09-14-15

INSIDE THIS WEEK

Development Updates On 99 Downtown Projects, Plus a Residential Section Pages 7-27

SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 I VOL. 44 I #37

IT'S THE BROAD! Finally, Downtown’s $140 Million Art Museum Is Ready to Open

photo by Gary Leonard

An Interview With Eli Broad : 5 Architect Elizabeth Diller Discusses the Design : 28 A Talk With the Curator of the Opening Show : 30

THE VOICE OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

2 Downtown News

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AROUND TOWN

PacMutual Sells for $200 Million

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he PacMutual complex, which became a creative office hub in the Financial District after its renovation in 2012, has been sold. Rising Realty Partners, founded by longtime Downtown developer Nelson Rising and his son Christopher, purchased the aging collection of three buildings for $60 million and spent another $25 million to upgrade it. The complex has now been bought for $200 million by Canadian real estate investment company Ivanhoé Cambridge and Callahan Capital Properties, a private equity firm based in Chicago. “Downtown Los Angeles has seen a remarkable renewal and truly represents a modern ‘live-work-play’ sector of the city,” said Arthur Lloyd, an executive vice president at Ivanhoé Cambridge, said in a prepared statement. Composed of 1908, 1921 and 1926 buildings, the PacMutual was only about 50% occupied when RRP bought it. The modernization of the facility with high ceilings, concrete floors and open floor plans attracted clients such as online fashion retailer Nasty Gal, visual effects firm Magnopus and trial law firm Hueston Hennigan. It is now about 90% occupied. Earlier this year, RRP purchased the Figueroa Plaza office park with plans to renovate it. It is also in talks to acquire a series of buildings in Downtown, according to a company representative.

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Huge Arts District Arts Facility to Debut in March

September 14, 2015

TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

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he Arts District’s hotly anticipated Hauser, Wirth & Schimmel Gallery now has an opening date. Project officials last week announced that the facility will debut on March 13, 2016. The 100,000-square-foot space at 901 E. Third St., formerly a flour mill, will be run by former MOCA Chief Curator Paul Schimmel. The project is a partnership with Iwan Wirth, the president and owner of Hauser & Wirth, which has exhibition spaces in New York, Zurich and London. The Arts District compound is composed of late 19th and early 20th century buildings tied together with outdoor spaces, and the gallery will host multiple exhibitions as well as public programming. Mostly uninhabited since the 1950s, the site’s seven buildings include a Neo-Classical bank edifice, a five-story mill and three warehouses.

Restaurants Announced for Fashion District Complex

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any people have wondered if the mammoth City Market project will ever come to fruition. While the fate of the overall $1 billion effort remains to be seen, its first component is moving forward. Representatives of the Lena Group, which is developing the first phase, dubbed City Market South, have announced two restaurants and a bar coming to the complex near 11th and San Pedro streets: Slated are an as-yet unnamed eatery from Charles Phan (of San Francisco’s The Slanted Door), featuring his new-Vietnamese cooking; Rossoblú, an Italian restaurant from Steve Sampson (of Century City’s Sotto); and a bar from Steve Livigni and Pablo

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Moix (the duo behind East Hollywood watering hole Harvard & Stone, among others) focusing on craft cocktails and small bites. All three establishments are gearing up for an early 2016 debut, according to project representative Talya Mirkin. The overall City Market, led by Peter Fleming, would include 945 housing units, 210 hotel rooms, 225,000 square feet of retail and 295,000 square feet of creative office space.

Art in the Fashion District

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he Fashion District is driven by the garment trade, but now there is a weekend artistic op-

portunity. The Fashion District and South Park BIDs, along with the nonprofits Do Art and Think Tank Gallery, have come together to create an interactive “social toy,” according to Ariana Gomez, marketing manager with the Fashion District BID. The artwork allows people to walk between walls with fabric “tentacles” attached and blowing from nearby fans. All the materials were found in the Fashion District, according to Varenye Organism, the artist collective that created the piece. The installation, which the artists said was inspired by a coral reef, will be displayed each Saturday at The Wall Farmer’s Market, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., on Wall Street between Seventh and Eighth streets.

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Downtown News 3

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

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4 Downtown News

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EDITORIALS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

September 14, 2015

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

The L.A. Times Desperately Needs Local Ownership

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hicago needs to get out of our business, our Los Angeles civic life. It has played fast and loose with our community one time too many, and it needs to stop. Now. Last week in a high-handed move, the corporate parent that oversees the Los Angeles Times fired the 133-year-old newspaper’s publisher and CEO. For those who truly care about the city, it was something of a cross-country debacle: Out was a civic-minded local figure with a history of working to better Los Angeles. Instead, a group of Chicago executives decided that the paper’s business side, and its print and digital future, are better off in the hands of someone who has spent most of the last decade in Baltimore. It was a reckless maneuver, reminiscent of many such fiascos

by Chicago-based businesses since the Chandler family, longtime local owners, sold its Times stock in 2007.

This is a vital matter, both for the newspaper (and its website, latimes.com), and for the city its remaining reporters strive to cover. It has become clear that unless a change of ownership occurs — to someone vested in Los Angeles — that task will be ever more difficult. If the newspaper continues down its current path, with ownership more focused on the short-term stock price and quarterly profits than the state and fate of this city, then staff will be slashed further and reportorial and investigative efforts will diminish. Then readership will shrink, advertising sales will go down and the stock price will tumble even further.

After the long history of disruptive, shortsighted and destructive decisions by outsiders, starting with Sam Zell, the Los Angeles Times needs local ownership, now more than ever. While we recognize the irony of the appeal from another publication, this page thinks it is time for our most affluent and engaged citizens to step up and do whatever it takes to acquire the Times, and to run it with an eye toward serving Los Angeles for the decades to come.

The “nut graf,” as they say in the newspaper business, is this: No media organization in Los Angeles is better placed and prepared to uncover misdeeds and keep the pressure on public officials than the Times. It needs the right leadership so its journalists can do their job.

There is a short list of individuals and companies who could acquire the paper and put it in a position to succeed, even if that involves some change in status, such as making it a nonprofit. This type of reboot, though more complicated than it sounds, would benefit its tax status, freeing up cash for improvements. It could also help secure the Times’ stability for the future.

That said, there are a few potential local owners who can

afford to simply take the Times private.

Eli Broad has tried to buy the paper multiple times, including several weeks ago, according to numerous reports, only to be emphatically rebuffed by the Times’ parent, Tribune Publishing (which was spun off from the other Tribune media holdings). Still, Broad should try again, since discord may have shifted some board members’ votes. So should individuals who have demonstrated a strong

It’s time to end the distracting civic upheavals caused by careless and perhaps petty moves coming out of Chicago. There is serious work to be done in Los Angeles. The process will be difficult, but Los Angeles needs local ownership of the local newspaper. civic commitment, such as entertainment magnate David Geffen, or biotech entrepreneur Patrick Soon-Shiong. There are others who could do it, as well. Of all the philanthropic efforts the super-rich of Los Angeles engage in, putting in place good local ownership of our major metropolitan daily newspaper should be first on the list.

Granted, this is easier said than done. But where there’s a publicly traded company, there’s a way. The first step, probably laughable given the recent response to Broad’s entreaties, is, as we say, to approach Tribune executives one more time to see if they have come to their senses or stopped their infighting (an L.A. Business Journal report asserts that Broad says that Tribune Publishing board Chairman Eddy Hartenstein asked Broad to make the offer). Another rejection should necessitate an attempt to take over the entire company, though considering that the stock price has fallen from

about $25 to $11 in a year, that effort is much less expensive than it would have been in the past.

Specifically, the need for local ownership was demonstrated on Tuesday, Sept. 8, when Tribune unceremoniously fired Austin Beutner, who had been named publisher and CEO 13 months before.

While some in Chicago questioned the financial picture, that accusation felt more like an excuse to do what they wanted to do.

Most Angelenos recognized that the Times had taken significant steps forward during Beutner’s tenure. He had gained acclaim by killing the confusing LATEXTRA section and bringing back the California section. He had helped the paper better connect with readers through various print and digital initiatives, including an improving Business section. He created new revenue streams with “vertical” newsletters. Known for his outside-the-box thinking, Beutner, a fresh voice with proven business acumen, was being watched nationally by those looking for creative ways to re-energize newspapers.

Would everything Beutner tried work out? Of course not, but the experiments he undertook are essential to a robust media business in the 21st century. A comprehensive digital strategy that engages people and ties them to the print paper and latimes.com is necessary for the future.

While the Los Angeles Times is owned by shareholders, in many ways it belongs to the city. Just as the owners of professional sports teams control their product but have a responsibility to longtime fans, so must the corporate leadership in Chicago understand that people in L.A. have been relying on the Times since Dec. 4, 1881.

The Times should not be treated seemingly as their toy or cash cow. Tribune should do the right thing and give up the Times, and be somewhat salved since they will make some bucks doing so.

Maybe Timothy Ryan, who has been publisher and chief executive of the Baltimore Sun Media Group since 2007, and whom Tribune Publishing selected to replace Beutner, has a record of success and some great ideas. He might, but he also is coming into Los Angeles cold, and many local observers fear one of his early steps will be to reduce expenses by eliminating more newsroom jobs, whether through buyouts or layoffs. Whatever the case, Ryan can’t yet know or understand the city and its relationship with the Times.

It’s time to end the distracting civic upheavals caused by careless and perhaps petty moves coming out of Chicago. There is serious work to be done in Los Angeles. The process will be difficult, but Los Angeles needs local ownership of the local newspaper.

September 14, 2015

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

Downtown News 5

The Long Path to The Broad Philanthropist Eli Broad Discusses His $140 Million Downtown Museum, and His 30-Plus-Year Effort To Make Downtown Great

By Jon Regardie lthough the offices of the Broad Art Foundation are in Century City, Eli Broad for decades has been one of the most influential people in Downtown Los Angeles.

In 1979 he helped launch MOCA, and in the ensuing decades he has had a hand in every major project on Grand Avenue. He teamed

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CONVERSATIONS with then-Mayor Richard Riordan to kickstart fundraising for a stalled Walt Disney Concert Hall, helped form the Grand Avenue Committee, pushed the LAUSD to hire prominent architect Wolf Prix to design an arts high school, and stepped in with a $30 million challenge grant when MOCA fell off a financial cliff.

Now Broad, who created two billion-dollar companies in homebuilder Kaufman and Broad and retirement planning giant SunAmerica, has his crowning Downtown achievement. On Sunday, Sept. 20, his $140 million art museum The Broad opens at 221 S. Grand Ave. It will feature some of the 2,000 works that Broad and his wife Edythe have collected over the decades.

Admission is free, thanks to an endowment from Broad that is north of $200 million.

Broad sat down with Los Angeles Downtown News to talk about the museum, its design, the art on the walls and how the project could have wound up in Santa Monica.

Los Angeles Downtown News: More than three decades ago you helped open MOCA. Now, across the street, you have The Broad. That’s a heck of an artistic bookend for one man.

Eli Broad: Well, I feel great about what’s happened on Grand Avenue, whether it’s the arts high school I was involved in with Wolf Prix, the cathedral with [architect] Rafael Moneo, Grand Park, of course MOCA, and it really makes Grand Avenue a civic and cultural center for reaching 15 million people.

Q: You’ve been involved with those projects and others. Why do you come back to this street again and again?

A: I started out with the belief that every great city in the world needs a vibrant center. And Los Angeles really didn’t have a vibrant center.

Los Angeles was frankly a divided city. People from the Eastside didn’t go to the Westside, Westsiders didn’t go to the Eastside. So now having Grand Avenue serving the entire region, especially Grand Park, I feel good about it. I think it helps make Los Angeles a greater city.

Q: What else needs to happen to make Grand Avenue great, whether from government or the private sector?

A: It needs the Grand Avenue project [from developer Related Cos.] across from Walt DisContinued on page 6

Eli and Edythe Broad have collected more than 2,000 pieces of contemporary and post-war art.

The works will be on display in The Broad.

The museum, which opens Sunday, Sept.

20, features a nearly one-acre third-floor gallery without columns.

photo by Elizabeth Daniels for The Broad

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

6 Downtown News

Eli Broad, 5

the CRA, etc.” He said, “You know it oughta be Downtown. “ I said, “I agree.” So he convinced me, and he convinced the people at CRA to try to do some of the things that Santa Monica was willing to do.

ney Concert Hall to go ahead. As you know that is designed by Frank Gehry. It will be very exciting and hopefully they’ll start construction by the end of next year. It will have a four-star hotel. It will have lots of interesting retail. Hopefully we’ll get an Apple store down there.

Q: It moved, for the city of L.A. at least, pretty quickly from that point.

A: The city’s been very, very accommodating.

Q: That said, at the time you viewed this as a $100 million project and hoped to open in 2012. Now it’s $40 million more expensive and three years later. Has that been frustrating?

A: Well, it’s been a challenge. We got it done, we have a great building, we feel good about it.

It works well. Yes, it took longer and cost more than we thought.

Q: Many people collect art, but few go through the time, expense and effort to open a museum.

Why was this the path you chose as opposed to, say, partnering with another institution? You know how hard it is to get anything done in L.A. A: We’ve got over 2,000 works of art in our personal collection. We wanted to share it with the broadest possible public. If we gave it to one or several museums they’d show 5% of it, if that much. Probably 2% is more like it. And the rest would end up in storage.

Q: In 2010 you talked about this project and told Downtown News, “We’d rather be Downtown,” but that you were considering Santa Monica, in part because of the difficulties of getting a deal done in L.A. Now that we have a bit of perspective, how serious were you about doing this in Santa Monica? Was that just gamesmanship?

A: No, it was not gamesmanship. First of all, remember, I created the Grand Avenue Committee, so I sort of felt I had a conflict. But then when [Related] stalled and couldn’t go ahead — it all turned around one evening when I had dinner with [Mayor] Antonio Villaraigosa. He said, “What are you doing in Santa Monica?” I said, “Antonio, life’s too short to deal with the city, the county, the joint powers authority,

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Q: Why do you think you were drawn to collecting contemporary and post-war art?

A: It’s the art of our times. It reflects what’s happening in our society and the world, as opposed to buying art of earlier periods. It’s a great learning experience, the ability to spend time with the artists, talk to them, understand how they see the world. Collecting art isn’t just buying objects, it’s a learning experience.

Q: What have you learned?

A: I’ve learned that artists have different views of society than we businesspeople have. I like to say that life would be boring if I spent all my time with other business people, lawyers and bankers.

Q: What led to your desire to collect some artists very intensively? The collections include, for exam-

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ple, 124 works by Cindy Sherman, 34 by Jeff Koons, and 40 from John Baldessari, among others.

A: We want to follow the artist’s career, not just buy one of this and one of that. So we’ve collected Cindy Sherman for over 30 years and have seen her work evolve. Same thing with Jeff Koons and some other artists.

Q: You wrote a book titled “The Art of Being Unreasonable.” How were you unreasonable in putting together The Broad?

A: This business of unreasonable comes from a George Bernard Shaw quote. He said: The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable man or woman doesn’t. Therefore, all progress comes from unreasonable people.

So what we’ve done in this museum is different than what others have done designing museums. So in a way what we’ve done is unreasonable.

Q: What elements would you say are unreasonable and strike you as the most important in the building?

A: One, the way you enter the gallery through the [105-foot-long] escalator. Two, having almost a full acre on the top floor without columns, with great light, is somewhat unusual.

And of course, the entire building is a work of art itself. And architecture is the mother of all the arts.

Q: General admission at the Norton Simon is $12.

It’s $23 to enter the Huntington Library. Yet The Broad is free. You’re leaving millions on the table each year, money that could go to maintenance, or to purchase more art. Why? A: It’s a way of giving back to the city we love.

It’s a way to reach the broadest possible audience. It’s something we were able to afford to do. We’ve been very fortunate in the city and we want to give back.

Q: How does it feel, seeing this museum open after five years, after your 30-plus years working on Grand Avenue, after more than a half century of being in this city? What goes through your head as you approach Sept. 20?

A: I feel good about what we’ve done. I feel good about what’s happened Downtown, between Grand Avenue and down to L.A. Live.

If you go back 15 years and asked how many people came Downtown, that number has gone up fourfold, fivefold, sixfold. More people want to live Downtown. I think it makes for a great city.

Q: You said at the beginning, every great city needs a great urban center. Do we have that yet?

A: It’s developing very rapidly, yes. You say, why do people from other boroughs go to Manhattan, or from New Jersey, Long Island, Connecticut, Westchester, etc.? It’s because it’s a place where you can gather all the culture, sports, entertainment that you can’t have without a vibrant center.

I think one other thing that is going to happen is cultural tourism is going to explode in Los Angeles. We are one of the four great cultural capitals in the world together with New York, Paris and London. We’ve got a great symphony hall. We’ve got a great opera with Plácido Domingo. And we have great art museums.

It’s great to see all this happening.

The Broad is at 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 2326200 or thebroad.org. regardie@downtownnews.com

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September 14, 2015

Downtown News 7

DOWNTOWNNEWS.COM

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT A Development Boom In All Directions The Latest Updates on 99 Downtown Projects

By Eddie Kim, Heidi Kulicke, Emily Manthei and Jon Regardie hen the year 2000 hit, development in Downtown Los Angeles took on an interesting, measured tone.

