LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by Quixote

I think you mean Figat7th. "7th Street mall" makes it sound like Macy's Plaza.

yup thanks.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Just some cool art going up on Spring that the DTLA facebook page posted. It's the little things that make downtown a better place.

I never thought about it when I lived in the building, but the podium of SB Tower is just begging for a mural with all that blank space. Really nice to see.

That intersection is absolutely popping these days. Buttons and Bows moved up to 6th Street between Spring and Main, and that block is really turning into Downtown's boutique row.

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Just some cool art going up on Spring that the DTLA facebook page posted. It's the little things that make downtown a better place.

Looks good. We need more of this.

[blackcat23]

http://www.johnsonfain.com/architecture/142

Here's a different look at Johnson Fain's design for Blossom Plaza.

[Quixote]

I didn't know that Johnson Fain was designing Blossom Plaza. They're a local firm and they have a pretty good track record here. I know some of you lamented the change in design, preferring the older one, but I think this version will turn out better.

[StethJeff]

^^ Well that certainly looks better than what it's supposed to look like from afar.

[colemonkee]

Johnson Fain does do good work. I didn't know they were involved either, but that makes me much more confident about the potential of that project.

[inSaeculaSaeculorum]

chinatown could definitely use a face lift.

i'm very intrigued by the LA central project. Those renderings are just a bit of a teaser, but I hope that whoever ends up owning and developing that land has a more tasteful and innovative taste in architecture and design. generic towers on a podium with a tacked on LED ribbon may be standard for south park but that block is crucial, not just for the fig side that will be facing staples/LA Live but also for the flower side where the blue/expo line runs and stops. could be an amazing station on the metro if the developers get it right. there are just certain locations that are so important than less than great design doesn't suffice.

[Illithid Dude]

I mentioned that Johnson Fain was doing the design when the new renderings were released, but alas, it seems no one noticed. He's a quality architect and, as such, I have high hopes for Blossom Plaza.

[Quixote]

^ Now that you mention it, I think I remember reading that and wondering how a Johnson Fain-designed project could look so bad.

TCA could use a few pointers from this firm.

[DistrictDirt]

Originally Posted by Quixote

I didn't know that Johnson Fain was designing Blossom Plaza. They're a local firm and they have a pretty good track record here. I know some of you lamented the change in design, preferring the older one, but I think this version will turn out better.

The interior pedestrian alley looks like it will be wall-to-wall shops, which is fantastic. But my original criticism based on the other rendering still stands: there appears to be no retail on the exterior of the project. I hope I am proven wrong when additional renderings are released.

[SimonLA]

That's wonderful but it's a damn shame that CoffeeBar closed next door. That spot was wonderful and added so much to the ped-experience of Broadway. Here's hoping something opens in the space and soon.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Originally Posted by SimonLA

That's wonderful but it's a damn shame that CoffeeBar closed next door. That spot was wonderful and added so much to the ped-experience of Broadway. Here's hoping something opens in the space and soon.

they are relaunching as a wine bar, are they not?

Blossom looks much better and i echo everyone else's sentiment regarding Johnson Fain

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by SimonLA

That's wonderful but it's a damn shame that CoffeeBar closed next door. That spot was wonderful and added so much to the ped-experience of Broadway. Here's hoping something opens in the space and soon.

CoffeBar will be hard to replace. Cozy place, great looking exterior, nice staff. It fit that street perfectly. The coffee itself could use a little work but overall it was one of my favorite places in DTLA. People I brought there were similarly fans of the place. Honestly, I blame f****** Starbucks on the corner.

[Gram3000]

As I had posted earlier but it ended up getting lost in the mix:

http://downtownexaminer.com/news/acm...-and-partners/

BREAKING NEWS: Beelman’s Pub COMING SOON! Acme is very excited about their newest venture, Beelman’s Pub, taking the place of Coffee Bar, located at 6th and Spring. The group is very excited about this new project, named after the famed architect of the building, Claude Beelman.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

CoffeBar will be hard to replace. Cozy place, great looking exterior, nice staff. It fit that street perfectly. The coffee itself could use a little work but overall it was one of my favorite places in DTLA. People I brought there were similarly fans of the place. Honestly, I blame f****** Starbucks on the corner.

I think there was writing on the wall long before Starbucks set up shop.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I think there was writing on the wall long before Starbucks set up shop.

The shop was profitable although the starbucks did eat into business. The owners are more bar people than coffee people so opted to switch it to a bar. They own King Eddys, 6th St Tavern, among others.

The loss though is huge. There really isn't another coffee shop that has any kind of atmosphere - a nice place to have some coffee and read for a bit. Only Demitasse at this point is worth sitting in and even that place feels overly clean and sterile. Not that others don't have great coffee (the new B&G in the GCM and Barista Society on bunker hill both have killer coffee but not good seating). There's nothing like the old Lost Souls cafe or CoffeeBar left. When you want to get out of your apartment, but not get in the car, the options are very limited.

[SimonLA]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

I think there was writing on the wall long before Starbucks set up shop.

Well, a report said that Starbucks decimated 75% of CoffeeBar's business: http://www.examiner.com/article/coffeebar-downtown-la-to-close

And previously I said CoffeeBar added to ped-experience on Broadway; I obv. meant Spring. Either way, it's exciting that Beelman's Pub is opening in its place. That lively outdoor seating area is very much missed. http://downtownexaminer.com/news/acme-bar-group-friends-and-partners/

[edluva]

i wish LA developers would stop desiging plazas and buildings with the chief aim of creating a "center" out of a single or few developments, and instead simply focus on desiging good buildings such that centrality will occur over time, organically, and have a vibrant neighborhood arise from the effect of having many well designed buildings collectively define that neighborhood.

all of this self-concious aping to be the times square of the west coast is going to make for a less respectable urbanism than we desire. we wonder why LA fails at thoughtful architecture where so many other global cities succeed - it's because we design theme-parks first, and buildings second.

[BOYCOTT 90210]

I think Tierra Mia on Spring has some great coffee!