02-22-10 by Los Angeles Downtown News

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DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 39, Number 8

INSIDE

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The latest information on 114 Downtown projects, along with a special Downtown Residential section.

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W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M

February 22, 2010

A Very Lucky 13

633 W 5th St. Suite 5750 Los Angeles, CA 90071 office 213.617.8229 downtownla@educogym.com www.educogym.com

Los Angeles Downtown News Celebrates the Projects That Stand Out in Their Districts by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

Urban Scrawl on the new hotel.

A local student goes to Washington.

Roses bloom at the Taper.

A ‘Cave Quest’ at East West Players.

Five great entertainment options.

The full Downtown sports lineup.

30 CALENDAR LISTINGS 35 MAP 33 CLASSIFIEDS

act No. 1: The economy is a mess, and the developers of plenty of projects throughout the country are waiting for lending markets to thaw so they can begin, or in some cases resume, construction. Fact No. 2: Despite the economy, 2009 was a great year for new projects in Downtown Los Angeles, with the debut of dozens of developments, including several that forever changed the skyline, and others that upgraded the cultural and even the gustatory lives of those who live, work in or visit the Central City. This may at first strike some as unlikely, but consider the litany of developments that opened: Everything from cultural landmarks to educational institutions to restaurants helmed by celebrity chefs to housing complexes (both market-rate and low-income) to civic projects came online. They were spread all across Downtown, enriching and altering life as they

sprouted in Bunker Hill, the Civic Center, the Jewelry District, South Park and other districts. Amongst the dozens, 13 stood out. These projects are being celebrated by Los Angeles Downtown News as recipients of our annual Downtowners of Distinction awards. In each case, the projects were selected not only for their physical buildings or activities, but for how they benefited their greater districts, and in many cases gave a boost to all of Downtown or even the entire city. Individual winners were selected by the editorial staff of Downtown News, and the awards will be handed out on Tuesday, Feb. 23 (awardees were not named in every Downtown district). Next week, the Project of the Year, chosen by leaders from each of the districts, will be announced. Following, in alphabetical order by district, are this year’s Downtowners of Distinction winners. see Distinction, page 22

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The Regal Cinemas Stadium 14 , which opened in October, was one of Downtown’s highlights of 2009.

Building a Better Factory

Checking In, and Checking It Out

A $10 Million Arts District Complex Delivers a Slightly Suburban Feel

Local Leaders Celebrate Long-Awaited Debut of the $1 Billion Convention Center Hotel

by RichaRd guzmán city editoR

or a project located in a generally industrial area, the Factory Place Arts Complex has an unusual feel — it is almost suburban. The fenced-in complex near the corner of Alameda Street and Factory Place in the Arts District feels comfortably isolated and quiet. Once inside the walls, one can hear the sounds of the city, but there is no traffic bustling directly outside the building, and finding a parking spot is a cinch. Some tenants may even be able to see their car from their windows. It’s also a place where photo by Gary Leonard people will likely get to Howard and Matt Klein oversaw the $10 million know their neighbors, Factory Place Arts Complex, a transformation of a and thanks to extensive batch of nearly century-old warehouses. The 51-unit windows, possibly get Arts District project opened Dec. 1. a sense of their tastes in furniture. views of Downtown, ample parking, “We have the feeling of open no congestion, and it’s a dead-end space,” said Howard Klein, owner of street so we really can control our HBK Investments, the $10 million environment.” project’s developer. “We have the see Factory Place, page 6

by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

chorus of Los Angeles political and business leaders turned out last week to celebrate the opening of the $1 billion Convention Center headquarters hotel. Officials described the structure at L.A. Live as the completion of a long-awaited dream, one that will allow the city to compete on the top tier of the country’s convention industry.

“This is going to change the game for Los Angeles forever,” said Tim Leiweke, CEO of hotel and L.A. Live developer Anschutz Entertainment Group. He noted that in the past, with its lack of a convention center headquarters hotel, Los Angeles lagged behind cities such as Omaha, Neb. on the convention circuit. The ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Feb. 16, came less than 24 hours after the first guests began checking in see Hotel, page 26

photo by Gary Leonard

City and business officials cut the ribbon for the $1 billion Convention Center headquarters hotel on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The event took place one day after the hotel opened.

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

2 Downtown News

Grand Avenue Park Moves Forward

Help Wanted: Downtown Event and Listings Writer

he County Board of Supervisors last Tuesday voted 4-1 to lease county-owned land to developer the Related Companies to make way for a 16-acre park. The Civic Park is part of the stalled, $3 billion Grand Avenue project. The deal had been in the works for more than two years, and Related has already paid the county $50 million for the ground lease. Fifth District Supervisor Mike Antonovich, the lone dissenter, has long opposed the Grand Avenue plan. The multi-phase development, which would transform Bunker Hill with highend condos, retail and a hotel, remains on hold indefinitely while the developer waits for the credit markets to thaw in the effort to obtain an approximately $700 million construction loan. The Civic Park, however, is expected to break ground in the summer, Related California president Bill Witte said last week.

Jerry West Joins Basketball 101 os Angeles Lakers fans will get a chance this week to rub elbows with current and past team legends, including the man who brought Kobe Bryant to Los Angeles. On Thursday, Feb. 25, the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission hosts its annual Basketball 101 event, which is built around an up-close tutorial given by Coach Phil Jackson. The theme of this year’s gathering, which takes place on the floor of Staples Center, is “Inside a Championship Team,” and also features returning participants such as Jeanie Buss, Brian Shaw and players Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar and Luke Walton. A new addition this year is Jerry West, the former star Laker and ex-general manager who brought Kobe to the Lakers and assembled multiple championship teams. Basketball 101 starts at 5 p.m. and includes a chance to shoot free throws on the court, a buffet dinner and a panel discussion. Tickets for the event, which benefits the Lakers Youth Foundation and the LASEC, begin at $550. Information and registration at lasec.net, or contact Karina Herold at (213) 236-2354 or kherold@lasec.us.