Individual neighborhoods would get hot, as developers — mostly local in the first wave — saw opportunities in compact areas. The Historic Core was the first hub, and a number of old office buildings there were turned into housing, thanks to the passage of the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance. That was followed by projects in the Financial District and a few ground-up housing structures in South Park.

In 2015, development is happening in nearly every Downtown district. Projects continue to rise in the Historic Core, the Financial District and South Park, though they tend to be taller and much more expensive than in the past. At the same time, projects are steaming forward in the Arts District, City West, Chinatown and other communities. Suddenly, Downtown as a whole is hot.

Just as the districts are varied, so are the types of projects that are happening. A trio of parks are underway, in the Arts District, Chinatown and the Civic Center, and there is a burst of hotel work, whether new four- and five-star developments or upgrades of older landmarks such as the Millennium Biltmore.

There are three Chinese-owned mixed-use mega-projects in South Park, and civic efforts such as a new Sixth Street Viaduct.

Of course, housing remains the anchor, and thousands of units are in construction or the planning pipeline.

In the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News provides the latest updates on 99 Downtown projects.

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full-size kitchen. The top floor would be a lounge area with conference rooms. No budget has been revealed.

BUNKER HILL TOWERS RENOVATION Essex Property Trust, which owns numerous Downtown apartment complexes, is in the midst of a $76 million renovation of the Bunker Hill Towers. All 456 rental units in the 1969 complex will be upgraded; some will be improved when tenants leave, and in other cases tenants will temporarily move into vacant apartments so work can occur. The upgrades in the pair of 19-story buildings will include new HVAC (heating/ventilating/ air conditioning) systems and new plumbing lines so that each apartment can have its own washer and dryer. All the windows will be replaced with more energy-efficient panes, and Essex hopes to add full-size balconies on corner units and smaller balconies with sliding glass doors on center apartments. The project also includes the creation of an amenity center along Third Street, between Flower and Figueroa streets, on a current parking lot. The 11,000-square-foot, two-story building would have street-level retail, a large gym on the second floor and a rooftop pool and sundeck. All the work is expected to finish by late 2017.

square feet, with rents of approximately $3.50 per square foot.

Amenities will include a pool, sun deck, recreation room and gym. The ground floor will hold about 5,000 square feet of retail/ commercial space and the building will contain 120 parking spaces. Designs come from AFCO Design Inc., and renderings show an articulated facade with glass balconies on every unit and colored accent panels. The project is expected to be complete in October 2016. At 4ddevelopment.us.

MILLENNIUM BILTMORE RENOVATION The Millennium Biltmore Hotel is in the midst of a renovation that includes an overhaul of all 683 guest rooms. The refurbishment began this spring and will occur in phases to allow for minimal disruption to guests, said Wanda Chan, general manager of the establishment at 506 S. Grand Ave. The renovation is in the early stage, with removal of furniture and carpeting on some levels. The next step is to add new paint, carpeting and other items to the lower floors, Chan said. She declined to provide a project budget. Work is expected to be complete by early 2017.

THE HILL

CONVENTION CENTER RENOVATION

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

950 S. BROADWAY Developer G.H. Palmer Associates, known in Downtown for its huge apartment complexes in an Italian/Mediterranean design, is now taking on its first adaptive reuse project, a renovation of a small 1913 edifice at 950 S. Broadway. The seven-story structure would be turned into 30 apartments, and include a rooftop deck and about 7,500 square feet of retail space on the street and basement levels. The design from Killefer Flammang Architects would restore the original facade’s aesthetic, namely by re-creating a decorative cornice along the roofline and adding some balconies. White plaster would replace the current gray concrete surfacing on the exterior. The 102-year-old building sits next to Palmer’s under-construction Broadway Palace, which will create nearly 700 apartments in new seven- and 10-story structures at Olympic Boulevard and Broadway. Company head Geoff Palmer said he expects to finish 950 S. Broadway by next May. He declined to reveal a budget.

ALEXAN SOUTH BROADWAY Last month, Dallas-based Trammell Crow Residential revealed plans to build a 26-story apartment structure at Ninth and Hill streets. The Alexan South Broadway would include 305 luxury apartments with 7,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

Entitlements are currently being sought, and the developer expects to break ground next spring and complete the building in 2018, according to John Readey, a development associate with Trammell Crow’s Los Angeles office. Architecture firm RTKL is handling the designs, and renderings show a modern glass tower with balconies atop a 333-space parking podium. Plans also call for nearly 350 bicycle parking spots. Amenities would include a 12,300-square-foot outdoor deck on the sixth floor with a pool, an indoor gym, a yoga studio and a lounge with a

image courtesy of DGB photo by Eddie Kim

In June, a city panel picked the team of HMC Architects and Populous to handle the renovation of the Los Angeles Convention Center. The colorful, edgy design would create a ballroom on the top of the venue and build a new structure that bridges over Pico Boulevard, creating the contiguous space desired by meeting planners that is now lacking in the two separated structures. The Pico building would have multiple floors of meeting spaces that line an open-air courtyard. The approximately $350 million renovation would also tweak the West Hall to create a large “outdoor ballroom” space, with a grand staircase drawing people in from Gilbert Lindsay Plaza just south of Staples Center.

The decision is awaiting approval from the City Council, and if that is secured, the city Bureau of Engineering would begin negotiating a contract with Populous/HMC. In the meantime, venue operator Anschutz Entertainment Group is implementing upgrades to the Convention Center’s lighting, furnishings, bathrooms and concession areas. The city has approved $10 million in additional funds for capital improvements in the 2015/16 fiscal year.

E. ON GRAND Hollywood-based 4D Development broke ground on a sevenstory apartment building dubbed E. On Grand, at 1249 S. Grand Ave., in January. The $30 million, 115-unit project will have studios and one- and two-bedroom units averaging about 600

Plans have been announced by a developer listed as 940 Hill LLC for a 20-story condominium tower at 940 S. Hill St. The 420,000-square-foot project would have 232 units, with 14,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, according to documents filed with the Department of City Planning. The building, which would replace a one-story commercial property on the site, would have 355 parking spaces in a four-story podium as well as two underground parking levels. The tower would offer studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom residences. Renderings show a deck on the roof of the parking podium that would include a swimming pool, fitness center and a tenant lounge. There would also be a rooftop area with a spa, garden and lounge. DGB is the architect. No budget or timeline have been revealed.

RESIDENTIAL 801 S. OLIVE ST. The foundation has been poured and the five-story parking podium is rising at 801 S. Olive St., where San Francisco-based Carmel Partners is building a 33-story residential tower. The project is slated to wrap construction in the third quarter of 2017, according to Carmel 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 fitness center, a rooftop pool and lounge, and a larger pool and recreation area on a fifth-floor deck. There will also be 10,000 square feet of Continued on page 8

8 Downtown News

September 14, 2015

Development

PROJECT UPDATES, 7

border of South Park and the Financial District.

There would also be 600 parking spaces. An adjacent 6,584-square-foot single room occupancy hotel will remain on land owned by the developer. No budget or timeline have been revealed.

1001 S. OLIVE ST.

three- and seven-story structures. The property is the former home of the American Moving Parts auto factory. At ampartsdistrict.com.

ARTHOUSE LOFTS The 53 live-work units in the Arts District complex Arthouse will be available for move-ins next month, and several residential leases have already been signed, according to developer Philip Rahimzadeh of Core Development Group. The project is in two brick buildings at 1200 S. Santa Fe Ave. Rahimzadeh acquired the three-story and four-story 1909 buildings last October for $18.1 million. The property covers 94,000 square feet and includes 13,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. There are 12to 14-foot ceilings, brick walls, oak floors on upper levels, stainless steel appliances, gated parking and a gym. At arthouselofts.com.

920 S. HILL ST. Veteran Downtown developer Barry Shy is still in the environmental review process for a proposed 32-story building at 920 S. Hill St., according to project representative Kate Bartolo.

Although no budget has been revealed, Bartolo said construction is expected to begin in 12-16 months. The concrete, glass and stone edifice, to rise on a parking lot behind the Ace Hotel, would create 239 condominiums. There would also be five ground-floor commercial spaces totaling 5,405 square feet. David Takacs Architecture is handling the designs.

photo by Gary Leonard

street-facing retail. Most of the podium would be wrapped in translucent panels, allowing the structure to glow softly at night.

820 S. OLIVE ST. Vancouver, Canada-based developer Onni Group has obtained entitlements and is awaiting a building permit for a 50-story residential tower at 820 S. Olive St. The project would create 589 residential units on the parcel on the

950 E. THIRD ST. Site clearing has been completed at 950 E. Third St., and construction on a 472-apartment project is expected to begin this month, said Dilip Bhavnani, a principal at Legendary Developments. The company has partnered with a division of Brookfield on the Arts District effort that will create a 400,000-square-foot complex with 22,000 square feet of retail space and 774 parking spaces. The $170 million project will fill the six-acre site adjacent to the Southern California Institute of Architecture and is expected to take approximately 28 months, Bhavnani said. A public path through the project site would connect Third Street to Merrick Street and Traction Avenue.

NOW OPEN AT NOW OPEN AT 523 W 6TH ST. | PACMUTUALDTLA.COM 523 W 6TH ST. | PACMUTUALDTLA.COM

photo by Gary Leonard

Lennar Multifamily is in the framing stage on a 201-apartment complex at the southwest corner of Olympic Boulevard and Olive Street, said vice president of development Scott Rynders. The Miami-based developer expects to complete the seven-story building by the summer of 2016, he added. The project will include 12 two-story townhomes, a thirdfloor pool deck, a dog run and a large fitness center. There will also be 228 parking stalls, as well as 4,100 square feet of ground-floor retail and commercial space. A budget has not been revealed.

1200 S. FLOWER ST. Developer Onni Group has obtained entitlements and is awaiting a building permit for a pair of residential high-rises at 1200 S. Flower St. The Vancouver, Canada-based developer intends to erect 31- and 40-story buildings that would create a total of 730 housing units; the project would include 843 parking spaces.

Amenities would include a swimming pool and a dog run. The complex would also feature a landscaped podium deck. A five-story, 72,000-square-foot office building on part of the South Park property would remain.

However, a two-floor warehouse would be demolished. No budget or timeline have been disclosed.

1400 S. FIGUEROA ST. Developer DHG Family Trust expects to break ground on a seven-story residential building at 1400 S. Figueroa St. by Oct. 1, said Don Getman, a principal at GMP Architects-LA, which is designing the project. The South Park structure will include 106 residential units and 4,750 square feet of street-facing retail space.

Amenities would include a fitness center and pool deck, and there would be two levels of underground parking. Construction on the $25 million project is expected to take about 20 months, with an opening in mid-2017, said Getman.

AMP LOFTS A groundbreaking is expected in the middle of 2016 for 320 live/work apartments at Seventh Street and Santa Fe Avenue, said project representative Dana Sayles. The 311,000-squarefoot Arts District development from Bolour Associates and Crescenta Capital would include 20,000 square feet of retail space and 390 parking spots. Designed by the Shimoda Design Group, the $130 million complex would be built in a “J” formation, with a series of two-,

BEACON TOWER Equity Residential, which owns a number of mid-rise apartment buildings in Downtown, has submitted plans to build a 33-story tower at the northeast corner of Fourth and Hill streets. It is waiting for the Department of City Planning to process the plans, according to Equity Vice President of Development Dustin Smith, and he said the company anticipates breaking ground in spring 2016. The project would rise on what is currently a surface parking lot, and would feature 428 apartments (studios and one- and two-bedroom units) and 2,900 square feet of ground-floor retail. The design from the firm TCA features a glass-heavy facade with balconies and a rooftop “beacon” for decorative lighting. The project would have a subsidized housing component, with 22 verylow-income units and 86 workforce residences.

Construction would take two years.

BROADWAY AND OLYMPIC CONDOS Prolific Downtown developer Barry Shy hopes to break ground on a 15-story condominium complex at 955 S. Broadway in 12-16 months, according to project representative Kate Bartolo. The proposed 184,705-square-foot structure near the Ace Hotel remains in the environmental review stage. Plans call for the 163 housing units to run from 665-1,465 square feet. There would also be eight commercial spaces, an outdoor area on the second floor and a rooftop deck with a pool, barbecue and garden. Shy has not disclosed the budget.

BROADWAY PALACE

photo by Gary Leonard

Developer G.H. Palmer Associates is in construction on a two-building project at Olympic Boulevard and Broadway. Broadway Palace Continued on page 10

September 14, 2015

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Development phase after opening. At eighthandgrand.com.

PROJECT UPDATES, 8 includes a 10-story, 439-apartment building rising on a former surface parking lot and a six-story, 247-unit structure on an adjacent lot. Broadway Palace will have brick facades that complement the historic look and feel of Broadway. The project will be complete in early 2017, according to company head Geoff Palmer. He declined to reveal a budget for the development, which is a partnership between Palmer and parking lot company L&R Group. At ghpalmer.com.

CIRCA The development at 1200 S. Figueroa St., now dubbed Circa, broke ground in July. Plans call for a pair of 36-story high-rises with a combined 648 luxury condominiums sitting on top of a seven-story retail podium with 48,000 square feet of space for shops and 1,770 parking spaces. Additional features at the approximately $500 million development include a two-acre outdoor amenity deck and a 15,000-square-foot ribbon of LED signage along Figueroa. Circa is backed by a development group composed of Hankey Investment Company, Jamison Services (headed by prominent landowner Dr. David Lee), Falcon California Investments and Highlands Capital. The design of the curving towers comes from Harley Ellis Devereaux. Circa is slated for completion in late 2017.

DA VINCI Developer G.H. Palmer Associates has started construction on the rebuild of the second edifice of the Da Vinci at 909 W. Temple St. The first phase opened in the spring, but the second structure in the two-building, 526-apartment complex burned down last December, when its wood frame was nearly complete; a suspect has been arrested and charged with arson. Company head Geoff Palmer said there are no changes from the original plan in the rebuild, which features Palmer’s signature Italian/ Mediterranean-inspired architecture. The second building, south of Temple Street, is expected to be complete by May 2016, according to Palmer. At ghpalmer.com.

EIGHTH AND GRAND

EIGHTH AND SPRING Vancouver, Wash.-based Holland Partner Group’s plans for a 24-story building with 320 apartments at Eighth and Spring streets remains under City Planning review, said Tom Warren, head of the company’s Southern California developments.

Holland Partner acquired the parking lot at 737 S. Spring St. for $12.5 million. The developer is already in construction on two projects (Sixth and Bixel and Vibiana Lofts) and has submitted plans for a South Park high-rise at Ninth and Figueroa streets.

The company hopes to break ground on the Eighth and Spring tower by the end of the year, Warren said.

ETCO HOMES LITTLE TOKYO Beverly Hills-based developer Etco Homes plans to break ground in the fall on an eight-story residential complex at 118 Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka St. in Little Tokyo. BGA Inc. is designing the 77-unit building. Etco would offer one- and twobedroom lofts, with floor plans up to 1,250 square feet, as well as some ground-floor retail space. The project would include a rooftop gym, pool and spa area. No budget has been revealed.

At etcohomes.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

G12 Financing for developer Sonny Astani’s 640-unit G12 has been secured by private equity firm Wolff Company. Project representative Brenda Rodriguez said the first phase of G12, a 347-unit residential building at 12th Street and Grand Avenue, is in construction and is expected to be complete by late 2016. Plans call for starting construction on the second phase, with 293 units, next year. The entire complex stretches south to Pico Boulevard and west to Olive Street, and there will be 42,000 square feet of retail and commercial space on the three-acre site. No budget has been disclosed. At astanienterprises.com.

HANOVER GRAND AVENUE

FOREMAN AND CLARK BUILDING A renovation of the 1929 Foreman and Clark Building has not yet begun, as the project remains in the entitlement process, said Victoria Peterson of project representative the Elizabeth Peterson Group. Kyung Cho owns the 13-story edifice at 701 S. Hill St. and plans to transform it into a housing complex with 165 residences. Two restaurants and a bar/lounge would occupy the ground-floor space, replacing the current office tenants and street-level jewelry retailers, according to documents filed with the City Planning department. Los Angeles-based architecture firm EWAI is handling designs. No timeline or budget have been revealed.

FOREST CITY/SOUTH PARK In July, developer Forest City commenced framing work on a pair of seven-story buildings in South Park. The structure at 1100 S. Hill St. will feature 177 studio to two-bedroom units above 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space, and there will be a pedestrian paseo connecting the edifice to the Herald Examiner Building. The second building, at 1200 S. Broadway, will contain 214 studio to two-bedroom units, also above 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail. The $135 million project will feature 500 parking stalls and 450 bicycle parking spaces. The buildings are expected to open in summer 2017.

FOURTH AND BROADWAY Developer Izek Shomof said construction on a residential tower at Fourth Street and Broadway is expected to begin in the first quarter of 2016. The 34-story edifice would feature 450 residential units and 450 parking spaces, along with 7,000 square feet of retail space. Downtown-based architect HansonLA is designing the 450,000-square-foot project. Units would likely come online as apartments, though they will be built to condominium standards. Renderings show a mid-rise portion of the building with a curved segment fronting the southeast corner of Fourth and Broadway, with a rectangular, high-rise tower on top. No budget has been revealed.

