05-19-14

Work Starts on a New Park | 5 Rocking Out in Laurel Canyon | 30

MAY 19, 2014 I VOL. 43 I #20

photos by Gary Leonard

To Tiananmen Square and Back Tim Dang Leads East West Players on an Unlikely Musical Journey SEE PAGE 27

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THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

INSIDE THIS WEEK DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT Updates On 87 Projects, Plus a Residential Section PAGES 7-26

2 Downtown News

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AROUND TOWN

New Downtown Hotels Open in June

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he Downtown Los Angeles hotel stock is set to increase by nearly 400 rooms next month.

That’s because officials representing Portlandbased developer Williams/Dame & Associates have announced that the dual Marriott hotels tower near L.A. Live will begin receiving guests in June, with an official grand opening scheduled for July 1. The $172 million project from Williams/Dame and Seattle-based American Life Inc. is on time and on budget. The 23-story edifice will contain two separate hotels that share a lobby: a 174-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 218-room Residence Inn. Both are Marriott brands, and join the company’s 1,001-room J.W. Marriott and Ritz-Carlton (Marriott owns the Ritz as well). The property at 901 W. Olympic Blvd., designed by Portland’s GBD Architects, includes a rooftop pool and deck, a conference room, a fitness center, a 3,600-square-foot meeting room and a restaurant. The hotels have begun accepting reservations at courtyardlalive.com and residenceinnlalive.com.

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Grand Park Farmers’ Market To Close Until Fall

May 19, 2014

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

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ad news for Civic Center workers in search of fresh produce and artisanal eats: The weekly farmers market at Grand Park is temporarily closed, and won’t return until the fall.

The market shuttered May 20 because of the ongoing demolition of an old state office building on the northwest corner of First and Spring streets that the city has identified as a public hazard. The city is turning the site into a park, and most of the demolition will occur on weekdays; the project is slated to end in September. Meanwhile, Downtown has plenty of other nearby farmers markets, including those at Pershing Square (open Wednesdays), City Hall and the Arts District (Thursdays), Bank of America Plaza (Fridays) and in the Historic Core (Sundays).

City Council Approves $3.7 Million for Skid Row Clean-up

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he city’s Operation Healthy Streets program aims to improve safety and hygiene in Skid Row, and its budget is getting a big boost for 2014-15. On Tuesday, May 13, the City Council approved a $3.7 million allocation

Old-Timers Game

Dodger Stadium

May 10, 2014

to the program, a more than $2.2 million hike over the current fiscal year. The money will allow the program to expand both comprehensive and spot cleanings of Skid Row, bring new temporary storage areas for homeless people’s belongings, nearly double the number of city-

serviced trash bins, expand access to public showers and restrooms, and increase the number of community safety inspections, among other efforts. The additional cash is needed to improve the neighborhood, said City AdminContinued on page 5

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Palmdale to Los Angeles Project Section Join Us At Community Open Houses

Please Join Us

¡Acompáñenos!

The California High-Speed Rail Authority (Authority) invites you to a community open house to hear about alignment alternatives for the 60-mile Palmdale to Los Angeles project section of California’s high-speed rail program.

La Autoridad Ferroviaria de Alta Velocidad de California (Autoridad) le invita a una reunión pública para aprender sobre alternativas de alineamiento para la sección de proyecto de 60 millas entre Palmdale y Los Angeles para el programa ferroviario de alta velocidad de California.

The Authority has been working with residents, stakeholders and regulatory agencies to refine the alignment alternatives for the project section.

This is an opportunity to ask questions and comment about alignment alternatives that will be studied in the draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement (EIR/EIS).

Come anytime between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.The information shared will be identical at each meeting.

There will be a presentation at 6:30 p.m.

San Fernando Regional Pool Facility Tuesday, May 20, 2014 Martes, 20 de mayo, 2014 208 Park Ave San Fernando, CA 91340 Free parking available

La Autoridad ha estado trabajando con residentes, grupos y agencias reguladoras para refinar las alternativas de alineamiento para esta sección del proyecto.

Esta será una oportunidad para hacer preguntas, someter comentarios sobre las alternativas de alineamiento que serán estudiadas en un Reporte/ Declaración de Impacto Ambiental Borrador (EIR/EIS – por sus siglas en Inglés).

Llegue a cualquier hora entre las 5:00 y 8:00 p.m. – la información presentada será idéntica en cada reunión.

Habrá una presentación a las 6:30 p.m.

Burbank Holiday Inn

Wednesday, May 28, 2014 Miércoles, 28 de mayo, 2014 150 E Angeleno Ave Burbank, CA 91502

Free on-street and public parking; hotel parking for a fee

Chimbole Cultural Center Thursday, May 29, 2014 Jueves, 29 de mayo, 2014 38350 Sierra Highway Palmdale, CA 93550 Free parking available

Los Angeles Union Station Fred Harvey Room Wednesday, May 21, 2014 Miércoles, 21 de mayo, 2014 800 N Alameda St Los Angeles, CA 90012 Parking for a fee; public transit available

William S. Hart Regional Park Thursday, June 5, 2014 Jueves, 5 de junio, 2014 24151 Newhall Ave Santa Clarita, CA 91321

All meetings will be from 5:00-8:00 p.m.

Interpretación en Español será disponible en todas las reuniones. Հայերեն լեզվով մեկնաբությունը կարող եք ձեռք բերել Burbank-ի ժողովի ընթացքում 在聯合車站會議上将会有現場國語口譯 Other language requests must be submitted 72 hours in advance. Meeting facilities are accessible for persons with disabilities.

All requests for reasonable accommodations must be made three working days (72 hours) in advance of the scheduled meeting date. Please contact the project outreach team at 213-802-1113 or call the California Relay Service at 711.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority is implementing a state-wide rail modernization plan that will meet the state’s 21st Century transportation needs. www.hsr.ca.gov | 213-802-1113 | palmdale_los.angeles@hsr.ca.gov

May 19, 2014

Downtown News 3

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4 Downtown News

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EDITORIALS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

May 19, 2014

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

Stay Away, Shelly

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ast week, this page published the editorial “Sell, Donald, Sell,” imploring the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers to part ways with the basketball team. We also asked those who know and do business with Sterling to call him up and urge him to do the right thing in the wake of the racist comments he made to V. Stiviano that were released by TMZ. Tradition dictates that after such missteps, the offending speaker goes on TV and does the mea culpa routine. It turns out, you never know what the Sterlings are going to say. Yes, that’s Sterlings. Plural.

Donald dug himself into an even deeper hole last week with his “apology” to Anderson Cooper on CNN. As he sought to explain his offensive statements, he managed to shock the public even more with some bitter comments regarding Magic Johnson.

That has only been half of the story, however. In a move that no one expected when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Donald Sterling for life, Sterling’s wife Shelly has stated that she intends to keep her 50% of the Clippers. Shelly made her case on an interview with Barbara Walters, and her attorney has been talking tough.

We’re not sure why people with the last name Sterling are so tone deaf to the desires of local residents, and so ignorant of the likely consequences (possible players’ strike, fleeing sponsors and fans, diminishment of the value of the team). However, just as we asked Donald to sell, now it’s time to ask Shelly to stay away. Again, Downtowners who know her should reach out.

Shelly has said in public that she disagrees with her husband’s racist remarks. She argues that she should not be judged by the words he used.

It remains to be seen if she has legal recourse to keep the team. However, in the court of public opinion, her partnering with Donald for more than five decades is all the evidence one needs. She stood by his side, and was apparently his partner in life and business as he endured past allegations that he discriminated against minority renters in some of the apartment buildings he owns.

There have also been allegations in the past (we stress, just allegations) that she too has made some reprehensible statements.

The point is, the public doesn’t believe in her, and even more crucially, it appears that the Clippers players and coaches don’t either.

It seems clear that, if any Sterling owns the team, things will go from bad to worse in a hurry.

The NBA recognizes this and already is taking steps to ensure that Shelly Sterling also does not have a stake in the future of the franchise. We wish the league luck in their work.

Now, if anyone reading this knows Mrs. Sterling, it’s time to pick up the phone. The message they need to deliver is clear: Stay away, Shelly. It’s in the best interest of the city and the team that she does exactly that.

In First District Supes Race, Lack of Coverage and Qualified Candidates Means Voters Lose

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n June 3, voters have the latest in a never-ending chance to go to the polls, and in Los Angeles County, two races in particular are drawing the lion’s share of the attention: Those are the contests to fill the Congressional seat being vacated by Henry Waxman, and to replace termed-out Third District County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky.

If only the race to succeed First District Supervisor Gloria Molina was generating the same kind of heat.

The first two slots are, to be sure, very important positions, and a number of high-profile candidates with varying levels of political and leadership experience have turned out for each. Fortunately, the media and the blogosphere are doing their jobs by reporting on and digging into the leading contenders in each race. So too are the community groups, which have held a number of debates. This is necessary, as Yaroslavky’s replacement will oversee a district with approximately 2 million residents, and the public schould know about the records, resumes and political propensities of candidates Bobby Shriver, Sheila Kuehl, John Duran and Pamela Conley Ulich.

Waxman, meanwhile, is as close as you can get in 2014 to a living liberal legislative legend, and again, it’s worth knowing what separates the leading candidates, who include Wendy Greuel, Ted Lieu, Marianne Williamson and Matt Miller (a whopping 21 people are on the ballot).

A third contest is also drawing attention. The race for Los Angeles County sheriff is vitally important, as Lee Baca’s resignation makes this the first time in decades that the seat has been truly open. Some thought-provoking and qualified candidates are on the ballot. Hopefully voters learn enough about them to make an informed choice.

Then there’s the First District.

After 23 years in office, Molina is, like Yaroslavsky, termed out. According to a 2011 county estimate, her district contains 1,967,029 residents. Molina oversees a territory that measures 246 square miles.

Portions of Downtown Los Angeles, including Grand Avenue and the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, are in the First.

This is one of the plum political positions in the region, and the five supervisors all wield immense power. It is also almost impossible to knock out a sitting supe, which means that whoever wins likely will hold the job for 12 years. In L.A., this is as close as you get to political royalty.

It stands to reason that the First District race would draw as much competition and coverage as the run to replace Waxman or Yaroslavsky. However, unless something unexpected happens in the next few weeks, this will be less a contest than a coronation.

Hilda Solis, the former U.S. Labor Secretary and congresswoman, is the presumed shoo-in to replace Molina. Also on the ballot are Juventino “J” Gomez, an El Monte City Councilman, and Long Beach Unified School District police officer April Saucedo Hood.

We’re glad that Gomez and Hood have entered the race. However, neither has the money nor the political and grassroots network to seriously challenge Solis. Although Los Angeles has seen numerous instances in which surprise candidates came out on top, no one expects that to happen here. One of the truths of politics is that you either need to be backed by a personal fortune or a long history that has fostered supporters and connections. Neither of Solis’ competitors can claim that.

We don’t blame Solis personally for the lack of qualified contenders.

We’re not saying she will be bad for the district, either. Like the candidates for some other seats, she comes with an impressive resume, and her ties to Washington, D.C., could pay off in the attempt to wrangle federal funds for local projects. If (when) she wins, we hope she does a great job.

However, the lack of competition means she hasn’t been tested or pushed on the campaign trail, and thus we don’t know as much about Solis as we should. Maybe her connections scared off other legitimate contenders. Or maybe this was a situation where the “political machine” helped dissuade other qualified candidates from entering and getting into an expensive and divisive war with Solis.

There has been some coverage of the race, including reports on a few dicey moments in Solis’ professional life, though nothing that will derail her in today’s political climate. But it has paled in comparison to reporting on the contests to replace Yaroslavsky and Waxman. Also, there have been no vigorous debates where voters can ask questions or get the information that is de rigueur in most key races. Citizens simply have not learned enough to be confident of who Solis will be in office.

This is a situation in which Solis will likely be the winner, and the 2 million residents of the First District might be the losers. The voters don’t have enough evidence to make an educated decision. In Los Angeles County, this never should have happened.

May 19, 2014

AROUND TOWN, 2 istrative Officer Miguel Santana, who authored the report recommending the budget increase. “This is just one of many steps the city needs to take, not only to provide a clean and safe environment for homeless people in Skid Row, but also to help the rest of Downtown grow,” Santana said.

stop in front of the Metropolitan Water District building near the southwest portion of Union Station. Megabus service will occur at the Amtrak bus pick-up and drop-off location by the station’s west entrance.

Skid Row Parade Celebrates Local Leaders

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Union Station Bus Plaza Temporarily Closes

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Downtown News 5

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

owntown bus riders, beware: The Patsaouras Bus Plaza at Union Station closed to vehicles on Saturday and will remain off limits through 10 p.m. on Wednesday, May 21, as the plaza at the base of the Metro headquarters undergoes renovations. The construction will fix water damage to the facility and replace waterproofing, landscaping, electrical and irrigation systems. Pedestrians will have access to Union Station’s east portal, as well as the Metro building and the bus stops at Cesar Chavez Avenue and Vignes Street; the latter location is where buses that normally stop in the plaza will pick up and drop off passengers during the closure. The Flyaway buses that go to LAX, meanwhile, will

r. Mongo, Michael Blaze, Clancy Imislund, General Jeff Page: These are a few of the people who have helped bring dignity and a sense of community to Skid Row. To honor their efforts, Skid Row theater group the Los Angeles Poverty Department is hosting the second iteration of Walk the Talk, a parade that will feature art, a New Orleans-style brass band and theatrical performances. The parade begins at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 24, and it will pause at seven locations while LAPD actors present scenes about the figures being celebrated. The parade is slated to end at 3 p.m. and people are welcome to join at any time. “It’s about acknowledging the dedication and passion of a lot of people, whether they’re from social institutions, they’re an artist or a recovery success story,” said John Malpede, founding artistic director of the LAPD. Additional information is at lapovertydept.org.

City Breaks Ground on $10 Million Park at First and Broadway Another $10 Million Spent on Site Acquisition

By Eddie Kim owntown’s dearth of green space is frequently cited as one of the community’s biggest drawbacks. Last week, the city took another step to change that.

On the morning of Thursday, May 15, local officials gathered at a nearly two-acre site at the northeast corner of First Street and Broadway, where the remnants of a razed state building have been sitting since 1971. There, they held a ceremonial groundbreaking for what will be a new park.

The project will ultimately cost about $20 million, including nearly $10 million for the acquisition of the land and another $10 million for development, design and construction. Although the park lacks a timeline and no designs have been created, city officials still touted the future addition.

“The Downtown community has grown rapidly and, to be frank, it’s been tough to keep up with its needs,” said Michael Shull, acting general manager of the city Department of Recreation and Parks.

“We’re turning a corner with this park.”

The land was acquired from the state last year,

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with about $3.6 million provided by Rec and Parks and the remainder coming from Quimby fees (charged to developers for park creation) and Zone Change fees.

The office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar has helped secure another $4.3 million in Quimby fees for park development and construction, while Recreation and Parks anticipates that $5.7 million will come from future Quimby fees and department funds.

Demolition has already begun on the site, where a state building and parking garage were severely damaged in the 1971 Sylmar Earthquake and subsequently razed. The demolition and excavation is slated for completion by the end of August. The city will then enter the design process, which requires community input and multiple design proposals. That will take about 18 months, Shull said.

The park site is just south of Grand Park, a 12acre facility that opened in 2012. Demolition on the new project prompted the closure of the Grand Park farmers market for three months. eddie@downtownnews.com

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May 19, 2014

2014

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Voting will be open from May 10 through May 30, 2014. Vote online now at

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Win A WEEKEND ON THE TOWN OR AN iPAD MINI!

Fill out the ballot and your e-mail address will be entered in our drawing. The grand prize winner will receive a complimentary two-night stay with overnight parking at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel that includes dinner for two at Noé, $200 spending cash, dinner for two at Morton’s The Steakhouse and a Los Angeles Conservancy private walking tour for up to 15 people. It’s a great package, if we do say so ourselves, worth more than $1,000.

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VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM MAY 10 THROUGH MAY 30, 2014.

May 19, 2014

Downtown News 7

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN DevelOpmeNT Full Steam Ahead

10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Planned amenities include a rooftop pool and lounge, open-air decks and a fitness center. The project also would have a three-floor parking podium above street level that would be wrapped in translucent panels so that it emits a soft glow at night.

The Latest Information on 87 Downtown Projects

By Donna Evans, Eddie Kim and Jon Regardie n the last few months, the world, finally, has caught up with everything that is happening in Downtown Los Angeles.

Consider: The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post just published articles on all that there is to do and see (and eat) in the Central City. These pieces followed effusive stories in GQ and the New York Times.

This makes sense considering the boom period Downtown is enjoying, with dozens of projects steaming ahead. Major national and international developers are rushing to take a stake in the area — in recent months, the Canadian firms Amacon and Onni Group announced plans for a total of four Downtown housing high-rises. This investment occurs as other long-planned projects are finally getting back into gear: Related Cos. is working on schematic designs for the $650 million The Grand, and Hearst Corp. is prepping for development of the historic Herald Examiner Building.

It’s not all speculation and planning. Thousands of construction workers are already employed in the area, and several major projects are either opening or ready to debut. South Park just got a big housing addition with the Avant apartments. A new Marriott hotel complex is set to open this summer near L.A. Live.

In the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News runs down the latest information on 87 projects. With all that is in the pipeline, consider this just a start.

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1133 S. HOPE ST. Vancouver, Canada-based developer Amacon is moving forward on a 28-story tower that received city approvals in 2008 but then stalled, partly because of the recession. The project, which has recently been dusted off, would include 208 residential units and 5,029 square feet of restaurant and retail space. The tower would extend from a rectangular parking podium and would rise on a current parking lot just east of the Flower Street Lofts.