os Angeles Downtown News is looking to hire an Events and Listings writer. Downtown residents and office workers get first shot at this part-time job. We’re looking for a web savvy person very familiar with the community. Here’s the scoop. Now Hiring: Writer to keep Listings current in the newspaper and on the web site for all Downtown events. Part time. Work from home, mostly. This person will write all the listings for the newspaper and upload them to the web site, everything that is happening in Downtown L.A.: Art Spaces, Bars & Clubs, Music (rock, pop, jazz, classical), Events, Farmers Markets, Film, Museums, Sports, Theater, Opera & Dance, Tours, and anything else that makes sense. This person will also write the weekly “Don’t Miss” list for the newspaper plus a daily summary item of what’s happening on any given day for our emailed newsletter. He/She will do finished work for newspaper and web versions of info. Must be web savvy and have excellent spelling and punctuation. Must have superb attention to detail. Must keep up with fresh information on the web site for all known future events, which will help readers plan upcoming leisure and business activities. Enthusiasm about spreading the word about DT events listed by Downtown News to social networking sites a plus. More details if there’s an interview. Pay is $200/week. Estimate 10-12 hours per week. Please send cover letter stating why you would be perfect for the job, your resume and writing samples to Editor and Publisher Sue Laris, sue@ downtownnews.com. Please make the subject line LISTINGS WRITER.

Transit Meeting to Talk DASH Cuts

he Los Angeles Department of Transportation is hosting a public meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 23 to discuss a slate of proposed service cuts and fare increases to the Downtown DASH. The proposed changes are part of an

University of Southern California

Tail Fins and Gull-Wing Doors Basquiat, Vintage car designs mix the Musical science fiction and fact in

Trauma Center Celebrates Five Years photo by Gary Leonard

AROUNDTOWN

February 22, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

alifornia Hospital Medical Center celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Leavey Trauma Center on Feb. 18 at the hospital’s Healing Garden. Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry along with Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck were on the guest list for the event to mark the center’s anniversary. The hospital also provided a preview of the newly renovated trauma center, with more construction to begin later this year. Trauma Center Medical Director Gudata Hinika and Jerry Clute, administration president, also spoke at the event.

effort by LADOT to shore up an estimated $350 million budget shortfall over the next decade. Preliminary department recommendations call for eliminating the Central City East Dash route, which circles Skid Row and Little Tokyo, the weekend Dash and the Downtown Discovery route, which cycles through Bunker Hill, El Pueblo, the Financial District, Civic Center and Chinatown on the weekends. The department is also recommending a 10-cent fare increase over the next year, from $.25 to $.35, and a 25-cent increase over two years. The public is invited to weigh in on the recommended changes and learn more about LADOT’s plans. The meeting is scheduled to run from 3-5 p.m. in the Community Center Conference Room at the Caltrans Building, 100 S. Main St.

Why does this little burger stand attract over a million people a year?

an exhibition at USC’s Snatch a sneak peek of Doheny Library. Prodigy, the new rock Daily musical. through May 31 Ground floor rotunda

Thursday and Friday, May 28 and 29, 8 p.m.

Doheny Library

Admission: FreeHall Ramo Recital Admission: $20 www.usc.edu/libraries/about/ (213) 740-2167 programs_exhibitions/events

Enter the graffiti-splashed, hip- fused “Hollywood and television the car withworld the rocket in the hopped-up of theship impossibly popular imagination, and auto designers gifted 1980s phenomenon Jean-Michel gleefully did the same, producing tail Basquiat. From homeless drug addict fins and gull-wing doors so that conto pampered darling of the New York sumers could rocket to work without cultural elite, the Haitian-American leaving the ground,” says USC College iconoclast lived a Phil fast and furious about exishistory professor Ethington tence, drawing into his orbit theoflikes a new photographic exhibition auof Andy Warhol and Madonna tomotive design. The Space Agebefore Hits the his starVisionary supernovaed in a “speedRoad: Car Designs in America displays accident rarely seen images from the balling” at age 28. Don’t USCthis Libraries’ Los Angeles miss professional stagedExaminer reading Collection. of what may be next year’s Broadway See images long-ago models sensation, with of book and lyrics by such as the Chrysler Windsor and the Ford USC Thornton Opera director Ken Mystère as well as the Aguirre X-Sonic, Cazan and a rap-Latin-alternative the DiDia 150 and the Davis Divan rock byauto composer Billy Pace. from score custom makers.

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LA Downtown News

at usc: Aalso L S O AT USC:

Under SavionConstruction Glover Presents Bare May Sondz Tuesday, 26, through Saturday, May 30. Performed in repertory. Curtain times vary. Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m. The School of Theatre showcases work by three The trailblazing Tony award-winning hoofer, up-and-coming playwrights – this year’s graduchoreographer and producer and two addiates of the MFA in dramatic program. tional dancers will performwriting without musical Choose from About Harvest, describing a forbidaccompaniment. The dancers themselves become the musicians, using farm their girl tap and shoes den love between an American a to create “a remarkable of steel on German POW working her explosion family’s fields in the wood,” writes The Washington Glover’s 1940s; Daughters of Lot, a retellingPost. of the biblical many credits include Broadway shows (The story of the fiery flight from Sodom; and Tether, Tap Dance Kid, Black and Blue, Jelly’s Last Jam, which relates the strange tale of twin sisters Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk) and film Lach and Lam – one black, other white. (Tap, Bamboozled, Happythe Feet).

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Chili Hamburger .............. $1.85 Chili Cheeseburger ........... $2.25

McClintock Building Bovard Auditorium Admission: Free Admission: $15 (213) 740-2167 www.usc.edu/visionsandvoices

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Many Imitate, But None Compare!

tax included

February 22, 2010

Downtown News 3

A Long Ride in Downtown

Today, the family-owned Shammas Group’s focus is not only cars — in addition to its seven automobile dealerships, the group has added an auto insurance company and numerous commercial and residential properties located south of Downtown L.A. Jeanette Shammas is president of the group. Shammas Group CEO Darryl Holter, the late Shammas’ son-inlaw, founded and now chairs the Figueroa Corridor Partnership Business Improvement District, a coalition of local business owners who aim to enhance the corridor’s look, safety, brand and potential. Building partnerships with these owners, as well as developers, hospitals, and USC, the Shammas Group is engaged in an active partnership to reinvigorate an area which has extraordinary potential to serve a vast population of employees, shoppers, visitors and tourists.

