in 2019. The project’s second phase calls for the construction of a neighboring, 24-story high-rise with 347 residential units and 5,300 square feet of retail space.

“Downtown Los Angeles continues to experience dynamic growth and our Park Fifth project, which is adjacent to the world-class public space of Pershing Square, will be an ideal location for those who desire high-end amenities coupled with access to multiple transportation options,” said Ken Lombard, president of MacFarlane Partners.

The two Park Fifth buildings will be developed on what was a 2.3-acre parking lot at West 5th Street and South Olive Street, directly across from Pershing Square and diagonal to the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel. The site is adjacent to the Pershing Square Metro Station, which provides commuters with underground-rail access to points throughout Los Angeles. It also is located along the planned route of downtown’s restored streetcar line and is one block from both Grand Central Market and the financial district on Bunker Hill.

Among the amenities in the Park Fifth mid-rise building will be a 14,000-square-foot courtyard on an elevated podium deck that will be more than 160 feet wide and include barbecues and outdoor dining and recreation areas; a pool deck with a zero-edge, 60- by 20-foot pool with cabanas, a poolside bar and hot tub; and an indoor/outdoor fitness center with cardio equipment, a weight room and “fitness-on-demand” virtual group-fitness services. The mid-rise also will feature resident lounges with ample seating, multiple entertainment and media offerings, a bar, kitchen and private dining areas.

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by citywatch

^ your comments are fascinating to me since they call to mind the past & the present, but also the future. btw, I personally have always had mixed emotions about the former Crocker bank bldg due to its huge west facing blank wall. Since some of the best views would have been from offices on that side of the bldg, I've never understood why the architect chose to design it that way.

The water & power bldg is one of the best in dtla, although it originally had very extensive exterior flood lighting that hasn't been switched on in yrs. Too bad its fountains also barely operate, so the view of that bldg from the fwy no longer is as dramatic as it was yrs ago. the small street in front of the palmer Da vinci apt bldg no longer has the huge ficus trees that once created an amazing amt of shade in that part of dt. But the bldg's design & the way it blocks views from the fwy notwithstanding, when going through that part of dt nowadays, it no longer feels & looks so lonely or semi abandoned.

I've just watched this vid, which has a good series of images of dt of the past....background music not necessarily to my liking.....& then think of my recent visits to dt. I still feel pangs of impatience & dissatisfaction with the pace of change when I go there & all the things that I notice still need to be fixed up. For example, I'm looking at you, parking lot across from disney hall! But then I'm also reminded of what things were like yrs ago & find myself actually shocked at just how insubstantial dt was way back when.


• Video Link


^ The shock of reliving the past is like a wake up call. It forces me to realize that in some major ways, today really is better....much better....than the past.




there has been talk that the proj next to the metro417 bldg was cancelled or put on hold, due in part to reports of the owner now seeking additional funding from foreign sources to help pay for the devlpt. so I wasn't totally sure if a few limited pics of the old red car shed being torn down & statements from some outsiders about groundbreaking taking place on the proj were accurate. But a press release from the owner indicates that, yes, the devlpt next to the former subway termina bldg is underway.

Citywatch, you're right, I could have gone for the Doors' LA Woman. But that aside, this interesting video does seem to capture the very slow evolution of downtown over the many decades, such that the recent boom and bust, and the now booming period is obviously not unique. Another video documents the destruction of Bunker Hill which when taken in context of the era was an urban renewal concept happening in most major cities in the US and was done by planners/architects/ designers who I think actually thought that they were doing the right thing.
With respect to the Park Filth project, I don't think that I am alone in viewing that projects' design as being very bad, and way below standard. Oddly, if one were to examine the architect's (Ankrom Moisan Architects) website and looks at their portfolio their body of work is not bad. They do seem to have a penchant for interesting materials and textures. But, overall their designs (especially with this project) are very uninspired. They are the same designers of the Elleven Luma and buildings (not bad really). However, what most people forget is that the customer (developer, patron, etc.) does not only heavily influence the design but also has final say. Thus it would be safe to say that Mc Farlane Partners has their "in their asses."

[black_crow]

Originally Posted by citywatch

there has been talk that the proj next to the metro417 bldg was cancelled or put on hold, due in part to reports of the owner now seeking additional funding from foreign sources to help pay for the devlpt. so I wasn't totally sure if a few limited pics of the old red car shed being torn down & statements from some outsiders about groundbreaking taking place on the proj were accurate. But a press release from the owner indicates that, yes, the devlpt next to the former subway termina bldg is underway.

