Greater Los Angeles Region: Projects and Developments

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More tech industry buyers are snapping up L.A. real estate

Billionaire Larry Ellison has become almost legendary for purchasing prized beachfront Malibu properties. Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos spent $24.5 million for a Beverly Hills compound. Sean Parker, of Napster and Facebook fame, dropped $55 million last year to buy Ellen DeGeneres' Holmby Hills mansion.

They were all upstaged in December when "Minecraft" creator Markus Persson, a Swedish tech billionaire, forked over $70 million for an epic custom mansion in Beverly Hills. It's fitted with iPad-controlled fountains, vodka and tequila bars, a $200,000 candy room and an onyx dining table for 24.

And with a growing tech scene, plus the lure of tech-entertainment content partnerships in Hollywood, there's more business to do in L.A. In 2014 the Los Angeles-Long Beach region broke into the top five metropolitan areas by venture capital investment for the first time, with 171 deals totaling $2.05 billion, according to the National Venture Capital Assn., whose records go back to 1995.

Last year, the number of Westside homes purchased by buyers who listed a mailing address in Santa Clara County, San Francisco County or San Mateo County more than doubled from the year before, hitting the highest number since 2007, according to data provided by CoreLogic DataQuick. The firm looked at home sales in Santa Monica, Venice, West L.A., Brentwood, Westwood, Playa Vista and Beverly Hills, areas that are close to or considered the nexus of the L.A. tech community.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...321-story.html

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Carson NFL stadium backers get 14,000 ballot initiative signatures

The plan to build a $1.7-billion stadium for the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders in Carson moved ahead Saturday as backers submitted more than 14,000 signatures in support of a ballot initiative for the project.

Organizers of the petition drive, bankrolled by the Chargers and Raiders, originally expected it to last until mid-April. Instead, they needed just eight days.

“The signature-gathering effort, which moved forward at an unusually rapid pace, revealed an extremely high level of support for the stadium project in Carson,” said Mark Fabiani, point man on stadium issues for the Chargers.

The signatures, about twice as many needed to qualify the initiative for a public vote or consideration by the Carson City Council, continued the quickening pace of the competition to return the National Football League to the Los Angeles area.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sports...321-story.html

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Stan Kroenke ready to show NFL owners detailed Inglewood stadium plan

Stan Kroenke won't be empty handed this week when he arrives at the NFL owners meetings in Arizona.

The St. Louis Rams owner will be packing finished schematic plans for the world's most interactive and integrated football stadium, a futuristic, $1.86-billion, privately financed venue proposed for the Hollywood Park site in Inglewood.

Kroenke is not quite ready to put a shovel in the ground, but the major pieces of the project are now fully drawn, allowing the global sports and real estate billionaire to show the small army of architects and engineers at his disposal have made significant progress.

Representatives of Kroenke and HKS, the architecture firm he's employed, met with the Los Angeles Times recently in San Francisco to provide a first look at the detailed plans.

The timing of the meeting — days before the NFL convenes Monday at the Arizona Biltmore resort — wasn't coincidental. The league's owners will ultimately decide when and where the nation's No. 1 sport returns to its No. 2 market.

The latest renderings show a light metallic, wave-shaped structure featuring a roof that encompasses the stadium and a surrounding plaza, providing weather protection but remaining open on the sides. The stadium could host big indoor events such as a college basketball Final Four.

The roof has metal borders, but the area over the playing field is made of a transparent material called ETFE, which is as clear as a car windshield and strong enough to support the weight of a vehicle. The design allows for breezes to flow through the building, enhancing the outdoor feel.

"This stadium grows out of the DNA of the region," said Mark Williams, director of sports and entertainment business development for HKS, which designed AT&T Stadium for the Dallas Cowboys and Lucas Oil Stadium for the Indianapolis Colts.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la...22-column.html

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Originally Posted by NFL

Giants' John Mara expects one or two teams in L.A.

There are three potential NFL teams that could move to Los Angeles. New York Giants owner John Mara expects at least one of them to move to Los Angeles next year.

"I think there's going to be 1-2 teams playing in Los Angeles next year," Mara told a group of reporters including NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport at the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix.

Asked to clarify, Mara made it clear he thinks at least one team will playing there in the 2016 season. And those words carry weight when coming from one of the most influential owners in the NFL.