Shammas Group Has Served the Community for Decades

t’s a true L.A. story, taking hold first at Fairfax High in the 1930s. Nickolas Shammas refurbished and sold 22 used cars in high school, and repaired cars for his teachers and his principal. After junior colfROM OUR ADvERTiSERS

lege, he opened a series of used car lots. In those tight Depression years, Shammas’ customers could leave their wristwatches as collateral if they missed a payment. A bit further east, another car patriarch, the Mexico-born Winslow “Bill” Felix, had founded his Chevrolet dealership at 12th Street and Grand Avenue. When Felix died,

his wife took over, and in 1955 Shammas was offered the Felix franchise. He moved the dealership to Figueroa and Jefferson in 1958, and the iconic Felix the Cat sign took its place at the corner. They were boom years — the late 1950s and early 1960s — not only for Shammas, but for Los Angeles. Felix Chevrolet moved more cars than any other dealership west of the Mississippi, and dealerships — many that Shammas came to own — stretched for 30 miles along Figueroa. The crown jewel was Downtown Los Angeles Motors Mercedes Benz, founded by Shammas in 1970, which grew to become the top Mercedes seller in the country.

photo by Gary Leonard

DowntownNews.com

Darryl Holter presides over the Shammas Group, which owns seven auto dealerships in Downtown.

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4 Downtown News

February 22, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

EDITORIALS With ‘Missing Link’ Hotel, City Is on the Clock

ast week, Downtown Los Angeles saw the debut of what could and should be one of the most important projects to hit the community since the residential revolution began a decade ago. If all goes according to plan, promise and hype, the $1 billion Convention Center headquarters hotel, which welcomed its first guest on Feb. 15, will change the community’s status as a business meeting destination, and in turn spark the infusion of billions of dollars into the local economy in coming decades. Note that this is all could and should. The point is, the piece long described as a sort of missing link now exists, and thus, business, tourism and city officials are on the clock. They need to back up the investment with effective and aggressive strategies and marketing, and ensure that the newest addition to the skyline really does bring in the visitors and their associated spending. By all accounts, the 1,001-room facility is a game changer. At 54 stories, it offers 878 four-star Marriott hotel rooms and 123 five-star Ritz-Carlton rooms (the upper floors hold 224 Ritz branded condominiums, priced from $900,000 to $10 million). The on-site, high-end hotel rooms are precisely the facilities that experts say were missing in the Downtown offerings for business travelers at major confabs. The Marriott portion can hold the people who spend their days in the Convention Center working the floor, going booth to booth and making deals or placing purchase orders, while the CEOs can reside in the Ritz. The overflow at any major convention will fill other hotels, in Downtown and beyond. Developer Anschutz Entertainment Group and many others have long described the hotel as the “linchpin” of the 28-acre L.A. Live campus, and the creation of the building

was always seen as a major factor in getting the buy-in of local elected leaders. In fact, AEG went to great lengths to make the hotel happen — early on, two different financial partners pulled out, but instead of halting, AEG elected to dip into its own pockets and ultimately funded much more of the project than developers traditionally provide in these kinds of megadeals. AEG deserves a huge amount of credit for pushing the hotel forward. Obviously the company did so with the intent of making a profit, but it still operated in a manner different from others. Little is being left to chance in the effort to secure business. The hotel even includes an $80 million collection of ballrooms and meeting facilities that can either augment Convention Center happenings, or host them entirely inhouse (such as last week’s three-day concert industry convention, which sold out the new hotel). The result is that the Convention Center now boasts what tourism officials have long said it needed most: a top-level headquarters hotel within walking distance of the city’s primary meeting space. The previous lack of such a facility is what separated the Downtown Convention Center from regional competitors such as San Diego and Anaheim. L.A. could never outshine these cities, officials said, because the hotel and the nightlife options business travelers demand were missing, and conventioneers don’t want to stay in far-flung locales and come to daily meeting by shuttle bus. So major hotel? Check. Nightlife? Check, in the form of L.A. Live’s collection of restaurants, entertainment venues and the adjacent Staples Center, not to mention the surrounding Downtown bar and dining scene.

Now comes the really hard part, one which has not drawn nearly as much notice as the hotel itself: Are city leaders and L.A. Inc. (how the city’s convention and visitors’ bureau labels itself) ready to compete at the highest level? Can they effectively partner with AEG, a private company used to guiding the cart? Are all parties flexible enough to adapt and change course as necessary when the very future of the Convention Center is up in the air? They will have to be, as the cash-strapped city, in an attempt to escape the millions each year it pays in debt service for the Convention Center, looks at spinning the complex into some sort of public-private partnership. In short, are all parties ready to take advantage of what has opened and justify the expense and all the hard work? Officials will surely say yes, but the fact is, that is unknown at this time. L.A. Inc. has reported an uptick in bookings, notching dozens of business meetings since the project broke ground on June 1, 2007. Now, however, they need to be more aggressive than ever, and must be able to turn the tangible facility into even more business. The matter becomes crucial as projected occupancy for the hotel during its first years is currently lower than originally anticipated, a result of the national drop in tourism. Overall, the hotel is a great addition to Downtown and to all of Los Angeles — the visitors who stay here will spend money on food, services and entertainment, and the dollars will ripple out. The question is, how many big trade shows will come, and how many will still go to Anaheim, San Diego or other locales? The answer will depend on how effective the marketing and deal making is — the project is open, and Los Angeles is on the clock.

