Hollywood Projects

[Damien]

Please understand that a significant portion of Hollywood street traffic is directly related to the 101 and 405: people trying to avoid or get on them heading/coming from all directions. In my conceptual map, I envision Hollywood/Highland as a major transit hub for the line making the loop LosAngelesBeauty suggest (Silver) and one coming directly from the south (Pink), to compliment the line coming from the west (Red) and one extended north (also Red).

And while I agree there need to be more and better maintained tourist spots on Hollywood Blvd, tourist have to eat and they come wanting to spend money. So while I don't think the area should turn into 3rd Street Promenade or Old Town Pasadena, a multi-story Disney Store (a la San Fran's FAO Schwartz/Time Square's Toys R Us), a multi-story Lego Store with a Hollywood/Southern California/movie focus, a multi-story Planet Hollywood restaurant (how funny is it that there isn't one) and ground-floor studio broadcast are types of "corporate" projects that would fit well on the boulevard and compliment the atmosphere we're trying to revitalize. Fit that in with a new retro Brown Derby restaurant (brown hat, dark wood, leather booths, celebrity sketches and all), renovated theaters, museums, and more Beaux Arts hotels, with one of them on top of a (dare I say it) casino and we begin to a create a boulevard that begins to live up to the hype. Because right now, I don't think anyone who lives or visits here would say that it does.

Also, why does it matter what's above the retail? As I see it, the only reason to oppose the new condos, is the apparent shortage of Class A building space in Hollywood. But even then there are plenty of parking lots looking for life and single-story commercial strips on Hollywood, Sunset and their north-south connecting streets destine for the wrecking ball.

[LAMetroGuy]

Wow, I'm surprised at all the attention this project is getting... and all of this just based on those sketch drawings. Well, I agree... this project could use more pizzaz, glitz, and better architecture. However, this rendering is not final, in fact according to the EIR there are 4 other alternatives to this project:

Alternative 1: No Project Alternative
Alternative 2: Reduced Density Alternative
Alternative 3: High-Rise Alternative
Alternative 4: Zoning Compliant Development

For the High-Rise Alternative:

This alternative examines an alternate urban design concept for the project site, incorporating two high rise towers containing condominium units, one each on the north and south block of the project site. Under this alternative, the project site would be developed with a mix of apartment units, condominium residential units and retail uses. One tower containing 228 condominium units and 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail uses and one tower containing 152 condominium units and 10,600 square feet of ground floor retail uses would be constructed (see Figure VI-1). These buildings would be up to 20 stories, or 252 feet in height. A total of 573 apartment units, 8 live-work units and 112,500 square feet of retail would be developed in multiple mid-rise (five stories residential on top of ground floor retail)buildings on the remainder of the project site. The design of the building at the northeastern corner of the north block under the Alternative would be the same as the Proposed Project with respect to transitional height and location of live-work bungalows at the edge of the project site. The segment of Vista Del Mar north of Hollywood Boulevard would not be vacated under this alternative. As such, this alternative would provide a total of 961 residential units (573 apartment, 380 condominium, 8 live work) and 133,100 square feet of retail, compared to 1,042 apartment units and 175,000 square feet of retail uses that would be included under the Proposed Project. Approximately 2,826 parking spaces would be provided to serve this alternative in a combination of subterranean and above-ground parking structures, which would include replacement parking for the Pantages Theater. Above ground parking structures, up to six stories above ground, would be provided behind each of the two high rise towers.

Under the High Rise Alternative, development of fewer dwelling units and lower retail square footage would take place compared to the Proposed Project. Building height would be increased over the Proposed Project with the inclusion of up to two high rise towers, one each on the north block and south block and associated parking structures. The parking structures would be up to six stories above ground. The potentially beneficial effects of providing a consistently and coherently designed project to replace the existing view of an underutilized site would occur under this Alternative. The High Rise Alternative would provide transitional height between the residential neighborhood located north and northeast of the project site, similar to the Proposed Project. Aesthetic impacts would be similar to the Proposed Project at this edge of the project site. On the western part of the north block under this Alternative, buildings of increased height and mass would be provided. The proposed parking structure under the Alternative would not provide the same transitional height and massing as the Proposed Project and would provide a greater sense of building mass than the Proposed Project. However, because this edge of the project site is buffered from the adjacent Little Country Church property by extensive landscaping, the effect of increased massing would not be significant under the Alternative. Similarly, inclusion of the high rise towers on the north and south blocks would increase the height and massing of the project at this location and would increase the perception of development density on this segment of Hollywood Boulevard. The proposed towers under this Alternative would be higher than other high rise buildings on Hollywood Boulevard, which have historically been limited to 150 feet. However, the inclusion of high rise towers would be visually compatible with the proposed Hollywood & Vine development on the west side of Argyle Avenue across from the south block. Hollywood Boulevard is characterized by relatively dense urban development and is perceived as a regional center, although development density is presently lower in the area of Hollywood Boulevard near the project site. Inclusion of high rise buildings under this Alternative would extend development density further east on Hollywood Boulevard. Although this would not be inconsistent with the visual character of Hollywood Boulevard, the Alternative would represent a greater, although less than significant, visual impact than the Proposed Project. The additional mid-rise development on the remainder of the south block would have the same aesthetic impact as the Proposed Project.