The candidates to move are clear. The San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders teamed up for a stadium proposal in Carson back in February. Later in the month, the Inglewood City Council approved to build a football stadium that includes St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke as a partner. Construction for that plan could potentially start by the end of the year, with a stadium ready by 2018.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...wo-teams-in-la

Originally Posted by WP

Robert Kraft expects two NFL teams in Los Angeles by the 2016 season

PHOENIX — The NFL opened its annual league meeting Monday with thoughts of a pending return to the Los Angeles market on the minds of many people within the sport. One prominent owner, the New England Patriots’ Robert Kraft, said he believes the league will have two franchises in Los Angeles in time for the 2016 season.

“I was sad 20 years ago when I came into the league, the two teams moved out of the L.A. market,” Kraft said during a break in the meetings Monday. “It was just very unfortunate. I don’t think it’s good that we’ve let a generation of fans, young kids, grow up without a team … It’s not good for the NFL. I really believe within the next year we’ll have two teams in this market. I think there are good plans … We have some real good options. And now we’ll see what happens in the end game.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/s...e-2016-season/

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'Fast and Furious' ride to open June 25 at Universal Studios Hollywood

At the peak of the summer tourism season, Universal Studios Hollywood will open its latest major attraction, a hydraulic motion-based ride that takes off on the hugely popular “Fast and Furious” movie franchise.

The Fast & Furious -- Supercharged ride, which opens June 25, puts guests on the Studio Tour tram ride into a newly constructed 65,000-square-foot structure that houses a 360-degree screen. From the seats of the tram, parkgoers watch 3-D images, projected on a 400-foot-long screen from a total of 34 projectors, making them feel like they are traveling at 120 mph.

Hydraulic lifts under the tram, plus mist, smoke and wind effects are also used to bring to life action scenes inspired by the “Fast and Furious” movies. It’s the same type of technology used in the park’s King Kong 360 3-D attraction.

The ride is part of a larger $1.6-billion, 25-year upgrade plan for the Universal Studios property that includes the opening last year of Despicable Me Minion Mayhem and the opening next year of the highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter attraction.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...323-story.html

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Irwindale Speedway likely to be demolished for outlet mall

IRWINDALE >> City officials Wednesday will likely approve plans to demolish the iconic Irwindale Speedway to pave way for a 700,000-square-foot outlet mall.

City Council will hold a public hearing about the project at a meeting where officials are also expected to approve a development agreement with Irwindale Outlets Partners, LLC, change the site’s zoning code to commercial and certify the final Environmental Impact Report.

The Irwindale Outlet Center project, which includes design plans for an outdoor shopping center, entertainment stage, a central plaza and dining courtyard, is expected to generate thousands of jobs and bring a new heartbeat to the community.

http://www.sgvtribune.com/government...or-outlet-mall

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In mid-March, the Recreation and Parks Department opened a 1.1-mile stretch of Mt. Hollywood Drive to traffic as part of a three-week trial period to ease congestion for tourists seeking close-up views of the Hollywood sign. The route, just west of Griffith Observatory, was closed to cars two decades ago.
http://www.latimes.com/local/califor...330-story.html

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Carson NFL stadium plan report projects $500-million spending boost

As plans for an NFL stadium in Carson move toward a vote this spring, supporters released a study Wednesday night detailing how the project could benefit the South Bay city.

Two NFL teams playing in a new stadium could generate more than half a billion dollars in spending, enough to support nearly 9,000 full- and part-time jobs once construction is completed, according to a study paid for by the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders .

"We're excited about the numbers," said City Atty. Sunny Soltani, who received a copy of the report hours before City Council members were to discuss the figures with team officials in a closed-door session Wednesday night.

Carson has hired its own economic consultants to review the plan and its impact on city finances. Soltani said she expects that report to be done by the end of April, after which — if county election officials verify enough signatures — City Council members will either adopt an initiative approving the stadium or schedule a public vote on the matter.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la...402-story.html

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Westfield’s $800 million Century City transformation entices Norstrom to relocate in 2017

Westsiders with a love of shopping, retail therapy, and fashion will be delighted come 2017, as Westfield Century City will complete its multi-million dollar makeover that will include a handful of new and revamped entities.

The $800 million transformation will expand the shopping center to span 1.2 million square feet in order to house a quartet of bigger and better retail options.

Specifically, the final results will be comprised of a three-level Nordstrom, a three-level Bloomingdale’s, a two-level Macy’s, and the debut of the world-renowned Eataly.

The other addition to the Century City shopping center, Eataly, will be the Italian marketplace’s first West Coast location. An indoor hub of Italian treats, Eataly is known for its well-rounded combination of retail shops, restaurants, and even a cooking school.

