LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[citywatch]

I like the way that projs like the colburn or this one in little tokyo are humanizing dtla.....lots of us at ssp seem so much into the height or design of new projs, that other aspects of what those projs are all about gets lost in the muddle. I notice some of the comments at the website where this article is from argue about the proj needing to be taller....



urbanize.city.com


urbanize.city.com

It's been functioning since Spring 2020, but a ribbon-cutting ceremony held earlier this month makes it official: the Paul I. Terasaki Budokan is open in Little Tokyo.

Located at 249 S. Los Angeles Street, the community center and athletic complex includes regulation-sized basketball courts, open space for martial arts tournaments and other gatherings, community rooms, and a mezzanine terrace with a viewing deck and children's play area.

“LTSC has created a ‘Home Court for All’ for everyone to come together and celebrate the diversity of Los Angeles and Little Tokyo. We’re excited to finally celebrate the grand opening of our facility with our community and the folks that helped make it happen,” said Ryan Lee, the director of Terasaki Budokan. “Budokan is much more than just a new gym and event facility. It is an intersection of culture and athletics and a testament to the unwavering strength of our community. It’s a foothold to ensure the spirit of our community will endure for future generations.”

[bhunsberger]

Does anyone know if there are plans to paint the 6th St bridge white? I understand it’s not complete, but in the renderings it looks pretty white & different than the real life concrete. I think it would make it look so much better and really pop. It would also aid in keeping it aesthetically pleasing when painting over the inevitable graffiti instead of using random paint colors which result in a bunch of patches.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by black_crow

… sorry, in that case I would rather stop begging and wait for something less… I don’t even know how to describe it.

“From dazzling to disaster” summed it up perfectly. I saw many downgrades over the years but that one is pure comedy.

Yep, the look of the proj, esp the outdoor open scaffolding area, doesn't grab me....but you should watch this to get a better understanding of the bones below the surface...


• Video Link

[BaldwinDPB]

Originally Posted by dax_gray

This is a joke right? The new building looks like a suburban office park.

A tall building on that lot would look much better.

[milquetoast]

Originally Posted by homebucket

Oh hey, I heard that L.A. Valley College was looking for a refurb ....
is this it?

[Doctorboffin]

I think I might actually like the Hill Side as much, if not a tiny bit more than the old version. It isn't as grandiose but the green space is a welcome addition, and I'm a sucker for exposed crossbeams.

However the Olive side, lol, LA Valley college refurbishment is the perfect way to put it. It already looks 40 years dated, and incredibly suburban, plus (the admittedly too bulky) backside of the Grand is going to make it seem all the punier. The nicest thing I can say about it is the open space is cool in concept, but in actuality, it will be just another slab of concrete baking in the sun.

I'm no architect or structural engineer, so I can't say what their limitations were, but I would much rather see half the lot built up and the other half just used for public space.

Laughable mock-up of what I mean.

[38 Geary]

^ That actually looks quite good! I do agree that this combination would've looked the best.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by Doctorboffin

Laughable mock-up of what I mean.

That looks like it took a bit of leg work....it did make me want to find the original version.....I agree with you. There is more green space & I'm not sure if the school was planning to eliminate the street above the 2nd st tunnel....the LA Times said they still need to get city approval for that.

the layout in certain ways is an improvement....although I'm not a big fan of the look of the open plaza with the overhead trellis for lights, it does become more active instead of just staying as a street.



urbanize.city.com


urbanize.city.com

^ You can tell that the bulk of the proj has been greatly reduced...the Hill St side has been pushed back.

[NIMBY Slayer]

Originally Posted by Doctorboffin

I think I might actually like the Hill Side as much, if not a tiny bit more than the old version. It isn't as grandiose but the green space is a welcome addition, and I'm a sucker for exposed crossbeams.

However the Olive side, lol, LA Valley college refurbishment is the perfect way to put it. It already looks 40 years dated, and incredibly suburban, plus (the admittedly too bulky) backside of the Grand is going to make it seem all the punier. The nicest thing I can say about it is the open space is cool in concept, but in actuality, it will be just another slab of concrete baking in the sun.

I'm no architect or structural engineer, so I can't say what their limitations were, but I would much rather see half the lot built up and the other half just used for public space.

Laughable mock-up of what I mean.

I hate the new design. The Hill street side sucks being pushed back and loosing the W 2nd St. pedestrian way and whatever that zombie bunker wall is around the parameter.

The building itself is bland as hell. The plaza on Olive is hideous and a waste. I get there are cut backs but they can do better than this. Has the bar been set this low in LA?

