LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0

[ConstructDTLA]

Just because its less terrible in 2010 than it was in 2000 doesn't mean anything people..

[chris08876]

Whole Foods is Coming to Downtown

Time to start moving out, early-adopting Downtowners, 'cause gentrification is complete: Whole Foods has just announced it'll be moving into the enormous Eighth & Grand mixed-user when it's built. You'll have a while to apartment-shop, though, because the project has barely begun--the 42,000-square-foot store is set to open in 2015. Downtowners have been dying for a Whole Foods for years, and a rep says "We've been looking for the right space for close to 10 years as we know that access to natural and organic foods in this neighborhood has been challenging. It makes us very happy to know that we will be filling this need. And, we look forward to working closely with the local community as well as Councilmember Huizar's office as we develop a store that delivers exactly what the community wants and needs." Downtown, which for years offered only a Ralphs, has seen a grocery store boom lately, with a CityTarget, Smart & Final, and Urban Radish all opening recently.

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Adrian Glick Kudler, 2013, http://la.curbed.com/archives/2013/07/holy_shit_whole_foods_is_coming_to_downtown.php

[StethJeff]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

As someone who moved downtown in 2005 (and still lives downtown), I can say with confidence that downtown in 2010 was worlds away from downtown in 2005. And downtown in 2013 is markedly better than 2010.

CicLAvia
Expo Line
Target
Sport Chalet
Bacö Mercat
Bar Ama
Urth Cafe
Umamicatessen

That's just the good stuff that I'm confident will last. Add Figaro, Coco Laurent, etc. and DTLA is vastly different to just 3 years ago. Not to mention the several huge projects that are ongoing. Totally agree with your statement. And if you compare to 2000? Holy crap, now were talking about LA Live, Ritz, South Park towers, Gold Line, dozens of loft conversions, 10s of thousands of residents, . . . basically a place that doesn't resemble the current DTLA.

[chris08876]

Downtown has been booming. And the sales of new units is rising now that the economy is in recovery mode.





The median sales price for homes in Downtown for Apr 13 to Jun 13 was $486,691. This represents an increase of 10.9%, or $47,691, compared to the prior quarter and an increase of 42.5% compared to the prior year. Sales prices have appreciated 9.4% over the last 5 years in Downtown, Los Angeles. The median sales price of $486,691 for Downtown is 10.61% higher than the median sales price for Los Angeles CA. Average listing price for homes on Trulia in Downtown was $967,173 for the week ending Jul 24, which represents an increase of 2.8%, or $26,453 compared to the prior week and an increase of 11.2%, or $97,060, compared to the week ending Jul 03. Average price per square foot for homes in Downtown was $459 in the most recent quarter, which is 23.72% higher than the average price per square foot for homes in Los Angeles.
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Downtown Market Trends, Trulia, http://www.trulia.com/real_estate/Downtown-Los_Angeles/7211/market-trends/

[RuFFy]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Just because its less terrible in 2010 than it was in 2000 doesn't mean anything people..

I remember in the early 2000's there was a small structure that looked like what Walt Disney Concert Hall would look like when it was completed on Grand Ave. It wasn't even a complete WDCH looking structure. It just showed the aluminum outside and was barely large enough for 2 or 3 people. DTLA has come a LONG way. One thing I've learned about being an Angelino is that it doesn't happen over night. It takes years before people even begin to grasp what it means to be an Angelino. And when they finally figure it out, they're like DAMN. I live in an amazing city.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

As someone who moved downtown in 2005 (and still lives downtown), I can say with confidence that downtown in 2010 was worlds away from downtown in 2005. And downtown in 2013 is markedly better than 2010.

Better, yes. But it still doesn't feel like a fully healthy ecosystem. I know these kind of posts devolve, but we're 7-10 years away from downtown perhaps feeling even close to a normal city. Not that it isn't cool now, or fun, or growing, but it doesn't feel well-balanced or have a sense of normalcy.

