LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[pwright1]

I took these last week.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zyesPddorwdBQmV42

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ivtyg0gLcBE6snBw2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xXQKKKYbXBXNXnhJ2

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qaIrSdjqjtzhpACu1

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zKYJCn22wTUJHHk33

https://photos.app.goo.gl/jiMHU8eqUivWvbT02

[The Illusive Man]

Originally Posted by Wilcal

Gee Whiz Colemonkee, I think that you are being a little harsh. Most, if not all, of these forummers have posted very relevant and contributing opinions on this site in the past. I think that they are just kidding around about the Richfield tower, I know that I was. Perhaps a very stern and simple "PLEASE PEOPLE LET'S REMAIN ON TOPIC" would have sufficed. Thank you.

I know right? That's a bit aggressive. Relax.

Anywho. I'm happy the Olympics are back. I was had a feeling we'd get another here in LA as this is by far the most equipped city to handle such an event in nation and maybe event he world.

[ConstructDTLA]

820 S Hill St by Hunter, on Flickr

820 S Hill St by Hunter, on Flickr

Apex 2 by Hunter, on Flickr

Apex 2 by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza by Hunter, on Flickr

1133 S Hope & Oceanwide Plaza by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza by Hunter, on Flickr

1133 S Hope by Hunter, on Flickr

Circa by Hunter, on Flickr

1212 S Flower by Hunter, on Flickr

1212 S Flower by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza by Hunter, on Flickr

Circa by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza & Circa by Hunter, on Flickr

Oceanwide Plaza & Circa by Hunter, on Flickr

[BrandonJXN]

8 towers are rising where there was once a sea of parking lots. All within 2 - 3 blocks.

[Blesha13]

Nice update, Hunter. Can't wait to see the Onni towers rise.

[bhunsberger]

Originally Posted by Blesha13

Nice update, Hunter. Can't wait to see the Onni towers rise.

Same. I wish Oceanwide was topped out already. Looks like they are about half way there. Can it be 2020 already??

[Quixote]

Quality stuff as always, Hunter.

South Park is becoming parking podium city; good thing the towers themselves look nice. I can tolerate parking podiums, but Circa's is just ridiculous. The city really needs to do something about this epidemic.

[bhunsberger]

Originally Posted by Quixote

Quality stuff as always, Hunter.

South Park is becoming parking podium city; good thing the towers themselves look nice. I can tolerate parking podiums, but Circa's is just ridiculous. The city really needs to do something about this epidemic.

Parking Podium City. This is not going away. Time to embrace it, and the towers that come with.

[Quixote]

^ Why should I embrace poor urban planning? I acknowledge that these projects represent, for the most part, progress in the right direction. But that doesn't mean that I can't criticize certain elements. If you're going to build a massive amount of parking, put it underground or at the very least do a better job of disguising it.

[bhunsberger]

Originally Posted by Quixote

^ Why should I embrace poor urban planning? I acknowledge that these projects represent, for the most part, progress in the right direction. But that doesn't mean that I can't criticize certain elements. If you're going to build a massive amount of parking, put it underground or at the very least do a better job of disguising it.

You should embrace it because cars are here to stay, and there needs to be accommodation for them. Almost every major development happening in downtown right now has one. I agree with underground parking lots completely. Unfortunately we are not seeing that happen. I do agree that something needs to be done to better the facade of the podiums. I thought Metropolis did a pretty good job down by hotel indigo. However, at night it just looks terrible.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by bhunsberger

You should embrace it because cars are here to stay, and there needs to be accommodation for them.

Making provisions for cars only makes driving more convenient, thereby sustaining our hyper-dependence on them. The end result is more traffic and carbon emissions.

I get it... LA's still an autocentric city without any viable modal alternatives (bus and bike aren't realistic options for most). But at some point, we can and should start weaning off. The city can start by eliminating parking minimums; I believe Santa Monica is about to do this.

[scania]

Originally Posted by Quixote

Making provisions for cars only makes driving more convenient, thereby sustaining our hyper-dependence on them. The end result is more traffic and carbon emissions.

I get it... LA's still an autocentric city without any viable modal alternatives (bus and bike aren't realistic options for most). But at some point, we can and should start weaning off. The city can start by eliminating parking minimums; I believe Santa Monica is about to do this.

