02-15-16 by Los Angeles Downtown News

FEBRUARY 15, 2016 I VOL. 45 I #7

INSIDE THIS WEEK: A Bridge Closes and Traffic Gets Worse : 8 Movie Costumes Are in the Spotlight at FIDM : 10

Members of the Harlem Globetrotters Try To Teach Some of Their Tricks to a Few Reporters. The Results Are Not Pretty. See Page 5

Harlem Globetrotter Hacksaw Hall during a Downtown stop.

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

2 Downtown News

AROUND TOWN

Council Approves Controversial Live/Work Ordinance

fter years of discussion and debate in the Arts District, the City Council last week approved a policy to incentivize and regulate housing development in industrial areas. The Citywide Hybrid Industrial Live-Work Ordinance stemmed from an Arts District-focused initiative and would apply to significant portions of that community and the Industrial District. On Wednesday, Feb. 10, the council approved the measure that eases zoning restrictions on housing development in return for affordable housing quotas, pedestrian activation, green spaces and public art. New housing must also be designed as live/work units, with at least a 750-square-foot average to accommodate in-house jobs and businesses. Additionally, the ordinance demands that developers set aside space for non-residential uses, with only 50% of that allocated for retail (it could also be used for artists’ studios, tech incubator space, etc.). “This ordinance has the potential to reimagine and revitalize our aging industrial zones throughout the city,” 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, who led the effort, said in a prepared statement. The ordinance generated intense Arts District debate, with some stakeholders charging that it will lead to an explosion of generic low-rise apartment buildings rather than genuine job growth.

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Metro to Debut Underground Cell Service

February 15, 2016

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

he wait for underground cell service in the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s rail system is nearly over — at least in Downtown. The agency aims to unroll free cell service between Union Station and the Seventh Street/Metro Center Station by late March, meaning riders will finally be able to talk uninterrupted on their phones or use the Internet for critical tasks like browsing Reddit and sharing cat videos. The plan has been in the works for years, with delays coming primarily because of security concerns. The city Department of Transportation is working on a similar initiative to bring Wi-Fi service to all of its Commuter Express buses by the end of the year.

Broad Museum Announces First Special Show

li and Edythe Broad have long been avid collectors of photographer Cindy Sherman, and over three decades have acquired 125 of her works. Nearly all of them will go display this summer at The Broad. Museum officials last week announced that Cindy Sherman: Imitation of Life will be the first special exhibit in the Grand Avenue museum. It will also mark the first time that there has been a significant Sherman museum show in Los Angeles in almost 20 years. Imitation of Life will contain about 120 Sherman works and will be the first paid exhibit at The Broad, with an admission price of $12. The exhibit on the first floor of the museum will be curated by guest curator Philipp Kaiser and will run from June 11Oct. 2. Tickets will go on sale in the spring.

Little Tokyo

Alvin Kato

Kato’s Sewing Machine Company

Ernst & Young Tabbed as Streetcar Consultant

June report on the proposed Los Angeles Streetcar suggested the 3.8-mile Downtown project would cost $281.6 million, leaving a shortfall of at least $144 million after accounting for local tax dollars and hoped-for federal government funding. Now, the financial services firm Ernst & Young has been hired to figure out how to bridge the gap. The city has agreed to give the firm a one-year contract worth $1.49 million, with two one-year extension options beyond that, according to city

60th Anniversary

01/23/2016

documents. The City Council’s Transportation Committee approved the contract last week, and it awaits a vote from the full Council. Residents near the streetcar route previously voted to tax area property owners up to $85 million for the project, which would operate as a loop with a main spine on Broadway. Only $62.5 million would go toward direct construction costs, however. Streetcar proponents also hope to secure a $75 million Federal Transit Administration Small Starts grant. The city and the nonprofit L.A. Streetcar, Inc. have broached the idea of public-private partnerships to cover the funding shortfall.

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Jonathan Club February 25, 2016 / 11:00am-1:30pm Benefitting Hope Street Family Center California Hospital Medical Center Foundation ANNOUNCING OUR 2016 CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN HONOREES • Cathy & Steve Needleman are trailblazers in the revitalization of downtown Los Angeles and philanthropic leaders investing in our community’s health and education. • Raul Vargas was one of the first liaisons between the Latino community and the University of Southern California, building bridges and new partnerships that are growing and thriving to this day. Please join us in giving thanks and recognition to our 2016 Champions for Children Honorees by listing your name ($100) or buying a Tribute Journal ad ($500-$10,000). A Community Education, Health and Recreation Resource of California Hospital

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EDITORIALS

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris

GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie

A Comeback for The Variety Arts Center

SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim

STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison

ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa

S I N C E 19 7 2 Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com

PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard or years, one of the most appealing yet frusfacebook: trating empty spaces in Downtown Los AngeACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt L.A. Downtown News les was the Variety Arts Center. The 92-year-old CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway twitter: edifice is strategically located, just north of L.A. Live ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, DowntownNews S I N C E 19 7 2 at 940 S. Figueroa St. It has office space on upper Michael Lamb Los Angeles Downtowntheater News that can seat 1,100. It levels and a gorgeous ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. 1264 W. Firstbut Street, Losold Angeles, CA 90026 needs work, what building doesn’t? The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read news213-481-1448 • fax:of213-250-4617 phone: It seemed like the type place destined to beCIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon paper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown come a concert hall, maybe with a fancy restaurant DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles Los Angeles. attached. Instead, the property owners have inked a DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla One copy per person. facebook: twitter: long-term with the Australia-based church HillL.A.lease Downtown News DowntownNews song. The entity’s Los Angeles arm will hold Sunday services there and utilize some of the upper floors EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris forEDITOR offices. A top-to-bottom renovation of the 1924 GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin building is underway, with plans to finish by the end t first take, the idea of creating a park in the middle of Hope runs half a block down Hope Street south of 11th Street. There would be concrete traffic barriers at the north and south ends and ofEXECUTIVE the year. EDITOR: Jon Regardie Street sounds downright odd. Who’s going toEDITOR: want to visit EXECUTIVE Jon Regardie WRITER: Eddie walls that separate the public from the lanes of traffic on either side. wasn’t theKim likeliest bet for what would SENIOR A church a public space with traffic whizzingSENIOR by onWRITER: either side? Aren’t Eddie Kim WRITER:Arts Nicholas Slayton The proposal calls for an as-yet-undetermined material to cover fillSTAFF the Variety Center, but this deal looks to have the streets for cars and the sidewalks for pedestrians? Will anyone STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese the blacktop. There would be tables, chairs, art on display and midpositive potential for Downtown. Hillsong currently walk a dog or take an outdoor yoga class there? CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Favre, at Greg block crossings, making it an easy visitSfor holds four services everyJeff Sunday theFischer nearby Belas Get beyond the initial head-scratching, however, and the idea I Ncustomers C E 19 7 2of the nearby CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Hygge bakery, the just-opened Impresso Café or other businesses. coART Theatre, drawing total of about 3,500 people to becomes appealing. Why wouldn’t you sip coffee or tea, have a DIRECTOR: Brian a Allison Los Angeles Downtown News Hope Street is a smart choice for the park, as it is not nearly as high-energy religious gatherings that can seem more snack and talk to other Downtowners if the space can beBrian made atASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa ART DIRECTOR: Allison 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 as other nearby parallel thoroughfares such as Grand Avenue like rock concerts, complete with Christian bands. tractive and safe? What’s not to like aboutASSISTANT a free evening movie Yumibusy phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 ART DIRECTOR: Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard or Flower Street. Having a short-term public amenity here isn’t likeThese are people who could walk to nearby restauscreening in such an unconventional locale? web: DowntownNews.com ACCOUNTING: Ashleybefore Schmidtor after church, and if they ly to cause gridlock elsewhere. rants or businesses All of that is on the table thanks to a bold and creative initiative email: realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard The project takes hints from pedestrian-oriented public spaces like what they see, they might return to Downtown by the South Park Business Improvement District. As Los Angeles CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway as Barcelona and Tel Aviv. another time. Downtown News reported last week, the organization that proACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt in the middle of the street in cities suchfacebook: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb L.A. Downtown News No one expects the type of activity here that occurs in the former’s SALES Hillsong has signed a deal that could keep the vides cleaning and safety services for the neighborhood is workASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CLASSIFIED Catherine Holloway bustling La Rambla, but with shade, inviting amenities and smart church in Downtown for as long as 25 years, which ing on a pilot project to create this temporary public ADVERTISING space. If all MANAGER: twitter: CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon the potential in South Park is clear. means a great opportunity to get enmeshed in the goes according to plan — and, it’s worth noting, a EXECUTIVES: lot of planning ACCOUNT Catherineprogramming, Holloway, DowntownNews DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb We like the temporary aspect, too. If the park is a disaster or disrupcommunity. It has an associated philanthropic arm, still must be done — then The Spot @ Hope Street would run from DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez tive, it will be gone in two months. If it resonates (theInc. SPBID to which is another way to be involved. April 4-May 31. ©2016 Civic Center News, Los plans Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News measure pedestrian traffic and see if nearby businesses get more cus ©2016 We’reCivic pleased to seeInc.a Los viable plan to bring back a There’s much to like about this project, and while there are hurCenter News, Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Inc. All rights reserved. Centerof News Inc. All rightsWe reserved. tomers) then discussion about permanent amenity occur. jewel a building. look forward to Hillsong L.A. dles to clear, we think it is worth pursuing.CIRCULATION: This is the kind of activThe aLos Angeles Downtown Newscan is the must-read Danielle Salmon The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles newspaper Downtownand Los Angeles and is dis We like the SPBID’s out-of-the boxforthinking, the conversation having a homeevery here andthroughout being antheactive part of theof Downtownity Park. It could benefit and is distributed Monday offices and residences Losthat could get people talking about South DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles tributed every Monday throughout the offices and Angeles. should continue. If visitors to The Spot @ Hope future of Downtown. nearby businesses and bolster a sense of community. residences of Downtown LosStreet Angeles.can be kept DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, One copy per person. safe from vehicles and the plan is feasible, then it’s worth trying. The Spot @ Hope Street would be a 33-foot wide expanse that One copy per person. Gustavo Bonilla

A Park in the Middle of Hope Street

EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin

S I N C E 19 7 2 Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News

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EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer ART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa

PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

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February 15 2016

Downtown News 5

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Tragic Circle Hopeless Reporters Get a Lesson in Basketball Wizardry From the Harlem Globetrotters By Jon Regardie “ f a seven-foot tall man tries to pull your pants down in the next hour, it’s OK. Let him.” It’s an instruction I never thought I’d give anyone. Then again, I never expected to play basketball with the Harlem Globetrotters.

