09-12-16 by Los Angeles Downtown News

September 12, 2016 I VOL. 45 I #37

Downtown Development PAGES 7-16

Plus a Special Residential Section: Pages 17-23

photo by Gary Leonard

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. SINCE 1972

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AROUND TOWN

Shade Structure to Be Installed at Grand Park This Week

ven though fall is approaching, Los Angeles remains hot. Starting this week, those passing through Grand Park will have a way to get out of the sun. On Tuesday, Sept. 13, at noon, a ceremony will be held to officially open the park’s long-awaited shade structure. Artists Elenita Torres and Dean Sherriff earlier this year won a public art competition with their “Paper Airplane” design; the 11 large overlapping silhouettes are meant to look like a flock of paper airplanes in flight. The shade structure will be installed in the section of the park between Grand Avenue and Hill Street. Torres and Sherriff beat out nearly 60 entries; the public had a role in voting for the winner. The project was made possible after Grand Park won $100,000 from the Goldhirsh Foundation’s My LA2050 Grants Challenge. The artists will receive a $15,000 commission.

Arts District Farmers Market Moves to Saturdays, Expands

he Arts District Farmers Market has long been held on Thursday afternoons, but crowds were not always as large as hoped, and community outreach by its organizer, the nonprofit Los Angeles River Artists and Business

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS Association, revealed that many people found it difficult to visit during the workday. So starting Sept. 10, the market has moved to Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. That’s not the only change, as with the new date and time comes a major expansion of the offerings at the intersection of Traction Avenue and Third Street. LARABA has teamed up with the flea market event Artist & Fleas to offer both food and a melange of vintage clothing, decor and more. The Arts District Farmers Market had around 20 vendors in the past; the collaboration is bringing together more than 40 Artist & Fleas vendors and 25-plus farmers market stalls offering vegetables, fruits, prepared foods and more. The expansion is shutting down parts of Third and Rose streets, creating a more pedestrian-friendly market. It comes as the area’s residential scene is expanding, creating more potential market patrons — the 320-apartment Garey Building opened in July.

ave you ever wanted to show the world your unique sense of style? If so, you’re in luck, as Los Angeles Downtown News is looking for a few good homes. On Oct. 10 we’ll publish the next installment in our “What’s in My Loft?” series. We’re looking for local apartment or condominium dwellers who are willing to open their doors to a reporter and photographer and show off a few of their favorite things. “Loft,” by the way, is a loose term, as inhabitants of traditional residences can also get in on the action (candidates must be willing to be photographed). So if you have a stellar sense of style, or just a bunch of cool things and are willing to share them with the rest

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We’re Looking for a Few Cool Downtown Homes

September 12, 2016

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of Downtown, then we want to hear from you. If interested, email a description and photo of your home to dawn@downtownnews.com.

Council Appoints Homelessness Czar

ith homelessness a crisis in Los Angeles, the City Council has been on a hunt for a full-time homelessness coordinator. Last week, it revealed its pick: Meg Barclay, who has experience with homeless nonprofits, worked with the U.S. Department of Housing and Ur-

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ban Development, and is currently overseeing the Market Investments and Innovation unit at the city’s Economic and Workforce Development Department. She will work as the point person for the city on homelessness issues, including the implementation of a $1.85 billion Comprehensive Homelessness Strategy. One of Barclay’s tasks will be bringing together entities including the county, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, and private-sector and nonprofit partners, according to 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, who is vice chair of the council’s Homelessness and Continued on page 24

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EDITORIALS

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

The Tallest Building In the West*

few days ago, the Downtown Los Angeles EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris skyline changed in a way that it hasn’t for deGENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin cades. On Sept. 3, the final piece of the 294foot spire was affixed to the top of the under-conEXECUTIVE EDITOR: Jon Regardie struction Wilshire Grand replacement project. At SENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim 1,099 feet, it now ranks as the tallest building west of STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton the Mississippi River, eclipsing another Downtown CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Kathryn Maese S I N C E 19 7 2 structure, U.S. Bank Tower, which opened in 1989. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer Los Angeles Downtown News Is it fair to call the Wilshire Grand the tallest 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 building in the west? Yes and no. The spire is decART DIRECTOR: Brian Allison phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 orative and soars well above a curved steel-andASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa web: DowntownNews.com glass element, known as the “sail,” on top of the email: realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard building. The spire seems to have no real role other facebook: than as a bragging point, and it’s not like lopping ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt L.A. Downtown News it off would make the project any less impressive. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway twitter: Adding the spire is akin to letting a six-foot-tall ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens, DowntownNews S Ihe’s N C E 19 7 2 man balance a yardstick on his head and claim Michael Lamb Los Angeles Downtown News nine feet tall. The owners of U.S. Bank Tower could ©2016 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News SALES ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. 1264 W. First Street,long Los Angeles, 90026 attach a 100-foot stick toCA the top of their The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newsphone: 213-481-1448 • fax:to 213-250-4617 CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon structure and then claim be the tallest. paper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown DISTRIBUTION MANAGER: Salvador Ingles The designation, however, is not the most imporLos Angeles. DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla One copy per person. tant thing about the new structure. Far from it. Infacebook: twitter: L.A.$1.1 Downtown the Dodgers or not. This was a no-go at a time when more and stead, the billionNews Wilshire Grand earnsDowntownNews its mark ou might be tempted to cheer at the recent news that the more people are rejecting hefty monthly cable bills and instead by virtue of a unique design from architecture firm final six regular season Los Angeles Dodgers games will AC Martin, by eradicating a decades-old directive that be broadcast on over-the-air station KTLA-Channel 5. This EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris are cutting the cord. EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris all Los Angeles buildings must have flat roofs, and by means that everyone who has been unable to watch the team for Eastin Some hoped that a breakthrough would occur after Charter GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin what it will mean in the future for Downtown. three years due to a dunderheaded business dispute will get the Communications acquired Time Warner in May. However, the imEDITOR: Jon Regardie chance to enjoy the legendary Vin Scully EXECUTIVE calling his EDITOR: final games passe remains. EXECUTIVE The flat-roof designation was written to allow heliJon Regardie SENIORto WRITER: Eddie (not counting the playoffs). copters land on topKim of high-rises in the event of a Who’s to blame? Some people think Time Warner Cable or CharSENIOR WRITER: Eddie Kim STAFF WRITER: Nicholas Slayton fire or other emergency. The Wilshire Grand design Just don’t applaud too loudly, becauseSTAFF ultimately very little has WRITER: Nicholas Slaytonter have been greedy. Others complain that DirecTV and Dish EDITOR: the Kathryn Maese ersCONTRIBUTING and its developer, Korean company Hanjin, been won. Praising the team and the company that controls theKathryn Network CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: Maese won’t engage in good-faith negotiations. There may be CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Favre, Greg Fischer argued that new safety Jeff technology made the old rule something to those arguments, but this page broadcasting rights would be like cheering a kid who opts not to SIN C E continues 19 7 2 to believe CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer obsolete. LocalBrian officials were ultimately persuaded. In that the primary culprit is the owner of the Dodgers, Guggenheim turn in a major school report when it is due in September, but inART DIRECTOR: Allison Los Angeles Downtown News the future, Los expect a re-imagined skyBaseball Management. 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 stead delivers it six days before the academic year ends.Brian Forget the ASSISTANT ART Angeles DIRECTOR:can Yumi Kanegawa ART DIRECTOR: Allison line, one that is less boxy and flat, and that contains “Atta boy!” It still counts as failure. When the group acquired the213-481-1448 team from Frank McCourt, they phone: • fax: 213-250-4617 ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR: Yumi Kanegawa PHOTOGRAPHER: Gary Leonard more of the unique high-rise architecture seen in oth Is simulcasting six games on a channel that most Angelenos were treated like conquering They soon inked a 25web: heroes. DowntownNews.com Ashley erACCOUNTING: cities around the Schmidt globe. to broadcast the games. can see better than nothing? Yes, it is. That said, it’s not much email:Warner realpeople@downtownnews.com PHOTOGRAPHER: GarybetLeonard year, $8 billion deal with Time ter than nothing, and nothing is precisely what the majority of fans While great for the bottom line, the team owners either failed to CLASSIFIED The project will improve Downtown in other ways. ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway facebook: ACCOUNTING: Ashley Schmidt see or ignored the turmoil that would ensue. The Guggenheim have received for three years. With 900 hotel roomsCatherine it will enhance communiACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Holloway,the Brenda Stevens, Michael Lamb L.A. Downtown News group may want to blame the TV providers, but if they had not ty’s roleASSISTANT: as a convention The 400,000 square feet To recap and simplify, many fans have been unable to see the SALES Claudia hub. Hernandez CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Holloway asked for so much in the first place, then ensuing deals would ofCIRCULATION: office spaceDanielle will bring thousands of new workers team since the SportsNet LA network was launched as a Dodgtwitter: Salmon ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES: Catherinelikely Holloway, DowntownNews have been easier to achieve. toDISTRIBUTION the area, and some of them may end up living in ers vehicle during the 2014 season. Time Warner Cable startMANAGER: Salvador Ingles Brenda Stevens, Michael the community, too. Tourists andCastillo, locals will visitBonilla the ed the network and showed games to its subscribers, but hasLamb The net result is that Guggenheim got paid, while the majority DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: Lorenzo Gustavo SALES cable ASSISTANT: Claudia Hernandez ©2016 Center Inc. Los restaurants, shops and the sky-high viewing area. been unable to reach a deal with most other and satellite of Dodgers fans still can’t see theirCivic team andNews, still can’t hearAngeles Scully. News is a trademark of Civic Center News TV providers, including DirecTV and Dish Network, to carry the Six games doesn’t make upDowntown for three missed years. ©2016 This is a historic moment for Downtown. Theisspire Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News a trademark of Civic Inc. All rights reserved. Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News do is the must-read channel. The other providers balked at the price Time Warner may just be for looks and the record book, and somethe Dodgers should whatever CIRCULATION: Danielle Salmon We continue to believe that The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is diswanted — to make a deal pencil DISTRIBUTION out, the otherMANAGER: carriers Salvador times suffices. Fortunately, more to the of Downtown Cable it takes the original deal, and if they have to and is that distributed every Monday throughoutthere’s the offices and residences Los Inglesto blow up or rework tributed every Monday throughout the offices and Angeles. than that. would reportedly have had to charge their customers an extra Lorenzo building pay aCastillo, hefty penalty, so be it. The fans deserve right to see their residences of Downtown Losthe Angeles. DISTRIBUTION ASSISTANTS: One copy per person. $4 to $5 a month, no matter whether the subscriber team without having to change TVper providers. One copy person. Gustavo Bonillawatched

Six Dodgers Games on TV Is Not a Win

EDITOR & PUBLISHER: Sue Laris GENERAL MANAGER: Dawn Eastin

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

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

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

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The Food Stand Drug-Dealing Shutdown LAPD Pressure Leads Department Store to Shutter a Narcotics Hot Spot By Eddie Kim troll along Fifth Street between Hill Street and Broadway, and you’ll find a galleylike little restaurant space hiding behind tall panes of fogged, scratched glass. The oncebustling spot sits dark, cool and quiet. The space for years was leased to a momand-pop duo who slung cheap hamburgers, nachos and other quick bites to Historic Core crowds. Then, in July, the management of Fallas Paredes, the value-minded department store that sits on the northwest corner of Fifth and Broadway and owns the restaurant space, shut it all down. As Los Angeles Police Department Senior Lead Officer Sean Lewis puts it, the restaurant will never open again — and it has nothing to do with the food. For nearly two years, the eating area was a hotbed of drug sales. Dealers would cut deals while sitting in the worn formica booths, and became so bold as to count out pills and baggies on tabletops in plain view of other diners and passersby on the sidewalk, Lewis recalled. “It became real tiring for residents and tenants who live and work around there. We had foot beat officers out there, but inside the restaurant, it was like hide-and-seek crossed with a chess game,” Lewis said. “We go, they disappear. We leave, they’re back.”

The intersection of Fifth and Broadway has long been a notorious spot for drug deals, and Lewis has seen it all. He led the 2014 investigation of a Rite Aid pharmacist who was illegally dispensing tens of thousands of painkillers, some of which were allegedly sold just outside of the store. Central Division’s narcotics unit would routinely arrest three or four suspects a month at the restaurant space, Lewis said. For a time, he added, Fallas Paredes management did little in response. It took a quip from a stranger to begin the process of finding a solution. “The director of security for Fallas and I walked through the restaurant, and some random person said, ‘I’m so glad to see you because they’re slinging heroin out of here,’” Lewis said. “That’s when they put in cameras. It helped only a little.” Fallas Paredes representatives declined repeated requests for comment. Eventually, Lewis said, City Attorney Mike Feuer’s office stepped in and tried to find a solution. In the end, Fallas chose to shut down the space. It is unclear what will become of the restaurant. The owners of the restaurant could not be reached. The LAPD did not involve the business owners in the investigation out of fear that they would

For more than two years, according to the LAPD, dealers peddled drugs in a restaurant at Fifth and Hill streets. The entire space has now been shut down.

photo by Eddie Kim

face retaliation from the dealers, Lewis said, adding that the proprietors of many mom-and-pop shops choose to ignore criminal or gang activity if their customers aren’t being disturbed. “They don’t want trouble, and their eyes are wide shut. So we had to decide, how can someone control who gets to sit there or not?” he said. “We tried to get creative with arrests, but it only went so far.” Hence, the shutdown. Lewis suspects there’s a ringleader, but the department has not iden-

tified a suspect. He admits that the dealers could be back on the street in other locations, but that for the LAPD, the best course of action after attempting to investigate them was to simply shut down their hangout. Last month, however, an LAPD narcotics team arrested a man who hung out at the food court; he was caught with a large stash of illegal drugs in his backpack, Lewis said. By press time, the suspect has not yet been charged. eddie@downtownnews.com

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September 12, 2016

Park Creation Fees To Rise By Eddie Kim ith a rush of new housing rising in post-recession Los Angeles, city officials began looking at reforming the three-decade-old system for collecting fees for park creation from residential developers. On Wednesday, Sept. 7, the City Council unanimously voted to update the policy, effectively raising existing fees, expanding the program to include more types of housing, and widening where and how the money can be used. The measure now awaits approval from Mayor Eric Garcetti, which is expected soon. Currently, developers pay between $2,800 and $8,000 per condominium unit and single family home in what are known as Quimby fees. The majority of apartment units were exempt unless the building required zoning changes. Under the new rules, which goes into effect 120 days after Garcetti signs off, fees for condos and single family homes are rising to $10,000, while apartment units would be charged $5,000 each, whether there is a zone change or not. Developers will still be given the option of creating public park space themselves instead of paying the fee.

The city has set aside $21 million in Quimby fees, which are charged to housing developers, for the coming First and Broadway Park. The City Council last week voted to hike Quimby rates. image by Agency Ter

All subsidized affordable housing units are exempt from the park fees, even if they are in an otherwise market-rate building. While the hikes are significant, the city is still trying to catch up to growing park needs. One study conducted last year by the city found that an average fee of $18,364 per unit would be needed to maintain the current ratio of 4.2 acres of park space per 1,000 people. Another study from the Department of City Planning found that developers could potentially bear up to $12,500 per house or condo and $7,500 per apartment. Quimby fees, which can only be used for park creation or improvement but not maintenance of existing parks, have come into play recently in Downtown Los Angeles. The Spring Street Park was funded in part by Quimby fees. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar has secured nearly $21 million in Quimby funds for the proposed park at First Street and Broadway. Huizar, who also serves as chairman of the council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee, said the fee hike could bring L.A. an additional $30 million for park creation a year. About $20 million-$22 million is currently collected annually from an average of 15,000 housing units, according to the city. Huizar also championed changes to where Quimby funds can be spent. The new policy allows the city to spend fees within a 10mile radius of the unit assessed. Previously, that radius was limited to a half-mile for any “neighborhood” park or two miles for a larger “community” park. “I was frustrated that the radius wasn’t as big as we would like it. We saw some available Quimby funds but couldn’t put them in parks we wanted to put them in because that radius was too small,” Huizar said at Wednesday’s vote. Groups representing developers and business interests had in the past expressed concern about the fee hike, as well as whether already proposed and planned projects would need to recalculate costs. The Central City Association, for instance, pushed for a longer grace period. The council ultimately voted to have the new fees go into effect in four months, meaning most projects already submitted to the city won’t face the increased rates. At Wednesday’s meeting, Marie Rumsey, director of legislative affairs for the CCA, called the timeline a “balanced approach to assure that most projects in the pipeline do not get surprised by a new park fee structure.” eddie@downtownnews.com

September 12, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Downtown News 7

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT Downtown Development: Welcome to the Next Phase The Latest Updates on 105 Downtown Projects By Eddie Kim, Emily Manthei, Jon Regardie and Nicholas Slayton s Downtown Los Angeles boomed over the past five years, a big question persisted: How long could the rush of housing, office space, civic projects and other developments last? Will the market, particularly on the residential side, become saturated and slow down? The answer has become clear in the last few months: Barring an unexpected economic downturn, the Downtown market will continue to grow, and the housing sector in particular will expand for at least the next three or four years. The evidence comes in the work that is in the early stages today. Even as big projects such as Chinatown’s Blossom Plaza and the Arts District’s Garey Building open, new developments are either breaking ground or being broached. Work finally started last month on the longawaited Park Fifth near Pershing Square. A new developer is in place for the 34-story tower at Fourth Street and Broadway. That’s just the start, and many of the projects are slated to come online in 2019 or 2020. In the following pages Los Angeles Downtown News runs down the latest information on 105 projects. These range from a trio of billion-dollar mixed-use developments in South Park to a park in the Arts District to a flurry of hotels across the community. Once again, wherever you look, you see cranes. Get used to them — they’ll be here for a while.

