LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[Niftybox]

I don't say this often but I believe the Brookfield tower would look better shorter, like 15-20 stories shorter, considering it's covering 777 tower at basically the same height from a common skyline angle. I don't believe this is a very popular opinion for some in the skyline communities. I just think the building is a bit of a hulking mass in the center of the skyline and doesn't add any novel variation.

[headcheckjj]

Originally Posted by Niftybox

I don't say this often but I believe the Brookfield tower would look better shorter, like 15-20 stories shorter, considering it's covering 777 tower at basically the same height from a common skyline angle. I don't believe this is a very popular opinion for some in the skyline communities. I just think the building is a bit of a hulking mass in the center of the skyline and doesn't add any novel variation.

Ah yes, a housing crisis brought on by an extreme shortage of new or available units, but sure....."novel variation".

[colemonkee]

I agree with Niftybox that 777 Figueroa is a much better design than the Brookfield tower, but I don't think that's necessarily a reason to make it shorter. I actually like that the darker glass will contrast with the white color of 777 Fig and the tan stone of Ernst & Young tower.

[Niftybox]

I appreciate your optimism colemonkee, but I don't believe the contrast of the towers will help much when 777 is nearly covered by Brookfield. Height variation is the essence of a good skyline.

[badrunner]

It'll block the view of 777 from the northwest. Those folks in the Hollywood Hills will have their view downgraded from a Pelli to a Brookfield . But from every other angle the view will be enhanced.

[pwright1]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

I agree with Niftybox that 777 Figueroa is a much better design than the Brookfield tower, but I don't think that's necessarily a reason to make it shorter. I actually like that the darker glass will contrast with the white color of 777 Fig and the tan stone of Ernst & Young tower.

I agree with this. Plus the look from all angles will be much improved imo. The color will be quite striking next to 777. I think it will look great.

[craigs]

I love 777, it's my second favorite tower downtown after Library Tower (yeah, I said it!). I think 777 might just be the most elegant tower in LA--the proportions, the setbacks, the skin. I met Pelli in person, too, so there's that. For the record--and I know this won't be a popular opinion--my third favorite downtown tower is Wells Fargo Center, a sentimental favorite from back in the '80s.

[Yackemflaber69]

A group of people vandalized the US Bank tower

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by Niftybox

I appreciate your optimism colemonkee, but I don't believe the contrast of the towers will help much when 777 is nearly covered by Brookfield. Height variation is the essence of a good skyline.

I agree with colemonkee and pwright, Brookfield is fine at almost 700 feet. 777 will still be about 20 feet taller and still be visible. New York City never lets older buildings prevent newer buildings from going up. Progress. Greater skyline density. Hundreds of new residences in Brookfield. And I like the black modernist slab design. Like the slab in 2001 Space Odyssey. Pelli's tower can handle it. And the people who will call Brookfield home will add to the vitality of the area night and day.

[BaldwinDPB]

Originally Posted by Niftybox

I don't say this often but I believe the Brookfield tower would look better shorter, like 15-20 stories shorter, considering it's covering 777 tower at basically the same height from a common skyline angle. I don't believe this is a very popular opinion for some in the skyline communities. I just think the building is a bit of a hulking mass in the center of the skyline and doesn't add any novel variation.

I like it if it is taller, Emporis has the proposed height of Brookfield at 735 feet. That sounds about right for a 64 story residential tower, considering that residential floors are closer spaced than business floors.

[citywatch]

Yes, how a new bldg looks like from miles away plays a part in what dtla is all about....call it the emerald city effect in the wizard of oz. But the human element is just as important. Today's dtla isn't the ghost town it was not all that long ago....before as many ppl lived there & fewer ppl bothered to visit it.

Super talls or new highrises by themselves won't be enough without enough residents & day trippers in dt.

Finally, a gym of their own in Little Tokyo


(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

The Terasaki Budokan gym and community center, which will host sports leagues, after-school programs, classes for senior citizens and cultural events, opened in June after a $35-million fundraising effort and decades of delays.

The influx of visitors could provide a vital boost to Little Tokyo’s traditional Japanese stores and restaurants, which are at risk of displacement by chain cafes and hip sneaker shops after suffering through the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I think people my age will come here more now, because basketball is what brings a lot of us young people together,” said Sarah Johnson, 21, who is Gosei — fifth generation — and played in one of Sunday night’s games. “We can all kind of centralize in Little Tokyo.”

“It got really ugly here,” said Brian Kito, the owner of Fugetsu-Do. “I don’t think many people realize how close this area was to just collapsing.”

But the neighborhood has rebounded as an Instagram-friendly location for Hiroshima-style cabbage pancakes and Hokkaido-style ramen.

Groundbreaking came in August 2017; construction lasted three years. Because of the coronavirus, a virtual opening ceremony was held last summer, with in-person festivities put off until next year.

The Budokan — it translates to “martial arts hall” — was named after the Nippon Budokan, built to host judo events during the 1964 Tokyo Summer Olympics. The gym is open for private rentals, including basketball tournaments and martial arts practices, and has hosted volleyball tournaments, dance workshops and tai chi and yoga for seniors. There will soon be open gym hours for the public.

A few blocks away, the restaurant Azay has seen a boost from catering events at Budokan, said co-owner Jo Ann Hirose, a second-generation Little Tokyo business owner. Azay, which she owns with her husband, Akira Hirose, is in the space formerly occupied by her father’s hardware store.

A fourth-generation Japanese American, Aidan didn’t visit Little Tokyo much because of the distance from his Orange County home. The Budokan is changing that.

