LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0

[fridayinla]

Petescafe, you should set up a webcam in your window for us. Looks like you have a front seat view of the Medallion site from the San Fernando Building.

The Zen Tower looks promising. Skidmore Owings & Merrill does awesome work! Early 2008 ground-breaking sounds ambitious. Also, Park Fifth has swept that "tallest residential" title right out from under them.

[RAlossi]

I thought Nadel was the original architects of Vibiana and they changed? Are these the newest renderings?

[Easy]

Originally Posted by edluva

like i always say, unless la's parking req'ts change, we're going to continue to get disappointments like this. huge lowrise podium developments with enormous garages taking up acres of land, and still costing a lot of money. and our parking requirements won't change until transit does. south park's going to look like sporadic gaptoothed skyline poking out of a giant podium

We're a long way from having a transit infrastructure that can even come close to competing with the automobile on most trips so having lots of parking is gonna make sense for at least the next couple of decades.

At least these new projects are incorporating retail and pedestrian friendly designs into the podiums. That is much better than many cities are doing right now. And much better than we did in the past.

[colemonkee]

Wow, great find on Zen tower. Looks like I have a lot of updating to do on the front page tonight.

Originally Posted by RAlossi

I thought Nadel was the original architects of Vibiana and they changed? Are these the newest renderings?

They were the original architects, and these renders are different than the ones we were shown by Tom Gilmore last year. When he presented them, he said that he had Nadel go back for some changes. You can see the old render on the first page. There are discernable differences.

[LongBeachUrbanist]

Originally Posted by Easy

We're a long way from having a transit infrastructure that can even come close to competing with the automobile on most trips so having lots of parking is gonna make sense for at least the next couple of decades.

At least these new projects are incorporating retail and pedestrian friendly designs into the podiums. That is much better than many cities are doing right now. And much better than we did in the past.

IMO, the amount of parking is cause for big concern. And not just from an aesthetic perspective.

Because these projects are designed (by law) with so much parking, it won't be long before Downtown streets are flooded with cars and traffic. (I mean, more than currently). This could result in a backlash against ped-friendly policies: some local businesses may call for wider streets, longer lights, and other car-friendly (ped-hostile) measures.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Very True LBU. wasn't there legislation being talked about by the city council that would address this very situation? also, do the new planning departments guidelines address this?

[ocman]

what's going on with the Thom Mayne towers. Was that project shelved?

[DTLA]

are there any significant new buildings planned for the century city area?

[colemonkee]

^ Yes, there's one under construction (40 stories) and two more ~40 story condo towers planned. But that's for the non-downtown thread.

As for the downtown thread, I updated renders for Zen and Vibiana, as well as moving Vibiana down due to the reduction in floor count. I'll move Medallion to "under construction" when I see more than just part of the lot removed.

[LAMetroGuy]

Cole... nice update on the first page. The only one I saw missing was the updated rendering for LA Central and added floor height:

L.A. Central will feature two towers (54 and 40 stories), a hotel, and 11 parking levels for residents and visitors.

[colemonkee]

^ You're right. I'll update that later tonight. Image Shack is acting up right now.

[Sodha]

Ralphs is most definitly opening this Friday. There's signs outside of Ralph's noting the grand opening at 11 am on July 20th.

[JDRCRASH]

Hollywood's Biggest Real Estate Project Unanimously Approved


HOLLYWOOD, Calif., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved Blvd6200. Located in Hollywood, adjacent to the historic Pantages Theatre, the 1.1 million square foot development will feature a broad-array of community benefits that address numerous goals and objectives of the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) and the Los Angeles City Council. Developed by The Clarett Group, a New York-based firm, the $400 million mixed-use project will be environmentally sustainable (LEED qualified), and will serve as a model for an interactive lifestyle.

"I am pleased the Los Angeles City Council gave its full approval for Blvd6200," said Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles City Council president. "This project is Hollywood's most ambitious privately-funded, large-scale redevelopment project to date."

Designed by Santa Monica-based Van Tilburg, Banvard & Soderbergh (VTBS Architects), Blvd6200 is situated on a seven-acre site that spans both sides of Hollywood Boulevard at Argyle Avenue east of Vine Street. The project will feature a diversity of architectural styles that will combine to create a dynamic urban streetscape. The high-density development will include more than 1,000 residential units of new, market-rate rental-housing of which 10 percent will be affordable; 40,000 square feet of live/work/office space; 175,000 square feet of retail/restaurant uses; 12,000 square of open, public plazas; and adequate underground parking for all uses, including the Pantages Theatre.

"Blvd6200 will transform parking lots into new-housing opportunities, retail and restaurant destinations that will revitalize Hollywood Boulevard, while ensuring the continued success of the Pantages Theatre for generations to come," said Veronica Hackett, managing partner for The Clarett Group. "We are especially proud of our voluntary inclusion of affordable housing and the green building characteristics of Blvd6200."

Blvd6200's retail/restaurant component has been designed as urban street-front retail that will activate the Boulevard to create an inherent sense of security that comes with a thriving community.