In addition to a pool and spa, the building would offer a fitness room, library, communal kitchen and media room.

950 E. THIRD ST. A groundbreaking is scheduled for the spring for a 472-apartment project at 950 E. Third St. in the Arts District, said Dilip Bhavnani, a managing member of Legendary Development. The $150 million complex will rise on a six-acre site adjacent to the Southern California Institute of Architecture. The project, which will create a new road parallel to Santa Fe Avenue and perpendicular to Third Street, will consist of three structures, each five to six stories high. The entire development will be built in a single phase. Construction is expected to take about three years.

1200 S. FLOWER ST.

1000 S. GRAND AVE.

rendering courtesy of TCA

NEW PROJECTS These projects were either publicly announced, were revived or gained prominence in the past three months.

rendering courtesy of Onni Group

420 BOYD ST. Two long-vacant adjacent buildings are being turned into creative office space and a microbrewery, said project developer Dilip Bhavnani. The buildings at 420 Boyd St. are on the same block as The Escondite, a popular restaurant/bar in the Toy District. Bhavnani said the five-story structure at the corner of Boyd and Omar streets will house five tenants, with each occupying a full floor. The neighboring edifice would hold a microbrewery and an iron works shop where clients of the Fred Jordan Mission would be employed.

Developer Onni Group hopes to bring a pair of residential high-rises to 1200 S. Flower St. The Vancouver, Canada-based developer is seeking entitlements for 31- and 40-story buildings that would deliver a total of 730 housing units and approximately 843 parking spaces to South Park. An existing five-story, 72,000-square-foot office building would remain, and a twostory warehouse would be razed. The project would have a landscaped podium deck and amenities would include a swimming pool and a dog run. The developer has not revealed the project’s budget or timeline.

820 S. OLIVE ST.

OLYMPIC AND OLIVE The Hanover Company, which is working on two residential projects in South Park, is now in the process of entitling a third building on Olympic Boulevard. The seven-story edifice would sit adjacent to Hanover’s Olympic and Hill development and would feature 263 apartments. The project would contain 14,500 square feet of street-level retail and commercial space.

The building would rise above two and a half stories of subterranean parking, which would have only 250 stalls — the company plans to cut down on expensive car parking requirements by utilizing the city’s bicycle parking incentives. As with the two other Hanover projects, architecture firm TCA is handling the design, which shows a multi-textured, articulated facade; most street-side units would have glass balconies. The developer has not revealed a timeline or a budget.

RESIDENTIAL rendering courtesy of Onni Group

The Vancouver, Canada-based developer Onni Group, which is currently constructing an apartment building at 888 S. Olive St., plans to erect a 50-story residential tower between Hill and Olive streets. The project would bring 589 housing units and 600 parking stalls to the site between South Park and the Financial District. An adjacent 6,584-square-foot single room occupancy hotel, on land owned by the developer, will remain, said project architect Chris Dikeakos. No budget or timeline for the project has been announced.

801 S. OLIVE ST. San Francisco-based developer Carmel Partners has completed the entitlement process for a 27-story residential tower at the corner of Eighth and Olive streets. It is now entering the preconstruction phase, and the company hopes to break ground in the first quarter of 2015, according to Senior Vice President of Development Dan Garibaldi. Construction would take about 30 months, putting the tower’s estimated completion in the third quarter of 2017. The high-rise would feature 363 units (studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments and four penthouses) and

Houston-based developer the Hanover Company broke ground on a 274-unit, seven-story apartment building in late April, and construction is slated to last 18-24 months, according to project consultant Jim Ries of Craig Lawson & Co. The complex at Grand Avenue and Olympic Boulevard will feature studio to two-bedroom apartments, as well as 12,000 square feet of street-level retail space with enough sidewalk room for outdoor dining.

The design from TCA Architects offers courtyards throughout the building, and the majority of the street-side apartments will have glass balconies. Hanover’s last project in Downtown was the luxury tower 717 Olympic.

1001 S. OLIVE ST. A groundbreaking for Miami-based developer Lennar Multifamily’s seven-story building at the southwest corner of Olive Street and Olympic Boulevard has been pushed back to mid-June, according to project representative Sheila Gonzaga. The apartment complex would have 201 units, including 12 two-story townhomes at street level, as well as 4,100 square feet of retail and commercial space. Amenities at the South Park structure would include a third-floor pool and spa deck overlooking Olive Street, a top-floor deck at the corner of Olympic and Olive, and a dog park on the east side of the property. The apartments would sit on three floors of parking (with one floor built underground) that would provide 228 spaces.

1027 WILSHIRE BLVD. The Central City Development Group has partnered with the Amidi Real Estate Group on a plan to build a 376-unit rental project at 1027 Wilshire Blvd. in City West. According to the Department of Building and Safety’s website, project officials have submitted a permit application to demolish a three-story structure on the site and clear the lot in preparation for construction. The development would rise across the street from 1010 Wilshire, a corporate housing complex that Amidi created.

The new building would also contain 6,500 square feet of retail and 5,000 square feet of office space. No timeline or budget have been revealed.

AVA LITTLE TOKYO The construction process is almost complete on the first phase Continued on page 8

8 Downtown News

May 19, 2014

Development

PROJECT UPDATES, 7

commercial space. No budget or timeline have been revealed for the project just north of Pershing Square.

MEGATOYS LOFTS

photo by Gary Leonard photo by Gary Leonard

of the Little Tokyo project being developed by Avalon Bay Communities, with 104 apartments above 13,500 square feet of street-level retail expected to be finished late this year. The second phase, with 176 apartments and townhouses, is scheduled to open in 2015. The development will include a pool, rooftop deck, landscaped courtyards, fitness accommodations and an amenity the website calls a “chill lounge.” The six-story complex, at 236 S. Los Angeles St., will offer studio and one- to threebedroom apartments ranging from 642-1,300 square feet. Lease applications are being accepted and, according to the website, studios will start at $1,933, one-bedrooms will begin at $2,046 and rents in two-bedroom units will go from $2,933. At avalittletokyo.com.

BROADWAY AND OLYMPIC APARTMENTS Historic Core developer Barry Shy expects to secure permits this month for three housing structures near Broadway and Olympic Boulevard. One would transform a 12-story building immediately south of the Ace Hotel into 150 apartments. Shy also bought the adjacent parking lot north of Broadway and Olympic. There, he plans to create 250 units in a building that will rise to about 13 stories along Broadway and to about 20 stories along Olympic Boulevard. Over at 916 S. Hill St., Shy plans to build another 250 units in a 20- or 21-story tower on a property that is currently a parking lot. Shy said he paid $30 million for the two Broadway properties and the Hill Street site.

DA VINCI The 526-apartment complex at 909 W. Temple St. is on track to open by the end of summer, said Geoff Palmer, head of project developer G.H. Palmer Associates. The complex will feature five stories of studio to two-bedroom apartments sitting above three levels of parking; also in the works are 8,200 square feet of street-level retail. Some two-floor, two-bedroom lofts are available. Amenities at Da Vinci, designed in the same Italian/Mediterranean style as many other G.H Palmer projects, include a fitness center, pool and barbeque areas. At thedavinciapts.com.

EIGHTH AND GRAND APARTMENTS Developer Carmel Partners continues work on a 700-unit apartment complex at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue, and is slightly ahead of schedule — the project is tracking toward a second- or third-quarter 2015 opening, according to Dan Garibaldi, Carmel’s senior vice president of development. The design features floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, a rooftop pool and central courtyards. The project will also feature a 42,000-square-foot Whole Foods market on the ground floor. The San Franciscobased developer is also getting ready to begin construction on a 27-story tower at Eighth and Olive streets.

EIGHTH AND HOPE APARTMENTS The finish line is in sight for Atlanta-based developer Wood Partners’ 22-story tower at 801 S. Hope St. The building topped out in February and is on track to open by the third quarter of this year, said Wood Partners’ Director of Development Brian Hansen. The tower, being designed by Atlanta’s Preston Partnership and built by Matt Construction, will feature 290 one- and two-bedroom apartments with floor-to-ceiling windows, balconies, a pool deck and a six-story parking podium (which has two subterranean floors). The tower also has 5,000 square feet

of street-level retail, and negotiations for tenants are underway, Hansen said.

FOREST CITY SOUTH PARK Developer Forest City has revealed plans to build two sevenstory apartment buildings on two plots near the historic Herald Examiner building. One of the projects, at 156 W. 11th St. (intersection of Eleventh and Hill streets), is adjacent to the rear of the Herald Examiner and would feature 177 studio- to two-bedroom units as well as 7,300 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

The second building, at 1201 S. Main St., would have 214 apartments and about 9,000 square feet of street-level retail space.

Both buildings are being designed by architecture firm Harley Ellis Devereaux. Forest City has a $130 million to $140 million budget for the project, and hopes to finish construction by early 2017, according to the developer. No groundbreaking date has been scheduled. The developer, which is also building Blossom Plaza in Chinatown, bought the two parcels in December from the Hearst Corporation, which still owns the Herald Examiner building. The land was previously entitled for 23- and 37-story residential towers.

FOURTH AND BROADWAY Veteran Downtown developer Izek Shomof hopes to break ground on a high-rise at Fourth Street and Broadway in 2015, said Hamid Behdad of the Central City Development Group, which is working with Shomof on the project. The 34-story tower would offer 450 residential units and the same number of parking stalls. The 450,000-square-foot development, being designed by Downtown-based architect HansonLA, would hold 7,000 square feet of retail space; early renderings show a mid-rise portion of the building with a curved segment fronting the southeast corner of Fourth and Broadway. The rectangular tower would rise on top of that. Although the building would be designed to condominium specifications, it would likely open as rentals, Behdad said.

G12 A groundbreaking has not been scheduled for a project being developed by Sonny Astani and private equity firm Wolff Company. However, they hope to begin construction by the end of the year on the complex bounded by Twelfth and Olive streets, Pico Boulevard and Grand Avenue, said Astani representative Ross Johnson. Astani partnered with parking lot giant L&R Group to purchase the three-acre site in 2012, with the goal of building a $245 million complex with 640 units. Last September, the South Park land was sold for $45 million to Arizona-based Wolff Company, with Astani staying on as a partner for the development. The project would rise in multiple phases, and the first round would bring a seven-story, 347-unit residential building. G12 would also have 42,000 square feet of retail. At astanienterprises.com.

MACFARLANE PARTNERS/PARK FIFTH Developer MacFarlane Partners has received the entitlements for a two-building residential complex on a site bordered by Olive, Fifth and Hill streets, according to company representative Julie Chase. The proposal, on the plot where the mega-project Park Fifth was once planned, calls for one 24-story tower with 300 units and about 11,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. The second building would be a seven-story, 315-unit structure with approximately 6,000 square feet of street-level

photo by Gary Leonard

The foundation slab was poured this month and underground parking is being prepared for a two-building, 320-unit apartment complex at 905 E. Second St., said Tom Wulf, senior vice president of Lowe Enterprises, which is developing the project as a joint venture with Megatoys and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management. The Arts District property was long the headquarters for Megatoys, a toy business run by the Woo family. Designs by Togawa Smith Martin Architects call for two five-story buildings between First and Second streets flanking Garey Street. The $60 million development, which is scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2015, will include 15,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space with outdoor dining. The apartments will be studio to two-bedroom units with an average size of 728 square feet. Residences will have open floor plans with features including gourmet kitchens, quartz countertops, and washers and dryers. The project will contain four courtyards, one dedicated to pets. Another courtyard will offer a pool, spa and sundeck with grilling areas, fire pits and an outdoor lounge.

NEW PERSHING APARTMENTS Construction on Skid Row Housing Trust’s 69-unit project at Fifth and Main streets is continuing, and the development is on track to be completed by October, said Dana Trujillo, housing development director for SRHT. The $16 million renovation of the former Pershing Hotel will create studio and one-bedroom residences ranging from 350-500 square feet. Though the project preserved much of the original building’s historic facade, the property is being expanded from about 37,000 square feet to almost 60,000 square feet. Amenities will include a landscaped courtyard and community room with a kitchen. The project, being designed by Killefer Flammang Architects, will also have ground-floor commercial space and administrative offices for social services and more. At skidrow.org.

OLYMPIC AND BROADWAY APARTMENTS The groundbreaking on developer Geoff Palmer’s two-building project on two parcels at Olympic Boulevard and Broadway has been delayed because a cell tower needs to be moved, Palmer said. The start of construction is now slated for the end of May. The design features a 10-story, 439-unit building on what is currently a parking lot, and a six-story, 247-apartment structure on a lot that now holds a small building that will be demolished.

Unlike many of Palmer’s other Downtown projects, the building will eschew Italian-inspired architecture in favor of a brick facade to better fit the surrounding neighborhood. The development is a partnership between Palmer and parking lot company L&R Group.

OLYMPIC AND HILL APARTMENTS Construction on developer Hanover Company’s seven-story apartment project continues, with two levels of subterranean parking and nearly all the wood framing complete. The 281unit complex at Olympic Boulevard and Hill Street — the first of three structures the developer plans to erect on adjacent blocks — will feature 16,000 square feet of street-level retail Continued on page 11

May 19, 2014

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Development

May 19, 2014

May 19, 2014

PROJECT UPDATES, 8 space, and the ground floor will have three live/work units. The design comes from architecture firm TCA, which is also working on the other Downtown Hanover projects. Construction is slated for completion by early 2015, according to the company. At tcaarchitects.com/olympic-and-hill.

Downtown News 11

Development SRO Housing bought the 1913 Historic Core edifice in 2010. The project cost, including acquisition, is $33 million.

SARES-REGIS LITTLE TOKYO

SINGER SEWING MACHINE BUILDING Construction is underway on the Singer Sewing Machine Building, and the edifice at 806 S. Broadway will be turned into seven apartments, including one penthouse, said Steve Needleman, who runs the Downtown property firm Anjac Fashion. Each unit will span 6,000 square feet, except the 10,000-square-foot penthouse; all units will have a balcony.

Residents will also have access to a rooftop terrace. Needleman had been exploring a boutique hotel for the site, but opted instead for a rental project. Needleman anticipates one groundfloor retail space of less than 1,000 square feet that would front Eighth Street. Work could be complete by 2016, he said.

ONNI TOWER Construction continues on a 32-story apartment tower at 888 S. Olive St. The project from Vancouver-based Onni Group broke ground a year ago, and construction crews have now poured the concrete for the 24th floor, according to an Onni Group official. The $100 million structure in the southern part of the Financial District will create 303 one-, two- and three-bedroom luxury apartments. Onni is targeting an opening in the first quarter of 2015. It is the firm’s first project in Downtown; Onni has plans for two additional Downtown high-rise developments.

The project does not yet have a name.

ONYX A 410-unit, two-building complex proposed for Pico Boulevard at Flower and Hope streets has received its entitlements, according to a spokesman for developer Jade Enterprises. The South Park effort, dubbed Onyx, would be the first residential project for the company that has extensive holdings in the Fashion District. The Onyx would rise on two side-by-side parking lots over 42,000 square feet of groundfloor retail and commercial space. Neither budget nor timeline have been revealed.

ROSSLYN HOTEL A renovation of the Rosslyn Hotel is approximately 65% complete, said Joseph Corcoran, director of planning and housing development for SRO Housing Corporation. The 264-unit affordable housing complex at Fifth and Main streets is slated to be finished by Halloween, he said. Currently work is proceeding on the second phase, with 165 units. The project involves the restoration of historic elements including the lobby and the facade.

Main streets. The 350-unit project in the Historic Core would be Shy’s sixth Downtown apartment building, but his first groundup effort. He hopes to start construction within six months. No budget or anticipated opening date has been revealed.

photo by Gary Leonard

The first set of residential units and retail in Little Tokyo’s sevenstory structure are slated to come online in January 2016, said Sares-Regis spokeswoman Zoe Solsby. The 240-apartment complex at 232 E. Second St. will include 51 studio, 112 one- and 77 two-bedroom apartments measuring up to 1,220 square feet.

Rents are projected to average $2,400 a month. The development will also hold some townhomes, more than 16,000 square feet of retail space and three levels of underground parking. At sares-regis.com.

SB OMEGA Veteran developer Barry Shy said he continues to seek entitlements for the SB Omega. Progress on the planning for the proposed 40-story tower at 601 S. Main St. slowed when he changed the parking concept, he said, moving it to Sixth and

SPRING STREET APARTMENTS/GARAGE The entitlement process for a proposed 40-story structure in the Historic Core began in earnest this month, said Greg Martin, vice president of developer Downtown Management. The company, which has turned three old Historic Core buildings into apartments, is planning to erect the high-rise on a current parking lot on Spring Street between the Spring Arcade Building and the Alexandria Hotel. The tower would have housing on top of six levels of parking and one floor of retail. The project does not yet have a budget or firm timeline. Martin said the entitlement process should take approximately one year.

THE CHELSEA According to the most recent information available, construction has not yet started on Nick Hadim’s renovation of the annex of the Alexandria Hotel. The $5 million project at 216 W. Fifth St. was initially slated to begin late last year. Hadim previously said he plans to turn the Historic Core edifice, which was built in 1910 and is sometimes referred to as the “ghost building,” into 28 apartments. The structure requires significant renovations, and Continued on page 12

12 Downtown News

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.

THE EMERSON

Hills Italian establishment Ago. The Emerson will be adjacent to the Broad museum’s public courtyard, which will have its own restaurant.

TITLE INSURANCE BUILDING Construction continues on a renovation of the 1928 Title Insurance Building, said Bill Lindborg of Borg Development.

The structure at 433 S. Spring St. is slated to be turned into 216 residential units, with 40,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor.

