LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 3.0 - Page 67

Easy · #**1321** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 5:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by LongBeachUrbanist

Honestly, I usually ignore your posts, since I can usually guess their content (and tone). So excuse me for missing this rare hint of hope and optimism.

I told you how to handle it a long time ago. You're a glutton for punishment I guess.

edkao · #**1322** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 9:39 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TOMdowntown

Actually, most projects will get a "grading permit" to start excavation of the underground parking and foundation even before final permits for the construction. The project has the full zoning approval from the specific plan for the Staples area. I think this Planning Commission approval might be a formality or be related to the final design for the area and not the right to actually build the uses and the density, since that has already be authorized.
Maybe this will happen sooner than we think.

I am with Tom, I think LA Central will start sooner rather than later.

I am a season ticket holder for the Kings, and in the parking plans for the upcoming season, that lot where LA Central will be built, is not even an option. And it has a note about where Jardin is, that Lot 5 will be closing at the end of the 2007-08 season. May-June 2008.

LongBeachUrbanist · #**1323** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 3:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy

I told you how to handle it a long time ago. You're a glutton for punishment I guess.

The "ignore list" is just what the doctor ordered!

JDRCRASH · #**1324** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 5:55 PM**

So when will it break ground?

Sodha · #**1325** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 6:23 PM**

Check out downtown's newest addition tonight! Now, we have the Standard, the Edison, and soon the Vault....and now Elevate Lounge!

http://elevatelounge.com/

blogdowntown · #**1326** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 6:47 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodha

Check out downtown's newest addition tonight! Now, we have the Standard, the Edison, and soon the Vault....and now Elevate Lounge!

http://elevatelounge.com/

I posted this over in the DT Restaurants thread in the So Cal section, but worth putting here too...

Elevate Lounge, one half of the Takami / Elevate duo on the 21st floor of 811 Wilshire, opens tonight. We just posted a little write-up and some photos from yesterday:

http://blogdowntown.com/blog/2806

I was really impressed. All of the finishes and textures are amazing. When you first walk in note the tile floor that looks for all the world like leather. It's actually an Italian porcelain, but you really want to touch it just to make sure.

Corner patio looking west:

Bottle service booths (you can't see it in the picture really, but the dance floor is that tile space just in the bottom left of the shot. It's well sized and situated):

Photos are by Dave Bullock

lasteph · #**1327** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 6:51 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodha

Check out downtown's newest addition tonight! Now, we have the Standard, the Edison, and soon the Vault....and now Elevate Lounge!

http://elevatelounge.com/

I've been waiting for this place.... already have plans to go here tonight!!!

btw what is the Vault?

Sodha · #**1328** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 8:25 PM**

The Vault is an underground Bank Vault bar that will open later this year near 8th & Hill. It is owned by the same people who own the Edison. There is a large untouched underground bank vault that be turned into a themed bar (a la Edison).

Wow...can you imagine! The Edison, The Standard, Elevate Lounge, The Vault, etc... looks like downtown LA is rapidly becoming a late-night hot spot. I love this city!

Sodha · #**1329** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 10:06 PM**

^ Sorry...early 2008 opening. http://men.style.com/news/going_out/072007

BrandonJXN · #**1330** Posted **Aug 10, 2007, 10:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodha

The Vault is an underground Bank Vault bar that will open later this year near 8th & Hill. It is owned by the same people who own the Edison. There is a large untouched underground bank vault that be turned into a themed bar (a la Edison).

Wow...can you imagine! The Edison, The Standard, Elevate Lounge, The Vault, etc... looks like downtown LA is rapidly becoming a late-night hot spot. I love this city!

I just hope the trend continues with nightclubs for all genre's of music. However, I would also want them to be catered towards all people and not just the rich hipster/yuppie type. Leave that to Hollywood's coke whores.

Personally, I love ambient/down tempo music and would love for a place like that to open up. Which is why I want to go to Elevate. It has that cool 'aura' that I'm drawn to.

JRinSoCal · #**1331** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 6:15 AM**

Figueroa Central Moves Forward

News Brief

Another pair of high-end condo towers in South Park near the growing L.A. Live site moved forward last week. Figueroa Central, the proposed 860-condo project at 1101 S. Flower St., was approved by the city Planning Commission on Thursday, Aug. 9, with a significant height increase added. The $700 million development by New York-based Moinian Group will now include a 45-story high-rise and a 33-story tower. A substantial increase in floor area, more than 368,000 square feet, was also part of the approval. Figueroa Central will boast 222 hotel rooms and more than 223,000 square feet of retail space. The development is slated to include an upscale grocery store, a health club and multiple restaurants.

Quixote · #**1332** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 6:35 AM**

^Actually, it's two towers of 54 and 40 stories.

LAMetroGuy · #**1333** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 8:56 AM**

Yeah and its also not known as Fig Central, it is LA Central... this isn't the first time that the Downtown News got it wrong.... UGH!!!

JRinSoCal · #**1334** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 1:05 PM**

^Those bastards!

But I'm really glad this got approved. Anyone know when we can expect groundbreaking???

Easy · #**1335** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 3:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRinSoCal

^Those bastards!

But I'm really glad this got approved. Anyone know when we can expect groundbreaking???

I'd think that it'd be after the Nokia parking opens. I conjecture that either the land sale had some language or there was some agreement after the fact that both the LA Central and Fig South lots would be open for Staples events until released by AEG. Hopefully for the sake of LA Live/Staples there was also some agreement that both sides of the 12th street sidewalk stay open during construction of the two sites.

colemonkee · #**1336** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 5:28 PM**

Downtown News is worthless when it comes to numbers. I updated the first page, moving LA Central and the Medallion into "Approved". Once I see foundation work for Medallion, I'll move it into the "Under Construction" section.

Sodha · #**1337** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 5:48 PM**

Well...I guess we are safe to assume that Expo Line will be open in 2010, shuttling passengers from the westside to downtown. A mass transit system is what is needed to get more development going! (plus, it goes against the arguement "but what about parking?). http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-expoline11aug11,0,7504488.story?coll=la-home-center

I went to Elevate Lounge last night...................unbelievable. Probably the best outdoor lounge I have ever seen. It's an open air area on the 21st floor of 811 Wilshire. While you are dancing, you can look out towards Eastern Columbia (very very brightly lighted), mid-Wilshire, and construction cranes in the south for 717 & Hanover. I think L.A. has definitly become the 2nd hippest spot in metro LA after Hollywood. Only more development and residents will get us over. Of course, all mass transit lines (except the Green Line) in downtown will only fuel that development further!

DTLA · #**1338** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 8:38 PM**

Even though Downtown News has an extensive resume of screwing up numbers, they were able to get the number of LA Central's hotel rooms correct

LongBeachUrbanist · #**1339** Posted **Aug 11, 2007, 9:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sodha

Well...I guess we are safe to assume that Expo Line will be open in 2010

I wouldn't be so sure...

Per the LA Times:

Funding to bring the Expo Line to Santa Monica remains in doubt. The state budget passed by the Assembly cut $1.3 billion from mass transit projects. The California Transportation Commission has temporarily held up $314 million that was to be allocated to the Expo Line because the budget failed to pass the state Senate.

Without that money, the Exposition Construction Authority may not have the funds to continue building the line west of Vermont Avenue -- let alone to Santa Monica, Thorpe said.

"We can't award the remaining contracts without that $314 million," Thorpe said. Without those funds, Thorpe said, officials would begin to see construction delays by the end of this year.

petescafe · #**1340** Posted **Aug 12, 2007, 12:53 AM**

This was under my door today. I really want to go but I might not be able to make it.