Stop the Chaos, Fix the Budget

ometimes, you just need to say the obvious, no matter how obvious it is. This is one of those times: Los Angeles’ leaders, especially but not limited to the elected ones, need to get on the same page, and fast, regarding the city’s budget deficit. In recent weeks, the people the populace is trusting to pull the city out of its current mess are doing little to instill confidence that the problem can be rectified before Los Angeles spins into bankruptcy. We do not pretend that there is an easy fix. We don’t envy those putting in long hours as they strive to shore up a deficit that is $212 million for the fiscal year that ends June 30, and

projected at $485 million for the following fiscal year. We actually think everyone involved in the negotiations understands the gravity of the situation. That said, so many mixed messages are circulating that, when one observes from a distance, there is little assurance that people are working together. One day the city administrative officer releases a report citing the need for 1,000 layoffs, and the next day the Council appears to hedge. The day after that Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announces he’ll make sure those positions are eliminated. And then a week later he wants another 2,000 layoffs. Then come ques-

tions and back-and-forth about the Council’s discretionary funds. And unions saying they have already done enough. And so on. These are all signs that the budget problem is reeling seriously out of control. There is almost more chaos than is tolerable. If it’s grandstanding, it should stop. If it is confusion, it is understandable, but the leaders need to suck it up. We know all involved want to fix this before it worsens. So get to it. Talk to each other. However bad things are now, they will be worse if the city is allowed to fall into bankruptcy.

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis 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 GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writErs: Anna Scott, Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins ProductioN AssistANt / EvENt coordiNAtor: Claudia Hernandez PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Steve Epstein, Catherine Holloway, Tam Nguyen, Kelley Smith circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla 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.

February 22, 2010

Downtown News 5

DowntownNews.com

Paging Alejandro A Downtown High School Student Sees D.C. Up Close As a Congressional Page by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

or the few dozen high school students around the country who earn a spot as a page in the U.S. House of Representatives each year, one of the most stressful assignments involves raising the flag atop the Capitol Building before every session. It may seem like a minor task, but for pages such as Alejandro Bunag, a 17-year-old junior at Downtown’s Civitas School of Leadership at the Edward R. Roybal Learning Center, who just spent a semester in Washington, D.C., there is a complicating factor: If Old Glory even grazes the rooftop surface, the flag has to be burned and replaced. It’s such a serious task that pages don’t perform it alone. “You have partners when you do it,” said Bunag, who lives just west of Downtown. “So someone was always helping me.” Bunag is one of about 300 students at Civitas, a sort of school within a school that functions mostly independently from the rest of the Roybal Center in City West. The school aims to steer its students toward civic engagement through a curriculum that tackles local government issues and encourages real world engagement, said Larry Simonsen, a principal in training at the school. “The mission of the school is to have students see their local and larger community of Los Angeles and Southern California as not only a classroom but their place of engagement, Simonsen said. Bunag was one of 62 students in the country — and 10 from California — who spent a semester in Washington for the program. And if any of his classmates were jealous of his apparent vacation from Los Angeles, they should take note of his schedule in D.C.: He woke up in a dorm room every day before 5:30 a.m. in order to get to school at the Library of Congress by 6:45 a.m. After a series of 40-minute classes in the usual high school requirements, and a quick break for lunch, he was at work by noon.

Pages perform a variety of duties, from running documents between offices of Congressional representatives to controlling the bell system that helps administer legislative sessions. Most days end by 5 p.m., in time for dinner and then, homework. For special sessions, Bunag remained at work until midnight. “I had to sacrifice a lot of sleep to do this program,” he said. From Fluke to Focused Bunag worked with an advisor at the school to prepare his application and essays for the highly selective program. Ultimately, U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, whose district includes Downtown, nominated him. “By providing a unique opportunity for young people to experience first-hand how Congress operates, the House Page program gave Alejandro a tremendous real-life supplement to his studies,” Roybal-Allard said in a statement. Though Bunag has an impressive a resume of civic engagement for a 17-year-old — he also helped support a bill in Sacramento that extended the duration of so-called “small learning communities” such as Civitas — his presence at the school is kind of a fluke. Bound to be a freshman at Belmont High School, Bunag was set to be a “B Tracker,” or a student taking classes during the summer semester at the crowded school. Committed to protecting his summer freedom, Bunag agreed to try Civitas, which had open space. He hasn’t looked back since. “To be honest, I wasn’t really that into politics,” he said. “I just saw the page program as an opportunity to get to know more about it, how Congress debates about bills and everything, but I have a large interest now in politics after being there.” Bunag had a front row seat for the ongoing healthcare debate, and was present for the now infamous joint-session in which South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson shouted “You lie,” after President Barack Obama denied that healthcare legislation would extend free coverage to illegal immigrants. “It was very ominous,” Bunag said of the mood in the

photo courtesy of Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard’s office.

Alejandro Bunag, 17, a junior at the Civitas School of Leadership in City West, with Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard in her office in Washington, D.C. Roybal-Allard nominated Bunag for the House Page program last semester.

room after Wilson’s remark. The Washington experience, which started in August and concluded Jan. 22, served to crystallize Bunag’s understanding of the way the federal government works. It sharpened his interest in politics, but at the same time, it showed him a professional life that can be grueling. “Some congressmen are so busy that they’re constantly going in and out from the House floor to their office, going back to their districts in their home state,” he said. “Really, they’re always so busy.” Whether Bunag applies the experience to future work in public service (he is also interested in computer programming), Simonsen said his completion of the program is a motivator for other students at Civitas. “For us, the school is really about agency — we want our students to have capacity and initiative and that’s agency,” Simonsen said. “We have a picture of Alejandro and [RoybalAllard] in the lobby and that just gets everybody revved up.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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S K R O W E H T IN

February 22, 2010

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Factory Place Continued from page 1 The 51-unit development at 1291-1333 E. Sixth St. opened Dec. 1 and is about 40% occupied, Klein said. Construction started in 2006. The project transformed a row of brick, early 20th century warehouses and created a sort of gated community in Downtown. Forty-one residences are concentrated in a pair of two-story buildings and courtyards known as 1330 East, and 10 loft spaces are in the portion known as 1330 West. The project includes a cavernous, 9,000-square-foot space for community events. The development is vastly different than most of the other new housing complexes in Downtown Los Angeles. That makes it exactly what some people want. “We were looking for a little less city, but still in the city,” said Jeff Dye, who moved into Factory Place Arts Complex with his girlfriend about a month ago. “This feels hidden, like our own little compound, like the suburbs in the city.”

photo by Gary Leonard

6 Downtown News

Lofts at Factory Place Arts Complex feature stainless steal appliances, exposed bricks and rustic metal beams and stairs.