Though San Francisco-based developer Carmel Partners envisioned its seven-story, 700-unit apartment complex opening in September, the completion date has been pushed a month to October, according to a company representative. The apartments at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue in the Financial District will have floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies, and amenities include a top floor lounge with a bar and dining area, two pools, landscaped terraces with outdoor eating areas, and a theater-style screening room. It will also have a four-level underground parking structure. The ground-floor anchor tenant will be a Whole Foods, which is filling 42,000 square feet of space and is slated for a Nov. 4 opening. The project has another 8,000 square feet of retail space, though tenants have not been announced. While all the residences will be completed at the same time, Carmel is planning to lease around 300 units in the first

pets. Another courtyard will offer a pool, spa and sundeck with grilling areas, fire pits and an outdoor lounge. The development is being constructed to LEED certification standards and will include 530 parking spaces for both retail and residential tenants. At gareybldg.com.

GAREY BUILDING Developer Lowe Enterprises continues construction on the Garey Building, with interior, façade and site work now taking place at the 320-unit apartment complex, said Tom Wulf, senior vice president of Lowe. The developer is partnering on the twobuilding project at 905 E. Second St. with Megatoys and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management. The Arts District property was long the headquarters for Megatoys, a toy business run by the Woo family. The five-story buildings between First and Second streets flanking Garey Street continue to be on pace to open in January, Wulf said, and pre-leasing will commence in November. The $60 million development, with designs by Togawa Smith Martin Architects, includes 15,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space with outdoor dining along a pedestrian-only street connecting First and Second streets. The studio to two-bedroom apartments will average 728 square feet. Residences will have open floor plans with features including gourmet kitchens, quartz countertops, and washers and dryers. The project will contain four courtyards, one dedicated to

photo by Gary Leonard

Houston-based Hanover Company is completing the interiors of a seven-story, 274-unit complex at Grand Avenue and Olympic Boulevard. The project features studio to twobedroom apartments, many with glass balconies. Residents will have access to rooftop decks and a pool, and there will be 12,000 square feet of street-level retail space. The project is expected to be finished by early 2016, according to Hanover development partner Ryan Hamilton. Architecture firm TCA is handling the design. It is one of three Hanover projects in South Park; the first one opened earlier this year. At hanovergrandavenue.com.

HANOVER OLYMPIC Exterior construction is nearly complete at Houston-based developer Hanover Company’s seven-story project at Olympic Boulevard and Olive Street, according to Hanover development partner Ryan Hamilton. He said the 263-apartment project will be complete in the first quarter of 2016. The South Park building will include a rooftop deck, a gym and interior entertainment spaces, and the residences will have glass balconies overlooking the street. The design from architecture firm TCA features an articulated facade and 14,500 square feet of street-level retail space. The project sits next to the company’s Hanover South Park, which opened in January. A third Hanover complex, at Grand Avenue and Olympic Boulevard, is also under construction.

HOLLAND PARTNER SOUTH PARK Holland Partner Group earlier this year revealed plans to build a 28-story, 341-apartment tower at the southeast corner of Ninth and Figueroa streets in South Park. The project is still under review by the City Planning Department, according to Tom Warren, head of Holland Partner’s Southern California division.

The Vancouver, Wash.-based company hopes to break ground in October, he added, with construction taking roughly two and a half years. Designs by Preston Partnership depict a glass tower with box-shaped clusters of balconies. Nearly 11,700 square

September 14, 2015

Downtown News 11

Development

mercial space to Pico Boulevard at Flower and Hope streets near Metro’s Blue Line Pico Station. The seven-story buildings are being designed by Downtown-based TCA Architects and will offer 462 underground parking spaces. An Onyx spokesman said the project is expected to be complete in the second quarter of 2017. No budget has been revealed.

feet of retail space would front the sidewalk along Figueroa and on Ninth. The tower was originally envisioned as the third part of developer Sonny Astani’s Concerto project, but Holland acquired the property.

MACFARLANE PARTNERS PROJECT Developer MacFarlane Partners plans to create more than 650 residential units in two buildings that would rise on a plot bounded by Olive, Fifth and Hill streets. The project, which would include a seven-story building and a 24-story high-rise, is in the site plan review phase. The goal is to break ground on the shorter building next spring, said Jeff Berris, director of development at MacFarlane Partners. The first building on the parcel north of Pershing Square would have 312 apartments, while the taller structure would hold 348 residential units. Plans call for a roof deck with a pool, a barbeque area and other amenities.

Construction on the shorter building is expected to take about two years. No budget has been revealed.

MACK URBAN SOUTH PARK Developer Mack Urban’s $750 million South Park project with partner AECOM Capital is deep in construction. Excavation has been completed for the first phase, and crews are now pouring the footings and garage for the 362-unit complex, according to project representative Jack Skelley. The building, which is expected to be complete in early 2017, will include 4,000 square feet of retail space. The second phase, a 38-story tower at Grand Avenue and 12th Street, has finished the entitlement process and permits are being secured; the goal is to break ground by the end of this year. The structure would have 536 apartments and 13,000 square feet of retail space. The final phase, a 12-story apartment building with 134 units at Olive and 12th Streets, has received city approvals; Skelley said the plan is to break ground after the taller tower is underway in 2016. Architecture firms AC Martin and Togawa Smith Martin are handling the designs.

MARIONETTE LOFTS Financing is in place for developer and landowner Eli Melech’s $20 million apartment structure at the current site of the Bob

SARES-REGIS LITTLE TOKYO Construction is underway and developer Sares-Regis is on schedule with its seven-story development at 232 E. Second St. in Little Tokyo, said company spokeswoman Zoe Solsby.

Framing has been completed and external sheathing has begun, with the $84 million development expected to be complete in June 2016, Solsby said. The complex will create 240 rental units with 51 studios, 116 one-bedroom and 73 twobedroom apartments; residences will range from 715-1,750 square feet. Sares-Regis is negotiating with potential tenants, including restaurants, for 16,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, Solsby said. There will be three levels of underground parking and two floors above ground, providing a total of 472 parking spaces. At sares-regis.com. courtesy of The Albert Group Architects

Baker Marionette Theatre in City West. Although no date for a groundbreaking of the Marionette Lofts has been set, plans call for erecting a five-story building with 102 one- to threebedroom apartments arching over the Historical-Cultural Monument at 1345 W. First St. The theater itself would be preserved and would serve as the complex’s lobby and also maintain a small performance space and a display in honor of the late Baker. Melech said approvals from the city Office of Historic Resources have been granted, and he is awaiting a green light from the Department of City Planning. The theater continues to stage puppet shows.

ONYX Developer Jade Enterprises broke ground on the South Park housing complex Onyx in April. The two-building project will bring 410 apartments and roughly 30,000 square feet of com-

SB OMEGA Developer Barry Shy’s proposed 38-story residential high-rise remains in the environmental review stage, said project representative Kate Bartolo. The 452-unit condominium tower at 601 S. Main St. would replace a current parking lot and bring an additional 25,000 square feet of retail space to Sixth and Main streets. The Historic Core project would include a seven-story parking podium, with racks set aside for 268 bicycles. Bartolo said construction is expected to begin in 12-18 months. No budget has been revealed.

SIXTH AND BIXEL Construction of the 606-apartment, new-construction portion of Holland Partner Group’s $200 million City West project continues, with crews wrapping up the concrete pouring for the underground parking structure and beginning above-grade work.

Continued on page 12

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PROJECT UPDATES, 11

Developer Holland Partner Group has completed excavation for a 237-apartment building just south of the former St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, and is now pouring concrete for its underground parking, 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. The building will appear to be eight stories when viewed from Los Angeles Street, and seven floors when eyed from Main. Togawa Smith Martin is designing the project, which will include about 4,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space. The $90 million project is expected to be complete in early 2017.

The site will hold two seven-story structures, which Tom Warren, head of the company’s Southern California division, expects to be complete by mid-2018 (the first units would be available in early 2017). The project includes the conversion of an old medi-

MIXED USE

photo by Gary Leonard

fronts along Grand Avenue and 11th Street. The design by Downtown-based HansonLA includes Rubik’s Cube-like glass features along one corner, which will soften toward the top of the building. photo by Gary Leonard

cal office building at Sixth Street and Lucas Avenue; that is expected to open in November. 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. Residences will be studio to three-bedroom apartments with rents ranging from $1,500 to slightly under $4,000. Amenities will include rooftop decks, a large fitness center and a pool, along with a public plaza and 300 trees.

SPRING STREET APARTMENTS Australian developer Joseph Hellen is finalizing plans for a 40-story residential tower at 525 S. Spring St. It would have about 360 one- to three-bedroom residences, built to condominium specs but likely marketed as apartments, according to project architect Simon Ha of Steinberg Architects. The project would rise on a surface parking lot between the Alexandria Hotel and the Spring Arcade Building. Renderings from Steinberg, in collaboration with TSK Architects, show a white structure with undulating horizontal floor lines that create wavy balconies on upper levels. The plan also calls for the restoration of the 1910 Arcade, the 1931 Roxie and the 1910 Cameo theaters, small venues that sit behind the proposed tower on Broadway. Hellen had once looked to tear the theaters down, but now wants to revive them as entertainment spaces or potentially convert them for retail use.

SUNCAL SIXTH AND ALAMEDA Earlier this year, Irvine-based developer Suncal, in a partnership with Michael Dell’s investment firm MSD Capital, spent $130 million to buy 15 acres of land in the Arts District. The company is now working on preliminary designs for the site’s master plan, figuring out how many buildings to erect and what uses they’ll serve, according to Dan Rosenfeld, a landuse consultant for the group. Suncal will debut its initial plan for public comment before the end of the year, Rosenfeld added. He noted that the project could include residential, retail and creative office components.

TEN50 San Francisco-based developer Trumark Urban has completed the below-grade parking garage and first floor of a 25-story tower at 1050 S. Grand Ave. The $100 million project, which had a groundbreaking ceremony in May, will contain 151 luxury condominiums, most with one or two bedrooms; there will also be several one- and two-floor penthouses. Amenities will include a fifth-floor pool deck with cabanas, a fitness center, entertainment areas and small pockets of green space.

The project is slated for completion in October 2016. Ten50 also includes 5,672 square feet of retail space, with store-

TITLE INSURANCE BUILDING Construction continues at the Historic Core’s 1928 Title Insurance Building. Interior demolition and seismic upgrades began this year, and renovations and infrastructure upgrades will take place on the structure at 433 S. Spring St. through late 2016 or early 2017, according to developer Capital Foresight. Plans call for transforming the structure into 215 residential units with 60,000 square feet of ground- and second-floor retail space.

TOPAZ Construction continues on the 159-unit apartment complex Topaz, located just north of Sixth and Main streets. Developer Jade Enterprises broke ground on the six-story Historic Core project in September 2014 and expects to open the building in the third quarter of 2016, according to a company spokesman. The project at 550 S. Main St. will offer studio and one- to three-bedroom units and will include 23,000 square feet of retail space. No budget has been revealed.

VALENCIA Framing is nearly complete at developer Sonny Astani’s $60 million Valencia project. The six-story edifice at 1501 Wilshire Blvd. in City West will have 218 apartments; most units will feature balconies. Project representative Brenda Rodriguez said the goal is to finish construction in December. Amenities will include courtyards and a fitness center, and there will be 4,400 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Killefer Flammang Architects is handling the designs. At astanienterprises.com.

VIBIANA LOFTS

image courtesy Holland Partner Group

BLOSSOM PLAZA Developer Forest City’s five-story, $100 million project at 900 N. Broadway has topped out (vertical construction has been completed). Next comes the installation of windows and the exterior façade along Broadway and College Street; company Vice President Frank Frallicciardi said the exterior look is inspired by Chinese landscape paintings. Frallicciardi said the project is on track to finish in late spring of 2016. Blossom Plaza will feature 237 studio to three-bedroom apartments, 53 of which will be set aside for low-income tenants. There will also be 19,000 square feet of retail space and a 17,000-square-foot public plaza and walkway that connects the nearby Metro Gold Line station to Broadway. Frallicciardi said the paseo will be anchored by a traditional Chinese Flame Tree, creating a visual and physical connection between the Gold Line stop and Chinatown.

BROADWAY TRADE CENTER The overhaul of the behemoth Broadway Trade Center is well underway, with plans to give the 1906 facility at Eighth Street and Broadway a variety of new bar, restaurant and retail options, as well as creative office space, a 153-room hotel, a private club, a rooftop park with a pool and more. New Yorkbased Waterbridge Capital bought the 1.1-million-square-foot complex last year. Its local subsidiary, Broadbridge, is overseeing the project, which will feature a dining/retail concept based on New York’s Chelsea Market. Dubbed Earth Market, the first two floors will hold 20 small food vendors, four bars and four full-size restaurants, along with a variety of gourmet, natural products from around the world, according to a Broadbridge representative. Plans call for the office space to be on floors three and four. The current eight-story building will have 15 levels when some mezzanines are added. There will also be a mechanized parking facility with lifts that can hold up to 600 cars. CBRE is handling the office leasing and RKF is doing the retail leasing. No budget has been revealed. The project is expected to open within 30 months.

CITY MARKET The first tenants at the City Market South project have been announced. They include San Francisco Vietnamese restaurant the Slanted Door, Italian restaurant Rossoblù, from chef Steve Samson of the Century City eatery Sotto, and a bar from Pablo Moix and Steve Livigni, owners of the Los Feliz bar Harvard & Stone. They are all expected to open in early 2016. City Market South is the initial phase of the Fashion District mega-project City Market. The overall $1 billion effort would transform the 1909 complex on San Pedro and San Julian between 11th and 12th streets into creative office space and dining establishments. It would ultimately create 945 housing units, 210 hotel rooms, 225,000 square feet of retail, 295,000 square feet of office space and 3,670 parking spaces. Once complete, City Market would offer 1.9 million square feet of space spread across 16 structures. The project is to be built over a 30-year period. At citymarketla2.com.

HERALD EXAMINER RENOVATION The Hearst Corp., the owner of the Herald Examiner Building, this month revealed that it has partnered with New York-based Georgetown Company to redevelop the 1914 structure and turn it into a 100,000-square-foot creative office complex with retail and restaurant space. Construction is expected to begin in six to nine months and finish in late 2017, with a budget of about $40 million, according to Michael Fischer, vice president of the Georgetown Company. The building originally designed by Julia

September 14, 2015

Downtown News 13

Development

Your Local Hub for National Commercial Title, Escrow, and Due Diligence Services

photo by Gary Leonard

Morgan was formerly the headquarters of William Randolph Hearst’s Los Angeles newspaper, but has been mostly empty since the paper closed in 1989 (it has primarily been used for film shoots since then).

LA PLAZA CULTURA VILLAGE Chinatown-based architecture firm Johnson Fain and developer Trammell Crow are continuing work on the County of Los Angeles’ La Plaza Cultura Village. Though the team initially hoped to break ground in the third quarter of this year, the schedule has been pushed back a couple months, according to Jim Andersen, senior vice president at Trammell Crow. The massive mixed-use development would rise on a 3.7-acre site near Olvera Street and create 345 residential units in five- and eight-story buildings, with 20% of the apartments set aside for low-income tenants. The 425,000-square-foot project would also have up to 55,000 square feet of restaurants, cafes and shops, along with nearly 800 parking spaces in subterranean and above-grade structures. La Plaza Cultura Village is fully entitled and the county Board of Supervisors certified its final Environmental Impact Report last year. The development, which would rise on two parking lots on either side of Broadway, would connect El Pueblo to Fort Moore Pioneer Memorial, a small park and monument at 430 N. Hill St. At laplazacultura.wordpress.com.

LUXE HOTEL REPLACEMENT Chinese developer Shenzhen Hazens announced last month that a deal has been struck to bring a W Hotel to its $700 million South Park mega-project. The five-star, 250-room hotel will be one of two 30-story buildings in the first phase of the development along 11th Street at Figueroa and Flower streets. The other building will hold condominiums, and the two structures would be connected by an eight-story podium with open-air amenities on top. Shenzen Hazens is still seeking entitlements for the project. The second phase would bring a 42-story tower to Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard, where the Luxe City Center hotel now stands. The project would create a total of 650 condominiums. There would also be 80,000 square feet of retail space, most of it fronting Figueroa Street. Shenzen Hazens hopes to break ground in 2017, with completion of the hotel in 2019 and the entire first phase (including retail space) by 2020.

Construction of the second phase would begin immediately after that.

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MEDALLION 2.0 Developer Saeed Farkhondehpour did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Previously, he had said he hopes to begin construction on phase two of his Medallion project in the first quarter of 2016. The development would create 500 apartments in three buildings at Third and Main streets, and construction would take about 30 months. The project would include a new collection of restaurants and a farmers market. No budget has been revealed.

Continued on page 14

If We Can’t Close It, No One Can 915 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 1920, Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 452-7100 Main • www.FNTNCS.com

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September 14, 2015

Development

PROJECT UPDATES, 13

and expects to announce a partner this fall. In addition to the hotel, there would be a residential tower with approximately 380-450 units (20% set aside as affordable housing) 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.

Related has said it hopes to start construction on The Grand in 2016.

METROPOLIS

WILSHIRE GRAND REPLACEMENT Construction continues at the Wilshire Grand, where workers have completed the 57th floor of the concrete that comprises the building’s core, and steel has been erected up to the 46th level, said project spokesman Sean Rossall. The installation of exterior glass is also underway, and has been put in up to the 21st floor, Rossall said. The building’s podium is nearing completion and is expected to be finished this fall. Hanjin International is developing the 73-story tower on the northwest corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets, and Downtown architecture firm AC Martin is handling the designs and managing the construction process. The $1 billion development, which will be the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River, will have 900 hotel rooms atop 400,000 square feet of office space, along with retail and restaurant space. The project, which will have a sloped roof, is expected to be complete by the end of 2016, Rossall said.