Alex Saper, Chief Operating Officer of Eataly, told Century City News in October that West L.A.’s favorable weather wound up influencing his team’s planning process.

For example, ideas involving potential outdoor seating and juice bars have been circulating among the Eataly team. Saper also mentioned that Eataly would be working with local producers in order to take full advantage of its surroundings, although there were no specific plans set in stone.

In addition to offering authentic Italian delicacies, artisanal products, and local produce, Eataly will also boast a rooftop bar and lounge with panoramic views of the surrounding city.

http://westsidetoday.com/2015/03/10/...ocate-in-2017/

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Los Angeles Housing Prices Have Shot Up More Than Any Other US City's Since 2000

Los Angeles housing prices went down .2 percent between December and January, and that's where the good news stops. They were still up 5.66 percent over the year before and, brace, up 126.36 percent over 2000, giving Los Angeles the cool distinction as the US city with the biggest housing price increase over the tumultuous past 15 years. That's the news from Standard & Poor/Case-Shiller, which measures 20 major US cities every month and has for years; nationwide, prices were up 4.5 percent between last January and this January, a little less than in Los Angeles, but several cities—Dallas, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami—saw way bigger growth. And still none of those cities came close to touching LA's leaps over a longer span of time.

http://la.curbed.com/archives/2015/0...since_2000.php

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Pasadena sees a flurry of hotel development, expansions and makeovers

Visitors walking into the former Hotel Constance on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena are often surprised because the inside is so different from the 1920s Spanish-style exterior.

"There is an ah-ha moment, for sure," hotel executive Paul Jan Zdunek said. "Not everyone likes it. It may not fit what they had imagined" from observing the outside.

What guests encounter, he said, is "an amazing pop of techno Thai culture" in bold colors and fluid shapes.

DusitD2 is the avant-garde, mid-price brand of Dusit International, a Thai hotel management company that operates luxury properties in several countries, including Thailand, China and United Arab Emirates. The Constance is Dusit's first inn in the United States.

Average occupancy in Pasadena hotels has risen substantially in the last five years to nearly 85%, which is "extremely high," according to hospitality analyst Bruce Baltin of PKF Consulting USA. The city is undersupplied with rooms, he said, and new hotels are coming to the central city.

A 144-room Residence Inn is expected to be completed by November on Fair Oaks Avenue north of Old Pasadena.

Other projects in the pipeline include a Hyatt Place to replace the former Macy's department store building in the Paseo Colorado shopping center on Colorado Boulevard and a Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants branch encompassing the former YWCA built in 1922 on North Marengo Avenue.

Last month the Westin Pasadena on North Los Robles Avenue sold for $142.5 million to a New York real estate investment trust that plans to spend an additional $15.5 million on renovation of the guest rooms and other improvements.

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-f...409-story.html

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RANCHO CUCAMONGA: Victoria Gardens getting face-lift
Victoria Gardens is starting a remodeling project to lure younger shoppers. It’s part of the city’s plan to boost economic development.

The focus at Victoria Gardens is on Monet Avenue, a north-south street on the west side of the 1.5 million-square-foot outdoor mall.

Renovations include new building facades, wider sidewalks, expanded patio dining, drought-resistant landscaping, enhanced lighting and resting spaces known as parklets.

About 20 retailers will look different inside or outside, said Christine Pham, the mall’s general manager.

The work is expected to be finished by November.

Additionally, two restaurants are expected to arrive this summer – The Melt, an eatery known for its grilled cheese concept, and Blaze Pizza.

http://www.pe.com/articles/city-7643...-victoria.html

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Lakers moving ahead on planned training center in El Segundo

The Lakers took an expected, but important, step in the development of their new training facility, receiving preliminary approval from the El Segundo City Council last week to keep moving ahead with their plans.

A final vote will be taken in June. The team hopes to break ground in October and finish its planned $80-million complex in the summer of 2017. The facility will be located on a five-acre parcel within a quarter mile of the Lakers' current location. The team will no longer share a building with the Kings and a trio of ice-skating rinks sometimes open to the public.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers...413-story.html

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Want to visit Springfield? Have a Duff Beer at Moe's Tavern? Now you can at The Simpsons town at Universal Studios Hollywood

Fans of the long-running animated Fox television show “The Simpsons” will soon be able to fully immerse themselves in the lovable yet mildly dysfunctional family’s hometown of Springfield, as it comes to life at Universal Studios Hollywood.

