Villaraigosa the Senator? : 5 Prop 47 and Skid Row : 8
The Battle for the 14th
District
SEE PAGE 4
JosĂŠ Huizar and Gloria Molina Square Off at a Downtown Debate SEE PAGE 6
photo by Gary Leonard (altered)
FEBRUARY 16, 2015 I VOL. 44 I #7
Also: The Downtown News Endorsement
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AROUND TOWN
Work Starts on South Park Mega-Project
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he Fig Central project, across the street from Staples Center, is one of the largest mixed-use developments in the Downtown pipeline. Chain-link fences went up on the 4.6acre site late last year, and construction work has finally commenced on the parcel, which long operated as a parking lot and held two squat mechanical buildings and an underground bank vault. Beijing-based developer Oceanwide plans to build two 40-story towers and a 49-story building, all on top of a large parking podium with about 200,000 square feet of retail space. Initial renderings show the retail space as a two-floor open-air galleria. The towers, meanwhile, will hold a combined 504 condominiums and 183 hotel rooms. The project’s design comes from architecture firm RTKL. Oceanwide acquired the site from New York-based Moinian Group last year, spending a reported $200 million for the property and its entitlements.
Transportation Summit to Be Held at L.A. Hotel
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raffic and transportation are dominant subjects in Los Angeles, and this week Downtowners will have a chance to dig deep into those topics. On Thursday, Feb. 19, the Central
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS City Association will host a half-day summit on Downtown’s growth and how the community will affect transportation throughout Los Angeles. Dubbed LA Fast Track, the event will run from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the L.A. Hotel, at 333 S. Figueroa St. Mayor Eric Garcetti will give the keynote address, and outgoing Metropolitan Transportation Authority CEO Art Leahy will also speak to the crowd. The pair of panel discussions will be titled “Economic Outlook for Downtown Los Angeles” and “International Innovations in Transportation and What They Could Mean for Downtown.” David Plouffe, senior vice president of policy and strategy for Uber, will deliver closing remarks. The summit is $100 for CCA members and $125 for nonmembers. Registration and additional information is at ccala.org.
TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD
Groundbreaking This Week For Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement
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owntowners will get a taste of the future this week, as a groundbreaking ceremony is taking place for the Sixth Street Viaduct Replacement. The activity will start on Friday, Feb. 20, at 10:30 a.m. on Mesquit Street in the Arts District, said Tonya Durrell, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Public Works. She added that Mayor Eric Garcetti and 14th District City Councilman José Huizar will be among the dignitaries attending. The 1932 bridge, which stretches from Downtown to Boyle Heights over the Los Angeles River, will be replaced by a modern span with a “ribbon of arches” design that will include staircases and a viewing deck. Replacement of the 82-year-old structure
Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?
February 16, 2015
Grand Avenue Above Fourth Street
Lloyd Hamrol
has been necessitated by a chemical condition that is weakening the bridge’s concrete. The new viaduct will offer improved pedestrian access with 10-foot wide walkways as well as bike lanes. Construction on the $401 million project is slated to begin in earnest this spring. Work is expected to last through 2018.
Jewelry District Building Sells For $8.5 Million
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he Downtown rush toward creative office space continues, as boutique devel-
“Uptown Rocker”
February 8, 2015
opment firm UrbanBlox has purchased a 51,055-square-foot office building at 718 S. Hill St., and plans to transform it. It is the 12th acquisition in the past 15 months for UrbanBlox, which paid $8.54 million for the property. According to a prepared statement, the seven-story edifice will have open ceilings and collaborative spaces. There will also be ground-floor retail. The move echoes two recently announced Arts District projects: San Francisco-based Shorenstein Properties has purchased the Ford Building at Seventh Street and Santa Fe Avenue and intends to market the Continued on page 20
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4 Downtown News
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EDITORIALS
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February 16, 2015
Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
Endorsement: José Huizar for City Council
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n March 3 people across Los Angeles will go to the polls, voting in, among other things, seven City Council elections. Unfortunately, in many of those races, the outlook appears predetermined, with an incumbent or a favored candidate facing either no or what amounts to token opposition. One exception is the 14th District, which includes Downtown Los Angeles. Here José Huizar, who has held the seat since 2005, is being challenged by longtime former County Supervisor Gloria Molina. This is a good thing for the approximately 250,000 residents of the district. Instead of a rubber stamp election, voters have a legitimate choice between two experienced individuals. Rather than coast into office, Huizar and Molina, and the three other people on the ballot, are forced to define their vision and defend their record. Huizar and Molina are similar in many ways. Both are liberal Democrats and have records of service to their communities. They share goals in terms of creating affordable housing, keeping neighborhoods safe, generating jobs and improving transportation. With her decades of experience, strong independent voice and record on key projects, we think Gloria Molina could be an effective and very qualified council member. However, given his work in the Central City, his relationships with the community, the achievements he has made and the plans he has in motion, we think José Huizar is the better choice for Downtown and the district. Los Angeles Downtown News endorses Huizar. Molina is a groundbreaking figure in Los Angeles politics. Her more than three decades of public service include being the first Latina to serve on the City Council and the first Latina to join the Board of Supervisors. She secured many notable achievements in her 23 years on the latter body, with one of the most important being her role in keeping the county fiscally stable during the depths of the Great Recession. The same can’t be said for the city, which struggled through furloughs, job losses and huge budget deficits. Although Downtown is only a small geographic portion of the area Molina represented, she scored some important gains here. Her tough negotiating ensured that Grand Park was funded and opened even when the developer of the Grand Avenue plan, Related Companies, encountered financial troubles and the full project was delayed. She also made sure that 20% of the residences in the Grand Avenue plan will be set aside for affordable housing. More recently, Molina helped quash an effort to turn the Historic Core’s Cecil Hotel into a huge permanent supportive hous-
ing complex. Appropriately she was against the location, not the concept — she recognizes that, to improve outcomes, housing for the homeless and the formerly homeless must be spread across the region, not concentrated in Downtown. Since declaring her candidacy, Molina has worked to understand the issues and people of the 14th. She has developed clear opinions on what Downtown needs and what she perceives as the deficiencies of the incumbent. Her ramp-up period would be shorter than most new arrivals. However, we are uncertain of the effect that she would have on Downtown’s growth, particularly on the residential front. Molina recognizes that developers could be offered density bonuses in exchange for including workforce housing (think something a teacher or administrative assistant could afford). That is a communitybuilding strategy worth pursuing, but we also see the likelihood of Molina taking an inflexible stance that would halt the hard-won momentum in residential real estate development. This is a crucial time in Downtown’s evolution, and for the good of the city the residential base here needs to grow before the current real estate cycle fades. It is the residential population, after all, that will spur job creation, enliven the streets and help reduce traffic snarls. We are also uneasy with past instances of Molina publicly dressing down employees who had displeased her — a strong response to under-performances is necessary, but it should always be done respectfully in a public forum. Additionally, we remain concerned that the 14th District seat is not her ultimate goal, and that Molina may view the job as a steppingstone to the mayor’s office. While we understand ambition, the district needs someone who will be committed to the community for four or eight years. It is easy to knock Huizar, and we are among those who have been disappointed by some of his actions. He showed awful decision-making by having an extramarital affair with a staffer, which resulted in her suing him and the city for sexual harassment and retaliation. (Although the city allocated money for Huizar’s defense, the case was ultimately settled with the city paying no additional money.) Her salary also soared during her time in his office. Move beyond that, however, and Huizar has recorded some worthy gains. The most impressive is his Bringing Back Broadway initiative, and over seven years Huizar has made progress on a street where previous officeholders, including mayors, talked big but failed. Huizar took the long view and got area property owners and other neighbors to buy in and be part of the work. The oncesagging Broadway now has the type of investment — think Urban
Outfitters, The Gap and the Ace Hotel, among others — that positions it and surrounding streets for future growth. We see the potential for a similar bounce in Pershing Square, another area where Huizar is now allocating resources. Here too he has roped in stakeholders and together they are creating a vision for the future of the underperforming park. We’d like to see where this effort goes. Huizar also has a larger-scale vision of Downtown. He comprehends that the growth of the residential base must coincide with enhanced pedestrian activity and improvements in livability. While we hope he will encourage market-rate developers to include workforce housing in their projects, we believe he has the opportunity to do this and keep the boom going. Additionally, we see potential for Huizar in addressing homelessness and the state of Skid Row. He has taken some worthy initial steps, and now he should build on the base established by former Downtown Councilwoman Jan Perry, who adeptly secured and leveraged funds that led to the creation of numerous low-income housing projects. Huizar’s best move to date in this field is helping propel Operation Healthy Streets, a two-pronged effort that involves deep cleanings of Skid Row and outreach to the homeless community, the latter conducted in partnership with the County of Los Angeles. What has occurred so far is a drop in the proverbial bucket of what needs to be done, but we think Huizar grasps the challenge and is ready to do more. Three other candidates are on the ballot, and two of them, Nadine Diaz and Mario Chavez, are clearly trying to address the issues that concern the community and to present themselves as alternatives to the better-known candidates. However, at press time neither had reported raising more than $21,000 for their campaign, and while we believe that money is not the most important factor in the race, being able to raise cash demonstrates a candidate’s organizing and outreach ability. If Diaz and Chavez can’t make a serious dent here, we struggle to see how they could adequately oversee the district and work with other council members to make the decisions that impact the future of Los Angeles. Some people will want the change that Molina represents. However, we think Huizar has done enough, and has planted enough seeds for future work, that he deserves the opportunity to move forward and to try to bring some of his long-running plans to the finish line. We think he will be the best person for Downtown in the next four years. We urge a vote for José Huizar.
February 16, 2015
Downtown News 5
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
Antonio, Antonio, What Art Thou Thinking, Antonio? Everyone Waits as the Former L.A. Mayor Contemplates a Run for Boxer’s Senate Seat By Jon Regardie ayors in Los Angeles usually leave the stage quietly, never to be heard from in the same way again. In 2015 no one talks about Mayor Jim Hahn because, well, few people remember that he even was mayor (Hahn also probably likes this level of relative
M
THE REGARDIE REPORT anonymity). After a failed run for governor, Richard Riordan has assumed Stately Old Guy Authority Status, with his legacy as a civic leader clearly defined. Then there’s Antonio Villaraigosa. Two years after shuffling off the civic coil, the man who never met a TV camera he didn’t like is at it again. Villaraigosa has spent the last few weeks as just about the biggest topic of conversation in California politics. Everyone wants to know: Will AnVil run for the Senate seat that Barbara Boxer is vacating in 2016? Is he up for a showdown against California Atty. General Kamala Harris? It’s a fun parlor game, with educated guesses galore and trial balloons floated up and down the Golden State. Seemingly every few days there’s another story built around people “close to Villaraigosa” and stating that he is talking to donors and Democratic leaders and is leaning toward running. The guy is milking the situa-
tion like a dairy farmer, and he hasn’t had to spend a dime of campaign funds. Not since Arnold Schwarzenegger pondered running for governor have Californians clucked so loudly over a potential candidacy. After playing coy for months, Schwarzenegger finally threw his hat in the ring during an appearance on Jay Leno’s show, and my how dated that seems. Currently, potential money bundlers and political action committees are waiting with bated breath, wondering which way Villaraigosa will go, and how he might announce. It probably won’t be via Leno, and I’d bet $73 he won’t disclose his decision during an on-camera interview with either of the two brunette L.A. news readers he used to date. What else is there in 2015? Can he announce with a Tweet? On Facebook? Heaven forbid, will Villaraigosa figure out a way to reveal his intentions via the dating/insta-bonking site Tinder? Will he swipe right if he wants to hook up with California? One-Hit Wonder The fact that some people are seriously discussing a Villaraigosa candidacy is wacky. It raises the possibility that they suffered an NFLstyle concussion and developed collective amnesia. I mean, how else to explain the idea that such an underperforming mayor might be a worthy heir to Boxer, one of the most impor-
photo by Gary Leonard
Was Antonio Villaraigosa a good mayor, or a one-hit wonder, the Flock of Seagulls of mayors? How will he fare if he runs against Atty. General Kamala Harris for Barbara Boxer’s Senate seat?