[colemonkee]

^ Agreed. We're by no means "there yet", and I agree with you that we're 10 years out from downtown being even remotely a cohesive neighborhood. My point was that it's been a slow, but steady improvement that has made the neighborhood far, far more liveable and enjoyable. Slow and steady wins the race, people.

On the subject of HunterK, he's entitled to his opinion, which I happen to disagree with. But rules of the forum prohibit personal attacks. So keep it clean, please.

[citywatch]

^ I defer to ppl who actually live or work, or spend lots of time, in dt, to those who are certainly there 24/7.

I know that my own impression of the hood is different when I'm looking at it from a distance....& dealing with it from a purely theoretical standpoint. But then when I'm actually there....seeing it up close & in person, it's a case of...BOOM!....my reaction & impressions often can be very different. The reality sometimes conflicts with my wishes & hopes...& expectations....so at that moment I feel like I've just been splashed with a bucket of cold water.

but in general terms, dtla is better today than it was 10 yrs ago, or 20 yrs ago, & in certain ways I think it's better today than it has ever been. For instance, I've seen photos of dt back in the 1940s or 1960s around where the civic ctr is today, & I compare the hood at that time with what is now Grand park today. The winner hands down is now, in 2013.

[colemonkee]

Originally Posted by StethJeff

CicLAvia
Expo Line
Target
Sport Chalet
Bacö Mercat
Bar Ama
Urth Cafe
Umamicatessen

That's just the good stuff that I'm confident will last. Add Figaro, Coco Laurent, etc. and DTLA is vastly different to just 3 years ago. Not to mention the several huge projects that are ongoing. Totally agree with your statement. And if you compare to 2000? Holy crap, now were talking about LA Live, Ritz, South Park towers, Gold Line, dozens of loft conversions, 10s of thousands of residents, . . . basically a place that doesn't resemble the current DTLA.

Just off the top of my head, I would add the following to that list, just in the last 3 years:
Grand Park
Spring Street Park
Alma
Bestia
Mo Chica
Sugarfish (late 2010 opening)
Maccheroni Republic
Badmaash
Cafe Demitasse
Mike's Deli #2 (in Little Tokyo)

And I'm sure there's a lot more that I'm missing in terms of retail stores, etc. There's been a lot of progress downtown. No one will deny that it's piecemeal, but that's how organic growth happens.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

^ Agreed. We're by no means "there yet", and I agree with you that we're 10 years out from downtown being even remotely a cohesive neighborhood. My point was that it's been a slow, but steady improvement that has made the neighborhood far, far more liveable and enjoyable. Slow and steady wins the race, people.

On the subject of HunterK, he's entitled to his opinion, which I happen to disagree with. But rules of the forum prohibit personal attacks. So keep it clean, please.

By the time the race is won, someone will have to push me across the finish line in a wheelchair.

I'm mostly joking, btw, before I'm eviscerated by the cheerleading squad.

[The Illusive Man]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Just because its less terrible in 2010 than it was in 2000 doesn't mean anything people..

I can just picture this guy. Mad about everything. He probably wakes up with a mad face, takes pictures with a mad face, and goes to bed with a mad face. Gotta love the grumps and negative nancies. These types bring balance to world.

[blackcat23]

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-metropolis-sale-20130801,0,4993477.story

Downtown L.A. 'Metropolis' deal under negotiation

by Cale Ottens

Negotiations are underway for the sale of a prime 6.3-acre slab of empty land in downtown Los Angeles near the Staples Center and the L.A. Live entertainment complex.

A Shanghai-based real estate company called Greenland Holdings Group announced late last week that it had signed a “corporation agreement” to buy the development project, known as Metropolis.

But the current owners -- a joint venture between IDS Real Estate Group and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System -- caution that there has not been an official deal completed, despite media reports.

Reports that the property sold for $1 billion are completely untrue, said Patrick Spillane, the senior vice president at IDS Real Estate Group. “There’s a lot of erroneous information.”