InterContinental will operate the hotel, which is slated to open in 2017. At wilshiregrandcenter.com. photo by Gary Leonard

CHINATOWN PARK Plans for a park at Ord and Yale streets as part of an expansion of the Alpine Recreation Center were presented to the city Cultural Affairs Commission and the Department of Recreation and Parks in April. A groundbreaking is slated for spring 2016 with the park expected to be complete in 2018, said Fredy Ceja, communications director for First District City Councilman Gil Cedillo. Last May, the office of then-County Supervisor Gloria Molina contributed $950,000 to the project, bringing the amount secured for the facility to $8.25 million.

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

CIVIC AND NONPROFIT

Construction on the first and second phases of the Metropolis mega-project, just north of L.A. Live, is underway. The initial phase, comprising an 18-story, 350-room Hotel Indigo and a 38-story condominium tower, is expected to be complete by the end of 2016. The second phase, which features 40- and 56-story condominium towers, broke ground in December and is scheduled for completion in 2018. The foundation for the second phase has been finished and the towers will begin rising in the fall, according to a representative of developer Greenland Group. Designs from architecture firm Gensler show shining glass structures with intricately detailed steel framework.

Amenities in the buildings adjacent to the 110 Freeway will include fitness centers, outdoor pools and small parks on top of several decks. The towers will sit on parking podiums that have two floors with more than 70,000 square feet of retail space off the street level along Francisco Street. Metropolis, which is bounded by the 110 Freeway and Eighth, Ninth and Francisco streets, is budgeted at more than $1 billion. At metropolislosangeles.com.

ARTS DISTRICT PARK Construction on a $1.6 million, half-acre park at Fifth and Hewitt streets in the Arts District began last December, but has been interrupted following the discovery of ground contaminants and buried historical objects. Testing of the soil revealed lead and other harmful materials, and the Department of Water and Power in July began a remediation effort; the top three feet of soil will be taken away and replaced with new dirt, said Josephine Gonzalez, environmental affairs officer with DWP. Additionally, crews have uncovered hundreds of items from the late 19th century, among them glass bottles, ceramic dishes, roller skates and shoes, said archaeologist Madeleine Bray with Environmental Science Associates. Bray believes the items came from old trash pits in the 1880s, when the area was a residential base. The park was originally slated to open this fall, but has been pushed back to next spring, said Rick Coca, a spokesman for 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. Once complete, the park will feature an eight-foot wall for mural art, outdoor eating areas, a playground, shade trees, concrete seating and lighting.

OCEANWIDE PLAZA Beijing-based developer Oceanwide broke ground on the massive three-tower Oceanwide Plaza in March, and construction of the project’s foundation continues. The $1 billion project comprises one 49-story tower and two 40-story buildings, all sitting on top of a 100-foot-tall podium. Plans call for the towers to hold a combined 504 condominiums and 183 hotel rooms. Most of the property’s amenities, including a pool and a park, will sit on a deck on top of the podium overlooking Figueroa Street. A 30,000-square-foot ribbon of LED signage will wind around the podium and illuminate the street below. Oceanwide Plaza will also hold 1,444 parking stalls and an open-air galleria with more than 166,000 square feet of retail space. The roughly $1 billion development will be built in a single phase, with completion expected by 2018.

BUDOKAN OF LOS ANGELES

THE GRAND Developer Related Cos. has reached an agreement with the gym Equinox to locate a 300-room hotel in The Grand. Equinox, which Related has a financial stake in, would replace an SLS Hotel — Related broke off a partnership with SLS’ parent company, SBE Entertainment, in January. It would be the second Equinox-branded hotel, following one opening in New York.

Designed by Frank Gehry, The Grand represents the next phase of the Grand Avenue Project, which includes the already completed Grand Park and the apartment complex The Emerson, which opened last year. Related is also in discussions with potential equity partners for the $850 million development that would rise across the street from the Walt Disney Concert Hall; the company has spoken with more than 50 potential investors,

rooftop park and event space, and small community rooms. The Budokan would be used for basketball, volleyball, martial arts and other activities. At budokanoflosangeles.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

In June, the final concrete shear wall for the Federal Courthouse was completed, just 11 months after construction commenced on the $323 million Civic Center project. The next step on the project, which is now 60% complete, will be the interior framing and installation of the curtain wall, said Traci Madison of the U.S. General Services Administration. The Skidmore, Owings & Merrill design is aiming for LEED Platinum status, in part by cutting solar heat gain with the curtain wall facade made of angled windows. The 600,000-square-foot project on the southwest corner of Broadway and First Street will have 24 district courtrooms, 32 judges’ chambers and offices for the U.S. Marshal’s Service and the General Services Administration. A completion is scheduled for fall 2016. The builder is Clark Construction.

FIGUEROA CORRIDOR BIKEWAY More delays have hit the three-mile Figueroa Corridor bikeway project, officially known as MyFigueroa. The city had hoped to finalize plans this summer and begin construction in December, but the city Department of Transportation is now aiming to finish a final design this month and break ground closer to March, according to an LADOT representative. The bikeway will run from Seventh Street in Downtown to 41st Street in South L.A. It will slash eight driving lanes to five, and significant 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 roughly $20 million project must be completed by December 2016 as part of an agreement for funding from the state. At myfigueroa.com.

image courtesy Little Tokyo Service Center

The fundraising effort for the Budokan of Los Angeles continues, and developer the Little Tokyo Service Center has raised or identified sources for almost 80% of the $23.5 million project, according to the campaign’s director, Mike Murase. He said the goal is to break ground by late 2016. The 88,000-square-foot sports and activities center, on Los Angeles between Second and Third streets, would include a two-court gymnasium, a

FIRST AND BROADWAY PARK A design competition is underway for a park at the northeast corner of First Street and Broadway, said Rick Coca, a spokesman for 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. Applications were due last month and submissions for the Civic Center site are being reviewed. Once finalists are selected, community meetings will be held to solicit feedback and preferences. The park would rise directly south of Grand Park on the site of a former state office building that was razed after the 1971 Sylmar earthquake.

The $18 million-$20 million project has secured $14 million so far, with more than $10 million of that in Quimby fees (charged to developers for the creation of green space), according to Huizar’s office. The Department of Recreation and Parks antici-

September 14, 2015

Downtown News 15

Development

pates that the remaining funds will come from a combination of future Quimby fees and department allocations.

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL MEDICAL PAVILION An opening date for the $80 million Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Pavilion has been pushed back from late 2015 to the third quarter of 2016, according to hospital spokeswoman Katrina Bada. The 190,000-squarefoot development at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street, designed by Ware Malcolmb, will hold the Frank R. Seaver Ambulatory Surgery Center, with eight operating suites.

The City West project will also have a pharmacy, outpatient clinics, physician offices and the hospital’s Surgical Specialties Clinic, said Bada. Physician offices and the Orthopaedic Specialties Clinic are scheduled to open in the second quarter of next year. The builder is Millie and Severson.

LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK The renovation of the 34-acre park on the edge of Chinatown continues, with a grand opening now expected in December. The work began in April 2014 but hit delays because of archaeological finds and the discovery of toxic waste on the site; the latter required remediation efforts and restoring of clean soil. The approximately $20 million project is transforming the park by creating several distinct areas, with new landscaping and features such as a pedestrian bridge and a two-acre wetlands zone. Other planned elements include a tree-flanked promenade, a visitor center and a paved parking area. At lashp.wordpress.com.

LOS ANGELES STREETCAR AECOM, the project manager of the 3.8mile circulator that would run from South Park to the Civic Center with a main spur on Broadway, has a new price tag for the Los Angeles Streetcar: $281.6 million. Current plans call for service to begin in December 2020 (pushed from 2019), but challenges remain, including a funding shortfall of at least $144.1 million, according to the city.

The streetcar team is currently in the hunt for a $75 million Small Starts federal grant, but the budget will need to be reduced to $250 million to qualify. Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar, who is spearheading the project as part of his Bringing Back Broadway initiative, also plans to court private sector partners to help pay for the project; the city is in the process of securing

a financial advisor to help craft a request for proposals on a public-private partnership, according to Huizar spokesman Rick Coca.

The project will also have up to $85 million in tax funds, to be collected from property owners along the streetcar route. Another $10 million has been secured from the former Community Redevelopment Agency. At streetcar.la.

MERCED THEATRE AND MASONIC HALL The city is looking at design bids and plans to award a contract for the renovation of the Merced Theatre and the attached Masonic Hall in October 2016, said city spokeswoman Mary Nemick. The $23 million renovation will allow the building near the Olvera Street Plaza to be used as the headquarters of city public access TV station Channel 35. The facilities would include two television studios, a 50-seat liveaudience television studio, office space, conference rooms, edit bays and more. The design will be sensitive to historic preservation and will retain the historic west and east facades, said Nemick. The project is expected to be finished by late 2017.

METRO DIVISION 13 BUS FACILITY

grand opening is anticipated in early 2016. The project at the northeast corner of Vignes Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue will hold 200 CNG (compressed natural gas) buses and contain a multi-level garage, a fueling depot and areas for washing vehicles. It is on track to achieve Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification, and will feature a full green roof — planting is occurring now — and an underground 250,000 gallon water retention tank; it will collect rainwater and use it to wash buses. Systems testing is now taking place for the project that will include 397 parking spaces for Division 13 workers.

Approximately 500 employees will use the facility. At metro.net/projects/MUDBFP. PARKER CENTER The city Bureau of Engineering last year recommended razing Parker Center and replacing it with a $475 million, 27-story office tower. In light of calls from entities such as the preservationist group the Los Angeles Conservancy to consider renovating and reusing the building at 150 N. Los Angeles St., 14th District City Councilman José Huizar proposed asking city staff to assess the Civic Center’s office space needs and an alternative Parker Center redevelopment not discussed in the project’s already complete environmental impact report. That effort is still making its way through city departments, and the BOE is holding off on its plans for the time being. Additionally, the City Council’s Planning and Land Use Management Committee in April missed a deadline to review the city Cultural Heritage Commission’s nomination of the 1954 former police headquarters as a Historic-Cultural Monument;

that matter is also pending. Parker Center, designed by Welton Becket, has been empty since the LAPD moved into the new Police Administration Building in 2009.

REGIONAL CONNECTOR The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is replacing and rerouting a number of underground utilities in Little Tokyo, in anticipation of the construction of a Regional Connector station at First Street and Central Avenue.

Pre-construction work is also taking place at two other station sites, at Second and Hope streets and Second Street and Broadway. Metro anticipates beginning excavation of the three stations in the fourth quarter of this year, with the work stretching into early 2016. The final designs of the stations will also be complete in early 2016, according to Metro. The 1.9-mile Regional Connector will join area light rail lines to streamline cross-county travel and reduce the need for transfers. The tunneling for the $1.42 billion project is slated to begin in early 2017 in Little Tokyo. The project is expected to open in 2020. At metro.net/projects/connector.

SIXTH STREET VIADUCT REPLACEMENT Intersection improvements near the Sixth Street Viaduct are progressing, said Mary Nemick, director of communications for the city Bureau of Engineering. The street work is in preparation for the demolition of the 83-year-old Sixth Street Viaduct, which is slated to start in late fall. The 1932 bridge, which needs to be replaced because of a chemical condition that has caused its concrete to weaken, connects the Arts District to Boyle Heights. The new Sixth Street Viaduct Continued on page 16

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A state-of-the-art bus development is nearly complete, and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is doing finishing work on the sidewalks, landscaping and streets at the $120 million project. The Division 13 Bus Maintenance and Operations Facility is expected to be finished by November, and a

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PROJECT UPDATES, 15 will have a design that features a “ribbon of arches,” improved pedestrian access and bike lanes. Work on the $422 million project is expected to last through the middle of 2019.

The Bureau of Engineering is working with a design team led by HNTB, architect Michael Maltzan and others. At sixthstreetviaduct.org.

UNION STATION MAKEOVER The Metropolitan Transportation Authority has begun the environmental impact report for the Union Station Master Plan. The EIR process will last into mid-2016, according to Metro. The Master Plan comprises two main elements: It would build a larger indooroutdoor passenger concourse to connect travelers to an updated rail yard, and it would demolish the existing 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/launion-station.

CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT ARTS DISTRICT BREWING COMPANY Construction is wrapping up at the former Crazy Gideon’s electronics store, where Cedd Moses and Eric Needleman of 213 Nightlife plan to open the Arts District Brewing Company. The restaurant and brewery is expected to open this fall, said project spokes-

September 14, 2015

Development

yarchitects.com/353sbroadway.

woman Annie Black. The project at 828 Traction Ave. will have 258 seats, an outdoor area and up to 20 skeeball lanes. More than half of the 17,320-square-foot establishment will be dedicated to the brewery and kitchen. No budget has been revealed.

DELIJANI BROADWAY THEATERS Rehabilitation work and permitting are underway as part of the restoration of four historic Broadway theaters owned by the Delijani family, said Kate Bartolo, a consultant to the Delijanis. The theaters are the Los Angeles (615 S. Broadway), Palace (630 S. Broadway), State (703 S. Broadway) and Tower (802 S. Broadway). The Los Angeles, Palace and Tower already host occasional events, such as film screenings or concerts. The State’s current tenant is the Cathedral of Faith, and the church’s lease runs through next year, Bartolo said.

The renovation plans include the creation of roughly 12 eateries and bars, as well as upgraded interiors and theater spaces. No budget, timeline or future programming plans have been revealed.

HAUSER WIRTH & SCHIMMEL GALLERY Andrea Schwan, a spokeswoman for the Hauser, Wirth & Schimmel Gallery, said construction continues and the project is on pace to open in March 2016. The 100,000-squarefoot Arts District complex, to be run by former MOCA Chief Curator Paul Schimmel, will fill a former flour mill at 901 E. Third St. The compound is a collection of late 19th and early 20th century buildings with outdoor spaces. The arts destination will hold exhibitions as well as public programs. Mostly uninhabited since the 1950s, the site’s seven

photo by Gary Leonard

structures include a Neo-Classical bank building, a five-story mill and three warehouses.

There is also a 20,000-square-foot space with an interior courtyard. The project will have covered parking.

ITALIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM Construction on the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles is expected to be finished in about three months, said museum Executive Director Marianna Gatto. The museum will be inside the 1908 Italian Hall building at 125 Paseo de Plaza near Olvera Street. The work includes a new Main Street entryway, gallery lighting and a restoration of the 1908 building’s façade and original features, Gatto added.

Once complete, the $4.5 million project will display rare photos, documents, maps and artifacts illustrating the legacy, contributions and influences of Italian Americans in the region.

Gatto anticipates an early 2016 opening. At italianhall.org.

THE BROAD The $140 million contemporary art museum The Broad is scheduled to open on Sept. 20.

The project at 221 S. Grand Ave., across the street from MOCA, will house the approximately 2,000 pieces of art in the collections of billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad and his wife Edythe, though only about 200 will be on display at any time. The entrance to the 120,000-square-foot attraction, designed by the New York architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro, is on Grand Avenue. Visitors ride a 105foot escalator to the third floor, where the vast majority of the art is on display in a nearly oneacre, column-free space under 318 skylights.

The Broad includes an in-house restaurant, Otium, helmed by Timothy Hollingsworth. The project has a 24,000-square-foot public plaza just south of the museum with an open lawn and 100-year-old Barouni olive trees. The threestory garage can accommodate 366 cars. At thebroad.org.

537 S. BROADWAY The renovation of a six-story Art Deco structure at 537 S. Broadway has been put on hold because of permitting problems the developer, Beverly Hills-based King’s Arch, is encountering with the city and the Los Angeles Fire Department. The company bought the structure for $7.35 million this year and announced plans to convert it into creative office space. The renovation will include a full seismic retrofit, new electrical and plumbing systems, and restoration of the intricately decorated facade. King’s Arch had originally hoped to complete construction by the end of the year, but now expects to do so in the second quarter of 2016, according to a company representative. The plan is to attract tenants in industries such as tech, media and fashion. The building was originally designed by prominent Los Angeles architects Percy A. Eisen and Albert R. Walker.

AT MATEO ASB Real Estate Investments and Century City’s Blatteis & Schnur are working on securing entitlements for the 130,000-square-foot open-air retail center At Mateo, said Robert Schnur, cochairman of Blatteis & Schnur. The developers purchased the property at Palmetto and Mateo streets last year for $32.5 million, and have torn down the former warehouse buildings on the Arts District site. Schnur said they hope to begin construction this fall, and will spend another $30 million on the effort that will create restaurants, shops and service businesses.

Plans call for using repurposed brick, concrete and wood throughout the project. The development will include a parking garage with more than 400 spaces. At atmateo.com.

