LOS ANGELES | Downtown Project Rundown 6.0

[caligrad]

Originally Posted by Mojeda101

Oh wow that's weird they covered up the pit from when they took out those storage tanks. Do they not plan to dig out the site??

If I remember correctly, it wont have a basement. They might dig down a few feet for foundation purposes but that's about it. But if that's the case, you're right, I'm surprised they filled the hole back in.

Originally Posted by SC_00_05

Not painting I can see. Plywood in the windows makes me think it's maybe not that close to opening though.

I think another reason why the Plywood might be on the bottom windows is to temporarily deter the homeless and others from stomping in and destroying what's been done since it isn't occupied yet, I forget if there's onsite security or not. But looks like most of the boarded up windows and doors are on the bottom floor while the upper floors are without. But the progress is truly unbearably slow.

[cesar90]

• Video Link

[LAsam]

The quality of your videos is outstanding, thanks Cesar! Something about that glass they are using for Wilshire Grand really emits a high-end feel.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by caligrad

I think another reason why the Plywood might be on the bottom windows is to temporarily deter the homeless and others from stomping in and destroying what's been done since it isn't occupied yet, I forget if there's onsite security or not. But looks like most of the boarded up windows and doors are on the bottom floor while the upper floors are without. But the progress is truly unbearably slow.

I walk by often and have not really noticed any work being performed in months. Maybe they are but its not really obvious when casually looking. I have no expectations for this property. If they ever open a hotel then I look forward to being pleasantly surprised.

[bighomey3000]

Winning design team, bigger budget announced for new Civic Center park

A group led by landscape architecture firm Mia Lehrer & Associates has won a design competition for the 2-acre park, on the site of a former state office building adjacent to Grand Park at the foot of City Hall

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...nap-story.html

[blackcat23]

MyFigueroa scheduled for Summer 2016 groundbreaking

[brudy]

With that kind of money for Grand Park they could have bought and fixed up Angel's Flight and the train. Or bought and created several smaller pocket parks. I don't know. The design is ok but I think downtown has bigger park needs than more added to GP.

[ChelseaFC]

The grant requires them to complete construction by March 2017? Seems ambitious.

[Wilcal]

Originally Posted by bighomey3000

Winning design team, bigger budget announced for new Civic Center park

A group led by landscape architecture firm Mia Lehrer & Associates has won a design competition for the 2-acre park, on the site of a former state office building adjacent to Grand Park at the foot of City Hall

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment...nap-story.html

Interestingly, the article mentions that Sycamores (water hogs) and Oaks (drought tolerant) will be planted along Spring and first. In general, most oaks are very, very slow growing trees. Those in the conceptual illustration would need to be at lest over a hundred years old to look that large.

[colemonkee]

This is Pershing Square dressed in today's clothes: largely grade-separated from the street with limited access and sight lines, little to no useable green space (only visible), a very large, central concrete plaza, and gimmicky buildings and structures (the best of which may not make the final design). The only hope we have that our City leaders aren't just making the same mistakes of the early 80's is if, as the article says, they are hiring the team and re-designing.

Otherwise, this is pretty laughable.

[ConstructDTLA]

Originally Posted by brudy

With that kind of money for Grand Park they could have bought and fixed up Angel's Flight and the train. Or bought and created several smaller pocket parks. I don't know. The design is ok but I think downtown has bigger park needs than more added to GP.

Originally Posted by colemonkee

This is Pershing Square dressed in today's clothes: largely grade-separated from the street with limited access and sight lines, little to no useable green space (only visible), a very large, central concrete plaza, and gimmicky buildings and structures (the best of which may not make the final design). The only hope we have that our City leaders aren't just making the same mistakes of the early 80's is if, as the article says, they are hiring the team and re-designing.

Otherwise, this is pretty laughable.

Absolutely. This is dumb - and very much in keeping with the way we do things here in LA.

[black_crow]

edit..

I am also disappointed with the Civic Center Park, but people have different tastes.
My wife actually loves it, but then again, she is married to me..

More trees and less concrete would have been nice.

[King Kill 'em]

With MyFig, they're improving 11th, but I think 12th needs more work. It should be shut down cars from Fig to at least Olive (cross streets can go through). It would also be important for transit because the blue/expo wouldn't be slowed down by cars when coming out of the tunnel at 12th.

[Wally West]

Originally Posted by brudy

With that kind of money for Grand Park they could have bought and fixed up Angel's Flight and the train. Or bought and created several smaller pocket parks. I don't know. The design is ok but I think downtown has bigger park needs than more added to GP.

But that corner lot was a total eyesore. Considering the immediate proximity to City Hall and Grand Park, I'm not surprised that the city is eager to fix that lot.

But yes, I agree with the above comments about the design. It's quite disappointing that LA keeps over designing parks.

[King Kill 'em]

If there is one forseeable benefit to over designing and over paying for parks, it is that they last a long time.

[BrandonJXN]

Originally Posted by ConstructDTLA

Absolutely. This is dumb - and very much in keeping with the way we do things here in LA.

Right because this was so much better.


https://31.media.tumblr.com/9cfb2b36...hya1qaj0yo.jpg

I actually like this park design.

[colemonkee]

^ Actually, put a few raised planters around the foundation in that picture, plant a few trees, and from a practical, usable standpoint that's essentially what we're getting. This is a plaza surrounded by unusable green space. Pershing Square with an updated aesthetic. So, yes, it's an improvement, but a marginal one at best. We could do better with our eyes closed and ears shut.

[LA/OCman]

Mia Lehrer designed Vista Hermosa park (which I think is exceptional) so I am hopeful she will come through in the long run. I am not very excited about this design for First and Broadway...but then again, I would have loved to see tennis, basketball and volleyball courts in the park!

[colemonkee]

^ I agree. Mia Lehrer has done some amazing designs. My hope is that there's another round of public input before the redesign, which the article states is imminent. They selected a team, not necessarily the design. Hopefully that public input can correct some of the ills of the current design.

[BrandonJXN]

All that really needs to be done to make it truly great is to remove the concrete barriers. Instead of calling it a total failure, it's a park that is *this* close to being great.