The vast parcel of land that is currently used as a parking lot went on the market in March and comes with city-approved plans for the construction of 1.65 million square feet of hotels, multifamily housing, offices and stores within five separate buildings, he said.

Spillane would not comment on whether the owners were discussing selling all or part of the development, nor would he speculate on when a deal might be reached.

According to Greenland’s July 26 statement, construction could start within six to nine months and would cost about $1 billion to finish.

The actual price of the land, however, would be nowhere near that amount, Spillane said, and no price for the property has been set. But downtown land recently traded for nearly $500 a square foot, which could amount to as much as $140 million for the Metropolis land....

“You have to think the new buyers have a long-term kind of plan for the site,” Soto said. “They’re not looking to develop this in a year or two, even though they do want to start construction soon.”

So yeah, pump the brakes a little bit.

[brudy]

Originally Posted by The Illusive Man

I can just picture this guy. Mad about everything. He probably wakes up with a mad face, takes pictures with a mad face, and goes to bed with a mad face. Gotta love the grumps and negative nancies. These types bring balance to world.

He's just being honest. Too many people here only want to cheer as projects are announced, ignoring the practicalities and reality of living in downtown.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by The Illusive Man

I can just picture this guy. Mad about everything. He probably wakes up with a mad face, takes pictures with a mad face, and goes to bed with a mad face. Gotta love the grumps and negative nancies. These types bring balance to world.

Tis a hard life being angry all the time.

But many people on this forum should try walking 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, Hill, Broadway, Spring, and Main everyday like I do. I discover the little things that don't get publicized, like new jewelry shops opening up.

Meiran opened up a new jewelry shop in the bottom of the Bartlett Building at 7th & spring. So he restored those spaces a couple years back, removed the shitty roll-down cages. And now he's let some awful jewelry shop in there who put one right back in. The place is truly terrible. To top that off, I havent seen any work happening at Cliftons in a month or two - there is 0 possibility they will open on time. So Meiran, someone who I had so much faith in months ago, is now on my shit-list with Delijani & Shy.

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by brudy

He's just being honest. Too many people here only want to cheer as projects are announced, ignoring the practicalities and reality of living in downtown.

So "progress means nothing" is being honest? K.

Sorry, this thread is for discussing downtown projects. Let's save the grumpyness for city-data and the Curbed comment section.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by eclipse

So "progress means nothing" is being honest? K.

Sorry, this thread is for discussing downtown projects. Let's save the grumpyness for city-data and the Curbed comment section.

Progress means everything. And LA is generally heading in the correct direction, just at a far slower pace than other great cities even though we have way more catching up to do.

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by blackcat23

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-metropolis-sale-20130801,0,4993477.story

Downtown L.A. 'Metropolis' deal under negotiation

by Cale Ottens



So yeah, pump the brakes a little bit.

Sigh... I knew there was something weird about the reports, but still thought there was some truth to them.

[Valyrian Steel]

Originally Posted by HunterK

Progress means everything. And LA is generally heading in the correct direction, just at a far slower pace than other great cities even though we have way more catching up to do.

True. There's still so much work to be done... but I don't think it will take a lifetime like some suggest.

[brudy]

.

[LosAngelesBeauty]

Originally Posted by colemonkee

Just off the top of my head, I would add the following to that list, just in the last 3 years:
Grand Park
Spring Street Park
Alma
Bestia
Mo Chica
Sugarfish (late 2010 opening)
Maccheroni Republic
Badmaash
Cafe Demitasse
Mike's Deli #2 (in Little Tokyo)

And I'm sure there's a lot more that I'm missing in terms of retail stores, etc. There's been a lot of progress downtown. No one will deny that it's piecemeal, but that's how organic growth happens.

For retail, I would add The Well at Olympic/Olive and Brigade at The Mandel Lofts. Oh yeah, Poketo, Apolis: Common Gallery, Hammer and Spear, Guerrilla Atelier, and the many boutiques (like Illest) that have opened in Little Tokyo, which feels the most "normal" out of all the neighborhoods in my opinion.