CLIFTON’S CAFETERIA

BUSINESS 353 S. BROADWAY Developer and architect David Gray is on track to finish the renovation of 353 S. Broadway by November. Gray has added a sixth floor to the building, which will hold creative office space; Gray said the space is already leased. The $8.5 million renovation is in the final stage, with elevator work and glass and siding installation taking place. Gray said his David Gray Architects will fill part of the second floor. A 4,577-squarefoot bar with two patios on the ground floor has been leased by 213 Nightlife, the bar group responsible for the Broadway Bar, Golden Gopher and other Downtown spots. At davidgra-

photo by Gary Leonard

Andrew Meieran, who created The Edison nightclub, has spent north of $10 million to buy and renovate the historic Clifton’s Cafeteria at 648 S. Broadway. It has taken four years, but an opening night party with proceeds benefitting the Los Angeles Conservancy will take Continued on page 18

September 14, 2015

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PROJECT UPDATES, 16

The 1924 Commercial Exchange Building is being turned into a 200-room Freehand Hotel by a development partnership of New York-based Sydell Group and Ron Burkle’s Yucaipa Company. The project at 416 W. Eighth St. is under construction and is expected to open in 2016, according to a project representative. The Freehand will offer hostel-style rooms with up to six beds along with traditional hotel rooms. Killefer Flammang Architects is doing the designs for the 13-story Beaux Arts structure, originally designed by the firm Walker & Eisen. Plans call for a rooftop pool and lounge, as well as ground-floor retail and a restaurant. The tall neon sign on the corner of the structure will be preserved.

Sydell is also transforming Giannini Place on Seventh Street into a hotel. At thefreehand.com/losangeles.

place Sept. 21, and Clifton’s will open to the general public the following day. The old cafeteria and dining room have been totally renovated, and Meieran has also transformed several floors of storage space into a three-level atrium with unique bars on each level. One of the biggest decorative features is a replica of a redwood tree that stands in the center of the atrium. There are also a number of taxidermy displays, turn-of-the-century apparatuses, fossils and more. Diners will be able to select from a number of food stations with categories like salads, sandwiches, rotisserie meats and desserts. Drinkers, meanwhile, get a choice of five bars, ranging from the casual Monarch Bar to the sleek, cabaret-like Shadowbox in the basement.

DESMOND BUILDING The transformation of the 1916 Desmond Building at 11th and Hope streets is almost complete, said Robert Hooks, vice president of developer Lincoln Property Company. The 82,000-square-foot structure will be leased by Anschutz Entertainment Group and will house its 500 employees from around the city, consolidating workers in the AEG Live and AXS Ticketing divisions close to the company’s headquarters at L.A. Live. Hooks said AEG will likely move in by the end of next month. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill oversaw the design, which included upgrades to the 99-year-old structure such as seismic retrofitting and the creation of a sixth floor.

At thedesmondla.com.

FORD BUILDING Construction has begun on the transformation of the 1912 Ford Factory Building, at Seventh Street and Santa Fe Avenue, into creative office space. San Francisco-based Shorenstein Properties purchased the 254,000-square-foot edifice and two adjacent structures for $37 million last year. The renovated fivestory building is slated to open in spring 2016, according to Andrew Neilly, a spokesman for the project. No budget has been revealed. One of the adjacent structures will be converted into a parking garage for 600 vehicles, and the rooftop will feature a deck. Additional plans call for a 15,000-square-foot landscaped courtyard. The main building opened in 1912 as Ford Motor Company’s primary Southern California assembly operations for Model T’s and Model A’s. It later housed industrial tenants including U.S. Rubber and Lockheed Aircraft, and the Imperial Toy Company from 1972-2005. At thefordfactoryla.com.

LA KRETZ INNOVATION CAMPUS The La Kretz Innovation Campus, which will house the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power’s energy efficiency labs, is on target to open in the fall, said Fred Walti, executive director of LACI. The 60,000-square-foot clean technology project and business incubator at 525 S. Hewitt St. in the Arts District will serve as a home for young companies, and will include flexible office space, conference facilities, labs, a prototyping workshop, a 100-person training center and the DWP’s Energy Efficiency Customer Engagement Center. The project will also include a small park with a water feature, Wi-Fi, grass and tables. At laincubator.org.

photo by Gary Leonard

opening in early 2016. Construction on a Metro connection to the Seventh Street Metro Station stop is estimated to be complete next February.

HOTELS

CLARK HOTEL Delays with the final construction work at the 348-room Clark Hotel at 426 S. Hill St. have pushed back its opening until early 2016, according to a project representative. The 11-story structure just north of Pershing Square has been renovated and features guest rooms with lively Mod-style details, a lobby with bright marble and chrome accents, a ballroom, a pool deck and multiple dining spaces. The additional delay is nothing new for New York-based owner Chetrit Group, which acquired the property more than a decade ago. An operator has not been revealed.

EMBASSY HOTEL Though developer Chetrit Group originally planned to open the Embassy Hotel this year, delays with some permits and construction have pushed the debut back until early 2016, according to a project representative. The renovation of the edifice at 831 S. Grand Ave. will feature 183 guest rooms and the historic Trinity Auditorium, which has been fully restored. A pool deck has been built on the roof and an outdoor patio is being constructed along Ninth Street. As with the Clark Hotel, Chetrit Group has owned the property for more than a decade. An operator has not been revealed.

FREEHAND HOTEL

SOHO HOUSE In March, representatives of the Soho House revealed plans to build an Arts District location of its members-only, high-end club. The property is a six-story, 1917 brick building at 1000 S. Santa Fe Ave. Soho House is looking to open the Arts District project in 2017, according to a company representative in New York. Plans include a rooftop pool and artist studio rooms where guests may stay for weeks or months. Soho House bills itself as a home-away-from home for people in the film, media and creative industries. No budget has been revealed.

THE BLOC Developer Wayne Ratkovich’s $180 million transformation of the former Macy’s Plaza is in the final stage of construction, and The Bloc is scheduled for completion by year’s end. In May, the roof over the portion of the shopping complex off Seventh Street was removed, creating an open-air environment. Additionally, the 496-room Sheraton Hotel has been fully upgraded, including a new restaurant, District on The Bloc. The shopping center will get a remodeled flagship Macy’s store, and other additions will include Wingtip, Free Market, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse and a nine-screen Alamo Drafthouse; they are expected to begin

GIANNINI PLACE The New York firm Sydell Group bought Giannini Place, which opened in 1923 and originally served as the headquarters of the Bank of Italy, for $39 million this year. Work has begun to renovate the property at 649 S. Olive St., and it is expected to open as a 250-room hotel in mid-2016, according to a project representative. The 12-story structure stood empty for more than a decade before Sydell acquired it. The old banking floor would be turned into a large lobby, and the first floor would feature a bar and restaurant. An event space and swimming pool would be constructed on the roof. The hotel is expected to be pricier and more elegant than Sydell’s Freehand Hotel at 416. W. Eighth St. J.W. MARRIOTT EXPANSION In March, L.A. Live owner Anschutz Entertainment Group announced plans to build a 755-room expansion of the J.W. Marriott/Ritz-Carlton hotel. The new rooms would be part of the J.W. Marriott brand. AEG is currently in the planning and design stage, according to company spokesman Michael Roth, and the goal is to break ground on the 38-story tower in the second quarter of 2016. Plans call for the $500 million project, which will rise on a 60,000-square-foot lot at the northeast corner of Olympic Boulevard and Georgia Street, to open in 2018.

The new building, being designed by architecture firm Gensler, would be connected to the 878-room J.W. Marriott, and there would be two levels of subterranean parking, ground-floor retail and a second-floor deck with a restaurant and a pool with cabanas. The project would also create more than 75,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and conference space.

PROPER HOTEL The 13-story building at 1106 S. Broadway, long known as the Case Hotel, will become a Proper Hotel, part of a new brand launched by one of the project’s developers, the Kor Group.

Kor teamed with Channing Henry and Frank Stork to acquire the 1924 building for $13.5 million in late 2013, and a renovation is slated to begin soon. The project will turn the structure, which has been empty in recent years after housing facilities for the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, into a 148-room boutique establishment with a mix of standard rooms and large suites.

Amenities will include a swimming pool on the seventh floor and a basketball court on the sixth floor. Downtown architecture firm Omgivning is handling the designs. Plans call for the Downtown LA Proper to open in early 2017. At properhotel. com/downtown-la.

OPENED IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS 420 BOYD ST. A $2 million renovation of Legendary Developments’ two properties at 420 Boyd St. in the Toy District has been completed, and the buildings opened on June 1, said company principal Dilip Bhavnani. The five-story structure at Boyd and Omar streets in the Toy District is now home to skateboarding apparel and footwear manufacturer HUF Worldwide, which moved into the top three floors in July. The microbrewery Mumford Brewing opened in June and is in the adjacent building, along with the nonprofit Wheels for Hope. The buildings are now 88% leased. Two new bars are also being developed and are in the permitting stages, Bhavnani said.

photo by Gary Leonard

A+D MUSEUM The A+D Architecture and Design Museum, which was founded in Downtown in 2001 but spent the last 13 years outside the community, returned to the Central City on Aug. 20. The facility has opened in an 8,000-square-foot brick building at 900 E. Fourth St. in the Arts District. Exhibits in the museum,

September 14, 2015

Downtown News 19

Development balconies). The project does not have on-site parking. At garmentloftsla.com.

GLOBE THEATRE The 1913 Globe Theatre at 740 S. Broadway opened July 30 after nearly three years of renovation work from owner and operator Erik Chol, who spent about $5 million to refurbish the facility. The four-level venue now has a restored lobby entrance on Broadway, a restored and illuminated marquee, freshly painted Baroque decorative features, and a modern sound and lighting system, among other improvements. Chol is currently focusing on fixing up the Globe’s basement (to be used as a more intimate venue-within-a-venue), a secondfloor private room and the third-floor balcony, the latter of which needs the most extensive work and could open next year. The Globe currently hosts DJs and events several nights a week. At globetheatre-la.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

which is a block from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, are set up in a large, open space with exposed brick walls and concrete floors. The debut exhibit, dubbed Shelter, looks at new forms of housing in Los Angeles. At aplusd.org.

GARMENT LOFTS Move-ins began in August at developer Capital Foresight’s 12-story Garment Lofts, which features 77 apartments with open floor plans averaging 750 square feet. The residences have original concrete floors and walls as well as modern fixtures and finishes in the bathrooms and kitchens. The $20 million renovation of the 1926 Capitol Garment Building, at 217 E. Eighth St., also included the restoration of the building’s ornate Gothic Revival façade, the creation of 3,479 square feet of retail space on the ground floor, and a rooftop deck with a spa. Rents run from $1,850-$5,000 (for six two-story penthouses with private

LEVEL FURNISHED LIVING Move-ins at Onni Group’s $200 million Level Furnished Living began in June. Unlike most Downtown housing complexes, the 33-story project from the Vancouver, Canada-based developer features short-term rental units, pitched to people staying for weeks or several months, such as individuals in town for business. The $200 million high-rise at 888 S. Olive St. features 303 one- to three-bedroom residences, with prices starting at $5,000 a month. All units include multiple TVs, a washer and dryer and a balcony. Utilities, cable TV, high-speed wireless Internet and weekly housekeeping service are included. There is a 70-foot outdoor pool along with a hot tub, a full-size basketball court, a gym and a barbecue area. Level has 600 parking spaces and four meeting rooms.

At stayinglevel.com/los-angeles.

PERSHING SQUARE PLAYGROUNDS A pair of children’s playgrounds at Pershing Square opened on Sept. 3. The $600,000 project is a joint effort of the city Department of Recreation and Parks, the Pershing Square Advisory Board and 14th District City Councilman José Huizar’s

Coming Soon

photo by Gary Leonard

office. Construction began in May on the playgrounds at the southern edge of the park at 532 S. Olive St. One park is for children ages 2-5 and the other serves kids 5-12. The structures feature a blue and green color scheme with splashes of orange.

TERAGRAM BALLROOM The Teragram Ballroom opened on May 31. The 9,000-squarefoot concert venue at 1234 W. Seventh St. can hold up to 600 people. The project comes from New York-based Michael Sweier, who created that city’s Bowery Ballroom and Mercury Lounge, and his Los Angeles partner, Joe Baxley. It took more than a year and $2 million to turn the 1913 City West edifice into a venue with a top-notch sound system; the transformation involved a seismic retrofitting. The building originally opened as the Playhouse Theatre and showed silent movies, and later became a print shop and a cafe. At teragramballroom.com.

NEW CONSTRUCTION / ADAPTIVE RE-USE SPECIALIST Commercial ~ Residential Restaurants ~ Retail Chester Williams Building: Winner of the 2013 Historic Core Downtowners of Distinction award, constructed

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20 Downtown News

September 14, 2015

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

Highly Anticipated Eighth & Grand to Open Soon 700 Luxury Residences Above Downtown’s Flagship Whole Foods Market Now Leasing

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he opening of Eighth & Grand is quickly approaching and Downtown L.A. is buzzing with excitement over the 700 luxury residences and the area’s first Whole Foods Market on the ground floor.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS Scheduled to open in early November, this upscale, mixed-use luxury building will offer purposefully designed spaces for the flexible comforts of modern living with unparalleled amenities and services for its residents. Eighth & Grand offers a variety of floor plans to fit all lifestyles with nine-foot ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, with units on the penthouse floor boasting vaulted ceilings and impressive views of the neighborhood.

“We are excited to break into the Downtown Los Angeles market with Eighth & Grand,” said Dan Garibaldi, managing partner of development at Carmel Partners. “We are pleased to introduce a product featuring amenities crafted to fit the growing demands for an urban, sophisticated lifestyle.

Eighth & Grand is poised to become the most coveted address in Downtown Los Angeles, where a diverse base of residents can live, work and play.”

Eighth & Grand will feature unique, thoughtfully appointed styling by Commune Design, the preeminent Los Angeles-based firm behind the acclaimed Ace Hotel and recently renovated United Artists Theater. Interiors will include a variety of finishes that expertly balance sleek details with elements of

sophisticated, modern design. Custom Italian cabinets and tiling will complete the kitchens, which also include Frigidaire appliances, quartz countertops and Brizo fixtures.

Residents will enjoy exclusive access to 24-hour concierge services, world-class amenities and social spaces designed to serve as extensions of the home and cultivate a uniquely connected community. Amenities include a 5,400-square-foot, state-of-the-art fitness center, rooftop sky lounge, two resort-style pools, verdant landscaped terraces with outdoor dining, a calming Zen garden and a 25-person theater-style cinema screening room.

The community is centrally located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles’ recently revitalized dining, entertainment and cultural scene with hundreds of dining, retail and entertainment venues within walking distance including Staples Center, L.A. Live, Microsoft Theater and the historic Orpheum Theater. Nearby hotspots include the Ace Hotel, The Bloc shopping center and award-winning restaurant Bottega Louie next door. The community is within walking distance of the expanding Metro system, which provides convenient access to additional job centers, attractions and universities from Santa Monica to Hollywood and beyond.

For pricing and availability, visit the leasing office at 433 W. Seventh St. or call (213) 293-2447. For more information visit eighthandgrand.com, twitter. com/8thandgrandla, or facebook.com/ eighthandgrandla.

photo by Gary Leonard

a special advertising supplement

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

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

255 Grand, previously known as Grand Promenade, a G&K Management Co. apartment community, is bringing Bunker Hill to new heights with its multimillion dollar, top-to-bottom makeover. Located in prestigious Bunker Hill, this is the go-to neighborhood for fine dining, world-class museums, upscale hotels, and a thriving arts and entertainment scene. 255 Grand offers its residents immediate

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS proximity to attractions such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, 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 will also offer penthouse memberships with exclusive features and benefits for residents. 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 in mind, 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.

September 14, 2015

Downtown News 21

Downtown ResiDential

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22 Downtown News

Where Everyone Knows His Name Bill Cooper’s The Loft Expert! Group Has Its Finger on the Downtown Pulse

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

Cooper has specialized in lofts since his first loft sale in 2001. He moved to Downtown in 2002 to es-

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS tablish his real estate business, long before most people would even consider visiting the area. Cooper’s vision to help create a successful, thriving residential community in Downtown led him to launch the loft expert! Group. with years of experience from Keller williams Realty, Coldwell Banker Residential Realty and loftway Homes and lofts, Cooper has enjoyed helping many Downtowners find their niche in the ever-changing environment they now call home.

Cooper’s passion for Downtown plays out in his involvement with the development of Downtown’s real estate as well as its communities. He teamed up early with local movers and shakers, forging long-term relationships with the best in the community. He helped found, organize and currently leads the Downtown Real estate association as its president.

Cooper is also passionate about preserving and creating green space in Downtown and has worked on several park projects. He currently serves as treasurer of the Pershing square Park advisory Board.

September 14, 2015

Downtown ResiDential

at the loft expert! Group, Cooper has endeavored to learn everything he can about Downtown’s lofts and condo residences, and shares his insights with his clients, whether they are purchasing or selling, first-time buying or looking for a second home. His passion for service, knowledge of the marketplace, and understanding of what it takes to complete any transaction with the least amount of problems is matchless in Downtown.

Here are just a few things his clients have written about their experiences with Cooper this past year: n “i highly recommend Bill. He knows the area, he’s responsive and a true professional.” n “we are so happy. and you have done an amazing job, so thank you Bill. we couldn’t have done it without your expertise.” n “Bill is extremely knowledgeable about Downtown l.a. and was always professional, available and timely. Because of our inexperience in the l.a. market, Bill was invaluable in all aspects of the process: from the offer, to the inspection, to securing the loan on time and arranging move-in. we truly believe Bill has helped us find the perfect spot for our lives in l.a.”

For more information call (213) 598-7555 or visit TheLoftExpertGroup.com.

