LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[citywatch]

9th St is one of the major entries to dtla, what a visitor first sees when arriving in dt. The Watermarke parking podium is a mess, but think of how this intersection was even weaker before the apt tower along 9th st was built...the 2nd phase of what originally was known as Concerto. A major gap still exists on the SW corner....& look at how the city has never gotten rid of the poles further west on 9th. But think of what the hood was like before the metropolis proj was added.

And some ppl claim that dtla went into a decline because of the construction of fwys? Or that dt's major problem is it doesn't have more super talls or better architecture? It should be so lucky.

Watermarke, one of the first residential towers built after downtown’s post-millennium rebirth, is a frequent nominee for the title of “ugliest podium.” The 30-story tower of aqua-colored glass is cut off from the ground plane by an unobscured concrete parking garage.

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But that's nothing compared to what hurts any city when this becomes the norm:

https://youtu.be/Jsz37wPzZ8g

[DownTown Giant]

Thank goodness for the Pantry... ! This reminds me of downtown Pheonix.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by black_crow

I would go so far and say that L.A. tried to copy some of those metro stations. I know Tokyo very well and some those pictures remind me of the Shibuya metro station (for example) and others.

Not as pretty as some of those in Europe.. but clean and functional.

To be fair: Tokyo has some great metro stations like the Tama-Center station. So what? L.A. isn't Europe or Asia. I am okay with that design. We saw a lot of progress over the last 10-15 years. Just keep it up.

And I was just in Moscow so I know what it's like to use such ornate stations. Honestly? The subway in Tokyo is easier to use. Public transit is a utilitarian commodity, and as with any functional service, aesthetics should always come second to usability. I think these metro stations are fine. I'd rather a wide ranging though aesthetically bland transit system than a single beautifully designed line. Of course, the danger with Los Angeles, is we might get the worst of both options...

[DTLA-Joe]

I can see a crane from my window for what I believe is 1411 S. Flower. Can anyone confirm the location?

[bhunsberger]

Orpheum Rooftop Sign Work


Moxy Hotel


Moxy Hotel


Moxy Hotel


Moxy Hotel


Brookfield Tower


Brookfield Tower

[craigs]

Thanks for the update! Brookfield's Beaudry is looking good--it looks like they are darkening the balcony 'roof' areas as they work their way up the tower.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by DTLA-Joe

I can see a crane from my window for what I believe is 1411 S. Flower. Can anyone confirm the location?

https://la.urbanize.city/post/developer-scores-41m-loan-dtla-micro-unit-apartments


urbanizela.com


The new devlpt in the update pics posted by bhunsberger can be seen in this vid...I notice the 7 story apt bldg across from the convention ctr is still being worked on. I could have sworn that proj broke ground like 10 yrs ago. The first part of the facade of the mitsui apt bldg can be seen too.

The oceanwide proj really needs to be completed. That proj still sitting there & rusting away really is unbelievable....it rained last night & I wonder how that affects devlpt sites like oceanwide.


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[caligrad]

Originally Posted by edale

I couldn't care less about having 'art' in the new subway stations. The cost of our infrastructure projects is already mind bogglingly high-- I'm fine with more or less utilitarian, functional stations. Keeping them clean and safe should be the priorities, and let the visual interest be the city above ground.

In fact, I think many of the Red Line stations are way over-designed and look gimmicky. It's a subway station, not a ride at Universal Studios.

Less to do with all the other stations. More so with this one next to an arts/cultural hub. The grey drab utilitarian but clean and efficient stations I'm all here for, especially since LA for the most part has gotten the "in and out" concept right. But I specifically only mentioned these stations for their location. Nothing wrong with some paint on the walls. or etc. if done right. LA doesn't ALWAYS have to strive to be like "insert any random city here".

[hughfb3]

Update on the roof and ground floors of downtown...

For those that were wondering how Moxy/AC would be taller than Circa... here it is






On the ground level, downtown is experiencing openings and closings...