THE REGARDIE REPORT Both happened last week. Three of the clown princes of the hardwood were in Downtown Los Angeles to drum up interest for a couple upcoming area appearances, including two shows at Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 21. They visited the Para Los Niños Charter Elementary School on Seventh Street to show off their tricks and balletic ballhandling and also work with some students on an anti-bullying campaign. Because I occasionally have ridiculous ideas, I asked a publicist if, once the session with the kids ended, a couple Los Angeles Downtown News writers and I could get out on the court and play with the team. We received a green light. Thus, I had to warn my colleagues Eddie Kim and Nicholas Slayton that we might be foils for some of the Globetrotters’ classic stunts, which include pantsing an opponent who is shooting free throws, dousing a player with water or making him look a fool in myriad other ways. We’d be a far-less-skilled version of the Washington Generals, the team

that for decades traveled with and lost every night to the Globetrotters. At the school’s playground we watched the towering El Gato Melendez, Buckets Blakes, who holds a Guinness record for most underhanded half-court shots in a minute (he made six), and Hacksaw Hall, known for his monstrous dunks. The kids cheered uproariously and their faces lit up with every ball spin and Globetrotter crack. It was one of those capitalletters-demanding Cutest Things Ever. Then it was our turn. We weren’t nearly as cute. Fingers Up We started with a lesson in spinning a ball on a finger. This is a staple of Globetrotterdom, something I think the players actually start working on in the womb, when they spin their mom’s pancreas. For Buckets, spinning is second nature, just like breathing. He does an effortless wrist flick and the rapidly revolving ball stays in place for about 30 seconds. It looks like it would remain steady even if a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit. Buckets told us that he’d spin the ball and pass it along, and to hold up a finger (not the middle finger, as our general manager first tried to do). The one who faltered fastest would have to do five pushups. Our attempts were as graceful as a cow playing cello. Eddie was the “champ” at four seconds, I pulled three and the ball lasted just two

Members of the Harlem Globetrotters try to teach the author and other Downtown News reporters how to keep a spinning basketball on one finger. Attempts did not last long.

seconds on Nicholas’ finger before gravity took over. He pounded out the pushups. “We’ll do some passes,” Buckets said next, and how hard can passing a ball back and forth be? Then he added, “You probably can’t do Hacksaw’s passes.” The Globetrotters have made passing famous, and their show-opening “Magic Circle” is a kind of roundball “Mona Lisa,” a display you

and a crowd just sit back and soak up. As the team forms a ring at center court, the whistling “Sweet Georgia Brown” plays and the men and women (yes, there are female Globetrotters now) take turns spinning and bouncing the red, white and blue ball off knees, heads, backsides and other body parts, making it move in jaw-dropping ways. It’s something between Continued on page 16

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February 15, 2016

London Boutique Hotel Firm Buys Downtown Building

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Broadway Edifice Slated to Become Hip Hoxton Hotel By Nicholas Slayton British company has bought a Downtown Los Angeles building, with plans to turn it into a boutique hotel. The move could help create a sort of boutique hotel hub in the southern portion of Broadway. Private investment firm Ennismore of London bought the property at 1060 S. Broadway, known as the Los Angeles Railway Building, for $30 million, according to the press release on the sale. Built in 1922, the 10-story structure served as the headquarters for the Los Angeles Railway and its yellow cars in the

early 20th century. The 89,136-square-foot edifice will become a Hoxton hotel, which touts itself as an “anti-hotel.” The phrase refers to the company’s habit of trying to fit into trendy neighborhoods by including bars and restaurants that also lure people who are not staying the night. Few details about the project have been released. The number of rooms has not been specified, nor have amenities. No budget or opening date have been announced. Real estate services firm JLL represented

the seller, a private investment firm that was not identified. Mike Condon Jr., a JLL vice president who handled the transaction, said that the Los Angeles Railway Building sold quickly. “We found a buyer within 21 days of softly marketing the site,” Condon said. “It was basically a vacant office building, with some tenants on the ground floor.” The first Hoxton opened in London’s Shoreditch neighborhood in 2006, and the company has since added a second London location, as well as a hotel in Amsterdam.

photo by Gary Leonard

A 10-story building at 1060 S. Broadway is being transformed into a boutique Hoxton hotel.

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Downtown News 7

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Downtown Los Angeles would be the second U.S. outpost, following one set to open in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood in 2017. Ennismore declined to comment on its purchase of the building. Boutique Corridor The Hoxton would be the third boutique hotel in a threeblock stretch. The 13-story former Case Hotel at 11th Street and Broadway is being turned into a 148-room Proper Hotel by the Kor Group and development partners Channing Henry and Frank Stork. The trendy Ace Hotel is just up the street at 929 S. Broadway. The 182-room establishment opened in the former United Artists Theatre Building in early 2014. The rise in the boutique hotel market, and the overall Downtown hotel push — multiple major hotels are underway in South Park and the Financial District — is good news for Downtown’s tourism sector. James Stockton, a JLL senior vice president who works on the company’s hotels and hospitality team, said the architecture of the buildings on Broadway is attractive to hotel companies. The opening of hip stores, which have sprung up in the wake of the Ace, also play a role. “If you’re building a chic hotel, it makes sense to go to where the chic stores and restaurants are opening up,” Stockton said. Bruce Baltin of hotel industry consulting and tracking firm PKF Consulting said that boutique hotels used to congregate in West Los Angeles, but operators and developers are looking to Downtown because of its recent growth. “They’re drawn to that area around Broadway, Spring Street and Main Street,” he said. “That area has interesting architecture and has all of the activity, the retail and restaurants.” The boutique hotels have the potential to lure guests who have more to spend than people staying at other establishments. While no rates have been announced, Stockton estimates that both the Proper and the Hoxton will offer rooms for $250-$350 a night. nicholas@downtownnews.com

New Rules for Broadway Signage Ordinance Offers Framework for Illuminated Signs By Eddie Kim roadway is seeing a major upswing, thanks to the redevelopment of several aged buildings and a flow of new businesses and visitors. Yet even with celebrations such as last month’s Night on Broadway, the street remains a far cry from its golden years in the middle of the 20th century, when it flaunted high-end shops, prestigious theaters and, most visible of all, a bevy of beautiful, glimmering neon and bulb-light signs. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar has long wanted to recapture the glamour of those signs, but existing regulations made installing them borderline impossible for most building owners. That could change now, as the City Council on Jan. 20 approved the Historic Broadway Sign District ordinance. It is intended to streamline the approval of signage and literally help light up Broadway between First and 12th streets. Simplifying signage regulations will help property owners beautify their structures, but another key element of the ordinance is the offer of allowing revenue-generating signs (otherwise known as advertising) on Broadway. These include marquees that flash ads between show times, large painted commercial images and ads projected onto a building’s façade. “At a time when the rest of the city is antibillboard and anti-sign district, we’re doing

it here and in a good way that not only promotes the historic nature of Broadway, but also incentivizes property owners to keep revitalizing their buildings and fill empty upper floors,” Huizar said in an interview. In order to install revenue-generating signs, property owners must bring their building up to code and keep it 75% occupied. Another requirement is that sidewalk and landscape improvements detailed in the ongoing Broadway Streetscape Master Plan must be completed for the whole block before revenue-generating signs can be installed. While the city has not finished the Master Plan, the ordinance allows property owners to pay a fee that will cover the improvements to sidewalks directly adjacent to their building. The sign ordinance wraps in two of Huizar’s other initiatives on Broadway: a streetscape plan that would widen sidewalks and add seating and landscaping, and the Historic Commercial Reuse Guidelines, which eases building code requirements to encourage owners to renovate their Broadway structures and get tenants into upper floors. Huizar and a group of Broadway stakeholders and historical experts spent years working on the sign ordinance. They considered the impacts of revenue-generating signs and ultimately decided it would only be appropriate if it leads to the full activa-

photo courtesy of Bringing Back Broadway

The recently approved Historic Broadway Sign District gives building owners guidelines and a menu of options to install colorful signage that fits with the street’s character.

tion of buildings and the street, said Adrian Fine, director of advocacy at the L.A. Conservancy and a member of the working group. Fine expects other property owners to eschew this process in favor of nonadvertising signs, which are easier to get approval for, he added. “Broadway had a huge multitude of signs in its history, and blade signs in particular were some of the most characterdefining elements of Downtown,” he said. Huizar anticipates that it will take several months for property owners to get familiar with the ordinance, but hopes to see sign-installing efforts pick up this year and in 2017. eddie@downtownnews.com.

