LOS ANGELES | METRO Project Rundown 2.0 (non-downtown)

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by RST500

Looks good but that area needs to start building 20-40 story highrises. I have long envisioned the area as becomming LA's "Time Square."

Luckily for you (though not really anybody else) it seems that soon EVERY urban area in L.A. is going to become 'Times Square'.

[JDRCRASH]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

Luckily for you (though not really anybody else) it seems that soon EVERY urban area in L.A. is going to become 'Times Square'.

There should really, like I keep on saying, be only 2 areas (Hollywood Blvd and South Park) where billboards should be, and banned everywhere else.

[pesto]

20-40 along La Cienega would be nice, especially with a subway actually running through there. But I think both WeHo and BH would have issues. 5-10 along there wouldn't bother me at all.

I notice that NY is trying to turn Times Sq. sleek and comfortable and close off all traffic. This would be interesting for that area, again especially when transit gets there.

La Cienega/San Vicente is never going to be a walker's paradise, but big cities have big, busy intersections. People need the larger streets to access work and entertainment there, then hang on the smaller side streets in WeHo plus the Grove, 3rd St., etc.

[JDRCRASH]

^ What about where much of the rail lines converge, like downtown and the surrounding area (such as Pico-Union)?

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by pesto

This would be interesting for that area, again especially when transit gets there.

The transit IS there. What more could you want then the existing subway system?

[all of the trash]

Originally Posted by JDRCRASH

^ What about where much of the rail lines converge, like downtown and the surrounding area (such as Pico-Union)?

Those are economically depressed areas though. I think its been brought up before how cool it would be if the area around the Beverly Center were developed as a kind of ginza district. The wealth and upscale presence is already there. The only issue would be political will and many westsiders, like they always do, think they live in 1955 and will combat any big density projects.

[all of the trash]

Originally Posted by Illithid Dude

The transit IS there. What more could you want then the existing subway system?

I think he's talking about the area around La Cienega/San Vicente, not times sq.

[pesto]

Yeah; I mean Beverly Center. Times Sq. of course has subways in spades. We can think about removing traffic (ala TS) if and when the Crenshaw/Pink gets underway. But making it just like TS seems unnecessary given Hollywood and LA Live. Maybe Greenwich Village and SoHo are better models for WeHo, eastern BH, Beverly Center?

[sopas ej]

From the Pasadena Star-News:

On its 10-year anniversary, upgrade for Paseo Colorado could be in the works
By Janette Williams, Staff Writer
Posted: 10/02/2011 10:05:34 PM PDT


The Paseo Colorado, which replaced the failing and much-hated Plaza Pasadena about a decade ago, is in line for an multi million dollar facelift. Discussions are in the preliminary stages that might also include a hotel to the Civic Center site that could attract visitors to the Convention Center Wednesday, September 28, 2011. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Walt Mancini

PASADENA - Ten years ago, almost to the day, the Paseo Colorado opened with a shower of confetti, Cirque du Soleil-style acrobats and a booming Andrea Boccelli soundtrack.
Now, changes for the Paseo, which could bring a hotel and a new focus on high-end retailers, appear to be in the works.

"We've been told there's going to be some major renovation," said Michael Ross, the Pasadena Convention Center Operating Co.'s chief executive officer.

"At this point we have not been involved, but we have heard a lot of talk about what some of the changes might be," Ross said. "We're excited to see what the plans might be. A right-sized hotel would be wonderful."

The $220million Paseo replaced the fortress-like 1970s Plaza Pasadena mall - long dubbed the "Corpse on Colorado" - which was demolished in 1999.

The Paseo's "urban village" of stores, restaurants, offices and apartments covers three city blocks on Colorado Boulevard and got plaudits for reopening Pasadena's civic hub to the Civic Auditorium and Convention Center across the way on Green Street.

In 2009, the Convention Center completed a $145million expansion and renovation.

Michael I. de Leon, the Paseo's general manager and representative on the PCOC, did not respond to several requests for comment. The mall, originally developed by TrizecHahn, is now owned and operated by Ohio-based DDR Corp.
However, Ross said, the PCOC has been told plans for Paseo Colorado are coming in the "near future."

"We have a very close relationship, because they're such a big part of what we do," Ross said. "Obviously, the more people that come to the Pasadena Convention Center, the more people go to Paseo Colorado to park, shop and eat."

Mayor Bill Bogaard said a hotel within the mall's existing footprint would be an "interesting addition," and upgrades would add vitality to the civic center, plus a likely increase in tax revenues and jobs.

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[Illithid Dude]

(smmirror)

Speaking of parking structures... New rendering for a parking structure in Downtown Santa Monica. For a parking structure, it looks pretty nice.

[sopas ej]

From the Los Angeles Times:

Academy has long sought to build prominent film museum in L.A.
The pact between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and LACMA to create a museum at the former May Co. site reflects the desire of L.A. cultural leaders to showcase the city's signature field.

By Nicole Sperling and John Horn, Los Angeles Times
October 6, 2011

Los Angeles boasts world-class museums dedicated to art, cars and even tar pits. It may soon have an equally prominent showplace for the city's signature industry — motion pictures.

In partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says it intends to open a sprawling movie museum in as soon as three years. The long-delayed project would be housed in an abandoned Miracle Mile department store near LACMA, the Petersen Automotive Museum and the George C. Page Museum.

After abandoning plans for a $400-million fundraising drive to build the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures from the ground up on a Hollywood lot, the presenter of the Oscars now says it will lease the 1939 building at Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard that formerly housed the May Co. and is now owned by LACMA. The new museum, which could potentially cover 300,000 square feet, may feature exhibits tracing the history of movies, galleries focused on specific filmmaking crafts and a theater.