In all, Springfield will consist of 24 multilevel building facades, 14 of which are unique to Universal Studios Hollywood.

New elements will continue to be added to Springfield, with all of the offerings available to the public by the grand opening date, May 13.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/s...ield-ride.html

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NFL officials meet with Chargers, Raiders about Carson stadium

Representatives of the San Diego Chargers, Oakland Raiders and the city of Carson met with NFL officials Thursday in downtown Los Angeles to discuss a proposed $1.7-billion stadium.

The meeting, which lasted about 40 minutes, included Eric Grubman, an NFL senior vice president who is the league’s point man on the L.A. market.

Carson City Councilman Albert Robles, who will be sworn in as the city’s mayor Tuesday, said Grubman explained the league’s process regarding the competing stadium proposals. The tone of the discussion was positive, he added.

“I enjoyed talking to him,” he said.

Raiders President Marc Badain, who also attended the meeting, gave Robles a silver lapel pin with the team’s logo. The mayor-to-be, who also owns a half-Chargers, half-Raiders jersey, wore the pin on his suit after the meeting.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sports...416-story.html

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Over 2,000 turn out for Rowland Heights Community Center opening

More than 2,000 residents turned out for the grand opening of the new Rowland Heights Community Center. The $18 million complex offers 19,000 square feet of space at Pathfinder Park in the Puente Hills.

“It’s wonderful, and there’s so much space for classes and activities,” said Michelle Gomez of Rowland Heights.

http://www.sgvtribune.com/general-ne...center-opening

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Carson City Council approves $1.7-billion NFL stadium
By Dan McSwain8:43 P.M.APRIL 21, 2015

The Carson City Council unanimously approved a privately financed stadium for the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders on Tuesday night, barely two months after the public announcement of the proposed $1.7-billion project.

"There are two things we need in California: rain … and football," Carson Mayor Albert Robles said to cheers after the 3-0 decision. "And football is coming to Carson."

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la...422-story.html

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Shake Shack will open in West Hollywood next year

Shake Shack, the New York City burger joint often referred to as the In-N-Out of the East, will open in West Hollywood next year. The company announced the news via Twitter on Tuesday morning.

The restaurant, with its cult-like following, is known for serving rich frozen custards, cheeseburgers with tangy Shacksauce, and a long line through Madison Square Park.

The Los Angeles location will be at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and West Knoll Drive. This will be the first Los Angeles Shake Shack. New York transplants have to drive to the Las Vegas Strip to get a taste of home.

http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydis...421-story.html

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NFL hears proposals on Inglewood, Carson and St. Louis stadiums

Representatives of NFL stadium proposals in Inglewood, Carson and St. Louis made presentations in New York on Wednesday to a group of league executives and owners.

In attendance were the six owners who compose the Committee on Los Angeles Opportunities, chaired by Art Rooney II of the Pittsburgh Steelers, along with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke is backing the Inglewood project, while St. Louis is making a proposal to keep the Rams there. The San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders have joined forces on a Carson alternative to Kroenke’s plan.

St. Louis went first, giving a half-hour presentation, followed by hourlong presentations by Kroenke and by the twosome of Chargers owner Dean Spanos and Raiders owner Mark Davis.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sports...422-story.html

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Chargers and Raiders overhaul design for potential L.A. stadium

Although the original renderings were created with input from only the Chargers, the new design is the result of almost two months of collaboration between the franchises.

The revised plans show a futuristic open-air venue with a peristyle intentionally reminiscent of the one at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum.

"We wanted the building to be iconic and sleek, like a luxury sports car," said David Manica, president of Manica Architecture, who is designing the stadium. "Very aerodynamic, in motion, flowing lines from every angle."

A signature element of the design is a 115- to 120-foot tower that rises through and extends above the main concourse. It would serve as a pedestal for a cauldron that would change depending on the team. When the Chargers play, simulated lightning bolts would swirl behind glass encasing the tower and, if the team were to score a touchdown, a bolt would shoot out of the top. For Raiders games, a flame would burn in the cauldron in honor of legendary team owner Al Davis.

The plan would not call for the flame to burst up from the tower in the event of a Raiders touchdown.

If the venue were to play host to a Super Bowl, the tower would be transformed into a giant Lombardi Trophy.

The "core concepts" of the project, Manica said, focus on an open and airy design.

"Ownership really wants to celebrate the history and enthusiasm of football in Los Angeles," he said.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la...424-story.html