Water Meters to Water Features The residences range from 693-2,000 square feet, with rents from $1,350-$4,500. Most apartments feature exposed wooden ceilings and rustic steel beams. Some units contain balconies. It’s a striking turnaround for a property that in the 1920s was used by the Department of Water and Power to build water meters. Now, Klein hopes to establish a community where interaction between tenants is spurred by courtyards that include barbecues, fire pits and a pool. From Sixth Street, the residential complex is easy to miss, as the portion of the project fronting the road is actually the back wall of the housing units. “Most people would never even guess people live here,” Dye said. “It’s part of what we liked about it.” The entrance is off of Factory Place (just east of Alameda Street) and feeds into a parking lot with 275 spaces. The lofts themselves have framed glass doors and are surrounded by windows, giving an appearance of storefronts rather than homes. Some have blinds and shades that can be drawn, but tenants such as Dye so far have a wide-open view. “We love it. So much light comes in and we’re getting curtains so when we want it to be private it will, and when we don’t it wont,” he said. Losing a bit of privacy is worth the rewards, Klein added. Those include views of the tranquil courtyards decorated with terra cotta pots from Tuscany, a touch insisted on by Klein’s wife Deborah, an avid gardener who was in charge of the landscaping. There is about a half-acre of open space in the complex, thanks to the courtyards, Klein said. Tying the buildings together are the skeletal remains of old structures that were mostly torn down. The project was designed by Seattle-based Tony Bell. “Basically if you’re on Sixth Street, there was one long façade that was all one building,” Bell said. “We cut it up, and we cut part of the building out in two different places to make two separate courtyards.” Mix and Mingle Above the open spaces between the buildings is a web of metal beams left over from that procedure. They have a particular intent, said Bell. “The courtyards give the feeling of a campus,” he said. “People have the ability to meet, congregate, enjoy themselves, barbecue, swim outside and still be within the walls of the complex.” While the buildings date back nearly a century, the complex contains some new elements. Two commercial units, one 1,600 and the other 1,300 square feet, will become retail space. The exact uses have yet to be determined, said Klein. “We’re really kind of feeling our way with the complex before we make a decision,” he said. “It’s quite possible that the buildings we envisioned as retail could in fact turn into some sort of office use as well.” The Factory Place Lofts is actually the second phase of the project. The first installment, known as 1308 Factory Place, also developed by Klein, opened in 1982. A third segment is in the planning stage, though ideas are still being kicked around. Klein had originally intended to turn a three-story, 55,000-square-foot building on the property into 45 lofts. Now, he said, he is looking at possibilities such as commercial space or some sort of small, creative types of manufacturing. “We’re going to be very selective in the tenants we bring in, and when I say manufacturing, for example, we’re talking to an artist who does welding, leather work and furniture design,” he said. “We’re talking creative uses and we’re going to have real working artists here.” Meanwhile, Dye said he sees his new neighborhood as an oasis in Downtown, and depending on what commercial tenants they bring in, he may be spending most of his time within the Factory Place gates. “We can have barbecues here, hang out with neighbors, and hopefully they’ll give us more reasons not to leave,” he said. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Downtown News 7

DowntownNews.com

Downtown developmenT

You Build Some, You Wait Some The Latest Information on 114 Downtown Projects by Richard Guzmán, Jon Regardie, Anna Scott and Ryan Vaillancourt he Downtown Los Angeles development scene continues to be at a sort of crossroads. Although most of the cranes that once filled the skyline have been taken down, an ample number of projects are being proposed for the Central City, hinting at the next wave of building. No one pretends that the rush of construction activity will resume anytime soon — especially as more than half a dozen housing projects that have been mostly completed are embroiled in bankruptcy and remain empty. Yet, the community is also seeing proposed and possible developments such as a museum housing Eli Broad’s art collection and a $1 billion hotel-office-condo project on the site of the Wilshire Grand hotel. Even with the market’s uncertainty, Downtown Los Angeles is seeing plenty of activity, as many projects planned before the economy turned are now coming online. In recent months, Downtown has hosted three openings that drew the attention of the entire city: the Convention Center headquarters hotel, the new LAPD headquarters and the Gold Line Eastside Extension. Those projects together represent a more than $2 billion investment. In the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News provides the latest information on 114 Downtown projects, everything from housing to cultural attractions to business to nonprofit ventures.

could begin as early as March, Shaoulian said. At corporationbuilding.com.

CRAZY GIDEON’S PROJECT Plans to turn the building housing the Crazy Gideon’s electronics store into 31 adaptive reuse and 44 new livework units have been put on hold for at least three years, said Gideon Kotzer, the owner of the edifice at 814-828 E. Traction Ave. He said he would wait until the economy improves to continue with the plans that also call for 6,900 square feet of ground floor commercial and retail space at the 39,000-square-foot Arts District building. Kotzer held an auction on Jan. 30 to sell his electronics inventory. He said he plans to turn part of the structure into an art gallery while he waits to re-start the residential project.

FIRST AND HOPE Named after the intersection where it is located, a restaurant aimed at Music Center attendees, Civic Center employees and residents is set to open March 15, said Steve Springer, the establishment’s general manager. Located at the Promenade Plaza, the 200-seat, 6,000-square-foot restaurant will offer a full bar, live entertainment, and a comfort food menu with items such as macaroni and cheese and meatloaf. The restaurant will open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. during its first week, and then expand to dinner service.

NEW PROJECTS

A community task force is working on a plan to replace a one-acre parking lot at Ninth and Hill streets, behind the Eastern Columbia Building, with a park. The group plans to apply for a $5 million grant from the state to help acquire the land, said task force leader and Eastern Columbia resident Rick Morris. In the meantime, local stakeholders are working with city Recreation and Parks department officials to come up with design concepts. Eastern Columbia developer the Kor Group, which owns the property, was asking for $8 million for the lot two years ago. Kor has not given a current asking price, Morris said.

PARKER CENTER REPLACEMENT

LITTLE TOKYO FIRE TOWER

photo by Gary Leonard

BROAD FOUNDATION MUSEUM

NINTH AND HILL PARK

photo by Gary Leonard

These projects were either announced or garnered public interest in the last five months.