Hope it falls through and doesn't happen. I like the dirt hill that's there better.

That at least reminds me of old Bunker Hill every time I walk by it instead of walking by this monstrosity and be reminded of Bakersfield Community College.

[dax_gray]

Originally Posted by NIMBY Slayer

I like the dirt hill that's there better.

I rather it a dirt hill too in all honestly. The building is really just ugly. In the article, the pink titanium cladding is also dependent on budget, which at this point will probably be value engineered to stucco by the time the shovels hit the dirt.

This is the cultural center of LA. It deserves to be better.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by NIMBY Slayer

Hope it falls through and doesn't happen. I like the dirt hill that's there better.

If you can tolerate that weed filled lot with broken asphalt all over it, then I'm not sure if you're just being way too dramatic about how much you hate the design of the Colburn addition.

beauty is also skin deep, very superficial. The function of the new bldg will be more important than its form alone.

this is gehry's hall in Berlin, which the new hall in dtla will be patterned after...but it will be a few hundred seats larger. I'd rather have this than that dirt lot....after over 50 yrs, time for a change.



architectural record

[headcheckjj]

The scaling down of the Colburn extension is so disappointing and short-sighted 😔

[DJM19]

I actually like the pink stainless steel material idea, I just wish it was mixed with more windows to create interest. I like the little green space but I lament that its not a slope any more (a sort of zig-zagging upward path through green space would have been amazing).

And most of all I lament that it doesn't seem to engage and activate the street any more than the current empty lot does.

[citywatch]

dtla is more than a game of sim city. the new colburn hall will be like disney hall's kid brother....the new kid on the block.

don't assume that just because a person is statuesque and good looking, that person will have a lot going on upstairs....maybe the colburn addition will be somewhat stumpy, suffer from a bit of acne and won't be super attractive....but it appears like the new proj will add a lot of gray matter to dtla. for that, I'm very happy.


• Video Link



latimes.com

[hughfb3]

Originally Posted by citywatch

• Video Link

This video you posted is most inspiring. Even though the outside glasswork has been deleted… the interior is one og Gehry’s best work. By the way. I happened to meet him for the first time on Saturday at this lot. I just stopped by to look at The Grand and he happened to be there. I got a picture with him and said hello.

Also of note. Something that hasn’t been mentioned is that This colburn expansion will delete the 2nd street incline from Hill to Olive and the plaza will take over what was once a street intersection

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by hughfb3

By the way. I happened to meet him for the first time on Saturday at this lot. I just stopped by to look at The Grand and he happened to be there. I got a picture with him and said hello.

fantastic....I like that he's taking a very hands on approach to the colburn proj....at least its land....but he does go to a lot of concerts in dtla, so he's always there anyway.

some posters a few pgs back commented on my saying I don't like reading about new projs too many yrs before they may break ground.....that's because I take time as of the essence...I don't like getting burned by great sounding proposed devlpt that never get beyond the design stage.

I want Colburn to move fast....gehry isn't getting any younger & I very much want him to be around at its unveiling....also didn't know that his tallest bldgs will be in toronto....oh oh, some LA sspers won't be happy that dtla instead gets a stumpy & the shorter Grand ave proj from him.


• Video Link

[black_crow]

Originally Posted by dax_gray

I rather it a dirt hill too in all honestly.

I was going to say that too, but was like... "calm down", that would sound too harsh.

But yes, I rather take the dirt hill and wait for something more fitting. The inside looks very good though...

[craigs]

I'll take the concert hall over an empty lot. Don't make the perfect the enemy of the good. Empty lots have a way of sticking around for decades, and that would be a bigger tragedy than a less than perfect expansion of Colburn.

[citywatch]

sorry, but I can't take any person seriously who complains about dtla's shortcomings yet also says that the current vacant land near 2nd & Hill....in that condition for over 50 years....is preferable to the colburn proj. They come off like ppl stranded in death valley saying that they'd rather remain dehydrated than drink water that's not Perrier.

this guy from NYC did a video last yr where he starts his walk in dtla right next to the site where the kohl concert hall is going to be built....I remember about 3 yrs ago using the narrow parking lot he walks by, the one where part of the plaza of the new devlpt is going to go....the Grand ave proj at that time was still mainly below ground & I thought dtla at 2nd & Olive was not ready for prime time.


• Video Link

[badrunner]

Am I the only one who hated the old Colburn design? Kinda glad they killed it lol, even if the new one is a "downgrade."