tant California politicians of the last 50 years? Any thorough analysis of Villaraigosa’s two terms as mayor can only come to the conclusion that he squandered his potential. While he scored one great achievement — leading the passage of Measure R, which kick-started a regional rail-building boom — and had a few smaller successes, the reality is that he should have had at least a half-dozen big wins. He was kind of a political one-hit wonder, the Flock of Seagulls of mayors. It’s not like this is revisionist history. Villaraigosa stampeded into the mayor’s office in
2005, knocking off an incumbent in Hahn. Angelenos were excited about the potential of the city and its dashing leader with the million-dollar grin. Then, Villaraigosa pulled a Wile E. Coyote, taking opportunity and letting it blow up in his face. Sure, he had the misfortune to assume office shortly before the onset of a brutal recession. However, the recession had nothing to do with his biggest goofs, including a botched attempt to seize control of the LAUSD, the affair that killed his marriage and hammered his reputation, and the personal ambition that diluted his attention from running the city. The feeling quickly grew that AnVil was looking to springboard to higher office ASAP. In June 2009 he slapped the city in the face by announcing to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, not local journalists, that he would not run for governor. Coincidentally or not, that was the same month that Los Angeles Magazine ran its instantly famous cover of Villaraigosa and the blaring headline “Failure.” He ran for re-election against minimal opposition yet managed only 55% of the vote. His second term was better — it couldn’t have been worse than the first — but it hardly swung his legacy. After all, when is the last time you heard someone say, “I miss the great leadership of the Villaraigosa years”? Want Some Herbalife? Given this backdrop, it’s hard to fathom how Villaraigosa could legitimately challenge Harris, who has the backing of the powerful Northern California Democratic political machine. Initial speculation centers on the Latino voting bloc and implies that Villaraigosa would have a strong base in L.A., but do Continued on page 20
6 Downtown News
TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS
February 16, 2015
Huizar, Molina Clash in Downtown Debate City Council Candidates Discuss Development, Parking and Other Issues By Eddie Kim owntowners have been talking about the 14th District City Council race ever since former County Supervisor Gloria Molina last September announced her intentions to run against incumbent José Huizar. Last week, area stakeholders finally got the chance to see the two up-close, at the same time, discussing the issues important to the Central City. Huizar and Molina participated in a candidate forum at the Los Angeles Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Nadine Diaz, who is also on the ballot, also appeared at the event co-hosted by the Downtown L.A. and Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Councils and sponsored by UCLA and NBC4. Two other candidates on the ballot, Mario Chavez and John O’Neill, did not attend. Molina used her opening statement to voice her displeasure with a perceived exclusiveness of Huizar’s office to the public. “It’s clear that this constituency wants a radical change,” she told the approximately 150 people in the theater. Huizar countered by detailing his achievements in Downtown Los Angeles, highlighting the Bringing Back Broadway initiative and stating that the Los Angeles Theatre was able to host the evening’s event through his efforts. “Let’s stay on track,” he declared. Diaz, meanwhile, pointed out that she is a political newcomer with no strings attached to special interests or the political hustle. One of her key points throughout the evening was
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The Downtown forum for City Council District 14 candidates took place at the Los Angeles Theatre on Wednesday, Feb. 11. (l to r) Nadine Diaz, José Huizar and Gloria Molina squared off in the debate. photo by Gary Leonard
that “no one should be left out” of policy discussions. Most of the debate, moderated by NBC4’s Conan Nolan, featured questions from a fourperson panel of stakeholders and observers. At several points, Molina implied that growth in Downtown needs more scrutiny and discussion. She cautioned, for instance, against turning too many surface parking lots into housing. “If you look at Downtown, what’s regrettable [is that] every single parking lot is being sold for development,” she said. “Where are we all going to park?” Huizar responded by saying that that his office has innovated parking around the Central City, investing in projects such as bike corrals. Both agreed that parking meter revenue should not funnel into the city’s general fund, but should pay for streetscape priorities such
as sidewalk repairs. Pedestrians and Freeways The two differed on certain transportation issues. Huizar touted the Broadway streetscape plan to cut driving lanes and make it more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists, and said the proposed streetcar would further reduce auto traffic in the city’s core. Molina said “it’s not just about bikes and pedestrians” and added that she “would not be proud” of bike lane implementation that did not consider more diverse opinions. Huizar criticized Molina for her past support of the extension of the 710 Freeway, a proposal that has riled residents of Northeast Los Angeles. He instead called for more investment in light rail and pledged to extend the DASH bus system. “That would be a better investment than
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the billions of dollars [for a] boondoggle,” he said. “The first principle you learn in planning is, if there’s a congested road, you don’t build another road. You find alternative modes of transportation.” Molina later went on the attack over Huizar’s proposal (with Ninth District Councilman Curren Price) to legalize and regulate street vending. The city doesn’t know how to pay for such a sprawling new set of rules, she said. “We’re going into a plan without any answers,” Molina said. “Having press conferences, and talking about it, and at the end of the day — nada pasa. It just sits there.” Still, issues related to development and growth drove much of the discussion. Molina took a stance against an unchecked continuation of recent Downtown building trends. “I think there’s already too much density in Downtown. It’s not just about putting more high-rises,” she said. “Organic growth has been good in the Arts District, for instance, but now we’re seeing developers come in and ruin the character of the neighborhood.” Diaz used her closing statement to condemn Huizar for a car accident that resulted in the city paying a $185,000 settlement, and for the affair with a former staffer that resulted in a lawsuit filed against him and the city. Huizar used his closing statement to say that now is the time to move forward with consistent leadership. Molina said her measured, critical approach, gleaned from more than three decades in politics, would result in a better future for the district. Voters go the polls on March 3. If no candidate gets a majority of the vote, the top two finishers would move to a May runoff. eddie@downtownnews.com
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Fights to Break Out at Nightclub, and That’s a Good Thing Oscar De La Hoya to Bring Monthly Boxing Card to Belasco Theater By Jon Regardie s a boxer, Oscar De La Hoya had memorable matches in Downtown at the Grand Olympic Auditorium and Staples Center. Though he no longer laces up the gloves, De La Hoya is still in the local fight game: His Golden Boy Promotions is headquartered in the Financial District. Now, De La Hoya is bringing boxing back to Downtown Los Angeles on a regular basis. Last week, he announced the kick-off of L.A. Fight Club, a monthly boxing card at the Belasco Theater on Hill Street that will feature up-and-coming talent. The series kicks off March 6 with a lineup headlined by 2012 Olympian Joseph “Jo Jo” Diaz, Jr., a super bantamweight who is undefeated in 14 fights. Events have already been scheduled for March, April and May as well. The top fights on each card will be broadcast on Fox Sports 1 and Fox Deportes. De La Hoya said he was hooked when he saw the Belasco, and believes he has an opportunity to draw not just fight fans, but also Central City workers and residents looking for something different. “The Belasco, aesthetically it’s just a beautiful building,” De La Hoya said in an interview after a press conference announcing the series on Wednesday, Feb. 11. “You walk in and it’s breathtaking. So I looked at it and said, let’s bring back boxing to Downtown L.A., where you have a lot of workers who want to get a drink afterwards, who want to be entertained.”
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photo by Gary Leonard
Oscar De La Hoya (second from left) with three of the fighters who will appear on a card he is staging March 6 at the Belasco Theater on Hill Street. In addition to bringing boxing back to Downtown on a monthly basis, De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions is based in the Financial District.
Boxing is a new twist for the Belasco, an ornate venue that is next to the Mayan Theatre and was originally built by Edward Doheny in 1926. It had different iterations over the decades, hosting Vaudeville performances and later serving as a home for religious activities, including as the Immanuel Gospel Temple and, later, the Metro Community Church, an early gay and lesbian church in Los Angeles. It lost its luster over the years, and in 2010
John and Christina Kim completed a $10 million renovation of the building that turned it into a nightclub. It now regularly holds concerts and dance events with DJs. This is also a comeback for L.A. Fight Club. De La Hoya originally introduced it in 2011, with occasional cards in Club Nokia at L.A. Live. De La Hoya said this version of L.A. Fight Club will function as a platform for young fighters who are climbing the ladder. The debut
card features a number of boxers, many Latino, who have fought less than 10 times professionally. The goal, said De La Hoya, is to develop their talent and move them up the ranks so they eventually appear on cable networks such as HBO and Showtime, or in pay-per-view bouts. De La Hoya also pushed the intimate venue and the affordability factor, noting that tickets for the events will start at $20. Ringside floor seats and seats in the front row of the balcony will go from $80. The East L.A. native and former Olympic Gold medalist and champion said having the fights so close to his past was important for him. “First and foremost I’m an Angeleno and I will always be an Angeleno,” De La Hoya said. “Growing up in East L.A. and now doing L.A. Fight Club, it just makes me feel proud to be an L.A. native. It makes me feel proud to be an Angeleno. I think that’s the motive behind this whole series.” Perhaps the only ones more excited about the series than De La Hoya are the young boxers. De La Hoya introduced nine of them at the press conference. “I’m excited the series is coming back to L.A, my backyard,” said Roy Tapia, who is 10-0 and will fight on March 6. It was a similar sentiment for Jason Quigley, a native of Ireland who is 3-0 and has moved to Los Angeles. He will be on the televised portion of the card. “It’s an honor and a pleasure to be here,” said Quigley in a thick Irish accent. “What better way to let the people of L.A. know who I am than by fighting in Downtown Los Angeles.” L.A. Fight Club tickets are available at goldenboypromotions.com. regardie@downtownnews.com
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February 16, 2015
Crime, Punishment, Good Intentions and Skid Row As Prison Reform Measure Prop 47 Is Implemented, Some Worry About a Surge in Downtown Crime and Homelessness By Eddie Kim ast November, Californians overwhelmingly approved Proposition 47. Its backers touted the move to rehabilitate nonviolent offenders and keep them out of prison. It garnered endorsements from prominent supporters including the Los Angeles Times, the American Civil Liberties Union and Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom. Several months later, as it is being implemented, Prop 47 is provoking uncertainty. Some law enforcement members and community advocates worry about the effect that the measure will have on Skid Row, and fear that it could lead to an increase in crime and the homeless population. Proposition 47 aims to reduce California’s staggering state prison population by reclassifying six current felony crimes as misdemeanors, effectively transferring the cases to the county level. The measure also mandates that money saved from reduced incarcerations go toward funding mental health and substance abuse treatment services, crime prevention programs and victim services. Heidi Rummel, a former federal prosecutor, directing attorney for the Post-Conviction Justice Project and a clinical professor of law at the University of Southern California, sees Prop 47 as a step toward a more “humane” justice system that addresses offenders’ traumas, and doesn’t just punish their crimes. “Jail and prison are terrible places to help people reform. Historically, because of the lack of other options,
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it’s all we’ve used to take unpredictable people off the street,” she said. “With [Prop 47], we’re putting significant amounts of money that would normally go toward incarceration to treatment of the factors that caused the criminality in the first place.” While the treatment aspect is widely lauded, some in Downtown see similarities between Prop 47 and AB 109, a 2011 measure passed by voters that mandates that non-violent, non-serious and non-sexual offenders serve their time in county jail, not state prison, which often means a reduction in sentence length. When it passed, many worried that people who were released early from jail and who lacked a safety net would flock to Skid Row because of its plethora of services and housing, as well as drugs. Los Angeles Police Department Capt. Mike Oreb, who oversees Central Division, said he has similar concerns this time around. “We saw an increase in the Skid Row population after AB 109, which may be related to the policy,” he said. “All the pieces to support someone after release, like [housing] and treatment programs, are in the Skid Row area, so we could see more of an impact here than in other communities.” Felonies and Misdemeanors Prop 47 reclassifies six potential felonies as misdemeanors: grand theft, shoplifting and receiving stolen property of up to $950; writing bad checks; check forgery; and simple drug possession, depending on the drug and the amount.
photo by Gary Leonard
The passage of Proposition 47 in November means that certain non-violent crimes are now categorized as misdemeanors rather than felonies. While praised by prison reform advocates, some worry that it will lead to a spike in homelessness and crime in Skid Row, as people leave county jail but lack a safety net.