$10 million, is on pace to finish in June, said Seth Horowitz, vice president of operations for Luxe. The Holiday Inn sign is slated to come down March 15. Currently, floors seven through nine are under construction and the rest of the hotel remains open. Once they are completed, the remaining floors will be renovated, but the hotel will stay open for business continually, Horowitz said. The project, which will reposition the Holiday Inn’s 200 rooms as 180 larger rooms, including 15 suites, is being designed by Sand Design. At luxehotels. com.

photo by Gary Leonard

February 22, 2010

Parker Center, the LAPD’s 54-year-old former headquarters, has been mostly evacuated, following the department’s move into a new Civic Center home last year. The LAPD Jails Division is still housed in the building. The city is expected to soon authorize the undertaking of an Environmental Impact Report that would study five options for the site, including adaptive reuse of the building, partial demolition and renovation, and demolition and replacement with a temporary parking lot. The other options would be to demolish the building and replace it with a 1 million-square-foot structure and 500 parking spaces, or the same plan but with 1,000 parking spaces. No date has been set for consideration of the motion that would green light the EIR process. The Grand Avenue Authority, the city-county panel overseeing the stalled $3 billion Grand Avenue project, last month began negotiations with philanthropist Eli Broad’s Broad Art Foundation to locate a new museum on part of the Bunker Hill site. The institution would rise on a 1.3-acre parking lot just south of REDCAT at Second Street and lower Grand Avenue, and would house contemporary artworks from two of Broad’s collections that together encompass 2,000 pieces. The Broad Foundation is also considering locations in Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. The museum would replace a retail pavilion previously planned as part of developer the Related Companies’ Frank Gehry-designed Grand Avenue project, formally titled The Grand. Budget information has not been disclosed. A final decision on where to locate the museum is expected by the spring.

CORPORATION BUILDING A partnership of investors that owns the 14-story Corporation Building at 724 S. Spring St. is working on turning the commercial structure into creative office space. For years the edifice has housed garment manufacturers. Rafi Shaoulian, who heads the group, said he intends to lease spaces, ranging from about 400-4,000 square feet, for $1-$1.50 per square foot. The project is expected to cater to artists, architects and other creative users. There is no concrete timeline on the project, as the owners intend to carve out spaces according to tenant requests. Move-ins

STAR APARTMENTS

No timeline has been set for the replacement of the Little Tokyo Fire Tower at Japanese Village Plaza, said George Takayama of Rothenberg Sawasy Architects, which is working with JVP owner American Commercial Equities. In November, the city’s Cultural Affairs Commission approved a $500,000 plan to replace the termite-infested tower with a metal replica. Located at the First Street entrance of the outdoor mall, the 30-year-old tower’s replacement is part of a renovation of the shopping and eating center. Plans also call for the removal of a wall that encloses the JVP at First Street and Central Avenue to create a new entrance.

LUXE HOTEL CITY CENTER The Luxe Hotels company is renovating and re-branding the Holiday Inn on Figueroa Street, across from L.A. Live, in partnership with longtime property owner Emerick Hotel Corporation. The project, with a budget estimated at about

The nonprofit developer Skid Row Housing Trust is planning a 102-unit permanent supportive housing project at the southeast corner of Sixth and Maple streets. The Skid Row development, which would also include ground-floor commercial space, is in the fundraising phase. Like most of the company’s projects, the Star would be funded by a mix of private and public dollars. It would involve rehabilitation of the existing property and new construction. The budget is uncertain, but a groundbreaking is expected in early 2011, said Molly Rysman, director of special projects for the company.

RESIDENTIAL FOR SALE 655 HOPE Construction is complete on a 17-story adaptive reuse condominium project, but as of press time the developer was still waiting for a certificate of occupancy. The Financial District effort, by developer the Seck Group, LLC, ran into numerous fire code-related delays last year that pushed the cost from $15 million to about $17 million. The project will offer 11 levels of residential space, with 80 units from 6001,268 square feet. Prices, originally set at $395,000-$999,000, see Projects, page 8

8 Downtown News

February 22, 2010

Development

Ninth and Figueroa streets. Developer Sonny Astani expects the building, which had been targeted for a 2009 completion, to get its certificate of occupancy by June. The delay is attributed to the fact that Astani’s lender was seized by the FDIC in the fall. Marketing for the tower will commence in April, said Astani. The sleek black edifice includes 271 studio to three-bedroom residences priced from $295,000-$3.5 million. Astani said that unlike with the first phase of the project, which used an auction to sell 77 units, this phase will utilize a conventional sales process. There remains no timeline for the third component, which would add another 281 market-rate condominiums in a second 30-story tower on the same block. That phase is approved and entitled, but Astani said it would not break ground until the market improves. The entire project includes 27,500 square feet of retail space, 1,000 subterranean parking spots and a pedestrian paseo connecting Figueroa and Flower streets. The buildings will wrap around a courtyard with a one-acre park. A sales and design center is at 900 S. Figueroa St. At concertodowntown.com.

$350,000-$750,000. Construction has not begun on two more buildings at 549 Molino St., which would house 55 residences. At barkerblock.com.

Projects

BARN LOFTS

Continued from page 7 were lowered to $349,000-$920,000 last fall. The structure also has three floors of indoor parking, a gym and a roof deck with a bar. The restaurant Qdoba is on the ground level. At 655hope.com.

711 N. BROADWAY Although developer Bridge Realty Advisors did not return multiple recent phone calls, officials with the company have previously said they hope to break ground this year on a $22 million project that will transform the BC Plaza building at 711 N. Broadway into 53 residences. They have said units in the Chinatown project would sell for $300,000-$600,000 and that the development would include 13,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

1133 S. HOPE ST. Plans for a ground-up, residential high-rise at 1133 S. Hope St. in South Park have been put on hold due to the economy, said Richard Wittstock, vice president of Vancouver-based Amacon Group. He said the developer will continue with the project but no restart date has been set. The project would transform a current parking lot into a 29-story, 159-condo building across from the Elleven high-rise. The development would include 250 parking spaces, 6,700 square feet of retail and an outdoor pool. Construction would take about two years, said Wittstock.

photo by Gary Leonard

ALAMEDA AND FOURTH CONDOS

There remains no timeline for developer Astani Enterprises’ proposal to build a 14-story residential structure, a twofloor commercial building and a 53-story residential tower on a property that runs along Eighth Street between Grand Avenue and Olive Street. Company owner Sonny Astani said the project is on hold until the economy significantly improves. The site is currently a parking lot. At astanienterprises.com.