Construction Group, acquired a nearly oneacre parcel at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Broadway last year for $32 million, and is sprucing up previously announced plans for a high-rise. CallisonRTKL is handling designs for a 34-story building that will have 450 residential units. No budget has been announced. According to a project representative, the plan is to break ground early next year and finish construction in 2020. The project would include 7,000 square feet of groundfloor retail space.

NEW PROJECTS These projects were either publicly announced, were revived or gained prominence in the past four months. 520 MATEO ST. A large mixed-use project has been proposed for the Arts District. According to plans filed with the city, developer Carmel Partners would create 600 live/work condominiums on a two-acre plot at 520 Mateo St. along Santa Fe Avenue and Fourth Place. The project would have 60,000 square feet of retail space. A 1988 industrial building on the site would need to be demolished to make way for a new complex, though details of the layout remain unclear. The project would be near the similar mixeduse At Mateo development. The budget and timeline are unknown. BROOKS BUILDING Plans have been announced to turn the former J.E. Carr Building next to Clifton’s Cafeteria into a 30-unit residential development. The project at 644 S. Broadway will be called the Brooks Building, after a former tenant. The developer, dubbed 640 S. Broadway, is made up of the longtime owner and outside investment partners. The Renaissance Revival-style edifice opened in 1909 as the home of a furniture company, but the upper levels have been vacant since the 1980s. Santa Monica-based HLW Architects is handling the designs. An addition-

photo by Gary Leonard

al level will be added to the seven-story structure and the converted property will include one- and two-bedroom apartments. Also in the works is a 2,500-square-foot ground-floor bar and an automated parking facility. No timeline or budget have been revealed. CECIL HOTEL RENOVATION The 15-story edifice at 640 S. Main St. is getting an overhaul from New York City-based Simon Baron Development. The company signed a 99year lease for just under $3 million per year to operate the Historic Core building, which now includes the budget Stay on Main hotel. Half of the building will remain a hotel. Architecture firm Omgivning is handling designs and the new operator will also add a low-income housing component. The New York City-based company Ollie will lease and operate 301 microapartments in the property. The budget for the redevelopment has not been revealed, but the project is expected to start construction in the spring of 2017. EIGHTH AND FIGUEROA TOWER Developer Mitsui Fudosan America is seeking entitlements to build a 43-story tower on a current parking lot near the FIGat7th shopping center. Renderings from the Chinatown-based architecture firm Johnson Fain show a steel and glass edifice at Eighth and Figueroa streets with a wide podium that holds an amenities deck. The high-rise would house 436 apartments; the project would also have 460 parking spaces, 400 bicycle stalls and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space fronting both Figueroa and Eighth streets. Mitsui Fudosan America is the U.S. subsidiary of Japanese developer Mitsui Fudosan. This would be its first project in Los Angeles. The budget and timeline have not been announced. FOURTH AND BROADWAY TOWER SCG America, a subsidiary of China’s Shanghai

GARLAND BUILDING Plans are in the works to turn the 11-story edifice at 740 S. Broadway into 47 residential units, according to project representative Kate Bartolo. The Santa Monica-based HLW Architects will handle the designs for the project known as the Garland Building, after William Garland, the original developer of the 1913 structure. The building houses the Globe Theater; the venue will remain open during construction. A pair of bars will be created on the ground floor, one on either side of the theater. The project’s timeline and budget have not been announced. The building currently lacks parking; Bartolo said the developers are exploring ways to provide parking to future tenants. MUSIC CENTER PLAZA RENOVATION In July, County Supervisor Hilda Solis and Music Center President and CEO Rachel Moore announced that a major renovation is in the works for the 52-year-old campus bounded by Grand Avenue and Temple, Hope and First streets. The $30 million project will rework the Music Center Plaza, flattening various rises and dips, and extending the eastern stairway so it stretches across more of the Grand Avenue side, enhancing views to Grand Park and the Civic Center and increasing interactivity with the community. Work is scheduled to start by February and last 14 months. The majority of the funds will be allocated by the county, though the Music Center must raise $5 million on its own. Three new restaurants will open and there will be enhanced patio seating. The project includes the installation of permanent restrooms; facilities are currently in portable trailers. SUBWAY TERMINAL BUILDING UPGRADES Developer Forest City is working on turning 130,000 vacant square feet of space in the Subway Terminal Building into retail and office space; that includes the ground floor and two subterranean levels, according to Nate Arnold, senior construction project manager for Forest City. The building opened in 1925 as a hub for the Red Car subway, and the upper floors have been turned into a housing complex known as Metro 417. Plans call for making the street level space a commercial market, while the first lower level would become office space. The lowest level would also be commercial space. The building is currently being brought up to code. Arnold said that there is no estimate on when the project will open. The retail leasing is

being handled by Jones Lang LaSalle; no tenants have been signed. RESIDENTIAL 255 GRAND RENOVATION A number of common space improvements have been completed at the former Grand Promenade tower, now known as 255 Grand, according to the building’s general manager, Aaron Bazile. Additions include a 2,200-squarefoot fitness center, barbeque grills, meeting rooms and outdoor fire pits. Owners Goldrich and Kest Industries and Shapell Properties are modernizing the 1989 building on Bunker Hill to allow it to compete with Downtown’s collection of new rental complexes. The budget is $34 million, and units on 13 of the 27 floors have been updated. The 391 apartments include two levels of penthouses. Bazile said the renovation is slated to be finished in October of 2017. 801 E. FIFTH ST. Developer Daryoush Dayan aims to modernize former Salvation Army structures at 801, 809 and 813 E. Fifth St., which currently stand boarded up and unoccupied. According to the most recent information available, Dayan is seeking entitlements to convert the Skid Row buildings into 132 market-rate micro-lofts, starting at 214 square feet. The 66,000-squarefoot project would include a fourth building, at 721 E. Fifth St., with 28 micro-loft units of veteran housing. There would also be 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Downtown-based David Gray Architects is handling the designs. No timeline or budget have been announced. 801 S. OLIVE ST. The glass façade at San Francisco-based Carmel Partners’ 33-story residential tower at 801 S. Olive St. is largely complete, and work on the interior build-out is ongoing. The project is slated to wrap in late 2017, according to company Senior Vice President of Development Dan Garibaldi. The tower at Eighth and Olive streets will have 363 units, with studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments and eight penthouses. Amenities will include a rooftop pool and lounge area, a second pool and recreation area on the fifthfloor deck, a fitness center and more. There will also be 10,000 square feet of street-facing retail. The tower’s five-story parking facility will be wrapped in translucent panels so that it glows softly at night. 825 S. HILL ST. Construction continues on the Onni Group’s 49-story tower at 825 S. Hill St. The Vancouverbased company broke ground on the project, which spans the block from Hill Street to Olive Street, in February. The project, which will create 490 apartments, is progressing on schedule, according to Onni Development Manager Mark Spector, though he did not reveal an anticipated opening date. Chris Dikeakos ArchiContinued on page 8

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to Palmer’s under-construction Broadway Palace, which will create nearly 700 apartments in new seven- and 10-story buildings at Olympic Boulevard and Broadway. 1001 OLIVE AND OLYMPIC Construction continues at Lennar Multifamily’s seven-story, 201-apartment complex at 1001 S. Olive St. The rippled metal facade designed by KTGY Architects is complete on the upper levels, and construction crews are installing windows and finishing the exteriors on the ground floor, which will house 4,100 square feet of retail space. The complex will have 480- to 1,088-squarefoot units and 12 two-story townhomes. Amenities will include a pool deck, a roof deck, a dog run, a large fitness center and 208 parking spaces.

photo by Gary Leonard

tects is handling the designs. Amenities will include a roof deck and pool. No budget has been revealed. 888 S. HOPE ST. The CIM Group has restarted a 34-story apartment building at 888 S. Hope St., following a roughly one-year delay. It is rising next to a 654-stall parking structure the company previously completed. The Financial District high-rise will include 525 rental units, along with a 30,000-square-foot podium deck. Amenities will include a lounge on the tower’s roof. Downtown-based CallisonRTKL is handling designs. No budget or timeline have been revealed. At 888hope.com. 920 S. HILL ST. A 239-condominium building from developer Barry Shy is still in the entitlement phase, according to project representative Kate Bartolo. The 32-story tower at 920 S. Hill St., behind the Ace Hotel, would also hold five commercial spaces. The project is being designed by David Takacs Architecture and no budget has been announced. The discovery of new seismic data has forced the developer to revise the physical siting of the building, but the residential and commercial aspects are unchanged, Bartolo said. 950 E. THIRD ST.

1212 S. FLOWER ST. The Vancouver-based developer Onni Group is awaiting permits for a proposed South Park high-rise. According to Mark Spector, the company’s development manager, the project would include a 40-story tower and a 31-floor edifice. The steel-and-glass buildings, both being designed by Chris Dikeakos Architects, would be connected by a podium deck. The structures would create a total of 730 residential units along with 842 parking stalls. The budget and timeline have not been revealed. 1400 S. FIGUEROA ST. Excavation is complete at DHG Family Trust’s South Park housing project across the street from the Los Angeles Convention Center, and crews from Fassberg Contracting are beginning to frame the seven-story complex. Designs by GMP Architects call for 106 residential units and roughly 4,700 square feet of commercial space, in addition to a rooftop lounge and second-floor pool deck. No budget has been revealed. The building is expected to open in late 2017. ALEXAN The Department of City Planning in July approved developer Trammell Crow Residential’s proposed 27-story tower at 850 S. Hill St. Neighbors have protested the project, known as the Alexan, and the development is currently in the appeals process. The Alexan, designed by the architecture firm CallisonRTKL, would rise next to the Eastern Columbia Building (inhabitants of that condominium complex are among those opposing the project) and include 305 apartments. Plans call for 336 parking stalls, a 2,700-square-foot rooftop deck and a landscaped podium on the seventh floor. The ground floor would hold 6,200 square feet of retail space.

acquired the one-acre site at 343 S. Hill St. in 2014. Designs by TCA Architects show a 33-story tower with 428 studio to twobedroom apartments, with 22 of the residences set aside for very low-income housing. The 10-story podium at the project known as the Beacon Tower would hold 433 parking stalls. Equity Residential said the goal is to break ground by the end of the year, with construction lasting two years. The work would also involve updating the Pershing Square Metro station, which is across the street from the proposed building. Some nearby property owners and business leaders have protested the design of the Beacon Tower, claiming it is out of character with nearby buildings and too tall for the neighborhood. BROADWAY AND OLYMPIC CONDOS Developers Barry Shy and Joe Bednar are still seeking entitlements for a condominium complex at 995 S. Broadway, according to project representative Kate Bartolo. Plans call for creating a 15-story structure with 163 for-sale residences. There would also be eight ground-floor commercial spaces, a rooftop pool and an outdoor space on the second floor. Although a groundbreaking date has not been set, construction is expected to last 18 months. The budget has not been revealed. BROADWAY PALACE Developer G.H. Palmer Associates is completing interior work on a two-building project at Olympic Boulevard and Broadway. Broadway Palace includes a 10-story, 439-apartment building and a six-story, 247-unit structure on adjacent lots. Unlike most of company head Geoff Palmer’s projects, which have a Mediterranean look, Broadway Palace will feature brick facades that complement the historic buildings on Broadway. The project with a total of 686 apartments is scheduled to be complete early next year, according to company head Geoff Palmer. The complex is a partnership between Palmer and parking lot company L&R Group. At ghpalmer.com. BUNKER HILL TOWERS UPGRADE

AMP LOFTS Greystar Real Estate Partners acquired a development site at 695 S. Santa Fe Ave. in 2015 for $43.4 million. Although the company did not respond to recent requests for comment, in the past a project representative told Los Angeles Downtown News that it would continue with plans developed by Balour Associates, the previous owner. The design from Shimoda Design Partners shows a J-shaped complex, made up of two, three- and sevenstory buildings, holding 320 live/work apartments. There would also be 20,000 square feet of commercial space, a community garden and 390 parking stalls. photo by Gary Leonard

BEACON TOWER

The Arts District development broke ground in March and is on schedule for a late 2018 opening. A project from Fairfield Residential and Legendary Development, the six-acre site will include five six-story buildings holding a total of 472 studio to two-bedroom apartments. According to Dilip Bhavnani, a principal with Legendary, the complex will also have rooftop decks, a courtyard and 22,000 square feet of retail space. Kava Massih Architects is designing the project. 950 S. BROADWAY Developer G.H. Palmer Associates is nearly finished with its first adaptive reuse project, a renovation of a small 1913 building at 950 S. Broadway. The seven-story edifice has 30 apartments, with a rooftop deck and approximately 7,500 square feet of retail space on the street and basement levels. The design from Killefer Flammang Architects includes a decorative cornice along the roofline and balconies to better reflect the original design. The building is expected to open by the end of the year, according to a project representative. The 102-year-old edifice sits next

photo by Gary Leonard

rendering courtesy Equity Residential

Equity Residential is still seeking permits for a high-rise project at the northeast corner of Fourth and Hill Streets. The developer

Essex Apartment Homes continues its renovation of the Bunker Hill Towers at 234 S. Figueroa St. The 456 apartments in the two 19-story buildings are getting new HVAC systems and plumbing lines, and windows are being replaced with energy-efficient panes. Balconies are being added to most units. Barb Pak, Essex’s vice president of investor relations, said that interior work is expected to last about two more years, as the residences will be upgraded in phases as tenants leave or transfer to temporary units. The project includes a new 11,000-square-foot amenity building on a current parking lot. It will contain a rooftop pool

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receive all city approvals and break ground by the end of the year. Designs by architecture firm BGA Inc. call for 77 one- and two-bedroom units of 700-1,200 square feet, as well as a fitness center, pool, lounge, barbeques, dining areas and a dog run. An opening is expected in 2018. The project would include three levels of parking and bicycle storage, as well as 2,500 square feet of retail space. The budget has not been revealed. At etcohomes. com.

and fitness center, as well as street-level retail space. Construction is scheduled to begin next year. The budget of the renovation is $76 million. CAREER LOFTS Newport Beach-based United American Properties is waiting on permits for a City West development. Two buildings would rise adjacent to each other at 675 S. Bixel St. and 1111 W. Seventh St. One would be a 36-story tower holding 422 apartments, a podium deck with a pool, and 5,600 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. The other would be a seven-story, 126-room hotel. The combined parking for the complex would hold 596 stalls. Both buildings are being designed by the architecture firm Humphreys & Partners. The budget and timeline have not been disclosed. CATALINA BUILDING Newport Beach-based Statewide Acquisition Corp. bought the 1923 Catalina Building in the spring for $20.5 million, and is working on plans to turn the six-story former office structure into 78 live/work lofts, each measuring about 750 square feet; the project would include 14 penthouses and a pair of groundfloor retail spaces. The development at 443 S. San Pedro St. is in the planning and design stage, and bids for construction are being sought, according to Kent Hawkins, a manager at Statewide Acquisitions. Statewide wants the building, originally designed by Chateau Marmont architect William Douglas Lee, to become a designated historical landmark. Architecture firm Omgivning is handling the designs and the work will include removing stucco on the lower levels to restore the original terra cotta facade. Statewide also wants to cover two sides of the property with murals in the style of old swimwear pinup ads, in homage to the original occupant, the Catalina Swimwear Company, said Hawkins. The goal is to begin construction early next year and open in the first quarter of 2018. No budget has been announced. E. ON GRAND Framing and roofing on the seven-story E. on Grand are now

photo by Gary Leonard

complete, said David Pourbaba, CEO of West Hollywood-based 4D Development. The $30 million effort at 1249 S. Grand Ave., at the northwest corner of Pico Boulevard and Grand Avenue, will have 115 studio to two-bedroom units. Residences will average 700 square feet and each will have a glass balcony. Rents will be approximately $3.50 per square foot, said Pourbaba. Architecture firm AFCO Design is orchestrating the articulated facade that will feature colored accent panels. Amenities will include a pool, deck, recreation room, gym and two levels of underground parking, as well as 5,000 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. Negotiations are ongoing with a coffee shop and a supermarket, said Pourbaba. 4D expects to open E. on Grand next January. At 4ddevelopment.us. ETCO HOMES LITTLE TOKYO Beverly Hills-based developer Etco Homes is in the environmental review stage for an eight-story condominium complex at 118 Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka St., according to Carl Steinberg, Etcoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vice president of community development. He hopes to

