LOS ANGELES | METRO Project Rundown 2.0 (non-downtown)

[pwright1]

When I was there the other night I noticed the blue light across the top changed color a few times. Here it is in yellow.

[ChelseaFC]

SoHo House converting former Palihouse in West Hollywood to new hotel

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/li...22-1235048831/

[craigs]

L.A. City Council upholds approval of big Warner Center project

[size=3]Another office-residential complex clears a hurdle[/url]

Steven Sharp
Urbanize Los Angeles
February 17, 2022



The Los Angeles City Council has voted to uphold the approval of a proposed mixed-use project from California Home Builders in the Warner Center neighborhood, concluding a tussle that began nearly two years at the South Valley Area Planning Commission.

The proposed project, approved in June 2020, calls for razing a one-story church at 21300 Califa Street to make way for the construction of a two-phase development consisting of rental apartments and commercial offices. The initial phase of the development would consist of a seven-story building featuring 194 dwellings, inclusive of four live/work units, eight hotel rooms, live/work offices, and approximately 3,500 square feet of street-fronting commercial space. Plans also call for 317 parking stalls in a subterranean garage.

A second phase of the project would consist of a 22-story, 327-foot-tall office tower featuring roughly 192,000 square feet of space above 234 parking spaces in an underground garage.

Architecture firm Newman Garrison + Partners is designing the Califa Street development.

The appellant, the Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, had argued that the project is inconsistent with both the Warner Center 2035 Specific Plan and other zoning rules for the area, and should be subjected to additional review under the California Environmental Quality Act. Additionally, the appeal argues that California Home Builders should be required to pay additional fees for mobility improvements and cultural amenities in Warner Center.

While the Area Planning Commission previously voted to grant the portion of the appeal relating to revised fees for the Califa Street project, a staff report found no evidence for the claims made regarding zoning and the California Environmental Quality Act.

California Home Builders, which is based out of the San Fernando Valley, has already built more than 500 apartments in the Warner Center area, and is poised to build hundreds more in a handful of mixed-use projects across the neighborhood.

[ocman]

La Brea Tar Pits is starting it's environmental review phase for the renovation. I haven't paid attention lately, but I really thought they were further along than this. Anyway, it really is the missing link to bringing that whole block into a cohesive experience, even more so than the Zumthor building. LACMA always felt enclosed like you couldn't really leave the campus. The new plans for La Brea feel like a seamless extension of LACMA that you can wander back and forth between the two museums.


https://archinect.com/news/article/1...edi-s-redesign

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

Good observation on the openness. I'm really looking forward to the new look

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Until there are enough shelter beds or low income housing, are there any large unused places in Los Angeles where homeless could camp in tents or park their vans and cars without ruining parks or residential streets? A safe place where they could get services, clean up and shower, get drug treatment and medical services, get fed, but not bother anyone? I'm thinking perhaps in the industrial area east of downtown, there might be a large unused warehouse or factory that could be converted to a place for the homeless to go. Is the Sears building in Boyle Heights being used? Of course some money wouId be needed for showers, bathrooms plus social services and security. Better than having them camping out in the streets and parks. Interim solution until we get enough permanent housing. Of course the numbers are so large that more than one place like this will be needed. One location not enough.

Maybe somebody read my post from Feb 1. On page 1 in Sunday's California (part 2) section, the owner of the Sears complex in Boyle Heights wants to turn it into an all services homeless treatment center and residence. Maybe 10,000 could be housed there, and given assistance. About time. We'll see if any NIMBY's in Boyle Heights oppose it. I hope not.

[Easy]

Originally Posted by CaliNative

Maybe somebody read my post from Feb 1. On page 1 in Sunday's California (part 2) section, the owner of the Sears complex in Boyle Heights wants to turn it into an all services homeless treatment center and residence. Maybe 10,000 could be housed there, and given assistance. About time. We'll see if any NIMBY's in Boyle Heights oppose it. I hope not.

Here’s a link to the LAT article: https://www.latimes.com/california/s...ding?_amp=true

Besides NIMBY’s we’ll have to see if the city government supports it because he’ll certainly want City money. Current LA City policy, which is supported by the public, is based on housing being a “human right.” This means that the residents of LA believe that everyone deserves permanent housing, which a shelter is not. City government has previously fought against being required to provide temporary shelter beds with the stated reason being that it doesn’t meet the solution that the City is pursuing, which is permanent housing for all. If the City were to agree to this proposal it would be admitting that thousands of people will be denied their “right” to permanent housing. IMO this is very unlikely to happen absent electing a new city government or a ballot measure of some sort.

[CaliNative]

Originally Posted by Easy

Here’s a link to the LAT article: https://www.latimes.com/california/s...ding?_amp=true

Thanks for posting the article. Besides NIMBY’s we’ll have to see if the city government supports it because he’ll certainly want City money. Current LA City policy, which is supported by the public, is based on housing being a “human right.” This means that the residents of LA believe that everyone deserves permanent housing, which a shelter is not. City government has previously fought against being required to provide temporary shelter beds with the stated reason being that it doesn’t meet the solution that the City is pursuing, which is permanent housing for all. If the City were to agree to this proposal it would be admitting that thousands of people will be denied their “right” to permanent housing. IMO this is very unlikely to happen absent electing a new city government or a ballot measure of some sort.

The Sears distribution center owner said housing homeless there will be much cheaper than other alternatives. Would cost the city much less per person housed. The huge 1.6 million sq. ft. building is already there, just need to build the units and services facilities inside. Many more thousands could be housed in the large parking areas in temporary structures or large tents.

[milquetoast]

Originally Posted by citywatch

As for the fountain in the center of the ave of the stars,

that to me has always been one of the better ones in LA....

