LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by Easy

New taxes need 2/3, not 3/4 right?

Oh, right, nevermind.

Anyways, for those interesting in any specific details in regards to our streetcar that will grace our streets in a little over a couple years, here you go:

At any given time, there will be 4-5 active streetcars operating on the tracks, which will result in a streetcar going past each station about every 7-10 minutes in peak periods and about every 10-11 minutes in non-peak periods. This will vary depending on time of day, special events, etc

Construction takes only one lane of traffic and usually doesn't close the sidewalk. They dig down about 12 inches, lay in the track slab and move on. It's estimated to be in from of any given building for no more than a couple / few days before it moves on. We expect the whole construction project throughout all parts of the route to be about 18 months.

Once approved(which it now is), construction will begin by the end of 2014(which will then take another year and a half to build) so, it'll be here by the time Wilshire Grand and the football stadium is completed, give or take. We expect it to be extensively used during game nights.

That was all a facebook conversation with one of the executives running the facebook page. I asked what effect it will have on the buldings adjacent to the tracks and if they would generate life and such, and I was told that the roads where the rails are, and they said they will generally spring to life and it attracts investors into the area to build retail and such thus generating more life along the rails as has happened to other cities which have brought back their streetcars. It goes along LA Central, could it revive that old project?

[LA/OCman]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

I thought you guys might want to know: The Downtown streetcar just passed the vote with 73%.

Hey, my estimate of 75% voting for the streetcar was not too bad. I think this is another game changer for Downtown. Let's hope for a a plethora of development announcements in the near future!

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

I had mentioned previously that there is a lot of commercial buzz and activity in Downtown right now (im a local commercial Realtor.) If the area can pull off a couple more Large leases like this 40,000 sq ft one, its a great sign. I dont want to get to ahead of myself, but ChinaTrust moving to Downtown is huge news.

Would you like to perhaps elaborate on said buzz?

[Suffice]

great news on the streetcar, though I have a couple qualms with it. The one-way tracks make sense on Hill/Broadway stretch, but below 7th it's going to be confusing. Also, I really don't like the color scheme on the trains. This color scheme might've worked in Santa Monica or San Diego or something. DTLA needed something more like:

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

I asked what effect it will have on the buldings adjacent to the tracks and if they would generate life and such, and I was told that the roads where the rails are, and they said they will generally spring to life and it attracts investors into the area to build retail and such thus generating more life along the rails as has happened to other cities which have brought back their streetcars. It goes along LA Central, could it revive that old project?

I'd expect the streetcar to breath life into many of the projects along the route that sputtered out during the recession, as well as generating some new developments. But the streetcar alone is not enough to revive a massive (and expensive) proposal like LA Central. Maybe if Farmer's Field pans out.

Broadway will be the largest beneficiary of the streetcar, which was the intention all along.

Also, I really don't like the color scheme on the trains.

I'm hoping that they go with a different look when they actually implement the streetcar. Given LA's well known history with urban railways, I don't think anyone would have a problem with a throwback to Pacific Electric.

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

I'd expect the streetcar to breath life into many of the projects along the route that sputtered out during the recession, as well as generating some new developments. But the streetcar alone is not enough to revive a massive (and expensive) proposal like LA Central. Maybe if Farmer's Field pans out.

Broadway will be the largest beneficiary of the streetcar, which was the intention all along.

I'm looking at the streets of where it would be. I think the street that would virtually change the most is 11th. It's the street with the most parking lots that run along the tracks. But don't get your hopes up guys. Construction won't start until late 2014 to early 2015, and it wouldn't be done by mid 2017.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Would you like to perhaps elaborate on said buzz?

Nothing specific unfortunately, but ive been seeing a lot more interest in downtown LA, from all types of businesses.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

I'm looking at the streets of where it would be. I think the street that would virtually change the most is 11th. It's the street with the most parking lots that run along the tracks. But don't get your hopes up guys. Construction won't start until late 2014 to early 2015, and it wouldn't be done by mid 2017.

Nope, they will be done by 2016, if not by 2015

[Chef Boyardee]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Quick note... the lot next to the Broad has been cleared of all construction trailers / equipment so perhaps they are preparing for the groundbreaking.

Related’s Grand Avenue Apartment Tower Going for Approvals

http://www.ladowntownnews.com/news/relat...ac11e30-3999-11e2-bee3-0019bb2963f4.html

[brudy]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

I'm hoping that they go with a different look when they actually implement the streetcar. Given LA's well known history with urban railways, I don't think anyone would have a problem with a throwback to Pacific Electric.