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February 16, 2015 These crimes won’t always be misdemeanors — certain qualifications could allow a judge to deem an offense a felony — but a significant number of cases statewide will be impacted. In 2012, there were 188,790 charges in those six categories; 40,000, or 21.2% of them, would have been affected by Prop 47, according to the state Legislative Analyst’s Office. Los Angeles County, meanwhile, would account for onequarter of all offenders eligible for Prop 47 resentencing based on the 2012 figures, according to the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Many Prop 47 supporters say that the goal to reduce the state’s prison population and recidivism rate could improve public safety in the long run. Some experts say shorter incarceration periods in local jails, with access to treatment and counseling, offers a better chance at long-term rehabilitation than lengthy prison stints. Prop 47’s most significant tool, then, may be how it uses the money saved from incarcerating people in state prison. The law mandates that 65% of the money goes toward mental health and drug addiction treatment services, 25% to prevention programs in schools and 10% to victim services. Savings on the state level could range between $100 million and $300 million annually, according to the state Legislative Analyst’s Office. The money would be distributed via a competitive grant process to county public agencies. Meanwhile, local jails could save between $400 million and $700 million statewide, according to the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice. Whether Prop 47 succeeds depends on the details, Rummel stated. The money saved needs to be used for effective treatment programs with strong incentives for offenders, she said. That’s a concern for Rev. Andy Bales, head of the Union Rescue Mission in Skid Row. He fears that the county’s infrastructure for post-release services, particularly in Skid Row, won’t be ready for an influx of offenders who need support. “Any sending of people from prison or anywhere else into Skid Row is a disaster. What I’m afraid is that many people are going to be released and will not have services set up,” Bales said. “Hopefully, they won’t commit another crime, but if they
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM have nowhere to turn to, they may experience homelessness, which probably beats prison, but not by much.” LAPD Senior Lead Officer Deon Joseph, who has patrolled Skid Row for 17 years, expects worse. People tell him on the street that they’re not afraid of committing minor crimes because of AB 109 and now Prop 47, he said. He sees familiar faces go to jail and return to Skid Row days later, and says that recidivism on Skid Row is as bad as ever. “Now these individuals are getting released without jobs, with bridges burned, without any place to go. So they’re going to commit crimes again and who’s gonna feel the brunt? The Skid Row community,” Joseph said. Question of Incentive Many in law enforcement have been critical of how Prop 47 affects the incentives to seek treatment. With felony cases, a judge can offer a deal: If the offender submits to treatment and remains under probation supervision, he or she can avoid a lengthy sentence. That type of incentive is weakened in misdemeanor cases. In addition, with felony cases, county probation is responsible for regular monitoring of offenders and referrals for housing and treatment services, said Margarita Perez, assistant chief at the L.A. County Probation Department. Misdemeanor cases are often given “summary probation,” which hands oversight to the courts. That means less supervision and less guidance toward rehabilitation, she said. “That’s why I see a potential for increased crime with this,” Perez said. “If these individuals aren’t under our jurisdiction, there’s going to be a number of people who aren’t taking advantage of services with our help and funding.” Some organizations, such as Skid Row’s Chrysalis, a jobtraining program for the formerly homeless, have taken outreach on Prop 47 into their own hands. Many people aren’t even aware they can apply for resentencing under the new law, and that the deadline to do so is November 2017, said Michael Graff-Weisner, vice president of programs and government relations at Chrysalis. He added that outreach is all the more important because of one way Prop 47 can change lives: by making finding a job
Downtown News 9
photo courtesy Michael Graff-Weisner
Michael Graff-Weisner of Chrysalis says Prop 47 can change lives by making finding work easier. Disclosing felony convictions on job applications, he said, are much more worrying to a potential employer than past misdemeanors.
easier. Offenders who have to disclose a past felony to potential employers have a more difficult time getting work, Graff-Weisner noted. People with misdemeanor convictions, on the other hand, don’t have to reveal that on a job application. “There’s so much research that shows that being secure with employment has a very positive effect on your likelihood to go back to jail or prison,” he said. “Obviously, there’s the income a job gives you. But it also can be a force to connect you to a comContinued on page 10
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prop 47, 9 munity, to individuals who aren’t pulling you back to bad behaviors.” As Joseph points out, Skid Row is full of bad behaviors that could affect a recently released offender, whether it’s the day-to-day aggression on the street or drug dealers waiting outside treatment offices. Joseph, Bales and others say that decentralization of city and county services — moving some of them from Downtown to other communities — is the only way to improve the congestion and severity of homelessness. Another thing that could help, they and others say, is more money. “Unfortunately, the statute didn’t mandate that local savings go into the fund. A big percentage of the dollars saved from incarceration could also come from county jails,” said Lynne Lyman, state director of the
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Drug Policy Alliance, an advocacy group that supported Prop 47. “As a society, we’ve chosen to not invest in services, but rather in prisons and jails.” The shift away from that is happening nationwide: Almost 20 states have passed measures to reform sentencing and reduce prison populations. Initial reports from states such as Arkansas, Georgia and Texas indicate that the crime rate can drop after such reforms take effect. But California is the largest state to move on such a sweeping measure. “Prop 47 is having a much greater impact than just on the prison population,” Lyman said. “It’s rattling the cages of prison reform in no way that any policy has done in California before.” It will be years before the effects of Prop 47 can be judged, but most agree that the first community to feel its effects, whatever they may be, will be Skid Row. eddie@downtownnews.com
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Rev. Andy Bales, head of the Union Rescue Mission, is concerned that there are not enough support services in Skid Row for those who will be released by Prop 47. “Any sending of people from prison or anywhere else into Skid Row is a disaster,” he said.
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Downtown Development A Special report featuring more than 75 project updates. May 19,
2014
PROJEC T UPDATE S, 8
News Downtown
7
Develo pment space, and the design comes ground floor will SRO Housin have three g NEWS. COM on the other from architecture live/work project cost, bought the 1913 units. The DOWN TOWN firm TCA, Historic Core including which is also for comple Downtown Hanove acquisition, edifice in tion r projects. Downtown working 2010. The is $33 million tcaarchitects.c by early 2015, accord Construction News 11 SARES-REGIS Main streets. . is slated om/olympic-a ing to the LITTLE TOKYO company. nd-hill. Shy’s sixth The 350-unit project At Downtown in the ONNI TOWER 2014 19, Historic Core up effort. apartm May ent He would be Construction budget or hopes to start construbuilding, but his first anticipated groundOlive St. The continues on a 32-stor ction within d ameniopening project from six month y apartm date has ground a space. Planne s. ent No Vancou been reveale tower SINGER year ago, -floor retail and a SEWIN d. and constru ver-based Onni Group at 888 S. the concre feet of ground lounge, open-air decks Construction G MACHINE BUILD ction crews te and 10,000 square oor parking official. The for the 24th floor, is underw have now broke ING Building, according a rooftop pool poured have a three-fl translucent $100 million and the edificeay on the Singer to an Onni Financial ties include also would in structure Sewing Machin into seven District Group The project be wrapped apartments, at 806 S. Broadw e luxury apartm will create 303 in the southern part that would fitness center. ay will Needleman, including one-, of the ents. Onni street level one pentho be turned quarter of is targetin two- and three-bedroom Fashion. Eachwho runs the Downt podium above emits a soft glow at night. 2015. It is use, said g an openin Steve own proper the firm’s it has plans g in the first 10,000-square unit will span 6,000 first for ty panels so that square feet, firm Anjac The project two additional Downtproject in Downt -foot pentho Residents own; Onni except does not use; own will also have all units will high-rise the 472-apartyet have development ST. had been a name. have a balcon spring for a access to exploring a rooftop s. ONYX 950 E. THIRD g is scheduled for the District, said Dilip a boutiq instead for terrace. Needley. Arts breakin the a rental project ue hotel for the A 410-un in man ground St. pment. The A floor retail it, two-bu site, but . Needleman forward at 950 E. Third r of Legendary Develo space of ilding comple Boulevard anticipates opted less than t to the n is moving Eighth Street. ment project ST. at membe 1,000 square one ground site adjacen titlements, Flower and Hope x proposed for Pico Work could managing developer Amaco als in 2008 but 1133 S. HOPE feet that , which streets has according be comple Bhavnani, a rise on a six-acre would front approv Canada-based Enterprises. received to ie te by 2016, , which complex will of Architecture. The project Vancouver, SPRING received city its The South a spokesman for he said. n. The project units $150 million STREE and Jon Regard caught up with and perpen y tower that the first residen developer enPark ia Institute tial The entitlem T APARTMENTS Eddie Kim Fe Avenue e of the recessio on a 28-stor Jade tial project effort, dubbed Onyx, finally, has /GARAGE Donna Evans, s. holdings Southern Californroad parallel to Santa res, each five partly becaus would include 208 residen tower , the world, for the compa Historic Core ent process for a propos By would be in the Fashion Los Angele new then stalled, off, of three structu built in a side-by-side ny that began in last few months space. The in Downtown District. The The first set will create a n the will consist president y been dusted earnest this ed 40-stor gton Post Development May 19, 2014 y will be ant and retail is happening of Onyx would has extensive would of has recentl that floor retail parking lots over re in month, said structu to Third Street, ing and the Washin (and eat) story structu residential units the development photo by Gary feet of restaur parking podium and three years. which has developer Downt rise on two dicular 42,000 square everyth Journal and comme entire Greg square and about see Leonard The re own Street Martin, retail in Little turned three are slated ular have been high. to take Management. Wall rcial space. and 5,029 feet ground Sares-Regis Street Lofts. vice is to do and er: The ments, is to come Tokyo’s sevenold Historic revealed. is expected to six stories from a rectang Neithe summer,ofsaid the Flower The compa spokes planning on all that there d effusive stories in GQ president of development Hills Italian establishment Ago. The Emerson will be adjacent to r budge Core buildinConsid woman Zoe online in Januar Construction plexvice a fitness ny, to erect would extend parking lot just east of on Spring t nor Frank Frallicciardi, at 232 ed articles E. Second followe into apart single phase. publish g would offer Street betwee the high-rise on just gs at Forest City’stimelin Los Angeles office. The five-story Chinatown proj-Solsby. The 240-ap y 2016, said the Broad museum’s public courtyard, which will have its own aparte two-be ROSSL pieces current buildin a St. on YN HOTEL the will These Alexandria a current rise n the Spring droom apartm include artmen spa, ect, which will have 237 studio- to three-bedroom apartments restaurant. parking City. Hotel. wn is A renova the Central to a pool and media room. Rents ents measu 51 studio, 112 one- t comlot Times. levels of parking The tower would Arcade in AVE. tion of the Buildin period Downto (with 53 reserved for low-income are residents), ised slated to open in ring up project In addition kitchen and g and Rosslyn plete, said have housin New theYork to 1,220 square and 77 to averag 1000 S. GRAND the communal ring the boom ahead. Major nationhave a budget and one floor and willfeature Joseph Corcora Hotel is approx spring 2016. Blossom Plazament will also 20,000 square feet of TITLE INSURANCE BUILDING e $2,400 g library, also conside on of top hold feet. retail. The a month development imately of six sense or firm timelin some feet has n, directo steaming makes in the room, cess should retail space (the tenant search begun), a 17,000-square-foot of retail Construction continues on a renovation Titler of 65% comproject This for SRO of the 1928 e. Martin of projects space and townhomes, more . The developdoes not planninpublic take approx able housin to take a stake sares-re g andplaza yet dozens and a walkway connecting the Metro Gold Linelevels staInsurance Building, said BillgLindborg ofHousin than 16,000 three g Corpor g, with imately one said the entitlem housin R ST. gis.com complex Borg Development. ers are rushing Amacon and Onni ation. enjoyinent g in the heart of Chinatown. of underg square . The project broke year. to Broadway The structurefinished at 433 S. Spring St. is slatedattoFifth be turned into 216 Thetion pro pro- tional develop 264-un 1200 S. FLOWE round parking THE CHELS firms by Hallow and Main it year, affordeen, streets ground EA . At al and interna months, the Canadian Downtown housthe with nearly aSB decade after plans were first proposed residential units, 40,000 square feethe of retail on the ground second is slatedlast OMEG According phase, with said. Currently work by to be A crews discovered porfour a different developer.Veteran In April, work to floor. ration of anned area — in recent plans for a total of procee tion has not the most recent inform historic elemen165 units. The project istions ding the Zanja the city’sdevelo historic water supply system. as other long-pl is workonMadre, per Barry ation availab Group announced involveofthe ts includi ments for ent occurs of the Alexanyet started on Nick Cos. ng the lobby It wassremoved and will be preserved. TOPAZ the SB Omega Shy said he continu restoHadim’s renova le, construcc- es. This investm proposed and the facade. into gear: Related Grand, and St. was initiallydria Hotel. The $5 high-ris Jade Enterprises received entitlements in early April for a 15940-story tower. Progress on the es to seek entitleof the million project tioning getting back annex plannin changed million The CITY MARKET said he plans slated to begin unit apartment complex in the Historic Core, according to a at 601 S. s are finally the parking for the $650 Main St. slowedg for the late last year. at 216project W. Fifth historic Herald to turn the concept, company spokesman. Jade intends to erect a seven-story buildtic designs 1910 and Hadim previou ment of the Historic when he he said, moving on schema is someti ing at 550 S. Main St. on what is now a parking lot. The project, g for develop mes referred Core edifice, which ing sly apartments. it to Sixth preppin is cwas Corp. and to The structu dubbed Topaz, would stretch between Main and Los Angeles as the “ghost built in Hearst of constru re require streets. The complex, just north of the Santa Fe Lofts at Sixth g. Thousands s significant buildinExamin g,” into 28 er Building. major Downt renovations, tion and plannin the area, and several own and Main streets, would include News 23,000 square feet of retail andnot all specula Continued It’s Park just and would offer studio and one- 15 to three-bedroom units. The employed in on page debut. South A new s are already 12 spokesman said the project is on track for a groundbreaking this worker or ready to
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PROJECT UPDATES, 11 it is likely that floor plans will be changed to bring the edifice up to code. The building was originally a wing of the Alexandria, but a dispute between two property owners led to it being walled off from the hotel in 1934. May 19,
THE EMERSON 2014
Develo
pment
The Related Cos.’ $120 million luxury apartment complex The Emerson will open Oct. 1, said Related California President Bill Witte. Pre-leasing in the 19-story building south of the underconstruction Broad art museum on Grand Avenue will begin in July, he added. The exterior has been completed, and work is now taking place inside. The Emerson will hold 271 apartments, with 20% set aside as affordable housing. Amenities in the build ing designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica will include highend finishes, a rooftop pool, a full business center, and a dog run for residents’ pets in the rear of the property. The building will also have a ground-floor restaurant, an offshoot of the Beverly
I
Developer Sonny Astani has secured entitlements for the Valencia, a six-story, 218-unit residential project at 1501-1521 W. Wilshire Blvd., but has not scheduled a groundbreaking. The City West project would feature 4,400 square feet of street-level retail and commercial space, balconies on most units and open courtyards. Killefer Flammang Architects is handling the design. Construction is slated to last 18 months. Astani declined to give a budget for the project. At astanienterprises.com.
