LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[LosAngelesDreamin]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

I don't know. I was a fan of Park Fifth and I really wanted to see it built but I'm a fan of the symmetry of DTLA's skyline. I'd love to see new ground up development in the Historic Core but only if it's in the same scale as the surrounding buildings. Something like Medallion. But..you know..much better.

hmmm i know and understand you wanna keep the look of a flat and leveled height limit in the historic core, but building taller that whats there now isn't THAT bad... if you look up an aerial view of downtown san diego.. you'll see the central core and waterfront areas with a bunch of high rises.. the east village area is filled with the historic 1-5 story buildings, which also includes Gaslamp Quarter, yet there are a few high rises around 15-20 feet tall and proposals for more tall high rises... it doesn't look bad at all and really expands the skyline in all directions... whether you're looking east-west or north-south. It also make you able to differentiate between the past and the present which just high light the value and beauty of the historic buildings and shows how far the city has grown. from having a strict 150ft height limit in the past to building high up in the sky... its beautiful IMO... keeping the historic core with the same height will make it seem like there is this big gap or void that needs to be filled up above and the skyline from the streets will look really bland in and around the historic core, aside from the architecture.

I'm not saying we should build super 1,000 footers in the historic core... but a few 200-500 foot towers wouldn't hurt. Its not too tall but not too short either.

[edluva]

finally, something interesting. let's see how far it gets (re illith's proposed hotel)

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by bobcat

Smart and Final signs 20-year lease at 845 S Fig.

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/smart...63ff7e6-9ade-11e1-a591-001a4bcf887a.html

Don't know if anyone caught this back in March on our site:

Smart & Final (Extra?) Close to Signing Lease at 845 S Fig

http://brighamyen.com/2012/03/27/smart-a...at-845-figueroa-in-downtown-los-angeles/


This is tremendous news for Downtown LA as it continues to attract businesses such as markets that make DTLA a much more livable place. People like to see stuff like this, which influences their perception of DTLA as not only just a place to party or work, but also consider moving to.

I know a lot of people thought S&F was a bad choice, but the new EXTRA concept is going to be a pleasant surprise for a lot of people who aren't familiar with it. It's a full-fledged grocery store with produce, meats, etc.

The closest one I have gone to that was an EXTRA concept was in Montebello by the 60 freeway. It will fill in that "Fresh and Easy" niche for now.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by BrighamYen

Don't know if anyone caught this back in March on our site:

Smart & Final (Extra?) Close to Signing Lease at 845 S Fig

http://brighamyen.com/2012/03/27/smart-a...at-845-figueroa-in-downtown-los-angeles/


This is tremendous news for Downtown LA as it continues to attract businesses such as markets that make DTLA a much more livable place. People like to see stuff like this, which influences their perception of DTLA as not only just a place to party or work, but also consider moving to.

I know a lot of people thought S&F was a bad choice, but the new EXTRA concept is going to be a pleasant surprise for a lot of people who aren't familiar with it. It's a full-fledged grocery store with produce, meats, etc.

The closest one I have gone to that was an EXTRA concept was in Montebello by the 60 freeway. It will fill in that "Fresh and Easy" niche for now.

Thanks for the info. I was "ho hum" about S&F but if it's a real market then it's good news indeed. I am guessing that DT is still aways from the income levels needed to support Whole Foods and such, even in the nicer areas west of Hill.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by pesto

Thanks for the info. I was "ho hum" about S&F but if it's a real market then it's good news indeed. I am guessing that DT is still aways from the income levels needed to support Whole Foods and such, even in the nicer areas west of Hill.

Whole Foods was actually signed on to take a retail space in L.A. Central, though we all know how that turned out... And besides, the Ralphs we have now is a higher-end version, and does plenty well. Also, a Whole Food would attract a lot of customers from Echo Park/Silver Lake/ Highland Park/ Los Feliz.

[RuFFy]

^ not just that. Whole foods is a great lunch spot and with nearly 600k employees a day I can't imagine downtown not being a good location for Whole Foods.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Whole Foods will likely go into the new Angelena on 8th/Grand since Astani is pretty determined to get a grocery store in there. Or perhaps there is a chance F&E will end up taking the space. Either way, it'll be another win for DTLA as we continue to add more amenities that allow people to get everything done in a pedestrian oriented community.

I would also really like to see 99 Ranch or Shun Fat Market return to Chinatown since that would also help change the perception a bit for the Chinese Americans living in the SGV who don't see it as an attractive location for living. If we can get more market-rate rentals/condos like The Gateway or future Blossom Plaza, perhaps we can bring in some new affluent immigrants to help infuse some capital and life back into our tired Chinatown.