At the base of Circa and across from The Crypt, Mastro's Ocean Club has revealed its facade and is in the process of training employees. The past few days, people in chef uniforms and suits have been coming and going. The city's planning commission really did their work in creating a cohesive design and scale for the surroundings of Staples. All of the podiums from Oceanwide, Circa, AC/Moxy are at the same eye level as Staples center and LA Live; while also all use the same facade materials and colors to screen the podiums. When standing in person on the sidewalk; The Mastro's reveal on Circa feels exactly like being inside LA Live in scale, design and height. I could be standing right in front of Wolfgang puck, Katsuya, Flemings or any other LA Live restaurant... this area is starting feel like its own district. Im reminded of way back in 2007 when the city was talking about this new sports and entertainment district and how it would feel




On the other end of the spectrum are the closings that are happening, businesses that even though they were closed through the pandemic and made it through; lease wise, have chosen not to reopen.

At the base of Onni's Level, Soul Cycle has recently taken off its signage and moved everything out of the space. Up until recently, the space was occupied although not open since 2020 and has recently just moved everything out

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by hughfb3

Update on the roof and ground floors of downtown...

For those that were wondering how Moxy/AC would be taller than Circa... here it is


On the ground level, downtown is experiencing openings and closings...

At the base of Circa and across from The Crypt, Mastro's Ocean Club has revealed its facade and is in the process of training employees. The past few days, people in chef uniforms and suits have been coming and going. The city's planning commission really did their work in creating a cohesive design and scale for the surroundings of Staples. All of the podiums from Oceanwide, Circa, AC/Moxy are at the same eye level as Staples center and LA Live; while also all use the same facade materials and colors to screen the podiums. When standing in person on the sidewalk; The Mastro's reveal on Circa feels exactly like being inside LA Live in scale, design and height. I could be standing right in front of Wolfgang puck, Katsuya, Flemings or any other LA Live restaurant... this area is starting feel like its own district. Im reminded of way back in 2007 when the city was talking about this new sports and entertainment district and how it would feel

On the other end of the spectrum are the closings that are happening, businesses that even though they were closed through the pandemic and made it through; lease wise, have chosen not to reopen.

At the base of Onni's Level, Soul Cycle has recently taken off its signage and moved everything out of the space. Up until recently, the space was occupied although not open since 2020 and has recently just moved everything out

The maestros looks great. More good news, Javiers is taking the large space at circa at the corner of 11th and flower with an outdoor patio

[hughfb3]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

The maestros looks great. More good news, Javiers is taking the large space at circa at the corner of 11th and flower with an outdoor patio

WHOA! Javier’s with a patio?! That’s a vibe! That’s a draw and will activate/pull activity to the street wall around the Pico light rail station probably adding visibility to the retail for rent in Onni’s Hope+Flower. I was googling and found nothing about it. How did you hear this?

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by hughfb3

WHOA! Javier’s with a patio?! That’s a vibe! That’s a draw and will activate/pull activity to the street wall around the Pico light rail station probably adding visibility to the retail for rent in Onni’s Hope+Flower. I was googling and found nothing about it. How did you hear this?

Facebook post in the dtla town Square page. A few people confirmed and the marketing brochure shows javiers as a signed tenant

[Easy]

11th and Flower is Oceanwide, so you probably mean 12th.

Things are looking up for that area and maybe DTLA in general. It may be old news, but the Mikkeller space appears to be leased and has a sign up for selling alcohol for a restaurant called "On Point". Sounds like a sports bar.

I haven't walked by the old Preaux and Proper space, but I saw that the new restaurant had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago. The grand opening is soon iirc, maybe this weekend.

[Easy]

Thanks for the updates bhunsberger and hughfb3!

[craigs]

Originally Posted by Easy

Thanks for the updates bhunsberger and hughfb3!

Yes, thanks for the updates guys.

[craigs]

A pic from LA Reddit shows how well Beaudry fills in one of the biggest gaps in the skyline, looking from Hollywood:

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Easy

11th and Flower is Oceanwide, so you probably mean 12th.