I'm a long time lurker that finally registered here now that I live in downtown.

I'd have to say that I really don't want the cars to be retro-inspired. I think it's important that downtown projects a modern, contemporary face, and not let the streetcar feel like a tourist ride. There will be something great about seeing a contemporary street car gliding up Broadway against the backdrop of wonderful theaters and buildings. If you've been to Munich or Vienna you can see how well this works and feels. You can't go back to a point in time and I think the streetcar is about downtown's future, not its past.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by Muji

The subway canopies don't look great, but they will help protect riders just a bit from rain and sun, and the stations will be just a bit more visible. Having just used the Civic Center stop this evening, I can also say that the station entrances are substantially better lit at night by the canopies. Ideally, they will help make Pershing Square's entrances a lot less dingy and creepy once they go up there.

I agree. I liked the designs in the renderings but the finally product feels a little too industrial and not very elegant. The spaces are lit well at night, but I wish the actual lighting had been embedded or closer to the structure. The way the sort of pendant lighting looks and hangs down, it has a kind of interrogation-room feel. It all feels a little Matrix-esque to me.

[LAmarODom420]

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

I managed to take a pic of the rarely seen One Santa Fe. Looks to be moving along pretty nicely. Didn't quite realize how long this project is. Sorry for the low quality.

Would you mind posting this again? I can't see the image any more.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by LAmarODom420

Would you mind posting this again? I can't see the image any more.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by brudy

I'm a long time lurker that finally registered here now that I live in downtown.

I'd have to say that I really don't want the cars to be retro-inspired. I think it's important that downtown projects a modern, contemporary face, and not let the streetcar feel like a tourist ride. There will be something great about seeing a contemporary street car gliding up Broadway against the backdrop of wonderful theaters and buildings. If you've been to Munich or Vienna you can see how well this works and feels. You can't go back to a point in time and I think the streetcar is about downtown's future, not its past.

I agree. If people want DTLA to PROGRESS, we can't dwell on how things were before. Cities like Paris and Madrid have modern streetcars running down streets lined with 200 year old buildings. Why can't Los Angeles?

I want to see something like this on Broadway.

http://railforthevalley.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/1strs2.jpg

Not this.

http://www.foothillmodelworks.com/images_general/Woody.jpg

[202_Cyclist]

Does anyone have any photos of the Chinatown Gateway development? I saw that one when we visited LA over Labor Day and went to Yang Chow for dinner.

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by brudy

I'm a long time lurker that finally registered here now that I live in downtown.

I'd have to say that I really don't want the cars to be retro-inspired. I think it's important that downtown projects a modern, contemporary face, and not let the streetcar feel like a tourist ride. There will be something great about seeing a contemporary street car gliding up Broadway against the backdrop of wonderful theaters and buildings. If you've been to Munich or Vienna you can see how well this works and feels. You can't go back to a point in time and I think the streetcar is about downtown's future, not its past.

I think you misunderstood me. I just want them to paint the vehicles red; I don't want a clunky 1940's style streetcar running down Broadway.

[laphilman]

Originally Posted by Muji

Yeah, we definitely don't see enough of One Santa Fe around here. From the picture it also looks like Santa Fe Avenue is going to be narrowed a little bit, which would be enormously progressive for new construction in LA.

Thank you for a wonderful survey of LA in pictures. http://urbandiachrony.wordpress.com

[Valyrian Steel]

Yay for the streetcar! And Jose Huizar said the design of the cars hasn't been chosen, and that they'll consider input from the public as to how they want the cars to look. We'll see...

[Mojeda101]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Nope, they will be done by 2016, if not by 2015

If it passes, then we move to full environmental, engineering and seeking the federal funding for the other half of construction costs, so we can be under construction by the end of 2014 or beginning of 2015!

Then another 18 months to build the track? By mid 2016 to early 2017.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by brudy

I'm a long time lurker that finally registered here now that I live in downtown.

I'd have to say that I really don't want the cars to be retro-inspired. I think it's important that downtown projects a modern, contemporary face, and not let the streetcar feel like a tourist ride. There will be something great about seeing a contemporary street car gliding up Broadway against the backdrop of wonderful theaters and buildings. If you've been to Munich or Vienna you can see how well this works and feels. You can't go back to a point in time and I think the streetcar is about downtown's future, not its past.

IIRC they pretty much ruled out using historic cars because of ADA requirements (they need low floor step-free boarding) and I think that the general consensus was that they want modern cars in both appearance and functionality.