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Filming and Traffic Closures: Do the Building Managers Sign Off?

By Eric Richardson — August 25, 2005

There’s another filming notice outside my building today that mentions lane closures. If you recall I last week asked how we can believe the Mayor’s talk of fixing traffic while at the same time the city allows filming to block traffic lanes during peak hours. This notice says that the eastside curb lane and two adjacent lanes could be closed any...


Everyday

City Beat Updates on LATC

By Eric Richardson — August 25, 2005
1 Comment

LA City Beat runs a piece on the LA Theatre Center this week. There’s nothing particularly new inside, but it’s good to see the issue staying alive, since even the Council has a tough time getting news. Interesting to note that in the CityBeat piece they claim that the Latino Theatre Company was promised an $8 million grant by the state. I have to...


Everyday

Downtown Farmers' Market Gets Good Reports

By Eric Richardson — August 24, 2005

The midday Wednesday timing has made it something I’ve been unable to attend, but I keep hearing good things about the Downtown Farmers’ Market that’s happening on Flower this fall. eecue writes that The market was packed with people from both the neighborhood and the local businesses. The stands sold everything from clothing to the usual...


Everyday

Making Use of Empty Space

By Eric Richardson — August 24, 2005
1 Comment

Last night was the DLANC Transportation & Public Works commitee meeting. One of the items on the agenda – and one that was on last month’s as well – is street furniture. One of the main focuses of this furniture (at least on our committee) is placing more services (vending, automated public toilets, etc) around Metro stations Downtown. That...


Everyday

Biking USC and Downtown

By Eric Richardson — August 23, 2005

Midnight Ridazz - August 2005

If you’re someone who ever has to make the trip from Downtown to USC, I have to say that the way to do it is via a bicycle. Today I needed to go buy books on campus, so I hopped on my bike and 16 minutes later I was in the heart of USC. Even if you have an on-campus parking spot, I don’t think you could beat that once you add up the time it takes...


Everyday

Atlanta Passes Law Against Panhandling

By Eric Richardson — August 23, 2005

Atlanta’s mayor has now signed into law the panhandling bill that was being discussed last week. He signed it Friday, but apparently the LA Times or the AP were just as lazy about following the issue as I was, since this wire report didn’t run until today.


Everyday

Wayfinding Signage Needs a Tune-Up

By Eric Richardson — August 21, 2005
5 Comments

Abbreviation by Committee

I’ve mentioned plenty of times how much I like the new wayfinding signage that’s been going up around Downtown. It really looks nice, and hopefully it’s helping a few people find their way. I’ve also mentioned before that some of the chosen abbreviations are ridiculous. Another to add to that list is the great “Spring St Hist/Fin...


Everyday

Counterfeiters, Santee Alley, and Organized Crime

By Eric Richardson — August 21, 2005
1 Comment

An article that ran in yesterday’s LA Times makes a throw-away comment that I found interesting. Twice in this piece on Santee Alley they connect counterfeit merchandise to organized crime. In the last few years, said Acosta, who oversees the Los Angeles Police Department’s Central Division vice squad, downtown Los Angeles has become the nation...


Everyday

Cleaning Up Main Street

By Eric Richardson — August 19, 2005

Empty on Main St.

If you want to see the kind of change that’s taking place in Downtown right now, this is a great example. I can’t remember the name of this building, but it’s right next to the Regent Theater on Main Street. Just a few nights ago they lit up these new lights on the exterior of the building that I think are really nice looking. What they’...


Everyday

South Group Breaks Ground on Luma

By Eric Richardson — August 17, 2005
1 Comment

The South Group sent a press release out on Business Wire today saying that they’ve broken ground on Luma, their second new residential construction down in South Park. I haven’t been down that way much lately, but the release says that project number one, Elleven, is now 50% complete. What I really liked about the release, though, is the way developers...