[danparker276]

Palladium Deal Falls Through

By DANIEL MILLER

Los Angeles Business Journal Staff

Negotiations to sell the Hollywood Palladium have ended with no deal reached between the hall’s owner and Combined Properties Inc., Palladium Investors Ltd. announced today.

The 66-year-old Hollywood landmark will continue to book concerts, fundraisers, and other events, and has over 60 bookings for the remainder of the year, Larry Worchell, chairman of the board of Palladium Investors, said in a statement.

In June it had been reported that the 11,000-square-foot Palladium, which has been home to the Academy Awards and hosted Frank Sinatra, was sold to Washington, D.C.-based Combined Properties, a developer of commercial and residential properties.

The sale price for the nearly four-acre property on Sunset Boulevard was reported to be near $65 million.

“We couldn’t comment on reports of a sale before now, so today we want to set the record straight by announcing that the Palladium has not been sold,” Worchell said in a statement. “We were in negotiations to sell the venue, but that deal was not viable and it is over.”

The Business Journal first reported in June that the two sides were in early stage negotiations.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Doesn't anyone remember that Garcetti STOPPED the low-density version of this project? That's why when I read the article regarding him doing that, I felt a sense of hope that our leaders today finally "got it." Garcetti even said he was disappointed in how minimal the vision of the Nederlander/Clarett group was. He pushed for more density, being that this project sits directly across the street from the Red Line station.

I think once the W Hotel breaks ground, it'll add the necessary momentum to Nederlander's project. Let's get the W off the ground ASAP!!!

[Damien]

Is this the same proposal Garcetti stopped (? - I didn't know he "stopped" it, just registered a negative opinion) or another version?

[bjornson]

Originally Posted by Damien

Please understand that a significant portion of Hollywood street traffic is directly related to the 101 and 405: people trying to avoid or get on them heading/coming from all directions. In my conceptual map, I envision Hollywood/Highland as a major transit hub for the line making the loop LosAngelesBeauty suggest (Silver) and one coming directly from the south (Pink), to compliment the line coming from the west (Red) and one extended north (also Red).

And while I agree there need to be more and better maintained tourist spots on Hollywood Blvd, tourist have to eat and they come wanting to spend money. So while I don't think the area should turn into 3rd Street Promenade or Old Town Pasadena, a multi-story Disney Store (a la San Fran's FAO Schwartz/Time Square's Toys R Us), a multi-story Lego Store with a Hollywood/Southern California/movie focus, a multi-story Planet Hollywood restaurant (how funny is it that there isn't one) and ground-floor studio broadcast are types of "corporate" projects that would fit well on the boulevard and compliment the atmosphere we're trying to revitalize. Fit that in with a new retro Brown Derby restaurant (brown hat, dark wood, leather booths, celebrity sketches and all), renovated theaters, museums, and more Beaux Arts hotels, with one of them on top of a (dare I say it) casino and we begin to a create a boulevard that begins to live up to the hype. Because right now, I don't think anyone who lives or visits here would say that it does.

Also, why does it matter what's above the retail? As I see it, the only reason to oppose the new condos, is the apparent shortage of Class A building space in Hollywood. But even then there are plenty of parking lots looking for life and single-story commercial strips on Hollywood, Sunset and their north-south connecting streets destine for the wrecking ball.

I agree with your thoughts. I would just hate the thought of a casino on Hollywood Blvd though. It doesn't reflect it's character or history. That of which is film and glamour.

[SamBronco]

Hey guys, I'm a new member here and I am as excited as all of you about all thats goin on in Hollywood. Anyone know anything about the Henry Fonda Theate that is just East of the proposed Clarett project? Do they have plans in restoring that?

[citywatch]

I'm sure if the devlpr believes there will be enough demand for space in his proj, primarily residential (since Hollywood still doesn't seem to be very attractive to businesses), he'd happily increase its size. Or he may be purposefully lowering its potential height & volume because of fear that something too big will set off the NIMBYites in the surrounding hood.