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

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

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

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

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 keen focus on inspiring, promoting and helping entrepreneurialism, hopes to be the catalyst for 16,000-plus long-term jobs for los angeles. located within walking distance of the center of Downtown, tenten wilshire is an ideal place for meeting people and networking, providing guests and residents Continued on page 23

September 14, 2015

tenten, 22 an unparalleled professional and social environment. TENTEN Wilshire, together with its sister communities of Plug and Play Technology Center and Hollywood Production Center, are home to more than 600 technology and entertainment entrepreneurs, startups and companies.

TENTEN Wilshire is dedicated to fostering community growth amongst its residents through constant contact and the sharing of resources.

With key multi-industry relationships including access to more than 150 venture capital firms, and additional relationships with major corporations, entrepre-

Downtown News 23

Downtown Residential

neurs 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.

New Tot Program Enrolling Saturdays of Exploration, Discovery and Play at Pilgrim School

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ach child is born with a unique combination of strengths, abilities and temperamental traits, along with an amazing potential to learn and develop. This inborn drive to learn expands as the infant grows, and child develop-

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS ment experts continue to discover more about the importance of play in developing positive learning pathways and practices. This knowledge led Dr. Sheryl Cohen, Pilgrim School’s director of Early and Elementary Education, to initiate the Pilgrim City Tots program in 2013.

“Babies begin to explore the world and the people around them from the moment they are born,” Cohen says. “The time between the ages of three months and 23 months is the perfect opportunity for parents and their children to discover the fundamentals of learning through play.”

The one-hour Saturday morning program (9-10 a.m. for non-walkers three-12 months and 10:3011:30 a.m. for 12-23 months) engages parents and children with all five senses, and includes music, storytelling, discovery games and creative movement. Since every child has a different learning style, cooperative play between parent and child is the ideal way to discover and enhance the way each one learns best.

The program will include discussions led by Pilgrim’s parenting facilitator that will cover important areas of child development such as social and emotional development, physical health, well-being and movement skills, and communication and language skills. Participants will have

an opportunity to meet and interact with other parents of young children, and both parents and children will find new friends within the warm Pilgrim community.

Most of all, Pilgrim City Tots is about parents having fun with their children, with the added benefit of learning how to encourage them to develop joyfully into the unique individual each one was born to be. There will be two sessions: the Fall 2015 will run 10 weeks from Oct. 3-Dec. 12; the Spring 2016 class will run for 12 weeks from Jan. 23-April 30.

For more information about the classes at Pilgrim School visit pilgrim-school.org.

24 Downtown News

The K2LA Lifestyle

In the Heart of Metropolis

Koreatown Welcomes the Ultimate Urban Luxury Apartment Community

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entury West Partners is bringing 346 new upscale K2LA residences to Koreatown this year. Located at 680 S. Berendo St. and 685 S. New Hampshire Ave., between Wilshire Boulevard and Seventh Street, this world-class luxury apartment

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS community boasts a premier location just steps from vibrant dining, eclectic shopping, energetic nightlife and convenient public transit. With Beverly Hills, Downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood only minutes away, K2LA establishes the perfect home base from which to pursue a variety of lifestyles.

When complete, K2LA will consist of three buildings, housing 476 thoughtfully designed units and provide top-notch amenities such as three state-of-

September 14, 2015

Downtown Residential

the-art fitness centers, three business centers with conference rooms, two resort-style pools and spas, outdoor decks with multiple barbecue grilling stations, and complimentary high speed Wi-Fi throughout all public spaces. In addition to controlled access entry and a 24-hour concierge, future K2LA residents will also have access to a bike kitchen with a bike share program and a resident lounge equipped with 80-inch high definition flat screen televisions, video game systems and even karaoke.

One of the many features that already sets K2LA apart is the exceptional staff and their commitment to creating and fostering a lively, authentic community in the heart of Koreatown. To that end, K2LA will continue to host an active calendar of engaging events, festive Continued on page 27

Four Gleaming Towers Set to Transform the Downtown Skyline

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ore than a stunning study of architecture and design, this monumental complex of condominiums, retailers, restaurants and a boutique hotel is changing what it means to live and play in Downtown L.A. An unmistakable vibe has been growing in and around Los Angeles — an increasing thirst for the kind of culture, lifestyle and individual expression that can only be cultivated and found within a true Downtown core.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS Metropolis heralds the official arrival of New Angeles, home to a new brand of urbanite. This is where visionaries whose passion for 360-degree living are Continued on page 27

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September 14, 2015

Downtown ResiDential

Downtown News 25

26 Downtown News

September 14, 2015

Downtown ResiDential

Contemporary Yet Quaint Final Four Homes Available at Morton Village in Echo Park

Van Daele Homes is a privately held, California-based homebuilder specializing in single family homes in northern and southern California since 1987. the Van Daele family and their team take great pride in the design and construction of every home and have a personal commitment to every home buyer that they “feel good about their new home.” to visit Morton Village, take the 5 Freeway and exit stadium way. Follow to academy Road and turn right, then turn left on Morton avenue.

The Morton Village Sales Center is open daily 10 a.m.-6 p.m., except Sundays and Wednesdays when the community opens at noon. For more information, contact Joanna Sanchez at jsanchez@ vandaele.com, call (323) 344-6121 or visit liveatmortonvillage.com.

surrounds coupled with the stylish cabinetry, moldings and traditional Craftsman features found in historic residences. the bungalow homes also come with private yards and designated parking spaces within the gated neighborhood.

Van Daele Homes also includes efficient By Design elements at Morton Village for building and living environmentally friendly and cost efficiently. Features include dual glazed low-e windows, tankless water heaters, high efficiency central air conditioning, indoor air quality ventilation fans, gas forced air heating, energy star multi-cycle dishwashers and more. the final contemporary homes at Morton Village are priced from the $800,000s and the bungalow homes are priced from the low $500,000s.

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as early as the fall, just in time to enjoy all the holidays. the final homes include three of the popular contemporary floorplans with roof-top decks and one of the exclusive, historically styled bungalows. interested home buyers are encouraged to visit Morton Village as soon as possible as this is the last opportunity to own in one of los angeles’ most desirable and unique new home communities.

Morton Village is a limited edition, gated community of just 18 single-family detached homes offered by Van Daele Homes in partnership with Fifteen Group. this popular community in the heart of echo Park is comprised of 15 contemporary three-story homes with rooftop decks and three quaint vintage bungalows. easy access to the 5, 101, 10, 110 and 2 freeways makes Morton Village a great centrally located neighborhood providing residents with easy commuting access to Downtown los angeles, Burbank, Glendale and Hollywood. Residents of Morton Village can easily enjoy echo Park’s many amenities, activities and entertainment such as Dodgers games, evening walks to trendy eateries and

DALE

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

shops, nearby parks, and Downtown, silver lake and Hollywood nightlife.

Panoramic views of the picturesque Downtown skyline and the rolling hills of elysian Park can be enjoyed from the fabulous entertainment-oriented rooftop decks atop the unique three-story contemporary homes. in addition to the stunning decks and private balconies, all homes have small private yards providing room for relaxing, pets and gardening. the two- and three-bedroom contemporary homes at Morton Village feature up to three and one-half baths and 2,044 square feet. second floor living areas offer en suite bedrooms with private baths, and the ground floor of each residence features an attached two-car garage with extra space for bikes, storage and a private laundry area (Plans a & B; Plan C has a laundry area on the bedroom floor). Designer amenities include quartz kitchen countertops with a beautiful waterfall edge at the spacious kitchen island, european-style cabinetry with stainless steel hardware, Bosch stainless steel appliances, contemporary baseboards and casings, brushed steel staircase railings and much more. the three charming, vintage-style one-bedroom, one-bath bungalows at Morton Village are a nod to the historic Craftsman and cottage-style architecture of los angeles. these approximately 600-square-foot homes feature modern amenities such as Carrara marble countertops, Bosch stainless steel appliances, subway tile backsplashes and shower

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an Daele Homes has announced they are nearing builder close-out at Morton Village in echo Park with just four homes remaining. First move-ins are occurring now and the final homes will be ready for delivery

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ROOFTOP DECKS • VIEW HOMESITES SMALL PRIVATE YARDS • GATED COMMUNITY

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STUNNING MODERN ARCHITECTURE DETACHED HOMES WITH UP TO 3 BEDROOMS AND 2,044 SQUARE FEET FROM THE LOW $800,000’S

a original

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1641 N. MORTON AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CA 90026 (323) 344-6121 Van Daele, Van Daele Homes One Family. One Promise. and You’ll feel good about your new home. are trademarks of Van Daele Development Corporation.

Plan pricing and square footage subject to change. Persons depicted in marketing photographs do not indicate a racial preference. BRE# 00974168

September 14, 2015

Downtown News 27

Downtown ResiDential

K2lA, 24 gatherings and holiday celebrations throughout the year, encouraging residents to meet, mingle and enjoy the Ktown lifestyle. additional standout features of K2la include: w thoughtfully laid out micro-studios, spacious studios, junior one-bedroom, one- and two-bedroom luxury units n studios from 400 to 633 square feet n one bedrooms from 632 to 911 square feet n two bedrooms from 1,014 to 1,038 square feet n Kitchens featuring quartz countertops, ceramic full-height tile backsplashes, and breakfast bars* n sleek plank flooring n Upscale stainless steel appliances n large walk-in closets, complete with organizers* n luxury bathrooms with tile floors and shower surrounds n Bluetooth enabled in-ceiling speakers* n UsB outlets n Rooftop decks with fireplaces and barbecue grilling stations n Cabanas with family style dining areas n Heated resort-style pool and spa n Roof-deck lounges with expansive city views n state-of-the-art fitness center with high-def flat-screen tVs n Clubroom with karaoke and gaming consoles n electronic key access entry n Controlled access entry with gated parking n 24-hour concierge *in select units “K2la will bring the best place to live to the best location,” notes Randy Fifield, partner with Century west. “Koreatown is now a happening hub that is home to a vibrant international community and thriving businesses.” “we are creating not only a great place to live, but also offering the proximity of a great neighborhood that our residents will be excited to be part of,” adds Michael sorochinsky, partner with Century west. “our residents will enjoy being close to work and living within walking distance to markets, malls, entertainment and the Metro.”

K2la apartment’s newest phase is scheduled to welcome residents to their new homes in november 2015.

Visit K2LA at LiveK2LA.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/ LiveK2LA and @K2LAApts on Twitter or @livek2la on Instagram. For more information contact Alla Sorochinsky at (310) 430-0695 or allas@centurywestpartners.com.

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.

~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

~ Central Air Conditioning & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)

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

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

Metropolis, 24 redefining what it means to be an angeleno.

Perfectly placed on 6.33 acres between l.a. live and the Central Business District, Metropolis is the new heart of l.a. slated for completion in three phases, the first premieres in late 2016 with a 38-floor condominium tower and 18-floor Hotel indigo. Phases two and three will see Metropolis’ two tallest condominium towers, one with 56 floors and the other with 40, scrape the sky by the close of 2017 and 2018, respectively. once completed, Metropolis will be one of the largest mixed-use developments on the west Coast. l.a. Mayor eric Garcetti said its importance matches its size: “this billiondollar investment will bring the kind of world-class amenities that will enhance the appeal of our city center nationally and internationally.”

Befitting a property of such prominence, Metropolis is designed to inspire, with a streamlined modernism that takes its cues from the art Deco architecture of Downtown’s Historic District. Most striking are two elevated private parks, one on the sixth floor and another on the ninth, both artfully landscaped with mature trees. the appeal is obvious. Phase one’s residential tower, which offers designer-appointed studios, one- and twobedroom condominiums, each with stunning floor-to-ceiling vistas that make high-rise living so uniquely special, has already been presold at an overwhelming rate. “we’re over 65% sold in tower one,” said tami scully, VP sales & Marketing for Metropolis-Greenland Usa. “i encourage interested buyers to act quickly to get the best choice.”

For more information, contact the sales center at (855) 657-8300 or visit metropolislosangeles.com.

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at xci Gr ti A 255 South Grand Avenue an ng sk A dT ow Ne bou Leasing Information er w t O Co 213 229 9777 m Re ur ing n Su ova Apartment Amenities: Community Amenities: m m tio ~ Refrigerator, Stove, ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby er Microwave & Dishwasher ~ Concierge 20 n 15 (most units) ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas

Grand Tower

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 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room

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

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28 Downtown News

September 14, 2015

Drawing Up a Downtown Museum Architect Elizabeth Diller Reflects On the Creation of The Broad

By Eddie Kim n 2010, the New York architecture firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro was invited to take part in a prestigious competition: the opportunity to design philanthropist Eli Broad’s Downtown Los Angeles art museum.

Six firms were invited, and DS+R advanced to the final round, along with Rem Koolhaas’ Office of Metropolitan Architecture. In August 2010, Broad selected DS+R, which had won acclaim for projects such as Boston’s vaunted Institute of Contemporary Art. The Downtown building will house the 2,000 pieces of art that Broad and his wife Edythe have collected, and unlike most museums, the vast majority of the artwork not on display will be housed on site.

“They really thought this through,” Broad said last week, when reflecting on the selection of DS+R. “They really thought about our needs.”

For firm co-founder Elizabeth Diller, the selection was the kickoff of an intense project. Now, five years later, the honeycomb-like exterior of The Broad, part of a design concept dubbed “The Veil and The Vault,” is ready to debut.

Los Angeles Downtown News chatted with Diller about the process of drawing up one of Downtown’s most distinctive new buildings — and an important center for the L.A. art scene.

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Los Angeles Downtown News: What was it like to brainstorm design ideas for The Broad five years ago?

Elizabeth Diller: The final design came as a bit of a lightning bolt for us. We were struggling with the building’s needs. It had a bigger proportion of storage to exhibition space than it even does now, and it was slanted to the archiving of art, really. So we were totally taken by the paradox of contributing somehow to Downtown L.A. and its urban aspirations while designing, basically, a storage facility.

Elizabeth Diller is one of the founding partners of Diller Scofidio + Renfro. The firm was selected five years ago to design The Broad.

Q: The relationship between storing and presenting art became a central design idea, right?

A: We decided to use the storage space as an organizational strategy, with the idea that there’s a gallery below and above the “vault,” which is in the center and expressed as a floating element nested in the five-sided skin of the “veil.”

As you pass the veil and come inside, you’re under this vault that’s very solid and contoured and cryptic. You don’t really understand it.

Q: How was designing The Broad different than some of the other museums DS+R has worked on?

A: This is not an encyclopedic museum, but a private collection that’s been made public. The collector is idiosyncratic with particular tastes and depth in certain artists. It doesn’t attempt to tell a complete story in any way, if you will.

Instead, you’re constantly reminded of the vault as you walk through.

With this project, as opposed to a museum of modern or contemporary art, our aim was to

photo by Elizabeth Daniels for The Broad

put all facets of the collection on view. You can either take the elevator or stairs down [from the third-floor gallery], but most people will take the stairs, which snakes through the vault and opens up some views into the racks and racks of art. So you’re able to see the back-ofhouse, pre-curated art, in our words.

Q: Eli Broad has a reputation as a very involved

client. What was it like working with him?

A: I might add another “very” before “very involved.” [Laughs] He was super interested in the whole mechanics of the design and development and construction. Eli was at the table with us and the contractors very early on. It wasn’t just Eli, but also [Broad Founding Director] Joanne Heyler and [Broad Foundation attorney] Deborah Kanter. It was an unusual pro-

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cess, and I wouldn’t single Eli out.

Q: Broad had considered placing his facility in Santa Monica or Beverly Hills, but it landed in Downtown. What do you think of the location?

A: I have to say that my imaginings of L.A. really came from [architecture critic] Reyner Banham, who I read when I was super interested in what makes L.A., L.A. — things like a romance for the automobile.

But working on The Broad, I really developed an appreciation for the sentiments of L.A.-ers wanting to make Downtown a success, and seeing that transformation with my own eyes. There was a lot of rhetoric around making Downtown happen, but it organically started to transform.

Q: Did seeing that transformation inform your design for The Broad?

A: With The Broad being a part of the Grand Avenue master project and being one of the cultural institutions on that axis, we had to do our share in what was urbanistically correct. We put the building edges on the property lines rather than making an “object” building on a bigger field, for one. We brought the corners up on the north and south “veil” edges to make it more inviting, and effectively brought the sidewalk into the building, with the concrete as one even level all the way inside.

This is a museum that’s not really about the views of the city. We wanted people to just feel the presence of the

outside, feel differences in light, notice a cloud coming overhead through the skylight system.

Five Key Facets of The Broad

Q: How did you consider its neighbor, Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall?

A: I have to say that it was initially an elephant in the room, but one that got kicked out very quickly. Right from the beginning it was just daunting. We have a lower and much smaller site, with less room for volumetric play. So we decided right in the beginning that there was no point in competing.

We wanted to be a good neighbor.

The concert hall is so exuberant, so maybe we’re more humble and simpler. Our curves would be on the inside, in the lobby, rather than on the exterior. Disney Hall is shiny and reflects light, while ours is matte and absorbs light via the veil, like a sponge.

number of clever engineering and design techniques made The Broad possible.

Here’s a rundown of five signature features of the facility:

Q: Do you think The Broad will have a legacy as a signature piece of L.A. architecture?

A: I’m not so presumptuous to say we made an icon, and it was never intended as that. It’s a building — a building with certain features that we’re proud of. It has a considerable amount of experimentation: We engineered it to not have columns, to have skylights, and it has the poetic dynamics of the outer veil and the vault. I hope that’s appreciated by others.

