Stretch Run: L.A. Live vs Lower Angels Knoll

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — In August, our straw poll asked you what would open first: Lower Angels Knoll park, the Pershing Square Fountain or L.A. Live. Though not winner of the fan vote, the fountain won, with water flow returning late in the month.

As we near Thanksgiving, the battle for second-place is still wide open.

L.A. Live broke ground in September of 2005. The $2 billion project by AEG has already opened 4,000 parking spaces and the 7,100 Nokia Theatre.

In the time since August, the complex has added both the 2,300 capacity Club Nokia and upscale bowling destination Lucky Strike. The massive development reaches a major milestone this next month as many of the restaurants on site hold their grand openings and the Congo Room makes its debut.

One mile away, Lower Angels Knoll park (was first conceived just over a decade ago and received its initial funding in 2001. An RFP was put out in 2006 and the contract awarded in December of that year.

In May, the Community Redevelopment Agency had told Curbed that the park would be open on June 30. In September, staff from CRA told blogdowntown that a complicated flooring pattern from Jacci Den Hartog was causing construction to run late. Sandblasting for that pattern appears to have recently been completed, but the park itself hasn't yet managed to find itself open.