LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 287

Chef Boyardee · #**5721** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 6:01 AM**

Speaking of demographics, i remember reading an article ( here it is http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/04/multicultural-moment-downtown-la.html) that said downtown was evenly split among different races. I'm not in LA anymore so i don't know how accurate it is, but if true it would make downtown pretty unique in that regard.

alki · #**5722** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 6:07 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by citywatch

^ I'm always amazed at how many bldgs from the distant past had such low window sills. I guess ppl were less fearful of heights back then? They were less worried about tripping & falling out of such windows? I know if I lived in that bldg, I'd have to put a handrail a few feet above the bottom of the sill.

Very hot. I would kill for an apt with those windows.

Illithid Dude · #**5723** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 6:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alki

Let's face it.......its hard to make a 7 story bldg look interesting while meeting its budget as well.

They do it in Europe all the time....

Muji · #**5724** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 7:43 AM**

I would say that 1111 Wilshire has turned out pretty well. It's hardly award-winning architecture but it's certainly miles ahead of Glo across the street or any of the nearby Palmer Tuscans. Plus, the Wilshire/Bixel intersection will finally have buildings on all four corners. Lets hope it attracts some exciting ground floor tenants to get some momentum going in City West.

Kingofthehill · #**5725** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 7:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alki

I don't know.......I like the contrast of materials used on the facade even with the yellow. Let's face it.......its hard to make a 7 story bldg look interesting while meeting its budget as well. I think the architects pulled it off with this one.

You gotta do better than that, man. There are tons of 7-story buildings, with attractive facades and quality materials, as well as being functionally urban, that "meet their budge," both in the past (most of Paris, Barcelona, London, Berlin, NYC, etc., are in this height-range) and present. I know that in LA, parking requirements, bureaucratic red tape, NIMBY/zoning BS, and that the demands of cheap, greedy developers, all loom large over new construction, but it can be done.

Quixote · #**5726** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 8:33 AM**

The building would look great if that glass fenestration at the corner was implemented across the entire facade of the building.

It's decent infill, although I don't care for the colors. Smooth stucco only looks fine if it's white.

Illithid Dude · #**5727** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 8:46 AM**

There is never an excuse for not having nice architecture. Case in point: affordable housing. For some reason, affordable housing often has amazing architecture. Despite this, affordable housing is built extremely cheaply. If affordable housing can have beauty on a budget, then why can't 'luxury apartments' have palatable architecture as well? There is no excuse.

Quixote · #**5728** Posted **Oct 29, 2012, 9:05 AM**

Cheap land = cheap architecture

alki · #**5729** Posted **Oct 31, 2012, 4:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

They do it in Europe all the time....

Last time I looked we ain't Europe.

alki · #**5730** Posted **Oct 31, 2012, 4:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

There is never an excuse for not having nice architecture. Case in point: affordable housing. For some reason, affordable housing often has amazing architecture. Despite this, affordable housing is built extremely cheaply. If affordable housing can have beauty on a budget, then why can't 'luxury apartments' have palatable architecture as well? There is no excuse.

Rich partners with bad taste.......it happens more frequently than you might suspect.

alki · #**5731** Posted **Oct 31, 2012, 5:16 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kingofthehill

You gotta do better than that, man. There are tons of 7-story buildings, with attractive facades and quality materials, as well as being functionally urban, that "meet their budge," both in the past (most of Paris, Barcelona, London, Berlin, NYC, etc., are in this height-range) and present. I know that in LA, parking requirements, bureaucratic red tape, NIMBY/zoning BS, and that the demands of cheap, greedy developers, all loom large over new construction, but it can be done.

Thanks for the examples. Europe has a lot more experience building mid rise bldgs than we do....so I suspect that gives them an edge when it comes to good design........and it makes it more competitive for architects. Americans are too hung up on hi rises.

But I think there is another reason.......the current crop of Euro architects seem to be better architects than the current crop of American architects. One of my German friends is an architect...........and the designs he sends to me that he thinks are good are lot more exciting than what I see here in the States.

Having said that, that bldg was not bad..........as an infill project it was more than acceptable. It doesn't turn me on like some of the bldgs you posted..........but I find that true with most bldgs I see going up in this country.