project has including a pharmacy, the hospita outpatient cludes clinics and l’s Surgica hepato physici biliary l Specia orthop Developer Forest City is continuing the excavation and shoring an offices lties Clinic, edic surgery and pancre which in, said Bada. atic surgery process on its $100 million Blossom Plaza at 900 N. Broadway, The builder , neurosurgery HALL OF and expects to move into the next phase of construction in late and is Millie JUSTIC With a E Severso 1,000-s n. tall comple ted this underground parking year, interior garage and facade construction having 211 W. crews are improv Temple ements now focusinbeen St. The comple for the $234 g on tion 1925 Hall The renova in August, said million develo pment of Justice at project ted Civic is on track Depart represe Center ment and ntative for buildin and the Sean Rossall the District g will house first floor Attorne . structu y’s office the Sheriff ’s re’s historic will feature an when it area Charles opens, Manson. elements, includi displaying some of signific ant damagThe building was ng a cellblo the ck that e in the shut once held 1994 Northr down after LOS ANGEL idge Earthq it sustained There continuES RIVER uake. es to be decisio a delay n on with the geles River. which revitali Army Corps zation The Corps known of Engine initially plan to pursue There’s more to real estate than buying and selling houses or leasing as ers’ propos for the habitat Alternative 13, s along which woulded a $450 million Los Ancommercial office space. Whether you are now in the Real Estate 11 cluding upgrad open access Mayor Ericmiles of the river. industry, a recent grad, or a professional looking for a career change, $1 billion and restoree Howev Garcetti, er, city official waterw effort known as have lobbied our Real Estate Certificate is right for you! ay for an approx s, inAlterna Angele on a much larger tive 20, imately s State which to the Army Historic Park. scale and connec would revive the t the river his willing Corps expres In early April, to Los Garcetti sing his according ness to have the sent a letter suppor t of expand to city official city take on 50% Alternative 20 s. In the or meantime, of the project and Taylor Yard restore parks along the cost, other side Park Bridge project river continu projects to in Lincoln in Elysian Valley and e, including Heights. the At the lariver.org. LOS ANGEL Albion RiverThe 34-acre ES STATE HISTO park on RIC PARK a year-lo ng renova the edge of Chinat spearheaded tion. The own new perma by the Californapproximately closed in April for $20 million ia State and parkingnent facilitie Parks Depart effort s such as lots. ment will several a distinct In addition, the welcome center, add landsca a childre pe feature park will be reshap bathrooms n’s acre restore play area, a citrus-t s, includi ed with ng down segmed wetlands area. ree lined promelarge meado ws, State Parks nts of the nade full year park in considered and a twoto save phases costs. At , but decide shutting lashp.w Discover ordpress.com d to close LOS ANGEL for a . enjoy free the newly renova The environ ES STREETCAR breakfast, ted mental continu review snacks, Sheraton Club es, Find out beverages, tion. The led by recentl process for the at our down y hired more at Los project Angele internet town project ’s environ comple sheratonlos s Streetc manag and dynam hotel and tion mental ar er URS City Counci by late spring, angelesdow impact ic city views Corpor report is according antown.com/ which wouldlman José Huizar. slated . to Meanw the office of 14thfor offers connec route on hile, the t the Civic District Broadw propos Center ay, continu ed project es to seek and L.A. Live , with a funding. In March, main the Contin ued on page 16
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The environmental impact report for the massive City Market development has been submitted and is awaiting city comment, said property owner and developer Peter Fleming. The project would transform the 1909 produce mart, a collection of mostly unused warehouses bounded by Ninth, San Pedro, San Julian and 12th streets, into a $1 billion hub of housing, office space, hotel rooms and a college campus. The first phase in the 10-acre mega-project being designed by Downtown-based architect Douglas Hanson calls for transforming two aged buildings: One would hold 150 residential units, and the other would be an office structure. The complex ultimately would include 945
tion g of TCA ents. rendering courtesy either openin the Avant apartmr near L.A. Live. projects are addition with this summe got a big housing set to open ny broke ground News runs complex is Downtown Hanover Compa in late April, and is in the Marriott hotel g pages, Los Angeles developer the building s. With all that apartment Houston-based ng to project In the followin on 87 project it, seven-story 18-24 months, accordi information x at Grand on a 274-un last down the latest r this just a start. is slated to & Co. The completwo-bedconstruction of Onni Group Craig Lawson pipeline, conside studio to rendering courtesy Jim Ries of CTS ard will feature or consultant street-level Boulev of c revived NEW PROJE feet were tial Olympi ced, Avenue and as 12,000 square outdoor dining. a pair of residen-based publicly announ . for ents, as well were either hopes to bring ver, Canada room apartm sidewalk room three months Onni Group These projects rds throughout St. The Vancou with enough y buildings Developer ence in the past ents will cts offers courtya retail space 1200 S. Flower ents for 31- and 40-stor gained promin from TCA Archite y of the street-side apartmwn was high-rises to approxiThe design seeking entitlem730 housing units and into crefive-story, g, and the majorit r’s last project in Downto developer is of ST. are being turned the buildin deliver a total to South Park. An existing a two420 BOYD t buildings developer balconies. Hanovec. that would said project cant adjacen , and have glass same parking spaces Two long-va microbrewery, g would remain 717 Olympi St. are on the mately 843 have a landspace and a the luxury tower foot office buildin project would gs at 420 Boyd ative office in the Toy 72,000-square- would be razed. The a swimming mni. The buildin r restaurant/bar the corner Dilip Bhavna er Lennar Multifa ies would included the project’s warehouse ST. ite, a popula re at story amenit develop OLIVE Escond S. and structu The based ry deck 1001 Olive Street not reveale each five-sto block as g for Miamiest corner of ni said the scaped podium run. The developer has tenants, with a A groundbreakinbuilding at the southw back to mid-June, dog District. Bhavna streets will house five would hold tory pool and a edifice Omar pushed seven-s apartand oring e. been Fred ily’s The has of Boyd of the The neighb Gonzaga. c Boulevard budget or timelin where clients a full floor. ntative Sheila and Olympi two-story works shop occupying tial project represe units, including 12 and an iron of retail 201 OLIVE according to g on two residena third microbrewery would be employed. x would have well as 4,100 square feet g OLYMPIC AND which is workin re ment comple r Company, Jordan Mission level, as Park structu process of entitlin would The Hanove mes at street Amenities at the South is now in the edifice Olive tory Park, king townho South seven-s overloo deck ard. The rcial space. projects in ST. ment and pool and spa Olive, and a and comme Olympic Boulev Hill develop 820 S. OLIVE a third-floor Olympic and building on Olympic and would contain would include r deck at the corner of The apartments would to Hanover’s ty. sit adjacent ents. The project commercial space. round) Street, a top-flooeast side of the proper 263 apartm built underg evel retail and the of subterrawould feature (with one floor dog park on feet of street-l two and a half stories company floors of parking 14,500 square above stalls — the sit on three spaces. g would rise have only 250 provide 228 The buildin ments by that would , which would ive car parking require parking two the nean es. As with ed with the down on expens IRE BLVD. has partner plans to cut parking incentivTCA is handling the 1027 WILSH Development Group it rental city’s bicycle most cture firm City build a 376-un to the utilizing the The Central on a plan to r projects, archite xtured, articulated facade; er has According Estate Group other Hanove in City West. Amidi Real es. The develop shows a multi-te , project officials Wilshire Blvd. design, which would have glass balconi project at 1027 Building and Safety’s website sh a three-story units . of to demoli street-side or a budget Department for conapplication d a timeline ted a permit in preparation not reveale from have submit clear the lot across the street created. the site and RESIDENTIAL would rise structure on x that Amidi development The comple n. housing structio feet of retail ted , a corporate 6,500 square s has comple 1010 Wilshire g would also contain ST. or budget er Carmel Partner tower at the No timeline 801 S. OLIVE of Onni Group The new buildin feet of office space. rendering courtesy co-based developa 27-story residential San Francis for g the preand 5,000 square d. ent process which It is now enterin the entitlem er Onni Group, S. Olive break ground been reveale Olive streets. to and have develop hopes ny 888 -based nt of corner of Eighth the compa building at ver, Canada Vice Preside phase phase, and n Hill and The Vancou an apartment 30 ng to Senior te on the first TOKYO construction 8 tower betwee constructing of 2015, accordi ction would take about AVA LITTLE is almost compleContinued on page y residential is currently units and 600 ction process in the first quarter Garibaldi. Constru in the third erect a 50-stor 589 housing al The constru Dan completion St., plans to would bring s, and the Financi Development the tower’s estimated The project 363 units (studio n South Park Olive streets. occupancy months, putting The high-rise would feature penthouses) and to the site betwee oot single room four quare-f parking stalls , said project quarter of 2017. droom apartments and adjacent 6,584-s developer, will remain District. An e for the project one- and two-be owned by the budget or timelin hotel, on land Dikeakos. No architect Chris ced. has been announ
1/7/2014 1/7/2014 10:44:24 AM 10:44:24 AM
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Housing Complex to Rise Next to Former Vibiana Cathedral Veteran Developer to Break Ground on Site Where Two Previous Proposed Projects Failed By Donna Evans or the lot just south of the former St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, the third time looks to be the development charm. Holland Partner Group, a Vancouver, Washington-based developer that has built or is working on four Downtown projects, has purchased the nearly one-acre parcel that had been eyed as the site of a 41-story tower and, later, a nine-story steel and glass edifice. Tom Warren, head of Holland Partner’s Southern California developments, said the firm expects to break ground next week on an eight-story residential building. “We’re very excited about this location because it is so imbued with history,” Warren said. Referring to a nearby restaurant, he added, “Redbird just opened. We’re within walking distance of the Historic Core, City Hall, Little Tokyo, the Arts District and Bunker Hill. It’s a great spot.” Holland Partner bought the property at 222 S. Main St. last May for $15.75 million. All permits have been secured for a 179,000-squarefoot building that will create 237 apartments. No budget has been released. Plans call for five stories of wood construction over a concrete podium, with approximately 247 above- and below-ground parking spaces. The building will appear to be eight stories when viewed from Los Angeles Street, and seven stories when eyed from Main. Warren anticipates construction taking two years, leading to an opening in early 2017. The project, designed by the architecture
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firm Togawa Smith Martin, will include just under 4,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space. One highlight, Warren said, will be the more than 10,000 square feet of open space on the roof, with a pool and a hot tub. The project will continue an investment spree in Downtown Los Angeles for Holland Partner Group. The company built the GLO apartments in City West in 2007 (it sold the building four years later) and added the 1111 Wilshire rental complex in 2013. Last summer, Holland Partner broke ground on a $200 million project at Sixth and Bixel streets, also in City West, that will create 648 apartments. Additionally, the company is working on designs for a project at Eighth and Spring streets in the Historic Core. Piece of the Past The site of the new building stands at a key location in Downtown. It is just south of the 1876 structure that for more than a century served as the headquarters of the Los Angeles Archdiocese. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake damaged the structure, Cardinal Roger Mahony sought to tear it down and build a new cathedral in its place. Protests from the preservation community scuttled that plan, and after Mahony chose another site for what would become the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, Downtown developer Tom Gilmore joined with Richard Weintraub to buy the building and some adjacent land. They spent $8 million to turn the cathedral into an events space dubbed Vibiana.
