Quote:
Originally Posted by HossC
I think this picture may have been posted on NLA before. It's taken from 4th, looking south on Vermont, and possibly shows the aftermath of the undergrounding of Sacatela Creek mentioned above by Flyingwedge. USC date it at 1931.
USC Digital Library
Off in the distance are The Talmadge and the Presbyterian church on Wilshire.
Detail of picture above.
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Tovangar's post on the topic synthesizes FW's post.
http://skyscraperpage.com/forum/show...ostcount=12319
I suppose I need to do more creek homework.
These views suggest that Vermont and adjoining streets may have been intentionally elevated, or the creek area was naturally lower than surrounding areas. Heavy rain must have been fun.
(
Plenty of NLa posts concerning this especially at or near the Normandie Hotel on 6th.) It certainly looks like these pictures are
after the major construction, but an argument can be made that they were taken pre-construction (unless, as FW theorized,the pictured portion of Fourth Street only existed after the construction).
Was the post construction deliberately left with the pictured elevation disparity? Wasn't the construction to obviate the need for a flood plain? From the little I have explored on NLA, there doesn't appear to be much evidence - today - of generally lower ground levels in the area. But maybe I am wrong. I do recall reading or hearing that construction of the large grocery stores at Vermont and Third (Vons and Ralphs) was very daunting and time consuming. The biggest problem was the slough that required both major excavation and more pilings than expected to support the buildings. (Might be an interesting event to explore.) But returning to the above photos, are the structure/s in the background part of the Diana area? Did they predate the construction being left intact and undisturbed during construction - or were they post construction creation?
Ralphs at Third and Vermont (Must have been remodeled, compared to current structure. Possibly a teardown since the current structure is setback and surrounded by parking rather than a nearby street.)
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/show...&postcount=300
Ralphs at Third and Vermont, sad time in '92. ("
No, the Bimini Baths are over there.!")
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/...87_634x408.jpg
Can't help but wonder whether some of the creek landfill made it into the picture HossC posted. And then there was GW's Kirkland house photo that was clearly built higher than Vermont, perhaps because of a desire to remain dry or maybe to be closer to the pigeons.
That driveway retaining wall looks like it took some abuse.
Remember to use that parking brake when visiting!