TOPAZ Jade Enterprises received entitlements in early April for a 159unit apartment complex in the Historic Core, according to a company spokesman. Jade intends to erect a seven-story building at 550 S. Main St. on what is now a parking lot. The project, dubbed Topaz, would stretch between Main and Los Angeles streets. The complex, just north of the Santa Fe Lofts at Sixth and Main streets, would include 23,000 square feet of retail and would offer studio and one- to three-bedroom units. The spokesman said the project is on track for a groundbreaking this year.

photo by Gary Leonard

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 building 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

VALENCIA 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.

MIXED USE BLOSSOM PLAZA Developer Forest City is continuing the excavation and shoring process on its $100 million Blossom Plaza at 900 N. Broadway, and expects to move into the next phase of construction in late

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summer, said Frank Frallicciardi, vice president of development at Forest City’s Los Angeles office. The five-story Chinatown project, which will have 237 studio- to three-bedroom apartments (with 53 reserved for low-income residents), is slated to open in spring 2016. Blossom Plaza will also feature 20,000 square feet of retail space (the tenant search has begun), a 17,000-square-foot public plaza and a walkway connecting the Metro Gold Line station to Broadway in the heart of Chinatown. The project broke ground last year, nearly a decade after plans were first proposed by a different developer. In April, work crews discovered portions of the Zanja Madre, the city’s historic water supply system.

It was removed and will be preserved.

CITY MARKET

rendering by HansonLA

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

May 19, 2014

Downtown News 13

Development

housing units, 210 hotel rooms, 225,000 square feet of retail and 295,000 square feet of creative office space. It could be 20 years before the entire project is complete. At citymarketla2.com.

FIGUEROA CENTRAL The 4.6-acre site immediately east of Staples Center was sold late last year for $200 million to Beijing-based Oceanwide Real Estate Group. The seller was New York-based Moinian Group, which for years planned to build a campus with 45- and 33-story towers, 220 hotel rooms and additional retail and commercial space. The South Park site has been entitled, though it is unknown what Oceanwide intends to erect there. The property is currently used as two surface parking lots.

HERALD EXAMINER BUILDING With developer Blossom Plaza announcing plans to build two apartment buildings near the Herald Examiner Building at 1111 S. Broadway, the owner of the 1913 structure, San Franciscobased Hearst Corporation, is preparing to begin work on its own property. Hearst hopes to start renovations of the Herald Examiner Building in spring 2015, according to Los Angeles Property Manager Doyle McDonald. The two-story building was formerly the headquarters of William Randolph Hearst’s L.A. newspaper.

The developer plans to convert the first floor (35,000 square feet) into retail space and the second floor (another 35,000 square feet) into creative offices. No timeline or budget has been revealed.

MACK URBAN PROJECT After buying up six acres in South Park last October for $80 million, developer Mack Urban in April announced plans to build two seven-story structures on a parcel bordered by Pico Boulevard and Olive and Hill streets. The design calls for 362 condominiums, including 23 townhome-style residences, with about 6,400 square feet of ground-floor retail and commercial space. The project is being designed by Downtown architecture firm AC Martin. No budget or timeline has been announced. The two buildings essentially compose half of Mack Urban’s plan to build an interconnected South Park project that features large

rendering by Harley Ellis Devereaux

amounts of public green space. Mack Urban officials in February announced plans for hotel and residential towers on a nearby site bounded by Grand Avenue and 12th and Olive streets. Mack Urban is partnering with AECOM Capital on the entire South Park development, which has an estimated total budget of $750 million.

work has begun; the start of actual construction is slated for June, according to Ryan Aubry, development manager with Greenland U.S. Shanghai-based developer Greenland Group completed its purchase of the site from IDS Real Estate Group at the end of January, reviving the mixed-use development after nearly 27 years of stagnation. The 6.33-acre Metropolis site is bounded by the 110 Freeway and Francisco, Eighth and Ninth streets, and the first phase of construction will create two towers joined by a large public plaza. One will be a 38-story building with about 300 units (it has not yet been revealed whether they will be rentals or for sale), while the other will be a 19-story hotel with 350 rooms. Both buildings are being designed by architecture firm Gensler. Construction on the first phase will take about 30 months, according to Gensler Managing Principal Robert Jernigan. Greenland and Gensler declined to discuss future phases, but a city memo indicates that three more towers are planned for residential and office purposes. The entire project is budgeted at $1 billion.

ONE SANTA FE

MEDALLION 2.0 Developer Saeed Farkhondehpour continues to pursue entitlements for a second phase of the Medallion project. The effort, north of the current Medallion buildings, would bring approximately 500 residential units (up from initial plans for 300 apartments) to three buildings facing Third and Main streets.

Farkhondehpour expects to spend another eight months securing permits and hopes to begin construction in the first quarter of 2015. In the meantime, he is working to bring several dining establishments to vacant retail space in the existing complex at Fourth and Main streets. Confirmed eateries include a new Uzbek cuisine restaurant dubbed Samarkand Cafe and Downtown outposts of Big Mista’s Barbecue and the Bread Bar bakery.

METROPOLIS Though a ceremonial groundbreaking on the mixed-use megaproject Metropolis took place on Feb. 14, only pre-construction

photo by Gary Leonard

Pre-leasing began May 2 for the hulking Arts District development One Santa Fe. Floor plans for the 438 apartments on the Continued on page 14

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PROJECT UPDATES, 13 eastern edge of the Arts District show units with carpet, hardwood or concrete floors.

Move-ins at the $160 million project across from the Southern California Institute of Architecture are expected to begin in early fall.

In addition to the apartments, the project will have 78,000 square of retail space, with 15,000 square feet dedicated to an as-yet unidentified grocery store. The mammoth project will offer a pair of six-story structures along with a 47,400-square-foot plaza facing Santa Fe Avenue and 802 underground parking spaces.

One Santa Fe’s development team is comprised of Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds Investments, McGregor Company, Polis Builders, Cowley Real Estate Partners and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group. Michael Maltzan is the architect. At osfla.com.

THE GRAND Developer Related Companies is working on refining schematic designs for The Grand with architect Frank Gehry, said Related California President Bill Witte. The designs are due to be submitted to city and county officials by the end of September. Witte said Related is also beginning a pre-leasing effort for the retail, food and beverage and entertainment space in the Grand Avenue project. The Grand had initially been proposed before the recession, but stalled during the economic downturn.

It was resuscitated last November, in part because Related teamed with SLS Hotel owner Sam Nazarian. The Downtown project, valued at approximately $650 million, will include a 300-room SLS Hotel that will contain 25-35 condominiums. There will also be a residential

tower that will be approximately 420 feet tall with 380-450 apartments. The other major component of the project is a podium with a stacked mix of shops and restaurants that would be situated around a central plaza that opens to Grand Avenue. Witte said the current goal is to begin construction in December 2015 and open by the end of 2018.

WILSHIRE GRAND REPLACEMENT Developer Korean Air orchestrated the world’s largest concrete pour last February, and since then construction workers have been focusing on the below-grade parking foundation at the northwest corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets. Crews have been installing grade beams, walls and underground utilities, said Sean Rossall, a spokesman for the $1 billion project that is being designed and managed

by AC Martin. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2016 and open the following year; once finished it will be the tallest building west of the Mississippi. The 73-story tower with a sloped roof will have 900 hotel rooms and 400,000 square feet of office space, along with retail and restaurant space.

At wilshiregrandcenter.com.

CIVIC AND NONPROFIT ARTS DISTRICT PARK The final community meeting has been held to discuss design possibilities for a $1.6 million, half-acre park at Fifth and Hewitt streets in the Arts District. Officials from the city Bureau of Engineering and the Department of Recreation and Parks expect to have a rendering in the next few months, said Miguel Vargas of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar’s office.

NAI Capital is Pleased to Congratulate Rod Delson

(805) 446-2400 tel (805) 446-2401 fax rdelson@naicapital.com CA BRE Lic. #00709653

Money for the park, which will replace a parking lot south of Urth Caffe, has been secured through Quimby fees, which developers pay for park creation. Current designs suggest six- to eight-foot fences with an eight-foot wall for mural art, outdoor eating areas and plaza space, a playground, shade trees around the perimeter, concrete seating, and security and nighttime lighting.

BROADWAY REVITALIZATION The city is continuing work on the Broadway Streetscape Master Plan, a two-phase, multiyear project to revitalize Broadway between First and 11th streets. Work in April on the $1.5 million first phase, also referred to as the “dress rehearsal,” included repaving crosswalks and other pedestrian areas. The dress rehearsal involves using temporary and semi-permanent materials — such as planters, flexible poles and street paint — to reduce Broadway’s six driving lanes to three (two northbound, one southbound), “extend” the sidewalk and create protected loading and parking zones. The dress rehearsal is slated for completion by mid-August, according to city officials. Eventually, the city will make the changes permanent in phase two, but that will happen on a block-by-block basis as funding is secured (nearly $5 million has been raised thus far, enough to complete two blocks). The streetscape plan is part of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway initiative. At bringingbackbroadway.com.

BUDOKAN OF LOS ANGELES

rendering courtesy of Little Tokyo Service Center

The fundraising effort continues for the Little Tokyo Service Center’s proposed $22 million sports and activities center, said Scott Ito, the project manager. Groundbreaking is expected on the long-anticipated development in 2016, with completion approximately 12-14 months later. The project would create a 40,000-squarefoot facility on Los Angeles between Second and Third streets with a two-court gymnasium, a mezzanine with an outdoor terrace, community space and a rooftop park. The Budokan would be used for an array of sports, athletic tournaments, special events and a variety of community programming. At budokanoflosangeles.com.

Rod Delson represented the Buyer, Ben Neman, and the Seller, Los Angeles Car Wash/Robert Bush Family, in the sale of the 36,000 sq. ft. property at 811 W. Olympic Blvd. A high rise hotel and condominium tower will be developed on the site which is located across from L.A. Live in the heart of downtown Los Angeles.

Rod Delson Senior Vice President

May 19, 2014

Development

NAI Capital Westlake Village

2555 Townsgate Road Suite 320 Westlake Village, CA 91361 naicapital.com

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE Work continues on the $400 million Federal Courthouse, which will rise the southwest corner of First Street and Broadway in the Civic Center. Crews broke ground last August and began the excavation process this year. The approximately 600,000-square-foot building, which is scheduled to open in 2016, will have 24 courtrooms and 32 judges’ chambers, as well as rooms for district judges, U.S. Marshals and other federal services. The design from architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill depicts the courthouse as a large cube, with a serrated glass window facade, “floating” on a stone base. The jagged windows will help bring

light into the building, yet cut solar heat gain by nearly 50%, according to SOM. FIGUEROA CORRIDOR BIKEWAY

courtesy of My Figueroa

A plan that would trim vehicular lanes along the Figueroa Corridor to make room for cyclists and pedestrians is closer to reality, as stakeholders who in the past expressed concern about losing business have relaxed their opposition. The $20 million project would remake a three-mile section of Figueroa Street between the Financial District and Exposition Park into a more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly corridor.

Business owners have expressed concern that traffic tie-ups and overall driving hassles, in part due to protected bike lanes on each side of the street, will lead to a drop in revenue.

However, the Shammas Group, which owns eight auto dealerships on Figueroa, recently withdrew a formal protest to the project after discussions on several key issues, among them keeping the entrance and the exit to all dealerships free from congestion. My Figueroa is funded by state Prop 1C bond money, and the deadline to complete construction is Dec. 31, 2014. The city is seeking an extension. At myfigueroa.com.

FIRST AND BROADWAY PARK Demolition began in April and a groundbreaking was held May 15 for a park at First Street and Broadway; demolition is expected to last five months. The project recently secured $4.3 million in Quimby fees, which are charged to developers for the creation of green space. The park, which will rise on the site of a former state office building that was razed after the 1971 Sylmar earthquake, is slated to cost $10 million.

The city Department of Recreation and Parks anticipates that the remaining $5.7 million will come from a combination of future Quimby fees and department contributions. The city last year acquired the lot across from City Hall that is known mostly for being covered by graffiti. The park is expected to complement Grand Park, which lies directly to the north.

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL MEDICAL PAVILION Construction continues and the $80 million Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Pavilion is expected to open early in the second quarter of 2015, according to hospital spokeswoman Katrina Bada. A topping-out of the seven-story medical office building at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street in City West took place in January. The 190,000-square-foot edifice, being designed by Ware Malcolmb, will hold the Frank R. Seaver Ambulatory Surgery Center, with eight operating suites. Additionally, the

May 19, 2014

Downtown News 15

Development

photo by Gary Leonard

project has a pharmacy, outpatient clinics and physician offices including the hospital’s Surgical Specialties Clinic, which includes hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery, said Bada. The builder is Millie Severson.

HALL OF JUSTICE With a 1,000-stall underground parking garage having been completed this year, construction crews are now focusing on interior and facade improvements for the 1925 Hall of Justice at 211 W. Temple St. The $234 million development is on track for completion in August, said project representative Sean Rossall.

The renovated Civic Center building will house the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office when it opens, and the first floor will feature an area displaying some of the structure’s historic elements, including a cellblock that once held Charles Manson. The building was shut down after it sustained significant damage in the 1994 Northridge Earthquake.

LOS ANGELES RIVER There continues to be a delay with the Army Corps of Engineers’ decision on which revitalization plan to pursue for the Los Angeles River. The Corps initially proposed a $450 million upgrade known as Alternative 13, which would open access and restore habitats along 11 miles of the river. However, city officials, including Mayor Eric Garcetti, have lobbied for an approximately $1 billion effort known as Alternative 20, which would revive the waterway on a much larger scale and connect the river to Los Angeles State Historic Park. In early April, Garcetti sent a letter to the Army Corps expressing his support of Alternative 20 and his willingness to have the city take on 50% of the project cost, according to city officials. In the meantime, other projects to expand or restore parks along the river continue, including the Taylor Yard Bridge project in Elysian Valley and the Albion Riverside Park in Lincoln Heights. At lariver.org.

LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK The 34-acre park on the edge of Chinatown closed in April for a year-long renovation. The approximately $20 million effort spearheaded by the California State Parks Department will add new permanent facilities such as a welcome center, bathrooms and parking lots. In addition, the park will be reshaped with several distinct landscape features, including large meadows, a children’s play area, a citrus-tree lined promenade and a twoacre restored wetlands area. State Parks considered shutting down segments of the park in phases, but decided to close for a full year to save costs. At lashp.wordpress.com.

LOS ANGELES STREETCAR The environmental review process for the Los Angeles Streetcar continues, led by recently hired project manager URS Corporation. The project’s environmental impact report is slated for completion by late spring, according to the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. Meanwhile, the proposed project, which would connect the Civic Center and L.A. Live with a main route on Broadway, continues to seek funding. In March, the Continued on page 16

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16 Downtown News

May 19, 2014

Development

PROJECT UPDATES, 15

ed in 2009 when the LAPD moved into the $400 million Police Administration Building.

streetcar was accepted into the project development stage of the Federal Transit Administration’s Small Starts grant program, with the aim of winning a $75 million grant by summer 2016, according to FTA documents. In 2012, residents along the streetcar’s proposed route voted to tax area property owners up to $85 million for the project. Streetcar officials say the project is likely to cost up to $165 million, excluding the price of underground utility relocations; a city analysis found that utility work could push the cost to between $232.3 million and $327.8 million. The streetcar team is currently surveying the cost of utility relocation and expects to have a firm figure by the summer. At streetcar.la.

MERCED THEATRE The City Council in April approved an update to the renovation plan for the historic Merced Theatre. Last year, the city greenlighted a proposal to house the city’s Channel 35 studio, which airs all council meetings and other programs related to city government, in the structure near the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The additional work involves reactivating the Masonic Hall as well. The $23 million project will also turn the first floor of the theater into a live studio space for use in public forums or for city-sponsored cultural activities. Funding for the renovation, which includes seismic retrofitting and the installation of an elevator, comes from fees paid by cable providers for the support of public-access television. The project is expected to take about three years.

METRO BUS FACILITY

REGIONAL CONNECTOR Pre-construction work on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s $1.37 billion Regional Connector continues, resulting in occasional street closures in Downtown. The project will connect multiple light rail lines in Downtown to streamline travel throughout the region, and it will also create three new stations, at First Street and Central Avenue; Second Street and Broadway and Second and Hope streets. Most of the pre-construction work involves moving utilities. In mid-April, Metro began the relocation of an AT&T line on First Street, between Alameda Street and Central Avenue; that work is slated to continue through the end of June. Major construction will involve underground tunneling from the Financial District to Little Tokyo via Second Street, as well as digging along Flower Street to Wilshire Boulevard. Concerns about the impact on area businesses, meanwhile, have led the operators of Japanese Village Plaza, Thomas Properties Group and the Westin Bonaventure Hotel to mount a legal challenge to the construction plan. The Regional Connector is slated to finish in 2019. The project recently secured $670 million from the Federal Transit Administration. At metro.net/projects/connector.

SIXTH STREET VIADUCT REPLACEMENT Although demolition and construction of the 3,500-foot-long replacement for the Sixth Street Viaduct is not slated to begin until 2015, representatives from the city Department of Cultural Affairs have begun looking for interactive artwork to help decorate the project that will connect the Arts District and Boyle Heights. The bridge, built in 1932, has been weakened by an internal chemical condition called Alkali Silica Reaction. That led to the replacement effort, and in 2012 the city chose the Downtown office of HNTB Inc. to serve as the lead designer on the $401 million project. Also on the team are architect Michael Maltzan, Hargreaves Associates and AC Martin. The project will integrate bicycle and pedestrian access, open space and direct connections to the Los Angeles River. At sixthstreetviaductreplacement.org.

