Podcast on the fate of the warehouse district:
http://downtowndevil.com/2014/10/30/...-preservation/
For most that have a good idea of what's going on down there, there isn't much in the way of news. Focus was on the difficulties of HP (Prop 207, adding things like fire escapes which up occupancy but degrade the historic facade), the current demolitions going on like at Luhrs, and a few 'feel good' stories re: Ice House, Levine Machine and The Pressroom.
I have to say I wholeheartedly disagree with Michael Levine in his belief that "nobody should be living in the warehouse district." Granted, the ship has sailed with regards to true, converted lofts (though both Chambers warehouses and the warehouse on 1st St/Jackson could be repurposed), but the district needs residential desperately for many reasons:
1) It's one of the few areas where land and building stock is cheap enough to provide affordable housing along a future transit line
2) It's directly connected to downtown; with the gutting of Evans Churchill, and instability of the Capitol and Garfield neighborhoods, downtown needs to be surrounded by as many transit-accessible, dense neighborhoods as possible
3) Residents are what will create a 24/7 atmosphere in the district, which should be the end goal of any central city district - it's that which causes the convenience and vibrancy that attracts people to the area. Residents need food, neighborhood retail and services, etc. and are the stakeholders of the area who will demand for things like streetscaping projects, bike lanes, safer roads, and so on.
4) Residents will make for a safer district. A warehouse district that closes up shop at 5pm for the most part will never attract business for the 'nightlife' scene that has already sparked up. Residents create demand for the businesses that will be open between those 5pm-10pm hours and put people and lights on the street.
5) Residents will create opportunity and services for the residents of the Parks neighborhoods.
I think that the priorities of the district should be:
1) Identifying and promoting specific purposes for existing structures; it's a shame to see Jackson's on 3rd being converted from restaurant to medical office usage, and for Gerardo's and El Fresno to be used as leasing offices and a fitness center for a private apartment complex. There are still warehouses out there that could add up to a "something" if done right, but they're slipping away. The old Sporting House warehouse needs to be a brewery again, the warehouse on 1st St/Jackson needs to house affordable lofts, etc. Turning every available asset into a 9-5 business will be the death of the district.
2) RFPing any city-owned land with these goals in mind for the lots.
3) Streetscaping and wayfinding to make the area safer and the few destinations available easy to find. Jackson is well done; that just needs a few kiosks here and there. But, Buchanan needs consistent sidewalks, lighting and shade, as do 1st St and 3rd St.
4) Attracting startup companies to properties and buildings south of Buchanan and/or west of 3rd Ave.