LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Easy]

Nice update. Glad to finally see some progress on the demolition of the Wilshire Grand.

[Mojeda101]

Awesome update

No 8th and Hope shots by any chance?

In other news, a friend and cousin of mine who live on Broadway sent in their ballots for the Streetcar. Both of them told me their neighbors are for it as well. So guys, if we pull this off, our city could virtually change.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

Awesome update

No 8th and Hope shots by any chance?

In other news, a friend and cousin of mine who live on Broadway sent in their ballots for the Streetcar. Both of them told me their neighbors are for it as well. So guys, if we pull this off, our city could virtually change.

I don't know if any of you frequent the DTLA and Downtown LA Facebook groups, but there has been some conversation about the streetcar ballot recently, and I was dismayed to see how many people were against it. Most of the complaints were centered around one of the following:

1. Why should I pay taxes for this when the DASH already functions as a downtown circulator?
2. Economic development will happen with or without the streetcar.
3. Downtown doesn't need economic development - its fine as it is.
4. If Huizar's office is for the streetcar, there must be some ulterior motive (aka, the "tinfoil hat argument")

I tried to talk some sense into them, as did a few other people, but it was a little discouraging. I just assumed that everyone would be for the streetcar, given the obvious benefits and given how similar projects have helped other cities, but I'm worried now that maybe I was wrong. Hopefully this thing squeaks by.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I don't know if any of you frequent the DTLA and Downtown LA Facebook groups, but there has been some conversation about the streetcar ballot recently, and I was dismayed to see how many people were against it.

I wonder how many of them actually live in the area, though.

[RuFFy]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I don't know if any of you frequent the DTLA and Downtown LA Facebook groups, but there has been some conversation about the streetcar ballot recently, and I was dismayed to see how many people were against it. Most of the complaints were centered around one of the following:

1. Why should I pay taxes for this when the DASH already functions as a downtown circulator?
2. Economic development will happen with or without the streetcar.
3. Downtown doesn't need economic development - its fine as it is.
4. If Huizar's office is for the streetcar, there must be some ulterior motive (aka, the "tinfoil hat argument")

I tried to talk some sense into them, as did a few other people, but it was a little discouraging. I just assumed that everyone would be for the streetcar, given the obvious benefits and given how similar projects have helped other cities, but I'm worried now that maybe I was wrong. Hopefully this thing squeaks by.

I haven't read the thread but it's important to remember that people are more likely to come out against something than for it, so by virtue you'll see more negative comments. Another thing to remember is that they may not necessarily be against the streetcar, but are against paying for it and that might manifest with different arguments such as existing service. That, to some, may seem like the nail in the coffin. But the truth is that isn't necessarily a nail in the coffin. It might just mean that if it happens someone else has got to foot the bill. Point is we're moving in the right direction, it just might take a tad bit more time to arrive at the destination.

[Illithid Dude]

I know this might be controversial, but I'm not actually for the streetcar. For me, it seems like something for tourists, and not for locals. As currently planned, the streetcar is nothing more then an at-grade glorified people mover, looping around the tourist hot-spots in DTLA. If I was a local, it would often be quicker to walk somewhere then to make a huge loop around the city just to get to where I need to go. If they made the streetcar two-way, like a proper tram system, then I would be all for it. As is, however, I am completely ambivalent to it being built.

[LA/OCman]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I don't know if any of you frequent the DTLA and Downtown LA Facebook groups, but there has been some conversation about the streetcar ballot recently, and I was dismayed to see how many people were against it. Most of the complaints were centered around one of the following:

1. Why should I pay taxes for this when the DASH already functions as a downtown circulator?
2. Economic development will happen with or without the streetcar.
3. Downtown doesn't need economic development - its fine as it is.
4. If Huizar's office is for the streetcar, there must be some ulterior motive (aka, the "tinfoil hat argument")

I tried to talk some sense into them, as did a few other people, but it was a little discouraging. I just assumed that everyone would be for the streetcar, given the obvious benefits and given how similar projects have helped other cities, but I'm worried now that maybe I was wrong. Hopefully this thing squeaks by.

I own units in 2 loft buildings and the internal blog conversations were overwhelmingly pro streetcar. The loudest and most frequent critic was really one person..maybe two. I view it like Curbed LA....some people who are so negative post all day but most read the information and don't respond. My guess it is will pass. I say 75% will vote yes (but that is just a hunch). Plus, the streetcar group has done a decent job promoting it.