Street and Cesar Chavez sides of the historic building. The long-awaited project is expected to open in the second half of the year, and possibly as soon as this summer. The Italian Hall, a $4.5 million effort at 125 Paseo de la Plaza near Olvera Street, will display rare photos, documents, maps and artifacts illustrating the legacy, contributions and influences of Italian Americans in the region. Some of the exhibits will be interactive. At italianhall.org.

LA PLAZA HISTORIC WALK The LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes Foundation, which operates a museum and cultural center at 501 N. Main St. near the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, is planning to activate and develop two surface parking lots adjacent to LA Plaza. The parcels total 3.7 acres, and LA Plaza officials have said the goal is to re-create a historic trail from Union Station to Fort Moore, with a path featuring programming, tourist attractions, retail and more. No timeline or budget has been revealed.

REGENT THEATRE Workers are moving forward on renovations of the interior of the Regent Theatre at 448 S. Main St., said Beth Holden, a principal at the project’s architecture firm New Theme. The Historic Core building will become a concert venue, and a pizzeria will also open in the space. The project is led by Mitchell Frank, who owns concert promotion company Spaceland Productions. The hope, said Holden, is for the project to open by June.

THE BROAD

CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT

photo by Gary Leonard

The completion of the $104 million Division 13 Bus Maintenance and Operations Facility was delayed about three months in the wake of a March construction accident.

A deck-forming failure in the project at the northeast corner of Vignes Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue resulted in a collapse, and though no one was injured, the opening has been pushed back to spring 2015, according to a representative of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The accident site is being repaired, and crews are working on pouring the decks for the third level of the project; a topping out is expected in the next two months. The project is intended to hold 200 buses and will contain a multi-level garage, a fueling depot and areas for washing vehicles. The facility is being designed to meet Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards and will have, among other elements, a green roof, solar panels and a storm water reclamation system with an underground 275,000-gallon retention tank. The project will also create 397 parking spaces for District 13 employees.

At metro.net.

PARKER CENTER REPLACEMENT With City Council approval, Parker Center, the former headquarters of the Los Angeles Police Department, will be demolished and replaced by a new 750,000-square-foot building with space for parking, said Tonya Durrell, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Public Works. The decision to demolish the 1955 structure came after the city conducted an Environmental Impact Report and considered several alternatives, including reusing all or part of the 59-year-old Civic Center building. No budget or timeline for a replacement of Parker Center has been revealed. The property that fronts Los Angeles Street was vacat-

DELIJANI FAMILY THEATERS Renovation work is slowly continuing on four historic Broadway theaters — the Los Angeles (615 S. Broadway), Palace (630 S. Broadway), State (703 S. Broadway) and Tower (802 S. Broadway) — owned by the Delijani family. The land-use approvals and alcohol permits were secured early this year, and plans for the theaters call for almost a dozen total bars, lounges and restaurants, according to project consultant Kate Bartolo. The Los Angeles and Palace theaters have been the priority thus far, though work on the State and Tower should pick up later this year, she said. The family has not revealed timelines for the construction work or budget figures.

FARMERS FIELD Although an agreement between the city and Anschutz Entertainment Group to build Farmers Field on a 15-acre plot next to the Convention Center expires in October, the company continues to work to make the site the home for professional football in Los Angeles. The city could agree to extend the deadline. AEG officials say the project is shovel-ready, though they will not begin construction until an agreement is signed with a team and the NFL. The $1.4 billion project would create a 68,000-seat stadium where the Convention Center’s West Hall now stands. A replacement for the lost building, dubbed the Pico Hall and being designed by the firm Populous, would rise contiguous to the current Convention Center. Architecture firm Gensler is handling designs of the stadium that would feature a “deployable,” or removable roof. The project would include a $10 million expansion of the Blue Line’s Pico Station as part of AEG’s effort to have 25% of game attendees utilize public transit.

As the deadline approaches, the city has also begun looking at ways to modernize the Convention Center even without Farmers Field. At farmersfield.com.

ITALIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM The restoration of the windows on the exterior of the Italian American Museum is nearly complete, said Executive Director Marianna Gatto. Next up is the façade restoration on the Main

photo by Gary Leonard

By June, the steel framing of the oculus, the dimple indentation on the Grand Avenue side of Eli Broad’s $140 million art museum, is expected to be installed, said Karen Denne, chief communications officer for The Broad. The developers are still awaiting installation of the veil, the lattice-like exterior of the project. The museum, being designed by the New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, will rise directly south of Walt Disney Concert Hall, on top of a three-level, 370-car garage. The 120,000-square-foot museum will house Broad’s 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. The project will also include a lecture hall that seats 200 people, and there will be a large public courtyard with oldgrowth olive trees. An opening is expected sometime in 2015.

Admission will be free. At thebroad.com.

TRACTION AVENUE BREWPUB Paperwork is still being secured for an Arts District bar, said Eddie Navarrette, chief consultant for F.E. Design & Consulting, which is representing the 258-seat project from Downtown nightlife proprietor Cedd Moses. More than half of the 17,320-square-foot business, which will occupy the former Crazy Gideon’s electronics store, would be dedicated to manufacturing and kitchen and beer service, Navarrette said. Moses’ license would also allow 5,000 barrels of beer to be sold off-site annually. The brewpub would offer 27 skeeball lanes and two pingpong tables.

BUSINESS 353 S. BROADWAY Construction is underway on a $7.5 million renovation of the building at 353 S. Broadway, with completion expected in March 2015, said David Gray of David Gray Architects, who is both the developer and the designer. The building’s historic facade was restored as part of the renovation, and the project will turn the structure into creative office space, with ground-floor retail or

May 19, 2014

Downtown News 17

Development

restaurant space. An approximately 12-foot tall ficus tree continues to stick out of the fifth floor of the building. The tree will be removed.

ALAMEDA SQUARE Evoq Properties continues to pursue tenants for its huge, fourbuilding complex at 777 S. Alameda St., though no new leases have been inked. The most recent addition to Alameda Square was online retailer GoJane last December; fashion brands Ella Moss and Splendid joined last summer. Two buildings at the complex are occupied by clothing manufacturer and retailer American Apparel. The third building, which was renovated last year, is partly full and the fourth building requires upgrades, company CEO Martin Caverly said earlier this year. The ownership of the property may change in the future, as Evoq in February announced that the company’s board of directors is pursuing a sale of the company or a partnership with other investors.

tel. In the past the proposed hotel was opposed by hotel workers union Unite Here Local 11.

CLEANTECH MANUFACTURING CENTER

serving up comfort food dishes. Other options will include a tiki bar and steakhouse-style eatery on the fourth floor, as well as a butcher, a specialty grocery and a bakery, according to the project’s website. Meieran acquired the building in 2010, but the project has seen both substantial delays and a swelling budget.

The developer is now spending about $7.5 million on the renovation. At cliftonscafeteria.com.

DESMOND BUILDING Developer Lincoln Property Company is renovating the 1917 Desmond Building at Eleventh and Hope streets, said Lincoln Vice President Rob Kane. The project will provide luxury creative office and retail space, and a sixth floor will be added to the South Park building. The developer, which has hired architect Skidmore, Owings and Merrill to handle designs, is spending about $9 million on the revitalization the property. Construction is expected to be complete in early 2015. At thedesmondla.com.

CASE HOTEL Developers Channing Henry, Frank Stork and the Kor Group hope to break ground late this year on a renovation of the Case Hotel, said Henry. They plan to do a full historic rehab of the 1924 edifice at 1106 S. Broadway, and aim to turn the 107,000-square-foot building into a four-star boutique hotel with 151 rooms. Downtown architecture firm Omgivning is handling the designs, and Henry said they hope to open in the first half of 2016. The team acquired the 13-story property across the street from the Herald Examiner Building last year for $13.5 million. Though currently empty, the Case Hotel recently housed facilities for the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the long-anticipated Cleantech Manufacturing Center took place on April 10. The 370,000-squarefoot industrial campus is being developed by Trammell Crow and Principal Real Estate Investors. Construction crews are in the process of creating the wall panels, having poured all the floor slabs at the development at 2455 E. Washington Blvd., said Trammell Crow Development Manager Philip Tsui. The project, on a 20-acre site, will consist of three large buildings. The developers are seeking clean technology and other tenants in the market for state-of-theart industrial and manufacturing space. At ctmc.info.

EMBASSY HOTEL AND TRINITY AUDITORIUM According to the most recent information available, crews have begun work to turn the vacant Embassy Hotel and Trinity Auditorium at 849 S. Grand Ave. into a 183-room hotel. The plywood boards that were covering up the structure’s doors and windows were taken down in March, and online photos of the interior show that some guest rooms have been renovated and furnished. New York-based building owner Chetrit Group had also been planning to turn the approximately 12,000-square-foot auditorium into an entertainment venue, as well as build a 2,000-square-foot restaurant on the ground floor, a 7,600-square-foot outdoor garden, a lobby bar and a lounge.

Chetrit Group did not respond to multiple calls for comment.

CLARK HOTEL The doors to the Clark Hotel at 426 Hill St. remain shuttered, but those who peer through the street-level gates can see that ample work has been done on the ground floor. New York-based building owner Chetrit Group did not respond to multiple calls for comment, but plans were previously disclosed to turn the building just northeast of Pershing Square into a 347-room ho-

CLIFTON’S RENOVATION The restoration of the 1935 Clifton’s Cafeteria, at 648 S. Broadway, is on track for completion by the end of August, said property owner Andrew Meieran. The long-awaited renovation of the fourstory building includes several eating and drinking establishments, as well as a new name: Clifton’s Cabinet of Curiosities. The first two floors will be a restored version of the classic cafeteria,

LA KRETZ INNOVATION CAMPUS The La Kretz Innovation Campus is on track to open in the second quarter of 2015, said Fred Walti, executive director of the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator. The campus, a 30,000-squarefoot clean technology project and business incubator at 525 S. Hewitt St. in the Arts District, broke ground last summer.

Continued on page 18

rendering courtesy Trammell Crow

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May 19, 2014

Development

PROJECT UPDATES, 17

foot complex offers lofts ranging from 650-2,000 square feet and townhomes that are 1,100-1,300 square feet. The most recently released units were priced at $525,000-$949,000. Interior elements include steel staircases with wood steps and dual-pane windows. The project also features exposed brick, heavy timber beams and other historic elements. At barkerblock.com.

courtesy The Ratkovich Company photo by Gary Leonard

The DWP paid $11.1 million for the building, which will offer a workforce training component. Additionally, the DWP’s Energy Efficiency Group is slated to house its testing and demonstration labs on site. At laincubator.com.

MARRIOTT HOTELS TOWER The 23-story Marriott Tower adjacent to L.A. Live is on time and on budget, and guests will begin checking in to the property’s two hotels in June, with a July 1 grand opening celebration, according to a project representative. The $172 million development from Seattle-based American Life Inc. and Portland’s Williams/Dame & Associates will hold a 174-room Courtyard

by Marriott and a 218-room Residence Inn in a single high-rise at 901 W. Olympic Blvd. The project, designed by Portland’s GBD Architects and constructed by SODO Builders, includes a rooftop pool and deck, a conference room, a fitness center, a 3,600-square-foot meeting room and a restaurant. At courtyardlalive.com and residenceinnlalive.com.

PICO AND FIGUEROA HOTEL The city continues to evaluate what steps to take in order to increase the supply of hotel rooms in the area around the Convention Center, said Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry Miller.

Last fall, the city asked prospective developers to offer bids for a 19,000-square-foot city-owned parcel at Pico Boulevard and Figueroa Street across from the Convention Center. However, no satisfactory bids were received. Though initial plans had called for a four-star or higher quality hotel, Miller said that provision is no longer required. The ultimate goal remains to open a hotel on the site.

RENAISSANCE HOTEL Portland-based developer Williams/Dame & Associates continues to work with the investment group Ren L.A. Limited Partnership in the effort to determine the financial feasibility of building a 450-room Renaissance Hotel at the northeast corner of Olympic Boulevard and Georgia Street. The hotel would also provide 28,000 square feet of meeting space. Williams/Dame acquired the 60,000-square-foot parcel near L.A. Live from Anschutz Entertainment Group. Although the project when first announced was estimated at $200 million, no budget or timeline has been established. Williams/Dame is also developing the nearby $172 million Marriott Tower that will bring 392 Courtyard

by Marriott and Residence Inn rooms to Downtown.

SPARKLE FACTORY Jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino and her husband and business partner Alfonso Campos have begun preparations for opening a Tarina Tarantino jewelry and accessories store on the second floor of the 1914 building at 908 S. Broadway. The couple has been modernizing the structure, now known as the Sparkle Factory. In March, an outpost of upscale New York City boutique Oak opened on the ground floor of the building across the street from the Ace Hotel. Campos said they are also in negotiations with a bar tenant for the basement. Kennedy Wilson, the brokerage firm representing the Sparkle Factory, is showing the upper floors to companies looking for design and retail space.

THE BLOC The former Macy’s Plaza has been renamed The Bloc and is in the

midst of a $160 million transformation. Longtime Downtown developer Wayne Ratkovich last year acquired the Financial District complex, bounded by Seventh, Eighth, Hope and Flower streets, from Jamison Properties. Initial construction has begun, and the team is in the early stage of demolition, said a project spokesperson. The Bloc holds a 700,000-square-foot office tower, a 485room Sheraton hotel — which is receiving a $40 million renovation to bring it up to four-star status — and a 400,000-squarefoot shopping area anchored by a 240,000-square-foot Macy’s.

Plans call for creating an open-air complex on the street level, with the towering, unfriendly brick walls being replaced by windows and dining terraces. Architecture firm Johnson Fain was tapped to help with the development of the initial concept phase, and the team now also includes: Studio 111, which serves as the executive architect and the retail, common area and exterior designer; Rapt Studio, which is the designer of the office building; and McCartan, which is the interior designer of the hotel. The development is slated to open by the end of 2015.

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LORENZO Construction is complete on the second phase of developer G.H. Palmer Associates’ massive $300 million residential project near the University of Southern California. Lease signings for the second phase began earlier this year, said company head Geoff Palmer. The combined 950-apartment complex, which sits on a 9.4-acre parcel on Adams Boulevard and Flower Street, is geared toward USC students and features a bevy of amenities including four pools, two basketball courts, barbecue areas and a sand volleyball court. As with several other Palmer properties in Downtown, the project’s design is Italian/Mediterranean-themed, and floor plans have names such as Botticelli and Michelangelo.

Units offer up to six beds per apartment, with some leases offered for individual beds. According to the project’s website, the starting rent per bed is $879 per month. At thelorenzo.com.

PACMUTUAL CAMPUS A new courtyard on the Sixth Street side of the PacMutual campus opened in the spring, and the restaurant Le Pain Quotidien is now serving. It is the latest addition to the renovation of the century-old, three-building complex at 523 W. Sixth St. The Financial District landmark, purchased by Nelson and Christopher Rising’s Rising Realty Partners for $60 million in 2012, is now 90% leased; the property owner also recently secured LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification for the campus. Future additions include the restaurant Tender Greens, slated to open in the Sixth Street courtyard this summer, and an 80-foot-high “green” wall on Olive Street, which is scheduled to debut in September. Chinatownbased firm Johnson Fain is overseeing the architectural and interior improvements on the campus that is anchored by a 12-story Beaux Arts edifice.

THE ELYSIAN

AVANT

photo by Gary Leonard

Move-ins began this month at the $154 million Avant, said project spokesman Jeff Wagner. The 443 apartments at 1360 S. Figueroa St., developed by Century West Partners, are studio, one- and two-bedroom units; there are also some live-work residences. The South Park complex near L.A. Live includes 11,000 square feet of retail space, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, a dog run and four 750-square-foot roof decks with fireplaces and barbecues. Unit amenities include white quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and USB charging ports. Rents start at $1,780 for a 592-square-foot studio. At avantsouthpark.com.

BARKER BLOCK The Barker Block, the first new condominium complex in Downtown in several years, opened in March, and the initial batch of 15 units, listed at up to $735,000, sold out in a week.

The development at 527 Molino St. in the Arts District comes from CityView and Blackstone (Kor Group, which developed the 241-condominium first phase in 2006, helped this time around with marketing). The $25 million second phase created 68 lofts and townhomes in the nearly century-old building that originally housed the Barker Furniture Company. The 72,451-square-

photo by Gary Leonard

The development firm Linear City finished the transformation of the former headquarters of the Metropolitan Water District and move-ins began this month at the eight-story apartment complex at 1115 Sunset Blvd. The Elysian, with a name taken from the Elysian Heights neighborhood, features 96 apartments ranging from 700-1,800 square feet. Linear City, which previously developed the Arts District’s Biscuit Company and Toy Factory lofts, transformed the 1973 building originally designed

by William Pereira; the structure near Dodger Stadium had been empty for the last 20 years. The development will include a cafe with 2,000 square feet of indoor space and a 1,000-square-foot outdoor patio. There will also be a fitness center and a fire pit. At theelysian.la.

May 19, 2014

Downtown News 19

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

photo by Gary Leonard

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f you live, work or play in Downtown, chances are you have probably met Bill Cooper or heard his name.

Cooper has specialized in lofts since his first loft sale in 2001. He moved to Downtown in 2002 to establish his real estate business, long before most people would even consider visiting the area. Cooper’s vision to help create a successful, thriving residential com-

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS munity in Downtown led him to launch The Loft Expert! Group. With years of experience from Keller Williams Realty, Coldwell Banker Residential Realty and Loftway Homes and Lofts, Cooper has enjoyed helping many Downtowners find their niche in the everchanging environment they now call home.