[pesto]

Well, we can always hope. But it doesn't surprise me that they are not there yet. Maybe soon.

[Kingofthehill]

No pics, but I was pleasantly surprised to see heavy equipment/machinery at the hotel site directly opposite the LA Live Ritz Carlton.

[StethJeff]

oh shit, those last few renderings are unreal. wish it was taller but otherwise looks great.

[alki]

[QUOTE=Illithid Dude;5700942]

New proposed hotel:

http://www.archdaily.com/234370/downtown-la-hotel-xten-architecture/





Now that makes more sense. Couldn't understand why they would renovate a 3 story bldg. Really like the design........wish it was maybe 5 stories taller. Can't wait to see the facade treatment.

[alki]

A conversation about density:

The Limits of Density

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/neighborhoods/2012/05/limits-density/2005/

[Illithid Dude]

The planned downtown bikelane network (courtesy of LADOT). Not bad, not bad...

I think most of them will be buffered though not green-painted (which is good, because the Spring Street lane is ugggly).

Here is a render of the Olive Bike Lane

[colemonkee]

Love the Olive, Flower and Figueroa lanes, but I wonder how they're going to do 7th and 2nd Streets? 2nd Street is already pretty narrow given that it's two-way, and 7th Street is pretty jam packed with cars most days. You'd think they would pick 8th and 4th, as those have far more room (though 4th does have the hill to contend with. Still, interesting choices on the east-west routes. Not sure if I agree with them.

[Virtual Urban Vision]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Yeah, took me aback as well, especially considering the off-beat way I found the renderings. Also, concerning the front page, shouldn't this project be listen under new proposals instead of renovations? After all, it looks like this is going to be a completely new building.

Unless... they gave it a facadectomy, and kept the original facade and have the new building grow out of the old one. like they were supposed to do with OSF in West Hollywood. That would look cool.On the other hand I kinda like the all ultra-modern look too. hmmmm.

[Virtual Urban Vision]

Originally Posted by Virtual Urban Vision

Unless... they gave it a facadectomy, and kept the original facade and have the new building grow out of the old one. like they were supposed to do with OSF in West Hollywood. That would look cool.On the other hand I kinda like the all ultra-modern look too. hmmmm.

...and just to clarify I meant the new building would look exactly the same as the render just slipped inside the old faced, like the Hearst Building.

[Illithid Dude]

Also, just saying JDR, you don't have AMP lofts on the front page. It's a five story development in the Arts District designed by Koening Eizenberg. Here are some renderings.











All from Curbed LA.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by alki

Now that makes more sense. Couldn't understand why they would renovate a 3 story bldg. Really like the design........wish it was maybe 5 stories taller. Can't wait to see the facade treatment.

The devlprs apparently deciding to now tear down the existing small brick bldg surprises me cuz based on the article about the proj from several wks ago, I thought they wanted to preserve that bldg, if only for cost reasons. I had a sense they weren't big time devlprs with the kind of $$ that would allow them to do something ambitious. However, I just read that the flashy images of a new concrete bldg on that site aren't accurate. The devlpr said they asked architects to submit proposals for the new hotel. so for all we know, the actual design may end up being stucco with faux euro trim.

meanwhile, this is a recent shot of the apt bldg going up at wilshire & bixel, across the street from the 3 sided highrise that sits above a huge pink granite parking podium....


ddxv

I remember an episode of the old 'fear factor' TV show using that 3 sided, or triangle, bldg at Wilshire & bixel for one of their stunts. It was largely vacant at the time & the filming took place on what's now the pool deck. At that time it looked sad & abandoned. I remember the same TV series also using the eastern columbia bldg when it too was mostly abandoned & in terrible shape. The bad old days were quite bad. TG we're living in the now & today!

I notice the current phase of construction on the broad museum appears to have required the closure of the sidewalk along grand ave. or at least the construction barricade has been removed. Not sure why that is...


broadartfoundation.org

construction on a new apt bldg to replace this major parking lot on Fig across from the convention ctr is supposed to get underway over the next few days....


maps.google.com

one less deadzone is always a good sign. However, as with start of work on the new hotel on Olympic across from LA live----which has gotten underway several wks after the original date-----it seems schedules can easily become drawn out & unpredictable.

[RuFFy]

^^^ that triangle building that's been in Los Angeles for a few decades is called 1100 Wilshire.

[all of the trash]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

2nd Street is already pretty narrow given that it's two-way, and 7th Street is pretty jam packed with cars most days.

who cares.

i ride a bike i could not care less what automobilists want for downtown and neither should anyone here. 2nd and 7th st bike lanes would be awesome.