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8 Downtown News

February 15, 2016

With Bridge Closed, Downtown Traffic Worsens

being at Seventh Street, Fourth Street and First Street. With drivers searching for alternate routes, however, First Street has an additional complication — Regional Connector construction in Little Tokyo began on Jan. 8 and shut down the road between Central Avenue and Vignes Street. The work is scheduled to last through March 31, meaning that once drivers cross the bridge, if they hope to get deep into Downtown, they don’t have a straight shot. Thus, for at least the next couple months, there will be additional auto traffic on the Fourth and Seventh street bridges, which will mean tie-ups in the Arts District. While it is an inconvenience, Dilip Bhavnani, a developer and chairman of the Arts District Business Improvement District, said that the delays are a necessary price to pay for a long-term improvement. “What else can you do? It’s structurally unsafe. It has to get replaced,” Bhavnani said. “Everybody expects the work to get done without any hassles, but that’s just not possible.” The sentiment was echoed by Miguel Vargas, executive director of the Arts District BID. He understands that two major civic projects essentially bookend the Arts District and will make it hard for residents and commuters. However, he said the city did a good job with preparations before the Sixth Street Viaduct closed. He pointed to a series of Arts District improvements such as installing new crosswalks and access ramps, and making pedestrian updates at eight intersections. Traffic signals were also added to the intersections of Fifth Street and Central Avenue and Fourth and Pecan streets. Vargas also said the city has been effective at outreach, letting people know about the freeway closures and traffic in general through social media posts and official announcements. Gillman said that the best option for commuters is to take public transportation. If they stick with their cars, he said, they should know the lay of the land and plan ahead. “Expect delays and use alternate routes,” he said. With construction and demolition work continuing for the next three years, those workarounds might become the new normal. nicholas@downtownnews.com

Razing of Sixth Street Viaduct Forces Thousands of Commuters to Find Alternate Routes By Nicholas Slayton ity officials took pains to warn Angelenos of the traffic snafus and backups that would arise from the “Slow Jam,” the nickname for the approximately 36-hour closure of the 101 Freeway sparked by the initial stage of demolition of the Sixth Street Viaduct. Most drivers took notice, and there were relatively few complaints. The same cannot be said in greater Downtown following the closure of the bridge that for 84 years connected the community and Boyle Heights. The viaduct was shuttered Jan. 27, and almost instantly, people reported being stuck in gridlock and complained about extended morning and evening commutes. According to the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, approximately 23,000 vehicles crossed the Sixth Street Viaduct each day before it was shut down. Naturally, traffic flowing into Downtown was heaviest in the morning, while eastbound travel was heavier at the end of the workday. Department of Transportation spokesman Bruce Gillman acknowledged that commutes have become more cumbersome, but he said the LADOT is trying to ease back-ups. These measures include adding two new traffic lights — one at Fifth Street and Central Avenue — and putting in new striping for crosswalks, plus street lighting and sidewalk improvements. Gillman said the LADOT has retimed lights at six intersections in the Arts District and Boyle Heights — including at Seventh and Alameda streets, and Sixth and Mateo streets— and restriped roads. There are also some new left turn options. Traffic engineers are monitoring vehicular flow at the Automated Traffic Surveillance and Control Center near City Hall. Gillman, meanwhile, suggested that drivers take different routes than they usually do to avoid delays. “Fortunately, Downtown Los Angeles offers many options and has quite a few alternatives for commuters,” Gillman said.

photo by Gary Leonard

Drivers no longer able to use the Sixth Street Viaduct have encountered more traffic as everyone looks for an alternate route. A replacement will not be finished until 2019.

The bridge is being razed due to a chemical condition known as Alkali Silica Reaction that caused its concrete to weaken. It is being demolished, a process that will take nine months, and will be replaced by a $449 million viaduct with a “ribbon of arches” theme. That is expected to be finished in 2019, according to a spokesperson for the Bureau of Engineering. Traffic officers were deployed to eight intersections for the first week of closures to help deal with the situation. They remained at three intersections in Boyle Heights through Feb. 10. All of the workarounds are of little solace to Danny Gaughan, a Downtown resident who drives to Boyle Heights for work. He expressed confusion at the systems in place since the closure. “Why they didn’t start building before the demolition seems like poor planning to me,” Gaughan said. A series of historic bridges stretch over the Los Angeles River, with the closest ones to the shuttered Sixth Street Viaduct

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February 23, 2015 with Ahbe Landscape Architect, the company tapped to create the new facility, have begun the effort to get public input on the design of the project that will rise on an L-shaped lot. Last May, the office of then-County Supervisor Gloria Molina contributed $950,000 to the project, bringing the amount secured for the facility to $8.25 million. Another $5 million comes from Proposition 84 state funds. Demoli tion is expected to begin soon, with a grand opening slated for this summer.

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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $120 million Division 13 Bus Maintenance and Operations Facility will be completed in May and will open the following month. All construction and infrastructure work has been finished, and now the fueling, washing, vacuuming and other equipment is being installed. Continued on page 16

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL MEDICAL PAVILION The $80 million Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Pavilion is on pace to open late this year, according to hospital spokeswoman Katrina Bada. The 190,000-square-foot development, being designed by Ware Malcolmb, will hold the Frank R. Seaver Ambulatory Surgery Center, which will have eight operating suites. Additionally, the project on Wilshire Boulevard at Witmer Street will hold a pharmacy, outpatient

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Carmel Partner photo by Gary Leonard Eighth Street s’ seven-s photo by Gary tory, 700-un Leonard it apartm Grand The expansive renovationand of the 34-acre park ent comple Avenue x at on the edge of Chinatown, which began last , formally known as G8, is enterApril, has been delayed due to the discovery Continued on page of underground archaeological features and 12 some soil contamination. The park, which had been scheduled to be complete in the spring, is now slated to reopen in November, according to state Department of Parks and Recreation Superintendent Sean Woods. Completed work thus far includes excavation and grading of the two-acre restored wetlands area, construction of a pedestrian bridge, and framing of a welcome center, ranger station and public restrooms. Other planned features include a treeflanked promenade and a paved parking area. The renovation is budgeted at approximately $20 million. At lashp.wordpress.com. LOS ANGELES STREETCAR The most recent assessment of the Los Angeles Streetcar’s cost, from project manager URS Corp., came in at about $270 million. That’s much lower than the worst-case estimate from a city analysis in 2013, which put the price at up to $327.8 million, though it is also far higher

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sold W. First St. was Theatre at 1345 apartment complex Marionette an plans to build demolition of the The Bob Baker the Melech, who in 2013 to Eli would involve the City West Whether that but the city deemed on the site. initial deto be seen, in 2009. The ry, theater remains -Cultural Monument for a five-sto Albert calls theater building a Historicand architect Steve the existing ed bridges over sign from Melech would be preserv structure that space amed comtheater wood-fr the house displays majority of x and would building; the hold 102 the new comple upper floors would ction The as a lobby in said constru Baker’s career. ents. Melech 2015 at the memorating edroom apartm start until the end of not this April, one- to three-b would through ment runs No on the develop Baker company’s lease th arrangement. Bob a month-to-mon soonest; the it turns into . at which point has been revealed the project budget for Partner Group er Holland VIBIANA LOFTS gton-based develop just south of the forWashin Partner’s Vancouver, one-acre parcel of Holland ed the nearly Warren, head to has purchas Cathedral. Tom the firm expects mer St. Vibiana ia developments, said building that -foot -square Southern Californ month on a 179,000 of wood five stories this Plans call for approximately 247 break ground apartments. is being e podium, with will create 237 The project over a concret and parking spaces. construction below-ground firm Togawa Smith Martin, nt above- and ture of retail or restaura the architec square feet designed by residential just under 4,000 , including a 41-story St. Warren will include at 222 S. Main previous projects space. Two d for the site to an opening been propose two years, leading tower, had taking construction anticipates in early 2017. RESIDENTIAL

TRACTION FOURTH & Regardie is hitKim and Jon Los Angeles Evans, Eddie but in Downtown By Donna being built, ment boom is he develop are projects Central City level: Not only words, the ting a new vertical. In other in they are going ng density g. increasi upswin to an es it. it speaks literally on that welcom nt because in Los Angeles e and the Valley freThis is importa communities Westsid one of the few ts of Hollywood, the in Downtown is proposed, mass. Whereas residenwhen a new high-rise the area a critical Wilshire quently protest ed as a means to give The 73-story it is often embrac on numerous fronts. Figueroa streets and seen and This is being at Seventh completion. ment is rising St. is nearing ction Grand replace at 888 S. Olive is under constru on Onni Tower near L.A. Live the 33-floor broke ground Metropolis just wer Urban in South The multi-to ment firm Trumark S. Grand Ave. and the develop inium complex at 1050 s have been made condom drawing as of higha 22-story the start, another batch literally just sought for Park. That is ents are being rental and entitlem 50 stories. rush of low-rise 40 or even civic boom. The rises, some extent of the heated on the That’s not the es, and things are also use Federal Courtho recontinu complexes projects, the g of the among other groundbreakin front, with, and the recent l . HLW Internationa the design steaming forward Sixth Street Viaduct image courtesy wn News proST. wrapping up of the Partners is 801 S. OLIVE Angeles Downto things to conOlive streets, placement be o-based Carmel tower at Eighth and g pages, Los Expect . District will followin San Francisc Dan GaribIn the 96 projects in the Arts apartment office Development of March, updates on la building phase of a 27-story Vice President of -old Coca-Co se complex with creative vides the latest figuratively and literally. the end Senior The century Angeles and up, ground by according to of 2017. into a mixed-u GPI Companies of Los tinue to look y plans to break third quarter transformed a $19 milnts. TS stualdi. The compan wrapping up in the completed and restaura units, with NEW PROJEC ced, were revived or last spring Traction ction space, retail call for 363 uses. announ Atlas Capital now dubbed Fourth & with constru S. Olive St. sed publicly the and eight pentho tower at 801 New York-ba of the structure, streets, . were either pool apartments Plans for the five months and Merrick ion These projects two-bedroom center, a rooftop lion acquisit nce in the past The threecorner of Fourth dios, one- and include a large fitness on area on a fifth-floor sits on the street name). Fourth gained promine it h the (althoug to change cing at 963 E. Amenities would a larger pool and recreati has acare seeking feet of street-fa and red brick buildinghoused operations developers SPRING Partner Group and lounge, sly -square-foot be 10,000 square podium. Most of the sed Holland EIGHTH AND and plans to and previou Leasing would also story, 150,000 Washington-ba and Spring streets -floor deck. There opened in 1915 has long been vacant. four-story parking panels, allowing the Vancouver, but lot at Eighth as part of a St. originally ents and ground it will get in translucent retail space la company, announced of the quired a parkingbuilding with 320 apartm be wrapped for the Cola-Co Partners and RKF have Warren, head would use with an Tom 24-story a nts. pentho podium at night. build said Holland the foot rooftop glow softly agents Industry ng to city docume nt will be on structure to 10,000-squareia developments, S. Spring St. retail, accordi a landscaped, and fire pit, and a restaura HLW International is Southern Californ the property at 737 firm wn defor company’s a outdoor kitchenstructure. Architecture creation of $12.5 million other Downto y broke OLIVE ST. include the the . 820 S. Partner paid would follow project will east end of Core project t to the building June, the compan redesign. The The Historic Partner. Last es at Sixth and Bixel structure adjacen fourth quarter handling the for Holland vel parking tory structur ted in the velopments 300-space multi-leis due to be comple a pair of seven-s ground on Fourth & Traction West. streets in City of this year. TOKYO seeking entitleis LITTLE E Homes SQUAR The deETCO HOMES sed developer Etco MARIONETTE in Little Tokyo. ent project Beverly Hills-ba would offer 66-unit apartm Ellison S. Onizuka St. square ments for a ut up to 1,250 at 118 Astrona with floor plans by the end of the velopment room lofts, ground one- and two-bedy is aiming to break t is BGA Inc. The architec feet. The compan manager Kyle Milano. . year, said project has been revealed No budget

