Hollywood Projects

[SunMonTueWedThuFriSa]

I wonder what Garcetti means by 'public space'? Does that mean building setbacks from the street because I think that would kill Hollywood Blvd's vibe. I do like his concern for aesthetics though. The rendering of this project so far is pretty boring and it's not good news that Clarett is satisfied with it.

[MapGoulet]

Originally Posted by SunMonTueWedThuFriSa

I wonder what Garcetti means by 'public space'? Does that mean building setbacks from the street because I think that would kill Hollywood Blvd's vibe. I do like his concern for aesthetics though. The rendering of this project so far is pretty boring and it's not good news that Clarett is satisfied with it.

I doubt Garcetti is referring to "technical" open space elements like setbacks. However, more sidewalk space in anticipation of more (or to accomodate existing) pedestrian activity would be welcome, in my opinion. As a Councilmember, Garcetti is primarily concerned about his constituency, and any public statements he makes would be crafted with the language that his constituents would understand and agree to. Therefore, when he says "open space", I think he means it. To not make good on what his district expects of open space would hurt his credibility.

Plus, Eric is about the Greenest politician in LA. He is very active with affordable housing and green building, probably more than any other elected official.

[Vangelist]

I am v glad he is concerned about aesthetics. We do deserve better around here

[MapGoulet]

Originally Posted by Vangelist

I am v glad he is concerned about aesthetics. We do deserve better around here

I agree. Vine Street is, in my opinion, the butt ugliest street around, even with all the creative signage. That's what makes it all the more stunning when you drive into Hancock Park and it becomes Rossmore. Rossmore reminds me of a street in Washington D.C.

[DJM19]

Is there a rendering of this project?

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by Vangelist

We do deserve better around here

I certainly think so.

And mapgoulet comparing the difference between Vine St and what it segues into, Rossmore, says a lot about what is wrong with the city & what needs to be done to turn it around. IOW, imagine what LA would be like today if a lot more of it was like Rossmore around Hancock Pk instead of "butt ugliest" places like Vine St in Hollywood.

I think ppl like Mayor Villairagosa talking about how we have to start making a bigger deal of "architecture", while using a word that sounds too specific or complicated, are moving in the right direction.

[luckyeight]

Was at tonight's reception. The showroom and model looked fantastic.
Very high end.......probably the best I've seen so far on all of the new development that's happening here outside of Evo, Dogtown lofts
and Eastern Columbia.

Anticipated pricing from what I'm told range between 700K to 6 Million
for 3,000 s.f. penthouse unit.

The crowd are very hollywood celebrity type.....even the sales
girls are out of the fashion magazines.

[cookiejarvis]

"I am hoping that we can bring the councilman around this — we want to work with him — but we think that we have an aesthetically pleasing project," said Ben Reznik, the prominent land-use attorney hired by the developer.


Ugh. Ben Reznik is the go-to man for Los Angeles area property owners when they want to tear down historic structures, especially when there's a significant public outcry. I first saw his name show up in L.A. Times articles leading up to the demolition of the McKinley Building @ Wilshire & Western.

[bjornson]

I will have to add Beverly Boulevard to the list of ugliest streets of all time. It gets pretty at some point near the golf clubs and nice homes, but those are a few blocks scattered everywhere. Even around the Beverly Center, it's still ugly.

[citywatch]

^ I remember being on Beverly Blvd west of Fairfax a few yrs ago & thinking, oh, damn, this will not do. As for the general vicinity closer to the Beverly Ctr itself:

[bjornson]

Wow, you made it worse than how I saw it ha! Even with that nice hotel (Sofitel), it doesn't do anything for the street. East of Fairfax is just as bad.

[Quixote]

We should reduce the number of gas stations in Los Angeles City. Though it's not a downtown with skyscrapers, it's still part of The City and should be a dense, urban, and pedestrian friendly place.

[Quixote]

BTW, where's the nearest metro stop?

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by bjornson

East of Fairfax is just as bad.

If I'm not mistaken, Beverly Blvd east of Fairfax actually becomes more presentable. That's the part of Beverly that goes by the entrance to CBS Television City and the Pan Pacific Pk, & where many of the front facing sides of stores & businesses finally are more professionally done. Moreover, if a person were to reach up several dozen ft, he wouldn't become electrocuted.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by citywatch

^ I remember being on Beverly Blvd west of Fairfax a few yrs ago & thinking, oh, damn, this will not do. As for the general vicinity closer to the Beverly Ctr itself:

We need to ban that type of un-ped friendly development. All projects should have adequate ground-floor retail space with NO setbacks. Basically, think London and Paris.

[bjornson]

Originally Posted by Westsidelife

BTW, where's the nearest metro stop?

If you're talking red line, it's on vermont/beverly which is FAR FAR FAR FAR FAR away. I was going to walk from the stop all the way there, but it was TOO far. The bus, however, is just at that intersection.

Oh an you're right. The Beverly Center tries it's best to have ground floor retail, but then it just goes all wrong. I'm tired of malls.

Oh and they should be banned! There's a horrible gas station near Hollywood and Vine.

Originally Posted by citywatch

If I'm not mistaken, Beverly Blvd east of Fairfax actually becomes more presentable. That's the part of Beverly that goes by the entrance to CBS Television City and the Pan Pacific Pk, & where many of the front facing sides of stores & businesses finally are more professionally done. Moreover, if a person were to reach up several dozen ft, he wouldn't become electrocuted.

It's just certain spots that are particularly presentable. It's the immediate east where the CBS Television City and the retail near La Brea and La Cienaga that's pleasing, but other than that, it's UGLY. I walked a good bit of it and it's not pleasing at all.

[RAlossi]

I go to school on Beverly near where it becomes 1st/2nd... (The Original Tommy's half a block away!) You can tell that it used to be a nice little neighborhood, but it's so bad now. Even basic maintenance services are neglected. The street trees have lifted the sidewalks in some places THREE FEET OFF THE GROUND! The city's response? That black asphalt crap. It's got a decent pedestrian flow near Alvarado, and there are new schools being built, so it has potential.

I'm seeing a lot more of some very historic Craftsman-style bungalows being covered in stucco and brass -- very tacky, and IMO it should be banned!

[Codex Borgia]

^ I couldn't agree more RALOSSI, the City has neglected various areas of the City for too long, and IMO many areas of the City need need to have strict design review commitees that require owners of architecurally significant homes and buildings to restore or improve the aesthetics, rather than destroy or "cheapen". I grew up in Montecito Heights and saw far too many craftsman homes and bungalows ruined by god awful stucco.

[cookiejarvis]

Ha! I just had a stucco salesman show up at my house the other day to give me an estimate on two smallish patch jobs on some exterior walls. He opened up his job portfolio book and showed us a picture sequence of a beautiful 1909 Craftsman in Pomona that his company "remodeled" because the family that lived there wanted a "modern" house. They ripped out the perfectly good siding (probably redwood) and removed every double hung window and replaced it with those tacky home depot windows. We told him that we thought the remodel was ugly and to close his book immediately. We let him continue with his agressive spiel a little bit more (his bid was waaaaay too high anyway) and then politely showed him the door.

[cookiejarvis]

*edit*

double post