Are we talking about 5-OH?

I told you guys weeks before they announced it that the project is moving forward. Hunter said two month ago that this project was secretly cancelled or on hold.
MacFarlane Partners told me that this is not true and that they are moving forward a big time. I also posted a part of our conversation here.

My informations are not always 100% accurate because timeline and design can change.. like with Mr Eichler and Fig Central, but they are in 90% of the cases direct from the source or from somebody who works for them.
I don't like rumors. So I dig for some real facts whenever they come up.

It's for the most part not even with the help of my personal contacts. I contact the source via my business or media account (depends on the project) and they are for the most part happy to clear things up.
This is how some well know people here work too. That's the whole secret when it comes to insider facts. No magic or advanced skills required. (you just have to know who to contact, there is always more than one way)

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by black_crow

Are we talking about 5-OH?

I told you guys weeks before they announced it that the project is moving forward. Hunter said two month ago that this project was secretly cancelled or on hold.
MacFarlane Partners told me that this is not true and that they are moving forward a big time. I also posted a part of our conversation here.

Yes, that is what we mean: Park Fifth (good) = 5 OH (bad)

[black_crow]

Originally Posted by Wilcal

Yes, that is what we mean: Park Fifth (good) = 5 OH (bad)

Yep, I see it the same way.

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by black_crow

Yep, I see it the same way.

Oh yes, and among my talents is streamlining

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by Wilcal

With respect to the Park Filth project, I don't think that I am alone in viewing that projects' design as being very bad, and way below standard.

wilcal, I've also seen some ppl disappointed that the proj isn't taller & larger. So much so that some of them have said they'd rather see that gap remain a parking lot until something bigger & better can be built there.

after all these yrs of reading or hearing varying opinions & noticing how different tastes & priorities are, I feel the best thing for dt's future is for it to move in a direction that appeals to the broadest number of ppl out there. It's otherwise an exercise in futility to expect every aspect of new devlpt in dt to fit exactly what the observer....me included....likes, & not include things that a person doesn't like.

I'd feel otherwise if dtla had historically been in much better condition & if the leading cities of the world had none of the problems found in LA. Or I should say that, as one example, the homeless population may be a bigger liability in dtla than in other cities. Forumers like brady have mentioned that due to so many street ppl in dt...inc what I'm guessing are aggressive panhandlers....he knows ppl who once lived there moving to other parts of the city. That deserves more gnashing of teeth than whether new devlpt fits everyone's tastes or not....or whether new projs are tall enough, or whether they contain parking podiums or not.

Originally Posted by black_crow

Are we talking about 5-OH?
It's for the most part not even with the help of my personal contacts. I contact the source via my business or media account (depends on the project) and they are for the most part happy to clear things up.
This is how some well know people here work too. That's the whole secret when it comes to insider facts. No magic or advanced skills required. (you just have to know who to contact, there is always more than one way)

Good that your source wasn't giving you the run around! I know that was a big issue with the previous owner of the property, who set up an elaborate sales center near 5th & Olive St several yrs ago. It contained large impressive architectural models. Nonetheless....as everyone knows...that owner eventually canceled the proj.

Some reports last wk about the current owner seeking additional funding from foreign sources....presumably for the 2nd phase?....made me question whether the proj would actually break ground in July or august.


Here's the reason I'm relieved the huge parking lot south of the metro417 bldg is finally being replaced. It sits in the shadow of one of the most popular rooftop restaurants in dtla, the perch, & is seen....& is looked out over....& photographed....by more ppl than most other deadzones in the hood.

I've just visited the yelp page of that restaurant, hoping I'd see a pic of the lot across the street being closed down & cleared. One of the newer comments mentions the area around the restaurant not being very appealing, & there is a photo dated from just a few days ago, but it was shot so high up that the parking lot got cropped out.

Evan M.
Pasadena, CA

4.0 star rating
8/4/2016

Beautiful rooftop dinning in downtown LA! Although the nearby area is grungy downstairs (with streetside or random lot parking), after taking two elevators up, the only areas in view are the LA skyscrapers and skyline.

Irma M, yelp.com



Mallery O, yelp.com



Yvette G, yelp.com



Jannifer H, yelp.com



Espy G



Gloria A, yelp.com



Steve L, yelp.com

[kaneui]

Victor MacFarlane says the Park Fifth high-rise will start construction in September or October:

https://www.bisnow.com/national/news/multifamily/the-state-of-financing-63898