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image courtesy Holland Partner Group
Washington state-based developer Holland Partner Group plans to break ground next week on a residential building just south of the former St. Vibiana’s Cathedral. It will have 237 apartments and construction is expected to take about two years.
They had plans for the property to the south, too. However, a sleek, 41-story tower with 300 residences never got off the ground, in part because of the recession. Gilmore left the project and in 2013 Weintraub Real Estate Group began planning a nine-story steel-and-glass housing complex with 238 apartments. That never materialized, either. The site next to the historic building is a unique design atmosphere, said Jim Dixon of Togawa Smith Martin, who is the principal architect on the project. “We’re trying to create a foil to the cathedral,” he said. “The building will be a charcoal color. The cathedral is a bright, beautiful stone. With this color we’re trying not to compete with the
cathedral.” Dixon said it is important that the Holland Partner project, which does not yet have a name, have its own identity, and not just be a “background building.” He noted the rare opportunity to build something next to a piece of history. “It’s almost like being in Rome, where monuments are lit up,” he said of Vibiana’s illuminated façade on Main Street. “The building becomes this cool light fixture for your project.” Warren said he will work with Gilmore and Redbird restaurant owner Bill Chait on ways to improve the shared space between the three properties. donna@downtownnews.com
More Than Just a Dental Practice Envirodental Offers High-Quality, Eco-Conscious Dentistry Downtown
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mong the flurry of new business openings that are helping to transform Downtown L.A., Angelenos will find a new option when it comes to dental care. Environdental has opened its doors across from the site of the future Whole Foods market, and the timing couldn’t be better. “We are very excited to be a part of the transformation that is happening on Olive Street and Downtown as a whole,” explains Dr. Matthew Caligiuri. As the name suggests, Environdental is more than just a new dental practice; it is ushering in a new dental office model that
FROM OUR ADVERTISERS strives to practice responsible dentistry by minimizing resource consumption and maximizing dental health. A local himself, Caligiuri recognizes that Downtown residents need access to more services, and feels
fortunate to be in a position to bring high quality, eco-conscious dentistry to those who live and work in this growing community. Caligiuri attended the nearby Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, where he graduated number one in his class and has since returned as adjunct faculty. “Teaching allows me to stay on the cusp of innovation in Continued on page 12
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12 Downtown News
ENVIRODENTAL, 11 my profession while connecting with the newest generation of young dentists,” he says. Environdental provides comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages. The practice focuses on preventative care and minimally invasive esthetic dentistry, with carefully tailored treatment plans to address each patient’s unique and individual needs. “We spent a lot of time designing the patient experience at Environdental to be comforting, attentive and stress-free. We hope to create an environment where patients are at ease,” Caligiuri says. Appointments are reserved one at a time, so that each patient has the dentist’s undivided attention, and every visit ends with a hot towel and organic lip balm. For longer procedures, individual patient entertainment units are a welcome distraction. These video glasses are just one example of how the practice’s focus on “green dentistry” doesn’t mean that technology takes a back seat to conservation. To the contrary, state-of-the-art digital imaging systems, paper-free charting, and precision electric handpieces allow Environdental to dramatically decrease waste and processing chemicals, while enabling the doctor to diagnose and treat dental problems early and accurately. As Caligiuri says, “The sooner we identify trouble spots, the more likely it is that we can correct the problems with minimal loss of tooth structure.” That means shorter treatment times and longer lasting restorations. Caligiuri and his staff encourage those interested in the practice to come by for a tour of their modern facility — no appointment necessary. “We love getting to know our neighbors and sharing ideas on how we can all minimize our impact on the Earth, whether in the provision of oral healthcare or in our daily routines.” Environdental is at 740 S. Olive St., and is open Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; weekend appointments are available by request. For more information call (213) 534-6856 or visit envirodentalla.com.
February 16, 2015
Stopping Osteoarthritis Before It Starts Flexogenix Offers a New Approach to Regenerative Therapy
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steoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wear down over time. Currently, no cure exists, but through the rapidly emerging science of regenerative medicine, doctors now
FROM OUR ADVERTISERS believe the onset of osteoarthritis can be substantially delayed or even prevented. Bottom line, for those who want to stay active in life, there is treatment available that can help you head off osteoarthritis before it starts. When Osteoarthritis Begins The strong misconception is that, when we reach old age, osteoarthritis suddenly appears. But the truth is osteoarthritis develops very gradually over time. If you’re an active person in your late thirties or early forties, there’s a good chance the early signs of osteoarthritis are already developing in your joints and you don’t even know it. And if you’re active, a jogger or a weekend warrior, the repeated pounding on your joints could accelerate the onset. According to Dr. Sean Whalen of the Flexogenix Clinic in Los Angeles, “An early MRI by a physician who specializes in medical imaging and regenerative therapy can help to identify the early signs of osteoarthritis and, perhaps, offer treatment that will keep you jogging, pain free, well into your seventies.” Regenerative Therapy Changes the Game It starts with new developments in the science of regenerative therapy, and a new technique that combines the use of platelet rich plasma (PRP) and stem cells. PRP involves drawing a small sample of your own blood, using a centrifuge to isolate the growth factors in the blood that promote rapid healing, and then re-injecting that protein rich blood into the injured area.
This technique has been used by high-profile athletes such as Kobe Bryant and Tiger Woods. But now, with the addition of stem cells, the process can actually produce the growth of new cartilage and tissue. That means science can now potentially re-grow the lost tissue cartilage in the worn, injured joint and reverse or eliminate the effects of osteoarthritis. Being Proactive is the Key So rather than do nothing and wait for the onset of osteoarthritis, many in their thirties and forties are choosing to be proactive and start regenerative therapy with PRP and stem cells. It can lessen joint pain in the short term, and perhaps prevent it later in life. Flexogenix is at 219 W. Seventh St., Suite 207. For more information, call (800) MY-KNEE-0 or visit Flexogenix.com.
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February 16, 2015
Downtown News 13
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photos courtesy of FIDM
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FIDM’s Art of Motion Picture Costume Design exhibition features outfits from 23 films, including creations from all five Academy Award nominees for Best Costume Design. Among the outfits on display are those from Inherent Vice (left), Selma (right) and Maleficent (below).
