Saturday and Sunday: Downtown Living Weekend

500,000 less people??? huhhhwwow! You’re kidding, right… they say they expect about 7,000 people total. Still, that’s a huge turnout for this kind of event.

I’ll be cruising around by foot… looking forward to seeing the Title Building as well. I wonder if we;ll be able to see the Eastern Columbia (I haven’t looked at the map yet).

Kenarch:

He’s not kidding. Remember the immigrant rally?

Alas, the buildings that are close to sold out or fully rented, like Eastern Columbia and Metro 417, aren’t on the tour. Title Guarantee should be a treat, though. I wish the Roosevelt were further along so we could really see it properly.

BTW your comment on “Downtown Filming” was the funniest post I’ve seen on this blog. Thanks for the lunch hour laugh yesterday!

Hello Ted:

Thanks… I was just rolling with the thread there a bit. I’m going to do my best to get to the Monday 5:30 meeting at LT Library. Should be interesting…

Oh yeah - I forgot that the immigration rally was that same weekend. It has been a whole year ALREADY????

That explains the “sudden” appearance of not one, but a rather large number of gray hairs.

Hmmm.

A great day to stroll around downtown and see some of the new projects, 2121 were cool, the Chapman model was on the small side, 1010 sales gallery was like cocktail hour with the free cosmos. According to the sales people at these places, they are all expecting to have move-ins in June or July. And how about all the new retail, Kelly’s Coffee & Fudge at the Chapman, Church & State Reastaurant at the Biscuit Co lofts, and Urth Cafe will add to its West Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills locations with a large Cafe/Market as part of the Barker Block in the arts district. Critical Mass meet Downtown Los Angeles.

Is it just me or are the sales people at the Roosevelt particularly unfriendly? I am renting in Downtown right now and have plans to buy in the area. The Roosevelt seems like an interesting property, but the two times I have been to their sales office and the email communication I have had with their sales people has always been less than friendly or helpful. I wonder if anyone else has had the same experience.

I liked most of what I saw - and there are so many different types of lofts that it is a very personal thing as to what one likes or doesn’t like. As for me - the lofts at 2121 &th were far and away my favorite - mostly due to the exterior open space and semi-private balconies. Ground floor loft living is not all that easy to find in Downtown, and the KFA team and the deveopers are doing a greatjob. Ialso really liked Barker Block… very robust building, industrial feel, some upper floors (which were not on the tour) will have awesome views. Barker also has great finishes. On the downside (and it is a personal preference), I was surprisingly underwhelmed with the Buiscuit Company loft on display. Yeah, it was very large, three story - but it felt strangely ordinary to me. There wasn’t anything that grabbed me. I didn’t makeit over to the Title Guarantee Bldg or anything in South Park, though I can go see Luma pretty much any time.

I hope everyone that went had positive experiences - I think the developers did a pretty good job of making a lot of very different places available, and for the most part there was a nice lack of “sales tactics”.

Mimer–I think the Roosevelet is a good project. I have a unit reserved. It’s too bad you’re getting less than friendly service. I’ve had some problems getting accurate information from one particular sales person. There is a very nice lady who I’ve dealt with–short blond hair, sorry can’t recall her name. Tara is also very knowledgeable. Bottom line–I would not let a subpar sales staff deter you from what I think is one of the best products out there.

Tim - congrats on your Roosevelt reservation - it looks like it will be a stellar conversion - excellent design, amenities, finishes, public areas - its really a different level than the others. The one thing they could change is their salespeople - you’re right Mimer.

“Title Guarantee” was somewhat lackluster. And they start over $2,000 for little 750sq ft. units. I think their prices will soon “adjust”.

In the current Downtown News there are two interesting articles about industrial zoning Downtown. This relates to the post because a lot of the potential cohesiveness of the new loft developments in the Arts, Toy and Warehouse Districts may depend on there becoming a critical mass of residents in that area. Jack Kyser mentioned that the current lofts (Toy Factory, Biscuit Company and 2121) “are little fenced enclaves” and people have to use their cars to do much of anything. I know people in Molino St. Lofts who walk frequently to places like Groundworks and the restaurants on Traction, but a large part of that area becoming a “neighborhood” depends on having enough residents not too far apart. With a larger number of people living there, these various developments can begin to relate with each other, and then more service businesses (restaurants, retail, etc) will pop up.

The City’s apparent hard line against allowing much residential development in that area is ominous, especially in terms of how it will potentially limit the quality of life for residents in the existing developments.

It is a fine line, but I believe there needs to be more than a 17% allowable conversion potential in that area.

Don’t buy at Little Tokyo. It will soon be a parking nightmare. They are giving extra small compact parking spaces and if your neighbor gets home before you, you won’t be able to park in your spot or you won’t be able to open your door and get out of your car. I’ve expressed concern and of course they don’t care. I have this problem now and am now looking for a new place to live, with a normal parking spot.

Yeah, Julie - I hear you about the parking. It is one BIG reason I don’t care to live at the beach. I drive a normal size car (a small SUV - I have a house in the mountains as well as my loft Downtown, so I need a car that is good in snow), but people who drive behemoths and insist in driving them every time they go two blocks to the store or for dinner will only continue to have more problems as Downtown densifies. Little Tokyo will eventually see some of the centralized parking structures the city is building (similar to the one at Maple & 6th) but until they get built it will be a royal hassle. I think it is at least partly planned that way - to do some “social engineering” and get people onto mass transit. Cars are like opinions - we really believe we have a basic right to have one!

^ I could be wrong, but I think Julie is talking about Little Tokyo Lofts in particular, not Little Tokyo generally.