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Councilman José Huizar have said the actual cost could be lower than $270 million, but the project’s funding picture remains unclear. In

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hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery, said Bada. The builder is Millie and Severson.

ground pool deck, floor will cabana storefro hold s and nts Develo COURTHOUSE was initially along Grand 5,672 square feet a fitness center. FEDERAL pment Avenue proffere and 11th of retail space, hit a wall Flamm The massive steel frame of the $323 million ang Archite Street. The when the d by develop with Trumar er Amir astanie recessio project cts isFederal k Urban Kalanta nterpris handlinCourthouse, at the southwest corner of ri, but plans based archite acquired n began and es.com g designs . Broadwaythe and First Street, is nearly complete. cture firm the project in lending market . At buildin June 2014. s froze. g, which Hanson Construction began in summer 2013 and is on LA feature Downt ting out Downto create s several is handling designs own News along an wntrack to wrap in fall 2016, according to Traci 237 studio MIXED Rubik’s edge of BLOSS 13 USE reserve to three-b for the OM PLAZA the structu Cube-like d for low-inc Madison, a representative for the U.S. General edroom TITLE INSUR accents Broadw re. ome residen apartm jutay ents, Services Administration. The 600,000-squareHard demoli ANCE BUILD ts. The for restaur will also have develop with 53 units ING 19,000 foot building will have 24 district courtrooms is immine tion for the ment at square spaces. ants and retail; Historic feet 900 Core’s Title the 1928 nt, said Bill Lindbo and 32 judges’ chambers, as well as offices for Additionally, Forestthe project will of street level N. public structu plaza with City is creatin hold four restaurspace re at 433 rg of Capital Insurance Buildin pleted the U.S. Marshals Service. The design from ar station the Foresig S. to Broadw a walkway connec g g a 17,000ant ht, which to move abatement and Spring St. The heartde chitecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merill squareting the owns forward compa of Chinato ay, allowing soft demoli foot Metro for turning rail in the tion work, ny has compicts a large cube with windows set atdown angles several wn by foot (currenriders to easily Gold Line the buildin permitting and continu square flights of process access projectwill tly, they g feet of to create a serrated outer skin; the design the stairs is slated es ground into 216 residen , he said. Plans for comple and walk up would have to -floor retail tial units call bring in natural light while also cutting solar go multipl tion in with 40,000 TOPAZ space. e blocks) CITY MARKE late spring . heat gain. The Civic Center building is being The 2016. Constru T Accord ction ing to the Masonic Hall, near the Olvera Street plaza. engineered to achieve LEED Platinum status, ment comple continues phase on of develop most recent informa The process began last summer and will run according to the GSA. Main streets, x just north Jade Enterprises’ project ment for of the Santa 159-un City accordi the massivetion available, re through this summer. Public hearings to redubbed it apartspace, hotel Market, a propos ng to a the initial Topaz, Fashion compa Fe Lofts at Sixth broke ground ed $1 rooms fice at 550 District view the preliminary designs are slated to take ny spokes FIGUEROA CORRIDOR BIKEWAY For the and megaS. Main initial phase,and a college billion hub of man. The last Septem streets. housing place by early winter, according to the city LENA Group Construction of the street improvements has campu project Topaz will St. will stretch dubbed ber. The s, began , office , betwee and will six-stor offer studio and said department El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical begun along the Figueroa Corridor, Tim intends to turn City Market South, last summe San Julian include and one- n Main and Los y edir. two aged 23,000 project betwee fice space Angele to three-b Monument (which manages the buildings). The square Fremaux, a transportation engineering associis buildin developer the s and dining n 11th and feet gs on San No budgetexpected to be edroom 12th Chan city is planning to move the studio for Chancomple of retail. The Historic units ate for the city. The $20 million from My Figueroa establis landow Pedro has been te by the hments streets into creative ner Peter housing reveale . The overall third quarter Core Fleming nel 35, which airs City Council meetings and project, an effort to make the street friendlier d. units, 210 VALEN , ultimat City Marketof295,000 of 2016. CIA other government-related programs, into the square to pedestrians and bicyclists, is expected to feethotel rooms, 225,000ely would , Develo include before per of creative square 945 last through December. Plans call forthe trimming entire project $60 million Sonny Astani office feet broke is comple space. It could of retail and vehicular lanes and establishing protected arBlvd. The , six-story apartm ground in FIGUER te. be At citymar 20 218-ap OA CENTR ent project late 2014 on artmen plete in eas for two-wheeled travelers. The project will ketla2.c years Chain-l a roughly at 1501-1 t City West Februa om. ink fences AL 521 W. have amenit ry 2016, comple accomplish this while preserving the entrance mega-p went up Wilshire accordi roject late on ng to Astani.x is slated to Most units ies such as menced and other and exit points for auto dealerships last year, the 4.6-acre site The Valenci be comwould have open courtya on the and constru of the square Develo parcel, parking rds and businesses along the three-mile section balconi feet of per Forest ction work Fig Central which for lot andof a fitness a would es ground million also held years underg center. has com-floor retail and there would Figueroa Street Blossom City is finished round District two squat operated as photo by between the Financial and comme be 4,400 bank with the Gary Leonard Plaza the parking plans to a surface and Exposition Park. At myfiegueroa.com. founda build two vault. Beijing- mechanical buildin rcial space. podium complex and tion Develo based develop top of a began 40-stor in January Killefer gs pment pouring at the $100 large y towers , accordi Frank Frallicc er Oceanwand an develop retail space. parking podium concret and a ng to Vice AND ment is e for BROADWAY PARK with about49-story high-ris ide about 30% iardi. Constru FIRST Preside air galleria Initial renderi nt of of Recreation ction e, all on 200,000 comple Theon city Department andtwo Parks, ngs show the combin with te, he said. square five-sto the retail levels. The feet of ed ry 504 condom space as theThe Bureau of Engineering Councilman towers, project ties and an such will a pool and iniums and 183 meanwhile, will openJosé Huizar’s office have begun as hosting hotel rooms, hold a green space community outreach meetings for the park on top with ameniof the podium proposed for the corner of First Street and . The Contin ued on Broadway, said Huizar spokesman Rick Coca. page 14

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A Proposition 65 Public Notice

23, 2015

FOREST CITY/SOUTH Developer PARK Forest City seven-story is prepari ng to break South Park Vice Preside ground on buildings a pair of nt in late spring, lion project of Development Frank Frallicci according to will bring Hill streets) one buildin ardi. The $135 with 177 g to 156 W. studio 7,500 square 11th St. (11th milfeet of ground to two-bedroom and include a units and floor pool deck, courtyard retail space. Amenit about pedestrian and ies paseo Herald Examin in the alley betweegym. It would also would create a Main St. with er Building. Anothe n the apartments and the square feet 214 studio to two-ber structure will rise at 1201 S. of retail space. droom apartm than 500 The two ents and combin 7,500 spaces. Forest ed parking stalls buildings would have more and nearly City is aiming taneously 450 bicycle to constru and open parking ct both buildin them by said. the summe gs simulr of 2017, Frallicciardi FOURTH AND BROAD Planning for a high-ris WAY veteran develop e at Fourth Street and son and busines er Izek Shomo Broadway f continu from s partner he added. . The entitlem es, said Eric Shomo The f, his and parking 34-story tower would ent process is underway, feature 450 retail space. spaces, and there residential would be The 450,000 units 7,000 signed by Downtown-bas-square-foot develop square feet of to condom inium specific ed architect Hansonment, being dements, Eric LA, would Shomof said. ations but likely would be built of the buildin Render open as apartg with a curved ings show a corner of mid-rise Development Downtown News 15 segment Fourth and fronting the portion Broadw on top of southeast that. No timeline ay. A rectang ular tower orprojected budget has would rise building. The $23 million project will also create than the initial cost been of $125 million. clinics and physician offices including the hosGAREY BUILDI reveale office space and a 50-seat theater, which would Officials with the office of 14th District City d pital’s Surgical Specialties Clinic, which includes NG

st corner NG at the southwe FORD BUILDI Motor Factory building be transformed into Ford oFe Avenue will The former San Francisc Street and Santa on the ground floor. ed the of Seventh retail ies purchas space with creative office giant Shorenstein Propert structures for $37 anying tein, based real estate two accomp t of Shorens building and senior vice presiden 102-year-old tes opening April. Jim Pierre, this April, and anticipa million last announced. begin to been has ction expects constru in spring 2016. No budget the ground floor. s on ment the develop -ceiling window feature large winfloor-to show of also would Renderings above the street deck with sweeping views 1912 a The four levels opened in would have . The Ford building ia assembly dows. The rooftop n Californ and Boyle Heights Downtown primary Souther ed as the headCompany’s A’s. It function as Ford Motor and Model to 2005. for Model T’s y from 1972 operations l Toy Compan the Imperia quarters of

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February 15, 2016

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Restaurant Buzz Southern French in the Historic Core, Fresh-Made Pasta Galore and Other Food Happenings By Eddie Kim pring Is Here: We’ve been hearing about a Historic Core restaurant from Church & State owner Yassmin Sarmadi for years. Now, the project she has been working on with C&S chef Tony Esnault (formerly of Patina) is ready. Spring, on the ground floor of the Douglas Building at Third and Spring streets, opened on Monday, Feb. 8. It’s currently only serving lunch, with dinner set to begin Friday, Feb. 19. Whenever you go, expect a menu ripe with Southern French and Mediterranean flavors and a focus on seafood and local produce. Esnault and

