Author Archives: Brigham Yen

Op-Ed: Why You Should Vote for Eric Garcetti for Mayor of Los Angeles on May 21

Posted on May 16, 2013 | 5 Comments
Eric Garcetti takes a picture with the Downtown Los Angeles skyline in the background (Photo: EricGarcetti.com)

Eric Garcetti takes a picture with the Downtown Los Angeles skyline in the background (Photo: EricGarcetti.com)

By Tom De Simone

Dear Fellow Angelenos,

I just returned from another evening of phone banking for Eric Garcetti and since I’ve been calling complete strangers, trying to convince them to vote for Garcetti for Mayor, I figured I should certainly reach out to my friends as well.  We are fast approaching a mayoral election (Tues. May 21) in which the media would have you think there is no use even bothering to vote because the two candidates are mere carbon copies with little to distinguish them.  Yet, while there are several similarities between Eric Garcetti and Wendy Greuel, there are key differences that make this race important and one in which I urge you to vote for Eric Garcetti to be our next Mayor of Los Angeles.

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Posted in community involvement, guest writer

Rumor Mill: Hilton Buying Downtown LA Parking Lot for Future South Park Hotel

Posted on May 14, 2013 | 12 Comments
A surface parking lot at the SE corner of Olympic and Grand is currently in escrow with the purported buyer being Hilton Hotels

A surface parking lot in South Park at the SE corner of Olympic and Grand is currently in escrow with the purported buyer being Hilton Hotels

An ugly surface parking lot at the SE corner of Olympic and Grand, adjacent to the infamous and now defunct Crash Mansion night club, may have a much brighter future ahead reborn as a potential mixed-use hotel development, improving and activating this anti-pedestrian intersection. Several sources have informed me that the 58,000 square foot lot is currently in escrow and point specifically to Hilton as the purported buyer. The South Park site, located a stone’s throw from LA Live/Staples Center, is definitely hot on the hotel industry radar. In fact, at one point, even Four Seasons was apparently kicking the tires a bit.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, hotels, mixed-use development, real estate, south park

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1889 Victorian Pershing Hotel Begins Construction on 69 Affordable Units in Downtown LA

Posted on May 13, 2013 | 4 Comments
The Pershing Hotel begins construction, turning this priceless 1889 Victorian beauty into 69 affordable housing units at 5th and Main in the Historic Core (Photo: Killefer Flammang Architects)

The Pershing Hotel begins construction this week turning this priceless 1889 Victorian beauty into 69 affordable housing units at 5th and Main in the Historic Core (Photo: Killefer Flammang Architects)

Late last week, the LA Times reported that one of Downtown LA’s most beautiful examples of Victorian architecture (the kind we usually associate with San Francisco with those lovely bay windows and ornate facade details) will be receiving some major positive upgrades. Located at 5th and Main, the Victorian beauty known as the Pershing Hotel that was built in 1889 by real estate developer Charles Charnock, will be converted to 69 units of affordable housing for the homeless or very low income population and will be called the New Pershing Apartments. The $15 million project will be designed by Killefer Flammang Architects and take about one year to complete.

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Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, historic core, mixed-use development, real estate

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Belgian Bakery Le Pain Quotidien Coming to PacMutual Building in Downtown LA

Posted on May 9, 2013 | 12 Comments
Le Pain Quotidien is opening next to Tender Greens, both slated to open later this year at the PacMutual Building at Pershing Square

Le Pain Quotidien is opening next to Tender Greens, both slated to open later this year at the PacMutual Building at Pershing Square

The PacMutual Building is in the midst of some very exciting changes that will contribute significantly to the Downtown LA renaissance, especially around Pershing Square where it needs it the most. Over the last year since being acquired by the very proactive and urban-minded Rising Realty Partners, this stretch of 6th Street has been on an exciting makeover journey that will eventually give the street the strong identity it has failed to gain over the last decade. First we found out that the very popular Tender Greens was coming and then the exciting announcement that a historic courtyard would be brought back and restored after being covered since WWII. Now, I am excited to announce that Le Pain Quotidien, the international bakery cafe originally from Belgium, has signed a lease taking over the former Happy Bowl space next to the future Tender Greens.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, financial district, food, pershing square, restaurants

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New Downtown LA Smart & Final Extra Grocery Store Opening in July 2013

Posted on May 8, 2013 | 16 Comments
The "Extra concept" from Smart & Final, opening summer 2013, will be a full-scale grocery market added to the Downtown LA community

The “Extra concept” from Smart & Final, opening summer 2013, will be a full-scale grocery market added to the Downtown LA community

The downtown community has been clamoring for more grocery stores for obvious reasons. It’s difficult to live somewhere comfortably without having convenient access to a lot of grocery options. We all love our Ralphs Fresh Fare, Woori Market, and even City Target, but in the case of grocery options, the more the merrier. Competition creates an advantage for consumers who are able to price and quality shop. So it is very exciting to me that another truly full-scale grocery store will be opening in a few months that will help make downtown an even more attractive place to live. Smart & Final Extra will be opening a brand new 25,000 square foot market in the Financial District/South Park, not far from many residents and office workers in the area.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, financial district, food, retail, south park

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HoneyCut: Cedd Moses’ New Speakeasy Coming to South Park in Downtown LA

Posted on May 7, 2013 | 15 Comments
HoneyCut, a new speakeasy coming to an alleyway in South Park, behind the boutique O Hotel

HoneyCut, a new speakeasy coming to the O Hotel basement, with access from the alleyway behind Flower Street

Something secretive and seductive is brewing underground in South Park. Within the basement of the posh boutique O-Hotel is another magical 213 Nightlife spot in the making as part of Cedd Moses’ growing Downtown LA empire, which includes the likes of Golden Gopher, Broadway Bar, Seven Grand, and the Varnish. Under construction is a new speakeasy (that’s why it’s so secretive) termed “HoneyCut” that will add some much needed zest to a relatively quiet hood.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, food, nightlife, restaurants, south park

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Case Study: Downtown Brooklyn Fulton Mall and Downtown LA Broadway Urban Revitalization

Posted on May 6, 2013 | 25 Comments
Downtown Brooklyn's Fulton Street Mall is walking a similar path as Downtown LA's Broadway toward urban revitalization

Downtown Brooklyn’s Fulton Street Mall is walking a similar path as Downtown LA’s Broadway toward urban revitalization

The last several weeks have been filled with really great news (read: a windfall) one after another regarding new retail stores opening or announcing their arrival in Downtown LA. It started with a big bang when we found out that the high-end Swedish retailer Acne Studios would be opening their largest store in the world at 9th and Broadway; then we had LA designer Alejandro Rodriguez’s Beautiful Fül store grand opening; then another grand opening of the national brand Sub_Urban Riot’s first retail store in the US; and then of course Brooks Brothers opened not long after in the Financial District. It culminated last Thursday with the exciting announcement that Urban Outfitters will be coming to Broadway later this year taking over and rehabbing the beautiful but dilapidated Rialto Theatre, including the restoration of the historic theater marquee.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, economic development, Ideas for Downtown LA, real estate, retail

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Palihouse Boutique Hotel Coming to South Park in Downtown LA

Posted on May 3, 2013 | 5 Comments
The Palihouse boutique hotel is coming to South Park in Downtown LA

The Palihouse boutique hotel is coming to South Park in Downtown LA in 2014 (Photo: Primrose Design Group)

DTLA Rising broke the news exactly a year ago that a new boutique hotel conversion project was proposed for the 4-story, 122-room SRO Oviatt Apartments at the SW corner of Pico and Flower in South Park — near the LA Convention Center and the Pico Metro station with Blue/Expo Line service. Today, Curbed LA via LA Business Journal, reported that Paligroup, the LA-based upscale boutique hotel chain with locations in West Hollywood and Santa Monica, has been brought on to be the hotel operator for the project.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, hotels, south park

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National Retailers Opening in Once-Dead Downtown LA, Urban Outfitters Coming to 8th and Broadway

Posted on May 2, 2013 | 10 Comments
The national Philadelphia-based clothing chain, Urban Outfitters, will be opening their new Downtown LA flagship store in the historic Rialto Theatre on Broadway

The Philadelphia-based int’l clothing chain, Urban Outfitters, will be opening their new Downtown LA flagship store in the historic Rialto Theatre on Broadway

Downtown LA is on fire right now! The amazing deluge of exciting DTLA retail news continues with the announcement today from Curbed LA that Urban Outfitters has signed a lease to take over the approximately 10,000 square foot historic Rialto Theatre near 8th and Broadway, which once seated 900. Rumors started back in Sept 2012 that the Philadelphia-based international retail chain — selling trendy urban chic clothing for both men and women — was in serious lease negotiations to take over and rehab the dilapidated 1917 theater venue. Eight months later, we can rejoice that another significant retailer is ready to jump on the Downtown LA bandwagon.

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Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, fashion, historic core, retail

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Brooks Brothers Now Open at Jonathan Club in Downtown LA

Posted on May 1, 2013 | 4 Comments
A new Brooks Brothers store opened this past weekend at the Jonathan Club in Downtown LA's Financial District

A new Brooks Brothers store opened this past weekend at the Jonathan Club in Downtown LA’s Financial District

April was an exciting month for Downtown LA when it comes to retail news. From Acne Studios and Beautiful Fül to Sub Urban Riot, new and interesting clothing retailers are helping to put Downtown LA back on the map when it comes to shopping (in The City). And now the momentum continues with Brooks Brothers opening their new store at the Jonathan Club at 6th and Figueroa in the Financial District.

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Posted in downtown los angeles, fashion, fashion district, retail

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