LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0 - Page 164

RAlossi · #**3261** Posted **Jan 20, 2008, 4:32 PM**

Thanks for posting those, ThreeHundred. By the way, anyone interested in reading what we had to say about the Judson can read it here:
http://www.angelenic.com/first-look-the-judson/

Honestly, it's a great project and the developers are two very sincere, down-to-earth people. They're really trying to make it an asset to Downtown. I'm sure it will be!

colemonkee · #**3262** Posted **Jan 20, 2008, 5:48 PM**

^ Rico, did the developers say anything about what kind of retail they plan to have on the ground floor?

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

So is that condo near the Cathedral on-hold, at most?

The condo next to the cathedral is still technically a go last time I spoke with Tom Gilmore. He had recently hired another architect to redesign it (the render on the front page is actually out of date, but I haven't come across a new one), and it should be in the plan check phase right now.

Gilmore is focusing most of his energies on his various retail projects around the OBD and at the cathedral rectory building. He has a very good track record, so I would expect this tower to eventually move forward, but not until the construction lending climate turns more favorable.

RAlossi · #**3263** Posted **Jan 20, 2008, 5:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ Rico, did the developers say anything about what kind of retail they plan to have on the ground floor?

They mentioned two clothing stores (a boutique/midrange option and a shoe store) as well as a vitamin shop.

BrandonJXN · #**3264** Posted **Jan 20, 2008, 6:50 PM**

Oh that condo tower. I thought he ment the one on Grand Ave and Ceaser Chavez that would rise where Burger King is.

edkao · #**3265** Posted **Jan 20, 2008, 11:05 PM**

A few months ago, residents of Grand Lofts vacated their parking lot. They now park in the AT&T Center structure.

Today I noticed that the chain link fence that used to define the Grand Lofts parking lot is gone. The little guard shack is still there, and some orange pylons.

It may not mean much, but progress none the less...

colemonkee · #**3266** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 12:58 AM**

^ It may not mean anything, but it's worth keeping an eye on. We don't want to get citywatch's hope up only to let him down, though.

BrandonJXN · #**3267** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 2:09 AM**

Poor citywatch might have the heart of a 85 year old southern preacher with all these false promises and what not.

JDRCRASH · #**3268** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 4:07 AM**

He answered my question.....
THE MAYOR ANSWERED MY QUESTION THIS MORNING ON ABC7's EYEWITNESS NEWSMAKERS!!!

BrandonJXN · #**3269** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 4:18 AM**

So?

Paris Hilton gave me a hug.

BOOYAKASHA!!!

Btw..it would be dope if you posted your question and his response. Just a thought...

JDRCRASH · #**3270** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 5:37 AM**

Really?
Although I don't know her personally, it's clear that she, along with the MANY young stars these days need help. It's kinda sad, when you think about it.
Well, I guess this is the inevitable advantage of living in Southern California!

Anyways, I asked him if in HIS opinion, he thinks the current attempt to revitalize Downtown L.A. has failed....he said it most certainly has not. In fact, he said that over 100 high-rises are in the pipeline!

I also asked him about the delays of the Grand Avenue Project and Park Fifth.
He said that despite the many hurdles Related Co. has had, along with admitting a slowing economy, he firmly believes that it WILL break ground this year. As for Park Fifth, he's heard of it, but he has not kept a close eye on it lately.

Finally, I wanted to know if the L.A. River Revitalization effort is still going strong, and he said it is.

ladowntowner · #**3271** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 5:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

Btw..it would be dope if you posted your question and his response. Just a thought...

^Funny, I was thinking the same thing myself.

On another note, I drove past 7th and Olive this evening and noted (it was hard to miss, actually) that 7-Eleven was open. Not sure if anyone had mentioned that here and no idea exactly when it opened (probably old news and too lazy to search for it). I do remember up-thread a number of people had maligned the idea of locating a 7-Eleven in that spot, complaining it wasn't upscale enough. Anyway, my point is that the light spilling out from the store onto the streetscape really activates the whole intersection and makes that stretch of 7th much more inviting than it had previously been. It appeared busy with numerous customers around 8PM this evening. If this store will be open 24 hours, as I believe most, if not all 7-Elevens are, it be an even more significant coup for downtown than it already is, IMHO.

jlrobe · #**3272** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 7:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ladowntowner

^Funny, I was thinking the same thing myself.