kind of show,” said Jones. FIDM has ample connections to the costumes in part because many of its graduates work in the industry, and in part because, after more than two decades of the Art of Motion Picture Costume Design, the relationships with film studios and clothing designers are strong. However, Jones is quick to note that there are myriad challenges. Sometimes, he said, it can be years between the time a film wraps and when it hits theaters, meaning FIDM representatives have to backtrack to find all the clothes. Additionally, the costumes can end up all over the globe. Some, following the end of a production, make their way into private collections. Others are returned to the studio. Some go home with the actors who wore them, Jones said. Though the Best Costume winner won’t be reM D FI to s vealed until the Oscars broadcast on Feb. 22, Jones rn tu Re Movie Costumes admits to having a favorite. “I love Maleficent,” he said at the opening, and hurried to the front of the exhibit, where he stopped in front of a costume worn by Angelina Jolie. He said that the outfit assembled by Anna Sheppard both bring to life one of Disney’s all-time great villainesses, and employ difthat splashy. ferent materials — leather, eel skin and fish skin — that “You put Martin Short in an ultraviolet reflect light in a unique way. blue suit and it’s kind of redundant,” Bridges “Black can look really boring and really flat,” Jones said. said at the opening of the Fashion Institute of Design & Mer“But you put all chandising’s 23rd annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design Starts Feb. 2 these textures together and suddenly you have a costume that, on screen, looks multi-dimensional.” exhibit. “There’s so much going on with him. His performance is There was a different kind of challenge for Ruth Carter, who so vibrant that he doesn’t need to wear a vibrant color.” created the costumes for Best Picture nominee Selma. Carter, Bridges’ sartorial solution was literally in front of him: A manwhose credits include What’s Love Got to Do With It, said she imnequin was wearing the plum velour suit that the costume demediately sees images of the character as soon as she starts signer and his team created for Short. The clothes were assembled next to other outfits from the film worn by Joaquin Phoenix reading the script. For films based on true stories, like Selma, she reconciles those mental images with research and then and Katherine Waterston. presents a visual story to the director. The tone of the historical FIDM’s exhibition showcases the best movie costumes of the past year, with more than 100 outfits from 23 films. That includes drama, built around Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (played by David Oyelowo), depicts the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights all five Oscar nominees for Best Costume: Inherent Vice is on the list and in the galleries, along with The Grand Budapest Hotel, Into marches and called for a somber color palette, Carter said. She drew illustrations for all the characters and her team crethe Woods, Maleficent and Mr. Turner. ated the costumes from scratch. Of course, there was occasional The South Park exhibition opened Feb. 10 and continues free-styling based on need. Carter recalled that the beads on a through April 25. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday from dress worn by Carmen Ejogo, who plays Coretta Scott King, were 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is free. from the 1960s. Carter found them on an otherwise threadbare Working in Advance dressFeb. owned a vintage clothing collector. Although the exhibit opened a few weeks after the Oscar Starts 6 by / 13 “The beading they did back then was just exquisite. I could nominations were announced, it was no happy accident that never find someone to do that kind of work in 30 days,” she said, the museum had wrangled clothes from all five Best Costume noting the length of Selma’s shooting schedule. contenders. FIDM costume historian Kevin Jones explained that So, Carter did what costume designers do: She improvised, work on the exhibit begins a year before the show debuts. In and found a way to tell a story through clothing. fact, right now, FIDM Museum staffers are going out to the movArt of Motion Picture Costume Design runs through April 25 at ies currently in theaters, in an effort to begin assembling the 2016 exhibition. When the Academy finally announces the nom- FIDM, 919 S. Grand Ave. or fidmmuseum.org. Hours are TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. inees, Jones said, FIDM already has 80% of the show assembled. donna@downtownnews.com “We have to forward-think. There’s no other way to do this
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chon’s novel Inherent Vice, Dr. Rudy Like Downtown News on Facebook Blatnoyd is an older trying, unsuc& Be Entered to Win Movieman Tickets! cessfully, to be hip and to seduce young girls in 1970s Los Angeles. Pynchon describes Blatnoyd’s passé ultraviolet blue suit as quite a fashion misstep. As the costume designer for Paul Thomas Anderson’s recent version of the film, Mark Bridges needed E-NEWS s.comto develop Blatnoyd’s SIGN UP Sign up at DowntownNew character through his garish clothing. HowSign Up for Our E-News Blasts & ever, Bridges was resBe Entered to Win Movie Tickets! olute that he was not dressing actor Martin Short in garb
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Head Games L.A. Opera Brings Marie Antoinette Back to Life in the Ambitious ‘Ghosts of Versailles’ By Eddie Kim he Ghosts of Versailles offers a convoluted plot with a simple question at its core: Can art, fueled by love, change history? If that sounds too simple, well, it is. The Ghosts of Versailles, a 1991 work from composer John Corigliano and librettist William Hoffman, stands as a beast of an opera that dares audiences to try and classify it. In this case, the history that needs changing concerns Marie Antoinette, the French queen who was beheaded to cheers during the French Revolution. In the L.A. Opera production at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, it is hundreds of years later, and her ghost remains restless and depressed by that execution. The ghosts of Louis XVI and his court find her bad mood to be a bit dramatic. Only her favorite playwright, Pierre de Beaumarchais, is genuinely pained by her distress. Thus, he writes an opera to cheer her up, but there’s a twist — Beaumarchais claims his art will change actual history, bringing her back to life. L.A. Opera has taken on a complicated production that requires a literal wealth of on-stage resources. While the threehour opera struggles at times to find its emotional center and threatens to be too many things at once, its sheer ambition and originality are hard to resist. The first act introduces Beaumarchais’ new opera, which follows the characters and events from his previous plays The Barber of Seville and The Marriage of Figaro. Count Almaviva hopes to trade the queen’s prized necklace to the English ambassador in return for her refuge. His “trusted” friend, the scheming Begearss, aims to betray him to the revolutionaries and take the necklace for himself. Only the count’s loyal servant, Figaro, knows of this plan. He vows to protect the Almavivas despite the Count ban-
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ishing him for implying that foul play lies ahead. The opera-within-an-opera construct allows director Darko Tresnjak to stage a production with unhinged visual diversity and swift changes in tone. One moment Antoinette is singing a sensitive, tragic aria about her death, and the next Figaro is pitter-pattering his way through a hilarious Gilbert and Sullivanesque show tune about how he’s become a failure in old age. Then comes Begearss (played with full-throated, cartoonish villainy by Robert Brubaker), thundering maniacally as he compares himself to the indestructible earthworm. Tonal consistency is not a concern for this production. Ghosts mostly works, thanks to Tresnjak’s keen sense of movement and the superior cast. Lucas Meachem plays Figaro with
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photo by Craig Mathew
L.A. Opera’s production of The Ghosts of Versailles weaves together comedy, grand drama and impressive technical feats.
a sly, witty charm. Christopher Maltman brings wide-eyed confidence and a warm, booming baritone to Beaumarchais, and is particularly effective at conveying his adoration of the queen while avoiding sticky sweetness. Anchoring it all is Patricia Racette, who shines theatrically and vocally in a dynamic and surprisingly sympathetic turn as Antoinette. L.A. Opera Music Director James Conlon also deftly guides the orchestra through compositions that fly between grand overtures, pricks of discordant string work and Baroque flourishes. Despite such talent, much of the first act’s charm depends on whether you find its big dashes of lowbrow and self-referential humor to be refreshing or sophomoric. Is it pandering when Figaro, disguised as an Egyptian dancer, rubs clementines on his ridiculously swollen bust? Is Patti LuPone’s extended cameo as an ululating Egyptian singer gratuitously funny, or just plain gratuitous? The second act shelves much of the slapstick and satire in favor of weighty arias and tragic introspection. The key plot twist here is that Figaro defies Beaumarchais’ script, taking the jewels to save the Count instead of the queen. That pushes Beaumarchais to enter his own opera and intervene. It’s a plot mechanism that could be clumsy but feels lively thanks to Trensjak’s staging. He is abetted by the lush, dimensional set from Alexander Dodge and clever projections from Aaron Rhyne. Beaumarchais’ introduction in his opera is framed by dramatic lighting and calligraphy scrolling down the walls, a sort of Neo-in-the-Matrix moment that’s both eye-catching and evocative. There is one static, dragging second-act scene, set in the revolutionaries’ prison, that threatens to sap momentum by layering stillness on top of a yawning ensemble song. Yet Ghosts ends on a strong note, as Antoinette finds peace with Beaumarchais in a touching sequence featuring a guillotine and a poetic costume change. It’s a fitting close to an opera that, for all its winking postmodern touches, has an old-school romance at its heart. The Ghosts of Versailles runs through March 1 at 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.org. eddie@downtownnews.com
14 Downtown News
Featuring the photography of Los Angeles artist, Andy Romanoff
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CALENDAR LISTINGS EVENTS
ROCK, POP & JAZZ Belasco 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or thebelascotheater.com. Feb. 19, 9 p.m.: Gilberto Santa Rosa. Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Feb. 16: 18th Street Art Center presents Marquis Hill. Feb. 17: Curate yourself an evening with Anthony Wilson and the Curators. Feb. 18: Count to three with the Ryan McGillicuddy Trio. Feb. 19: Miro Sprague Ensemble. Feb. 20-21: Josh Nelson. Continued on next page
M PHOTO COURTESY OF MUDBUG BRASS BAND
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Afrofuturism is the word of the day on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 7:15 p.m. as the Aloud seri es at the Central Librar y hosts multimedia artist and per former DJ Spooky. For those not in the know, Afrofuturism blends the traditional forms of African-Am erican heritage and cultural milieus with the bro ad opportunism of contemporary techno-centric soc iety. Think of it as James Baldwin meeting broadband or hip-hop blending with online hosting. Any way you slice promises to deliver a rousing perform it, DJ Spooky ance that poses as many questions as it answers. Tick ets are free, but be smart and reserve one in advance. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.
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Mardi Gr A The atr as Jazz, ica A Baroqu l Farce & e Fill Dow n Mashup tow n This Week
Fat Tuesday is upon us and, in keepin g with the recent spate of Big Easy-inspired restaur ants in Downtown, Union Station is hosting the Mudbu g Brass Band. On Tuesday, Feb. 17, the eight-piece ens emble dedicated to New Orleans-style entertainment will thrill rush-hour commuters and the otherwise jazz curious from 4-6 p.m. No one will be flinging plastic beads and people won’t carouse through the concou rse with Hurricanes in hand, but you can still enjoy the Mudbug’s brassy celebrations of this mortal coil. At 800 N. Alameda St., (213) 683-6729 or metro.net.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL LAMONT
Wednesday, February 18 Chinese New Year Midnight Temple Ceremony Chuan Thien Hau Temple, 750 N. Yale St. or chinatownla.com. 10 p.m.: Get an early start on the Year of the Ram by giving some offerings. Traffic Discussion at Town Hall-LA City Club, 555 S. Flower St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la.org. 11:30 p.m.: The gang at Town Hall will host a discussion on the ever-frustrating traffic in Los Angeles. Patt Morrison moderates a discussion with city planners and policy experts. Henk Ovink at SCI-Arc SCI-Arc, 255 S. Santa Fe. Ave, (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: Ovink is HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan’s go-to guy for the rebuilding of New York City infrastructure in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Thus, he knows a great deal about preparing for climate change and rising sea levels. Listen to him speak. California Sentencing Discussion The California Endowment, 1000 N. Alameda St. or zocalopublicsquare.org. 7 p.m.: If you’re wondering how Prop 47 will impact your neighbor who got pinched for copping an eighth, the Honorable Stephen V. Manley and policy experts Peggy Edwards and Jason Bell will discuss reintegrating the incarcerated into our city. Thursday, February 19 DJ Spooky at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: We’re talking Afrofuturism, music and philosophy, heritage and technology with DJ Spooky. Stephanie Meeks at Live Business Talks LA Gensler, 500 S. Figueroa St. or business.livetalksla.org. 7:45 a.m.: Dig into the continental breakfast as Meeks, the President and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, speaks to the need in urban planning to balance past, present and future. saTurday, February 21 Golden Dragon Parade & Chinese New Year Festival Chinatown Central Plaza, 943 N. Broadway, (213) 6800243 or chinatownla.com. 12 p.m.-9 p.m.: In one of Los Angeles’ longest-running traditions — this is the 116th time — the people of Chinatown take to the streets to celebrate the coming of the Lunar New Year. Festivities will ensue. Nothing New Zine Workshop Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 1 p.m.: Have you ever wanted to make your own zine? Do you struggle when operating a photocopier? Does the function of a stapler elude you? Today’s DIY workshop should be an informative and intuitive, yet uphill climb. sunday, February 22 Gamelan Sekar Jaya at World City W.M. Keck Amphitheatre, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9720777 or musiccenter.org. 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.: Traditional Indonesian dance and music from this San Francisco based Gamelan group is yours for the taking, assuming you reserve a ticket online first.
Downtown News 15
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PHOTO COURTESY OF MUSICA PACIFICA
February 16, 2015
reets is th and Main st resur Fo of er rn The bustling co ous blend of Centeno-helmed a d ri alive with its cu aga gym, a cheeky dive bar an k, m ee w taurants, a krav ith an ebullient owner. This sed w humble market assical music. San Francisco-ba ia cl on h m add in some ric ins with bits of the Philhar jo l the Musica Pacifica and the Da Camera Society to fil up h ra as st Baroque Orche ants Bank with a Baroque M ith ch g er rin w Farmers & M m. The space will the finp. 4 at , 21 b. Fe on Saturday, ore as some of ldi, Bach and m a combine in a rare va Vi om fr ks or ic w titioners in Amer 52 or est Baroque prac 401 S. Main St., (213) 477-29 t A . collaboration dacamera.org.
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What does everyone in L.A. have in com complain about traffic. On Wednesda mon? We all y, Feb. 18, public affairs forum Town Hall-Los Angele s digs into the issue with the program “Real Solutions to Reduce Congestion and Improve Accessibility and Your Quality of Life.” The noon luncheon at the City Club is a panel discussion with city planners, policy experts and journalist Patt Morrison. Prepare to dig deep into traf fic flow and mass transit. You may even walk away kno wing whether our city is prepared to handle population growth. At 555 S. Flower St., (213) 628-8141 or townha ll-la.org.
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
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February 16, 2015
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800-574-4891 1600 S. FIGUEROA ST. • TOYOTADOWNTOWNLA.COM
NEW ’15 TOYOTA CAMRY SE
LEASE FOR ONLY
199
per month for 36 mos
per month for 36 mos
$
Two (or more) at this price. $189 plus tax per month for 36 months on approved above average credit. MSRP $23,720. $1,999 down plus tax, license, and fees. $0 security deposit. 12k miles per year, 0.15 per mile in excess. Model #13114.
Plus tax and license. Security deposit waived. Model 2546. $0.15 per mile for all mileage over 12k miles/yr., $24,890 MSRP. $1,999 Drive Off, Credit available through Toyota Financial Services to qualified Tier 1+ credit customers. 3 at this price: T150482/875717, T150555/877542, T150757/881692. Offer ends 3/2/15.