"Los Angeles is very hungry to build and send a message to the world that we are a center of culture," Michael Govan, LACMA's chief executive, said Wednesday.

The academy's quest to create a motion picture museum dates to the 1960s; its most recent push came in 2005, when it purchased 3.5 acres for about $50 million near the intersection of Vine Street and Fountain Avenue. Academy officials hired French architect Christian de Portzamparc to design a museum on the Hollywood property, but said the economic downturn forced them to dump the endeavor.

Academy President Tom Sherak said Wednesday that the partners will need to raise about half of what the earlier museum was budgeted to cost. Given estimates of the previous plan, that would total about $200 million. While the partners said they hoped the museum could open its doors as early as 2014, the precise timeline will be determined by the success — or failure — of the fundraising efforts.


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[bobcat]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

From the Los Angeles Times:

Academy has long sought to build prominent film museum in L.A.
The pact between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and LACMA to create a museum at the former May Co. site reflects the desire of L.A. cultural leaders to showcase the city's signature field.

This is a great partnership and a huge step towards getting more Hollywood folks involved with LA's cultural institutions. Neighboring museums should also receive an attendance boost as millions of tourists arriving by tour bus and subway are drawn to the new museum.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by bobcat

This is a great partnership and a huge step towards getting more Hollywood folks involved with LA's cultural institutions. Neighboring museums should also receive an attendance boost as millions of tourists arriving by tour bus and subway are drawn to the new museum.

Sounds like good news once the subway gets there. Not just LACMA but the Grove, Farmer's Mkt., etc., in the hood. Get those shuttles running up Fairfax at least to Canter's and Melrose.

Unfortunate for Hollywood, however; what's going to happen with the old proposed site? Probably nothing for some time.

[LAsam]

That is AWESOME news! A great reuse for the old May building, and further strengthening of museum row. Between the Page, LACMA, Petersen, and now this... that stretch will pack quite a punch! Plus, it has the added benefit of being on the future subway line.

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Excellent news regarding Blvd6200! The owners have bought out the old lady that was holding up the project. They should break ground by January as there is nothing else holding this up! Very important project for Hollywood, since those 5 or 6 lots are just massive eyesores and vastly underused.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/1...in_january.php

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by LosAngelesSportsFan

Excellent news regarding Blvd6200! The owners have bought out the old lady that was holding up the project. They should break ground by January as there is nothing else holding this up! Very important project for Hollywood, since those 5 or 6 lots are just massive eyesores and vastly underused.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2011/1...in_january.php

It's about damn time. This will be a huge boon for the area.

[SD_Phil]

Phase 1 = 535 apartments. That's not too shabby. I'm not really familiar with the project though. Will those apartments be in one building? Even if split between two buildings those will probably be quite imposing.

[Illithid Dude]

Originally Posted by SD_Phil

Phase 1 = 535 apartments. That's not too shabby. I'm not really familiar with the project though. Will those apartments be in one building? Even if split between two buildings those will probably be quite imposing.

It's split between multiple buildings. Sadly, Phase 1 also contains 1500 parking spaces. ):

[Chef Boyardee]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

From the Los Angeles Times:

Academy has long sought to build prominent film museum in L.A.
The pact between the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and LACMA to create a museum at the former May Co. site reflects the desire of L.A. cultural leaders to showcase the city's signature field.

By Nicole Sperling and John Horn, Los Angeles Times
October 6, 2011

Los Angeles boasts world-class museums dedicated to art, cars and even tar pits. It may soon have an equally prominent showplace for the city's signature industry — motion pictures.

In partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences says it intends to open a sprawling movie museum in as soon as three years. The long-delayed project would be housed in an abandoned Miracle Mile department store near LACMA, the Petersen Automotive Museum and the George C. Page Museum.

After abandoning plans for a $400-million fundraising drive to build the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures from the ground up on a Hollywood lot, the presenter of the Oscars now says it will lease the 1939 building at Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard that formerly housed the May Co. and is now owned by LACMA. The new museum, which could potentially cover 300,000 square feet, may feature exhibits tracing the history of movies, galleries focused on specific filmmaking crafts and a theater.

"Los Angeles is very hungry to build and send a message to the world that we are a center of culture," Michael Govan, LACMA's chief executive, said Wednesday.

The academy's quest to create a motion picture museum dates to the 1960s; its most recent push came in 2005, when it purchased 3.5 acres for about $50 million near the intersection of Vine Street and Fountain Avenue. Academy officials hired French architect Christian de Portzamparc to design a museum on the Hollywood property, but said the economic downturn forced them to dump the endeavor.

Academy President Tom Sherak said Wednesday that the partners will need to raise about half of what the earlier museum was budgeted to cost. Given estimates of the previous plan, that would total about $200 million. While the partners said they hoped the museum could open its doors as early as 2014, the precise timeline will be determined by the success — or failure — of the fundraising efforts.


...

Read the rest by clicking here.

Abandoned? I thought lacma used it for something. It looks great for an abandoned building. One of my favourite buildings in LA. Hope they don't alter it on the outside.

[pesto]

Originally Posted by Chef Boyardee

Abandoned? I thought lacma used it for something. It looks great for an abandoned building. One of my favourite buildings in LA. Hope they don't alter it on the outside.

I guarantee that someone will propose putting a giant Oscar facing that intersection. IMO, a fabulous sight when you come out of the Purple station there. btw, that station will have to be one of the best decorated in the whole system: everything from LACMA to Farmer's Mkt. to Canter's to Oscar will be in the 'hood.