Sarmadi (who are married) say Spring’s menu is a counterpoint to the meatier fare at Church & State. Menu options include marinated raw sea bream, silky saffron risotto, and bourride, a fish stew similar to bouillabaisse but thickened with aioli (aka garlic mayonnaise) for richness. Lunch appetizers and entrees run about $15-$25; there will be more options and slightly higher prices at dinner. At 257 S. Spring St., (213) 372-5189 or springlosangeles.com. On the Fritzi: Neal Fraser already has a top Downtown restaurant with the fine-dining Redbird, but he’s hungry for more. Hence the opening of Fritzi, tucked right next to nightlife magnate Cedd Moses’ massive Arts District Brewing Company. Sound familiar? Fraser runs Fritzi Dog, a hot-dog joint at the Original Farmers Market, but despite the similar nomenclature, the Arts District outpost has a lot more than sausages. On the dinner menu is spit-roasted cauliflower with herbs, a wood-fired rotisserie chicken, steak frites, and Santa Barbara whitefish with beans and charred lemon, to name a few. Best of all, nothing cracks $20, meaning you have more cash to blow on craft beer. Fritzi is open 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. every day. At 814 Traction Ave. or artsdistrictbrewing.com. You Knead It: It’s hard to keep up with all the new faces in Grand Central Market. Now there’s another, as last month the talented Bruce Kalman opened Knead & Co. with partner Marie Petulla. Kalman, the chef at Pasadena’s Union, continues his Italian ways with a tight menu that focuses on pastas made fresh daily. Knead offers nearly a dozen pastas, from simple preparations such as spaghetti with tomato sauce ($8) to more complex fare like duck agnolotti with butternut squash ($14) or squid ink taglioni with clams, mussels and white wine ($17). There are also salads and starters, including panzerotti, stuffed hand pies that resemble little calzones. If you want to cook Kalman’s pastas at home, there’s a small market, too. At 317 S. Broadway, (213) 624-2378 or kneadpasta.com.

ments, the planned food hub at the Medallion complex at Fourth and Main streets remains quite empty. There’s some new life, however, with the announcement that Imli, an Indian street food restaurant, could open there this spring. Imli comes from husband and wife Nish and Ashwini Jhaveri, their friend and respected Indian food writer Nikhil Merchant, and partner Himanshu Barjatiya. Imli debuted with a recent weekend pop-up near the Medallion, offering a Rasta sandwich (made with thinly sliced vegetables and herb chutney and toasted over an open fire), a Goan prawn curry with a touch of coconut milk, and walnut halwa, a warm dessert with butter and spices. Expect traditional street eats unlike the chicken tikka masala you always order at Indian restaurants. Coming to 334 S. Main St. Too Hot: Here’s a quick update on the anticipated Howlin’ Rays: The purveyor of delicious and spicy Nashville hot fried chicken was supposed to open its first brick-and-mortar shop at Far East Plaza in Chinatown this month, but equipment delays have pushed the debut to March, said co-owner Amanda Chapman, who is working on the project with her chef-husband Johnny Zone. Considering the acclaim Howlin’ Ray’s has racked up from its food truck, and the fact that Nashville hot chicken is kind of hard to find in L.A. (no, we don’t count KFC), this is one to mark on the calendar. Coming to 727 N. Broadway or howlinrays.com.

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New Vision: The Arts District’s Osso has earned a reputation for casual but cheffed-up takes on American food; its fried chicken is the best in Downtown and the patty melt is disturbingly easy to eat. Now opening chef Nick Montgomery is partnering with co-chef Akira Akuto to define and expand Osso’s culinary ambitions. The new menu offers more refined dishes, including a potato terrine with smoked trout roe, corned oxtail with mustard spaetzle and cabbage, a sunchoke custard with dandelion greens and sherry vinegar, and flatiron steak with daikon and beef jus. Don’t worry: The fried chicken and onion rings remain, as do the reasonable prices (most items are under $20). At 901 E. First St., (213) 880-5999 or ossodtla.com. Got juicy food news? Email eddie@downtownnews.com.

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February 15, 2016 The FIDM Museum’s annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition features about 120 outfits from 23 films, including Cinderella, which is up for an Oscar for Best Costume Design.

photos by Alex J. Berliner

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Movie Costumes Get a Starring Role FIDM Exhibit Includes Outfits From ‘Mad Max,’ ‘Carol,’ ‘Star Wars’ and Other Films By Nicholas Slayton he reporters at award show red carpets always ask, “Who are you wearing?” to movie stars. At the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Downtown Los Angeles, the more important question is, “What were you wearing?” The answer fills FIDM’s in-house museum. The 24th annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition recently opened at the Grand Avenue campus. It features approximately 120 outfits from 23 films, including all five Oscar nominees for Best Costume Design. The show runs through April 30. Barbara Bundy, the museum’s director, said the costumes were selected not just for their fame, but with an eye on design. “Some are prominent with the size of the box office, and some here aren’t successes, but the costumes are so spectacular they had to be included,” she said. The first gallery is devoted to period films, mainly works set in the 1800s such as The Revenant, The Hateful Eight and Crimson Peak. The main hall also looks to the past, with 1950s-set movies such as Carol and Trumbo. Then there is a loose music section featuring costumes from the NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton, along with outfits from Pitch Perfect 2 and Jem and the Holograms. The most attention-grabbing pieces may be from two sci-fi works. In one corner are the beaten leather and medical gauzereminiscent costumes from Mad Max: Fury Road. Meanwhile, under a dimmer light, six costumes from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens stand alert. The looming presence of the shiny and chrome Captain Phasma and the glaring black outfit worn by Kylo Ren make the display stand out from the others. “We set Star Wars separately. The costumes are so unique,” Bundy said. “In the past we’ve had a lot of superhero movies, but there weren’t many this year.” Making the Cut The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design is ever-changing, with the pieces on display influenced by film trends. This year’s exhibit is heavy on Victorian-era costumes, as well as mid-20th century outfits. One big change this year, said Bundy, is the proliferation of menswear on display. Usually female costumes dominate.

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A highlight in the 24th annual show is a selection of outfits from Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

“The men’s costumes are spectacular, from period pieces like Victor Frankenstein to Kingsman: The Secret Service,” she said. “I love the juxtaposition between that and Straight Outta Compton, which is next to it.” Also new this year is a set of wall-mounted panels. Each addresses different aspects of film, such as one that looks at all of the people and skills in costume teams, from illustrators to sewing technicians. The panels are set on white backgrounds, a change from the color backgrounds FIDM has utilized in the past. Displaying the work is one thing, but that only happens after another monumental task: acquiring all the costumes. Nick Verreos, a spokesman for FIDM, said that in general the museum’s team works to line up the outfits far ahead of the exhibit’s opening. In the past, he noted, there have been occasional last-minute additions, sparked by surprise hit films released over the holidays, though he said that didn’t happen this year. The FIDM team also has to properly display the costumes. That can mean getting lighting just right. In other cases, it requires making adjustments on what is underneath the outfits. In the case of Cinderella, the mannequins were made specifically for the costumes by the film’s design team. “We run into situations with actors, who are often not big people. They’re not too tall,” Bundy said. “Our installation team

is surgical. We remove ribs from mannequins when the actor is so tiny.” The films nominated for the Best Costume Design run the gamut, and the museum showcases outfits from the aforementioned Mad Max, Cinderella and The Revenant, along with Carol and The Danish Girl. While designers can spend thousands of dollars or more on costumes, the exhibit goes beyond big-budget outfits. Verreos pointed to the three costumes at FIDM from the film Brooklyn as examples of working with limits to build out a world. “Costume designer Odile Dicks-Mireaux had no budget,” he said. “Almost everything was bought from vintage stores. Only a couple things were made.” While the films are overwhelmingly from 2015, there is one nod to the previous year: the Oscar-winning costumes from The Grand Budapest Hotel. Bundy said that although the exhibit continues for two months after the Oscars, attendance does not taper out. Still, she noted that there is a spike right around the time the Academy Awards are presented. The winner of the Oscar for Best Costume Design won’t be revealed for two more weeks, but all of the nominees and many others can be seen now, in one single Downtown location. The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Exhibition runs through April 30 at 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidmmuseum.org. nicholas@downtownnews

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February 15 2016

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A Visit From the God Squad Ahmanson Show Is Entertaining if Rarely Challenging Sean Hayes from “Will & Grace” plays the Almighty in An Act of God. During the 85-minute show he delivers a revised set of the 10 Commandments.

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range as the Almighty is nothing like the character for which he’s best known. He sells even the clunky jokes with such joy that they are easy to overlook. Javerbaum rarely strays from harmless jokes that will appeal to his base, though a line about the Holocaust is wickedly funny and is the one time he risks offending politically correct theatergoers. The rest of the time Javerbaum plays it safe, which business-wise is a smart decision, even though that approach limits it from becoming a standout show. Most audiences would rather be entertained than challenged. An Act of God fits the bill. An Act of God runs through March 13 at the Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org.

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ple he has made. Director Joe Mantello allows the pace to slow and the tone to quiet during these moments, which gives the audience time to reflect. It’s a smart move, as it also allows the upcoming rapid-fire punch lines to get a bigger response. Though primarily a one-person show, God has two helper angels. Gabriel (a wonderfully deadpan James Gleason) reads passages from a Guttenberg Bible, and Michael (David Josefsberg) roams the audience for questions, while also asking several that have plagued him. The key to An Act of God’s success is Hayes. His eight-year stretch as Jack on “Will & Grace” has been hard to shake, but his emotional

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ly combines various video visuals of floating clouds and menacing lighting strikes. It’s the ideal setting for God to provide insight on the meaning of life — or the lack of one. Hayes, who gets to play himself unwittingly inhabited by God, displays likeability and comic timing, as well as some emotional depth, which well serves the hit-and-miss material. There’s not much plot, but the through line is God’s decision to deliver to L.A. a revised 10 Commandments, which he has altered after watching the original list cause so much confusion. The new divine laws include “Thou shalt not tell others whom to fornicate,” which leads into a story about how Adam and Eve really began as Adam and Steve. There’s also “Thou shalt not kill in my name.” God says he’s touched by the sentiment, but that he’s more than capable of killing humans, citing Noah and the flood as a prime example. It’s no surprise that Javerbaum, who spent more than a decade as a writer for “The Daily Show,” has updated An Act of God with barbs at several conservative politicians, in particular Ted Cruz, whom God says he convinced to run for president to get a good laugh. Several jokes aren’t original, but the wealth of material packed into the intermission-less show provides plenty of laughs. Also, Javerbaum wisely mixes the comedy with a few touches of serious contemplation by God, who admits he is as screwed up as a lot of the peo-