$9,499 2007 Nissan Altima 2.5S ....................... $10,999 Winter Frost, Only 80k miles. N141561-1/7N464819 2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0 .......................... $13,999 Certified, Black, 14K miles. N132228-1/CL746295
2011 Toyota Tacoma ..............................
2008 Nissan Versa 1.8SL Hatchback ...... Winter Frost, Auto. N141721-1/8L355173
$16,288 2012 Toyota Rav4 ................................... $16,888 Red, Certified, Traction Control. T151232-1/132035 2012 Honda Accord Sedan .................... $18,988 Black, 4dr I4 Auto Ex-L, Leather, Loaded. T141826-1/202016 White, 2WD Reg I4 at 2.7LI4, Auto, 47k Miles. T151393D1/007572
VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
DOWNTOWN L.A. MOTORS MERCEDES BENZ
NEW ’15 VW JETTA S
NEW ’14 MERCEDES CLA 250
888-781-8102 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • VWDOWNTOWNLA.COM
LEASE FOR ONLY
139
$
888-319-8762 1801 S. FIGUEROA ST. • MBZLA.COM
LEASE FOR ONLY
329
per month for 36 mos
Manual trans. 2.0L. $1,999 due at signing excludes title, tax, options, $625 acquisition fee + dealer fees. Residual Value $10,744.50. Lessee responsible for $0.20/mile over 30k miles and excessive wear and tear. VW Credit tier “A.” $1000 Customer Bonus & 1.90% APR. using VW Credit -- Call for details.1 at this price. Offer ends 3/2/2015. VIN FM278970
$
per month for 36 mos
Plus tax, 36 Month closed end lease on approved credit through Mercedes-Benz Financial Services. $2,499 CAP reduction, $795 acquisition fee. Excludes title, taxes, registration, license fees, insurance, dealer prep and additional options No security deposit required. 25¢ per mile in excess of 30,000 miles. Offer good on all with MSRP $33,925.
$11,706 2012 Fiat 500 Sport Hatchback .......... $12,152 Red/Black, Auto, 38MPG Hwy. V150117-1/360897 2012 Ford Focus SE Sedan .................. $12,487 Silver/Black, Auto, 36MPG Hwy. V150051-1/ 184950 CARSON NISSAN
$38,782 2013 Mercedes SLK250 ......................... $39,991 Certified, Prem. Pkg.1, Sport Pkg. 7933C/DF055946 2010 Mercedes S63AMG ....................... $61,979 Certified, Only 29K Miles, Must See! 7966P/AA344099 AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A.
NEW ’’15 115 NISSAN PATHFINDER S
NEW ’14 AUDI A4 2.0T
2006 MINI Cooper Convertible S ........
Blue/Black, Auto., 4L Supercharged, 1 owner. V150155D-1/ F86806
888-845-2267 1505 E. 223RD ST., CARSON • CARSONNISSAN.COM
LEASE FOR ONLY
273
$
2013 Mercedes E350 .............................. Certified, Prem. Pkg. 2, Keyless Go, 7886C/DA743249
888-583-0981 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • AUDIDTLA.COM
LEASE FOR ONLY
315
per month for 36 mos
$
per month for 42 mos
Close end lease. 2 available models #25115 C150713/606663, C150668/620863. Above average approved credit. Payment net of $700 Nissan Lease Rebate. $2999 cash or trade equity, plus tax, license and registration fees due at lease signing. No security deposit. 12k miles/year, 36k total miles with 15 cents/ mile thereafter. Subject to availability and charges for excess wear and tear. Offer expires 02/23/15.
Plus tax 42 month closed end lease on approved credit. $2199 down, plus first month payment, tax, title, licensing fees and $695 bank acquisition fee.$0 Sec. Dep. Must qualify for the Audi Loyalty or Audi Acquisition Rebate of $1,000. $0.25 per miles over 10,000 miles/year. 1 at this offer EN022577.
$9,888 2009 Nissan Altima ............................. $10,888 Keyless Entry, Push button start, CD/MP3. C142394-1/459237 2010 Mazda CX-7 SV ........................... Superb Condition, SV Trim, 28-MPG, 5-Star Rated CU1593P/315763 $11,888 FELIX CHEVROLET
2014 MINI Cooper ..................................
2007 Scion tc ......................................... Panoramic Moonroof, Premium Sound. CU1667P/ 164753
888-304-7039 3300 S. FIGUEROA ST. • FELIXCHEVROLET.COM
NEW ’’14 14 SILVERADO 1500 REG. CAB 1 at this price. (EZ369787/F15594)
MSRP ........................................................ $26,670 FELIX DISCOUNT .................................. - $2,175 CONSUMER CASH ................................ -$1,750 TRADE ALLOWANCE ........................... - $2,000
888-685-5426 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • PORSCHEDOWNTOWNLA.COM
NEW ’14 PANAMERA 4S Executive
BUY FOR ONLY
LEASE FOR ONLY
$
$
19,995
1,299
NET COST
USAA REBATE ........................................ - $750 (Must be current member and show proof)
TOTAL DISCOUNT ........................ $6,675
$11,988 2011 Mercury Grand Marquis .............. $15,888 Black/Gray, 1 Owner, Only 28K Miles. UC1214R/610400 2011 Ford Fusion .................................... $15,888 White/Gray, 46,802 miles. UC1674R/243571 2011 Honda Civic .................................... Burgundy/Gray. F15157-3
$14,495 2012 Audi A4 ........................................... $24,988 Leather, Moon, ESC, MP3, ZA10906/CN000224 2009 LEXUS LS460 ................................. $25,499 Navi, Bluetooth, LIKE NEW, A140382D-2/95090212 PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. Leather, Panoroof, Manual, A150029-1/CT368064
per month for 36 mos
$7,995 due at lease signing. Excludes tax, title, and license fees. No security deposit required. P14802, 10k miles per year, VIN#EL064132, residual $73,097.60, 1 at this price. Down payment excludes tax, DMV fees, $895 Bank Acquisition fee, first payment and document fees. Rates based on approved Tier1 credit through Porsche Financial Services.
$45,898 2014 Boxster ......................................... Blk/Blk, CPO, PDK, Infotainment Pkgs., Only 10k Miles. ES120116 $52,898 2013 Cayenne S Demo ........................... $69,988 Silver/Blk, Nav, XM, Prem, Pkg., PASM, Pk. 5k miles. DLA85183 2011 Cayman S ...................................... Blue/Beige, CPO, 6 Spd, Navi, Bose (BU780672)
Continued from previous page Feb. 22: Carl Allen Quartet. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m.: Scavenger Hunt returns to regale you with the pride of Wichita, Kansas. Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m.: It’s a little early in Fire In The Hamptons’ career of making glossy pop rock to claim that they’re “descending from the heavens.” We typically save that description for when you die at a senselessly young age. Feb. 18, 8:30 p.m.: Unless there have been a number of clandestine breakthroughs in the field of human cloning, No Parents’ band name is an egregious overstatement. Feb. 19, 9 p.m.: Our bet is that at least one member of The Janks has really enjoyed Alkaline Trio at some point in their life. Feb. 20, 9:15 p.m.: Armenian standout performer Tigran Hamasyan takes the stage. Feb. 21, 9 p.m.: Halcyon Swedish rockers The Mary Onettes have an active MySpace. That’s something. Feb. 22, 8 p.m.: Your last chance to catch P. Morris. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. Feb. 20, 7:30 p.m.: Kalin and Myles’ ever-so-catchy pseudo hip-hop is a harbinger of what to expect from Matty B in years to come. Feb. 21, 9 p.m.: There will be a painfully balanced quotient of free spirits to stilt walkers as theatrical circus troupe Lucent Dossier returns to Downtown. Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. Feb. 16, 10 p.m.: Bust out the big font, cause Kat Meyers and the Buzzards are painting the town red. Feb. 17, 10 p.m.: Downtown jazz guerillas The Sheriffs of Schroedingham are present and accounted for. Feb. 19, 10 p.m.: Miss Massive Snowflake. What does it mean? Feb. 20, 10 p.m.: Nathan Kalish & The Last Callers, please call your mothers. They’re worried about you. Feb. 22, 10 p.m.: RT N the 44s. Nuff said. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Feb. 20: Paul Van Dyk. Feb. 21: Don Diablo. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Feb. 17, 8 p.m.: There’ll be no Christmas in Washington for anyone who has yet to buy a ticket to see Steve Earle tonight. This gig is sold out. Mayan 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4287 or clubmayan.com. Feb. 22, 7 p.m.: Israeli folk rocker Asaf Avidan. Orpheum Theatre 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com. Feb. 19, 8 p.m.: Irreverence by the barrel full with Trailer Park Boys. Feb. 20-21, 8 p.m.: The comedy world has recently witnessed Mike Epps taking aim at Chris Rock for being a mediocre film leading man. Maybe he’ll explain why during these two shows. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. Feb. 16: Merit, Divided Heaven and Their Wedding. Feb. 17: Hot Karate, Sketch Orchestra and Splice the Mainbrace. Feb. 19: Thursday Night Booty. Feb. 20: Red Roses, Raven Clawhammer and Chapel of Thieves. Feb. 21: The Love Me Nots, The Widows, The 87s and Le Zets. Feb. 22: Guitars A Go Go. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheatre.com. Feb. 20, 8 p.m.: “An Evening With Machine Head” is the single most dignified billing that a metal band has ever enjoyed. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Feb. 16: The Katisse Buckingham Oddsemble is a jazz outfit. Feb. 17: You’ll excuse The Makers as they dab the tear-streaked mascara from their eyes. The weeks after Valentine’s Day are always tough. Feb. 18: Rick Taub’s Midnight Blues Review: now with twice the whiskey! Feb. 19: The Alex Budman Quartet features Alex Budman, a fellow who has met Boz Scaggs. Feb. 22: Dan Weinstein and the Two Tones cap off a busy week at Seven Grand. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org. Feb. 18: Dunes, Nudity, Gun Outfit and Rearranged Face. Feb. 20: Death Valley Girls, Susan, Benny The Jet Rodriguez and El-Haru Kuroi. Feb. 21: BLKHRTS, True Neutral Crew, tik///tik and Rale. Feb. 22: Stellaluna, Novi Split, Scared Destinies and Post Life.
THEATER, OPERA & DANCE A Midsummer Night’s Dream Loft Ensemble, 929 E. Second St., (213) 680-0392 or loftensemble.com. Feb. 21, 8 p.m. and Feb. 22, 7 p.m.: Puck will be in full effect as William Shakespeare’s classic receives a modern interpretation from director Kevin Meoak. Through March 8 Bob Baker’s Something to Crow About
February 16, 2015
DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM
CLASSICAL MUSIC Wednesday, February 18 Late Masterworks With Sir Andras Schiff Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org. 8 p.m.: Sir Andras Schiff is no commoner. The be-knighted pianist will lend his genius to pieces from Haydn, Beethoven, Mozart and Schubert. Thursday, February 19 Chinese New Year: From Tchaikovsky to
50% OFF SUSHI
THE DON IS IN
T
he Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera is tackling one of the grandest, and most bewildering and dramatic operas of all time: Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlo. What’s more, the company is staging it in an unconventional venue. The convoluted opera takes place amid the Spanish Inquisition in the 17th century, and melds themes of romance, revenge, honor and duty in an epic story that has been treasured and performed for nearly 150 years. The show hits Good Samaritan Hospital’s All Souls Chapel on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance or $35 at the door. At 637 S. Lucas Ave., (310) 570-6448 or losangelesmet.com.
photo courtesy LAMet
Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Feb. 21-22, 2:30 p.m.: The puppets are getting down right agrarian as Bob Baker’s marionettes sojourn into the American heartland in Something to Crow About. Dame Edna’s Glorious Goodbye: The Farewell Tour Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Feb. 18-20, 8 p.m. and Feb. 21, 2 p.m., and Feb. 22, 1 p.m.: So basically this dude Barry Humphries has spent the past 50 years traveling the world performing as an irreverent cross-dresser named Dame Edna. Now, he promises he’s going to stop doing it. You’ve got til March to see it. The Ghost of Versailles Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 9727219 or laopera.org. Feb. 18 and 21, 7:30 p.m. Marie Antoinette is dead, but that isn’t stopping her ghost from haunting Versailles. Patricia Racette stars in this James Conlon-helmed and John Corigliano-penned opera. Through March 1. See review pg. 14. Mariano Pensotti: Cineastas REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., Feb. 18-21, 8:30 p.m.: All the conventions of the cinema travel back toward the theater as Mariano Pensotti blends the narratives of four filmmakers as they struggle to work on a split level stage. The Price Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Feb. 18-21, 8 p.m. and Feb. 22, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Tony-winning director Gavin Hynes directs this restaging of an Arthur Miller classic. It’s a bang-up cast with Kate Burton, John Bedford Lloyd, Alan Mandell and Sam Robards. Sleepaway Camp Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Feb. 17, 9 p.m.: Every Tuesday this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent. Washer/Dryer Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. Feb. 18-21, 8 p.m. and Feb. 22, 2 p.m.: Farce by the foot as director Peter J. Kuo guides his cast through a tense if humorous story of modern domesticity. Through March 15. YoungArts Los Angeles 2015 Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Main St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org. Feb. 20-22: From classical musicianship to writing, digital and graphic arts to performance, this weekend highlights the finest in youth artistry.