"By casting the legendary Pantages Theater as the centerpiece of this major project, Blvd6200 will bring a dynamic mixed-use community into Hollywood while respecting the area's heritage. The addition of new retail and dining opportunities will be pivotal in the transformation of Hollywood Boulevard. Moreover, the developer's commitment to adhering to the City's green-building initiatives will serve as a model for other projects that follow," said Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor for the City of Los Angeles.

Adjacent to the Hollywood/Vine Metro Rail Red Line Station, Blvd6200 will also offer MTA promotional plans to its tenants, as well as include parking for 10 Flex Cars, which will allow for the sharing of cars among numerous residents. Tenants who own hybrid vehicles will receive preferential parking.

The seven acre development site for Blvd6200 is owned by The Nederlander Organization, headed by James Nederlander, Sr. The land assemblage was completed without eminent domain or displacement of any residential tenants. Nederlander also owns the Pantages Theatre and recently completed a full-restoration of the cultural and historical landmark that is Los Angeles' version of "Broadway."

"Winning unanimous approval from the City Council is a tremendous victory, but it also reflects the unprecedented level of community support that has been generated from more than a dozen civic and neighborhood associations," said Frank Stephan, senior managing director for The Clarett Group.

About The Clarett Group

Headquartered in New York City with offices in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., The Clarett Group is a nationally-recognized real estate development company. Comprised of a highly-focused team with a unique depth of experience in all aspects of real estate development, Clarett is known for producing high-quality residential and mixed-use projects in major metropolitan areas. In addition to the firm's extensive ground-up development portfolio, Clarett is also focused on the acquisition of existing real estate in high-growth markets.

In 2002, the firm joined forces with Prudential Real Estate Investors and formed Clarett Capital, LLC to undertake its development and investing activities. The joint venture company brings in institutional co-investors on an individual project-by-project basis.

Media Contact: Kathleen Flood MWW Group Tel. (213)486-6560 Cell (562)833-6033 [email protected] The Clarett Group

CONTACT: Kathleen Flood of MWW Group, +1-213-486-6560, Cell,
+1-562-833-6033, [email protected], for The Clarett Group

Copyright © 2007 PR Newswire. All rights reserved.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

^ Not that I haven't been guilty of posting a tangent in this thread before, but that should have gone in the LA Metro Project section.

[JDRCRASH]

^ ^ ^
I had a feeling somebody would respond to that......
Well you should know also that the project in Century City mentioned earlier isn't part of Downtown either, so what am I supposed to think when you don't say anything about THAT post made by DTLA earlier?

[ladowntowner]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

^ ^ ^
I had a feeling somebody would respond to that......
Well you should know also that the project in Century City mentioned earlier isn't part of Downtown either, so what am I supposed to think when you don't say anything about THAT post made by DTLA earlier?

Hi JDRCRASH,

I'm merely speculating here, but LosAngelesBeauty probably didn't feel the need to comment since colemonkee already did so:

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ Yes, there's one under construction (40 stories) and two more ~40 story condo towers planned. But that's for the non-downtown thread.

So... uhm... yeah.

[ladowntowner]

I was traveling northbound on the 110 last evening when I spied a refrigerated Ralphs 18-wheeler and thought to myself, "I bet that one's headed for the new store". Then I saw it exiting the 9th street off ramp... so, almost with 100% certainty that's where it was going. Must've been full of produce and other perishables. Now, in the mail this evening I receive full letter sized envelope with a bunch of marketing materials on the new Fresh Fare store. Also, I believe I overheard that the grocery strike had been averted, so no danger from that happening to delay or put a damper on the new store.

This is really cool - our little neighborhood has really, truly arrived! It's been a long time coming, but it's all up from here on out.

[Affrojuice]

i walked by the ralph's store today, and looked in the windows and saw that the whole store is almost entirely stocked now. It was full of busy workers inside, and even some guys were outside doing last minute work on welding hand rails, paint, and some other last minute touch ups. I had a short conversation with a worker outside having a cigarette and he said that everyone has been working like mad to get the place read for friday. So yeah, friday at 11am is going to be it. very exciting

[citywatch]

Originally Posted by SD_Phil

Don't know if these two cases are exactly the same but here in San Diego (UTC area) a WF and Ralphs have sat across the street from one another for years.

I don't know if by "utc" you're referring to a part of DTSD or a burb to SD. If you do have 2 major markets that close together in DT, & they're both managing to do well, that's darn good.

I know Ralph's opened a store in DTSD several yrs ago, & I believe someone from the company says that branch gets pretty good sales.

I've seen a lot of supermkts competing head on in many burbs throughout SoCal, & not only have I rarely seen big crowds of shoppers in them, but they often even have seemed kind of empty. But I guess looks can be deceiving, & those grocery stores are different in that, unlike the new Ralphs at 9th & flower, they're surrounded by thousands & thousands & thousands of households.

I like how the pieces of the puzzle are falling into place right now, from the opening of Ralph's, to work finally starting on a proj like Concerto, to new devlpt taking place on the site of the Medallion (& I hope a lot more than just a small section of asphalt has been removed from the parking lot at 4th, Main & LA Sts)

[BigDan35]

Any new updates on the LA Live Ritz Carlton hotel?