Growth & Development

Park Fifth Public Benefits Approved, but TFAR Process Raises Questions

By Eric Richardson — April 24, 2008
10 Comments

Park 5th Model

Friday morning the board of the Community Redevelopment Agency approved the Public Benefits package for the Park Fifth project, a $17.7 million package that includes money for Pershing Square redevelopment, streetscape improvements, and $2.5 million each to the Downtown Women's Center and Skid Row Housing Trust. While the room on Friday was filled with speakers...


Good Idea Benched

By Ed Fuentes with Eric Richardson — April 24, 2008
7 Comments

No Benches

Sidewalk amenities took a step backward last week, as a pair of benches installed last month on Main between Winston and 5th were removed. The street furniture was part of a CRA-sponsored streetscaping plan for Main street. Business owners on the block were uncomfortable with the unwelcome uses the benches were attracting, both during the day and into the...


Presented Park Plan a Start, but Illustrates the Need for a Cohesive Transit System

By Eric Richardson — April 22, 2008
15 Comments

Checking Out the Model

County Supervisor Gloria Molina welcomed the crowd gathered to hear of plans for a redone Civic Center park with a warning: dreaming is nice, but at the end of the day something's got to be built with the money the project has in hand. Her remarks set the tone for a meeting that lacked grand reveals, and instead talked of building a basic foundation onto which...


Civic Center Park Proposals "Uninspired"

By Eric Richardson — April 20, 2008
5 Comments

Civic Center Park and DWP Building

At a Tuesday evening meeting the Grand Avenue Committee and Rios Clementi Hale Studios will present two proposals for the redesign of the Civic Center Park. The four-block stretch from the Music Center to City Hall is currently three parts park and one part parking lot, and $50 million for its redesign was committed as part of the agreement for the Grand Avenue...


In Past Life, State Building Footprint was a Park and a Homeless Shelter

By Eric Richardson — April 11, 2008
4 Comments

State Board

Situated across Spring street from City Hall, the foundations of the old State Building have made for a fertile source of conversation for Downtown residents and workers. The office building, a WPA project, was torn down in 1976, but an underground parking structure and the ground floor were left intact. Today the site is a fenced-off eyesore that only sees...


Tranquility Base Opens with an Emotional Ribbon Cutting

By Eric Richardson — April 10, 2008
8 Comments

tbase3

New South Park restaurant Tranquility Base held its ribbon cutting Thursday morning, and the emotion shown by owner Dave Tardif made clear what a journey its been to get the stylish eatery open. Councilwoman Jan Perry and DCBID Director of Economic Development Hal Bastian were on hand to welcome Tranquility Base to Downtown and participate in the ribbon cutting...


AON Readies an Updated Street Presence

By Eric Richardson — April 08, 2008
3 Comments

AON Center Renovations

The AON Center at 707 Wilshire recently started work on a ground floor renovation that looks to make the building more friendly to pedestrian life. Since the construction scaffolding went up several weeks ago crews have been hard at work removing old hardscape elements that separated the building from the sidewalks. Renderings placed on the construction wall...


More Theatre Reuse: Units for Palace, Los Angeles?

By Eric Richardson — April 04, 2008
6 Comments

Los Angeles Theatre --

Applications have been filed to convert space in two more Broadway theater buildings to residential use. The Broadway office tower above the entrance to the Palace Theatre is proposed to be converted to 20 condo units. That space includes an amazing 5th floor with skylight and enormous windows, site of numerous recent movie shoots. Another application lists...


Flowers in Spring, on Spring

By Ed Fuentes — April 03, 2008
5 Comments

Unit 107

April 1 was opening day for new flower shop Floral Touches, bringing retail to the Spring street side of SB Lofts. Floral Designer Kelli Martinez, seen here with her father, Mike, had a quiet grand opening for her small new store at 548 S. Spring St.


Park Fifth Quietly Moves Forward

By Eric Richardson — April 02, 2008
8 Comments

Park 5th Model

While quiet lately, the massive Park Fifth development slated to rise north of Pershing Square continues to make forward progress. The project submitted its Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) to the Community Redevelopment Agency on March 31st. A certified EIR would be a major milestone in the process of accumulating the approvals needed...