ConstructDTLA · #**5732** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 4:35 PM**

I peeked into the Mystery Restaurant that nobody cares about at 7th & Grand last night. They had all the chairs stacked like they had just been delivered.

LAsam · #**5733** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 9:22 PM**

AEG agreement with coalition ends threat to NFL stadium development

http://www.dailynews.com/breakingnews/ci...tion-ends-threat-nfl-stadium-development

By Dakota Smith Staff Writerdailynews.com

Settling the only major legal challenge to the Farmers Field football stadium, developer Anschutz Entertainment Group said Thursday it has reached agreement with a coalition of neighborhood and anti-poverty groups that were threatening to tie up the project.

In return for the coalition dropping the suit, AEG will set up a $15 million Housing Trust Fund to pay for affordable housing near the stadium. The deal will fund affordable units in the Pico-Union, South L.A. and downtown neighborhoods, the parties said in a statement.

ConstructDTLA · #**5734** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 10:40 PM**

^Thats great news.

Still dont understand why a developer needs to send millions towards affordable housing anytime they try to gentrify an area around here..

Maybe someone can enlighten me.

BrandonJXN · #**5735** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 11:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterK

I peeked into the Mystery Restaurant that nobody cares about at 7th & Grand last night. They had all the chairs stacked like they had just been delivered.

From brighamyen.com

http://brighamyen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/DSC05529.jpg

Quote:

No it’s not a new Guess clothing store coming to 7th and Grand across from Bottega Louie as many downtowners thought this past spring. No, it’s way better. A very exciting new French bistro and bar called Coco Laurent is putting on the finishing touches with plans to soft open in the next two weeks. I foresee the new restaurant forming a very strong synergy with Bottega Louie across the street.

Having seen the space recently, the place is gorgeous. At 6,000 square feet, the space has soaring high ceilings. The design is classic French style with handmade chandeliers flown in from France hung over the bar and the walnut crown moldings accentuate the space with fine details.

The owner of Coco Laurent is no stranger to downtown. Vincent Terzian was behind the Crocker Club at 5th and Spring, and for Coco Laurent, he is bringing in Chef Guillaume Jouvet from Paris. According to Mark Quest of Forte The Collective, the PR team working with Terzian, Coco Laurent will have “something for everyone.”

“The vibe, the food, the drinks and the entire experience will be unprecedented for downtown L.A. Whether you’re looking for a chic downtown restaurant to take a date, an unassuming after-work happy hour spot or a power lunch with an important business client, this will be the place to be,” Quest writes in an email.

The restaurant and bar accommodates up to 300 guests and will be open from brunch to late-night dining and will offer a notable wine list, spirits and ingenious cocktails. Adding to the French flare is the adjoining delicatessen that will open early to serve artisan sandwiches, puff pastries and coffee and tea for those on-the-go.

Currently, the plan is for Coco Laurent to soft open on Nov 12.

ConstructDTLA · #**5736** Posted **Nov 1, 2012, 11:11 PM**

Lol ThreeHundred you beat me to it by seconds!

Thats great to hear. I hope they do well.

Now theres only 1 other ignored mega-project I know of - Hotel Clark. Last I heard from LAdowntownnews they 'could open by September 2012.'

Quixote · #**5737** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 12:08 AM**

I think the name "Coco Laurent" is a bit contrived. It also seems to mimic the name of the restaurant it's competing with directly across the street.

BrandonJXN · #**5738** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 3:22 AM**

Ray Charles could see that Coco Chanel is a direct competitor to Bottega Louie. Ahh well..they might not like it but hey it's another good restaurant in DTLA.

Quixote · #**5739** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 5:29 AM**

While we're on the subject of these much-hyped DTLA restaurants:

1) Bottega Louie has managed to maintain a 4-star rating on Yelp after 4,675 reviews. That's impressive.

2) Artisan House has a lousy 3 stars and the reviews were never good to begin with.

3) Towne Food & Drink has also followed in AH's footsteps... 3.5 stars after being open for less than a year.

ocman · #**5740** Posted **Nov 2, 2012, 7:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

I think the name "Coco Laurent" is a bit contrived. It also seems to mimic the name of the restaurant it's competing with directly across the street.

Agreed. I doubt that person exists. They basically combined the names of Coco Chanel and Yves Saint Laurent thinking the name will evoke a sense of fanciness.

But LA could always use more french bistros.