On another note, I drove past 7th and Olive this evening and noted (it was hard to miss, actually) that 7-Eleven was open. Not sure if anyone had mentioned that here and no idea exactly when it opened (probably old news and too lazy to search for it). I do remember up-thread a number of people had maligned the idea of locating a 7-Eleven in that spot, complaining it wasn't upscale enough. Anyway, my point is that the light spilling out from the store onto the streetscape really activates the whole intersection and makes that stretch of 7th much more inviting than it had previously been. It appeared busy with numerous customers around 8PM this evening. If this store will be open 24 hours, as I believe most, if not all 7-Elevens are, it be an even more significant coup for downtown than it already is, IMHO.

Its open. After my bro and I went to library bar for drinks we picked up some cigs.

LAofAnaheim · #**3273** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 7:49 AM**

7-11 has been open since the weekend before Xmas. And yes, I believe they are open 24 hours.

JDRCrash...why do you say the current revitalizing is failing? And....do you even live in downtown? Do you even notice the change? Do you make it out to downtown much?

Maybe the revitalization is not so fast, but remember, we are transitioning from a place everybody wanted to stay away from after 5 pm, to another 24/7 destination in the county. Did Hollywood, Culver City, Pasadena, Long Beach, Venice Beach, etc.. all change overnight? NO! But, they didn't have the strong perception that the area was "dangerous" (except, maybe Venice). Downtown needs more residents, bar none. We need more people to be able to patronize stores/restaurants. Everywhere I go, people know think "yeah, I'd like to live in downtown, but its too expensive". Imagine the responses we got even 5 years ago.....

So, no the revitalization is not failing. The Mayor's "100 high rises" probably include 5 + story bldg construction THROUGHOUT LOS ANGELES COUNTY. I can guarantee you he did not mean downtown specific.

ladowntowner · #**3274** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 8:43 AM**

^ I can't speak for him, but I highly suspect JDRCRASH was playing Devil's Advocate with the mayor. His posts here are WAY too positive to indicate he believes any such thing.

Agreed that the 100+ high-rises can't possibly be in downtown alone and that he's also taking liberties with the definition of "high-rise."

edluva · #**3275** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 8:46 AM**

FUCK YEAH!!! the river project is "GOING STRONG"!!! exactly what I wanted to hear! Makes me want to check back on this thread in just a month!

BrandonJXN · #**3276** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 4:35 PM**

Who knows? Mabye we'll catch Ol' Chester* under the 6th Street Bridge.

*If you get that refrence then you are cool.

LAofAnaheim · #**3277** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 6:24 PM**

Why did you pose the question so negatively? You can say "Mayor, what's your opinion of the progress of change in downtown?". When you state it like how you did "...is failing?", the Mayor is going to have to give you an upbeat response, and probably feels everybody else thinks downtown is failing. I'm just saying, give more objective questions.

BTW, I've asked you a couple of times already, where do you live?

JDRCRASH · #**3278** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 6:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAofAnaheim

Why did you pose the question so negatively? You can say "Mayor, what's your opinion of the progress of change in downtown?". When you state it like how you did "...is failing?", the Mayor is going to have to give you an upbeat response, and probably feels everybody else thinks downtown is failing. I'm just saying, give more objective questions.

BTW, I've asked you a couple of times already, where do you live?

I've talked to people who live in the city, and they are optimistic and awed by the development around the region. I actually asked the mayor "has it failed again?"

I live in West Covina, but because of the rent slowing in Downtown, I could move there within 5 years. And yes, I HAVE been to Los Angeles, many times.

RAlossi · #**3279** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 6:47 PM**

^ Rent is not slowing in Downtown. I'm moving in March (after moving to Mozaic at Union Station last March), and everywhere I go, there's one unit left, two units left... And NONE are affordable in the least.

I'm seriously wondering whether I've been priced out.

A unit that went for 1200/month at Santee Court last year is now going for 1700/month now. The rental market is so extremely tight. But I'm willing to make sacrifices to live here, so I may very well have to.

JDRCRASH · #**3280** Posted **Jan 21, 2008, 7:41 PM**

Well if it's not slowing down, then demand must still be up.