“Through the vehicle of sports, we’re able to bring people back to Little Tokyo, back to celebrate their roots,” he said.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by craigs

For the record--and I know this won't be a popular opinion--my third favorite downtown tower is Wells Fargo Center, a sentimental favorite from back in the '80s.

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[nmkef]

Originally Posted by citywatch

Yes, how a new bldg looks like from miles away plays a part in what dtla is all about....call it the emerald city effect in the wizard of oz. But the human element is just as important. Today's dtla isn't the ghost town it was not all that long ago....before as many ppl lived there & fewer ppl bothered to visit it.

Super talls or new highrises by themselves won't be enough without enough residents & day trippers in dt.

I feel you on this. I've been living in LA for just over 6 years and DTLA for almost 2yr now so what really excites me is more of the street activation, filling of empty (or parking) lots, and seeing the big boost in residents that can hopefully both support current businesses and encourage another round of strong investment in the area. I won't fault people for being picky on appearances for some of the taller buildings of course, but yea it is a bit silly to me given the majority of my exposure to all these is at the street level either directly below or only a few blocks away...!

I'd really like to see more "accessory" developments along with the larger projects like mini parks/plazas, such as what the convention center redesign is trying to do with the existing drop off zone.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by nmkef

filling of empty (or parking) lots, and seeing the big boost in residents that can hopefully both support current businesses and encourage another round of strong investment in the area.

Projs like this won't make much of a mark on the skyline, but when you're actually in dtla, the size & height of bldgs don't seem quite as important as other things, inc street life and a sense of activity.



urbanize.city.com


since the new gym proj is also near city hall in the little tokyo part of dt, I'll stick with the theme of today's dtla being a more complete area, probably more so in over 70 yrs, in some ways for the first time in the history of LA.

[hughfb3]

Originally Posted by Niftybox

I appreciate your optimism colemonkee, but I don't believe the contrast of the towers will help much when 777 is nearly covered by Brookfield. Height variation is the essence of a good skyline.

Downtown's street grid is altered 45 degrees from the rest of the basin which has a north/south grid. The only views Brookfield will block of 777 is from Echo Park, Silverlake which is directly north of the tower. Because of the offset grid, Downtown opens up to Hollywood and everything Northwest, thereby keeping the most visually shot angle (view from Hollywood) in tact. And because of the massing, Brookfield sits squarely between 777 and EY Tower. The only building Brookfield will block is the now under construction 8th&Fig Mitsui Tower pictured in the foreground.

The picture below clearly shows the massing and how Brookfield stays clear of 777. Today’s planning commission treasures 777 tower and does a decent job of making sure certain buildings are not blocked and that our skyline has a nice shape.

[IMG][IMG]Untitled by Hugh B, on Flickr[/IMG][/IMG]

[craigs]

Originally Posted by hughfb3

Downtown's street grid is altered 45 degrees from the rest of the basin which has a north/south grid. The only views Brookfield will block of 777 is from Echo Park, Silverlake which is directly north of the tower. Because of the offset grid, Downtown opens up to Hollywood and everything Northwest, thereby keeping the most visually shot angle (view from Hollywood) in tact. And because of the massing, Brookfield sits squarely between 777 and EY Tower. The only building Brookfield will block is the now under construction 8th&Fig Mitsui Tower pictured in the foreground.

The picture below clearly shows the massing and how Brookfield stays clear of 777. Today’s planning commission treasures 777 tower and does a decent job of making sure certain buildings are not blocked and that our skyline has a nice shape.

[IMG]Untitled by Hugh B, on Flickr[/IMG]

That's good to hear. I would never take the position that we should discourage new construction to preserve skyline views, even though I love 777, so this is good news (except for skyline lovers in Silver Lake, haha). Thanks!

[Blesha13]

Originally Posted by craigs

That's good to hear. I would never take the position that we should discourage new construction to preserve skyline views, even though I love 777, so this is good news (except for skyline lovers in Silver Lake, haha). Thanks!

I'm one of the Silver Lake skyline lovers

[craigs]

Originally Posted by Blesha13

I'm one of the Silver Lake skyline lovers

Maybe the new towers will look good from that angle?

[craigs]

The Los Angeles Times compiled detailed neighborhood Census results for the City of Los Angeles. The whole chart is worth a look, but here are some highlights and lowlights:

LA City neighborhoods with the greatest gains in the 2020 Census:

Neighborhood - 2010 - 2020 - Percent increase
Playa Vista - 7,957 - 15,149 - 90%
Downtown - 42,499 - 66,555 - 57%
Century City - 5,752 - 7,050 - 23%
Chatsworth - 39,606 - 45,661 - 15%
Woodland Hills - 63,654 - 71,854 - 13%

And the worst losses:

Neighborhood - 2010 - 2020 - Percent decrease
Cypress Park - 9,631 - 8,373 - −13%
Elysian Valley - 6,897 - 6,123 - −11%
East Hollywood - 68,197 - 61,439 - −10%
Chinatown/
Solano Canyon - 19,398 - 17,640 - −9%
Highland Park - 54,813 - 50,903 - −7%

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by craigs

And the worst losses:

Neighborhood - 2010 - 2020 - Percent decrease
Cypress Park - 9,631 - 8,373 - −13%
Elysian Valley - 6,897 - 6,123 - −11%
East Hollywood - 68,197 - 61,439 - −10%
Chinatown/
Solano Canyon - 19,398 - 17,640 - −9%
Highland Park - 54,813 - 50,903 - −7%

Interesting. Aren’t each of these neighborhoods currently in some phase of gentrification?