Regarding Councilman Huizar, he is probably the most pro-active and responsible council person I have ever met. He is a very decent, intelligent and hard working man. His staff is a class act! Some people just have political political axes to grind.

The businesses, especially in the Historic Core will really benefit from it. It will bring tourists safely to their doorsteps. I see the retail market exploding after it is built.

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

Awesome update

No 8th and Hope shots by any chance?

In other news, a friend and cousin of mine who live on Broadway sent in their ballots for the Streetcar. Both of them told me their neighbors are for it as well. So guys, if we pull this off, our city could virtually change.

I didn't get to see 8th and Hope but I might go back tomorrow and check it out. On that note, anything else I should take pics of?

Really want the streetcar to go forward. After spending more than a month in Portland, I can say it's just a far more attractive way of getting from point A to point B than a bus. It's also easier to find the stops because you can see the tracks. Though I agree with Illithid Dude that it should be two-way.

[BrandonJXN]

Check out Avant. See what's going on down there.

[alki]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Not nearly as elegant as a Vancouver tower. More like Northern Virginia. I could easily see this in Tysons Corner or Arlington.

What's with the Vancouver hate anyway? Its one of the nicer skylines in North America. We should be so lucky that DTLA starts resembling DT Vancouver.

I agree....I was in Vancouver the summer before last..... and some of their bldgs are extraordinary. I am hoping Seattle goes more that route.

[alki]

Originally Posted by WonderlandPark

Yeah, I agree, L.A. should have its own style...

I find these buildings to be rather attractive in an ugly sort of way.

Do they actually exist and if so, where? Do you know?

[alki]

Originally Posted by citywatch

that photo is actually shocking to me cuz it's a wake up call of how dtla....too much of it....by comparison, must feel & look surprisingly poor to a casual visitor. While you're talking about high quality design, dtla's devlprs & land owners will be lucky if they can come up with all the $$ to remove even a fraction of the many parking lots & other gaps before we're all old & gray. .

Most of the new bldgs put up in DTLA over the past 20 years were not cheap buildings. A lot of expensive bldg materials were used in many of them. I think what most people react to with DTLA is the way the bldg meets the street; how much retail is on the ground floor, and the overall design of the bldg.

My experience of LA in general is that it works too hard to be unique.............that it needs to be at the cutting edge on everything. I think that's why there are so many design fails. On the positive side, LA developers take risks that developers in other cities are afraid to take; on the negative side, some LA developers simply have bad taste. Finally, its taken LA a while to get a sense of urbanity. From my experience, people feel more comfortable with bldgs that are not isolated monuments. I am looking at you Bunker Hill.

As for the lack of development.....until recently, we've talked about that before.........it has to do with LA economics visa vis the economies of other cities. As things continue to improve in LA, more projects will go into the ground.

[alki]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Except those are pretty old buildings, and New York is tearing down A LOT of them. Not saying don't build below 10 stories but don't simply make a resolve to not build high rises for no reason, especially since you had no problem building the Ritz and perhaps one day LA Central.

I hear some people keep talking about a neighborhood's "character", and how building taller would ruin it. Well guess what, you might as well call what has happened to South Park over the last 10-15 years precisely that, because a neighborhood DID prior before that. It was all demolished for parking lots...

Others don't want more tall buildings like the Ritz and want the skyline the way it is, but it has already changed tremendously in the last decade. Isn't it being kind of "pick and choose"?

I can understand somewhere like Little Tokyo not to build tall, but not South Park.

The thing is LA is getting the cart before the horse. It wants an instant skyline and that's been the problem for the past 3 decades. In certain cities, developers build up because it make sense economically. And why does it make sense.........because over the years of development a shortage of land has developed, causing the cost of the land to skyrocket. Its part of a natural process in which American city gov'ts assist by increasing the zoning in those DT areas.

For years, LA didn't have a skyline because of height restrictions. And then it lifted those restrictions and there was a mad race to build a skyline.....after all, it was the second largest city in the country and deserved to have a skyline commensurate with its status. It was not motivated by economics but rather by pure ego [see Burj Khalifa in Dubai].

The result is that DTLA has these tall, tall bldgs amidst a sea of empty lots. To add insult to injury, it has been unable to fully occupy the tall, tall office bldgs it built over 20 years ago. The only reason its developing a skyline now is because its be come more hipster to live DT. And even then, the urge was to go tall. And the developers responsible for those new tall bldgs got their butts handed to them on a silver platter during the last recession.

