Some updates on Downtown Projects:
Hall of Justice-
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - Kerjon Lee, public affairs manager for the County Department of Public Works, said historic architectural elements are being preserved on several floors of the Hall of Justice. A 2014 opening is expected for the 1925 building at 211 W. Temple St. The $231 million renovation of the edifice that closed after being damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake will include seismic improvements, elevator upgrades, new electrical and mechanical systems and connecting the building to systems for sewage, water and gas. The project will also create an underground 1,000-car garage on the north side of the building and a high-pressure wash of the granite exterior. When upgraded the building will house the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s office and other county agencies.
© Los Angeles Downtown News 2012
The building will be white again!
The City Hall Lawn-
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - The city Department of Recreation and Parks continues to work on a $390,000 renovation of the 1.7-acre lawn and park around City Hall. The space is expected to reopen in early June, said Tom Gibson, a city landscape architect. The makeover calls for a 51% reduction in the amount of water-thirsty grass in public areas that were damaged during the two-month Occupy L.A. encampment last year. The grassy south lawn will be mostly unchanged. Other areas will get more drought-tolerant plants and permeable surfaces. The council is also looking into a private fundraising campaign to help pay for maintenance, which will cost about $135,000 a year.
© Los Angeles Downtown News 2012
I walk past the park everyday. It's really looking good. Of course it will be trashed soon after it opens.
Los Angeles Street Cars-
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - In March the Metro board of directors was presented with the final streetcar route recommendation. The selection of the route clears the way for the start of the environmental review process, which could take up to a year; the environmental study is necessary to get federal funding for the project. The path calls for the streetcar to travel south on Broadway from First Street to 11th Street, turn west to Figueroa Street and go north to Seventh Street. It would then head east on Seventh to Hill Street and go north to First Street. It would end on Grand Avenue near MOCA and Eli Broad’s coming art museum. The exact stops have not been determined. The project is estimated at $106 million and officials with the nonprofit Los Angeles Streetcar Inc. expect to apply for $60 million in Federal Transit Administration Small Starts funds this year. Additionally, officials are working on plans to ask area stakeholders to pay for approximately half of the project through assessments similar to those in business improvement districts. The project already has $10 million from the CRA in place. Metro officials estimate the streetcar could begin operating in early 2016. At lastreetcar.com.
© Los Angeles Downtown News 2012
The whole list:
http://www.ladowntownnews.com/develo...a4bcf887a.html