LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Dale

She did make another comment, though, which I found interesting, being that she's an astute businesswoman. When we drove by the convention center, and she noted how vast it was, she asked, "But where are all the hotels ?"

Astute indeed!

Did you tell her that phase 2 of DTLA's gentrification aka "Hotelapalooza" has actually just gotten underway?

[Dale]

Originally Posted by DistrictDirt

Astute indeed!

Did you tell her that phase 2 of DTLA's gentrification aka "Hotelapalooza" has actually just gotten underway?

I did tell her that I had heard that a new wave of hotels were in the offing. Her reaction: "Not a moment to soon." She was shocked that the convention center wasn't fairly ringed by major hotels.

[ConstructDTLA]

Huge photo update from this morning coming soon. Pics all taken Tuesday February 5th around 1130AM.


A teaser:

[ConstructDTLA]

8th & Hope still moving at break-neck speeds by American standards.

[Steve2726]

Here's a high res color rendering of 8th and Hope that I believe is new. Sorry if this has already been posted, it's hard to keep track with all the new projects starting recently-

http://www.theprestonpartnership.com/?project=8th-and-hope-3&cat=multifamily-high-rise

[ConstructDTLA]

8th & Grand has lots of action each day.







9th & Olive moving slow and steady as I've said before.



Subway portal at Civic Station from underneath. Feels a lot better!



This desolate corner of Downtown.



Jia apartments.



The Broad





Broadway building restoration. They've done such a great job on this.



Ross & their fugly sign. Just like Figaro they put in so much work and come so close to looking good, then they F up the last 10%.



Ace Hotel hard at work



I took this to demonstrate what Taste (fig@7th) looks like pretty much all day except for that short lunch timeframe. I hope they don't shorten their hours, but unless their owners like losing money, they will.



Wilshire Grand movin nice and slow. I wish this was just blown up!





Hall of Justice pics to come this evening..

[Dale]

^ Is that a helipad up top on 8th and Hope ?

I'm really warming to the design.

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by Dale

^ Is that a helipad up top on 8th and Hope ?

I'm really warming to the design.

That's an older rendering. The one we have on the first page is the most recent design.

[WonderlandPark]

8th and Hope will probably beat the Courtyard Marriott up to full height. They are really hauling A.

[StethJeff]

Wanna piggyback on some of the positive energy flowing from HunterK's construction photos. Even though Broadway continues to look shabby, this Curbed summary of a DTLA News article does an excellent job of highlighting what's happened and what's coming next in the ongoing Bringing Back Braodway initiative.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Signs that Broadway is Coming Back, But Not Quite Yet

We're halfway through the Bringing Back Broadway initiative, a 10-year plan to revitalize downtown's Broadway between Second Street and Olympic. How's it doing? The Downtown News checked in with City Councilmember Jose Huizar for some answers. Is BBB having some success where other attempts have failed? What's still got Broadway boosters stymied?

THE GOOD
Restaurants and retail: While most of the action is concentrated south of Sixth Street, there's still a fair bit of action: Figaro, Los Angeles Brewing Company, Two Boots Pizza, Alma, Ross Dress for Less, and the Ace Hotel have all opened or soon will (also worth noting that the Clifton's makeover will one day be finished, and there's that rumored Urban Outfitters, too). However, street-front vacancy rates run in the 15 to 20 percent range, which ain't great.

The intangibles: Said Huizar on a recent stroll down Broadway: "It looks different and it feels different. It's just a nicer place to be, but it's still in transition."NOT DONE YET
Streetcar: It's happening! Well, not quite yet, but it took a major step forward when Downtown residents approved a tax increase last year to help fund it. If all goes according to plan, it'll be open in 2016.

Theaters: Last year, the family that owns the Palace, State, Los Angeles, and Tower THEATRES announced a plan to convert them into venues for concerts and other events while also bringing in new bars and restaurants. A welcome and ambitious plan, but there's no timeline for it.

Road diet: The City Council is expected to vote this month on a plan to decrease traffic lanes on Broadway and widen the sidewalks.

Arts Center: A Broadway Arts Center--potentially including a Downtown campus for the California Institute of the Arts--is in the works. There's no site yet, but a $470,000 grant is funding pre-development work.

Signage: A Broadway Sign District will encourage neon signs, and $800,000 is available to property owners this year to improve facade lighting and signage.

Sidewalks: A 2008 initiative was supposed to undertake major sidewalk repairs, but so far only about 20 percent has been done and no funding has been identified to finish the project.

Upper floors: An ordinance to ease the way to developing the upper floors of buildings into office and retail space is languishing due to Fire Department concerns about emergency exit access. Huizar hopes something will pass this year, but there's no guarantee

[NOPA]

Is that all smog!?! Holy shit if it is! I'm going to hope it was just a really overcast day?

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by NOPA

Is that all smog!?! Holy shit if it is! I'm going to hope it was just a really overcast day?

It was 57 and overcast today. So yes, fog it was.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by bobbyv

What's wrong with the "golf" building? I'd rather have that than some 5 story cookie cutter development.

bobbyv, various ppl in LA throughout the yrs have felt the same way you do. I say "to each his own".....but I think a major reason dtla went into such a long, great decline, was cuz too many ppl didn't notice just how rundown it was & had long been. Too many ppl were overly tolerant of its condition.