Things are looking up for that area and maybe DTLA in general. It may be old news, but the Mikkeller space appears to be leased and has a sign up for selling alcohol for a restaurant called "On Point". Sounds like a sports bar.

I haven't walked by the old Preaux and Proper space, but I saw that the new restaurant had a soft opening a couple of weeks ago. The grand opening is soon iirc, maybe this weekend.

You're right 12th.

Mikkeller is gonna be a sushi restaurant if I recall correctly and I heard Polanco (preaux and proper space) is excellent. Mexican steakhouse

[citywatch]

The owner of this vid notes this was filmed yesterday at 11:19 am, not all that early, not all that late. It really doesn't matter that the bldgs in this part of dt aren't all that tall or have good design or not...the number of ppl out & about is way more important in rating what makes a city work or not.

Little tokyo used to be rundown with a lot of gaps...there were few apt bldgs around there not all that long ago. But that has changed over the past 15 yrs. But the sidewalks yesterday...at least at 11 am...don't seem too different from when the pandemic was still on.


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Several blocks away, this proj is now rising. LA is funny in that fwys are often clogged & full of ppl in cars. But whether bldgs in dtla have 70 floors or 5 floors, or are old or new, or whether they have ground floor shops, parking podiums or are next to surface parking lots, ppl in LA end up living in their cars.



la.urbanize.city


la.urbanize.city


Edit: this is another example of dtla of today being in better shape than it ever has been. When this hotel, west of macy's plaza...was first built...as the old milner....I'm fairly sure it was more motel 6 than trendy wayfarer...


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^ versions of this are occurring throughout the country...world...but things like the hotel's rooftop restaurant are a bit easier to manage when the weather doesn't fight it.

[colemonkee]

I forget how big that site is and the footprint of the building.

[craigs]

Construction goes vertical for 35-story Arts District tower

The project is named "Alloy"

Steven Sharp
Urbanize Los Angeles
April 27, 2022



On the east side of Downtown Los Angeles, a pair of orange tower cranes have arrived at 520 Mateo Street, future site of a mixed-use development from Carmel Partners which is set to become the first high-rise building in the Arts District. The project, which only recent began showing signs of activity after two years of dormancy, will be named "Alloy," according to social media posts by the developer.

Located on a site which also abuts the 4th Street Bridge and Santa Fe Avenue, the project calls for the construction of high-rise and mid-rise structures featuring a total of 475 live/work apartments, 105,000 square feet of offices, more than 18,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space, and a 650-car garage.

The visual centerpiece of project is a new 35-story, 390-foot-tall tower which is set to become the Arts District's tallest building at completion. Works Progress Architecture and Solomon Cordwell Buenz are lead the design team for Alloy, which is depicted in renderings with a contemporary look and amenity decks atop its rooftop and podium levels. Plans also call for reactivating a former rail spur between Mateo and Santa Fe as a pedestrian paseo.



While construction may now be full steam ahead for Alloy, the project's future came into doubt in 2020, following the revelation of the project's connections to a City Hall corruption scandal centered on former Los Angeles City Councilmember Jose Huizar, who is now awaiting trial in federal court facing charges of accepting bribes from real estate developers. Huizar is alleged to have accepted political contributions from Carmel on behalf of his wife's short-lived City Council run during the approval process for the project. During that process, Huizar pushed to reduce the amount of affordable housing required within the project.

Since then, Carmel Partners has paid a $1.2-million fine to resolve its involvement in the corruption probe.

While Alloy is set to be the Arts District's first high-rise, it likely will not be the last. New towers designed by Bjarke Ingels Group and Herzog & de Meuron are in the works nearby, and prolific developer Onni Group is planning a 36-story high-rise just south of 7th Street.



San Francisco-based Carmel is also behind plans for a similar high-rise just south of Beverly Hills city limits on La Cienega Boulevard, as well as mixed-use and multifamily residential developments proposed or under construction in West Adams, East Hollywood, and Sawtelle.