LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 4.0 - Page 497

alki · #**9921** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 5:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trojan

Hey ya'll, get ready for this... a picture!

8th and Hope starting to break through the skyline. As seen from LAAC.

What is the bldg in the foreground. I don't remember it.

Muji · #**9922** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 5:40 AM**

^^^ That would be the former Coulter Dry Goods building at the southwest corner of 7th and Olive.

Spantik · #**9923** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 5:50 AM**

You win again parking structure...

citywatch · #**9924** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 6:01 AM**

I believe the following discussion this Wednesday will be broadcast on KCRW at 7:00 pm, which I'm anxious to tune into. I attended a version of the same program back in 2003, which was the first time I was in disney hall, & I recall being absolutely stunned by the look of the auditorium.

I'd be surprised if the small controversy on Related & its design for Grand Ave reported in today's paper doesn't come up during at least part of the discussion.

Quote:

What happened to the grand vision for Grand Avenue?
Posted September 26, 2013 by Anna Scott

For decades, local leaders have dreamed of transforming downtown L.A.’s Grand Avenue into a cultural mecca. Plans for the street have included a park, fancy condos, hotels and a shopping district. While some of it has come to fruition like the Civic Park between the Music Center and City Hall, most remains unrealized. Why?

On October 2nd, KCRW’s Warren Olney and Frances Anderton will host a live discussion examining that question. They’ll talk to architect Frank Gehry, philanthropist Eli Broad, L.A. Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne and L.A. Philharmonic President and CEO Deborah Borda about Grand Avenue’s history and whether there’s still a chance of it becoming L.A.’s own Champs-Elysees.

The event will take place at Grand Avenue’s most famous landmark, Walt Disney Concert Hall, on its 10th anniversary. So it’s fitting to recall that once upon a time, the iconic venue seemed just as pie-in-the-sky as some say the Grand Avenue plan is today. In the early 1990s, the hall’s construction was nearly derailed by an out-of-control budget and scathing criticism of Gehry’s design, among other problems.

The Grand Designs for Grand Avenue at Disney Hall, October 2. Tickets are only $3

inSaeculaSaeculorum · #**9925** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 6:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alki

No one's calling it outstanding architecture but its definitely an interesting design as its currently shown......I think one of the best if not the best this cycle. Its good to have high expectations but its important to also keep them in perspective. Outstanding architecture doesn't come along every day.

I don't understand people like you who will claim Los Angeles to be a world class city yet turn around five minutes later and proclaim that beggars can't be choosers when it comes to good design. Are we an ambitious and world class city or not? It sounds like a lot of you have San Diego aspirations rather than 21st century aspirations. It makes no sense to me, becuase I criticize a lot of projects going up, yet I walk/bike/ride the metro everywhere and love living in Los Angeles and yet I'm one of the biggest critics of all these new projects. How do I love, enjoy and ultilize this city to its potential yet still have a criticial analysis toward it?

inSaeculaSaeculorum · #**9926** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 6:50 AM**

There is literally nothing keeping the Grand Ave project for being more ambitious.

Mojeda101 · #**9927** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 10:33 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by citywatch

I believe the following discussion this Wednesday will be broadcast on KCRW at 7:00 pm, which I'm anxious to tune into. I attended a version of the same program back in 2003, which was the first time I was in disney hall, & I recall being absolutely stunned by the look of the auditorium.

I'll be there. Hopefully I'll be able to talk to Mr. Gehry himself as he leaves. Anyone have questions for him?

RuFFy · #**9928** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 1:57 PM**

*delete*

BrandonJXN · #**9929** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 5:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StethJeff

Nope. But the fantasy ended when I got to see the amazing view from my buddy's office in the Bank of America building. From above, WDCH reminds me a lot of the Wild West facades at Universal Studios, basically looks incomplete.

Meh. WDCH is one of Gehry's best works. It is an iconic piece of architecture in a city full of great, world class architecture (whether people here want to believe it or not). I'm a bit of a fan of Gehry's style (though I can admit that his idea of Grand Ave could've been so much better). I would have wanted to see the 'iconic' Grand Ave tower resemble something like his brand new skyscraper in NYC.

http://holdithome.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Frank-Gehry_07.jpg

I like Stern's vision. But it's only mediocre. It needs to be so much more.

bobcat · #**9930** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 5:42 PM**

You can add me to the number who prefer the Gehry Grand Ave design. The new one is "OK" but nothing to get excited over. When the project was first announced there was a lot of excitement generated by both the architecture and the possibility of high end boutiques and even a Whole Foods signing onto the project. But while Related has been dragging its feet all these years the rest of downtown has caught up and passed them by. Whole Foods is setting up down the street and ritzy boutiques have found a place on S Broadway. Even Macy's Plaza/The Bloc is looking to steal their thunder.

