Growth & Development

Handbags Shows Off Updated Hayward Retail Space

By Eric Richardson — July 17, 2008 — 4 Comments

Eric Richardson

Exterior work hasn't yet been completed, but the inside of Lili Shoes & Bags offers a great view of what Downtowners can expect from the Hayward Hotel's current renovations. Work done last month removed a drop ceiling, revealing height and history inside the old retail space. — Continued Inside...

Boutique Stay Hotel Soft-Launches in the Cecil

By Eric Richardson — July 15, 2008
19 Comments

Billed as a "boutique hotel / youth hostel hybrid," Stay Hotel soft-launched three weeks ago inside the Cecil Hotel. When complete, the hotel concept will occupy 138 of the Cecil's 600 rooms, targeting European travelers with a range of room types from dorm-style to those with private baths.

Construction Prep Starts on Van Nuys Rehab

By Eric Richardson — July 11, 2008
11 Comments

Construction scaffolding just went up on the Spring and 7th street sides of the Van Nuys building, signaling the start of work on a $42 million renovation. The 1913 building is home to 299 units of senior housing, converted in 1982.

Broadway Effort Would Do Well to Look at Denver Mall

By Eric Richardson — July 03, 2008
16 Comments

Three years ago I pitched Denver's 16th Street Mall as a model for Broadway. Built in the 1980s, the mall took sixteen blocks of derelict downtown and turned it into a walkable destination. The street was closed off and turned into tree-lined pedestrian space, with a free bus as the only traffic. Yesterday I was back in Denver and again walked along the mall...

Council Vetoes Pershing Square Work

By Eric Richardson — July 02, 2008
31 Comments

City Council today voted to veto a $190,000 renovation that would have added grass and exercise equipment to Pershing Square's Palm Court. The site, on the northeast corner of the park, is currently surfaced in crushed granite and is home to the park's collection of statues. Council asserted jurisdiction over the Rec & Parks decision in mid-June. The proposed...

Business Growth in Downtown is Using Diverse Team Work

By Ed Fuentes — June 30, 2008

Amelia Ransom Letcher, Divisional Vice President, Corporate Diversity Affairs Nordstroms with Carol Schatz, President, CEO Los Angeles Downtown Center Business Improvement District, after honoring L.A. Sparks owners Carla J. Christofferson and Katherine E Goodman at the "Living History Makers Awards" during the Turning Point Urban Business Summit and Expo 2008...

Downtown Model Turns Planning Into Play

By Ed Fuentes — June 28, 2008
2 Comments

James Rojas is a transportation planner who loves toys. In 2005 and 2007 he created large-scale models of the LA River, inviting the public to use legos, blocks, and other scraps to craft their collaborative vision of revitalization. Now he's is doing the same for Downtown, with a model available for viewing and play in the second floor art space at the 7...

International Interns Present Plan for Park 101

By Eric Richardson — June 27, 2008
23 Comments

A team of twenty-four interns from EDAW presented their vision for a sprawling park atop the 101 freeway this afternoon before a standing-room only crowd at the Caltrans Building's Broad Plaza. The unveiling capped two weeks of work for the students, drawn from eight different countries and a number of disciplines. Their proposal focused not just on idea, but...

Park Fifth Receives Final Approvals, Construction Loan

By Eric Richardson — June 26, 2008
11 Comments

Downtown mega-development Park Fifth sent an excited email out to its mailing list today to say that all necessary city approvals were now final, having passed their appeal periods. The project is now fully entitled.

Hayward Paint Removal Reveals a Shiny Exterior

By Eric Richardson — June 25, 2008
6 Comments

Another phase of the ongoing renovation to the exterior of the Hayward Hotel kicked off this week, with sidewalk protection erected and a crew put to work removing paint from the building's 1918 Spring street addition.