Construction on the adaptive reuse project at 940 E. Second St. in the Arts District recently paused due to issues with a lender, said developer Mark Borman. The development is approximately 92% complete. Borman said he still expects to finish and begin selling units during the first quarter of this year. The former Spreckels Brothers sugar beet warehouse will be transformed into a 58,000-square-foot complex with 38 market-rate, three-story, loft-style townhouses ranging from 1,300-2,600 square feet. Prices have not been set. Each unit contains two and a half bathrooms, two bedrooms and a roof deck, and the project includes 69 parking spaces. Budget information has not been disclosed.

EL DORADO photo by Gary Leonard

Plans to build a residential-hotel project on a 900-space Jewelry District parking lot remain on hold, said Oskar Brecher, director of development for the New York-based Moinian Group. The project has not been entitled yet and will continue to operate as a parking lot until the market improves, Brecher said.

EIGHTH AND GRAND

photo by Gary Leonard

808 S. OLIVE ST.

BROWNSTONE LOFTS A three-story, adaptive reuse project at 1168 W. Bellevue Ave. is expected to be complete by April, delayed from a previously expected completion date of the end of last year, said Millie Radkovich, a spokeswoman for developer Brownstone LLC. The 1928 building will house 55 studio, one- and twobedroom units starting at $375,000. Radkovich declined to reveal the overall budget. At thebrownstonelofts.com.

CITY HOUSE AND THE OLYMPIC

CONCERTO TOWER photo by Gary Leonard

Construction on a $30 million adaptive reuse project in the Arts District started in December and should be complete by mid-2011, said Peklar Pilavjian of developer Alameda and Fourth, LLC. Seismic upgrades are currently underway. The project will convert a five-story, 1923 structure into 53 artist-in-residence lofts with units ranging from 650-2,400 square feet. There are also plans to build a new residential structure on the side of the lot fronting Alameda Street, but there is no timeline for that phase, Pilavjian said. Condo prices have not been released.

A proposed mixed use-project at Olympic Boulevard and Grand Avenue remains on hold as Olympic on Grand, LLC, a partnership of investors that includes developer the Titan Organization, continues to search for financing, said Gary Warfel, a partner in the development group. The project, which most recently called for a 60-story structure and a 49-story tower, will likely be altered once financing becomes available, but Warfel said the effort will still likely be mixeduse. Once expected to break ground in early 2008, the project currently has no timeline. At titanorganization.com.

AMP LOFTS A proposed adaptive reuse project at 695 S. Santa Fe Ave. in the Arts District remains on hold as developers David Seewack and Scott Spiwak wait for the Community Redevelopment Agency to hear their proposal. The developers have not disclosed budget or timeline information for their plan to transform an industrial property into 182 livework lofts and 3,000 square feet of retail space. The building currently houses American Moving Parts, a truck parts company owned by Seewack and Spiwak.

HEWITT FIRST Although move-ins for the 33-unit project were expected to begin late last year, the final construction details are still being completed. Salar Royaei, a spokesman for Mika Realty Group, the developer of the adaptive reuse project at 120130 Hewitt St. in the Arts District, did not return calls, but construction work is still evident at the fenced-off site. The residences are in two buildings, one erected in 1936, the other in 1948. The project includes a central entrance with a water fountain powered by solar energy. Units range from 8002,500 square feet and have 18-26 foot cathedral ceilings and stainless steel kitchens. At hewittfirst.com.

BARKER BLOCK Construction has slowed on a space expected to house the Italian restaurant Primo Cucina because of financing issues, said Tripp DuBois of developer the Kor Group. Plans had called for the establishment to open last year, but the current target date for the debut is this summer. Overall, the $75 million Arts District complex includes three residential buildings at 530 S. Hewitt St. with a total of 242 condominiums. So far, 174 residences have sold. The units range from 750-2,400 square feet and are priced from

Downtown Properties’ renovation of a former hotel at 416 S. Spring St., which had been slated to open in the fourth quarter of last year, is on pace to finish construction near the end of the first quarter, said Bill Stevenson, a partner with the company. Marketing and sales will begin in April, Stevenson said. The 1913, 12-story edifice is being transformed into 65 units that will range from 850-1,700 square feet. Each condominium will feature at least one balcony, and many will have two. Units will start in the mid-$300,000s and will include Italian kitchens and bathroom cabinets. Five of six penthouses will have private gardens. A parking lot immediately south of the project is slated to become a public park. At eldoradolofts.com.

JEWELRY DISTRICT TOWER Construction is 95% complete on the second phase of Astani Enterprises’ Concerto development: a 30-story tower at

An approximately $135 million, 31-story tower proposed by developer Laeroc 2002 Coast Parking LLC is at least three

February 22, 2010

Downtown News 9

Development

L.A. LOFTS Plans for a 432,000-square-foot building are still on hold while developer Venice Investments continues to look for financing, said Rita Simbulan, a company representative. The project, at 1028 S. Hope St., would rise near the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Packard Lofts. The 25-story tower would include 250 loftstyle condominiums, two levels of underground parking with 390 spaces, and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail with daycare facilities. Killefer Flammang Architects is handling the designs.

parking lot are moving forward, said Veronica Becerra, a project representative. The plans are expected to go before the City Council this month, she said. The 2.9-acre project is being developed by Downtown business pioneer and Megatoys owner Charlie Woo. It would offer for-sale residences and include 15,576 square feet of retail space and 766 parking spaces. No budget has been released.