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By Jeff Favre od has been hanging out in Downtown Los Angeles the past few months. Check that — theatrical versions of the allpowerful entity have been repeatedly spied in the Central City. Center Theatre Group offered a subtly complex and realistic look at human struggles with faith in The Christians, which recently closed at the Taper. It now offers a comical, irreverent send-up of the Creator in a restaging of last year’s Broadway hit An Act of God. The show runs through March 13 at the Ahmanson Theatre. “Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons has been ably replaced by Sean Hayes from “Will & Grace” in this mildly funny and easily digestible 85-minute production. Writer David Javerbaum based it on his book The Last Testament: A Memoir by God and his popular Twitter account @TheTweetOfGod. An Act of God is tailor-made for theatergoers who enjoy mocking Biblical literalists in particular, and organized religion in general. Despite its modern edge, this deity really isn’t that far afield from the one George Burns played in the 1970s Oh, God! movies, which carried the message that everyone should spend more time having faith in themselves than in an outside force. An Act of God starts out with its own Big Bang of sorts, thanks to Scott Pask’s awe-inspiring and heavenly scenic design, which seamless-

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Feb. 17, 2016, is an auspicious date in pop culture: It marks one year until audiences will be treated to the third installment of Bad Boys, the comic/ action vehicle that shot Martin Lawrence’s career into high orbit. As a sort of tease, Lawrence himself is trekking to Downtown Los Angeles, and on Saturday, Feb. 20, he will appear at 7 and 10 p.m. at the Orpheum Theatre for solo performances. Just for fun, here are other movies Lawrence appeared in: Wild Hogs, Big Momma’s House, Black Knight and Big Momma’s House 2. For the record, none of those won the Oscar for Best Picture. Still, Lawrence will make you laugh. At 842 S. Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com.

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1 Feel free to add moirologist to the list of careers that should not exist. Known colloquially as “professional mourners,” moirologists have added a special depth to funerals since long before the days of ancient Rome. Not only is this still a thing, but high-caliber grieving has segued into the cultural realm as Little Tokyo’s East West Players presents Criers for Hire. The play by Giovanni Ortega opens Wednesday, Feb. 17. Shows this week are at 8 p.m. on Wednesday-Saturday and again at 2 p.m. on Sunday. At 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org.

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Local lore has it that Los Angeles crime noir literature owes its defining darkness to an atmospheric condition related to the dawn of heavy industry in the region. If the City of Angels could spawn a genre of doom and gloom, it stands to reason that rainy British Columbia might have a fair shot at the genre. Enter Fraser C. Heston and Heather J. McAdams, who recently released the B.C.-set crime thriller Desolation Sound. They’ll be talking about said tome at the Last Bookstore on Friday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. They’ll do a quick reading and we assume they’ll also have a pleasant and also totally un-noir Q&A. At 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. eo

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By Dan Johnson | calendar@downtownnews.com

Avant-Garde Theater, Professional Mourners, Martin Lawrence and British Speed Metal All Descend on Downtown

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Suffolk, England’s finest extreme metal export has likely left quite an impression on you. Since 1994, the heavy-hitting Cradle of Filth has been delivering fist-to-theface speed tunes set to a minor key. You may know the band also for their tireless tour schedule or a particularly vulgar T-shirt that has scarred many a young individual. Need more? Well, the band’s own website describes them as “the U.K.’s most visionary and hellish outfit.” Now the delightful news: Cradle of Filth themselves will haunt the Mayan Theatre on Wednesday, Feb 17. In case you care, the opening act is the Butcher Babies. Bring earplugs. At 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4289 or clubmayan.com.

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 The 58th Annual Grammy Awards Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com. 5 p.m.: The pageantry of music’s biggest night invades L.A. Live. Try not to drive in the vicinity of the arena that day. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17 2016 Economic Forecast, The Next Generation of Mobility Omni Hotel, 251 S. Olive St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. 7 a.m.: Automated and unmanned vehicles are just the tip of the iceberg in this futurism-fetishizing look at the ways in which technology will improve transportation, assuming we can squash civil strife, global pandemics and alien attacks. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Aram Moshayedi and Hamza Walker at MOCA MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org. 7 p.m.: The curators of the 2016 installment of the Hammer Museum’s Made in L.A. ponder the merits and defining factors of Los Angeles’ art scene. Dr. John C. Williams at Town Hall-L.A. City Club, 555 S. Flower St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. 11:30 a.m.: The President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco dishes on a variety of pertinent topics including the probability of interest rate hikes and a universal dislike for Andrew Jackson. Free Advice Ace Hotel, 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. 12 p.m.: Representatives from the Los Angeles Performance Practice will be on hand to offer advice to struggling artists and established hacks alike. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19 Fraser C. Heston and Heather J. McAdams Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St. or lastbookstorela.com. 7 p.m.: You may know filmmakers Heston and McAdams. You’ll definitely have a hard time forgetting them after they read from their latest work of noir fiction, Desolation Sound. L.A. Fight Club Belasco, 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or thebelascotheater.com. 5 p.m.: Another night of boxing in a nightclub, courtesy of promoter Oscar de la Hoya. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20 38th Annual LA Chinatown Firecracker 5K/10K Run Chinatown, (213) 680-0243 or chinatownla.org. 9 a.m.: The race through Chinatown and Elysian Park begins with the lighting of 100,000 firecrackers. For Heaven’s sake, please do not bring your dog to this event.

February 15, 2016

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When playwright August Strindberg debuted his “naturalist” opus Miss Julie in 1889, the tale of forbidden love between an aristocratic woman and her father’s servant was intended to portray the scathing dimensions of class hierarchy in the most realistic ways that Swedish late-19th century theater could (for the record, this was a century before Abba). Flash forward 127 years: Strindberg is vindicated as Brazilian author and experimental dramatist Christiane Jatahy brings her adaptation, Julia, to REDCAT this week. The reworking of Strindberg’s text juxtaposes the classist axis of the original over contemporary Brazilian society with help from bold cinematic elements. Julia runs at 8:30 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 18-20, with a final 7 p.m. show on Sunday. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org.

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Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

February 15, 2016 Kimchi Workshop Natural History Museum, 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3466 or nhm.org. 1 p.m.: You’ll be in deep with this hands-on laboratory on how to can your own spicy cabbage. Beyond the tutorial, the relative merits of this intestinal and intense favorite of the Korean peninsula will be discussed thoroughly. SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Harlem Globetrotters Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com. 12:30 and 5:45 p.m.: The clown jesters of the hardwood are here to make crazy trick shots, throw buckets of confetti and beat an opponent whose team name doesn’t matter. See story p. 5. Hito Steyerl at MOCA MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org. 3 p.m.: Not only is the German artist eminently qualified to adjudicate the conditions of modernity, she also happens to have a new video installation at MOCA. So that worked out nicely.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Feb. 15: Peter Mazza/Julian Coryell/Larry Koonse. Feb. 16: Trevor Anderies. Feb. 17: Wil Blades with Skerik, Andy Coe and Simon Lott. Feb. 18: Dave Douglas Quintet. Feb. 19: Ryan Keberle & Catharsis. Feb. 20: John Raymond with Real Feels. Feb. 21: Frank Abraham and Friends. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Feb. 15, 8:30 p.m.: Lena Fayre invites Yassou and Me Yow to join her in a night of performers that use the letter “y” entirely too many times in their band names. Feb. 16, 8:15 p.m.: Mass Gothic is neither heavy nor reminiscent of late medieval thought, art or architecture. Feb. 19, 8:30 p.m.: The Donkeys promise to put on a show, as that species has been known to do. Feb. 21, 11 a.m.: Tonight’s Anison USA show features Japanese performers delivering their takes on anime soundtrack favorites. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. Feb. 20, 7 and 9:30 p.m.: Felipe Esparaza won NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Feb. 19: The vaunted Eric Prydz. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.: The Audible Impact gig benefitting Safe Place for Youth, Los Angeles features the likes of Tig Notaro, Mike Posner and apparent Downtown weekly feature Reggie Watts. Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.: Just in case you didn’t already know, tonight’s event page reminds you that Wolfmother is “sold out.” Mayan 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4287 or clubmayan.com. Feb. 17, 6 p.m.: Get your nymphetamine fix with Cradle of Filth. Microsoft Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheeatre.com. Feb. 20, 8 p.m.: Reza Sadeghi, a pop singer from Tehran who walks with a cane. Feb. 21, 2 and 5 p.m.: Peppa Pig Live is wholesome, family-oriented entertainment. Orpheum Theatre 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com. Feb. 20, 7 and 10 p.m.: Martin Lawrence has kids to feed, so please be considerate and purchase tickets to both of his shows. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. Feb. 15: Rubber. Feb. 16: Gonzophonic and Trio Kait. Feb. 17: Scarlett & The Fever and Mountains of the Moon. Feb. 18: Ninos de la Tierra, Alma Sangre and MC ZR The Beat Seeker. Feb. 19: Generacion Suicida, Zoloa, Krossed, Cold Complex and Tortur. Feb. 20: Shark Muffin, The Flytraps, Feral Kizzy and Electric Children. Feb. 21, 3 p.m.: Guitars a Go Go. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m.: It's Dilla Day LA 2. Feb. 20, 9 p.m.: Kids, you’ll know Questlove as the afro’d drummer who gets paid to hang out with Jimmy Fallon. Your parents, however, remember a time when he was in a band called The Roots. Feb. 21, 7 p.m.: Predictably, this live taping of podcast Gilmore Guys features two male super fans watching episodes of “Gilmore Girls.” I, for one, will be at home weeping. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311. Feb. 16: Andrew St. James. Feb. 19: The Neon Grey Fete LP Release Party.

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14 Downtown News Continued from previous page Feb. 20: Charlie Hilton. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Feb. 15: Louis Van Taylor Quintet assemble! Feb. 16: In Venice blog-o-speak, The Makers are artisanal purveyors of sustainable craft alt-jazz, and OMG, have a bourbon, girl! Feb. 17: Rick Taub’s Midnight Blues Review, not just a tease for those who suffer from an inability to discern colors at night. Feb. 18: Bro, the economy is recovering nicely and there are cranes aplenty in Downtown, which means pockets are getting fatter and The Sidewinders won’t be the only snakes at this bar tonight. Feb. 21: We’ve never found Critical Brass to be too judgey, actually. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. Feb. 17: Saint-James Adenoid, Ghost Noise and Mo Dotti. Feb. 19: HowardAmb, Warm Climate and Fragile Gang. Feb. 20: Born Allah, Otherwize, Sex Fruit, Colored Girls and Irawniq. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. Feb. 20, 6 p.m.: L.A. Modular 2016 features a sturdy line-up of proficient modular synth manipulators such as Daniel Miller, Richard Devine and more. Walt Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org. Feb. 20, 8 p.m.: Jazz vocalist Dianna Reeves does a delicious duet with baritone Gregory Porter.