The Broad is at 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 232-6200 or thebroad.org. eddie@downtownnews.com

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The Veil: The honeycomb-like exterior of the museum is composed of 2,500 fiberglass-reinforced concrete panels tiled over 650 tons of steel. The trickiest part of the veil to fabricate was the thumbprint-like “oculus” (it’s the indentation) on Grand Avenue: 30% of the veil molds were dedicated to the curved feature.

photo by Gary Leonard

One of The Broad’s defining features is the oculus, an indentation on the Grand Avenue side of the building.

The Vault: The three-story vault was sculpted using 36 million pounds of concrete. There’s 21,000 square feet for art storage on the second floor. On top of the vault is 35,000 square feet of column-free gallery space, with the roof supported by five 190foot girders that weigh 70 tons each.

The Backbone: The veil is supported by two connections, on Second Street and General Thaddeus Kosciuszko Way, and a main 32-ton steel beam that sits five feet underground along Grand Avenue.

The beam can rock on a central pivot, which allows the veil to gently see-saw (by up to 3/4 of an inch at each end) during a major earthquake.

The Skylights: The roof has 318 skylight monitors

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that let in diffused sunlight from the north. “We had to model every hour of every day of the year to make sure direct sunlight wasn’t going to hit any artworks,” project architect Elizabeth Diller said.

The Plaza: The 24,000-square-foot outdoor plaza south of the museum features a grove of 100-yearold Barouni olive trees and will be used for film screenings, performances and events. The construction also created a mid-block traffic signal and crosswalk to connect The Broad to MOCA and the Colburn School. The cost of the plaza and streetscape: a cool $18 million.

—Eddie Kim

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September 14, 2015 photo by Elio Tolot

30 Downtown News

CALENDAR

Museum Founding Director Joanne Heyler Talks About the Art in the Collection, the Art on the Walls and the Conflict in the Art

By Jon Regardie oanne Heyler has possibly the most exciting and most challenging job in Los Angeles. As the founding director of the $140 million The Broad, and the curator of the Downtown landmark’s inaugural exhibition, she has the task of choosing which art will fill the 50,000 square feet of gallery space.

This means much more than just finding a wall and hanging a painting or photograph. Eli and Edythe Broad have approximately 2,000 works in their collections, and the inaugural show contains about 250 pieces. This means that for every Robert Rauschenberg, Ed Ruscha, Barbara Kruger, Cindy Sherman, Mark Bradford or other work that is on display, seven remain in storage.

Heyler started working at The Broad Art Foundation in 1989 and has overseen its lending library since 1995 — during her time, the Foundation collection has grown by 65%. Eli Broad also tapped her to run the museum. She spoke with Los Angeles Downtown News about the opportunity, the challenges of the job and the museum that opens on Sunday, Sept. 20.

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but there are a couple ways I look at the inaugural installation.

One is that we have been primarily a lending collection for over 30 years. We have made 8,000 loans to 500 institutions around the world.

At the same time, when it comes to this collection, it has most of the time been seen in pieces, a few things at a time that contribute to a larger exhibition or in a regional museum in the U.S., or overseas and in Europe or Asia.

This museum provides me with an opportunity to let the collection sing, and to unfurl as close to its full breadth as has ever happened before. This installation is about showing the breadth of the collection, of its cultural sweep over the decades.

Los Angeles Downtown News: So how have the past couple months been? Sleep much? Any days off?

Joanne Heyler: [Laughs]. There’s been no August vacation for me and my family. That will come later.

It’s been very, very busy. It’s a very rare thing to open a museum from scratch anywhere, and in L.A., as far as major institutions, this is the first time it has happened in 20 years. I am thrilled we are Downtown given all that is happening Downtown and the dynamic nature of the area.

It’s thrilling to be part of the community.

Q: The first thing visitors will see are works by Andy Warhol. How did you decide these were the way to start?

A: I think that Warhol is one of the most fundamental artists that defined what 20th century art was, and continues to be a profound influence on young artists going forward. So he seemed like the perfect artist to kick off this installation He was an artist who broke a lot of rules, who touched on social and political issues in his work.

For example, there is “Twenty Jackies,” which shows President Kennedy’s widow, Jackie Kennedy. There are pictures of celebrities at the center of the Cold War-era U.S., whether Marilyn Monroe or Elvis Presley.

That gallery kicks off themes that you see in younger artists’ work later in the inaugural installation, whether Glenn Ligon, who adopts some of the silk screen techniques, or Barbara Kruger, who so astutely honed in on media imagery in her work starting in the 1980s.

Q: You have access to 2,000 artworks by the most important names in contemporary art. You have room for 250 pieces for the first show at L.A.’s most anticipated museum since the Getty. How do you begin to decide what goes on the walls?

A: I couldn’t say that is a simple or easy process,

Q: A number of works in the collection and the debut show are inspired by major conflicts: Julie Meretu’s “Cairo” recalls the Arab Spring, Robert Longo’s charcoal drawing “Untitled” is an artistic answer to the killing in Ferguson, Mo., etc. Can you describe the philosophy and thought process here?

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Joanne Heyler has spent more than 25 years working for The Broad Art Foundation, growing the collection and overseeing a program that made 8,000 loans to more than 500 museums and institutions. Now she is the founding director of The Broad, and curated the museum’s first show, which includes 250 works of art from the collection that Eli and Edythe Broad have amassed.

A: It’s such a fundamental part of the story that the Broad collection can tell about postwar and contemporary art, that one can’t create an exhibition of the collection of the size we’ve got without touching on all of these really incisive, sensitive, thoughtful approaches to encountering crisis, and even sometimes challenging and painful episodes in American history. This collection touches on so many of the defining episodes of the 20th century.

Q: How involved has Mr. Broad been in determining what will be on display?

A: The Broad collection is in many respects a personal story of their engagement with art over the decades. It is hard to imagine a scenario where they step back and not check in. Eli and I have certainly been in discussion over the layout and the installation for a couple years or so. It has had to evolve quickly as we acquire new things. But it has been a great conversation.

Q: This is a Los Angeles museum. How important is it to represent Los Angeles artists, and how will that play out over the years?

A: At this point in time, you cannot be a serious collector of contemporary art and not include Los Angeles-based artists in any collection, whether it is private or institutional. That is how much of a contemporary art capital L.A. has become, particularly in the last five to 10 years, though really far longer than that.

The exhibition will relate to the ’60s with works by Ed Ruscha and John Baldessari, and to

the ’80s with work by Mike Kelley. There’s also a great work by Robert Therrien called “Under the Table,” which was made about a mile and half from us, at Bob’s Downtown studio in the 1990s. It is an enlarged table and chairs that you can walk under. It is based on the table that sits in Bob’s studio.

Q: The first exhibit is a chronology of the collection. What else is lined up?

A: We’ll have an announcement of a special exhibition a little bit later, but we would anticipate seeing some monographic shows that go into greater depth. One of the hallmarks of this collection is its collections of individual artists in great depth. In the case of Cindy Sherman there are 124 works from every period of her career. Even though with the inaugural installation there are galleries with maybe a dozen works, there are no galleries where we show almost everything we have from an artist.

Q: Where will you position yourself on Sunday when the doors open?

A: I don’t know how to describe how excited I am about that day. I genuinely don’t. I fully anticipate being at the front door and greeting our first visitors to The Broad.

Q: When will you get a day off?

A: I think I might want to stick around for awhile. It won’t be Sept. 21.

The Broad is at 221 S. Grand Ave., (213) 2326200 or thebroad.org. regardie@downtownnews.com

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Downtown News 31

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So You’re Going to The Broad What You Need to Know About Downtown’s New Museum

By Jon Regardie he Broad is Downtown Los Angeles’ most important cultural addition of the past dozen years. It is also the most anticipated project in Downtown, and perhaps in the entire city, since the Walt Disney Concert Hall, its neighbor to the north on Grand Avenue, opened in 2003.

The $140 million edifice at 221 S. Grand Ave. bows on Sunday, Sept. 20. It holds the approximately 2,000 pieces of art in the collection of billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad (rhymes with road) and his wife Edythe, though only about 200-250 will be on display at any time. The collection includes works by the biggest names in contemporary art.

In advance of the opening, here is some information about the man behind the museum, the project, and what visitors need to know.

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The Man: Eli Broad is a titan of the Los Angeles business scene, a man who created not one, but two billion-dollar companies. The graduate of Michigan State University came to Los Angeles after college and would go on to start the housing building business Kaufman and Broad.

Later, he founded SunAmerica, the retirement planning giant.

In addition to his business achievements, Broad has long displayed a strong civic side. He helped found the Museum of Contemporary Art on Grand Avenue in 1979, and when the museum hit the financial straits in 2008, he was a key player in its salvation by orchestrating a $30

Five years after it was first announced, the $140 million The Broad is ready to open.

million challenge grant. He has had his hand in numerous other efforts, including the plan to revitalize Grand Avenue. He has been active in philanthropic efforts across the country.

How It Got Here: Though Broad has long been active on Grand Avenue, building the museum here was no easy feat. When Broad decided he wanted to create an institution to house his collection, he considered Downtown, Santa Monica and Beverly Hills.

The contest became public in the spring of 2010. A site on Grand Avenue that had been dedicated to Related Cos.’ Grand Avenue plan became available as that project stalled due to the recession. Beverly Hills dropped out of the running, and while Broad hoped to be Downtown, he saw a challenge in trying to work with the multiple layers of government (the land is publicly owned and is overseen by a joint citycounty panel).

Finally, in August 2010, a deal was reached and the various levels of government signed off. Broad agreed to lease the property for $7.7 million for 99 years.

The Architects: Early in the process, Broad organized a competition to design the museum.

Six firms were engaged, with requirements to include gallery space as well as significant onsite storage room. The finalists were Rem Koolhaas’ Office of Metropolitan Architecture and the New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro. Several weeks after the deal for the land was se-

photo by Gary Leonard

cured, Broad announced the selection of DS+R, which came up with the honeycomb-like exterior and the concept of “The Veil and The Vault.”

The Art: Name a prominent contemporary artist, and odds are that several of his or her works, and sometimes many more, are in the Broad collection. There are pieces from more than 200 artists, including Sam Francis, John Baldessari, Damien Hirst, Keith Haring, Catherine Opie, Barbara Kruger, Frank Stella, Bill Viola and Andy Warhol. Featured collections include: n 124 photographs by Cindy Sherman n 14 works by Robert Rauschenberg, including a 1954 combine n 13 pieces by Jean-Michel Basquiat, among them “Horn Players,” a 1983 homage to Charlie Parker n 34 works by Jeff Koons, including the 1986 stainless steel “Rabbit” n 40 pieces by Ed Ruscha Entrance: General admission is free, thanks to a more than $200 million endowment from Broad. There may be a separate charge for

some future special exhibits.

Reservations: Free admission at a new museum means one thing: crowds! Avoid them by making a (still free) reservation for a timed entry. At press time, weekends though Oct. 18 were filled, though many weekdays were available. Reservations are at thebroad.org/visit.

Hours: The Broad is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Tuesday-Wednesday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursday-Friday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed Mondays, and on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Parking: There is an onsite three-floor garage that charges $12 for three hours on weekdays and $12 on weekends or weeknights after 5 p.m. Or park in the Cal Plaza garage for $8 (with museum validation).

Website: Learn everything you need to know at thebroad.org. The website includes an amazing and easily navigable rundown of the art in the collections. regardie@downtownnews.com

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32 Downtown News

September 14, 2015

Something Clowning and Wicked This Way Comes Two Small Theater Companies Debut Fall Shows

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white and gray. The exception is a red nose, which characters wear to when they’re in “clown mode.” The tactic allows them to explore deep The theater company emotional moments such as rage, madness and Loft Ensemble this lunacy, and also add lighthearted elements to a week opens Hammer of normally dark play, Munch said. the Witches in its Arts “We want the audience to laugh and cry, but District space. mostly laugh,” Munch said. “There’s this duality of the characters being in this ridiculous world with ridiculous things happening [to them], yet they’re still stuck in a tragedy which ends up making it hilarious and sad at the same time.”

Which Witch Is Which? photo by JD Ramage Every fall, the Arts District theater company Loft Ensemble creates a horror play from scratch.

This year’s production, Hammer of the Witches, hearsals to make sure everything was authentic. noted, there is a bloody scene near the end for premieres Saturday, Sept. 19. It runs through “People are taught that witches are scary good measure.

Nov. 1 at the company’s 55-seat theater on Secand evil, but it’s actually not that way at all,” “It’s really interesting to me how some peoond and Vignes streets. Performances are SaturPavey said. “Wicca is quite interesting and it’s a ple are comfortable engaging with the dark days at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 7 p.m. shame more people aren’t familiar with it.” side and some aren’t,” Pavey said.

Hammer, said the show’s writer and director The play is 100 minutes long with a 10-minThat extends to fictional characters as well.

Los Angeles facebook: Bree Pavey, weaves together Wiccan rituals, ute News intermission. Pavey said the show is intendDuring the play, the witches discover their Downtown W.and Firstevil.

Street, Los Angeles, Newsnusacrifices, magic, bones, blood and torment. ed forCA an90026 adult audience L.A. dueDowntown to some brief power through a balance of1264 good phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 The goal, she said, is to leave audiences feeling When a ritual doesn’t go as planned, dity, strong language, violence they are twitter:and, yes, blood. web: DowntownNews.com “a little freaked out, not quite sure what Hamlet runs Sept. 18-Oct. 10 at 1238 W. First that speak to DowntownNews realpeople@downtownnews.com S Ijust N C E 19forced 7 2 to make tough choicesemail: happened.”

St. or fourclowns.org/adults/hamlet. human character, Pavey said. Yes, the theme The cast includes aEditor coven& of witches Sue workHammer of the Witches plays Sept. 19-Nov. 1 seems to be that witches are people too.

PublishEr: Laris PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard ing at a crematoriumGENErAl and a “small armyDawn of creaat 929 E. Second St., (213) 680-0392 or Through the creative process, Pavey reMANAGEr: Eastin Ashley Schmidt tures” that lack lines but have a high creepy fac- searched witchcraft and WiccanAccouNtiNG: loftensemble.org. traditions. She ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway tor, Pavey said. heidi@downtownnews.com even had a practicing Wiccan present during resENior writEr: Eddie Kim AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Catherine Holloway, Brenda Stevens Pavey also wrote last year’s gore-filled prostAFF writEr: Heidi Kulicke sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez duction Will You SavecoNtributiNG Them? This time around Editor: Kathryn Maese circulAtioN: Danielle Salmon she wanted to explore the horror writErs: genre viaJeff a Favre, Greg Fischer coNtributiNG  distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles suspense thriller with jump scares. Still, she Open24/7 Art dirEctor: Brian Allison distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Free Bonilla Wi-Fi | Drive Thru AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa Free Parking Breakfast All Day ©2015 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved. The Los Angeles Downtown News is the 

By Heidi Kulicke hen it comes to fall theater in Downtown Los Angeles, most of the attention goes to major programmers like Center Theatre Group, which is opening The Sound of Music at the Ahmanson this month, or East West Players, which is ready to raise the curtain on a production of David Henry Hwang’s Chinglish.

It is easy to overlook some of the shows in smaller venues. That said, a pair of scrappy theater companies also have big plans for little stages.

This week, theater company and clown troupe Four Clowns launches its adaptation of Hamlet at the 80-seat Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles in City West. Meanwhile, the Arts District will see the world premiere horror play Hammer of the Witches.

Four Clowns was founded in 2010 and works with about 30 professionally trained clowns who have attended clown school. The company has previously performed Downtown at REDCAT and across the country.

Hamlet director Turner Munch said the adaptation keeps Shakespeare’s classic themes of betrayal, deceit and revenge, but filters them through the lens of a clown. The production, which runs Sept. 18-Oct. 10 with 8 p.m. shows every Friday and Saturday, is 90 minutes long with no intermission.

The set, costumes and makeup are void of bright colors and circus-type clowns with painted faces, said Munch. Instead, the show utilizes an Edwardian theme featuring a palette of black,

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 Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris

GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie

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

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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris

S I N C E 19 7 2 Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com facebook: L.A. Downtown News twitter: DowntownNews ©2015 Civic Center News, Inc. Los Angeles Downtown News is a trademark of Civic Center News Inc. All rights reserved.

The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

One copy per person.

Downtown News 33

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DT

CALENDAR LISTINGS

By Dan Johnson calendar@downtownnews.com

SPONSORED LISTINGS Metro Art Moves Tours 800 N. Alameda St., (213) 683-6729 or metro.net/ about/art Metro Art Moves is a free weekend series of regularly scheduled and special tours of artwork in the Metro Rail system, including Union Station. The tours are led by docent volunteers and provide insight into the art and its creation at various stations. For more information visit metro.net/about/art.

ThuRSDay, SEPTEmbER 17 Jerry Stahl at Last Bookstore Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

7:30 p.m.: There is no more apt place on Earth to discuss the 20th anniversary of junkie magnum opus Permanent Midnight than Fifth Street. Authors Joe Clifford and Ryan Leone join Jerry Stahl to hash out the literary merits of a fix.

Van Beethoven Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

11 a.m.: Ordinarily we’d file a Dudamel-conducted performance of Beethoven’s Fifth under classical music, but when that performance is being broadcast in 3D from inside of a van in Grand Park, it suddenly becomes an event.