Cooper’s passion for Downtown plays out in his involvement with the development of Downtown’s real estate as well as its communities. He teamed up early on with local movers and shakers, forging longterm relationships with the best in the community. He helped found, organize and currently leads the Downtown Real Estate Association as its president. Cooper is also passionate about preserving and creating green space in Downtown and has worked on several park projects. He currently serves as treasurer of the Pershing Square Park Advisory Board.

At The Loft Expert! Group, Cooper has endeavored to learn everything he can about Downtown’s lofts and condo residences, and shares his insights with his clients, whether they are purchasing or selling, firsttime buying or looking for a second home. His passion for service, knowledge of the marketplace, and

understanding of what it takes to complete any transaction with the least amount of problems is matchless in Downtown.

Here are just a few things his clients have written about their experiences with Cooper this past year: n “I highly recommend Bill. He knows the area, he’s responsive and a true professional.” n “We are so happy. And you have done an amazing job, so thank you Bill. We couldn’t have done it without your expertise.” n “Bill is extremely knowledgeable about Downtown L.A. and was always professional, available and timely.

Because of our inexperience in the L.A. market, Bill was invaluable in all aspects of the process: from the offer, to the inspection, to securing the loan on time and arranging move in. We truly believe Bill has helped us find the perfect spot for our lives in L.A.” For more information call (213) 598-7555 or visit TheLoftExpertGroup.com.

Receive our on-time closing guarantee on purchase transactions—we will close in as little as 25 days or your first payment is on us1 Benefit from 150 years of lending experience in California Enjoy personal, professional service Little Tokyo Office Paul Abe NMLS ID #765511 VP & Branch Manager 213�927�5526

Cultural Connection The Towers Deliver a Rich Downtown Experience

GUARANTEED ON�TIME CLOSING.

Los Angeles Main Office Robin Vahoviak NMLS ID #765375 VP & Branch Manager 213�236�7711

May 19, 2014

Downtown Residential

California Mart Office Yus Samudro NMLS ID #723566 VP & Branch Manager 213�312�4681

Loans subject to credit and collateral approval. Financing available for collateral located in CA, OR, or WA. Restrictions apply. Terms and conditions subject to change.

1 On-time closing guarantee available only on completed purchase money loan applications received by Union Bank by 8/31/2014, on loan amounts up to the lesser of $4 million or the maximum allowed for the loan program selected. Interest rate must be locked at least 10 business days prior to the set closing date. Specific terms and conditions apply. Visit unionbank.com/closingterms to obtain a copy.

©2014 Union Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Visit us at unionbank.com

D

owntown Los Angeles: Here, the living experience goes unmatched anywhere in the West. It’s a lifestyle richly embellished with art, music and the cultural events that make headlines. Downtown breeds success, housing prominent firms in impressive architectural sculptures com-

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS posed of glass, steel and stone. Yet historical elements of yesterday also remain — artifacts of this city’s rich past.

From the faithful climb of the renowned cars of Angels Flight to the fantastic urban spectacle of California Plaza, daily life in the Towers’ neighborhood remains unsurpassed.

Extraordinary fountains, garden alcove retreats, gourmet dining and first-run entertainment provide the perfect setting for a lifetime of enjoyment.

Downtown holds all the essentials to fulfill the most demanding lifestyles.

Continued on page 21

May 19, 2014

ThE TOwERS, 20 During the day, you are moments from the business district, minimizing or even eliminating a commute. evenings become immersed in a flood of nightlife, movies and culture beneath the brilliant lights of the city. Day and night, the towers place residents among all the excitement Downtown offers.

Promenade towers greets guests via a two-story lobby embellished with a tranquil indoor waterscape. Four impressive towers embrace a breathtaking pool, spa and fitness center in an oasis of flowing fountains and immaculate landscaping — a true departure from the ordinary.

Promenade towers’ individual design includes apartments with balconies, contemporary solariums and angular rooms as exciting as the property’s unique exterior styling.

Grand tower’s sensuous granite exterior distinguishes this landmark development as the address that reflects success. the 24-hour manned lobby provides impressive passage to spacious apartment homes with balconies and a rooftop pool, spa and fitness center with beautiful mountain and city views. adjacent to the renowned California Plaza, entertainment can be found virtually at your doorstep.

Museum tower neighbors the beautiful Museum of Contemporary art. this fine collection of apartment homes features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. exhibit

Downtown ResiDential

your most precious belongings amidst the outstanding backdrop of the city skyline. a controlled access lobby, pool, spa and fitness center provide the upscale amenities Downtown residents desire.

Double Assurance of Quality: For more than 50 years, shapell industries and Goldrich & Kest industries have established themselves among america’s most successful and most honored residential developers. today, their nationwide reputation for providing exceptional housing is earned through a consistent dedication to quality craftsmanship and design. as a result, many of their joint ventures have been cited as model developments.

Marina Park in san Diego, town square in santa ana and the Promenade and Promenade west in the Bunker Hill district of los angeles have all achieved unparalleled success in these prominent urban centers. together, they bring to the towers apartments a vast combination of experience, talent and integrity. each has proven its dedication for a total of more than 90 years. it is that strong combination of experience, innovation and commitment to quality that makes shapell industries and Goldrich & Kest industries a team you can rely on for excellence.

For leasing information at the Promenade Towers, 123 S. Figueroa St., call (213) 6173777. For leasing information at the Grand Tower, 255 S. Grand Ave., call (213) 229-9777.

For leasing information at the Museum Tower, 225 S. Olive St., call (213) 626-1500, or visit TowersApartmentsLA.com.

Downtown News 21

Creating Solutions to Homelessness Union Rescue Mission Calls on Angelenos to Help in a Time of Crisis

U

nion Rescue Mission (URM) was founded in 1891 off the back of a wagon. now, 123 years later, URM has evolved into a five-story, 225,000-square-foot facility in Downtown los angeles as well as a 77-acre campus

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS in the foothills of sylmar, California, where more than 800 people find shelter and rest every night from the desperation of homelessness.

But URM isn’t just about three warm meals and a roof for the night — it is about transformation. through the extensive programs and services offered, guests are able to find refuge, overcome addiction, reunite with their families, find jobs and secure housing. lives are being changed and hope is being restored. this year URM will open a thrift store to add an extra revenue stream, but more importantly, to provide jobs for the men and women who complete programs and are transitioning out of homelessness. this innovative development is just one of many ways that URM creates solutions to solve the complex issues of homelessness every day URM serves more than 2,300 meals.

But sadly, this is a time of crisis. the recent drought has caused food prices to skyrocket and food donations to drop drastically. Pantries are literally empty at times, and URM runs the risk of turning away those they serve because they simply don’t have the resources.

But you can help today. if you or someone you know is able to donate food or other

goods please contact alexandra Monsibaez at amonsibaez@urm.org immediately. You can also make a much needed financial donation by visiting urm.org/help. Your donation will provide meals and hope in this time of need.

You are the solution.

For more information visit urm.org.

22 Downtown News

May 19, 2014

Downtown ResiDential

A Pilgrim School Promise

A Sign of the Times

Downtown’s Award-Winning Educator Blends Academics, Technology and Art

ONEONE77 Creative Studio Gets Your Brand Out to the World

P

ilgrim school is a true Downtown treasure, a school with a distinctive early education program that begins at age two (named “Best Preschool” by the readers of the Downtown news), and continues through high school with an innovative col-

n

o matter where you go in Downtown l.a., you will inevitably find the historic, vibrant, almost magical neon remnants of what once was, mixed in with the leD-powered glimpse of what shall be.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS lege preparatory program and 100% college acceptance rate. small class size and a nurturing community spirit offer each student the ability to develop their individual strengths and unique character. the classically beautiful campus offers a city experience in a peaceful setting, and the remarkable diversity of the Pilgrim community reflects the face of los angeles. with the addition of the Mayflower House boarding facility for students in grades 9-12, Pilgrim is now both a day and a boarding school. located just four Metro stops west of Downtown at the corner of sixth street and Commonwealth avenue, Pilgrim school was established in 1958 as a division of First Congregational Church. Pilgrim prides itself on offering an education that is both creative and traditional, rooted in sound moral values, a student-created honor code, and a student-run honor council. at Pilgrim, technology is state of the art both in and out of the classroom. the Fab lab is creating a more three-dimensional experience for students, including use of cutting-edge technologies like 3D printing, rocketry and more, and has allowed the faculty to expand the steM program to include courses in more specialized fields of engineering as well as to offer extracurricular activities like a competitive Robotics team. the beautiful Brown Family Fine arts Center offers students the opportunity for an extensive experiential education in the fine arts, and Pilgrim’s Field of Dreams campaign will add a regulation sports field, underground parking, and expansive new classroom space to the campus.

Pilgrim school offers a unique opportunity for all students to interact with artists and writers through the Visiting artists and writers Program. artists such as addi somekh, Victoria arriola and Robbie

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

Conal, and authors such as Betty Birney, susan Goldman Rubin and David st. John share their experience and creative process with students beginning in early education. in Fall 2013, students spent a week traveling “in the Footsteps of Marco Polo” with writer, photographer, documentarian and explorer Denis Belliveau, participating in a wide range of cross-curricular projects and activities that brought history to life. additionally, Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, spent an evening with the Pilgrim community.

Pilgrim is committed to the education of the whole student: traditional academics, state-of-the-art technology, a strong foundation in the arts, and a place in athletics for every student.

To learn more about Pilgrim School or to tour the historic campus, please call (213) 355-5204.

DOWNTOWN LA

Call Us Today!

K E L L E R W I L L I A M S D T L A R E A LT Y

Buy, Sell or Lease

the loft expert!

every business is unique, everyone has a different outlook on the market, and your signage should project that very same rationale. the everchanging landscape of Downtown los angeles is a market filled with competition from every perceivable angle. it’s easy to allow your message to be lost in the skyline. enter oneone77 Creative studio, which delivers a custom-tailored design for what you want your sign to say to the world, how you want it said, and then how to get it seen, allowing your business to stand out amongst the crowd and millions of passersby. the company has worked with a vast array of clients ranging from small local boutiques to major corporations, vintage marquee restoration projects to new and elaborate illuminated leD signs. “we can take your dream, give it wings, help it fly in to the ether and transform into the thriving business you want it to be,” said one company official.

Half the fun of the process is brainstorming and Continued on page 23

You’re special... that’s why you’re Downtown!

TM

group

Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper Lic #01309009

Bill@TheLoftExpertGroup.com

213.598.7555 TheLoftExpertGroup.com

VOTED BEST DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE AGENT! 2010 / 2011 www.kwDTLA.com 600 W. 9th St. DOWNTOWN LA Conveniently located across from Ralphs

213.221.7579

May 19, 2014

Downtown ResiDential

OnEOnE77, 22 finding solutions for these creative projects. no matter what stage of development your business, project or idea is in, oneone77 helps clients reach new heights.

Half tHe fun of tHe process is brainstorming and finding solutions for tHese creative projects. the best part about being a full-service creative studio is collaborating with clients to bring their dreams to life. You say you need business cards? in-house designers work diligently to make the cards to your exact specifications. even if you do not have a design idea, logo or basic layout in mind for your project, this is what we do. allow us to work with you on creating the image you want to present to the world. we are graphic designers, business analysts, producers, makers of dreams and everything in between. oneone77 does it all, from corporate collateral material to large format graphics, prints and banners to brand development, management and web design.

Come share your dream, idea or project and let us work together to find the best solution for your needs.

At 709-A S. Olive St. Call (213) 802-0787 or email INFO@ ONEONE77.com.

Downtown News 23

How Is the Residential Real Estate Market Really Doing?

John Aaroe Group Presents Downtown L.A.’s Market Activity Report

P

ublished each month, the aaroe Market Report provides an in-depth look at local real estate activity in more than 65 areas across los angeles. the reports provide pertinent statistical summaries of the most recent three-month period, compared to the same period last year.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS in Downtown l.a., 88 properties sold in the first quarter of this year compared to 87 during last year’s first quarter, an increase of 1.1%. the average price was $583,712 compared to last year’s average price of $564,948, a 3.3% increase. the average price per square foot of properties sold this year is $524 compared to last year’s average of $457, a 4.7% increase. this is most likely due to the release of higher-priced units from new development early last year. it took an average of 67 days to sell a property in Downtown this year compared to last year’s 83 days on the market, a 19.3% decrease of “days on market.” Properties in Downtown sold at 98.6% of the asking price during the first quarter, showing an improvement from last year’s 97.9%, a .7% increase. the total number of properties available for sale at the end of this year’s first quarter is 75, compared to 49 last year, a 53% increase. the average price of properties for sale during the first quarter this year decreased by 31% from $1,161,076 last year to $800,812 this year. this is most likely due to the release of units from new development early last year. worth noting is the slight increase in the average price of properties sold in Downtown l.a. this year compared to last

year’s first quarter, indicating that although an upward trend in pricing continues, the increase is not as drastic as the difference experienced between 2012 and 2013. it may feel that inventory remains limited in Downtown, but there is actually a 53% increase from last year’s first quarter.

John aaroe Group agents agnes Ferreyra and Jessica Robertson of lifestylesla can help clients interpret this data to make intelligent, informed decisions about real estate investments. if you’re curious about the value of a specific property — your home or another property that captures your attention — the agents will be happy to provide a detailed market report for you. at lifestylesla, Downtown living is not only our specialty, it’s our passion. we live, work and play in the heart of Downtown l.a. and look forward to sharing that passion for the urban lifestyle with you. Consider us your leading resource when buying or selling a Downtown property, from adaptive reuse lofts in historic office buildings to luxury condominiums.

For more information, call (213) 394-5199 or visit lifestylesla.com.

Copyright John Aaroe Group 2014. Statistics generated by Real Data Strategies, Inc. using data supplied by CLAW, CRMLS and/or Co-Op MLS. This report is published April 2014 based on the data available at the end of March 2014. CLAW, CRMLS and/or Co-Op MLS does not guarantee and is not in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by CLAW, CRMLS and/or Co-Op MLS may not reflect all real estate activities in the market. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

24 Downtown News

May 19, 2014

Downtown ResiDential

Are You Eligible for an Economic Opportunity Mortgage?

Introducing the Vermont

Union Bank Program Offers Low- to Moderate-Income Households Competitive Interest Rates and No PMI

Where 464 Elite Residences Rise Above An Urban Environment Rich With Amenities

t

he Union Bank economic opportunity Mortgage (eoM) Program is designed for low- to moderate-income households interested in purchasing a home or refinancing an existing loan. with competitive interest rates and no private mortgage insurance (PMi) required, the eoM Program is

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS the perfect home loan program that provides lower monthly payments versus traditional loan programs.1 Program Features: n Fixed interest rates give you a predictable monthly principal and interest payment for the full term of your loan. n no Private Mortgage insurance required n Can be used in conjunction with eligible down payment assistance programs if you have limited or no established traditional credit, the eoM Program considers alternative credit items such as utility and rent payments when making a decision on your loan. are you eligible?

You may be eligible for the eoM Program if you meet one of the following requirements: 1) Your property is located within a designated census tract; or 2) Your annual household income falls below the area Median income levels for the county where the property is located:

J a) less than or equal to 120% of the area Median income for all California counties.

For more information contact Robin Vahoviak NMLSR #765375, vice president and branch manager of the Union Bank Los Angeles Main Office, (213) 2367711.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE ECONOMIC OPPORT.UNITY MORTGAGE LOAN: 1 This is a fixed-rate loan with fixed monthly principal and interest payments for the life of the loan. Loan amounts available on 1-unit properties up to $417,000 for refinance transactions and up to $500,000 for purchase transactions. In certain high-cost counties in CA and WA higher loan amounts may be available. Ask your Union Bank mortgage consultant for details. Minimum credit score requirements apply for loans over 90% LTV. Mortgage insurance is not required for loans exceeding 80% LTV. Other restrictions may apply. Loans subject to credit and collateral approval. Financing available for collateral located in CA, OR, or WA. Terms and conditions subject to change. ©2014 Union Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.

.H. snyder Company and washington Capital Management, inc. have opened the Vermont, the largest and most luxurious new high-rise community in los angeles. the Vermont offers 464 for-lease residences within two distinctive towers over the corner of wilshire Boulevard and Vermont avenue. the project’s scale, design, location and amenities establish the Vermont as a milestone achievement for the city.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS “it is a thrill to unveil these two glistening towers and the complete urban community of the Vermont,” said J.H. snyder Company senior Partner Jerry snyder. “i am proud of our team of builders, designers, investors and many others who have elevated for-lease living in los angeles to such exciting new heights.” the Vermont offers the finest resort-style services and amenities, many of them found on its extraordinary seventh-floor sky lobby and garden above the city. they include theDrop lounge, theClub party room, pool, sundeck, cabanas, fireplace, fitness center, spin room, spa, yoga and meditation room, concierge and security cenContinued on page 25

lifestylesLA.com 1100 Wilshire cOndOs | A luxury high-rise residence • • •

Soaring 37 Stories Above Los Angeles Incredible views from every unit 17th floor sky deck with resort amenities

• •

Ample parking for residents & guests Concierge service 1100WilshirecondosForsale.com

1 Bedroom + 1 Bath | 680± sq. ft. | Skyline view

2 Bedrooms + 1 Bath | 1,600± sq. ft. | 270° view

Offered at $530,000

Offered at $1,200,000

IMAGE IS EVERYTHING. WEB DEVELOPMENT / GRAPHIC DESIGN Large format printing

1 Bedroom + 1 Bath | 790± sq. ft. | City view

1 Bedroom + 1 Bath | 670± sq. ft. | Skyline view

Offered at $535,000

Offered at $520,000

Agnes FerreyrA Realtor

JessicA rObertsOn Realtor

213. 458. 0787 direct agnes@lifestylesLA.com

213. 249. 5760 direct jessica@lifestylesLA.com

CalBRE 01799633

CalBRE 01436045

709-A S. OLIVE ST LOS ANGELES, CA 90014

213.802.0787

May 19, 2014

the vermont, 24 ter, and dog park.