CROSSWORD

FILM

Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. See website for schedule. FIGat7th Taste Food Court, 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 955-7170 or figat7th.com. Feb. 17, 7 p.m.: Tear jerking neo-romance classic The Notebook really gets the water works going when you realize how little star Ryan Gosling must have paid per month to live in Downtown’s Hellman Building in the early 2000s. The screening takes place outdoors. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Journey to Space 3D brings audience members along on an E-ticket ride of exploration to the red planet. Ewan McGregor is the voice of Humpback Whales 3D. Not that the whales aren’t significant enough in their own right, but Obi-Wan narrating means we’re dealing with serious power brokers here. Power brokers who know a good whale story when they see it. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through Feb. 18: Deadpool (11:35 a.m., 12:50, 1:40, 2:20, 3:40, 4:30, 5:10, 6:40, 7:20, 8, 9:20, 10:20 and 11 p.m.); How to be Single (11:25 a.m., 1:10, 2:10, 4, 5, 6:50, 7:50, 9:40 and 10:40 p.m.); Zoolander 2 (11:20 a.m., 1:20, 2, 4:10, 4:50, 7, 7:40, 9:50 and 10:30 p.m.); The Choice (12:10, 12:40, 3:30, 6:20 and 9:10 p.m.); Hail, Caesar! (1:50, 4:40, 7:30

and 10:10 p.m.); Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (1:30, 4:20, 7:10 and 10 p.m.); Kung Fu Panda 3 (3:50 and 9 p.m.); Kung Fu Panda 3 3D (1 and 6:30 p.m.); The Boy (11:50 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.); Ride Along 2 (3:10 p.m.); The Revenant (11:30 a.m., 2:50, 6:10 and 9:30 p.m.).

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE

An Act of God Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0777 or musiccenter.org. Feb. 16-19, 8 p.m. and Feb. 20, 2 and 8 and Feb. 21, 1 p.m.: The comedy An Act of God comes from the pen of 13time Emmy winner (and former “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” head writer) David Javerbaum. Sean Hayes, perhaps best known for his role in “Will & Grace,” plays the almighty himself in this tongue-and-cheek divinity play. Through March 13. See review p 11. The Aeroplane or How Low: An Autobiography (sort of) Loft Ensemble, 929 E. Second St., (213) 680-0392 or loftensemble.org. Feb. 20, 8 p.m. and Feb. 21, 7 p.m.: In Mitch Rosander’s drama, a plane flight home to cope with family grief turns into a boundless bit of soul searching. Through March 6.

MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar.

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To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448, or go to DowntownNews.com Deadline classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm. FORfor RENT All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. Bee Cards, 1528 Yale St. #3, Santa Monica, CA 90404, (2) Lemonade Pixel, 1528 Yale St. #3, Santa Monica, CA 90404, and (3) Lemonade VFX, 1528 Yale St. #3, Santa Monica, CA 90404, are hereby registered by the following registrants: Alexis Rawlins, 1528 Yale St. #3, Santa Monica, CA 90404 and Brandon Sachs, 1528 Yale St. #3, Santa Monica, CA 90404. This business is conducted by a married couple. Registrants began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 05/19/2014. This statement was filed with Dean C. Logan, Los Angeles County Clerk and by Miguel Macias, Deputy, on January 26, 2016. NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code). Pub. 02/01, 02/08, 02/15, and 02/22/2016.

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Site demolition work, including excavation, backfill, re-compaction and grading, has been completed. The park would rise on the site of a former state office building that was razed after the 1971 Sylmar earthquake. The new facility is expected to complement Grand Park, which lies directly to the north. According to Huizar’s office, the $18 million to $20 million Civic Center project has secured $14 million so far, with more than $10 million of that in Quimby fees (charged to developers for the creation of green space). The Department of Recreation and Parks anticipates that the remaining funds will come from a combination of future Quimby fees and department allocations. GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL MEDICAL PAVILION The $80 million Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Pavilion is on pace to open late this year, according to hospital spokeswoman Katrina Bada. The 190,000-square-foot development, being designed by Ware Malcolmb, will hold the Frank R. Seaver Ambulatory Surgery Center, which will have eight operating suites. Additionally, the project on Wilshire Boulevard at Witmer Street will hold a pharmacy, outpatient

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apartment Grand The expansive renovationand of the 34-acre park Avenue, complex on the edge of Chinatown, which began last formally known at as G8, is enter April, has been delayed due to the discovery Continued on page of underground archaeological features and 12 some soil contamination. The park, which had been scheduled to be complete in the spring, is now slated to reopen in November, according to state Department of Parks and Recreation Superintendent Sean Woods. Completed work thus far includes excavation and grading of the two-acre restored wetlands area, construction of a pedestrian bridge, and framing of a welcome center, ranger station and public restrooms. Other planned features include a treeflanked promenade and a paved parking area. The renovation is budgeted at approximately $20 million. At lashp.wordpress.com.

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LOS ANGELES STREETCAR The most recent assessment of the Los Angeles Streetcar’s cost, from project manager URS Corp., came in at about $270 million. That’s much lower than the worst-case estimate from a city analysis in 2013, which put the price at up to $327.8 million, though it is also far higher

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sold W. First St. was Theatre at 1345 apartment complex Marionette an plans to build demolition of the The Bob Baker the Melech, who in 2013 to Eli would involve the City West Whether that but the city deemed on the site. initial deto be seen, in 2009. The theater remains ural Monument calls for a five-story, Steve Albert theater building a Historic-Cult and architect over the existingpreserved sign from Melech that bridges be d structure space would comwood-frame the theater house displays majority of and would building; the hold 102 the new complex upper floors would The as a lobby in construction Baker’s career. Melech said at the memorating m apartments. until the end of 2015 this April, one- to three-bedroot would not start lease runs through t. No on the developmen onth arrangemen Bob Baker company’s the a month-to-m soonest; it turns into at which point has been revealed. the project budget for Group Holland Partner VIBIANA LOFTS based developer just south of the forWashingtonparcel Partner’s Vancouver, of Holland the nearly one-acre Warren, head to has purchased Cathedral. Tom ts, said the firm expects that mer St. Vibiana building developmen are-foot Southern Californiamonth on a 179,000-squ stories of wood five this Plans call for approximately 247 break ground apartments. podium, with is being will create 237 The project over a concrete spaces. and construction d parking Smith Martin, below-groun firm Togawa above- and restaurant the architecture square feet of retail or designed by residential just under 4,000 including a 41-story will include Main St. Warren projects, S. 222 at previous for the site space. Two to an opening been proposed years, leading tower, had taking two construction anticipates in early 2017. L RESIDENTIA

Regardie is hitKim and Jon Los Angeles Evans, Eddie By Donna t boom in Downtown being built, but is he developmen Not only are projects Central City level: words, the ting a new vertical. In other they are going density in to increasing an upswing. it. literally on because it speaks that welcomes freThis is important s in Los Angeles and the Valley communitie the Westside Downtown one of the few of Hollywood, proposed, in mass. high-rise is Whereas residents area a critical when a new to give the Wilshire quently protest as a means The 73-story it is often embraced on numerous fronts. Figueroa streets and seen and This is being is rising at Seventh St. is nearing completion. S. Olive Grand replacement construction Tower at 888 under is Onni Live on near L.A. the 33-floor broke ground Metropolis Urban just South The multi-tower t firm Trumark 1050 S. Grand Ave. in and the developmen m complex at been made drawings have of higha 22-story condominiu the start, as batch just literally for another Park. That is are being sought rental and entitlements even 50 stories. rush of low-rise 40 or boom. The rises, some on the civic extent of the are also heated That’s not the and things Federal Courthouserecontinues, complexes projects, the ing of the among other groundbreak front, with, and the recent HLW International up the design steaming forward Sixth Street Viaduct. News proimage courtesy ST. is wrapping Downtown of the 801 S. OLIVE sed Carmel Partners conOlive streets, Angeles to placement be pages, Los at Eighth and Expect things District will San Francisco-ba apartment tower t Dan GaribIn the following 96 projects. in the Arts office Developmen of March, updates on Coca-Cola building phase of a 27-story Vice President of with creative vides the latest figuratively and literally. and the end Senior The century-old a mixed-use complex up, ground by of Los Angeles according to of 2017. into tinue to look plans to break GPI Companies third quarter transformed a $19 milwith stuor aldi. The company wrapping up in the and restaurants. last spring completed NEW PROJECTS for 363 units, were revived & Traction space, retail Atlas Capital with construction at 801 S. Olive St. call dubbed Fourth publicly announced, and eight penthouses. tower New York-basedof the structure, now streets, the were either pool apartments months. Plans for the and Merrick These projects two-bedroom in the past five center, a rooftop lion acquisition on the corner of Fourth The threedios, one- and include a large fitness sits street name). Fourth gained prominence area on a fifth-floor (although it to change the at 963 E. Amenities would a larger pool and recreation of street-facing has acare seeking brick building feet and developers SPRING Partner Group are-foot red housed operations and lounge, be 10,000 square podium. Most of the EIGHTH AND based Holland streets and plans to would also story, 150,000-squ in 1915 and previously vacant. Leasing parking the Washingtondeck. There been and Spring opened Vancouver, of a four-story panels, allowing and ground-floor but has long lot at Eighth St. originally it will get space as part translucent company, in retail announced quired a parkingbuilding with 320 apartments head of the be wrapped with an for the Cola-ColaPartners and RKF have Warren, penthouse podium would softly at night. build a 24-story to city documents. Tom ts, said Holland glow re-foot rooftop agents Industry will be on the is developmen structure to 10,000-squa retail, according l S. Spring St. a landscaped, and fire pit, and a restaurant Southern Californiathe property at 737 defirm HLW Internationaof a for company’s ST. outdoor kitchenstructure. Architecture creation $12.5 million other Downtown broke OLIVE the S. paid follow 820 include the Partner would project will east end of the building. Core project June, the companyBixel adjacent to redesign. The The Historic Partner. Last Sixth and handling the for Holland parking structure in the fourth quarter structures at velopments 300-space multi-level a pair of seven-story due to be completed ground on & Traction is Fourth West. streets in City of this year. entitleLITTLE TOKYO Homes is seeking The deE SQUARE ETCO HOMES developer Etco MARIONETT in Little Tokyo. Beverly Hills-based apartment project would offer St. 66-unit Ellison S. Onizuka to 1,250 square ments for a at 118 Astronaut with floor plans up of the velopment lofts, by the end break ground is BGA Inc. one- and two-bedroom is aiming to The architect feet. The companymanager Kyle Milano. year, said project has been revealed. No budget corner at the southwest FORD BUILDING Factory building be transformed into Ford Motor Fe Avenue will The former San FranciscoStreet and Santa on the ground floor. of Seventh retail purchased the space with creative office giant Shorenstein Propertiesg structures for $37 based real estate two accompanyin of Shorenstein, Onni Group building and image courtesy opening senior vice president 102-year-old April. Jim Pierre, this April, and anticipates is moving million last to begin has been announced. Onni Group Hill No budget floor. d developer 2016. expects construction tower between 10 ground Canada-base t in spring on the Vancouver, on page 50-story residential the developmen floor-to-ceiling windows feature large winContinued plans for a show of forward with also would Renderings above the streeta deck with sweeping views 1912 in The four levels Architects would have The Albert Group building opened rooftop Ford The image courtesy The dows. California assembly and Boyle Heights. Downtown primary Southern as the headCompany’s A’s. It functioned as Ford Motor 2005. and Model for Model T’s from 1972 to operations Toy Company the Imperial quarters of