FERRANTE The City Planning department is reviewing plans from developer G.H. Palmer Associates for Ferrante, which would create approximately 1,500 apartments and 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space on a 9.6-acre plot at 1000 W. Temple St. The site, along the western edge of the 110 Freeway and across from the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, currently holds a 10-story office building and a four-floor parking structure that would be demolished. Ferrante would include parking for about 2,600 vehicles and 1,680 bicycles, according to documents filed with City Planning. Like Palmerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other Downtown projects, Ferrante would have numerous indoor and outdoor amenities including rooftop decks and pools. No budget or timeline has been revealed, but the planning filing indicates a 2018 completion. At ghpalmer.com. FOREST CITY/SOUTH PARK Developer Forest City is still in the process of framing a pair of seven-story housing complexes at 1100 S. Hill St. and 1200 S. Broadway, according to director of development K.C. Yasmer. The Hill Street building will create 177 studio to two-bedroom apartments above 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space, with a pedestrian paseo connecting the structure to the nearby Herald Examiner Building. The Broadway edifice will stand atop an identical 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail, and will hold 214 studio to two-bedroom units. Residences at the $135 million development will range from 500-1,200 square feet and amenities will include a pool, spa, outdoor deck, fitness center, barbeques, pet facilities and a film room. Harley Ellis Devereaux Continued on page 10

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PROJECT UPDATES, 9 and Togawa Smith Martin are designing the project that will also have 500 parking stalls and 450 bicycle spaces. It is expected to open in the summer of 2017. G12 Much of the exterior work has been completed at developer Sonny Astani’s seven-story building at the corner of 12th Street and Grand Avenue — it is the second phase of a two-stage project, with the OLiVE DTLA building nearly ready to open. Next to come at G12, according to project spokeswoman Amber Huntley-Ruiz, are exterior and interior finishes. She added that plans are to begin pre-leasing late this year and start move-ins in the first quarter of 2017. The 347 apartments will average 700 square feet, and there will be some ground-floor retail and commercial space. There will also be subterranean parking. No budget has been revealed. At astanienterprises.com. GRAND RESIDENCES City Century, LLC, a subsidiary of the Shanghai-based developer Shenglong Group, is preparing to start work on a South Park tower, according to City Century Executive Vice President of Development Stuart Morkun. The hexagonal, 24-story project will rise at 1233 S. Grand Ave. Steinberg Architects is handling designs for the development known as the Grand Residences. The project will include 15 studios, 97 one-bedrooms, 47 twobedrooms and six three-bedroom units. There will also be a rooftop amenities deck with a pool, plus 215 parking stalls. A groundbreaking is expected by the end of the year, Morkun said. HOLLAND PARTNER GROUP/732 S. SPRING ST. Developer Holland Partner Group is in construction on a 24-story tower at 732 S. Spring St., according to Southern California division head Tom Warren. The number of apartments from original plans has been increased, and renderings for the 303-unit building show a structure with glass and steel on the upper floors, and a number of protruding balconies on approximately a dozen levels over Spring Street. The Historic Core project would contain a pool and terrace, as well as about 7,200 square feet of groundfloor commercial space. It is expected to open by the end of 2018. HOLLAND PARTNER GROUP/EIGHTH AND SPRING Developer Holland Partner Group broke ground on a 24-story tower at Eighth and Spring streets in January, and construction is slated to last until summer 2018, according to Tom Warren, head of Holland Partner’s Southern California division. Plans have been tweaked and the development will now have 275, not 320, apartments. The project being designed by Irvinebased architecture firm MVE & Partners will have an eclectic façade, melding a Beaux-Arts feel near the ground level with stone details, and a mix of steel-and-glass elements above. Amenities will include a pool, rooftop deck and 8,900 square feet of retail space. It is expected to open by the end of 2018.

leasing next May, with the remaining 311 apartments opening in mid-summer, according to Southern California division head Tom Warren. The development will have 25,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, much of it fronting Sixth Street. The designer is Togawa Smith Martin. Rents for the studio to threebedroom apartments will range from $1,500 to slightly under $4,000. Amenities will include rooftop decks, a large fitness center, a pool, a public plaza and 300 trees. HOLLAND PARTNER GROUP/SOUTH PARK Holland Partner Group has begun work on a 28-story, 341-apartment tower at the southeast corner of Ninth and Figueroa streets in South Park, according to Tom Warren, head of the developer’s Southern California division. A groundbreaking took place on Aug. 23. The Vancouver, Wash.-based company anticipates the tower opening in late 2018. Designs by Preston Partnership show a glass structure with box-shaped clusters of balconies. Nearly 11,700 square feet of retail space would front the sidewalk along Figueroa and on Ninth. No budget has been revealed. HOLLAND PARTNER GROUP/VIBIANA LOFTS Vancouver, Wash.-based Holland Partner Group has completed framing on a mid-rise apartment building with 237 units adjacent to the former St. Vibiana’s cathedral at Second and Main streets. Now the interior build-out is underway, according to Tom Warren, head of the company’s Southern California division. Plans call for five stories of wood construction over a concrete podium with approximately 247 above- and below-ground parking spaces. It will also include about 4,000 square feet of retail space. The $90 million development, designed by Togawa Smith Martin, is expected to debut in May 2017. The building will appear to be eight stories when viewed from Los Angeles Street and seven floors when seen from Main Street. JADE ENTERPRISES/EMERALD Developer Jade Enterprises is still seeking entitlements for a seven-story South Park apartment building, according to a company representative. Set for 1340 S. Olive St., the structure would include an outdoor pool, along with two levels of underground parking. The project is being designed by MVE & Partners. The Emerald would hold 154 rental units and 11,000 square feet of commercial space. The budget and timeline have not been announced.

ground parking and there would be a total of 369 apartments and approximately 22,000 square feet of retail space. An office building that is now on the site would have to be razed before construction commences. JADE ENTERPRISES/TOPAZ Jade Enterprises’ development at Sixth and Main streets is expected to be complete in early 2017, according to a company spokesman. The seven-story Historic Core building broke ground in 2014. The structure will include 159 residential units, plus 23,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. The budget has not been revealed. MACK URBAN/SOUTH PARK Developer Mack Urban has finished vertical construction on a seven-story, 362-apartment building bounded by Pico Boulevard, and Olive and Hill streets, the first part of a multi-phase, six-acre South Park development. Drywall is now being installed at the building where units will average 761 square feet. There will be 438 subterranean parking spaces and 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Mack Urban this year broke ground on the second phase of the project, a 38-story tower at Grand Avenue and 12th Street. The building will contain 536 residences, 13,000 square feet of retail space and a 10,000-square-foot park. AC Martin and Togawa Smith Martin are handling the designs. Three additional buildings, for which designs and details have not yet been released, will complete the $1 billion South Park project. MARIONETTE LOFTS Developer Eli Melech has received approvals from the city’s Office of Historic Resources and the Department of City Planning to create a housing complex on the site of the Bob Baker Marionette Theatre in City West. However, the project at 1345 W. First St. is at least a year from starting construction, said Melech. The $20 million Marionette Lofts would create a five-story apartment complex above the designated Historic-Cultural Monument, with 102 one- to three-bedroom apartments. Melech said architect Steve Altos is handling designs. The commercial space on the ground floor, including the theater, would remain unchanged, and could serve as a lobby to the new project. OLIVE DTLA

JADE ENTERPRISES/ONYX

HOLLAND PARTNER GROUP/SIXTH AND BIXEL

photo by Gary Leonard

One portion of Holland Partner Group’s $200 million City West project has already opened: The Mint, a 42-apartment redevelopment of a 1923 medical building, debuted in May, and is now 85% occupied, according to the developer. Crews are now building out the interior of a pair of seven-story buildings with a combined 606 apartments. A first phase of 295 units will begin

Jade Enterprises’ Onyx is set for completion in early 2017, according to a representative of the developer. The project at 440 W. Pico Blvd. (at Hope Street) will consist of a pair of seven-story buildings. The South Park project, being designed by architecture firm TCA, will hold 410 rental units and approximately 30,000 square feet of retail space. The complex will include 462 parking stalls. Jade has not revealed the budget. JADE ENTERPRISES/SAPPHIRE Developer Jade Enterprises is seeking entitlements for a residential project in City West. The complex at 1111 W. Sixth St. would create two seven-story buildings that would be connected via a sky bridge. Each structure would have two levels of under-

Pre-leasing is underway at OLiVE DTLA, the first building in Sonny Astani’s two-stage South Park development to come online (the other is G12). The seven-story project at Pico Boulevard and Olive Street is nearly complete. The 293 studio to two-bedroom units range from 440-1,368 square feet; most apartments have balconies, and rents begin at about $1,900. Amenities include a fourth-floor pool deck, fitness area and lounge. Move-ins are expected to begin in October. At olivedtla.com. PARK FIFTH On July 25, developer MacFarlane Partners broke ground on the long-delayed Park Fifth project on the lot north of Pershing Square. The two-phase development on Fifth between Olive and Hill streets will create a total of 660 apartments in seven- and 24-story buildings. The first phase, now underway, will create a seven-story edifice with 313 residential units and 7,456 square

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feet of retail space. It will include a large outdoor courtyard. MacFarlane Director of Development Jeff Barris said the goal is to open by early 2019. Barris added that plans call for breaking ground on the tower by November; it would take 26 months to complete. Designs by Portland-based architecture firm Ankrom Mosian include a pool, lounge, business center and dining area on the roof. No budget has been revealed.

hold 355 parking spaces on six levels, a pool, a rooftop garden and 14,000 square feet of commercial space. Entitlements were secured in June though an appeal has been filed by the group Creed L.A., according to Fred Shaffer, project manager of Saiko Investment Corp, which is managing the development. Shafer said he is working on setting a date for the company’s rebuttal to the appeal.

SB OMEGA Developer Barry Shy’s SB Omega, at the southwest corner of Sixth and Main streets in the Historic Core, is still in the environmental review phase. According to project representative Kate Bartolo, the high-rise would take 18 months to build. The 38-story tower would hold 452 apartments along with seven levels of parking. The budget has not been revealed.

VALENCIA

TEN50 The condominium complex Ten50 is nearing the finish line, with the South Park building expected to open by December, according to Arden Hearing, managing director of San Franciscobased developer Trumark Urban. Currently, interior finishes are being applied to some lower levels of the 25-story, $100 million structure at 1050 S. Grand Ave. The project will hold 151 oneand two-bedroom condos ranging from 686-1,368 square feet, as well as some one- and two-story penthouses. All units have hardwood floors and expansive windows. Designs by Downtown-based architecture firm Hanson L.A. include a Rubik’s Cube-esque glass exterior overlooking the street. Amenities include a fitness center, entertainment rooms and small pockets of green space; there are also 251 underground parking spaces. The project’s first phase of 50 units sold out in the summer. At ten50.la. THE HILL A Korean investment group working under the name 940 Hill LLC continues to pursue plans for a 20-story, $130 million project at Ninth and Hill streets. The Hill would include 234 studio to three-bedroom apartments, and the building would also

The opening of Sonny Astani’s $60 million Valencia has been pushed back from June to the end of this year. A spokesperson for Astani said a temporary certificate of occupancy is expected by November, although applications to rent the 218 City West apartments are now being accepted. The six-story project at 1515 Wilshire Blvd. will offer studio to two-bedroom residences

Creating value, fostering connections, and revitalizing communities. Gensler is demonstrating how design delivers value for the Los Angeles community. The results are projects that belong not only to their place, but also to their people. www.gensler.com | www.facebook.com/genslerla | @gensler_la

MIXED USE BROADWAY TRADE CENTER The transformation of the massive Broadway Trade Center is on schedule, according to project representative Elizabeth Peterson. New York-based Waterbridge Capital purchased the building on Eighth Street between Hill Street and Broadway for $130 million. The 1.1 million-square-foot Beaux Arts-style complex, built in 1908, is being turned into a mixed-use project. Downtown-based Omgivning is handling the designs and crews are now working on upgrading the building’s infrastructure. The bottom two floors, which have 25-foot-high ceilings, will be called the “Earth Market” with shops and restaurants in the vein of Grand Central Market. Seven of the upgraded floors will hold roughly 400,000 square feet of creative office space. There will also be a private club, and the 10th floor will have a public roof deck with a pool and performance space. The top five floors will house a 150-room hotel. Completion is expected in 2018.

photo by Gary Leonard

Design matters.

that start at 626 square feet. Killefer Flammang Architects is handling the designs for the project with nine-foot ceilings. Amenities include in-unit laundry facilities. The project will also offer barbeque areas, a pool, spa, fitness center and billiards room. There is underground parking and 244 bicycle spaces. At wilshirevalencia.com.

CIRCA The large podium of the Circa project, at 1200 S. Figueroa St. in South Park, continues to rise. The project from a development group composed of Hankey Investment Company, Jamison Services, Falcon California Investments and Highlands Capital will create twin 36-story towers with a combined 648 condominiums, sitting on top of a seven-story retail podium with 48,000 square feet of space. The complex will have 1,770 parking spots. Additional features at the approximately $500 million South Park development, designed by architecture firm Harley Ellis Devereaux, include a two-acre outdoor amenity deck and a Continued on page 12

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owned parking lots into four-, five- and eight-story buildings. Chinatown-based architecture firm Johnson Fain is handling designs for the project that will create a total of 355 apartments; 20% of the homes will be set aside as subsidized units for lowincome residents. The La Plaza Cultural Village will also hold more than 43,000 square feet of commercial space, along with 720 parking spaces. The work includes upgrading walkways to connect the project to Union Station and Olvera Street. La Plaza is expected to be complete in 2018.

photo by Gary Leonard

15,000-square-foot ribbon of LED signage along Figueroa. Circa is slated for completion in early 2018.

LUXE HOTEL REPLACEMENT Chinese developer Shenzhen Hazens is finalizing designs and securing entitlements for its $700 million, three-tower megaproject that would bring condominiums, shops, restaurants and hotel rooms to the current Luxe Hotel site near L.A. Live. The first phase would include a 32-story, 250-room W Hotel and a 32-floor condominium tower along 11th Street at Figueroa and Flower streets. The two structures would be connected by an eight-story podium with open-air amenities on top. A second phase would bring a 42-story tower to Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard, where the Luxe City Center hotel now stands. The South Park project would create a total of 650 condominiums. There would be 80,000 square feet of retail space, most of it fronting Figueroa Street. Shenzen Hazens hopes to break ground in 2017, with completion in 2020.