The community’s Wilshire Boulevard location provides the best in access and excitement. The Vermont is directly across from the Wilshire/Vermont Metro Red Line and Purple Line, which links to service throughout the city. Both Hollywood and Downtown L.A. are within easy reach, along with Hancock Park, the Miracle Mile and La Brea. The 24-hour urban environment immediately outside the building recalls the stylish vibrancy of San Francisco or Manhattan, while the residences themselves remain quiet sanctuaries with inspiring views.

Elegance Inside and Out Rents at The Vermont begin at $1,815 per month.

Apartments range from approximately 600 to approximately 1,000 square feet for one-bedroom, one-bedroom flex and two-bedroom residences.

Apartments ascend to the 30th floor of the West Tower and the 24th floor of the East Tower. Because residences start on the seventh floor, views are extraordinary from all homes in all directions from their floor-to-ceiling windows.

Finishes in all homes include hardwood floors, wood cabinets, granite countertops, full-size washers and dryers, custom designer carpets and Kenmore Elite stainless-steel appliances. The Vermont’s Sky Lobby, 70 feet above Wilshire Boulevard, offers complete luxury amenities, including the 127-footlong infinity pool and resort-style sundeck. The community includes an approximately 31,000-squarefoot commercial plaza on two floors with high-end retailers that complement the already vast selection of services within walking distance.

For more information about The Vermont visit TheVermont.net.

Downtown News 25

Downtown Residential

The Highly Anticipated One Santa Fe Nears Completion Dynamic Arts District Mixed-Use Residential Project Now Leasing

W

ith a remarkable 510,000 square feet of distinctive living, worldclass shopping, renowned dining, and community-driven art space, the visually stunning One Santa Fe is on target for

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS completion this fall in Downtown’s much sought-after Arts District.

As the largest mixed-use development under construction in the area, the Michael Maltzan-designed One Santa Fe offers a unique and artistic take on the often mundane apartment project.

“Today, the Arts District is a magnet for people from all over L.A. looking for substance, authenticity and style,” said Bill McGregor a partner in The McGregor Brown Company. “In building One Santa Fe we have endeavored to provide those attributes, along with the most innovative, state-of-the-art features and amenities that appeal to the creative individuals and businesses that are drawn to this area.”

Sitting on four acres along Downtown’s eastern edge, the building’s impressive quarter-mile length and “rail car” look complements its historically industrial surroundings, which include nearby rail stations, the Los Angeles River and the former freight depot that is now the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc).

The six-story One Santa Fe features 438 designer studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments. Each home features distinctly modern touches with interiors and finishes that include spacious floor plans, designer stainless appliances, quartz stone counters, advanced technology and panoramic views.

Resident amenities include a zero-edge saltwater pool, custom poolside cabanas, rooftop garden, three whirlpool spas, fitness club, private yoga and pilates studio, a resident clubhouse, business center and full concierge services. The project also features ample parking and is pet friendly.

At the ground level of the project is The Yards at One Santa Fe, a curated collection of 25 unique designers, specialty boutiques, and renowned chefs surrounding private

landscaped walkways for an experience unlike any in the area. Manhattan Beachbased GROW Market will anchor the dynamic shopping and dining community that will include an eclectic mix of local, regional and national tenants which embrace the unique style of the neighborhood.

One Santa Fe is a joint development among McGregor Brown, Cowley Real Estate Partners and Polis Builders, Ltd. Canyon Realty Advisors (Canyon Realty), through its Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund III, is a joint venture partner in One Santa Fe. Please visit osfla.com for residential leasing information or call (855) 652-6071. The leasing office opens June 6 at 255 S. Santa Fe Ave., Suite 100, on Santa Fe Avenue and Third Street in the Arts District.

Homelessness Has a Face

We embrace people experiencing homelessness with the compassion of Christ — giving hope and healing for a changed life — helping them find their way home.

6 Ways to Make a Difference Distribute Outreach Kits

Start a 120 Fund

Donate

Urban Experience

Volunteer

Involve Your Church

Your simple act of passing out a kit can give hope and tangible help to someone in desperate need.

Your life will be forever changed after seeing the faces of men and women who live on Skid Row up close.

Your personal fundraising campaign is a great way to involve friends and family as partners in this life-changing work.

Your time and service is one of the most valuable and life-changing gifts you can give to people in need.

Your generosity provides meals, safe shelter and recovery programs with the power to transform lives.

To learn more about ways to make a difference please visit us at www.urm.org

Your church can be an example of God’s abundant love and grace for hurting souls here in our community.

545 South San Pedro St., Los Angeles, CA 90013 ~ 213.347.6300 ~ www.urm.org

545 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90013

26 Downtown News

May 19, 2014

Downtown ResiDential

Everything You Need Under One Roof

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore!

TENTEN Wilshire Helps Small Business Thrive in Downtown Los Angeles

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency Call Now Fo is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one r bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room Move-In Spec with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and ial slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses s ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.

Grand Tower

255 South Grand Avenue Leasing Information 213 229 9777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dishwasher (most units) ~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

On-site: ~ Dry Cleaners / Dental Office / Restaurants

Promenade Towers

123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies

On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon

museum Tower

225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

www.TowersApartmentsLA.com MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING

RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

t

enten wilshire is the ideal place for entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals to live, work and play. Perfect for start-ups and entrepreneurs in industries including high-tech, entertainment, fashion, legal, finance, consulting, real estate and advertising, tenten wilshire provides the perfect

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS blend of amenities and necessities to fulfill the 24/7 needs of an entrepreneur.

You have heard the phrase “live, work and Play” countless times, but nowhere else have all three been combined into a comprehensive, single lifestyle solution. tenten wilshire’s community goal is to offer a space for entrepreneurs, small businesses and young professionals to grow, network and expand across Downtown, a large and up-and-coming market.

Helping to fuel a rebirth of the area, tenten wilshire houses 227 fully furnished live/work units, and more than 243,000 square feet of space for businesses to rent and expand into as their companies grow. the building is designed to eliminate many of the major barriers to budding entrepreneurs including distribution of capital between living space and office space. By providing a flexible, turnkey environment with equally flexible lease terms, tenten wilshire has been able to sustain a 90% or better occupancy rate every year since opening. additionally, due to exceptional zoning regulations, tenten wilshire provides qualified individuals and all companies located on the premises special tax benefits including: live/work tax deductions, hiring credits, sales and work opportunity tax credits, utility cost savings, and expense and interest deductions. tenten wilshire, through its green standards, a coming major expansion, and keen focus on inspiring, promoting and helping entrepreneurialism, hopes to be the catalyst for 16,000-plus long-term jobs for los angeles. located within walking distance of the center of Downtown, tenten wilshire is an ideal place for meeting people and networking, providing guests and residents an unparalleled professional and social environment. tenten wilshire, together with its sister communities of Plug and Play technology Center and Hollywood Production Center, are home to more than 600 technology and entertainment entrepreneurs, startups and companies. tenten wilshire is dedicated to fostering community growth amongst its residents through constant contact and the sharing of resources. with key multi-industry relationships including access to more than 150 venture capital firms, and additional relationships with major corporations, entrepreneurs and startups at tenten wilshire are provided a direct bridge to numerous resources including: n operations (legal, accounting, PR, Banking, etc.) n technology (Microsoft Bizspark, sun startup essentials, etc.) n entertainment (CBs, 20th Century Fox, Bet, BBC, Merv Griffin entertainment, etc.) n Business Development (M&a, investing, licensing) n Corporate Partnership opportunities (Google, Cisco, Best Buy, Yahoo!, ebay, etc.)

At 1010 Wilshire Blvd. For more information call (213) 785-5100 or visit 1010wilshire.com.

May 19, 2014

Downtown News 27

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

To Tiananmen Square and Back A Quarter Century After the Chinese Student Rebellion and Governmental Crackdown, Tim Dang and East West Players Turn the Subject Into a Poignant Musical

photo by Gary Leonard

Sakai says. “He’s one of the first to show up at events we’ve done together, and one of the last to leave. He’s even cleaning up when I tell him not to.”

Dang benefits from a strong relationship with East West Players’ founders and George Takei, the actor who is currently the chairman of the company’s council of governors. Over the years Dang has managed to keep a stable hand on both the artistic and business sides of

the company. He notched his first major artistic success in 1994 with EWP’s intimate production of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd. It won glowing reviews, and the board and council have given him full creative freedom ever since.

That freedom is seen in Beijing Spring, which tackles a somber subject with the bombastic energy and flair of musical theater. The production features evocative images projected onto Continued on page 28

Architectural and Altered Antiques

AL A VE

Best of Antique Store 2012 — LA Weekly oldegoodthings.com

• Handcrafted farm tables • Industrial chic • Building elements, some from famous buildings.

• All styles of lighting, including industrial

“The Most Interesting Store in Los Angeles”

• Handcrafted mirrors made from tin ceiling, copper, wood

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prolific Hollywood sound mixer and engineer, has learned to trust his friend and collaborator’s ability to execute.

“Canton was my first theater experience, and I noticed right away how focused and almost forceful, in a good way, Tim was in his vision and leadership,” Iwataki says. “Somehow, he made limited resources seem like not a problem.”

The duo is mounting Beijing Spring at a time when the world’s attention is primed to revert to Tiananmen Square. The Chinese government began its brutal crackdown in earnest in June 1989.

It’s no coincidence that Dang is staging the musical on the 25th anniversary of the world-changing event.

Money Time It’s two weeks before the rehearsal, on a cool Monday evening, and a stream of men and women in sleek black jackets and floor-tickling gowns saunter into the Hilton Hotel at Universal Studios. Inside, Dang is hustling like his life depends on it. He chats happily with several groups of people in the VIP reception room, flashing his grin often and motioning excitedly with his hands. Congratulatory back pats flow as freely as the champagne.

It is East West Players’ annual fundraising gala, a night arguably as important as any of the company’s openings. EWP stages about four plays and musicals each season, many of them new works or classics that have an AsianAmerican spin, such as an all-Asian cast in a piece formerly populated with white actors.

EWP has an annual budget of approximately $1.4 million, and on gala night, the company seeks to raise $250,000.

Dang’s job is, in large part, to schmooze all night and persuade donors to write checks (it paid off; the event ended up pulling in about $320,000). Yet he seems incapable of glossing over the details and fully delegating. His glass of red wine is soon replaced by a clipboard, and off he goes, to make sure everything is in the right place.

The practice is no surprise to gala guest Koji Sakai, who as program manager of the neighboring Japanese American National Museum has worked closely with Dang over the years.

“East West Players is going to be around for a long time because of everything Tim has done,”

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By Eddie Kim n a Sunday afternoon in early May, past the stately stone columns and ruddy brickwork of a former Little Tokyo church, a few dozen people excitedly wait for the first run-through of what, to much of the public, will seem unexpected and even audacious: a musical about the protests and brutal government crackdown in China’s Tiananmen Square in 1989.

In the literal center of it all stands Tim Dang, who has spent 21 years as the artistic director of theater company East West Players. He has been working on the script for Beijing Spring just as long.

Peering at the on-stage remnants of a climactic scene, something catches his attention. The silhouette of his slender, almost lanky frame slides across a row of seats as he motions to a crew member.

“Chris, can we get that banner a little more tattered? It needs a little texture,” Dang says, gently jabbing his finger toward a red swath of cloth adorned with Mandarin text.

Beijing Spring tells the story of Xian, a young student leader and the third generation in his family to take part in freedom protests. Amid songs with titles including “Remembrance” and “Spring in Beijing,” Xian and his friends gain momentum in their push to usher in democracy and end decades of heavy-handed and corrupt communist rule. The tale ends, of course, with tanks rolling onto the students’ rally and soldiers sending lashes of gunfire into the crowd.

Dang wrote his first version of the musical in 1993, and it was last performed in 1999, on the 10th anniversary of the Tiananmen protests.

As the final sound check for the cast begins inside the 240-seat David Henry Hwang Theater, Dang, who is directing the four-week run that opens Wednesday, May 21, takes a deep breath.

“It’s the usual pandemonium,” he says with a smile. “It could be a travesty today. Maybe not.

Who knows?”

Nearby, Joel Iwataki, the composer of Beijing Spring’s score and a longtime EWP contributor, seems unfazed by the chaos. Iwataki met Dang in 1991, when they teamed up on the noir-infused musical Canton Jazz Club. Iwataki, also a

Tim Dang, 55, has brought relevance and attention to Little Tokyo’s East West Players in his 21-year stint as the company’s leader. This week EWP opens Beijing Spring, a musical written

by Dang about the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and crackdown.

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28 Downtown News

Tim Dang, 27 a multi-level set.

When coverage of the student protests in Beijing began airing in the United States, a 30-year-old Dang found himself enthralled by the commitment of the young rebellion leaders. “They didn’t know what freedom was, but they wanted it,” he notes.

He was equally disturbed by the Chinese government’s crackdown, and in the following years his mind wandered to an artistic take on the subject.

“How can the government turn on its own people? Especially when the army is, ironically enough, called the People’s Army?” he asks, throwing his hands in the air. “I was really touched by that. Flash forward 25 years and the Chinese government says a crackdown never happened. The search engines there don’t show a trace.”

Dang, who is of Chinese descent, began writing the script and lyrics of Beijing Spring in 1993, and secured a $10,000 grant from the city of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs to develop it. He mounted a workshop version of the play at East West Players’ former Silver Lake theater that year. It then sat for nearly six years, until Dang dug it up for EWP’s 1999 season.

While much of Beijing Spring remains faithful to the 1999 staging, Dang’s own growth has inspired changes. He admits now that he and Iwataki initially brought a “naive” Western perspective to the events, going so far as to depict the Communist government hardliners as absolute buffoons. In 2014, those officials are played more seriously, with an understanding that they faced a difficult situation.

“They’re trying to deal with the issue of these protesting students but it’s a country of a billion people. No other country on Earth knows how to govern a billion people,” Dang says. “We want to get inside the minds of these people, not just judge them.”

Turning a mass protest and government crackdown into art is a difficult task, but Erwin Furukawa, a member of EWP’s council of governors, points out that Dang has never shied away from complicated subject matter. In 2010 Dang directed Mysterious Skin, a show with something his audience had never seen — onstage nudity. He has also taken on gay marriage and interracial relationships.

“He simply has the passion to execute those ideas, time and time again,” Furukawa said.

Drawn to the Arts Tim Dang was born Aug. 4, 1958, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Peter Dang, an executive for Shell Oil Company, and Eloise Ung, a district

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court clerk. The youngest of five children — he has three brothers and a sister — Dang quickly learned the prototypical role of the baby brother, mostly staying quiet and out of the way.

Dang’s father died when he was 12, leaving his mother to raise four kids (his brother Peter, who is 13 years older, had already left Hawaii).

Yet despite his father’s absence, Dang remembers his mother maintaining a sense of calm in the household.

Growing up, Dang attended the St. Patrick School, a Catholic institution notable for a grand ivory church with dazzling arches that frame intricate stained glass. Here, concerts and plays were a core part of his education, which Dang says sparked his interest in the arts.

“I could express myself onstage in a way I couldn’t at home,” he says.

He soon transitioned to the nearby Saint Louis School, a college preparatory institution that sits up on the side of a mountain slope and offers sweeping views of the southern Oahu coastline.

While Dang enjoyed being in math and chemistry clubs, he was soon lured to the school’s theatrical productions. He wanted to excel on stage, but also knew that asking for piano, singing and dance lessons would be a luxury request. To his surprise, his mother supported the idea. She remained supportive even after he took another turn: Though he had been planning to study math or science in college — “like a good Asian boy,” he says — he found himself aiming for the stage.

His burgeoning love of the arts prompted him to consider leaving Hawaii for an expensive mainland university such as Bowdoin College in Maine or the University of Southern California.

Growing up in Hawaii, Dang says, he had always felt an urge to go elsewhere to achieve loftier goals — Broadway, perhaps, or maybe star on television like one of his role models, Takei. Concerns that his mother couldn’t afford to send him away, however, crept into his head.

The final decision came after a phone call with his brother Peter.

“He told me, ‘Tim, if you don’t leave now, you’ll never leave,’” Dang says. “I’ll never forget that.”

He chose USC because it offered the best financial aid and scholarship package, covering nearly his entire four-year education. In the summer of 1976, he packed his bags and departed for Los Angeles.

Key Advice Dang’s first break at USC came as a freshman when he was cast as a dancer in a production of Sondheim’s Follies. His mother flew to L.A. to see him perform.

Dang wrote his first version of Beijing Spring in 1993, and has changed some elements for the production that coincides with the 25th anniversary of Tiananmen Square.

Dang, shown here during a rehearsal with two actors, is also directing the work.

photo by Gary Leonard

“I guess it was kind of embarrassing for me, since I didn’t even have a line, but she loved it,” he says.

From that moment, Dang never doubted his will to become an actor, and he was cast in classic plays and snagged lead roles without problems. Only toward the end of college did people, including faculty advisor Jack Rowe, begin gently warning him that life in the real world would be tough for an Asian actor.

“He was a very talented young man, and you could see the drive in him. I’m not surprised that he went on to achieve everything he’s done so far,” says Rowe, now the director of USC’s BFA acting program. “But it was a different time for Asian actors then. Casting’s more open today, but the niches were more difficult 30 years ago.”

Rowe had another piece of advice: Seek out East West Players when you graduate, he told Dang, saying he would learn in a supportive system there.

