LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Quixote]

Richard Neutra's Hall of Records building is worth saving.


http://www.you-are-here.com/los_angeles/hall_of_records.jpg

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

I think there should be one crossing Grand Ave as well. When I was at the park in the opening day, so many people went to the music center fountain thinking that was also part of Grand Park.

Something else that I'm surprised that no one has thought about is the fact that the Music Plaza should be brought up to date. The entire Music Plaza needs to be renovated a bit but in the meanwhile, I think since the DWP recently dolled up it's moat a bit, I think it should only be obvious that the plaza at the Music Center should be modernized a bit.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Or, the best case scenario:

1) Knock out the county buildings
2) Close Hill, Broadway, and Spring
3) Move the parking ramps
4) Create a continuous green space roughly bounded by Grand, Temple, 1st, and City Hall
5) Put plenty of trees and native plants
6) Make an even BIGGER fountain
7) Quadruple the size of the crosswalk at Grand, maybe use something like fancy-pants red bricks
8) Beautify the entrance to the subway
9) Build an awesome Streetcar stop on 1st

Please forward this list to Gloria Molina,the Mayor and the other council members

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Richard Neutra's Hall of Records building is worth saving.


http://www.you-are-here.com/los_angeles/hall_of_records.jpg

gonna have to disagree with you on this one big time

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Richard Neutra's Hall of Records building is worth saving.


http://www.you-are-here.com/los_angeles/hall_of_records.jpg

I agree. Prime example of 1960's Civic architecture. I love the entryway. It's almost like an underground jungle. It needs a renovation though.

[colemonkee]

I'm a big fan of the Hall of Records building too. It does need a good bath, but other than that, I think it's a great building. And the entrance is indeed pretty cool.

[BrandonJXN]

A picture of the fountain I took last night. Be prepared to see this thing in a lot of romantic comides and music videos.

[Kingofthehill]

Yeah, definitely a keeper. Architecturally-wise, we should stick to (and preserve) our guns, one of which is Mid-Century Modern architecture.

[colemonkee]

I agree. I think the three buildings that need to go are the Mosk County Courthouse, the Law Library, and the foundation of the former State Building between Broadway and Spring. That would double the size of the park and open it up to 1st Street. However, it would throw off the design of the park pretty significantly, as the fountain or City Hall would no longer be centered along the axis of the park.

However, that's all basically a pipe dream, at least for now. The Law Library just underwent a pretty expensive restoration project, so that's there to stay for some time. Seeing that that's right in the middle of the park, I don't see any of these properties being annexed to the park in the near future.

[Steve2726]

Problem solved? I doubt it will happen, but here's your Stanley Mosk Courthouse replacement.

http://www.archpaper.com/news/articles.asp?id=6194

GSA selling Los Angeles courthouse to pay for new facility.

[RST500]

Why expand it by knocking down those buildigns when its so close to the 101 freeway cap park?

[RST500]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

The park will virtually triple in size.

I was refering to this.

[WTCman7301]

Is there any renderings of the Courtyard Marriott?

[BrandonJXN]

http://djcoregon.com/files/2012/04/0409_la_mariott_gbd_Architects_02.jpg

[colemonkee]

Replacing all the buildings around the park would be a tall order. You have to replace not one, but two GIANT courthouses - the Criminal Courts building on Temple and Broadway & the Stanley Mosk courthouse - as well as two county records buildings (one which preservationists, including myself, would fight tooth and nail for), as well as a Law Library that just underwent a significant upgrade (which finished up less than a month ago). Not to mention a State-owned property that would have to be sold to the City. Yes, it would make the park AWESOME, and nearly triple the size, but the money and political will it would take to happen just doesn't exist for the foreseeable future.

[OneMetropolis]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Replacing all the buildings around the park would be a tall order. You have to replace not one, but two GIANT courthouses - the Criminal Courts building on Temple and Broadway & the Stanley Mosk courthouse - as well as two county records buildings (one which preservationists, including myself, would fight tooth and nail for), as well as a Law Library that just underwent a significant upgrade (which finished up less than a month ago). Not to mention a State-owned property that would have to be sold to the City. Yes, it would make the park AWESOME, and nearly triple the size, but the money and political will it would take to happen just doesn't exist for the foreseeable future.

Yes and think about all the red tape that would follow, truly tragic.

[Muji]

The Civic Center is hardly a lively neighborhood to begin with, so a potentially serious problem with removing all of Grand Park's adjacent government buildings is that there would be extremely few actively-used buildings nearby to draw people into the park. Ideally, I'd like to see some of the existing buildings renovated into more intensive residential or commercial uses, bringing new residents and retail into the area.

[Virtual Urban Vision]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Please forward this list to Gloria Molina,the Mayor and the other council members

Amen!!

[Just-In-Cali]

Hey Guys,

Still alive, and have been following the thread, just have stayed lurking to avoid all the nonsense that seems to pervade the LA thread lately. I read this today. It was posted a while ago, but gives some great insights on the plans for the Wilshire Grand Tower.

Downtown Los Angeles hotel will have lobby on 70th floor

May 20, 2012|By Roger Vincent

"With work set to begin soon on a $1-billion luxury hotel in downtown Los Angeles, developer Korean Air revealed some details about the tower that is expected to dramatically alter the city’s skyline.


The skyscraper will be the second-tallest structure in Southern California at 70 stories, only slightly shorter than the US Bank Tower office building, said Yang Ho Cho, chairman of Korean Air.

The design is still a work in progress, but guests are expected to be whisked by high-speed elevators to the lobby on the 70th floor, where they will check in. The top floor will also have a restaurant, bar and infinity swimming pool.


Korean Air and Los Angeles architect A.C. Martin Partners Inc. have yet to settle on a shape for the building at Wilshire Boulevard and Figueroa Street or pick an operator for the four-star hotel. It will, though, be stacked starting with shops, restaurants and ballrooms on the lowest seven floors.


Next will be 20 stories — about 400,000 square feet — of offices for rent. The floors above will house 900 hotel rooms.


The tower will be swathed in photovoltaic lights that will be intense on the lower floors, lighter in the middle and intense again on top. Advertising will be included.


“It’s about art with built-in messages,” said Christopher Martin, chief executive of A.C. Martin.

Korean Air is selling the contents of the former Wilshire Grand hotel, which occupies the site now. Demolition of the hotel built in the 1950s is set to begin this summer. The new building will open in January 2017, Cho said."

Dunno if this had been posted already, but here it is. Perhaps that long awaited Observation Deck idea isnt too far off.

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by Just-In-Cali

Demolition of the hotel built in the 1950s is set to begin this summer.

It's august 3rd. I hope they begin mid august and don't start on September 20th or something.