HERALD EXAMINER RENOVATION According to the most recent available information, the Hearst Corp., the owner of the Herald Examiner Building, is partnering with New York-based Georgetown Company to redevelop the 1914 structure, with the goal of transforming it into a 100,000-square-foot creative office complex with retail and restaurant space. It is unclear when work on the property at 1111 S. Broadway will begin, although previous reports suggested completion in late 2017, with a budget of approximately $40 million. The building originally designed by Julia Morgan was formerly the headquarters of William Randolph Hearst’s Los Angeles newspaper, but has been mostly empty since the paper closed in 1989. LA PLAZA CULTURA VILLAGE The La Plaza Cultura Village project, near Olvera Street at the intersection of Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue, broke ground on Aug. 4. The project comes from the county in partnership with developer Trammell Crow, and will transform two county-

OLYMPIC TOWER Neman Family Real Estate has proposed building a 57-story tower at the northwest corner of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard. According to the most recent information available, the Olympic Tower, with designs from Nardi Associates, would have a diamond pattern exterior, with trees and LED lights worked into the wall on the middle levels of the building. The project, which would rise on the site of a current car wash just south of the Hotel Figueroa, would hold 373 hotel rooms, 374 residential units, 33,500 square feet of office space and 65,000 square feet of retail space. Amenities at the South Park development would include a rooftop pool and gym. ROW DTLA

METROPOLIS

CITY MARKET Tenant improvements are nearly complete at the first phase of the massive City Market, according to Mark Levi of the Lena Group, which is developing City Market South. The first phase will feature four eateries; those confirmed include the Vietnamese-themed Slanted Door, the Italian restaurant Rossoblu and a currently unnamed bar from the team behind Studio City’s Black Market Liquor Bar. Levi said that the restaurants will likely open in early 2017, and that a coffee shop is also coming. Located at 11th and San Julian streets, the 75,000-square-foot City Market South includes retail and office space. Levi said that a visual effects firm has already moved into the building. The full City Market project is still seeking entitlements and is estimated to cost $1 billion. The massive project from developer Peter Fleming is expected to take two decades to complete. The full City Market will stretch down to 12th Street and encompass 225,000 square feet of retail, 295,000 square feet of office space, 945 residential units and 210 hotel rooms. At citymarket2la.com. COLLEGE STATION Developer Atlas Capital Group had intended to break ground by the end of the year on its Chinatown mega-development College Station, but that has been pushed to 2017. The company is still securing entitlements and finishing designs, according to a project representative. Designed by Chinatown-based architecture firm Johnson Fain, College Station would feature six low-rise buildings with retail space on the ground floor and various plazas and paseos in between the structures. It would be spread across a 5.7-acre site at Spring and College streets (near the southern tip of Los Angeles State Historic Park). The project, initially envisioned as a high-rise development, would have a total of 770 apartments and 51,000 square feet of retail, including a roughly 37,000-square-foot market.

also hold 1,444 parking stalls and an open-air shopping center with more than 166,000 square feet of retail space.

rendering courtesy Row DTLA

Developer Atlas Capital bought the 30-acre, seven-building complex at Seventh and Alameda streets in 2014 and is now working on building new infrastructure and renovating the interior spaces. There is no firm timeline for when creative office, retail and restaurants would debut, however. The plan for the complex now known as Row DTLA is to create 1.3 million square feet of creative office space, approximately 100 stores, more than 20 restaurants, and spaces for community gatherings and public events. The complex, known to many as the home of American Apparel, would have themed streets: “Market Row” would run along a pair of 70,000-square-foot, two-story buildings that would hold office tenants. It would be adjacent to “The End,” a public square, while nearby “Dock Street” would focus on dining options. “The Narrows” would offer cultural and entertainment-leaning storefronts, while “Center Street” would host an open-air produce market. No budget has been revealed. At rowdtla.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

All four towers of the Metropolis mega-project are under construction. The initial phase, consisting of an 18-story, 350-room Hotel Indigo and a 38-floor condominium building with 308 residences, is expected to be complete by the end of this year. The second phase, with 40- and 56-story condominium buildings (514 and 736 units, respectively), broke ground in December and is scheduled to finish in 2018. The project from Chinese developer Greenland Group features designs from the firm Gensler. The towers will sit on parking podiums that include two levels with more than 70,000 square feet of retail space along Francisco Street. Amenities will include fitness centers, outdoor pools and several small parks on top of decks. Metropolis, bounded by the 110 Freeway and Eighth, Ninth and Francisco streets, is budgeted at more than $1 billion. At metropolislosangeles.com. OCEANWIDE PLAZA Beijing-based developer Oceanwide Holdings remains on track to open the three-tower Oceanwide Plaza in 2018. The $1 billion development will consist of a 49-story tower and two 40-floor buildings, all sitting on top of a 100-foot-tall podium across the street from Staples Center. Plans call for the South Park towers to hold a combined 504 condominiums and 184 hotel rooms. Most of the amenities, including a pool and a park, will sit on a deck on top of the podium overlooking Figueroa Street. A 40,000-square-foot ribbon of LED signage will wind around the podium and illuminate the street below. Oceanwide Plaza will

SUNCAL SIXTH AND ALAMEDA Irvine-based developer Suncal, in a partnership with Michael Dell’s investment firm MSD Capital, is expected to file plans with the city for a 15-acre mixed-use complex at Sixth and Alameda streets by the end of September, according to Dan Rosenfeld, a land-use consultant for the group. Suncal spent $130 million to acquire the Arts District property and is working with Swiss architecture firm Herzog & deMuron on a design that incorporates a mix of high-rise towers and low-slung buildings. The project would include residential, retail, hotel and creative office components, as well as a school, spread across multiple buildings. No budget or timeline have been revealed. THE GRAND Developer Related Cos. continues to hold talks with potential equity partners for the $850 million development known as The Grand, and according to the schedule approved by the joint powers authority that oversees the project on city- and countyowned parcels, construction must begin by Nov. 30, 2017. The development on Grand Avenue south of First Street, designed by Frank Gehry and first announced before the recession, would include a residential tower with approximately 380-450 units, with 20% set aside as affordable housing. There would also be a 300-room Equinox-branded hotel tower, and a large retail and restaurant component built around a central plaza that opens to Grand Avenue. Related executives are speaking to dining and shopping tenants; they previously said the project would contain both an Equinox gym and a Soul Cycle studio. WILSHIRE GRAND REPLACEMENT Work on the tallest structure west of the Mississippi continues,

September 12, 2016

Downtown News 13

Development

and Hanjin International is now in the final stage of exterior construction on the 73-story tower at the northwest corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets. Most of the exterior glass has been placed on the frame, and crews now are installing the curved upper portion of the building. The spire was installed on Sept. 3. According to a project representative, the $1.1 billion project will be finished in early 2017. AC Martin is handling designs on the landmark that will have 900 hotel rooms operated by the InterContinental brand and 400,000 square feet of office space. There will also be restaurant and retail space. At wilshiregrandcenter.com. CIVIC ARTS DISTRICT PARK

playground and a performance space. Construction started in December 2014, but stalled for several months after the discovery of contaminants in the soil. The ground has been cleaned. CHINATOWN PARK Progress on a park at Ord and Yale streets in Chinatown continues to move slowly, and work is now not scheduled to begin until December 2017; originally that had been the anticipated opening date of the park. Fredy Ceja, communications director for First District City Councilman Gil Cedillo, said the city is still completing the acquisition of the land, which includes the Alpine Recreation Center, and working on the design and permitting; he said the goal is to complete those steps by next May. The $8.5 million project calls for fitness machines, a children’s playground, artwork and a shade structure. Ceja said the goal is to open the park by March of 2019. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE The 625,000-square-foot Federal Courthouse at First Street and Broadway is finished, and move-ins at the Civic Center building were scheduled to start Friday, Sept. 9 (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press), according to U.S. General Services Department spokeswoman Traci Madison. The $323 million project, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, has been described as a “floating cube.” It has 24 courtrooms, 32 judges’ chambers and offices for the U.S. Marshals Service. The project is aiming for LEED Platinum certification and has sustainable and energy-efficient elements including a pleated glass exterior that will cut solar heat gain. GSA plans to hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the coming weeks.

photo by Gary Leonard

The long-awaited Arts District Park is scheduled to open by early November, according to Rick Coca, a spokesman for 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. Located at Fifth and Hewitt streets, the $1.6 million park will take up half an acre. The communal gathering space will include a mural wall, a children’s

FIGUEROA CORRIDOR BIKEWAY According to the most recent information available, construction of the three-mile Figueroa Corridor bikeway project, officially known as MyFigueroa, is set to start by the end of summer. The roughly $20 million bikeway will run from Seventh Street in Downtown to 41st Street in South L.A., with a primary spine on Figueroa Street. It will slash eight driving lanes to five, and signifi-

cant segments of the route will feature curbs that protect cyclists from cars. The project will also create bus platforms that extend the sidewalk for transit riders, improve landscaping and install pedestrian-friendly lighting and signage, among other elements. The project must be completed by March 2017 as a condition of its funding from state Proposition 1C. At myfigueroa.com. FIRST AND BROADWAY PARK

image by Mia Lehrer + Associates

The city in early June selected Los Angeles-based landscape architect Mia Lehrer + Associates to design the First and Broadway Park. The project is now in the final design process. The firm’s vision features a large hardscape plaza as its heart, rather than the flat grass seen in the adjacent Grand Park. The new park would be anchored by a two-level structure on the northwest corner of the property with a scooped-out amphitheater, with seating underneath the overhang of a “floating” second floor; the second level would likely hold a restaurant. The north side of the building would have space for a cafe or small store. The design includes a small rock-paved path along Spring Street, as well as some tulip-shaped shade structures scattered around the plaza. The park is estimated to cost $28 million. According to 14th District City Councilman José Huizar’s office, the councilman since 2013 has secured nearly $21 million in Quimby funds, which are charged to housing developers for park creation, Continued on page 14

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PROJECT UPDATES, 13 site acquisition, land preparation, design and construction. The city Department of Recreation and Parks has identified another $3.65 million for the development. LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK The long-delayed park near the northeastern edge of Chinatown has been delayed once more. Previously anticipated to open during the summer, Los Angeles State Historic Park is now expected to debut in January. Work on the $20 million effort began in April 2014. According to Sean Woods, Los Angeles sector superintendent for the California State Parks department, the current delay stems from needing to wait for the park’s grass to grow. Due to the ongoing drought, there is a legal mandate to use imported reclaimed water, Woods said. The watering is happening in two phases and is scheduled to be complete this month. Then, time is needed to allow the grass to take root before visitors are allowed in. In addition to green space, the park will offer a wetlands area, a paved parking lot and promenade for events, and a staircase and bridge that gives expansive views of the property. At lashp.wordpress.com. LOS ANGELES STREETCAR A milestone for the Los Angeles Streetcar was reached in July with the release of the project’s draft environmental impact report, which breaks down routes, operational issues, effects on traffic and more. There are now four proposed routes for the streetcar, which would for the most part travel in a loop, with main spines that run north on Hill Street, east on First Street, south on Broadway and west on 11th Street. One question is, after it cuts north up Figueroa Street, whether it should go east on Ninth Street or Seventh Street, and whether there should be a spur that takes the streetcar to Grand Avenue by the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Other future decisions include the number of streetcars circulating (which affects wait times for riders) and travel speed. Meanwhile, project backers are hunting for funding to cover the $282 million budget (proponents say this could be brought down to $250 million, potentially by cutting the Grand Avenue extension). The streetcar was initially announced in 2008 by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, and he still hopes to have it operating by 2020. It has secured $65 million for construction via a tax levied on property owners along the route and is in the hunt for a $100 million federal “Small Starts” grant; officials are also exploring public-private partnerships. Preliminary engineering and design is expected to be about one-third complete by the end of the year. MERCED THEATER AND MASONIC HALL Plans are still in the works for a renovation and transformation of the city-owned Merced Theater and Masonic Hall near Olvera Street. However, delays have pushed the start of construction back by seven months, according to Bureau of Engineering spokeswoman Mary Nemick. Now, work is expected to begin in July 2017. RoTo Architects is handling the designs. The complex’s south-facing perimeter wall will be overhauled to bring in more natural light and provide additional space. Once work is completed, public access station Channel 35 will occupy much of the building’s 18,000 square feet of space with two television studios, office space, conference rooms and editing bays. A 50seat auditorium will be open to the public for special events. The budget is $23 million. PERSHING SQUARE REDESIGN

District. Now the city is working to refine designs and search for funding, according to a city representative. Although no budget has been announced, during the design competition firms were told to stick to a theoretical $50 million price tag. Agence Ter’s approach is centered on the concept of “radical flatness,” which involves lowering the flat expanse of Pershing Square (the park sits atop a parking garage) so that it is level with surrounding streets. This would create easy access and views from surrounding Fifth, Sixth, Olive and Hill streets. There would also be a “smart canopy,” a lengthy structure that would run along Hill Street from Fifth to Sixth streets, which would provide an expanse of shade, with shops and cafes underneath. Other elements would include a central lawn to host movie screenings and community events, a plaza on the Sixth Street side of the park, and on the western edge, gardens with edible plants and water features, including a reflecting pool across from the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. No timeline has been announced. At pershingsquarerenew.com. REGIONAL CONNECTOR Construction on the $1.55 billion rail project continues in Little Tokyo, the Civic Center and the Financial District. The intersection of First and Alameda streets is being prepped in advance of underground tunneling, and Metro is also doing preliminary construction for new Regional Connector stations at Second Street and Broadway and Second Place and Hope Street. The 1.9-mile Regional Connector will join area light rail lines to streamline cross-county travel and reduce the need for transfers. Underground tunneling (starting in Little Tokyo and moving west toward the Seventh Street/Metro Center station) is slated to begin in early 2017. The project is expected to open in 2020. At metro.net/projects/connector. SIXTH STREET VIADUCT REPLACEMENT Demolition of the Sixth Street Viaduct continues, and the 3,500-foot long expanse connecting the Arts District and Boyle Heights is expected to be razed by December, according to the city Bureau of Engineering. The replacement, designed by architect Michael Maltzan, will have a “ribbon of arches” theme, and will include bicycle lanes and pedestrian viewing points. The Arts District side of the bridge will feature an arts park named for and funded by the late developer Leonard Hill. Additionally, one of the original arches on the bridge will be preserved and incorporated into the landscaping design beneath the new span. The replacement Sixth Street Viaduct is scheduled to open in 2019. The budget is $449 million. At sixthstreetviaduct.org. UNION STATION The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is working on the environmental impact report for a makeover of Union Station, with the aim to finish this year and begin construction in 2017. The Union Station Master Plan has two main components: It would build a larger indoor-outdoor passenger concourse to connect travelers to an updated rail yard, and it would demolish the Patsaouras Bus Facility near the eastern entrance to Union Station and replace it with an elevated bus terminal between the historic station building (the west entrance) and the new concourse. Other proposed improvements include the conversion of the west parking lot into a public plaza and the creation of a walkway over the rail lines. At metro.net/projects/la-unionstation.com.

developer the Little Tokyo Service Center. The Budokan of Los Angeles would rise at 237-249 S. Los Angeles St. and include a two-court gymnasium. There would also be a rooftop terrace, outdoor event space and community rooms. The complex will host volleyball and basketball games, as well as martial arts lessons and tournament and other activities, said fundraising director Mike Murase. A groundbreaking for the 63,000-square-foot project is scheduled for next year. At budokanoflosangeles.com. GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL MEDICAL PAVILION The $80 million Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Pavilion, which had been scheduled to debut late last year, is on track to open in the coming months, according to hospital spokeswoman Katrina Bada. Physician offices and the Specialties Clinic will also debut soon, Bada added. The 190,000-square-foot development will hold the Frank R. Seaver Ambulatory Surgery Center, with eight operating suites. The architect is Ware Malcomb and the builder is Millie and Severson. The project at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street will also have a pharmacy, outpatient clinics and the hospital’s Surgical Specialties Clinic. VARIETY ARTS CENTER The 92-year-old Variety Arts Center in South Park is undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation. Owner the Robhana Group began work on the property at 940 S. Figueroa St. in January. Historic restoration-specialty contractor Spectra Company is upgrading electrical systems, plumbing, sprinkler systems and windows, as well as doing exterior work, according to Spectra project manager Troy Parry. The anchor tenant of the refurbished fivestory structure will be the mega-church Hillsong L.A., which will operate the 1,100-seat ground-floor theater and have offices on upper floors; it is expected to move in by the end of the year. Additional space in the building will be rented out to other tenants. BUSINESS 537 S. BROADWAY Developer King’s Arch has hit some delays on the restoration of 537 S. Broadway, the six-story Art Deco structure the Beverly Hills-based developer bought last year for $7.35 million. King’s Arch partner Richard Shamooilian is now expecting the $4 million seismic upgrade, the rehab of the historic facade, and new electrical and plumbing systems to be complete by the first quarter of 2017. Shamooilian said the company will soon begin marketing the 3,000- to 9,000-square-foot spaces to tech, media and fashion companies. The 1931 building was originally designed by prominent Los Angeles architects Percy A. Eisen and Albert R. Walker. AT MATEO