Projs in Hollywood also could be facing problems similar to what's hit the devlpr of the Medallion apt proj in the OBD at 4th St & Main. Because any bldg above 7 floors has to be either steel or concrete, that costs a lot more to construct than a wood framed structure, meaning the devlpr would have to charge a higher rent or sales price in order to stay profitable.

I'm more easygoing about the scale of projs like the one proposed by the Clarett Group because there's still a ton of sites on the blvd & throughout Hollywood that also deperately need new devlpt. Plus the drawings of the proj are dated from almost a yr ago, & they're so sketchy that I'd hold off judging them until the devlpr releases works that's been worked on more recently & are nearing a point of finalization.

[SamBronco]

Interview with Clarett's Veronica Hackett. Pretty informative story on Blvd6200:

http://www.globest.com/upclose/upclose/148148-1.html

[dktshb]

Originally Posted by edluva

Destination architecture continues to pervade LA. Every development for itself.

I agree, but I suppose Hollywood Blvd. is one of the few places where I would support this type of development, which also happens to appear to be a little better planned than Hollywood Highland. My concern is with the lack of progress on the W; I don't expect this project to come to fruition any time soon

[dktshb]

Originally Posted by SamBronco

Interview with Clarett's Veronica Hackett. Pretty informative story on Blvd6200:

http://www.globest.com/upclose/upclose/148148-1.html

Good article

[ocman]

Excuse the rant, but those f--king palm trees!!! Are they 10 for a dollar or something? You want to make a street walkable and you want to make it inviting, then should plant REAL trees and not those twigs that need stick crutches to stay up or the ubiqutious palm tree that is just a waste of space and have absolutely zero contribution to help LA's air quality.

You just look for palm trees as a sign of a crap development. Because if they don't give a shit about the landscape, they don't give a shit about the building either.

[ReDSPork02]

Originally Posted by ocman

Excuse the rant, but those f--king palm trees!!! Are they 10 for a dollar or something? You want to make a street walkable and you want to make it inviting, then should plant REAL trees and not those twigs that need stick crutches to stay up or the ubiqutious palm tree that is just a waste of space and have absolutely zero contribution to help LA's air quality.

You just look for palm trees as a sign of a crap development. Because if they don't give a shit about the landscape, they don't give a shit about the building either.

When I think of L.A., i think of lined boulevards w/ palm trees. i kind of like them. and if they are trying to make it look like a flashy billboard area, trees will block the sighnage on the buildings.

[LordUnum]

ocman abridged:

"I want these motherfucking palms out of my motherfucking city!"
</easy pop culture reference>

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by dktshb

I agree, but I suppose Hollywood Blvd. is one of the few places where I would support this type of development, which also happens to appear to be a little better planned than Hollywood Highland. My concern is with the lack of progress on the W; I don't expect this project to come to fruition any time soon

Why so negative on the W Project? its sales office is open, i get emails from thema nd theya re suppose to break ground in November. have you heard anything different?

[ocman]

Originally Posted by ReDSPork02

When I think of L.A., i think of lined boulevards w/ palm trees. i kind of like them. and if they are trying to make it look like a flashy billboard area, trees will block the sighnage on the buildings.

But no one ever walks the lined boulevard of palm trees. YOu drive by it because it may be pretty, but it's not walkable. It makes the sidewalks looks hot, it looks dry and unforgiving of the sun beating down on you. And on a hot day like in the picture, I'd rather stay off that street and just drive in an air conditioned car. On a hot day, I would NEVER want to walk that heated concrete.

One large bushy tree can add as much as 500 gallons of water to the air. I wonder how much of a waste that whole line of palm trees is contributing.



Now look at this street. Nice and cool. And it's just a pathetic blank wall, but I'd much rather walk that one.

[POLA]

totally feeling you on that. palm trees are total shit and a complete waste. They are certainly one of the main reasons this city sucks for walkers in my eyes.

[RAlossi]

I just remembered that I needed to ask about that project just north of Franklin on Highland, near the Best Western. There seems to be an old wood-framed building on the hill on the west side of Highland, and some new construction at the street level.

Anyone know what it is?

[Trojan in NYC]

LA is know for palm trees. i think they look nice and i dont think palm trees make sidewalks less walkable. they may provide less shade but there are some sidewalks with no trees at all.

[citywatch]

Having too many streets with shadeless palms trees would be a major problem if quite a few streets in LA actually weren't much worse, or more like this: