Category Archives: architecture

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

Posted on May 13, 2013 by | 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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National Retailers Opening in Once-Dead Downtown LA, Urban Outfitters Coming to 8th and Broadway

Posted on May 2, 2013 by | 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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Ideas for Downtown LA: Minor Tweaks to 110 Overpasses Will Encourage Pedestrian Activity

Posted on April 9, 2013 by | 63 Comments
Some ideas on how to bolster pedestrian connections -- between City West and the rest of Downtown LA -- includes making the 110 overpasses safer and more attractive (mainly Wilshire Blvd and 7th Street)

Some ideas on how to bolster pedestrian connections — between City West and the rest of Downtown LA — include making the 110 overpasses safer and more attractive for pedestrians (mainly Wilshire Blvd and 7th Street)

As Downtown LA continues to evolve and mature into a multi-faceted urban center that’s not only a commercial hub but a bona fide residential community, it becomes even more important that we focus on creating an environment that is pedestrian friendly making it enjoyable and convenient for residents to live, work, and play in. That enhancement to the pedestrian realm — wider sidewalks, narrower streets, more bike lanes, etc. — in Downtown LA is needed to create the strong walkable connections that eventually spawns a walking culture.

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Posted in architecture, art and culture, bicycle oriented, city west, community involvement, downtown los angeles, economic development, environmentally green, financial district, Ideas for Downtown LA, pedestrian oriented, public spaces, smart growth

Construction Watch: “One Santa Fe” Mixed-Use to Bring 438 Apartments to Arts District in Downtown LA

Posted on March 17, 2013 by | 33 Comments
The One Santa Fe mixed-use project will bring 438 new apartments for rent along with almost 80,000 square feet of dining, retail, and possibly a new grocery store

The One Santa Fe mega mixed-use project will bring 438 new apartments for rent along with almost 80,000 square feet of dining, retail, and possibly a new grocery store to the burgeoning Arts District in Downtown LA

As the Arts District in Downtown LA continues to grow with the addition of more dining and retail — Stumptown Coffee, Eat.Drink.Americano, Poketo, and Apolis: Common Gallery to name a few — the next exciting game changer on the horizon that will have the single largest impact on the burgeoning urban neighborhood is the $160 million One Santa Fe mixed-use project being developed by three entities forming “One Santa Fe PMC, LLC” (“PMC” includes Polis Builders/Nick Patsaouras, The McGregor Company/Bill McGregor and Cowley Real Estate Partners/Chuck Cowley) with two financial partners (Goldman Sachs and Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund).

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Posted in architecture, arts district, downtown los angeles, economic development, mass transportation, mixed-use development, office, parks, pedestrian oriented, public spaces, real estate, restaurants, retail, smart growth

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TCA Architects Help Design the New Urban Neighborhoods of Downtown LA

Posted on March 11, 2013 by | 37 Comments
Hanover Mixed Use Project in Downtown LA

(CLICK TO ENLARGE) A new 7-story mixed-use project with 287 market rate units, designed by TCA and developed by Hanover, will rise at the NW corner of Olympic and Hill in Downtown LA (Photo: TCA)

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of meeting Thomas P. Cox who is the CEO of TCA Architects (formerly Thomas P. Cox Architects, Inc.). I met him and his colleagues at their Downtown LA corporate office located on the 10th floor of the Chase Plaza tower with stunning skyline views of Downtown LA. It was the perfect setting and vantage point to sit down and talk about how TCA views urbanism and the future of Downtown LA, and more importantly, how have they been directly involved with the revitalization process.

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Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, economic development, little tokyo, mixed-use development, pedestrian oriented, real estate, smart growth, south park

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Now Open: Ross Dress for Less Takes Over Historic Woolworth Building in Downtown LA

Posted on March 11, 2013 by | 17 Comments
The new Ross Dress for Less takes over the historic Woolworth Building on Broadway in Downtown LA

The new 39,000 SF Ross Dress for Less takes over the historic Woolworth Building on Broadway in Downtown LA

Ross Dress for Less is now officially open on Broadway near 7th Street in Downtown LA after announcing their arrival back in Jan 2012. A grand opening celebration took place on Saturday morning at 9am. The new 39,000 square foot Ross — with retail space on the first and basement levels — has completely restored the beautiful historic Woolworth Building built in 1920. Part of that restoration includes two historic “grand staircases” that connect the first floor with the basement. The historic staircases consist of original terrazzo floors and wood railings. In addition, a large new mural on the store’s wall by the main grand staircase proudly proclaims the city’s efforts at “Bringing Back Broadway Street” with a historical description of the Woolworth Building, which was the first “five and dime” discount store chain in the country.

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

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New 6th Street Courtyard Coming to PacMutual Building in Downtown LA

Posted on February 24, 2013 by | 15 Comments
An artist rendering of what the new courtyard will look like when the Verizon section is removed from the PacMutual Building along 6th Street (Photo: Rising Realty Partner)

An artist rendering of what the new courtyard may look like when the “Verizon section” is removed from the PacMutual Building along 6th Street (Photo: Rising Realty Partners)

Earlier this month DTLA Rising broke the news that popular health-conscious eatery Tender Greens is officially coming to Downtown LA later this year, opening a 3,300 SF location at the PacMutual Building by Pershing Square, which was purchased last April 2012 by urban-minded developers Rising Realty Partners. But the exciting news doesn’t stop there. A new courtyard will be “carved out” of the PacMutual Building fronting 6th Street that will complement the arrival of Tender Greens by allowing for expanded outdoor patio dining. The proposed courtyard really isn’t “new” to be exact but is actually just restoring what was originally there: a historic courtyard created when the PacMutual Building expanded early on in the building’s history.

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Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, financial district, food, mixed-use development, pedestrian oriented, pershing square, restaurants

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Downtown LA Culture: Gustavo Dudamel Conducts Colburn Orchestra at Walt Disney Concert Hall

Posted on February 13, 2013 by | 2 Comments
On Feb 19, 2013, three of LA's most powerful cultural assets (Dudamel, Colburn Orchestra, and the WDHC) will join together for a night of magical musical performance (Photo: Discover LA)

On Feb 19, 2013, three of LA’s most powerful cultural assets (Dudamel, Colburn Orchestra, and the WDHC) will join together for a night of magical musical performance (Photo: Discover LA)

Next Tuesday evening on February 19 at 8pm, three of Los Angeles’ most powerful cultural assets will join together for a night of musical performance: the passionate conductor of the LA Philharmonic, Gustavo Dudamel, will conduct one of the country’s top 10 conservatories, the Colburn Orchestra, at the beautiful and acoustically superior Walt Disney Concert Hall. These three amazing elements — all based in Downtown LA along Grand Ave, which has become the cultural mecca of the West Coast — have elevated the world of music and culture in Los Angeles.

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Posted in architecture, art and culture, bunker hill, downtown los angeles, education, events, pedestrian oriented

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Good PR for Urbanism: Downtown LA Gets Two New “Parklets” in Historic Core

Posted on February 8, 2013 by | 19 Comments
The new parklets downtown expand the realm of public space, taking over a metered parking spot and replacing it with more seating for example

The new parklets downtown expand the realm of public space, taking over a metered parking spot and replacing it with more seating for example

Yesterday, Downtown LA celebrated the grand opening of two new parklets along Spring Street in the Historic Core, which has become one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in Downtown LA now active with pedestrians and bicyclists almost around the clock. In case you’re not quite sure what a “parklet” is, they’re basically mini parks extended from the sidewalk that replace usually one or two metered parking spots. The most amazing thing about these parklets — besides the fact that they actually do expand our public space — is that they represent a change in attitude about what Los Angeles should be. In Los Angeles a decade ago, if you were to propose getting rid of a parking spot for any reason whatsoever, the pitch forks and torches would be coming out in mob form. And in some backward places in LA, that’s still the case unfortunately (I’m looking at you West LA).

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Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, environmentally green, historic core, pedestrian oriented, people, public spaces, smart growth

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Breaking News: Downtown LA’s New Landmark Tower, Wilshire Grand, to Become West Coast’s Tallest

Posted on February 7, 2013 by | 52 Comments
A rendering of the Wilshire Grand Tower that will rise at 7th and Figueroa in Downtown LA's Financial District with a height of 1,100 feet tall to the spire (Photo: AC Martin)

A rendering of the Wilshire Grand Tower that will rise at 7th and Figueroa in Downtown LA’s Financial District with a height of 1,100 feet tall to the spire (Photo: AC Martin)

Los Angeles, feast your eyes on the new finalized rendering of Wilshire Grand Tower from AC Martin that will rise prominently in Downtown LA’s burgeoning Financial District. So prominent, in fact, that the new “billion dollar tower” will surpass LA’s current tallest skyscraper — Library Tower (aka US Bank Tower) at 1,018 feet — as the new tallest on the West Coast (taller than any other structure west of Chicago). At 73 floors and 1,100 feet tall including the spire, which counts toward the building’s official height according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the new Wilshire Grand Tower will be a substantial addition to the LA skyline, reorienting the visual weight currently centered around the Library Tower toward this new gleaming structure to the southwest. The tower will be capped by an iconic sail-shaped architectural feature that will be illuminated with LED lighting at night (a common sight in Asia’s flagship cities like Shanghai).

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Posted in architecture, downtown los angeles, economic development, financial district, hotels, mixed-use development, office, real estate, smart growth

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