COMMUNITY BUDOKAN OF LOS ANGELES

photo by Gary Leonard

image by Agence Ter

In May, the nonprofit Pershing Square Renew and the office of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar announced that the Paris-based architecture firm Agence Ter had won a competition to redesign the five-acre park in the heart of the Financial

image courtesy Little Tokyo Service Center

More than 90% of the $24 million needed to build a sports complex in Little Tokyo has been raised, according to nonprofit

Construction is underway at Mateo and Palmetto Streets in the Arts District, where developer Blatteis and Schnur is creating a $90 million, four-building retail and creative office space complex. Sam Brownell, a partner at Blatteis and Schnur, said the one- to four-story structures will sit on a property formerly occupied by warehouses and wooden buildings; some of the materials from those structures is going into the new project. Edge Architecture is handling the designs. Ground-floor retail spaces in At Mateo will have 20-foot ceilings, while floors with office space will have 15-foot ceilings. Brownell said there will also be a

September 12, 2016 rooftop deck and 540 parking spaces. Although no tenants have been revealed for the 130,000 square feet of retail space or the 50,000 square feet of office space, Brownell said announcements will be coming in the next few months. An opening is scheduled for March 1, 2017, Brownell said. At atmateo.com. CONVENTION CENTER RENOVATION In the summer of 2015, the city, working with a design team from Populous and HMC Architects, revealed plans for a $470 million renovation of the aging Los Angeles Convention Center; it sought to modernize the facility, which is currently two separate buildings. A report earlier this year from City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana, however, suggests that the project will cost $720 million. Local officials are now considering different approaches, one with the city paying for the construction work, which would create contiguous exhibition space over Pico Boulevard; and a second plan that would have a private developer handle the financing, and that would ditch the Populous/HMC design in favor of a larger mixed-use project that would include retail, a hotel and housing. Santana’s report suggests that could cost more than $1 billion, though there could be significant savings down the road for the city. Both paths are currently under review by the city. FORD FACTORY BUILDING A renovation of the 104-year-old Ford Factory Building in the Arts District is set to wrap up by the end of the month, according to Andrew Neilly, a project manager with San Franciscobased Shorenstein Properties. Shorenstein bought the fivestory, 1912 building and two other structures for $37 million in 2014. Located at Seventh Street and Santa Fe Avenue, the Ford Factory Building is being transformed into a 254,000-squarefoot creative office hub. One of the other structures will be a 600-stall parking garage. No tenants have been announced. At fordfactoryla.com. HARRIS BUILDING Jade Enterprises is nearly finished converting the 93-year-old Harris Building into a creative office hub. The 1923 edifice at the southwest corner of 11th and Main streets will be marketed to technology and other businesses; office space will be spread across six of the seven floors. Crews are currently updating the Beaux Arts-style building’s infrastructure, and an opening is scheduled for the fall. The ground floor will hold retail and restaurant space. No deals have yet been signed, according to Carle Pierose of Industry Partners, which is leasing the office space. ONE BUNKER HILL UPGRADE Last fall, Downtown-based Rising Realty Partners teamed up with Lionstone Investments and Hermes Investment Management to buy One Bunker Hill, a 12-story Art Deco structure at Fifth Street and Grand Avenue. Now plans for a renovation and a rebranding of the 1931 building are in the works. Rising officials have said that initial steps will involve upgrading the property’s systems, including the elevators and its technology and fiberoptic capabilities. Also coming are exterior and interior modifications on the edifice that features a central tower with terra cotta tiling. No timeline or budget have been revealed.

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Development been empty for years. No budget, timeline or renovation details have been revealed. HOTELS CLARK HOTEL New York-based Chetrit Group’s planned 348-room Clark Hotel at 426 S. Hill St. still does not have an opening date, according to a project representative. The Historic Core hotel, which has been delayed for years, was most recently headed toward an opening earlier this year. The renovated 11-story structure just north of Pershing Square features guest rooms with lively Modstyle details, a lobby with bright marble and chrome accents, a ballroom, a pool deck and multiple dining spaces; much of the work has already been completed. Chetrit Group acquired the property more than a decade ago. An operator has not been revealed. EMBASSY HOTEL New York-based Chetrit Group has mostly built out the Embassy Hotel, but it remains unfinished and without an opening date, according to a project representative. The renovation of the historic edifice at 831 S. Grand Ave. will create 183 guest rooms and the return of the Trinity Auditorium, which could be used for performances, public meetings and more. A pool deck has been built on the roof and an outdoor patio has been constructed along Ninth Street. As with Chetrit Group’s other proposed Downtown project, the Historic Core’s Clark Hotel, the Embassy has been owned by the company for more than a decade, and has missed repeated opening dates. An operator has not been revealed.

HOTEL FIGUEROA RENOVATION The reopening of the Hotel Figueroa is expected in November, according to a project representative. Capital Hall Partners and its investment partner Green Oak Real Estate purchased the property at 939 S. Figueroa St. in 2014 for $65 million. The 13-story landmark known for its wall triptych facing L.A. Live closed last November. The top-to-bottom renovation will give a Spanish Colonial look to the former Moroccan-themed edifice. The 1927 building with the Italian Renaissance façade originally housed a YWCA hotel for women. The 240,000-square-foot hotel will have 270 guest rooms, and amenities will include a fitness center. A rooftop vegetable garden will supply the hotel’s restaurants. Parking will remain in the lot next to the hotel. Urban Lifestyle Group will manage the property. At hotelfigueroa.com. HOXTON HOTEL

FIG + PICO Developer Lightstone in August submitted plans to the Department of City Planning to build a two-tower hotel complex with 1,100 rooms at the northeast corner of Figueroa Street and Pico Boulevard. Lightstone’s project would include a six-story parking podium and ground-floor retail fronting Figueroa, Pico and Flower Street. Proposed amenities include a sky lobby, three pools, bars, restaurants and event space. Downtown-based Gensler is handling the design; no budget or timeline have been announced. It is New York City-based Lightstone’s first hotel project in Los Angeles. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar during the summer proposed allowing zoning changes on the parcel to facilitate a larger project (part of the parcel is owned by the city, according to city documents). Huizar’s motion was passed by the full council. FREEHAND HOTEL

photo by Gary Leonard

London-based investment firm Ennismore plans to turn the 1922 Los Angeles Railway Building into one of its boutique Hoxton Hotels. Ennismore bought the property at 1060 S. Broadway in 2015 for $30 million. Plans call for the 10-story hotel to have 164 rooms. The Chicago-based GREC Architects is handling designs. The Hoxton will include a rooftop pool, multiple eateries, a spa and other amenities. The project is slated to be complete in 2018. No budget has been announced.

SOHO HOUSE Work on the Arts District’s Soho House is on pace and a 2018 opening is expected, according to Allison Wagner, the private club’s director of communications for North America. The members-only club is upgrading the six-story building at 1000 S. Santa Fe Ave.; Killefer Flammang Architects is handling the designs. There will be 16 hotel rooms, a rooftop pool, bar, gym, screening room and a market. The Arts District location will be the second Los Angeles-area branch, following the West Hollywood venue. Soho House paid $18.5 million for the property. The budget for the transformation has not been revealed. At sohohouse.com. TITLE INSURANCE BUILDING The long-discussed effort to turn the 1928 Title Insurance Building into housing changed in June, when the 11-story property at 433 S. Spring St. was sold by developer Capital Foresight to a partnership of Lionstone Investments and Downtown-based Rising Realty Partners. Now, plans are to turn the 320,000-squarefoot Historic Core complex into creative office space, with retail and restaurant uses on the ground floor. The building originally opened as the headquarters of the Title Insurance and Trust Company, which occupied the structure until the 1970s. It has

New York-based Sydell Group and Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Company are pushing into the final phase of construction on a renovation of the Commercial Exchange Building at 416 W. Eighth St. The 1924 edifice will be reborn as the 200-room Freehand Hotel, and amenities will include a rooftop pool and lounge. The Freehand will have traditional hotel rooms as well as hostel-style accommodations with multiple beds in group rooms. There will be ground-floor space for retail and a restaurant, and the neon sign on the corner of the structure is being preserved. Killefer Flammang Architects is handling the designs. Sydell is also transforming the Giannini Place building at Seventh and Olive streets into a hotel. At thefreehand.com/losangeles.

J.W. MARRIOTT EXPANSION In July, Anschutz Entertainment Group pulled the plug on a planned $500 million expansion of its J.W. Marriott hotel at L.A. Live. The 755-room project had been slated to rise on an empty lot opposite the existing 1,001-room Ritz/Marriott hotel on Olympic Boulevard, but plans were canceled after AEG and the city were unable to agree to terms related to development benefits and subsidies. It remains unclear what will replace the hotel.

photo by Gary Leonard

NOMAD HOTEL Work continues at New York-based Sydell Group’s NoMad hotel on the northwest corner of Seventh and Olive streets. The develContinued on page 16

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PROJECT UPDATES, 15 oper bought the 1923 Giannini Place, at 649 S. Olive St., for $39 million last year and is working on the interior renovation of the former Bank of Italy headquarters. The 250-room Financial District hotel is scheduled to be finished in fall 2017, according to a project representative. The 12-story edifice at Seventh and Olive streets stood empty for more than a decade before Sydell acquired it. Under designs from Killefer Flammang Architects, the old banking floor is being turned into a lobby, and the first floor will hold a bar and restaurant. An event space and swimming pool will be on the roof. The hotel is expected to have rooms with a higher price point than Sydell’s Freehand Hotel at 416. W. Eighth St. At sydellgroup.com. PROPER HOTEL Developer The Kor Group is working to turn the 1924 Case Hotel into a modern boutique establishment. The Proper Hotel would be a reworking of the 13-story edifice at 1106 S. Broadway, across the street from the Herald Examiner Building. Kor teamed with Channing Henry and Frank Stork to acquire the property for $13.5 million in 2013. Plans call for creating 145 guest rooms, with amenities including a rooftop pool. Downtown architecture firm Omgivning is handling the designs. No budget or timeline details have been revealed. At properhotel.com/downtown-la.

40% of the residences have been leased. Market-rate units rent for approximately $3 per square foot. Blossom Plaza includes a 17,000-square-foot public plaza and walkway that connects Broadway to the nearby Metro Gold Line Station, as well as 453 parking spaces. Half of the 19,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space has been rented, with East-West Bank anchoring the complex; another tenant is the art gallery Eastern Projects. At blossomplazaapts.com. GAREY BUILDING Move-ins at the Arts District’s Garey Building began on July 15. The $60 million project from Lowe Enterprises and longtime landowner Megatoys broke ground in late 2013. The project has created 320 apartments at 905 E. Second St. The studio to twobedroom residences are in a pair of five-story buildings that are separated by a pedestrian paseo running from First to Second streets. The paseo is open to the public and will be the site of 15,800 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Architecture firm Togawa Smith Martin designed the development that features four courtyards, including one dedicated to pets. There is also a pool and a rooftop with grilling areas and other amenities. The project includes 558 parking stalls, as well as 35 charging stations for electric vehicles. At thegareybldg.com.

OPENED IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS BLOSSOM PLAZA Move-ins at Forest City’s $100 million, mixed-use development at 900 N. Broadway began in June, according to Nate Arnold, the company’s senior project manager. The Chinatown-based firm Johnson Fain was the design architect and Togawa Smith Martin was the associate architect on the five-story, three-building project that offers 237 studio to two-bedroom apartments, including 53 that are reserved for low-income tenants. Arnold said that

SKYSPACE L.A.

photo by Gary Leonard

ITALIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

Skyspace L.A., the transformation of the top levels of U.S. Bank Tower, opened on June 25. The project, part of the $100 million in upgrades that Singaporean company OUE has spent since acquiring the tower at 633 W. Fifth St. in 2013, includes several elements: an interactive space on the 54th floor with digital components; a pair of panoramic viewing decks on the 69th and 70th floors; a restaurant on the 71st floor dubbed, fittingly, 71Above; and a 45-foot glass slide that runs on the exterior of the building, starting on the 70th floor. Skyspace itself had a budget of $60 million. At skyspace-la.com.

SPRING STREET HOTEL Entitlements are still being sought for a narrow hotel planned for 633 S. Spring St., according to a representative of the architecture firm that is designing the project. New York-based investment firm Lizard Capital’s development would stand 28 stories high. Designs from architect Adam Sokol show a building with concrete columns on the lower levels that fit with the look of nearby Historic Core properties, while the upper floors would have a modern design with glass and steel elements. The hotel would have 176 rooms along with a rooftop pool and an unspecified amount of aboveground parking. The 105,000-squarefoot parcel is currently a parking lot. The budget has not been revealed. Construction is expected to take two years. TUCK HOTEL Chef and developer Juan Pablo Torre said that the Tuck Hotel on Spring Street is nearly complete and is awaiting final inspections. Developed by Torre’s Tuck Ventures, the project is transforming a three-story, 1920s-era building into a boutique hotel with 14 rooms spread over roughly 9,000 square feet. The ground floor will include a 70-seat restaurant and bar. The budget for the renovation of the Fashion District property is $5 million. Torre expects to open the hotel by the end of this month. Rates are expected to run $200-$300 per night.

partitioning of the individual units. Residences, which measure 571-755 square feet, have quartz countertops, 12-foot-high ceilings and polished concrete floors. Amenities include a rooftop with a jacuzzi, grilling areas and a viewing deck. A fitness center and lounge will be in the basement. Capital Foresight previously opened the nearby Garment Lofts, a 77-unit apartment complex at 217 E. Eighth St. At themaxlofts.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

The $4.5 million Italian American Museum opened on Aug. 14. The 6,000-square-foot attraction at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument is on the second floor of the Italian Hall, an upgraded 1908 building that originally hosted weddings, meetings and other events for the Italian community. The museum holds a collection of displays that explore the role Italian immigrants and their descendants have played over 200 years in Los Angeles. The work included repairing the façade of the building and making structural improvements to the floors and ceiling. The facility also has a number of high-tech elements. At italianhall.org. MAX LOFTS Bel Air-based developer Capital Foresight opened its second Fashion District apartment complex, the Max Lofts, on July 1. The 14-story edifice at 819 S. Santee St. has eight units each on the second through 12th floors. The structure originally opened in 1925 as the Maxfield Building and housed a textile company. The Art Deco property later became vacant and fell into disrepair before being purchased by Capital Foresight in 2012. PSL Architects handled designs; the work includes new walls and the

COMING SOON Our annual Downtown Los Angeles Guide will publish September 26.

YOUR TICKET TO EXPLORATION

THE BLOC In June, developer the Ratkovich Company and National Real Estate Advisors officially opened The Bloc to the public, with the unveiling of The Square, a plaza-level green space which serves as a communal area for tenants and visitors. It represents the most significant milestone in the complex’s $180 million transformation from a 1970s-style mall, formerly known as Macy’s Plaza, to an open-air destination. The complex’s Macy’s has expanded, and new tenants including Free Market, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse and Starbucks are slated to debut in the coming months. An Alamo Drafthouse theater is expected to arrive in 2017. In November, The Bloc’s portal to the 7th Street/ Metro Center Station will open, allowing transit riders to go directly into the complex. At theblocdowntown.com. WAKABA L.A. The $84 million Wakaba L.A. opened in early summer, bringing 240 studio to two-bedroom apartments to Little Tokyo. The complex at 232 E. Second St. is the first Downtown Los Angeles project for Irvine-based developer Sares-Regis Group. The building was designed by architecture firm TCA and units will come online in two phases. Wakaba (the name is Japanese for “young leaf”) offers a pool, sundeck and outdoor spa, as well as outdoor areas with grilling stations. The project also has a two-story fitness center. There are a total of 472 parking spaces. At wakabala.com.

2017 GUIDE TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES DISCOVER: ❚ 16 Unique Downtown Neighborhoods ❚ Downtown Nightlife ❚ Seasonal Events ❚ Hundreds of Eateries ❚ And more

September 12, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Downtown News 17

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

photo by Gary Leonard

a special advertising supplement

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18 Downtown News

September 12, 2016

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

Understanding the Downtown L.A. Housing Market The Loft Expert! Group Weighs In on the Bright Future of Resale Home Prices

hen buildings started opening in Downtown, mostly beginning in 2005, there was a large demand for homes — both condos and apartments. Unfortunately, many borrowers succumbed to

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS the disastrous offerings by financial institutions, with 0%, 3%, 5% and 10% down. These loans got buyers into properties they couldn’t really afford. When the market crashed, many homeowners had to give up their properties through foreclosures and short sales. Downtown experienced a huge amount of foreclosures and short sales, and as many as one-third of the units changed hands from 2007 to 2012. Because of this, new homeowners got great deals on their properties but they also had to conform to the new strict lending practices, such as 20% or more down and proof of employment. Now, Downtown has renewed its aggressive growth, but under much more regulated financial principles. There has been continuous growth in residences, and that number is on pace to double, according to Downtown’s The Loft Expert! Group, which has its finger on the pulse of the local residential market. The new Downtown L.A. is a unique market because it really is only about 15 years old. Lots of developments, both public and private, are in the pipeline. Everything that is being developed by the city and government serves to raise the value of property in Downtown, including new Metro lines/stations, schools and parks. Add to the equation the fact that the Central City is experiencing the lowest inventory for residential properties in

years. This is a result of lenders avoiding condominium development loans and only financing apartment buildings, which means there are plenty of apartments coming and only a handful of condos. So what does the future hold for Downtown L.A., even if it is in a “bubble”? Current resale home prices are hovering around $650 to $700 a square foot for the better properties, while new construction is selling at $1,000 and more. Bill Cooper, founder of The Loft Expert! Group, says resale condos in Downtown are on a path to approach $1,000 per square foot. “Growth won’t happen overnight,” Cooper noted. “In fact, it has slowed down since we got to the $700 per square foot range, but I believe the resale home market will continue to see appreciation. Downtown Los Angeles should be and will be one of the top downtowns in the United States. We have the best weather, great development plans, passionate leaders and developers, and the ability to build density by building up.” Cooper said the recent additions such as the Los Angeles Rams, as well as many innovative tech companies, are fueling the city’s growth even more. “This is why I am excited to think about another 15 years of growth and change,” he said. “Downtown L.A. is a unique market and I can’t even imagine what it will look like five years from now, let alone 15 years.” For more information visit The Loft Expert! Group at theloftexpertgroup.com.

255 Grand Arrives In Style Prestigious Bunker Hill Tower Gets a Modern Makeover

oted Best “from the ground up residential property” by the L.A. Downtown News, 255 Grand reimagines what it means to live grand.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

255 Grand, previously known as Grand Promenade, a G&K Management Co. apartment community, is bringing Bunker Hill to new heights with its multi-million dollar, top-to-bottom makeover. Located in prestigious Bunker Hill, this is the go-to neighborhood for fine dining, worldclass museums, upscale hotels, and a thriving arts and entertainment scene. 255 Grand offers its residents immediate proximity to attractions such as the Walt Disney Continued on next page

e r o l p x e . e t a e r c . e v i l T H E O N LY N E W H O M E S F O R S A L E A L O N G T H E L O S A N G E L E S R I V E R

PRICED FROM THE $500K'S

2790 RIPPLE PLACE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90039

•

323.664.1990

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RIVERHOUSELA.COM

In a continuous effort to make improvements, Anastasi Development Co, LLC reserves the right to change prices, optional items, floor plans, features, exterior designs, materials and specifications without prior notice or obligation. Lot sizes and square footage are approximate. Buyers to conduct and rely on their own investigation. See Sales Representative for details. Scott Anastasi Realty BRE Lic. #01375056

September 12, 2016

Continued from previous page Concert Hall, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the new Broad museum. The architectural designs by Nadel bring a fresh new face to this beloved building. With breathtaking views, awe-inspiring balconies, oversized patios and spacious floor plans, the 391-unit high-rise property includes studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 480 to 1,335 square feet in a uniquely suburban-urban setting. 255 Grand has completed its Sky level apartments. These floors offer exclusive amenities and the highest quality finishes. Sky level residents can enjoy enhanced features such as Bosch appliances, Nest thermostats and some of the very best views in Downtown L.A. Upgrades offer enhanced amenities such as a WiFi lounge equipped with a full kitchen and bar, stylish Mid-Century furnishings, large TVs, and free WiFi access extending to the pool. Moreover, it boasts a state-of-the-art theater with reclining leather seats designed with the latest technologies, an ultramodern fitness center with a yoga studio and outdoor stretching area, and pet-friendly features. A 24-hour staffed lobby provides passage to the spacious apartment homes with floor-to-ceiling windows capturing beautiful mountain and city views. Aside from the aesthetics, 255 Grand has expanded on the more practical details by adding a centralized laundry lounge with a built-in laundry alert system, top-notch concierge service, on-site restaurants and dry cleaning. Renovations outside of the building include lush landscaping, accent lighting, and a new look for the pool and Jacuzzi deck with an expansive barbeque area. In a nod to the sunny Los Angeles climate, several new fire pits with plush outdoor seating for entertaining are available year-round. From events in the newly appointed party room to movie nights in the theater, 255 Grand’s renovation tastefully complements the classy Bunker Hill neighborhood. For more information, call the on-site leasing office at (213) 229-9777 or visit 255grand.com.

Downtown News 19

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

Educating and Developing the Individual Downtown’s Pilgrim School Gives Students the Opportunity to Dream Big

nother school year has begun and the halls at Pilgrim School are once again humming. The returning students from the tiniest toddlers in Early Education to the next crop of Pilgrim seniors can look forward to their beautiful Field of Dreams, well on its way to completion in spring 2017.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS Parents are looking forward to plentiful underground parking even more. Pilgrim’s Downtown location and its richly diverse community are reflective of the complex face of Los Angeles, and the diversity incorporated into a Pilgrim education prepares students for life in a complex world. Language education begins in kindergarten and every student studies either Mandarin or Spanish, with most achieving fluency by high school. The Mayflower House boarding program brings students from all over the world to Commonwealth Avenue and greatly enriches the community. The Pilgrim School curriculum embraces art and technology, as well as traditional academics. Technology is integrated into and across the curriculum beginning in Early Education, and Pilgrim students learn to balance computer screens and hands-on experimental techniques. The beautiful Brown Family Fine Arts Center and the unique Visiting Writers and Artists programs allow all students to participate in a truly immersive education in the fine arts. The heart of a Pilgrim education is the individual student. The wide range of curricular and extra-curricular possibilities — ranging from computer programming to art portfolio development to AP physics to theater arts —

along with an extensive choice of sports teams and community service opportunities, means that every Pilgrim student will find something new to try. If a student can dream it, they have a safe place to try it at Pilgrim School. A Pilgrim education gives students the skills to succeed and thrive in a changing world and creates individuals who are comfortable with themselves and their world. One hundred percent of Pilgrim graduates are carefully matched to the college or university best for their individual profile, equipped with the skills they will need to create a unique, meaningful life. For the 2016 Open House season, the entire Pilgrim community gets involved. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet current Pilgrim students and parents, faculty and staff while touring the beautiful campus. To learn more about Pilgrim School, please call (213) 355-5211 or visit pilgrim-school.org. RSVP for an Open House (Oct. 30 or Nov. 19) at pilgrim-school.org/open-house.

20 Downtown News

September 12, 2016

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

Save Energy L.A.

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore! 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.

Re Ne no wl va y te d

255 GRAND

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

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

Energy Efficiency Is Good for Your Wallet And the Environment

.A. electric rates remain competitive and are among the lowest compared to other utilities in Southern California. But a necessary rate adjustment implemented recently may lead to higher utility costs, especially in the summer when AC units run longer than usual. The good news is much of the impacts to customers’ wallets can be managed with conservation, and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) offers many tools, programs and rebates to help customers keep that bill affordable.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

Saving energy is as easy as changing incandescent and CFL light bulbs to energy efficient LEDs. LADWP will make it even easier for customers to use LEDs by hand delivering two to each home beginning this month. In a well-planned, phased delivery schedule, 2.4 million LED light bulbs will make it to 1.2 million households across the city. Foot soldiers will pound the pavement and hand-deliver goodie bags, each containing LED light bulbs and tip cards with ways to save more electricity. Did you know that each LED can yield about $238 in electric cost savings over its lifetime?

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

PROMENADE TOWERS

123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 www.THEPROMENADETOWERS.com Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Spa / BBQ Grills ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

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

On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Beauty Salon

MUSEUM TOWER

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

TOWERS

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

T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING

RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

Knowing that a little TLC can go a long way for AC units, LADWP offers an AC Optimization Program that will provide services by certified HVAC technicians to any LADWP customer with a 1-10 ton AC unit. LADWP customers can sign up to have technicians analyze their cooling systems and provide basic maintenance and efficiency services. Performing system diagnostic tests, air filter replacement and cleaning of outside condenser coils will help ensure AC units run optimally and efficiently. How many Angelenos keep an old secondary refrigerator or freezer in the garage, wasting energy and money? LADWP has a free Refrigerator Recycling Program that will help customers retire that fridge for good. Doing so can save up to $150 a year in energy costs, on top of a $50 rebate. And pick up is free. Anyone in the market for a new TV, an energy efficient room AC or more LED light bulbs should visit LADWP’s Efficient Product Marketplace. It is a convenient one-stop shop to buy and get rebates for energy conserving appliances. Shopping is a breeze — and time and energy efficient. The ways to save are practically endless with LADWP’s efficiency solutions. There are many available to any customer interested in saving energy and money. Learn more at myLADWP.com.

September 12, 2016

Downtown News 21

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

WilshireValencia Rises to the Occasion Modern Apartment Community Boasts Unique Amenities and an Iconic Address

here K-Town meets Downtown, the WilshireValencia apartment community rises dramatically on an entire block in City West. Here, residents enjoy a modern home unlike any other in the area, one with the prestige of a Wilshire Boulevard address and the amenities to match.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS Since opening in June, WilshireValencia has leased more than 40% of its units. The thoughtfully designed apartments boast a spacious and airy feel, thanks to nine-foot ceilings, hardwood floors and space-saving built-ins. Apartments also come with inunit laundry and a private balcony with views. Studios start at $1,925 and one-bedrooms at $1,950. Amenities are plentiful and unique at WilshireValencia, and residents can take full advantage of more than 20,000 square

feet of dedicated open/recreation space. Standout features include the stunning 4,200-square-foot gym stocked with the latest equipment, and the 8,800-square-foot pool and spa courtyard. The property also features barbecue areas, a sprawling Zen garden with lush landscaping and more than 200 trees, sports courts for basketball and a glass-enclosed billiards lounge. WilshireValencia is centrally located to mass transit and is well within walking distance to many of Downtown’s entertainment draws, including L.A. Live, museums, restaurants and nightlife. In fact, WilshireValencia has a Walk Score of 85, making it one of the most walkable and bikable neighborhoods in Downtown Los Angeles (there are 44 bike spaces onsite). For residents seeking unrivaled amenities, a central address and a relaxed community set apart from the bustling city, make WilshireValencia your next new home.

WilshireValencia is at 1515 Wilshire Blvd. For more information call (213) 989-1515 or visit wilshirevalencia.com.

$1,925 $1,950* $2,925*

ROOM TO BREATHE, 50 STEPS TO EVERYTHING ELSE. At Wilshire Valencia it’s easy to jump into urban life, or take a deap breath.

1515 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90017 213 989 1515 | wilshirevalencia.com WILSHIRE VALENCIA, ASTANI, and its affiliates fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act (Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968), as amended, which generally prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, and handicap (disability). We reserve the right to make modifications in plans, exterior designs, materials, specifications, finishes, standard features, and prices at any time without notice. Photographs, renderings, and landscaping are illustrative and conceptual. * No Parking.

Studios, 1-Bedrooms, 2-Bedrooms. 9’ ceilings. hardwood Over 20,000sf of dedicated open/recreation space. 4,200sf floors. modern, built-in cabinetry. in unit washer/dryer. gym with the latest equipment. 8,800sf pool & spa courtyard. BBQ areas. 4,865sf zen garden with lush landscaping. private balconies. available now. 219 trees. 4,075sf outdoor sports courts. 244 bicycle spaces. 500sf glass-enclosed billiards lounge. dog run. plus shops & restaurant. could be yours.

COMING SOON Our annual Downtown Los Angeles Guide will publish September 26.

YOUR TICKET TO EXPLORATION

2017 GUIDE TO DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES DISCOVER: ❚ 16 Unique Downtown Neighborhoods ❚ Downtown Nightlife ❚ Seasonal Events ❚ Hundreds of Eateries ❚ And more

22 Downtown News

September 12, 2016

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

Everything You Need Under One Roof TENTEN Wilshire Helps Small Businesses Thrive in Downtown Los Angeles

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 tech, entertainment, fashion, law, finance, consulting, real estate and advertising, TENTEN Wilshire provides the perfect

A Watershed Moment River House Grand Opening Marks First New Homes for Sale Along Revitalized L.A. River

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. 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, turn-key environment with equally flexible lease terms, TENTEN Wilshire has been able to sustain a 90% or higher 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 a 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 network-

ing, 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 among 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.

...I put my name on it!

Downtown’s Loft/Condo Specialist Since 2005

Randelle Green (Broker/CEO) cabre#01717315

Direct: 213.254.7626 • Office: 213.284.2988

TheRandelleGreenGroup.com

BUY / SELL / LEASE

he grand opening of River House is an historic moment for the Los Angeles real estate market, marking the first new residences for sale along the revitalized L.A. River. Located on the waterway next to Marsh Park and in the hip, emerging neighborhood of Elysian Valley (a.k.a. Frogtown), the community comprised of 56 townhomes

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS and flats is now available for prospective buyers to tour Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. “The key to buying real estate in Los Angeles is identifying the next hot spot and getting in on the ground floor. River House provides that very opContinued on next page

September 12, 2016

Continued from previous page portunity for new homeowners, or those looking to upgrade,” said Sales Manager Pamela Gillett. “Come in, take a tour, and become a homeowner in a community undergoing a true renaissance.” The community surrounding River House provides residents an array of activities at their doorstep, including kayaking, bicycling and jogging. Southern California television station KCET dubbed Marsh Park “one of Elysian Valley’s L.A. River-adjacent gems.” Priced from the $500,000s, River House features 56 stylish townhomes and flats ranging from 833 to 2,123 square feet. A variety of thoughtfully designed floor plans offer one- to five-bedroom homes at affordable prices. Residences include high ceilings; environmentally conscious appliances, lighting, and air conditioning; luxury bathrooms; designer selected wood, tile and carpet flooring; walk-in closets; quartz countertops; European cabinetry; and gourmet kitchens. Designed to invoke the tight-knit community encompassing River House, the gated residences surround an inviting courtyard, which is highlighted by an outdoor double-sided fireplace, barbeques, comfortable lounge seating, shade sails and water-conscious California landscaping. River House is located at 2970 Ripple Pl. For more information call the sales office at (323) 664-1990, visit RiverHouseLA.com or email RiverHouseLA@Gmail.com.

Downtown News 23

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

Reflecting on the Residential Renaissance The RandelleGreen Group Has Represented Downtown Clients for Over a Decade

andelle Green, broker and chief executive of The RandelleGreen Group (Downtown Lofts & Condos), came to Downtown L.A. in 2005 and has never looked back. Green has been credited with playing an integral part in the renaissance of Downtown L.A. He came before L.A. Live, Ralphs, Whole

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS Foods and Bottega Louie helped transform the area. The then fresh-faced upstart realtor wanted to expand a market that had been long neglected, and he had a vision for what the area could be even before the explosive growth of South Park, the Arts District and the other burgeoning neighborhoods helped make Downtown a sought-after destination. Eleven years later, Green heads his own brokerage firm, receiving rave reviews from his clients. “Randelle simply does what he says he’ll do and that’s really refreshing,” says one of his recent clients. Adding to his many accolades dating back to 2005, The RandelleGreen Group recently closed escrow on what is now the highest priced sale in one of Downtown’s most desirable buildings — Barker Block. While representing the seller, Green negotiated the deal shattering the building’s previous high sales mark for a single loft. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Green stands by what he calls his Midwestern work ethic. The hands-on broker heads up the daily operations of his booming brokerage by personally working with his clients. He mixes hard work with integrity, going so far as to brand his company with the tagline, “I put my name on it!” It is a philosophy he takes seriously. “I do put my name on it,” Green says. “I was raised to take responsibility for my actions. I always tell my clients that we are in this together,

from our first tour to the close of escrow or the signing of the lease agreement.” Nothing takes the place of experience in a realtor’s chosen market, and when talking about Downtown L.A., Green has lots of it. He got his start in 2005 by leading the sales team on one of Downtown’s first adaptive reuse projects, the historic Pan-American Lofts in the Old Bank District on Third Street and Broadway. He quickly found his way into South Park where he again anchored the sales effort for the mega-complex Evo/Luma/Elleven. The Financial District came next. Green was director of sales/leasing and property manager for The Roosevelt Lofts at Seventh and Flower streets. “I am so proud of what Downtown has become, and to see the restaurants, bars and lounges so packed on an average weeknight is amazing,” he notes. “The construction, services and companies that continue to flood the area, helping to make Downtown a true urban destination on an international level, is beyond exciting.” In 2006, Green pitched Downtown living to various Westside brokerages, as well as potential buyers and renters. Many failed to catch the vision. But oh, how times have changed. “Now my phone rings off the hook with new potential Downtowners simply needing to pick their neighborhood,” he says. “Are they Arts District people, South Parkers, Historic Core types? Do they see themselves living on Bunker Hill, fast growing City West, the Financial District, Little Tokyo or the Fashion District?” Today, there’s no need to pitch Downtown anymore, Green observes. “We built it, they came and I’m still here, stronger than ever and not going anywhere!” The exciting part is that it has only just begun. For more information or to contact Broker/CEO Randelle Green, call (213) 254-7626 or visit TheRandelleGreenGroup.com.