Tan Dun Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 9727211 or musiccenter.org. Feb. 19-21, 8 p.m.: To celebrate the dawning of the Year of the Ram, guest conductor Xian Zhang leads the L.A. Philharmonic, violinist Ning Feng, pianist Haochen Zhang and cellist Jian Wang in pieces from Huanzhi, Saint-Saens, Chopin, Tchaikosvky and Tan Dun. saTurday, February 21 Baroque Mashup At the Farmers & Merchants Bank, 401 S. Main St., (213) 477-2952 or dacamera.org. 4 p.m.: San Francisco’s Musica Pacifica stops by Downtown Los Angeles to inhabit the iconic Farmers & Merchants Bank with a little Baroque music. Los Angeles Balalaika Orchestra Zipper Hall, 200 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2200 or colburnschool.edu. 7 p.m.: Two decades of concert classical music (and repetitive consonant-vowel relationships) come into full focus at the Los Angeles Balalaika Orchestra’s anniversary.
FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Feb. 16-19: Jean-Luc Godard returns with his latest, Goodbye to Language 3D. Feb. 20-22: The shinobi struggle to stop the moon from plummeting to earth in The Last: Naruto the Movie. Through
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February 26. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Galapagos 3D. If it was good enough to blow Charles Darwin’s mind, it’s probably good enough for you! Forces of Nature promises a panoply of nature’s worst destruction. Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disap-
pointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through Feb. 19: Fifty Shades of Grey (10:20 a.m., 12, 12:40, 1:20, 3:20, 4, 4:40, 6:40, 7:20, 8, 10, 10:40 and 11:20 p.m.); Kingsman: The Secret Service (10:10 a.m., 1:20, 4:30, 7:40 and 10:50 p.m.). See website for additional listings. Continued on next page
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18 Downtown News
MORE LISTINGS
Continued from previous page
Monique Fink, wife of artist Peter Fink, who worked for Lelong as package designer and interior decorator. Ongoing: Accessories from The Helen Larson Historic Fashion Collection surveys footwear, fans, gloves, purses and hats. African American Firefighter Museum California African American Museum 1401 S. Central Ave., (213) 744-1730 or 600 State Drive, (213) 744-7432 or aaffmuseum.org. caamuseum.org. Ongoing: An array of firefighting relics dating to 1924, includ- Through March 1: The figurative work of Michael Kilgore and ing a 1940 Pirsch ladder truck, an 1890 hose wagon, uniforms Anthony “Eve” Kemp are featured in Curvature: Lines and Shapes. from New York, L.A. County and City of L.A. firefighters, badges, Through March 1: The untold prejudices inherent to albinism helmets, photographs and other artifacts. are the creative catalysts behind an exhibit of Yrneh Gabon FIDM Museum Brown’s work entitled Visibly Invisible. FIDM, second floor, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or Through July 5: Formerly of Watts Tower Arts Center fame, fidmmuseum.org. Mark lengthy career in the arts receives its S I N C ESteven 19 7Greenfield’s 2 Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 Ongoing: The FIDM Museum presents Artfully Adorned, an ex- due in Lookin’ Back in Front of Me: Selected Works. W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 ceptional of fragrance, cosmetics, and ephemera from Through May 3: From Women’s Hands features work from five phone:collection 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 theweb: houseDowntownNews.com of Lucien Lelong. This group of objects was donated by African-American women housed within the CAAM Courtyard. • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com
MUSEUMS
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February 16, 2015
Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews. com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.
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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
AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt
ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield
clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez
Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins
circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
twitter: DowntownNews ©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles. One copy per person.
PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin
©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield
One copy per person.
Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
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 stAFF writErs: Donna Evans, Eddie Kim coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Kylie Jane Wakefield
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 twitter: DowntownNews ©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
One copy per person.
AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins
©2014 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard
One copy per person.
February 16, 2015
DT
CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL
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.
AUTOS & RECREATIONAL
edUcational
Teacher
Special education
lofts for sale
Multiple positions available with Los Angeles Unified School District, L.A. County, CA at the elementary, middle school, and secondary levels. Applicants must have a valid CA Education Specialist Instruction Credential. Fax resume to Randy Murphy 213-241-8412.
TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002
Bill Cooper
213.598.7555
Teacher
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Multiple positions available with Los Angeles Unified School District, L.A. County, CA. Requires a valid CA Single Subject Teacher Credential in Foreign Language: Mandarin. Fax resume to Randy Murphy 213-241-8412.
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of mechanical equip used in prod of low runs of precision customized metal products (e.g. tubing, hardware, ornamental, industrial). Mail to Bobco Metals LLC, 2000 S. Alameda St., LA, CA 90058.
Downtown News 19
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PETITIONER’S NAmE IS: ELI GOmEz NOTICE TO REsPONDENT: MARIA CORNEJO NOTICE! You have been sued. Read the following information. You have 30 calendar days after this “Summons and Petition” are served on you to file a “Response” (form FL-120 or FL-123) at the court and have a copy served on the petitioner. A letter, phone call, or court appearance will not protect you. If you do not file your Response on time, the court may make orders affecting your marriage or domestic partnership, you property, and custody of your children. You may be ordered to pay support and attorney fees and costs. For legal advice, contact a lawyer immediately. Get help finding a lawyer at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courts.ca.gov/selfhelp). At the California Legal Services website (www.lawhelpca.org), or by contacting your local county bar association. NOTICE: The restraining orders on page 2 are effective against both spouses or domestic partners until the petition is dismissed, a judgment is entered, or the court makes further order. The orders are enforceable anywhere in California by any law enforcement officer who has received or seen a copy of them. Fee Waiver: If you cannot pay the filing fee ask the
clerk for a fee waiver form to pay back all or part of the fees and costs that the court waived for you or the other party. The name and address of the court is: Los Angeles County Superior Court - Central 111 North Hill street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Case Number: BD602275 Dated: December 10, 2014 Clerk: sherri R. Carter Deputy: Martha Escobedo The name, address, telephone number, and fax number of the petitioner’s attorney or petitioner without an attorney are: Eli Gomez 8825 Willis Avenue, #5 Los Angeles, CA 91402 Pub. 02/16, 02/23, 03/02, 03/09/2015. fictitioUs BUsiness naMe FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAmE STATEmENT FILE NO. 2015031741 The following person is doing business as: VERDE THERAPEUTIC BODY THERAPY, 1445 Lemoyne St., Los Angeles, CA 90026, are hereby registered by the following registrant: Fernando Reyes, 1445 Lemoyne St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant commenced to transact business
civil sUMMons LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT CASE NO. BD602275
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FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAmE STATEmENT FILE NO. 2015031758 The following person is doing business as: DR. MOJITO BARTENDING SERVICES, 918 W. College St., Apt. 502, Los
Angeles, CA 90012, are hereby registered by the following registrant: Mario Pedro Esquivel, 918 W. College St., Apt. 502, Los Angeles, CA 90012. This business is conducted by an individual. Registrant commenced to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 02/05/2015. This statement was filed with Dean C. Logan, Los Angeles County Clerk, and by Kenyon Bradley, Deputy, on February 05, 2015. 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. 02/09, 02/16, 02/23,and 03/02/2015.
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under the fictitious business name or names listed above on 02/05/2015. This statement was filed with Dean C. Logan, Los Angeles County Clerk, and by Joey Spraggins, Deputy, on February 05, 2015. 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. 02/09, 02/16, 02/23,and 03/02/2015.
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the people saying that actually know how he fared as mayor? It’s not like there’s unshakeable support and you can compare AnVil in L.A. to a Kennedy in Massachusetts or a Bush in Texas — a lot of people here will vote against him because they remember his leadership. It’s also not as if AnVil has set the world on fire since departing, that he took time off and came back stronger and wiser à la Jerry Brown. In the past two years Villaraigosa has done a lot of consulting, which is a great way to make bank, as big corporations love to trot out a telegenic former mayor. Still, will he connect with California voters by mentioning that he’s drawn a hefty paycheck advising Herbalife? To rip myself off, when is last time you heard someone say, “I want the Herbalife consultant to follow Boxer!”? Would Harris be a great or even an effective senator? I don’t know. A lot of people down here like her, but she’s a Bay Area product, and distance makes it difficult to judge a politician’s intricacies. Perhaps there’s an Anyone But Harris sentiment in NorCal. That seems unlikely, though. The initial swell since she declared her candidacy on Jan. 13 has been uniformly positive, and Harris is already sucking up money and securing endorsements, including from local players such as District Attorney Jackie Lacey and City Council President Herb Wesson. Still, I’m torn. City Hall has become a pretty boring place without AnVil, and the lack of a qualified competitor to Harris would water down the race. His candidacy would, at minimum, make for a better contest and be at least as entertaining as an episode of “The Walking Dead.” What happens next? An ambitious Villaraigosa might be surrounded by yes-men, and one has to assume that his play is to win the senate seat, get re-elected in six years, then run for president in 2024 after Chris Christie is termed out (joking! I hope). Maybe Team AnVil even has some damning dirt on Harris, like photographic evidence that she once made out with a leprechaun. Anything can happen in politics. OK, anything but the leprechaun. So the question remains: Antonio, Antonio, what art thou thinking, Antonio? regardie@downtownnews.com
AROUND TOWN, 2 300,000-square-foot structure as creative office space. Similar plans have been revealed for the former Coca Cola Building at Fourth Street and Traction Avenue. Raffi Shirinian, a principal at UrbanBlox, said he sees potential in the heart of Downtown. “While several Downtown L.A. neighborhoods have been transformed in recent months, we are confident that the Jewelry District will continue to grow into a creative office hub for businesses,” he said in the statement. Mike Condon Jr. of JLL Los Angeles represented UrbanBlox in the transaction. BRC Advisors represented the seller.
Apartment Complex Opens in South Park
T
he Downtown residential renaissance continues, with a new mid-rise development debuting in South Park. Houston-based developer Hanover Company’s first South Park project, at 939 S. Hill St., is now leasing. The 284-unit rental building at Olympic Boulevard and Hill Street features studio and one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 500 to 1,260 square feet. There are also three one-bedroom live/work lofts (about 1,000 square feet). Rents run from approximately $2,000 to just under $4,000. Amenities include a pool, a courtyard with fire pits and grills, a roof terrace, and a clubroom with a kitchen and a TV lounge. The development known as Hanover South Park also has 12,400 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, though no leases have been signed yet, according to Hanover development partner Ryan Hamilton. The building’s design comes from architecture firm TCA, which is also designing Hanover’s two other South Park projects.