That fountain rumored to be the victim of one of Keith Moon's pranks,
but I can only find a pic of him leaning out of one of the balconies.

[LA21st]

Went to Hollywood for the first time in a few months, and it looks much better than last year already. There must've been 7-8 big mixed use complexes u/c and it's having a big presence.

There was a big uptick in pedestrians on Sunset as well.

[LA21st]

Went to Hollywood for the first time in a few months, and it looks much better than last year already. There must've been 7-8 big mixed use complexes u/c and it's having a big presence.

There was a big uptick of pedestrians on Sunset as well.

[Easy]

Sunset is changing as much as anywhere in LA. Large parts already look very different and there's still huge projects coming up. I won't go so far to say that it will be unrecognizable, but it's going to look very different in just a few years. It's clearly distancing itself further ahead as Hollywood's "Main Street".

[LA21st]

Originally Posted by Easy

Sunset is changing as much as anywhere in LA. Large parts already look very different and there's still huge projects coming up. I won't go so far to say that it will be unrecognizable, but it's going to look very different in just a few years. It's clearly distancing itself further ahead as Hollywood's "Main Street".

It's changed a ton, and it appears any smaller older building is going to bite the dust in a few years. Even the developments on the side streets are starting to change quite a bit.

People who trash Hollywood always reference Hollywood boulevard, but it's really Sunset that's becoming the center/heart of the neighborhood.

It will defintely be a different place before the Olympics.

[craigs]

Hollywood Blvd. is still the heart of "tourist district" Hollywood, which is really its own thing. Sunset Blvd. definitely seems more vibrant in terms of new office buildings and housing, and more for Angelenos than for tourists. Honestly, I will go out to eat on Sunset in Hollywood--I've eaten at a couple of restaurants there recently--but I only ever go to Hollywood Blvd. to see a Broadway show.

[circuitfiend]

Re Hollywood...Yes, parts are definitely gentrifying, however...I sure wish the property owners at Sunset/Labrea would upgrade. What a shit intersection. Fast food and a gas station. And we still have homeless camps everywhere, not as bad as a few months ago, but discouraging to say the least. Having been a resident for over three decades and seeing little improvement, I doubt many of these 20 or so proposed towers in Hollywood get built, though hope springs eternal; and none of them are proposed at this infamous intersection. Go figure.

[LAisthePlace]

Originally Posted by LA21st

It's changed a ton, and it appears any smaller older building is going to bite the dust in a few years. Even the developments on the side streets are starting to change quite a bit.

People who trash Hollywood always reference Hollywood boulevard, but it's really Sunset that's becoming the center/heart of the neighborhood.

It will defintely be a different place before the Olympics.

Not only Sunset, but Selma and its neighboring blocks too. That street is unrecognizable (for the better) with Thompson Hotel (with Bar Lis and the upcoming Mes Amis), Mama Shelter Hotel (with its rooftop), Mother Wolf, Dream Hotel (with Tao, Beauty & Essex, Highlight Room Rooftop), Tommie Hotel (with Ka'teen and Desert Five Spot Rooftop Bar), Grandmaster Recorders (restaurant + rooftop bar) with many of those opening just in the last year.

That gives Hollywood three legit boulevards (Sunset, Selma and Hollywood) all with connecting blocks that can continue to get better.

[plutonicpanda]

Lol sunset can’t hold a candle to the pedestrian activity on Hollywood

[craigs]

Originally Posted by plutonicpanda

Lol sunset can’t hold a candle to the pedestrian activity on Hollywood

Sure, but that is because they are two different Hollywoods. Hollywood Blvd. is chock full of pedestrians because it is the "Fisherman's Wharf" of LA--a maze of tourist traps, all lined up in a row, with a few interesting places for locals scattered here and there. Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood is now a vibrant locale for new offices and housing for Angelenos, with a scattering of good restaurants and attractions that may or may not attract tourists.

[wisheye]

Originally Posted by LAisthePlace

Not only Sunset, but Selma and its neighboring blocks too. That street is unrecognizable (for the better) with Thompson Hotel (with Bar Lis and the upcoming Mes Amis), Mama Shelter Hotel (with its rooftop), Mother Wolf, Dream Hotel (with Tao, Beauty & Essex, Highlight Room Rooftop), Tommie Hotel (with Ka'teen and Desert Five Spot Rooftop Bar), Grandmaster Recorders (restaurant + rooftop bar) with many of those opening just in the last year.

That gives Hollywood three legit boulevards (Sunset, Selma and Hollywood) all with connecting blocks that can continue to get better.

Yes the evolution of Selma is underrated, exactly for the reason that you noted. It gives Hollywood a "two-dimensional" section, bounded by Hollywood & Sunset on the N/S and maybe Highland & Argyle on the E/W, which is consistently built-up and has the potential to be vibrant throughout. Outside of the local downtowns (LA, SM, BH, LB, Pasadena) LA doesn't really have that anywhere. It's a lot of linear retail and vibrancy. Of course that's true for a lot of cities, but in a place as big as LA, it's good to have a "Midtown" that also offers that.

[LA21st]

Originally Posted by wisheye

Yes the evolution of Selma is underrated, exactly for the reason that you noted. It gives Hollywood a "two-dimensional" section, bounded by Hollywood & Sunset on the N/S and maybe Highland & Argyle on the E/W, which is consistently built-up and has the potential to be vibrant throughout. Outside of the local downtowns (LA, SM, BH, LB, Pasadena) LA doesn't really have that anywhere. It's a lot of linear retail and vibrancy. Of course that's true for a lot of cities, but in a place as big as LA, it's good to have a "Midtown" that also offers that.

I think it's gonna be Gower on the east, and Labrea on the west. Eventually.

Hollywood can tear everything down from Gower to the 101 and it wouldn't matter.