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FOREST CITY/SOUT H PARK Developer Forest City seven-story is preparing South Park to break ground Vice President buildings on a pair in late spring, lion project of Developmen according of t Frank will bring to Hill streets) one building Frallicciardi. The $135 with 177 to 156 W. studio 7,500 square 11th St. (11th milfeet of ground to two-bedroom and include a units and floor pool deck, courtyard retail space. Amenitiesabout pedestrian and gym. paseo It would also would Herald Examiner in the alley between Building. the apartments create a Main St. with Another and the structure square feet 214 studio to two-bedroo will rise of retail space. m apartmentsat 1201 S. than 500 The two buildings combined and parking spaces. Forest would have 7,500 City is aiming stalls and nearly more taneously 450 bicycle to construct and open both buildings parking them by said. the summer simulof 2017, Frallicciardi FOURTH AND BROADWAY Planning for a high-rise veteran developer at Fourth Street and son and business Izek Shomof Broadway from partner. The continues, said Eric he added. Shomof, entitlement The his and parking 34-story tower would process is underway, feature 450 retail space. spaces, and there The 450,000-squ would be 7,000 residential units signed by square feet are-foot deve Downtownof to condominiu based m specificationar ments, Eric s Shomof said. of the building Rende with a curved corner of Development Downtown News 15 se Fourth and Broadway. on top of that. No timeline Ar orprojected bud building. The $23 million project will also create than the initial cost of $125 million. clinics and physician offices including the hosGAREY BUILDING office space and a 50-seat theater, which would Officials with the office of 14th District City pital’s Surgical Specialties Clinic, which includes Construction Councilman José Huizar have said the actual be used for public events and cultural activities. hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, neuro- is progressing The renovation is expected to be finished by than $270 million, but the surgery and orthopedic surgery,soon said Bada. Thethe cost could beatlower top off the Garey Bu unclear. In the end of 2017. project’s of funding picture remains builder is Millie and Severson. said Tom Wulf, framing the 320 senior vi is

including The grounda fifth-floor pool storefronts floor will hold deck, cabanas and Developme was initially along Grand 5,672 square feet a fitness center. nt of retail proffered Avenue and hit a wall Flammang when the by developer 11th Street. The space, with Trumark astanienterpArchitects is Amir Kalantari, project recession Urban acquired began rises.com. handling the based architecture but plans designs. the project and lending At markets building, firm HansonLA in June froze. which features 2014. DowntownDowntown ting out create 237 several is handling designs along an MIXED News 13 Rubik’s edge of BLOSSOM USE reserved studio to three-bedro for the the structure. Cube-like for PLAZA TITLE INSURANC accents om Broadway low-income jutresidents. apartments, will also Hard demolition E BUILDING with 53 for restaurants The developmen have 19,000 units is imminent, for the square and spaces. Historic Additionallyretail; the project feet of street t at 900 N. said Bill Core’s Title the 1928 public plaza level space , Forest will structure Lindborg of with a walkwayCity is creatinghold four restaurant pleted Capital Insurance Building at 433 S. station the Foresight, to a 17,000-squa to move abatement and Spring St. The which owns heart of Broadway, allowingconnecting forward soft demolition company re-foot the Metro Chinatown for turning in the has comdown several by foot rail riders to easily Gold Line work, and the building permitting (currently, square flights of access project feet of into 216 process, he said. continues they the stairs and is slated ground-floo residential Plans call for completion walk up would have to r retail space. units with go multiple TOPAZ in late spring CITY MARKET blocks). 40,000 The 2016. Constructio According n continues ment complex phase of to the most recent on developmen Main streets, just north Jade Enterprises’ information project t for the 159-unit City available, according of the Santa dubbed massive space, hotel Market, a proposed apartthe initial to a company Fe Lofts at Topaz, Fashion broke ground Sixth and rooms fice at 550 For the spokesman. and a college$1 billion hub District megaS. Main initial last September. streets. of housing, The project, LENA Group phase, dubbed campus, Topaz will St. will stretch office The six-story City Market began last between intends and will offer studio and San summer. to turn include South, Julian between and one- Main and Los editwo aged 23,000 project fice space to three-bedro Angeles square is buildings developer the and dining 11th and feet No budgetexpected to be from landowner establishme 12th streets on San Pedro complete of retail. The Historicom units has been into creative by the housing Peter Fleming, nts. The revealed. third quarter Core units, 210 overall ofVALENCIA 295,000 hotel rooms, ultimately would City Market, of 2016. square Developer 225,000 feet of include before creative the entire square 945 $60 million,Sonny Astani office feet project broke is complete. space. It could of retail and Blvd. The six-story apartmentground in FIGUEROA At citymarketlabe 20 years late 2014 218-apartm project plete in on a roughly Chain-link CENTRAL ent City 2.com. at 1501-1521 February West have amenities 2016, mega-projefences went up according complex is slated W. Wilshire on the ct late last such as Most units to Astani. to menced open courtyards year, and 4.6-acre site of The Valenciabe comwould have on the square Developer the Fig construction parcel, parking balconies feet of would and a fitness which for lot Forest ground-floo work has Central and million years undergrounand also held center. comBlossom City is finished r retail and there would two squat operated as photo by d bank Gary Leonard Plaza complex with the the parking plans to a surface commercial be 4,400 mechanical foundation build two vault. Beijing-base space. Killefer buildings Developme podium in January, and began top of a at the 40-story d developer and towers developmennt Frank Frallicciardi. according pouring concrete$100 retail large parking and a 49-story Oceanwide an podium space. to Vice t is about Constructio President for high-rise, air galleria Initial renderings with about 30% complete, of n on the show the 200,000 square all on combined with two levels. five-story he said. feet of 504 condominiuThe towers, retail space theThe Bureau of Engineering Councilman project ties and such meanwhile, as an openwill ms and a pool and José Huizar’s office have begun as hosting green space 183 hotel rooms,will hold a community outreach meetings for the park on top with of the podium. ameniproposed for the corner of First Street and Continued The Broadway, said Huizar spokesman Rick Coca. on page 14

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GLOBETROTTERS, 5

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wizardry and surgery with an object that lacks hard edges. Buckets started the lesson with a pass that involved lightly tossing the ball and then directing it with an elbow thrust. The best I can say is that we got it back somewhat near him. Only once did Hacksaw have to run down the playground in the blazing sun to retrieve it (way to go, Eddie).

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Buckets Blakes shows off some of his basketball wizardry. The Harlem Globetrotters have two performances at Staples Center on Sunday, Feb. 21.

Hacksaw’s first pass was manageable, a one-armed ball hug that was whipped across the body to a teammate. Hey, I did a Globetrotter trick! The feeling of accomplishment was short-lived, and I swear that Hacksaw’s second pass is physically impossible, even though I watched him do it five times. It involved bending so your back is parallel to the ground, balancing the ball on the back of your neck, and then pulling your arms backward, up, over and around your head, and then rolling the ball down extended arms and popping it to another player. Normal human arms would snap off midway through the try. The three of us never got close, the ball tumbling instantly to the ground. Then the hard stuff began. Paging Howard Dean Here’s what I learned: If you’re not a Globetrotter, doing things like putting the ball behind your back and then hitting it in the right direction with a reverse elbow pop is impossible. Hacksaw and Buckets would demonstrate intricate passes, and we’d fail each one miserably. Hacksaw then gave us one that involved turning backward, putting the ball in the crook of your knee, and popping it to a player while exclaiming a clipped “Ha!” I got the ball-flip not terribly wrong, but my “Ha” sounded like a combination of Howard Dean’s primal scream and an 8-year-old girl’s exhalation when doing a hard punch in karate class. It was so strained and bizarre that it made Hacksaw double over in laughter. I’m pretty sure two cars on Seventh Street also stopped so the drivers could see where the pained manatee had just given birth. After that, all six of us stood in a circle to show off our skills. The pros did their tricks. More often than not, we dropped the ball. “Tragic circle,” muttered Hacksaw. El Gato, Hacksaw and Buckets soon took over, while someone played “Sweet Georgia Brown” on a cell phone. We stepped back and they moved and twisted, the ball dancing. Even on a sweltering day in the middle of Downtown, the effect was mesmerizing. Best of all, no one got pantsed. The Harlem Globetrotters play Sunday, Feb. 21, at 12:30 and 5:45 p.m. at Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (888) 9-AXS-TIX or staplescenter.com or harlemglobetrotters.com. regardie@downtownnews.com