You can't be serious!

[Quixote]

^ What about my post is controversial (assuming you aren't being facetious)?

It's really annoying how you and a few others here take such offense to even the slightest bit of criticism. "You can't be serious!"

[scania]

Originally Posted by Quixote

^ What about my post is controversial (assuming you aren't being facetious)?

It's really annoying how you and a few others here take such offense to even the slightest bit of criticism. "You can't be serious!"

It's annoying that you can't comprehend. There has been a plethora of criticism that I don't commend on and some that I agree with the criticism. IMO, your first post was absurd and a little small minded...not understanding the big picture of things...#annoying

[bhunsberger]

The podiums shouldn't bother people so much. It is what it is. We are in Los Angeles, not Manhattan. I think we should try to focus on the positive things. New buildings that are helping to fill up the skyline and create a more dense downtown. One good thing about the podiums is it does add height to the building(s) making them more prominent in the skyline. However, I am not in any way saying don't criticize.

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by scania

It's annoying that you can't comprehend. There has been a plethora of criticism that I don't commend on and some that I agree with the criticism. IMO, your first post was absurd and a little small minded...not understanding the big picture of things...#annoying

You should probably elaborate and what exactly was absurd about his comment. You can build a parking podium without making it stick out like a sore thumb (see: 8th & Hope). The city also should do a better job of promoting the use of mass transit, which IMO should include changing parking minimum requirements. These podiums are permanent and we shouldn't just accept every monstrosity just because LA is historically a car city.

[scania]

Originally Posted by Valyrian Steel

You should probably elaborate and what exactly was absurd about his comment. You can build a parking podium without making it stick out like a sore thumb (see: 8th & Hope). The city also should do a better job of promoting the use of mass transit, which IMO should include changing parking minimum requirements.

I don't think by any means it's an epidemic. That to me is absurd. When looking at all of the towers going up in DTLA, there are different podiums and parking structures. Some hidden/diaguised more than others.

[chuckrim]

Originally Posted by Quixote

^ Why should I embrace poor urban planning? I acknowledge that these projects represent, for the most part, progress in the right direction. But that doesn't mean that I can't criticize certain elements. If you're going to build a massive amount of parking, put it underground or at the very least do a better job of disguising it.

It's too expensive to go below-grade. The deals wouldn't pencil if it was required. Then you have no towers...

All for disguising it though.

[black_crow]

Originally Posted by bhunsberger

Same. I wish Oceanwide was topped out already. Looks like they are about half way there. Can it be 2020 already??

It will reach its final height in 2018 so I guess 2020 shouldn't be the problem.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Valyrian Steel

You should probably elaborate and what exactly was absurd about his comment. You can build a parking podium without making it stick out like a sore thumb (see: 8th & Hope). The city also should do a better job of promoting the use of mass transit, which IMO should include changing parking minimum requirements. These podiums are permanent and we shouldn't just accept every monstrosity just because LA is historically a car city.

Thank you!

I'm a believer in constructive criticism where necessary and giving credit where it's due. I heaped both praise and criticism in this instance, and my points were reasonable IMO. Instead of having such knee-jerk reactions to any and all perceived negativity, the forumers in question (scania, Resident, Just-In-Cali, and The Illusive Man) should actually look at what the critics are saying and evaluate the arguments based on their merits.

Circa in particular irks me because it's adjacent to a rail station. That and the architect/developer didn't put much thought into concealing the massive podium (based on the renderings), something that the city should've forced them into doing. Atelier (8th and Olive) is a great example of what can be done. Heck, even Oceanwide Plaza, which will have an equally massive podium, isn't that offensive looking to me.

You're absolutely right in that the city should be adopting more policies designed to help us evolve out of our car culture. We'll never be able to root it out completely, but we can chip away at it little by little... and that's what ultimately matters. Eliminating parking minimums is a no-brainer for everyone involved, including the developers. The city could also have developers build these podiums in such a way that would allow for the possibility of future residential conversion (Seattle is doing this). Another option could be to have them built as detached structures (9th and Hope), so that they could one day be torn down and replaced with housing. Almost anything is possible provided there's the will, imagination, and creativity. I'm just not seeing that from LA city yet, and it's very frustrating.

[/endrant]