The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Downtown’s own castle of high art, lowers its drawbridge on Saturday, Sept. 19, for an evening of dublab-endorsed DJs, dancing in ordinarily inappropriate places, installation art and unorthodox sensory juxtapositions. The aptly named Sleepless is the first of three late-night get-downs in the home of L.A. Opera. From John Tejada to Devendra Banhart, an absurdly stacked lineup of artists awaits. As an extra flourish, Chinatown’s underground radio station KCHUNG will be sending out its weird vibes beacon for all those en route to the festivities. The 11:30 p.m. event requires an RSVP on the Music Center website to snag a ticket. Make it so. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 9720777 or musiccenter.org.

SaTuRDay, SEPTEmbER 19 Sleepless: The Music Center After Hours Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 9720777 or musiccenter.org.

11:30 p.m.: Timed entries enable guests to venture into an experiential art project featuring top DJs, bizarre installations and all-around revelry inside the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

SuNDay, SEPTEmbER 20 Sunday Sessions Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org.

1 p.m.: Sangria-tinted zephyrs will ascend from the grass at Grand Park as thousands bask about, imbibing and listening to an afternoon full of complimentary deep house.

photo by Craig T. Mathew/L.A. Opera

ROCK, POP & JAZZ Belasco 1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or thebelascotheater.com.

Sept. 18, 10 p.m.: Jory Boy and Nengo.

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

Sept. 14: Vikram Devasthali and Friends.

Sept. 15: Jonathan Rodwen Group with Joanna Walfisch.

Sept. 16: Paula Santoro.

Sept. 17: ACT featuring Ben Wendell/Harish Raghavan/Nate Wood.

Sept. 18: Aaron Goldberg Trio.

Sept. 19: Jazzgene.

Sept. 20: Fabiano de Nascimento.

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

Sept. 14, 8:30 p.m.: The Danger Collective Records Residency continues with The Fontaines, Dante Elephante and Owl Paws.

Sept. 17, 8:30 p.m.: Road-broken Greta Morgan brings her latest solo act Springtime Carnivore.

Sept. 18, 8:30 p.m.: Just in time for the blessed providence of autumn comes Sweden’s Summer Heart.

Continued on next page

Grunge icon, solo artist and the apparent owner of a highly secretive anti-aging compound, Chris Cornell pops into Downtown on Sunday, Sept. 20, to outshine all other concerts with an evening at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. First famous as frontman of Soundgarden, Cornell fell on black days when the band dissolved in 1997. Since then, he has kicked out the jams with former Rage Against the Machine members as part of Audioslave and has released four solo albums including Higher Truth, set for release this week. Cornell’s Disney Hall gig promises an “intimate” and “unplugged” set, which means all loyal spoon men and women are asked to turn in their utensils before the show lest they make a distracting racket. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.

The programming knob at the Grammy Museum is cranked to 11 this week as the repository of rock memorabilia hosts four superlative events. On Monday, Sept. 14, Bruce Springsteen’s favorite axe man, Stevie Van Zandt, talks about earning his way into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while also finding time to be a standout character actor. Van Zandt’s good friend and respected back-up singer Darlene Love fields a bevy of questions on Tuesday.

Composer, jazz luminary and New Orleans booster Terence Blanchard shares his infectious love of music on Wednesday. Thursday brings a screening of the Jimi Hendrix concert doc Electric Church along with a Q&A featuring director John McDermott, photographer Steve Rash and engineer Eddie Kramer. At 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org.

photo by Alex Brown

FRIDay, SEPTEmbER 18 L.A. Fight Club Belasco,1050 S. Hill St., (213) 746-5670 or thebelascotheater.com.

5 p.m.: Contemporary pugilism at its finest as Jeffrey Fontanez takes on Marvin Quintero in the main bout.

Music, Dance and Opera in Unlikely Places and Unusual Formats

photo by Jo Lopez Photography

photo courtesy Chris Cornell

EVENTS

photo by Heidi Tappis

September 14, 2015

We at Los Angeles Downtown News are not typically in the business of endorsing things from Santa Monica, but when it comes to guitarist, singer-songwriter, neo-blues rock upstart Blake Mills, we will gladly make an exception. Mills gained early fame as a founding member of the talent-packed outfit Dawes.

Subsequently, he’s poured his energies into a hefty solo career and a few noteworthy gigs supporting the likes of Cass McCombs and Weezer. On Thursday, Sept. 17, Mills visits Broadway’s lovely Palace Theatre to show off his stuff in an evening that promises an ungodly amount of amplified roots rock. At 630 S. Broadway.

Tickets at ticketmaster.com.

A doubleheader is ordinary fare in baseball, but in the world of opera, a double bill is few and far between. Now through Oct.3, L.A. Opera General Director Plácido Domingo is doing double duty at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in a special unified presentation of Gianni Schicchi and Pagliacci. In two performances this week (Thursday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.), Domingo first stars as the namesake in Gianni Schicchi, then rests at intermission before conducting the bawdy cuckold revenge tale Pagliacci. It’s a tour de force and a testament to the power of Domingo’s will that is seldom seen elsewhere. The shows run through Oct. 3. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 972-8001 or laopera.org.

34 Downtown News Continued from previous page Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

Sept. 18, 9 p.m.: Compton’s RJ continues that fine city’s campaign of hip-hop dominance.

Sept. 19, 8 p.m.: O.A.R. is just stoked not to live in Rockville, Maryland anymore.

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

Sept. 14, 10 p.m.: Conundrum: Have the Jazzaholics ever pawned their instruments for music?

Sept. 15, 10 p.m.: Boys School is now accepting fans of both genders and all that fall in between.

Sept. 16, 10 p.m.: The Peter Cho Band does not appreciate your ironic comparisons to Margaret Cho. Sept. 17, 10 p.m.: If you have yet to hear the Get Down Boys’ bluegrass, you are living a sad, sad life.

Sept. 18, 10 p.m.: Boom Boom Boom returns.

Sept. 20, 10 p.m.: RT N the 44s, fine and respectable Sabbath music makers.

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

Sept. 18: Morgan Page.

Sept. 19: Chus + Ceballos.

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

Sept. 14, 8 p.m.: Stevie Van Zandt plays a mean guitar and answers all questions.

Sept. 15, 8 p.m.: Hear from standout backup singer Darlene Love.

Sept. 16, 8 p.m.: Terence Blanchard and The E-Collective talk up T’s career and play a few numbers from his latest album.

Mayan 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4287 or clubmayan.com.

CROSSWORD

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS Sept. 15, 6 p.m.: Rather than a vague, all-encompassing category to define the hopelessly starstruck residents of one L.A. neighborhood, the Hollywood Undead is actually a rap-rock band.

Sept. 18, 8 p.m.: Ibeyi, in case you’ve never heard a duo sing in Yoruba.

Orpheum Theatre 842 Broadway, (877) 677-4386 or laorpheum.com.

Sept. 19, 8 p.m.: Les Claypool returns with Primus and the Chocolate Factory.

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

Sept. 14: Rubber.

Sept. 15: Merit.

Sept. 16: Static & The Cubes.

Sept. 18: The Mo Odds, Pretty Gruesome, Friends Without Benefits, Boy on Guitar and Lo Siento Mijo.

Sept. 19: The Kryptors, The Shocker and The Electrets.

The Regent 448 S. Main St. or theregenttheater.com.

Sept. 17, 8 p.m.: Downtown hipsters may be disturbed by the heavy, unironic wash rolling out of Hum’s guitar amplifiers. Do not be alarmed. These guys are just unreformed ’90s rockers.

Sept. 18, 8 p.m.: If you enjoy female Mexican-American rappers, Snow tha Product is a safe bet.

Sept. 19-20: L.A. Psych Fest will naturally feature a bevy of bands strapped with slinky guitars, reverb and boho chic style.

Sept. 20, 8 p.m.: We think you’ll find that yacht rock adjacent Destroyer is more a creator than anything.

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

Sept. 14: Rollercoaster Sessions will be a stationary affair.

Sept. 15: The Makers are pretty jazzed for Columbus Day next month.

Sept. 16: Rick Taub’s Midnight Blues Review mark their habitual return to the proverbial heartland of American music.

Sept. 17: Cowbop, a sonic rodeo.

Sept. 20: The Sheriffs of Schroedingham are laying in wait, carefully stroking a case full of harmonicas.

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

Sept. 18, 8 p.m.: Be sure to drink lots of water so your brain doesn’t boil during Zedd’s set.

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

Sept. 15: Generifus, Michael Vidal and Arjuna Genome.

Sept. 18: TraPsPs, Carb on Carb, Hit Bargain and Michael Vidal.

Sept. 19: The Vim Dicta, Hobart W. Ink, Emonifela, Spencer Bonds and M.I.E. Teragram Ballroom 1234 W. Seventh St. or teragramballroom.com.

Sept. 14, 7 p.m.: Slinky modern surf rock from Wavves.

Sept. 16, 8 p.m.: Gaelic Storm continues the onslaught of music from children of Erin.

Sept. 17, 8 p.m.: The Revivalists are from New Orleans, which of course means that shouting at them to play “When the Saints Come Marching In” is strictly verboten.

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

September 14, 2015

2 YOUR EVENT INFO

EASY WAYS TO SUBMIT

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

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

LAST WEEKS ANSWERS

September 14, 2015

DT

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DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR Notice of Divided Publication

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

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To place a classified ad in the Downtown News please call 213-481-1448, or go to DowntownNews.com Deadline classified display and line ads are Thursday at 12pm.

FORfor RENT All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis. and fees as prescribed by law, or it may be paid under an installment plan of redemption if initiated prior to the property becoming subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell.

disposed of real property since January 1, 2009, may find their names listed for the reason that a change in ownership has not been reflected on the assessment roll.

All information concerning redemption of tax-defaulted property will be furnished, upon request, by Joseph Kelly, Treasurer and Tax Collector at 225 North Hill Street, Los Angeles, California 90012, 1 (888) 807-2111 or 1 (213) 974-2111.

ASSESSOR’S IDENTIFICATION NUMBERING SYSTEM EXPLANATION

I certify under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct. Executed at Los Angeles, California, on August 24, 2015.

JOSEPH KELLY TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES STATE OF CALIFORNIA

The Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN), when used to describe property in this list, refers to the Assessor’s map book, the map page, the block on the map (if applicable), and the individual parcel on the map page or in the block. The Assessor’s maps and further explanation of the parcel numbering system are available at the Office of the Assessor.

The following property tax defaulted on July 1, 2013, for the taxes, assessments, and other charges for the fiscal year 2012-13:

I, Joseph Kelly, County of Los Angeles Tax Collector, State of California, certify that: Notice is hereby given that the real properties listed below were declared to be in tax default at 12:01 a.m. on July 1, 2013, by operation of law. The declaration of default was due to nonpayment of the total amount due for the taxes, assessments, and other charges levied in the 2012-13 Tax Year that were a lien on the listed real property. Non-residential commercial property and property upon which there is a recorded nuisance abatement lien shall be subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell after three years of defaulted taxes. Therefore, if the 2012-13 taxes remain defaulted after June 30, 2016, the property will become subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell and eligible for sale at the County’s public auction in 2017. All other property that has defaulted taxes after June 30, 2018, will become subject to the Tax Collector’s power to sell and eligible for sale at the County’s public auction in 2019.

The name of the assessee and the total tax, which was due on June 30, 2013, for the 2012-13 Tax Year, is shown opposite the parcel number. Tax-defaulted real property may be redeemed by payment of all unpaid taxes and assessments, together with the additional penalties

LISTED BELOW ARE PROPERTIES THAT DEFAULTED IN 2013 FOR TAXES, ASSESSMENTS AND 0THER CHARGES FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2012-2013.

AMOUNT OF DELINQUENCY AS OF THIS PUBLICATION IS LISTED BELOW. DEL GIZZI,DANA M 5535-025002 $148.68 FRIEDMAN,ROSS SITUS 4212 BURNS AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2902 5539-012-003 $21,132.00 MACKENZIE,KENNETH SITUS 5448 FOUNTAIN AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-1007 5537-002-005 $16,618.61

SITUS 5430 FOUNTAIN AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-1007 5537-002-008 $27,371.37 REYES,BENITA M ET AL HUYBRECHS,CAROLYN R SITUS 1166 N HOBART BLVD LOS ANGELES CA 900291138 5537-010-028/S2011-010/ S2012-010 $35,935.79 RICHAR INC SITUS 1250 N WESTERN AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-1019 5537-002-026 $58,694.84 RODRIGUEZ,EFRAIN ET AL CARLOS,ACELA R SITUS 5180 SANTA MONICA BLVD LOS ANGELES CA 90029-2428 5537-019-030 $5,021.91

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NOTICE OF DIVIDED PUBLICATION OF THE PROPERTY TAX-DEFAULT LIST (DELINQUENT LIST) Made pursuant to Section 3371, Revenue and Taxation Code

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LOS ANGELES REGION 320 W. 4TH Street-Suite 200 Los Angeles, CA 90013 (213) 576-6600 Public Notice No. 15-042 Meeting — November 5, 2015 WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS ISSUANCE/ RENWAL The following filed Reports of Waste Discharge and applied for Waste Discharge Requirements for discharges of wastes to waters of the United States.

RENEWAL: NAME (NPDES NO.) Donald T. Sterling Corporation, Sterling Ambassador Tower (CA0053091) DISCHARGE LOCATION (Receiving Waters) 691 South Irolo Street Los Angeles, CA 90005 (Ballona Creek) TYPE OF WASTE Maximum Volume Treated groundwater, irrigation drainage runoff, pool deck wash water, and storm water Up to 0.015 million gallons per day (MGD) On the basis of preliminary staff review and application of lawful standard regulation, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, purposes to issue waste discharge requirements (WDRs) including effluent limitations and special conditions and terminate requirements no longer needed. Persons wishing to comment upon, or object to, the tentative WDRs are invited to submit them in writing to the above address. Interested persons should consult the individual hearing notices to determine the due date for written comments and the hearing procedures that will be used. The Board will hold a public hearing on November 5, 2015, at the Metropolitan Water District, 700 North Alameda Street, Los Angeles, Ca. Interested persons are invited to attend. The Board will hear any testimony pertinent to the waste discharge and the tentative WDRs. Oral statements will be heard; however, for accuracy of the record, all important testimony should be in writing. The meeting which the hearing is a part will begin at 9:00 a.m.

If there should not be a quorum on the scheduled date of this meeting, all cases will be automatically continued to the next regularly scheduled meeting. That meeting will be held on December 10, 2015.

The Report of Waste Discharge, hearing notice, related documents, tentative requirements, comments received and other information are on file, and may be inspected at 320 W. 4th Street, Suite 200, Los Angeles, California 90013.

Arrangement for copies may be made.

Date: September 4, 2015 9/14/15 CNS-2792847# DOWNTOWN NEWS

TWITTER: @ DOWNTOWNNEWS

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Downtown Gallery Features About 100 Shots From the Mayor’s Account

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Eric Garcetti’s Instagram Show

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photo by Eric Garcetti

Mayor Eric Garcetti is a frequent poster on Instagram. About 100 images he took go on display at Gary Leonard’s Take My Picture Gallery this week.

By Heidi Kulicke ayor Eric Garcetti has a reputation as a tech-savvy politician adept in connecting with constituents through social media. Among other accomplishments, he has some 80,000 Instagram followers.

This week, his images leap off the screen, as photographer Gary Leonard launches the exhibit #MAYOR_OF_INSTAGRAM at his Take My Picture Gallery at 109 W. Ninth St. It features about 100 photos selected by Garcetti, and runs Sept. 19-Oct. 31. Garcetti is slated to attend the opening this Saturday from 4-7 p.m.

Garcetti’s Instagram account has about 800 posts, with images snapped all over Los Angeles, from Downtown to Venice Beach and everywhere in between. Garcetti said in an email that he finds himself in unique places that many Angelenos don’t have access to, and Instagram allows him to bring people with him on those journeys.

“I think it’s a great tool to engage residents of all ages, and fully embrace it as a way to maintain an open dialogue with folks throughout Los Angeles and beyond,” he said. “It’s also about finding images that move my eye and provide a glimpse into what is happening in our dynamic city at any given moment.”

Leonard, who is the photographer for Downtown News, has long had a local gallery. The upcoming exhibit was organized by his son, David Leonard. The title came from a phrase the online media outlet Mother Jones used to describe Garcetti.

The exhibit includes a short video in which Garcetti talks about photography, Instagram, and the future of social media and how it can be used as a platform to discuss issues with voters. The images are displayed in four-by-four photo squares, in line with Instagram’s style.

“Social media and the Internet have allowed a two-way street that’s unique to our time,” David Leonard said. “We can all have a dialogue with our leaders now. It’s not just a one-way conversation anymore.”

Sales in the gallery will benefit Photo Friends, a nonprofit that supports photography, and Homeless Healthcare Los Angeles, which provides healthcare and other services to homeless individuals.

For Garcetti, who also has 93,000 Twitter followers and 32,000 Facebook followers, social media continues to be a tool to do his job in a new and different way.

“My hope is that in this age of technology, we can find ways to use social media and technology to improve the quality of life of those who we are elected to serve,” Garcetti said.

Take My Picture is at 109 W. Ninth St., (213) 304-4279 or takemypicture.com. The gallery is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. heidi@downtownnews.com

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