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To Protect and to Feed Annual Public Safety Barbecue Honors First Responders By Nicholas Slayton irens in Downtown point to emergencies, whether crime or someone in need of medical assistance. But those sirens also mean that help is on the way. This week, the Downtown Los Angeles community will get up close and personal with those providing the help. Even better, they’ll get to meet, greet and share a tri-tip lunch with the first responders, and raise money for charity. On Thursday, Sept. 15, the photo by Gary Leonard Downtown Center Business Angelenos will get the chance to bond over lunch with police officers, Improvement District will hold firefighters and sheriff’s deputies at the 17th Annual Public Safety its 17th Annual Public SafeAppreciation Barbecue. It takes place on Thursday, Sept. 15, at Bank of ty Appreciation Barbecue at America Plaza. Bank of America Plaza. The two-hour luncheon starts at provides activities and after-school programs to 11:30 a.m. children in low-income areas. Carol Schatz, the DCBID’s president and CEO, said that in previous years the barbecue has at At the event, hundreds of police officers, firetracted around 1,000 people, and last year raised fighters and sheriff’s deputies show up — there roughly $5,000 for the Los Angeles Police Meare even members of the California Highway morial Foundation. This year, the DCBID is being Patrol. Public safety workers who arrive in unijoined by the Fashion District, Historic Core and form get to eat for free. Everyone else pays $10. South Park BIDs as co-hosts, and the goal is to Tickets can be purchased at the event or in adraise $10,000. The beneficiary will be the Sheriff’s vance on the DCBID’s website. Youth Foundation of Los Angeles County, which Attendees will have the option of tri-tip,

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chicken and plenty of side dishes. There will also be vegetarian choices, as well as live music in the form of a classic rock band. While the event allows people to get a good meal for an affordable price, Schatz said the driving force is the opportunity for Downtown workers and residents to meet first responders and learn more about public safety. In addition to fundraising, she said, the goal is to forge connections between those in uniform and the rest of Downtown. “The thing that’s very nice about it is we get a lot of folks who are working in the office buildings,” Schatz said. “It’s very casual and everybody interacts. You have tables set up, you’ll have a few public safety representatives, then the workers and other people who come to en-

September 12, 2016 joy the event.” Public safety has emerged as a major issue for Downtown over the last decade, Schatz noted. She said that Downtown used to be a work community that more less closed down after 5 p.m., but now it is nearly a 24-7 hub. As the residential population has boomed, Central City residents are paying more attention to crime and health emergencies, she observed. This week, they’ll be paying attention to those very issues. They’ll just be doing it while eating barbecue. The Public Safety Appreciation Barbecue is Thursday, Sept. 15, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Bank of America Plaza, 333 S. Hope St. More information is at downtownla.com. nicholas@downtownnews.com

The Central City Crime Report This Week: Chocolate Theft, A Coffee Shop Snatch and Stolen Tools By Nicholas Slayton n the Central City Crime Report, we survey the recent week in public safety. All information is provided by the LAPD’s Central Division.

Chocoholic: At 1:20 p.m. on Aug. 29, a man walked into the Macy’s at The Bloc shopping center. He grabbed five boxes of Godiva chocolate from the shelves and then ran out of the store without paying.

be thief swung at the man but missed. The man screamed for help and the assailant took off running. Keeping Up to Date: On the night of Aug. 29, an unidentified individual went up to a parked car on Los Angeles Street and removed the 2017 registration tag from the rear license plate. Yes, this was actually reported as a crime to the LAPD.

Bad Tipper: On the afternoon on Aug. 29, a man walked into the Philz Coffee at Eighth and Hope streets and took money from the tip jar. He then fled south on Hope Street.

Tool Time: On the night of Aug. 30, someone got onto a construction site at Seventh and Olive streets through an open window, and then broke into a tool storage room. The thief took a number of tools and fled the scene.

S.O.S.: On Aug. 29 at 10:30 p.m., a man was walking on Fifth Street when he was approached by another man who pulled out a knife and demanded money. The would-

Off the Lot: In the early hours of Aug. 28, an unidentified individual stole a Hyundai sedan from of a parking lot at Hill and Eighth streets.

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Poverty Committee. “Our aim was to ensure that now and in the future, the city of Los Angeles has a designated person whose sole function is addressing homelessness day-in and day-out,” Huizar said in a prepared statement. Barclay begins her new job on Oct. 3. The move comes as the city is seeking to get voters in November to pass a $1.2 million bond to build more housing for the homeless.

Cathedral Adds Chapel Honoring Mother Teresa

obel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa was canonized on Sept. 4. Although her life’s work took place primarily in India, she is now also memorialized in Downtown Los Angeles. On Sept. 1, three days before the official sainthood designation, which was timed to the 19th anniversary of her death, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels opened a new chapel in her honor. Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity, was known for her work in Kolkata, India. The chapel features a number of photographs of the

nun, including from her time in Los Angeles in 1980 when she helped homeless individuals, and during her other visits to the city. The cathedral is at 555 W. Temple St.

Yet More Housing Proposed for Arts District

he trend of creating housing in the Arts District shows no sign of letting up. The newest proposed development is at 330 S. Alameda St. According to plans filed with the Department of City Planning, the developer Greystar is aiming to erect a seven-story building with 186 live-work lofts and 402 parking spaces. The project would include 22,340 square feet of commercial space. The land currently holds an office building and a parking lot. Greystar is already working on another Arts District project, the Amp Lofts, at 645 S. Santa Fe Ave., which would create 320 live-work lofts. Other nearby projects include the redevelopment of the former Coca-Cola headquarters at Fourth Street and Traction Avenue and the shopping and office space venture At Mateo. No budget or timeline for the new project has been revealed. The news was first reported by the website Urbanize.la.

September 12, 2016

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM The spire was lowered into place by a crane. It weighs 200,000 pounds and stands 294-feet tall.

PHOTOS BY GARY LEONARD

The Arrival of the Sky-Stabbing Spire Wilshire Grand Officially Becomes the Tallest Building West of the Mississippi By Nicholas Slayton he 73-story Wilshire Grand replacement project had already altered the Downtown Los Angeles skyline. On Saturday, Sept. 3, however, it made history: It officially became the tallest building west of the Mississippi River. That morning, the final elements of a 200,000pound, 294-foot tube was mounted to the eastern side of the $1.1 billion tower. The piece, called the “spire,” stretches above the curved portion of the building known as the “sail.” The spire was affixed by a team of five members of the construction crew known as the “raising gang.” Mark Palmer, Dan Cobb, Eric Madrigal, Peter Veliz and Vince Parker worked more than 1,000 feet above the street to put the final piece into place as it was lowered from a crane. The spire, and the overall design of the 1,099-foottall Wilshire Grand, came from the architectural firm AC Martin. Chris Martin, CEO and chairman of the Downtown-based firm, said that the tower is designed to take advantage of new design rules that allow developers to have sloping or curved roofs instead of flat tops. Previous requirements were meant to allow for helicopter pads. Modern safety improvements paved the way for a new approach. “We went round and round on the design of this,” Martin said. “There’s no established way of doing this.” Martin said that rather than being built out of the middle of the structure, the spire is attached, and in a way clipped onto the side of the building. The placement, he added, is intended to continue the flow of the structure’s design in an uninterrupted way. The Wilshire Grand, like many other modern skyscrapers, is designed to actually roll during seismic events. The top of the tower, including the spire, Martin said, can move up to 17 inches in an earthquake or high winds before returning to its resting spot. This keeps the spire secure, and Martin said there is no risk of it falling off. The tower’s safety concept takes advantage of developments that have occurred in the last couple decades. Martin said that the building uses a series of buckling restraint braces, which are long diagonal elements that act as shock absorbers and can lengthen and compress as necessary. The building’s seismic components were designed by two firms, Brandow & Johnston and Thornton Tomasetti. The spire is topped with an LED light beacon, which will draw further attention to the top of the tower at night. The beacon can display a variety of colors, including red and purple, for different occasions. The Wilshire Grand is being developed by the Korean firm Hanjin. It replaces a comparatively low-slung hotel that had been on the northwest corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets for more than a half-century. When complete it will hold 400,000 square feet of office space, restaurants and shops, and a 900-room hotel that will be operated by the InterContinental brand. The tower is expected to open in early 2017. nicholas@downtownnews.com

(Clockwise from top left) Eric Madrigal, Peter Veliz, Vince Parker, Dan Cobb and Mark Palmer are the team that placed the spire atop the Wilshire Grand. They worked more than 1,000 feet above the street.

Downtown News 25

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September 12, 2016

CALENDAR

The Latino Theatre Company this week debuts A Mexican Trilogy: An American Story. It spreads across more than 60 years and consists of a pair of two-and-a-half hour shows at the Los Angeles Theatre Center.

photo by Hector Cruz Sandoval

26 Downtown News

AN EPIC UNDERTAKING

Latino Theater Company Digs Into Two-Part, Six-Hour ‘A Mexican Trilogy: An American Story’

By Emily Manthei ose Luis Valenzuela’s office at the Los Angeles Theatre Center building overlooks a sprawling marble lobby. The space at 514 S. Spring St. formerly served as a bank headquarters, with an old vault door still in the basement. The skylight ceiling is made entirely of stained glass. Valenzuela, 65, is proud of the space, where his Latino Theatre Company started in 1985. They had to relocate in the 1990s, but moved back to the building in 2006, when they won a contract from the city, which owns the property, to operate it. The complex has a total of four theaters ranging from 99 to 500 seats. Running the LATC as the surrounding Historic Core undergoes a sea change is a big undertaking. In that regard, the company’s new work is fitting, as it represents the greatest challenge in the Latino Theatre Company’s 31-year history. On Thursday, Sept. 15, the company will open A Mexican Trilogy: An American Story. It is a six-hour show (including a one-hour break) that weaves through three pivotal eras in U.S. history, as seen through the eyes of a MexicanAmerican family. Valenzuela, the artistic director of the Latino Theatre Company, is directing the show, which is written by Evelina Fernandez, who also happens to be his wife. Originally conceived as three different plays, dubbed Faith, Hope and Charity, it is now presented in two parts. It can be seen across two nights, or in a single day with a mid-performance break. Bringing the three works together is some-

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thing the Latino Theatre Company has been talking about for some time, Valenzuela said. The goal, he added, is both to tell the story and push themselves artistically. “It takes concentration and discipline to be on the stage for five hours, and we’re hoping there is something about virtuosity that we have achieved here,” Valenzuela says. “Actors in the theater used to be virtuosos, and that commitment to the art form is what we are trying to push forward in a culture that has lost that idea. We want to show that doing theater work requires a type of commitment to create something that is relevant in our contemporary times.” Crossing World Events The show is built around the Morales family, and Trilogy’s stories are now condensed into a pair of two-and-a-half-hour performances. They follow the character Esperanza, who starts as a 5-year-old girl and by the end is older than 100. The proceedings turn from a Mexican family’s immigration to Arizona during World War II to their assimilation in Phoenix in the wake of the Cuban Missile Crisis. It then veers into the next generation’s life in Los Angeles, following Pope John Paul II’s death in 2005. “These were three iconic American eras, and we wanted to show how the Mexican-American community fit into the greater American context of them,” said Fernandez. There are various options to see the play. Part A: Mexican Revolution to the Cuban Missile Crisis will be presented on Thursdays at 8 p.m., and Part B: Assassination of JFK to the Death of

Pope John Paul II will be mounted on Fridays at 8 p.m. The weekend brings two back-to-back options, with Part A on Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Part B at 8:30 p.m. On Sundays, Part A starts at 3 p.m. and Part B begins at 6:30 p.m. Each individual show includes a 10-minute intermission; on the weekends, there is a one-hour dinner break between Part A and Part B, creating a sixhour total experience. Valenzuela said ticket presales have been strong, with buyers favoring the single-day option for the weekend shows. He said this is exactly how the company hopes the audience will take in the plays. Latino Theater Company founding member Geoff Rivas, who is one of the stars of the trilogy, playing a man named Ricardo Flores, agreed. “On an artistic level, I hope people will walk away thinking they’ve had a once-in-a-lifetime experience, seeing something this epic in one sitting, in addition to being touched by the themes on a social level,” he said. Musical Shifts The 500-seat theater wraps around a semicircular stage, which includes a main level and an upper balcony, allowing the actors to toggle between scenes. This gives the action the fervent pace of live television while maintaining the theatricality of performances and dialogue. The changing time periods are not the only interaction the play has with a changing America. The actors sing contemporary music in English and Spanish from the 1940s, 1960s and early 2000s. Even the theater format is different

during each period. “The ’40s was a very realistic period for theater, the ’60s was musical and experimental, and in the early 2000s we were looking at more avant-garde theater,” said Valenzuela. The time jumping also presents challenges for the 12-person cast, some of whom play different characters in the two parts. Others simply age when transitioning from one time period to the next, giving them the hurdle of adding on years of perspective in a swift, seamless moment. Showing the characters age in back-to-back performances presented some adaptation challenges for Fernandez. She pointed to Rivas’ Ricardo character as one who goes through a rather significant transition. “Geoff’s character in the second play is a womanizing father, but in the first play, he was a cute, charming kid. I changed some of the lines, but it was really up to him to make us believe that the nice kid he played in Part A could turn into the man he becomes in Part B.” Fernandez hopes A Mexican Trilogy will give audiences a better understanding of who Mexican Latinos are, and perhaps a better understanding of who they are themselves. For her, the project is a representation of the company’s mission to tell the stories of all of Los Angeles’ diverse communities. “I think the more specific a story is, the more universal its message,” she said. A Mexican Trilogy: An American Story runs Sept. 15-Oct. 9 at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, 514 S. Spring St., (866) 811-4111 or thelatc.org.

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Restaurant Buzz Taiwanese Street Food, Fancy Ice Cream And More Food Happenings

An Oystar Is Born: Little Tokyo has another spot for seafood with the debut of Oystars last month. Consider it a sort of Boiling Crab spinoff: The menu features Cajun-style seafood boils (purchased by the pound), plus an array of

photo courtesy of Oystars

freshly shucked oysters, but there are other offerings worth considering. The ever-popular uni pasta makes an appearance, as do poke bowls and a few lunch specials. The two-level space once belonged to Urban Seoul, but that lasted only a few months after opening last November. Few people seem to have noticed the transition, in any case, but Oystars’ menu and pricing bode well for the neighborhood. At 136 S. Central Ave. or (213) 628-3902. Taste of Taiwan: More action at Far East Plaza in Chinatown? What a surprise. The newest arrival is Lao Tao Street Food, the first restaurant from chef and owner David Wang, which is softopening for lunch on Sept. 14 and grand-opening with dinner a week later. It occupies a tidy, 25-seat space on the second floor of the com-

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plex, and Wang will serve a streamlined menu with just eight items. Expect many of Taiwan’s beloved street food hits: There’s oh-ah-jian, or oyster pancake lacquered in a sweet-andsour sauce; crunchy twice-fried chicken with chili powder; braised pork-belly buns; and beef shank noodles in a marrow sauce with pickled vegetables. All items are about $5-$10, which means you should order a bunch of stuff to share. Trivia time: “Lao tao” pretty much means “foodie,” but the term comes from a traditional tale of a mischievous, dragon-like creature that ate everything in sight — including, ultimately, its own body. Morbid! Coming to 727 N. Broadway or facebook.com/ laotaostreetfood. Got juicy food news? Email eddie@downtownnews.com

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Summer Makeover: Grand Central Market’s Valerie Confections is an excellent spot to pick up top-notch baked goods and sweet treats. Soon, there will be even more choices. The stall, which has been there for three years, is shuttering for a few days in late September for a renovation. The revamped space will hew closer to the rustic appeal of Valerie Gordon’s Echo Park cafe, with a new fridge to accommodate all of

Winging It: In case you missed it, the nifty Mission Market at the Spring Arcade Building now includes a spot to pick up some gourmet bites. Meet POV Snacks, an offshoot of Pizza of Venice (hence the POV), minus the pizza. That’s likely due to the kitchen and space limitations in the market, but no matter. The menu features thick-cut Belgian-style fries, a few salads (check the “POV,” with pickled vegetables, mixed greens, nuts and Manchego cheese), roasted Brussels sprouts and the main event, chicken wings. At six wings for $9 or 20 for $20, it’s a solid deal. Coming soon is online ordering, because what are we if not resourceful and lazy? At 544 S. Broadway or povsnackshop.com.