Dang graduated with a BFA in 1980 and became a dues-paying member of East West Players, then housed in a tidy 99-seat black-box venue in Silver Lake. The $35-a-month fees and membership gave him not only the opportuni-

ARE YOU SUFFERING FROM KNEE PAIN?

ty to audition for shows, but access to the company’s acting classes. For five years, he waited tables while taking classes and picking up odd roles, including appearing in commercials.

Through the 1980s, Dang began taking on additional responsibilities at East West Players.

Under the wing of founding artistic director Mako and then artistic director Nobu McCarthy, Dang learned how to be a stage manager, how to hang lights, how to sell tickets and even how to draft press releases.

In 1993, McCarthy told Dang that she wanted to mentor him to become an associate artistic director. He recalls McCarthy emphasizing that she didn’t plan on stepping down for another five years at least, but Dang could tell that the stress of her responsibilities was aggravating her health, in particular her arthritis.

Then, three months later, McCarthy suddenly retired. East West Players’ board swiftly picked Dang to succeed her. On the cusp of his 35th birthday, Dang became the leader of the nation’s oldest theater of color.

Moving East Almost from the time of the company’s birth in 1965, East West Players leaders wanted a home larger than the 99-seat space in Silver

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photo by Michael Lamont

theater,” he says. “This was always a goal of the company. It was our next big step.”

Soon after the company regained its footing, however, another challenge arrived, this one in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The theater’s proximity to Parker Center, then the LAPD’s headquarters, led police to block off the street in front of the theater with massive concrete barriers. Ticket sales stagnated, and EWP leaders pondered a temporary closure of the theater.

The barriers remained for nine months, until media attention and then-City Councilwoman Jan Perry brought about their removal. The company found stability once more, and Robert Kawahara, president of the board of directors, credits Dang with guiding EWP through the strife.

“Tim is a brilliant man, both in terms of the art and the business.

I don’t think we could have done it without him,” Kawahara says. 

Lake. In the late 1980s, an iteration of the Little Tokyo Service Center offered EWP a lease for the Union Church at 120 Judge John Aiso St. The board, nervous about the operating costs, declined the offer, and rejected another one a few years later.

Then came the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, which heavily damaged the Union Church. Ironically, that led to several million dollars in federal emergency funding and historic preservation grants to renovate the structure. That lessened the amount of fundraising EWP would have to do, and Dang and company were able to capitalize. They moved into the rechristened Union Center for the Arts in 1998.

Dang considers the move one of his proudest accomplishments, and not only because it opened up the company for more ambitious shows and bigger audiences.

“We were not able to pay a living wage for everyone at the old

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Beijing Spring follows a group of friends as they prepare to take part in the 1989 student revolt denouncing the corruption and cronyism within the oppressive Chinese Communist Party, which is led by Deng Xiaoping (center, played by Radmar Jao).

Looking Forward Dang, who is 55 and married to Darrel Cummings, the chief of staff of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, admits that lately he’s been thinking about what lies after his run as artistic director. East West Players creates financial and operational plans in five-year blocks, and the current one culminates in June 2016 — the end of the company’s 50th anniversary season, conveniently enough. Might this be the opportunity for a smooth exit?

“I would love to have more creative energy,” he says as he drops his chin onto his hand and exhales. “I’m not tired, per se.

There’s simply not enough time for everything. As you get older, there’s a sense that time is running out.”

He points to EWP’s effort to bolster its outreach to show other local and national theaters how important diversity is in casting and the stories that can be told. Dang also started an AsianAmerican arts conference in 2006. The fifth installment takes place in Philadelphia in October.

Then there’s the issue of his successor. Dang admits that he is looking for people to groom as potential candidates for artistic director.

“Who is going to achieve our mission 10, 20 years from now?

So much is learned, there are really no rules,” Dang says.

Back in the theater, the rehearsal is underway. Dang peers quietly from the dark of the seats as the opening chords of the gentle duet “Dear Father, Dear Son” ring out. The song follows a series of letters between student leader Xian and his father, who himself participated in protests as a young man. Hope is finally in the air, Xian explains; his father responds with his proud blessing, reminding Xian that he represents a new generation of freedom fighters.

As the final strains of “Dear Father, Dear Son” fade, the theater goes silent for an uncomfortably long period. Someone has missed a cue.

“Ooookay,” Dang says with a sigh. “What’s going on?”

His silhouette shuffles along the row of seats. Once again, Tim Dang is off to make sure everything is in the right place.

Beijing Spring runs May 21-June 15 at East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org eddie@downtownnews.com

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May 19, 2014 A new exhibit at the Grammy Museum focuses on the Laurel Canyon rock scene of the 1960s and ’70s. Pieces on display include Richie Furay’s (from the band Poco) 1970’s “Nudie” suit (left), as well as handwritten lyrics from Gram Parsons and instruments from an array of Laurel Canyon musicians.

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s.com Sign up at DowntownNew Laurel Canyon was home to numerousSign artists Up for Our E-News Blasts & and members Be ofEntered to Win Movie Tickets! bands including Joni Mitchell (shown here), Frank Zappa, Jim Morrison, The Mamas & The Papas and The Byrds.

mas & The Papas song, they hear era favorites including “For

Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings DowntownNews.com What Its Worth” by Buffalo Springfield and The Byrds’ “Turn,

Turn, Turn” and “Mr. Tambourine Man.” Listening stations offer Photographer up other songs, among them The Doors’ “Love Street.” There are Henry Diltz loaned the also several short video clips, including one in which Gail Zappa, museum Frank’s widow, explains how they met (at LAX), what he first said dozens of his to her (“You’re cute”) and how he smelled (like peanut butter). pictures for the Another video shows Diltz explaining one of his most recogexhibit. nized photographs: The Doors behind the front window of the

By Donna Evans Morrison Hotel, which was located at 1246 S. Hope St. in Downn the mid to late 1960s and’70s, residents of Laurel Canyon town Los Angeles. Keyboard player Ray Manzarek discovered needed only to open a window to be serenaded by the harphoto courtesy Grammy Museum Now Playing/Starts May 9 monies wafting from some of the most compelling musicians the building one day with his wife and thought it’d make a great Most of the musicians were transplants from other cities, Sanshot. The man behind the hotel desk wouldn’t let them shoot of the era. Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa andnNe Jimws Morrison lived Facebook.com/L.A.Downtow telli noted. The arrivals to Laurel Canyon included Carole King, who inside, but as soon as he stepped into the elevator, Diltz recalls, there. So did members of The Mamas & The Papas, The Byrds relocated from New York, and Linda Ronstadt, who left Tucson. Futhe band members ran in and he snapped the image. It became and Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Like Downtown News onStrip, Facebook ture Eagles Don Henley and Glenn Frey arrived on the scene from the cover of The Doors’ fifth album.

That neighborhood above the Sunset and that scene, Texas and Michigan, respectively. Gram Nash came from England.

It was one of many high-profile shots for the man who, among complete with its hippie fashion, a penchant for earthy con& Be Entered to Win Movie Tickets!

Santelli assembled the exhibit, one of five musical scene other things, was the official Woodstock photographer. Still, Diltz sciousness and, for many, a fondness for mind-altering drugs, showcases the Grammy Museum will feature over the next few snapped his way into posterity almost by accident: In an interis chronicled in California Dreamin’: The Sounds of Laurel Canyon years, from pieces loaned either by the artists or their family view, he said was shooting a mural when a group of guys walked 1965-1977. The exhibit, built around dozens of intimate portraits members and friends. Gail Zappa provided handwritten, unfinout of the building. Diltz asked them to pose, for perspective. It and candid shots from photographer Henry Diltz, opened at the ished lyrics to an unpublished song by her late husband. Gram turned out to be the members of Buffalo Springfield.

Grammy Museum this month. It runs though Nov. 30.

Parsons’ lyrics-filled notebook, complete with swirling penman“I just wanted to take pictures of my friends so we could have Brimming with four dozen artifacts and two walls of Diltz’s ship and blotted with several scratch outs, is on display. So is a photos, California Dreamin’ begins with a wooden, hand-painted slideshows to watch,” he said, noting that two of those friends banjo that belonged to The Monkees’ Peter Tork, a cape from were Stephen Stills and David Crosby. “Those were magic times.” rocking chair encased in glass. It is the chair that “Mama Cass” ElCrosby and even the original music contract between all the Looking back on those years, Diltz is filled with nostalgia for liot rocked in on her front porch, which served as the gateway to members of The Byrds and their management company. There’s the Laurel Canyon music scene, said Grammy Museum Executive a time when peoples’ consciousness was raised. The ideals for also a wooden stash box with a cocaine bindle and marijuana many during that era, he said, were focused on appreciating Director Bob Santelli. “roach holder” on loan from “Anonymous.” each other and the planet. In hindsight, he said, Laurel Canyon Cass, said Santelli, was the “Earth Mother” of Laurel Canyon, Now Playing/Starts 16 element as well. Visitors can record a There’s an May interactive was almost a mythical place. and whenever someone new arrived, she always opened her E BIL message about where they were or which Laurel Canyon bands “There was a bit of a feeling of how wonderful life was, and a homeMO and introduced the person Next 8*to her chair is a to 5567 DTNMOVIEaround.

CLUB Text they saw back in the day. Santelli smiles widely at one of his focus on peace and love. It all happened as Laurel Canyon blosjewelry box filled with the chunky bracelets and oversized rings memories from 1969: He’d just graduated from high school in somed,” he said.

Cass wore in any number of Diltz’s photographs.

Text DTNMOVIE to 55678 to Join Our Movie Club New Jersey, he played guitar, and had tried to attend the WoodRemoved Yet Central Interestingly, it’s not the only chair in the exhibit. Also on display and writing be Entered to Win Movie stock Music Festival in New York, but he couldn’t get through In the mid-1960s, Santelli said, the musicians were drawn to is the late Jim Morrison’s seat. Upholstered in purpleTickets! velvet, *Carrier msg & data rates apply. Reply HELP for help. STOP to quit. 4 msgs/month max. the traffic-choked highway. So he and his buddies headed back Laurel Canyon’s cheap rent and bucolic, mountainous atmothe high-backed wooden armchair followed The Doors’ frontman home to the Jersey Shore and went surfing. to Paris. After his death in 1971, Morrison’s publicist brought it back sphere. While it seemed removed from the bustle of Los AngeThe museum will keep the visitors’ recordings as part of its arles, it was also close to the Sunset Strip and the famed clubs the to the United States and put it in storage. As Santelli began assemchives.

Whisky a Go-Go, The Roxy and The Troubadour. bling pieces for California Dreamin’, a museum staffer mentioned California Dreamin’: The Sounds of Laurel Canyon 1965-1977 “You could be in a rural area right in the middle of a big city. that her husband is related to Morrison’s publicist and suggested runs through Nov. 30 at the Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic No other place offered that,” Santelli said. “If you were in Greenshowing the chair, which is in near perfect condition.

Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org wich Village in New York you had to drive [many] miles to get “It was meant to be,” Santelli said. donna@downtownnews.com away. Here you went over the hill.”

As visitors meander through the exhibit, named for The Ma-

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May 19, 2014

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PHOTOS BY GARY LEONARD

he Central City Association hosted its annual Treasures of Los Angeles luncheon last week, but instead of paying tribute to a series of individuals who then delivered speeches, it did something else: It honored the Downtown renaissance of the past 15 years.

During the lunch on Thursday, May 15, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, the CCA celebrated dozens of those who helped turn a Downtown that was dead after dark into a thriving community. Honorees included housing developers such as Tom Gilmore (1), nightlife master Cedd Moses and even former mayors Richard Riordan and Jim Hahn (2).

Two other prizes were dispensed: Chris Martin (3, with Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard) accepted the Heart of the City Award for his family’s multi-generation architecture firm AC Martin, and Adele Yellin (4) received the Spirit of the Renaissance Award, in honor of her late husband, the visionary developer Ira Yellin.

There was also a nod to the future, with the CCA bringing up a “stroller brigade” (5) to celebrate families moving into Downtown.

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SPONSORED LISTINGS

TuESDay, May 20 A Writer’s Relationship to Form at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

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By Dan Johnson | calendar@downtownnews.com photo courtesy Gloria Trevi

Friday Night Flicks by Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare Catch a free screening of Thor: The Dark World at Pershing Square on Friday, May 23.Thousands of years ago, a race of beings known as Dark Elves tried to send the universe into darkness by using a weapon known as the Aether. Warriors from Asgard stop them, but their leader Malekith escapes to wait for another opportunity. The movie will begin at 8 p.m., and well-behaved dogs are allowed. Parking can be found in the Pershing Square garage.

ThuRSDay, May 22 Philippe Petit at Aloud Central Library, Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: The somewhat subversive French tightrope walker who traveled between the two towers of the World Trade Center stops by to pontificate on the merits of creative living.

Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner at Live Talks Business Forum Gensler, 500 S. Figueroa St. or livetalksbusiness.com.

7:45 a.m.: Join the Freakonomics authors for a lively discussion of their latest work, Think Like a Freak.

Since 1989, Monterrey, Mexico’s Gloria Trevi has been entertaining folks with a brand of accessible pop music that has earned her the title of “Supreme Diva of Mexican Pop.” On Friday, May 23, the halls of Nokia Theatre will reverberate with the joyous cacophony of Trevi and company as they storm Downtown on a mission of total Spanish language musical domination. Tickets were still available at press time. At 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

one

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If you go to the movies or have perhaps read one or two books in your life, you may be familiar with the story of Pompeii. Back in 79 A.D., the volcano Vesuvius destroyed the extremely affluent and complacent Italian town (pay attention Beverly Hills), burying the city in ash. On May 20, the California Science Center debuts Pompeii: The Exhibition, a collection of frescos, sculptures and artifacts from the volcanic necropolis.

Of further interest are actual full-body plaster casts of the huddled volcano victims. At 700 Exposition Park Drive, (323) 724-3623 or californiasciencecenter.org.

FoUR

In 2005, pop economics and ideological unorthodoxy collided in Freakonomics, a bestselling examination of bold new approaches to finance by Steven D. Levitt (right) and Stephen Dubner.

Levitt and Dubner are back at the well with Think Like a Freak, a semi-sequel in which they expound on the virtues of unconventional thinking. On Thursday, May 22, at 7:45 a.m., they’ll come to the headquarters of architecture firm Gensler to talk about their unique approach at a breakfast event organized by the Live Talks Business Forum. At 500 S. Figueroa St. or livetalksbusiness.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com.

May 20: Eric Miller Group and Diego Urbano Trio.

May 21: Edward Simon Group.

May 22: Hadrien Feraud Group.

May 23: Sarah Reich Birthday Concert. She has asked for a pony, Legos and a doll house.

May 24-25: Mark De Clive-Lowe.

Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org.

May 19, 8:30 p.m.: The time is fast approaching when you won’t be able to see silky smooth resident Jarell Perry each Monday evening. Savor the small moments while you can.

May 21, 8:30 p.m.: Another intrepid indie showcase as Blind Date hosts Melpo Mene, Midnight Faces and Sego.

May 24, 9 p.m.: The Intelligence has been making enthusiastic garage rock since 1999.

May 25, 8 p.m.: Monogem brings her bright-spirited electro minimalism to the stage.

Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

May 22, 8 p.m.: With an ever-changing arsenal of novel hairstyles, Ledisi is poised to win the Downtown News’ highly coveted “Queen of Coiffure” award.

Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com.

May 19, 9 p.m.: An apparent contradiction in terms as Quietly Kept and Monster Mondays share a bill.

May 20, 10 p.m.: The classic Tuesday lineup returns with Bunny West opening for Boom Boom Boom.

May 21, 10 p.m.: Sunset Drifters and Smooth Hound Smith

photo by Troy Tuttle

SaTuRDay, May 24 Eradicating the School-to-Prison Pipeline California African-American Museum, 600 State Dr., (213) 744-7432 or caamuseum.org.

1 p.m.: A panel of experts examines whether the educational process in this country facilitates an inevitable transit to incarceration.

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

TWo

The opera-inclined with be in hog heaven this week, as one of the finest baritones of our age, Dimitri Hvorostovsky, takes the stage at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion for a solo recital. The magnanimous Russian’s silver locks will flow on Thursday, May 22, at 7:30 p.m., as he partners with pianist Ivari Ilja on pieces including Russian romances based on poems by Pushkin. If one performance

by Hvorostovsky won’t suffice, arrive an hour early for a pre-show talk in which opera expert Duff Murphy will dish on some insider knowledge. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 9728001 or laopera.org.

FiVe

photo by Robert Millard

The Don’T Miss LisT

CALENDAR LISTINGS

photo courtesy of Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologoci di Napoli e Pompei

DT

May 19, 2014

photo by Vito Palmisano

32 Downtown News

Since 2004, CityRace has been hosting miniature urban scavenger hunts and quests throughout Los Angeles. On Sunday, May 23, intrepid Angelenos can participate in the Chinatown CityRace that takes participants through the neighborhood’s past and diverse present on a hunt for clues, victory and presumably a little bit of self worth. The competition begins at 11 a.m. for those with the foresight and Internet connection to register in advance. In Chinatown, (310) 360-6950 or racela.com.

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

May 19, 2014

Downtown News 33

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

bring the hurt.

May 22, 10 p.m.: Fresh faces as These Pilgrims join Diamond Light.

May 23, 9 p.m.: The honky tonk hootenanny known as RT N the 44s takes over Friday nights for the work-a-day, drink-a-night crowd.

May 24, 10 p.m.: Johnny Moezzi and Charlie Chan and the SOBs deliver a steady injection of blues.

May 25, 10 p.m.: Lest we deceive you, RT N the 44s will also be performing their traditional Sunday night gig.

Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com.

May 23: Cash Cash.

May 24: Scuba.

Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

May 21, 8 p.m.: No word yet as to whether tonight’s sold-out conversation with Pepe Aguilar will be conducted in Ingles o Español.

Honeycut 819 S. Flower St., (213) 688-0888 or honeycutla.com.

May 19, 10 p.m.: DJ TGIM. May 21, 8 p.m.: Actual Disco.

May 22, 8 p.m.: Mathieu Schreyer.

May 23, 10 p.m.: Jack of All Tracks.

May 24, 8 p.m.: DJ Aaron Castle.

Nokia Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

May 23, 8 p.m.: Gloria Trevi brings cinematic splendor with her latest tour, “De Pelicula.”

May 24, 8 p.m.: You have to hand it to Julion Alvarez: No one quite rocks the open button down shirt/cowboy hat look like he does.

May 25, 8 p.m.: Raphael is sort of like Spain’s answer to Wayne Newton.

Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com.

May 19: We Were There and Troubled Minds.

May 20: Adrian & The Sickness and Sapphic Musk.

May 21: Honeychain, Steel Cranes and Barnes.

May 22: Thursday Night Booty.

May 23: The Stitches, Sex Crime, Suicide Notes and Black Mambas.

May 24: The Unclaimed, The Rosalyns and The Neumans.

Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la.

May 19, 10 p.m.: Like a magical conch shell, if you put Ron King to your ear, you’ll hear the sounds of a distant shore.

May 20, 10 p.m.: Little known origin story: The Makers were originally an experimental CIA program attempting to use evocative jazz to increase consumer confidence during Continued on next page

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Plus tax 24 month closed-end lease, $2,999 due at signing. Based on MSRP of $18,640 (including destination charges) for a 2014 Jetta S 2.0L with Automatic transmission, excluding title, tax, options, acquisition fee and dealer fees. Monthly payments total $2,376. Purchase option at lease end for $11,370.40.$0.20/mile over 30,000. VIN 387459 Tier “A” by Volkswagen Credit offer Ends 06/30/2014

$

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.

$26,799 2012 MERCEDES E350BTC ................... $37,991 Certified, Bluetech, Prem. Pkg.1, Must See! 7293C/CA548917 2012 MERCEDES GL450 ........................ $45,981 Certified, Prem. Pkg.1, Nav. Syst., Low Miles 7314C/CA784794 AUDI OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin

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

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin 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 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 ©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.

329

per month for 36 mos

$7,412 2007 VW Jetta 2.5 Sedan ......................... $9,886 Gray, 2.5LI5 20v , great looking. ZV2670-1/108816 2008 VW Jetta SE Sedan .......................

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clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez

circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon

315

©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.

888-304-7039 888-685-5426 distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles 3300 S. FIGUEROAdistributioN ST. • FELIXCHEVROLET.COM 1900 S. FIGUEROA ST. • PORSCHEDOWNTOWNLA.COM AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla

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Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa

1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

34 Downtown News Continued from previous page immense domestic auto recalls.

May 21, 10 p.m.: Rick Taub’s Midnight Blues Review, a loving tribute to the innumerable crossroads between the Yazoo and the mighty Mississippi.

Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com.

May 22 and 24, 8 p.m.: Romeo Santos is not quite as entertaining as the Harlem Globetrotters.

The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or thesmell.org.

May 22: French Vanilla and Coup Pigeons.

May 24: Airs, Intimatchine, Ghost Noise and Cloud Cover.

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

CROSSWORD

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

May 24, 8 and 10:45 p.m.: Looking For Johnny tracks the unlikely rise and fall of New York Dolls member and solo artist Johnny Thunders through his strange life and even stranger death.

IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org.

Explore the remnants and wisdom of an ancient empire in Mysteries of Egypt.

Ice and polar bear enthusiasts will likely dig To the Arctic 3D. Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. Pershing Square 532 S. Olive St., (213) 847-4970 or laparks.org/ pershingsquare May 23, 8 p.m.: Folks are gonna get all buff and wax poetic about how things were back on Asgard with a free screening of Thor: The Dark World.

Regal Cinemas 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/ movies.

Through May 22: Blended (7 and 10 p.m.); X-Men: Days of Future Past 3D (10 p.m. and 12:01 a.m.); Godzilla (11:40 a.m. and 3, 6:20 and 9:40 p.m.); Godzilla 3D (12:20, 1, 3:40, 4:20, 7, 7:40 and 10:20 p.m.); Million Dollar Arm (12:10, 12:50, 3:30, 4:10, 6:40, 7:20, 9:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Neighbors (11:50 a.m. and 1:50, 2:30, 4:30, 5:10, 7:10, 7:50, 10 and 10:40 p.m.); The Amazing Spider-Man 2 3D (11:30 a.m. and 6:10 p.m.); The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (12:10, 2:40, 3:20, 6:50, 9:30 and

10:10 p.m.); The Other Woman (1:20, 4, 6:50 and 9:20 p.m.); Heaven Is For Real (11:20 a.m., 1:40, 4, 6:30 and 9 p.m.); Rio 2 (1:10, 3:50, 6:30 and 9:10 p.m.); Captain America: The Winter Soldier (12:40, 4:10, 7:30 and 10:50 p.m.).

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Beijing Spring East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org.

May 21-24 8 p.m. and May 25, 2 p.m.: The 25th anniversary of the upheaval in Tiananmen Square gets the musical treatment as East West Players delivers Tim Dang’s treatise on the rebellion and the governmental crackdown. Through June 15.

Bob Baker’s Fun With Strings Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 2509995 or bobbakermarionettes.com.

May 20-23, 10:30 a.m. and May 24-25, 2:30 p.m.: Whimsy knows no bounds as Bob Baker’s 54th season continues with a journey through a monkey circus, a vast winter landscape and Paris.

Hit Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 4890994 or thelatc.org.

May 22-24, 8 p.m. and May 25, 3 p.m.: A hit and run sparks an unlikely romance that sends shockwaves through a network of friends, associates, educators and casual acquaintances.

LA Views: Traffic Jam Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (213) 4890994 or thelatc.org.

May 24, 8 p.m. and May 25, 3 p.m.: In conjunction with Company of Angels, the LATC presents a dramatized collection of thoughts on the state of transportation and culture in Angeleno society. Through May 25.

May 19, 2014 Porgy and Bess Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org.

May 20-23, 8 p.m., May 24, 2 and 8 p.m. and May 25, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: George Gershwin’s jazz age portrait of Charleston, South Carolina returns to the stage with the accompaniment of a rousing 23-piece orchestra. Through June 1.

Sleepaway Camp Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.

May 20, 9 p.m.: Every Tuesday this irreverent stand-up comedy cavalcade takes up residence at the Downtown Independent.

MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews. com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.

2 YOUR EVENT INFO

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT

4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.

May 19, 2014

DT

CLASSIFIEDS REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL home for sale

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AUTOS & RECREATIONAL pre-oWned

Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555 FOR RENT

DoWNtoWN l.a. aUto groUp

Over 1000 vehicles on Sale Now!

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.

BUFFER TANKS for chilled, hot water storage. System tanks with/without insulation, horizontal, vertical types. Hanson Tank pressure vessels for commercial, industrial use. www.hansontank. com. 213-747-7514

ANNOUNCEMENTS notiCes THE WEST LOS ANGELES FAMILySOURCE CENTER is requesting proposals from qualified Nonprofit organizations to provide Legal Services to residents of the City of Los Angeles (West Region). To request a Bid Package please email jsoto@latinoresource.org 310.578.6069 To William E. Auer, you are the beneficiary of a divided interest in the estate of Corinne Auer. you are hereby notified and have 30 days to respond. If you do not respond the balance will be distributed to the four remaining beneficiaries. Call 909-2862693.

LEGAL

Nearly Every Make & Model Visit us online

loft/UnfUrnished

old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts from $1,295 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 laloft.com

apartments/UnfUrnished SENIOR APARTMENTS 62 + Studio $881 1 Bedroom $937.

Balcony, Full Kitchen, A/C, Clubhouse, BBQ, Resource room, Laundry, SEC 8 O.K. Visit GSL SAN LUCAS.com 213623-2010.

SERVICES Cleaning CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants.

Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

dtlamotors.com legal notiCe

EMPLOYMENT general

U.S. GOVT JOBS NOW HIRING Civil Service / Postal Clerks No Experience. Job Security. $20-75 an hour and Benefits CALL NOw! (855) 631-0850

ITEMS FOR SALE BUilding/sUpplies Water storage tanks for commercial, industrial use.

Hydropneumatic, chilled, hot water tanks. Carbon, stainless steel. Los angeles manufacturer. 213-747-7514

NOTICE OF DIVIDED PUBLICATION Made pursuant to Section 3381, Revenue and Taxation Code Pursuant to Sections 3381 through 3385, Revenue and Taxation Code, the Notice of Power to Sell Tax-Defaulted Property in and for Los Angeles County, State of California, has been divided and distributed to various newspapers of general circulation published in the County. A portion of the list appears in each of such newspapers.

For Sale Los Ranchos

• School problems?

• Conflict at home or with friends?

Call marney stofflet, lCsW

(323) 662-9797

4344 fountain ave. (at sunset), suite a los angeles, Ca 90029

Notice is hereby given that real property taxes and assessments on the parcels described below will have been defaulted five or more years, or, in the case of nonresidential commercial property, property on which a nuisance abatement lien has been recorded or that can serve the public benefit by providing housing or services directly related to low-income persons when three or more years have elapsed and a request has been made by a city, county, city and county, or nonprofit organization that property will become subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell.

The parcels listed will become subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell on July 1, 2014, at 12:01 a.m., by operation of law.

The Tax Collector’s power to sell will arise unless the property is either redeemed or made subject to an installment plan of redemption initiated as provided by law prior to 5:00 p.m., on June 30, 2014. The right to an installment plan terminates on June 30, 2014, and after that date the entire balance due must be paid in full to prevent sale of the property at public auction.

The right of redemption survives the property becoming subject to the power to sell, but it terminates at 5:00 p.m. on the last business day before actual sale of the property by the Tax Collector.

All information concerning redemption or the initiation of an installment plan of redemption will be furnished, upon request,

by Mark J. Saladino, Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, 225 North Hill Street, First Floor, Los Angeles, California 90012.

The amount to redeem, in dollars and cents, is set forth opposite its parcel number. This amount includes all defaulted taxes, penalties, and fees that have accrued from the date of tax-default to the date of June 30, 2014.

I certify, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated this 18th day of April, 2014.

MARK J. SALADINO TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR COUNTy OF LOS ANGELES STATE OF CALIFORNIA PARCEL NUMBERING SYSTEM EXPLANATION The Assessor’s Identification Number (AIN), when used to describe property in this list, refers to the Assessor’s map book, the map page, the block on the map, if applicable, and the individual parcel on the map page or in the block. The Assessor’s maps and further explanation of the parcel numbering system are available in the Assessor’s Office, 500 West Temple Street, Room 225, Los Angeles, California 90012.

The real property that is the subject of this notice is situated in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and is described as follows: PROPERTy TAX DEFAULTED IN yEAR 2009 FOR TAXES, ASSESSMENT, AND OTHER CHARGES FOR FISCAL yEAR 2008-2009 3908 $35,419.13 MACKENZIE,KENNETH SITUS:5433 LA MIRADA AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-1010 AIN: 5537-002-021 3909 $8,485.94 CAMPOS,MICHELLE T SITUS:5400 LEXINGTON AVE 3 LOS ANGELES CA 90038 AIN: 5537-006-009 3910 $12,951.35 THE FOUNTAIN THEATRE SITUS:5058 FOUNTAIN AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-1422 AIN: 5540-001-022 PROPERTy TAX DEFAULTED IN yEAR 2004 FOR TAXES, ASSESSMENT, AND OTHER CHARGES FOR FISCAL yEAR 2003-2004 3907 $390,151.62

Creative Office Space

• 5 minutes from shopping • 9 miles from downtown Albuquerque • 8817 4th Street, NW

For appointment call Alex Sanchez 505.898.3934 or cell 505.362.6488 One of the few remaining property of this size in the North Valley

NOTICE OF POLLING PLACES AND DESIGNATION OF TALLY CENTER LOCATION NOTICE IS HEREBy GIVEN that the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s office designated polling places for the STATEWIDE DIRECT PRIMARy ELECTION scheduled to be held on June 3, 2014. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBy GIVEN that the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk’s facility, 12400 Imperial Highway, Norwalk, California 90650 has been designated as the central counting location for the above election. Polling places shall be open between the hours of 7:00 am and 8:00 pm.

Persons requiring multilingual assistance in Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog/Filipino, Thai or Vietnamese regarding information in the notice may call (800) 481-8683.

POLLING PLACES 9000029A ALPINE RECREATION CENTER 817 yale St Los Angeles 90012 9000464B EVANS COMMUNITy ADULT SCHOOL 717 N Figueroa St Los Angeles 90012 9001097A ANGELUS PLAZA 245 S Hill St Los Angeles 90012 9001686A WILLIAM MEAD HOMES 1300 Cardinal St Los Angeles 90012 9002072D EVANS COMMUNITy ADULT SCHOOL 717 N Figueroa St Los Angeles 90012 9002547A ANGELUS PLAZA 255 S Hill St Los Angeles 90012 9003185A BUNKER HILL TOWERS CONDO ASSN 800 W 001st St Los Angeles 90012 9005543C ALPINE RECREATION CENTER 817 yale St Los Angeles 90012 9000493B THE ROSSLyN LOFTS 451 S Main St Los Angeles 90013 9001407B CENTENARy UNITED METH CHURCH 300 S Central Ave Los Angeles 90013

9002089A WEINGART CENTER 554 S San Pedro St Los Angeles 90013 9003922A CENTENARy UNITED METH CHURCH 300 S Central Ave Los Angeles 90013 9003922B CENTENARy UNITED METH CHURCH 300 S Central Ave Los Angeles 90013 9007015A CENTENARy UNITED METH CHURCH 300 S Central Ave Los Angeles 90013 9007016A LITTLE TOKyO TOWERS 455 E 003rd St Los Angeles 90013 9000618A PACIFIC ELECTRIC LOFTS 620 S Main St Los Angeles 90014 9001370A MIDNIGHT MISSION 601 S San Pedro St Los Angeles 90014 9001370B MIDNIGHT MISSION 601 S San Pedro St Los Angeles 90014 9005022A HAyWARD MANOR APARTMENTS 206 W 006th St Los Angeles 90014 9001047B PICO UNION HOUSING 1200 S Union Ave Los Angeles 90015 9001288A LOS ANGELES JOB CORP 1031 S Hill St Los Angeles 90015 9001348A LOS ANGELES JOB CORP 1031 S Hill St Los Angeles 90015 9002155A LOS ANGELES JOB CORP 1031 S Hill St Los Angeles 90015 9002364A TOBERMAN RECREATION CENTER 1725 Toberman St Los Angeles 90015 9003951B FIRE STATION #10 1335 S Olive St Los Angeles 90015 9001499A UNION FERRARO TOWERS 455 S Union Ave Los Angeles 90017 9001704C GRATTS ELEMENTARy SCHOOL 309 S Lucas Ave Los Angeles 90017 9002146A GRATTS ELEMENTARy SCHOOL 309 S Lucas Ave Los Angeles 90017 9005769B IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH 847 Green Ave Los Angeles 90017 DEAN C. LOGAN Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk County of Los Angeles 5/19/14 CNS-2623756# DOWNTOWN NEWS

the LOFT expert!

TM

724 S. Spring St. LA • 900 to 1500 sqft.

• Elegant tiled flooring and polished concrete floors • Brand new A/C, bathrooms in each unit • Spectacular views of Downtown • Great Location, restaurant on the ground floor

Please call (213) 627-6913 • Beautiful view of Sandia mountains • Great for large homes • Alfafa field with irrigation

HAIAZI DEVELOPMENT INC C/O C/O ARA HAIRABEDIAN SITUS:1277 N WESTERN AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90038 AIN: 5537-001-003 legal notiCe

Corporation Bldg. For Lease Seven Acres

adolescent support group now forming ages 13-17 low fee

3361, Revenue and Taxation Code

NOTICE OF IMPENDING POWER TO SELL TAXDEFAULTED PROPERTY Made pursuant to Section

Albuquerque, New Mexico Is your teen experiencing

Downtown News 35

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

Monthly from $600 utilities paid.

(213) 612-0348

Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555 TheLoftExpertGroup.com DRE # 01309009

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555

TheLoftExpertGroup.com BRE #01309009

Voted BEST Downtown Residential Real Estate Agent!

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator.

Full bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $695 utilities paid.

(213) 627-1151

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

36 Downtown News

May 19, 2014

2014

IT’S TIME

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VOTEBESTOF.COM

t of dow

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TO CAST YOUR VOTE!

Voting will be open from May 10 through May 30, 2014. Vote online now at

www.votebestof.com Those weeks will go fast so don’t miss your chance to help define what is best about Downtown.

Win A WEEKEND ON THE TOWN OR AN iPAD MINI!

Fill out the ballot and your e-mail address will be entered in our drawing. The grand prize winner will receive a complimentary two-night stay with overnight parking at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel that includes dinner for two at Noé, $200 spending cash, dinner for two at Morton’s The Steakhouse and a Los Angeles Conservancy private walking tour for up to 15 people. It’s a great package, if we do say so ourselves, worth more than $1,000.

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Text “BESTOF” to 213-784-7832!

Everyone who texts “BESTOF” to 213-784-7832 and votes for Downtown’s Best at votebestof.com will be entered in the contest two times!

VOTING WILL BE OPEN FROM MAY 10 THROUGH MAY 30, 2014.