Better to let DTLA take a more natural course..........fill in empty lots with mid rises while encouraging more economic development..........like getting companies to move their offices DT. As the lots fill in, a momentum will develop that will lead to the hi rises people want.

[WonderlandPark]

Originally Posted by alki

I find these buildings to be rather attractive in an ugly sort of way.

Do they actually exist and if so, where? Do you know?

they thankfully will never exist. they are fictional photoshopped Orsini buildings blown up to silly heights. I have hope LA will do far better.

[Muji]

As mentioned recently, the new French restaurant Coco Laurent across from Bottega Louie is soft opening very soon. The restaurant has also built a terrace along the sidewalk for outdoor seating, which I snapped a few photos of this afternoon. Given how little outdoor dining there is right now around this part of 7th St, I'm sure that many people here will be very happy to see this.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I know this might be controversial, but I'm not actually for the streetcar. For me, it seems like something for tourists, and not for locals. As currently planned, the streetcar is nothing more then an at-grade glorified people mover, looping around the tourist hot-spots in DTLA. If I was a local, it would often be quicker to walk somewhere then to make a huge loop around the city just to get to where I need to go. If they made the streetcar two-way, like a proper tram system, then I would be all for it. As is, however, I am completely ambivalent to it being built.

Having ridden streetcars in Portland and Toronto, I can say that tourists and locals alike use the system.

I see what you're saying about a 2-way system being preferable to a loop, but the fact is the loop is only 1 block wide for most of it. If you're on Broadway and you are headed north not south, walk 1 block over to Hill. It takes less than a minute.

Also, this is not just about getting somewhere faster. Here are some other scenarios to consider:

1. You are going from your loft in the Historic Core to Ralphs for some grocery shopping. Driving 1.5 miles seems lazy, but you don't want to carry 6 bags of groceries that distance either.
2. You and your date are dining at Perch, with plans to catch a movie at Regal LA Live. Parking at LA Live is a ripoff and a chore, but gentlemen don't make their dates walk 2 miles either.
3. You live in South Park and want to relax in Grand Park. Catching the Blue line at Pico, switching to the Red line at Metro Center, and getting off at Civic Center would work, but it requires a transfer. Hopping on the streetcar at your doorstep and hopping off a block from Grand Park sounds much better, and doesn't require a possible wait on the platform in Metro Center.

Lastly, you can't overlook the economic development factor. The streetcar is projected to create:

• $730 million in residental construction (2,600 new housing units, 3,600 new residents)
• $210 million in new office construction (675K sq ft, 9,300 jobs)

This is on top of development already projected to occur, without the streetcar. For me, these benefits alone sell me on the streetcar, even if I never planned to set foot on it.

[alki]

Originally Posted by Pink Floyd

Downtown was busy yesterday evening.


IMG_0042 by Nightsky86, on Flickr

Impressive.....how many people are on the street. I used to walk from Fig down 7the all time, and at that time of nite, what people were on the street would be rushing to get out of DTLA.

And here's a bonus pic of one of the L.A. Live decorations on Olympic Blvd.


IMG_0066 by Nightsky86, on Flickr

Really like the texture of the bldg behind the decoration......which one is it?

And thanks for the photos.......particularly appreciated by someone from out of town.

[alki]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

Sorry I haven't updated things here in a while, folks. See, last month i started my part time job at a new Wal-mart that opened up this past Wednesday out here in the Valley, and the managers this past week have REALLY boosted my hours to almost full time numbers (35). Bottom line, I've been pretty darn busy lately.

This weekend im pretty sure ill update it, tho!

Anyway... Just got back from work, and I'm exhausted...

JDR, personally I think you do a great job of updating the forum.

[alki]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I know this might be controversial, but I'm not actually for the streetcar. For me, it seems like something for tourists, and not for locals. As currently planned, the streetcar is nothing more then an at-grade glorified people mover, looping around the tourist hot-spots in DTLA. If I was a local, it would often be quicker to walk somewhere then to make a huge loop around the city just to get to where I need to go. If they made the streetcar two-way, like a proper tram system, then I would be all for it. As is, however, I am completely ambivalent to it being built.

I agree with you.........the fact that its not two way is considered a pretty big design flaw and could lead to less than stellar ridership stats........making it more difficult to overcome opposition of future streetcar development.

[alki]

Originally Posted by WonderlandPark

they thankfully will never exist. they are fictional photoshopped Orsini buildings blown up to silly heights. I have hope LA will do far better.

Thank you Jesus.