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Oystars, a new seafood spot in Little Tokyo, specializes in Cajunstyle shellfish ordered by the pound with a choice of sauces.

her chocolate creations and a larger cake and pastry case, as well. The expansion will allow the stall to serve more intricate plated desserts in the evening, and Valerie Confections will debut a bigger menu with savory options (think sandwiches and gourmet salads). Check social media for updates. At 317 S. Broadway, (213) 621-2781 or valerieconfections.com.

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By Eddie Kim our-Piece Combo: Wakaba L.A., the new apartment complex at Second and San Pedro streets in Little Tokyo, is bringing on four food and drink tenants that should liven up the streetscape considerably. Flanking the building’s lobby on the southwest corner of the intersection will be a 2,100-squarefoot Starbucks with expanded beer and wine offerings (along Second), and an outpost of the local franchise Panini Cafe (along San Pedro). Next to Starbucks on Second Street will be 10Below, a New York City-based ice cream shop known for rolling up thin sheets of ice cream into decorative scrolls right in front of customers. And while details are scant, Ramen Itto, a new ramen joint led by a chef from Japan, will be arriving as well. Expect the shops to open in the first quarter of 2017, according to Avison Young broker Derrick Moore, who worked on the deals. Coming to 232 E. Second St.

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September 12, 2016

THE DT Don't Miss

CALENDAR LISTINGS EVENTS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 A Cooler Grand Park Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org. 12 p.m.: The park’s new shade structure has its grand comingout party. It wants the world to know.

An Arthur Miller Play, Kenneth Anger Films and the Memory of Muhammad Ali Come Downtown This Week

photo by Gary Leonard

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 78th Annual Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Chinatown Central & West Plazas, 943-951 N. Broadway, (213) 680-0243 or chinatownla.org. 5 p.m.: Though Chinatown Summer Nights is done for the year, the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival with its beer garden, LA Weekly Live Music Stage and capuchin monkey offer up similar pleasures with an autumnal vibe. As always, don’t touch the monkey! Fiestas Patrias Olvera Street Plaza or fiestaspatrias-la.com. Noon: A family-friendly event celebrates Mexican Independence day and kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month. There will be more than dozen Mexican performers as well as a kids’ stage. Also on Sunday. Snap Judgment Live in L.A. 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. 7 p.m.: East Coast public radio standout “Snap Judgment” and James Judd invites storytellers to “deliver raw, compelling stories,” because cooked, boring stories don’t quite cut the mustard anymore.

photo by Jan Versweyveld

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Eli Detweiler, Jr. at MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary Geffen Contemporary, 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-1710 or moca.org. 5 p.m.: In an intriguing and unconventional program entitled “The Idea of Language,” a champion competitive high-speed auctioneer lets fly with a bid-taking workshop.

Three

Ace Hotel 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com. Sept. 13-15, 6:30 p.m.: Three nights of Wilco, your favorite brand-name indie band. Sept. 16, 7 p.m.: Jim Jefferies has something horribly offensive to tell you. Au Lac/Café Fedora 710 W. First St., (213) 617-2533 or aulac.com. Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m.: Duo Violao Brasil & Friends. Belasco 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or belascous.com. Sept. 15: Boyce Avenue is the best band from Sarasota, Florida, that you’ve never heard of. Sept. 16: Saint Motel, JR JR and Weathers front a show for le KROQ.

photo by Alberto Vasari

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

Sometimes all you need is a good story. That comes into play on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 7 p.m. as Glynn Washington’s famed narrative program “Snap Judgment” roosts in the Theatre at Ace Hotel for an evening of well-told tales designed to liberate audience members from the crushing routines of their lives. Washington is a delight in his own right, but guests will be treated to further vocal gymnastics from guest humorist James Judd (shown here) whose voice will lend itself nicely to this live approximation of the East Coast public radio show. The event is presented in conjunction with KPCC. At 929 S. Broadway, (213) 623-3233 or acehotel.com.

Downtown resident Josh Gross knows more about mixed martial arts and the late Muhammad Ali than you. That knowledge is presented in his new book Ali Vs. Inoki, about an oft-overlooked exhibition bout that the late champ fought against a Japanese wrestler. Another thing you didn’t know, and that is addressed in the book, is that Ali spent ample time in Downtown around a trio of 1962 fights at the Sports Arena. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 7 p.m., Gross struts his stuff at the Historic Core’s Last Bookstore. Conveniently, the venue is directly across the street from a place Ali once stayed — the Alexandria Hotel. Admission is free but, come on, buy the book. At 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

This week’s dance performance at REDCAT celebrates the masculine. Go ahead and reread that as your jaw schisms open into a canyon brimming with suspicion and incredulity. Yes, in this day and age, art is still being made that champions the mystique of the male form and consciousness. Choreographer Christian Rizzo draws influence from Turkish folk dance to create a percussion-heavy octet of male bodies locked in extremely physical choreography reminiscent of centuries of ecstatic motion. It all comes your way in the show dubbed ICI-CCN Montpellier: d’apres une histoire vraie. It fills the space in the back of Walt Disney Concert Hall on Thursday-Saturday, Sept. 15-17, at 8:30 p.m. and once more on Sunday at 7 p.m. At 631 W. Second St., (213) 2372800 or redcat.org.

photo courtesy Kenneth Anger

One

Arthur Miller’s A View From the Bridge has taken many forms, including adaptations as a one-act play, an opera and a Dustin Hoffman vehicle. London’s Young Vic company went the stage route, brought in Ivo Van Hove to direct, and ultimately won a couple Tony Awards, including Best Revival, when it landed in New York. Now A View From the Bridge comes to the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. Opening night is Wednesday, Sept. 14, for the nearly two-hour show that focuses on the passionate relationships of a Sicilian dock-working family in Brooklyn at a time of social and personal flux — the play’s intense drama may just spark feelings of fear and hope that resonate today. Performances this week are Wednesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. It runs through Oct. 16. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup. org.

By Dan Johnson | calendar@downtownnews.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 #SCIArc SCI-Arc Gallery,960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: No, the hashtag works, see, because the event is subtitled “Architecture in the Age of Digital Media.” Josh Gross at Last Bookstore Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring ST., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 7 p.m.: Downtown-based author Josh Gross reads from and signs his “Ali Vs. Inoki,” about the late Muhammad Ali’s exhibition bout against a Japanese wrestler.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 El Grito! Celebration City Hall Steps, 200 N. Spring St., (323) 526-9332 or josehuizar.com/grito2016. 5:30-11:30 p.m.: Downtown Councilman José Huizar invites everyone he knows, and many he doesn’t, to an outdoor Civic Center celebration of Mexican Independence Day. There will be art, food, kids’ activities and performances by bands including Los Tigres Del Norte.

LIST

The sun will not yet have initiated its annual creep into the scales of Libra on Sunday, Sept. 18, when Scorpio Rising auteur Kenneth Anger conjures himself within the confines of The Regent. His Magick Lantern Cycle of films (Invocation of My Demon Brother, Scorpio Rising, Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome and Lucifer Rising) screen at 7 p.m. in the Historic Core space. Immediately following, Anger and Brian Butler will take the stage in a musical dyad known as The Technicolor Skull. Press him and perhaps Anger will let you in on some lurid Downtown details from his sensational and enduring gossip book Hollywood Babylon. At 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.

September 12, 2016 Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Sept. 12: The Bridge Trio. Sept. 13: Kevin Hays and Gregoire Maret. Sept. 14: Viola-Rastegar-Goldings. Sept. 15: Banda Magda. Sept. 16-17: Donny McCaslin Quartet. Sept. 18: Marcel Camargo and Le Trio. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Sept. 12: Jay Watson of Tame Impala fame presents Gum. Sept. 13: If D’Angelo really influenced Ojai bred singer/songwriter Luca, where is the naked music video? Sept. 14: This is Los Angeles, so when someone says Goon is releasing an album tonight, we’ll need you to be a lot more specific. Sept. 15: Unfortunately Emerson Star is not a blend of Mazzy Star and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Sept. 16: Papa can’t get enough of the Bootleg and the treasure trove of authentic Filipino cuisine not far away on Temple Street. Sept. 18: “Weird Part of the Night” bard Louis Cole delivers an evening of jazz. Caña 714 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 745-7090 or 213dthospitality.com. Sept. 13: Sitara Son. Sept. 14: Chris Wabich. Sept. 15: Cuba Rumba. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Sept. 16: Thomas Gold. Sept. 17: Cazzette. Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Sept. 12: Contrary to popular belief, Panic! At The Disco is not a musical tribute to John Travolta films from the ’70s. Sept. 13: The “History of Reggae” panel discussion features Ziggy Marley, Ras Michael, Lloyd “Bread” McDonald and Carlton “Santa” Davis. Sept. 16: As the museum rolls out its “Hey! Ho! Let’s Go” tribute to the Ramones, Billy Idol, Seymour Stein, Mickey Leigh, Linda Ramone, Shepherd Fairey and more pop in for a night of song and pontification. Ham & Eggs Tavern 433 W. Eighth St., (213) 891-6939 or hamandeggstavern.com. Sept. 12: Animal Eyes. Sept. 13: Barry Grove, Pictorial Candi and Charmaine’s Names. Sept. 16: Austin Riva and Casey Cook. Sept. 17: Pineapple Rain. Las Perlas 107 E. Sixth St., (213) 988-8355 or 213dthospitality.com. Sept. 13: Joey de Leon. Sept. 14: La Victoria. Sept. 15 and 18: Viva! Little Easy 216 W. Fifth St., (213) 628-3113 or littleeasybar.com. Sept. 15: Brandino Trio. Sept. 18, Noon: Critical Brass. Mayan 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4287 or clubmayan.com. Sept. 14: The illustrious Art Don’t Sleep fronts an evening with Alice Smith, Iman OMari, SMSHNG HRTS and The Seshen. Sept. 15: POD, the band that refuses your polite if desperate requests to stop touring. Microsoft Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6030 or microsofttheeatre.com. Sept. 18, 5 p.m.: The 68th Primetime Emmy Awards would like to thank the major film studios for making television relevant again. Orpheum Theatre 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com. Sept. 16-17: It’ll be a full stage with Tedeschi Trucks Band. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. Sept. 12: Blair Sinta. Sept. 13: Something on the Wing. Sept. 14: Cut Up, Crab Legs and Moon Raker. Sept. 17: He Who Cannot Be Named with Des & The Cendents. The Novo 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or thenovodtla.com. Sept. 14: Superlative beatmaker Clams Casino and his early acolyte Lil B. Sept. 15: Revolution in Sound, not a Beatles tribute. Sept. 16: Talib Kweli and Slick Rick the Ruler take top billing at Nephew Tommy’s The Show. Sept. 18: Magic Men Live! is a male strip show with an exclamation point just in case you needed another symbolic phallus to sway your ticket purchasing. The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. Sept. 15: Punk lives with John Doe & Exene Cervenka. Sept. 16: The FLYGRLS host a benefit dance party with Madame Gandhi, Eden Hagos and many more. Continued on next page

Downtown News 29

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

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$11,999 2012 Nissan Altima 2.5 ......................... $12,999 CARFAX: Clean Title, Auto, Keyless Start. N162488-1/578915 2012 Nissan Rogue S ............................. $16,499 CARFAX – Clean Title, MP3, Keyless Entry. N160136-1/272749 2014 Nissan Versa Note ......................... CARFAX: 1 Owner, Cert,, Auto, Keyless Ent. N161852-1/369889

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$14,288 2011 Avalon Limited .............................. $21,588 Black/Light Gray, Auto, 4 Dr. TU1642/388014 2014 Tundra LTD ..................................... $36,988 Certified, White/Gray, Auto, Double Cab. TU1659/157770 2012 Prius C Two ..................................... Certified, Blue/Gray, Hatchback. T154495-1/000579

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$29,895 2014 Audi TT Quattro .......................... $32,895 Certified, Navi, Lo Mi. E1000461/ZA11310 2013 Audi S4 Quattro .......................... $38,895 Sprt Pac, Blk/Blk, Adp Sus. DA080663/ZA11328 PORSCHE OF DOWNTOWN L.A. 2012 Audi A6 3.0 Quattro ................... Prestige, 53k Mi, and More. CN050608/ZA11312-1

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30 Downtown News Continued from previous page Sept. 17: Wish KLOS’ Heidi & Frank a happy birthday. Resident 428 S. Hewitt St. or (323) 316-5311 or residentdtla.com. Sept. 14: Heaters, Frankie and the Witch Fingers and Psychic Jiu-Jitsu. Sept. 15: Entrance, Weyes Blood and Lael Neale. Sept. 17: Funk & Waffles. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Sept. 12: Jazz from the Isaac Smith Quartet. Sept. 13: The Makers will be, can you believe it, pushing im-

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provised jazz tonight. Sept. 14: Rosa Lee Brooks jamming on 12 bars. Sept. 15: Featuring the sounds of a Philliip Marlowe past, The Racket Squad comes to town. Sept. 18: See if you can guess what city the Po-Boy Trio represents. Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com. Sept. 14: Pop-country enthusiasts will be glad to know that tonight’s Carrie Underwood concert features exactly everything you expect a Carrie Underwood concert to feature, no more, no less. The Smell 247 S. Main St. in the alley between Spring and Main or

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS *

September 12, 2016

thesmell.org. Sept. 16: The Gooch Palms, Janelane and Keif Season. Sept. 18: Daddy’s House Bedroom Pop Festival. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com. Sept. 15: The Cass McCombs Band will, of course, be crossing that county line. Sept. 16: Enduring improv funk with the Greyboy Allstars. Sept. 17: Butch Walker is here to entertain you. Sept. 18: Ben Phillips is a Vine star. Do with that information what you will.

FILM

The Broad 221 S. Grand., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org. Sept. 15, 7 p.m.: The Doll Parts film series continues with offerings from Narcissister and Lynn Hershman Leeson’s 30-minute The Electronic Diary: Binge. Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. See website for schedule. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Journey to Space 3D brings audience members along on an E-ticket ride of exploration to the red planet. Ewan McGregor is the voice of Humpback Whales 3D. Not that the whales aren’t significant enough in their own right, but Obi-Wan narrating means we’re dealing with serious power brokers here. Power brokers who know a good whale story when they see it. La Plaza de Cultura y Arte 501 N. Main St. or online at zocalopublicsquare.org. Sept. 16, 7 p.m.: Wes Anderson’s Rushmore screens.

Regal Cinemas LA Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through Sept. 14: The Disappointments Room (11:55 a.m., 2:25, 5, 7:40 and 10:30 p.m.); Sully (12, 1:10, 1:50, 2:40, 4, 4:40, 5:30, 715, 8:10, 9:30, 10:20 and 11 p.m.); When the Bough Breaks (1:40, 4:50, 8 and 10:55 p.m.); The Wild Life 3D (2:10 and 9:20 p.m.); The Wild Life (11:50 a.m., 4:30 and 7 p.m.); Morgan (11:50 a.m. and 4:55 p.m.); Don’t Breathe (3:05, 5:20, 7:50, 8:30, 10:10 and 10:50 p.m.); Kubo and the Two Strings (12:40 p.m.); Kubo and the Two Strings 3D (3:30 p.m.); War Dogs (12:15 and 3:20 p.m.); Sausage Party (12:30, 3, 5:40, 8:20 and 10:50 p.m.); Suicide Squad (1:20, 4:10, 7:10 and 10 p.m.); Suicide Squad 3D (12:05 and 5:25 p.m.); No Manches FRida (1, 3:50, 6:40 and 9:40 p.m.). The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com. Sept. 18, 7 p.m.: Kenneth Anger himself screens his Magick Lantern Cycle.

MORE LISTINGS@

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September 12, 2016

CLASSIFIEDS

FOR RENT

REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL

Downtown News 31

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

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.

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