It might be 2020 before this project is finished. Without the Gehry design what's left of the project to wow us?

BrandonJXN · #**9931** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 5:47 PM**

This is just the dreamer in me but I would've loved to see Zaha Hadid design the Grand Ave project. Gehry is nice but I think her designing something in Los Angeles just seems to work for some reason.

Wilcal · #**9932** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 5:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackcat23

Well, back to the drawing board on Grand Avenue I guess. Disappointing, but maybe it's a chance to get something better out of it. I've listened to a few of their meetings, and it really seems like Gloria Molina had her heart set on the old Frank Gehry design.

Blackcat,
I'm impressed that you went to meetings, while most people would not bother. Actually, I'm not surprised by your initiative given your devotion to this forum as evidenced by Building Los Angeles. But as far as the meeting is concerned, it would be a shame that one individual (or individuals) has (have) the influence to derail years of expense and hard work. The action itself would clearly indicate the city/county's overall ineptitude and dysfunction when it comes to this development. If the agreements are cancelled it may not be so simple as to have another developer take Related's place. I don't think that any sane developer, especially given the national and regional economy, much-less apprehension about the downtown market, would touch it. Look at the disdain the committee has already shown for Related, is it any wonder that they propose a very cautious timeline. It would indeed be a very bad mistake for this to happen based upon a few disagreements over design. I don't know if people in this forum realize that this land (Bunker Hill)was being cleared in the early 1960's, with the last surviving structures removed I think around 1967. This land has lain fallow for over 47 years. The last remaining piece of this once grand design has been completely empty. If this agreement with Related ends now and cannot be repaired, I predict that this opportunity for developing one of the last parcels of the "Bunker Hill" will be lost for many years to come. The stupidity almost seems to be generational--"Ship of Fools"--as they say.

blackcat23 · #**9933** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 6:10 PM**

I didn't actually attend the meetings, but there are recordings available online. I don't think the meetings are open to the public, unless you ask well beforehand.

While I get that more delays frustrate everyone, Related SHOULD have known better. This isn't the first time that they've heard the criticisms brought up by the Times yesterday (too insulated from the street, not enough open space). When Related presented plans back in April, Huizar and Molina said the exact same things, even comparing their new proposal unfavorably to California Plaza.

inSaeculaSaeculorum · #**9934** Posted **Sep 30, 2013, 9:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

This is just the dreamer in me but I would've loved to see Zaha Hadid design the Grand Ave project. Gehry is nice but I think her designing something in Los Angeles just seems to work for some reason.

Agreed. I would have liked to seen something like this for the grand ave proj

brudy · #**9935** Posted **Oct 1, 2013, 12:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThreeHundred

This is just the dreamer in me but I would've loved to see Zaha Hadid design the Grand Ave project. Gehry is nice but I think her designing something in Los Angeles just seems to work for some reason.

Totally agree, I'd love to have her do something for this spot.

FWIW, I see the decision as a very good thing.

Muji · #**9936** Posted **Oct 1, 2013, 1:12 AM**

Another minor update on 8th and Hope, as seen from 7th St. today. The building seems to be about half-way up, so it'll be pretty prominent in this view once it's topped out.

StethJeff · #**9937** Posted **Oct 1, 2013, 1:18 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by inSaeculaSaeculorum

Agreed. I would have liked to seen something like this for the grand ave proj

Exactly.

Btw, I'm right there with you. I love this city and will never leave, even though I could easily make twice my salary in other parts of the country. I live downtown, use the metro frequently, host visitors all the time, and even have a photo of Angel's Flight framed on my wall.

That doesn't mean that I can't be critical of LA. Grand Avenue project comes up short and based on the schedule and historical problems with financing, may not get built this decade. The new LAX terminal represents a tiny part of the overall airport - I made two critical comments about it in another thread and somehow I incurred the wrath of Citywatch and even got her to draw comparisons between me and her

lot posts. Amazing.

Anyway, it's possible to both be an LA homer and still find the city to be largely ugly, usually uninspired, and a shitty place for tourists. It's not a big deal, folks.