Originally Posted by Dale

Drove my wife around DTLA, while out there last week. Though she does a lot of traveling, she was thoroughly impressed with downtown. And when she saw Angel's Flight she remarked, "Oh, that's so cute!"

Dale, your posting the impressions you've had of dt has been most appreciated. I like seeing personal anecdotes of ppl who are in dt, either as residents, daytimers or visitors.

I admit to feeling two faced about the public's impression of the hood, cuz while my own reactions, & those of friends & family members, have sometimes been lukewarm to even glum, I'm bothered when I see similar responses from total strangers out in public.

I guess I do feel like shooting the messenger in certain instances. That's in spite of the fact that I myself, or ppl close to me, sometimes are...or have been....the messenger.

Originally Posted by HunterK

I took this to demonstrate what Taste (fig@7th) looks like pretty much all day except for that short lunch timeframe. I hope they don't shorten their hours, but unless their owners like losing money, they will.

That's one reason why I feel lots more housing & all the amenities associated with ppl who are 24/7 has to be added to the hood asap. dtla still doesn't have the huge number of ppl, both residents & visitors, or daytimers, that converge in other cities.

All the new devlpt, which you're capturing on film, represent the beginnings of the 2nd generation of improvement. IOW, it wasn't that long ago....as recently as the early 2000s, when housing for ppl of some means was still at a very small level. that was the 1st generation of new housing, represented by the euro tuscan bldgs....which forumers love to hate....projs like elleven, the lofts on Spring, some conversion projs on broadway, some condo projs in little tokyo. I guess the tail end of that was marked by completion of the watermarke & former concerto towers.

btw, you have posted some of the best pics in this thread. they truly help keep this forum alive. Pls stick around, hunterk!

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

That's an older rendering. The one we have on the first page is the most recent design.

Or is it? They're pretty close though. This one doesn't have the helipad or the "asshat."


http://brighamyen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/8th-and-hope-los-angeles.jpg

[Dale]

Originally Posted by citywatch

bobbyv, various ppl in LA throughout the yrs have felt the same way you do. I say "to each his own".....but I think a major reason dtla went into such a long, great decline, was cuz too many ppl didn't notice just how rundown it was & had long been. Too many ppl were overly tolerant of its condition.




Dale, your posting the impressions you've had of dt has been most appreciated. I like seeing personal anecdotes of ppl who are in dt, either as residents, daytimers or visitors.

I admit to feeling two faced about the public's impression of the hood, cuz while my own reactions, & those of friends & family members, have sometimes been lukewarm to even glum, I'm bothered when I see similar responses from total strangers out in public.

I guess I do feel like shooting the messenger in certain instances. That's in spite of the fact that I myself, or ppl close to me, sometimes are...or have been....the messenger.




That's one reason why I feel lots more housing & all the amenities associated with ppl who are 24/7 has to be added to the hood asap. dtla still doesn't have the huge number of ppl, both residents & visitors, or daytimers, that converge in other cities.

All the new devlpt, which you're capturing on film, represent the beginnings of the 2nd generation of improvement. IOW, it wasn't that long ago....as recently as the early 2000s, when housing for ppl of some means was still at a very small level. that was the 1st generation of new housing, represented by the euro tuscan bldgs....which forumers love to hate....projs like elleven, the lofts on Spring, some conversion projs on broadway, some condo projs in little tokyo. I guess the tail end of that was marked by completion of the watermarke & former concerto towers.

btw, you have posted some of the best pics in this thread. they truly help keep this forum alive. Pls stick around, hunterk!

I'll try to keep them coming! I know that I get jaded about my Orlando and a fresh pair of eyes is needed to cut through my cynicism.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

It was 57 and overcast today. So yes, fog it was.

Yes the fog was pretty great! I loved it. Felt so nice out! With that kind of cold/fog you don't feel the smog stick to your face like you do on warmer days.

Originally Posted by citywatch

btw, you have posted some of the best pics in this thread. they truly help keep this forum alive. Pls stick around, hunterk!

Thanks citywatch for always being appreciative of the many detailed current pics I post.

[DJM19]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Or is it? They're pretty close though. This one doesn't have the helipad or the "asshat."


http://brighamyen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/8th-and-hope-los-angeles.jpg

Yeah, I thought that was the most recent render.

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Ross & their fugly sign. Just like Figaro they put in so much work and come so close to looking good, then they F up the last 10%.

I believe that used to be a woolworths store a long time ago. For ppl too young to know much about that store, it was a discount type of business, sort of an early version of walmart. however, at least certain branches of woolworths....& I believe this was true of their stores on Hollywood blvd & the one on broadway, at least over 50 yrs ago....had signs that were gold lettering on a red background.

It's interesting how a five & dime store, as they were called back then, had a somewhat classy sign....


downtownlynn.com

I guess things could be worse. this is the way the bldg looked not too long ago, before the front of the bldg had been given a long overdue cleaning....


you-are-here.com

[blackcat23]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

Or is it? They're pretty close though. This one doesn't have the helipad or the "asshat."


http://brighamyen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/8th-and-hope-los-angeles.jpg

They're close, but the one you just posted is the rendering that the developer sent to Brigham.

I hope they could take elements of both versions.

[Valyrian Steel]

I love the fog. It makes for some great photos.