PARK FIFTH rendering courtesy of Kohn Pedersen Fox Architects

to five years away from breaking ground, said company principal Kim Benjamin. The developer is waiting out the frozen credit markets before pursuing a construction loan, he said. The fully entitled project would rise on two adjacent parking lots in the Jewelry District, between Hill and Olive streets at Ninth Street. Preliminary plans call for 283 residential condominiums, seven commercial condos and 11,180 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Plans also call for 663 parking spaces on two underground levels and four above ground, and in a separate five-level structure. Downtown-based Rothenberg Sawasy Architects is designing the project.

SHY BARRY TOWER II Developer Barry Shy has delayed plans to build a five-story parking garage at 601 S. Spring St. The structure, previously expected to break ground by March, will not begin construction for approximately six months, he said, and the process will take a year. Shy plans eventually to erect a 39-story, 700unit condominium tower on the same parcel, but there is no current timeline for the residential building, he said.

SOUTH FIGUEROA Plans for two 34-story condominium towers at 624 W. 12th St. and 1200 S. Figueroa St. remain on hold due to the economy, said Rhonda Slavik, a representative of developer South Group. There is still no timeline for when the project will resume. The proposed structure would include 324 condominiums with hardwood floors, decks and balconies. The company previously developed three towers, the Elleven, Luma and Evo, nearby in South Park. At exploresouthgroup. com.

LIBESKIND TOWER Developer Human Technologies LLC, a joint venture between two Korean investment firms, is still trying to secure a construction loan for a fully entitled 43-story tower, said a spokeswoman. It would be designed by prominent architect Daniel Libeskind. The project would rise on two South Park parking lots at 1340-1360 S. Figueroa St. and 1355-1365 S. Flower St. Plans call for 35 levels of housing with 273 residences over an eight-floor podium and two subterranean levels. There would also be 8,496 square feet of restaurant space, a 9,566-square-foot spa and 379 parking spaces. There is no timeline, and the overall budget has not been disclosed.

ZEN

The World is inviTed! MEGATOYS RESIDENCES

Plans to construct a six-story, 320-unit project on the site of the 49,000-square-foot Megatoys warehouse and an adjacent

Gabriel Hertzberg of the LLC Triangle International Oil Company, said he plans this year to fund a construction loan for hundreds of millions of dollars and purchase the site. Still, construction would take at least three years. Plans for the fully entitled development include a 76-story building that would be the tallest residential structure west of Chicago, a 44-floor tower and a 15-story residential building. Altogether the project would contain 790 condominiums, a 212-room hotel, retail and restaurants. The site at Olive and Fifth streets, just north of Pershing Square, is currently a parking lot.

Developer David Houk of the Houk Development Company said he is working on securing a new investor for the proposed $1.3 billion mega-project. The potential investor,

ThE WoRld iS inviTEd!

The Pilgrim School Governing Board and First Church Board of Trustees Cordially invite You to the

Grand Opening of the Pilgrim School

FINE ARTS CENTER

Saturday, April 17, 2010, 6-8 p.m. Works by Ed Moses, Ed Ruscha (and others) that have not previously been publicly exhibited The Fine Arts Center is the first new construction on the Pilgrim School campus since 1964. Generous grants from the Ahmanson Foundation, Ronald Burkle Foundation, Fifield Manors and other donors made this beautiful new Arts Center possible.

RSVP at rsvp@pilgrim-school.org | (213) 385-7351 540 S. Commonwealth Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90020 Pilgrim School is a division of First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.

Developer Kawada Company of America is still working on securing entitlements for the 50-story Zen condominium tower, said project spokeswoman Beverly Zeigler. A full environmental impact report is being conducted for the development at Third and Hill streets. Designs by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill call for a tower atop a 10-story parking podium with 302 lofts; 66 of them would be reserved for workforce housing. Residences would range from 502-2,420 square feet see Projects, page 10

10 Downtown News

February 22, 2010

Development

RESIDENTIAL FOR RENT 705 W. NINTH Developer Meruelo Maddux Properties is waiting for a bankruptcy court judge to consider a request to sell units at its 35-story South Park tower, project spokesman Michael Bustamante said. The prominent Downtown landowner is attempting to climb out of nearly $453 million in debt. Financed by an $84 million loan from Canyon Capital Realty Advisors, the 35-story South Park tower was initially planned as condominiums before switching to rentals in early 2009. Now, the company is trying to revert to condos. Meruelo Maddux filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March 2009. A separate bankruptcy was declared for the building at 705 W. Ninth St. in September. Under the proposal submitted to the court, units would sell for at least $322 per square foot. Amenities include a 70-foot lap pool, an outdoor grill and a Wii game lounge.

1027 WILSHIRE Central City Development Group continues to work with the Amidi Real Estate Group on plans to create a 356-apartment complex at 1027 Wilshire Blvd. in City West. The low-rise structure would include 5,000 square feet of retail and 5,000 square feet of office space, said Hamid Behdad of the CCDG. No budget or timeline information has been announced. Previously the developers had looked at building a 52-story condo project on the site, but changed course because of the shift in the economy.

2121 LOFTS There has been no movement on the 125,000-squarefoot project at 2121 E. Seventh Place in the Arts District. According to the most recent information available, the 19-townhouse complex was foreclosed on last year and placed under the ownership of Phoenix Realty Group, the project’s original equity partner. Residences in the Killefer Flammang-designed project range from 750-1,200 square feet and remain unoccupied. A second phase proposed by original developer Concerto Development was to include 59 live-work lofts.

photo by Gary Leonard

BRISTOL HOTEL

ORSINI III photo by Gary Leonard

Continued from page 9 and there would be about 10,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space. No groundbreaking date has been announced.

Amerland had been looking at turning the building into a 300-unit affordable housing project. The property remains on the market.

BROCKMAN BUILDING The 12-story, 80-unit building at Seventh Street and Grand Avenue has been renovated but remains unopened and under the care of a bankruptcy court-appointed trustee. Lender Bank of America is expected to foreclose on the property in the second half of the year, said trustee Amy Goldman of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP. Developer the West Millennium Group has been out of the project since defaulting on a $35 million loan from Bank of America and filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy last March. There is no timeline for when the building at 530 W. Seventh St., originally constructed as condominiums, might open. In the meantime, the property continues to house the Italian restaurant and market Bottega Louie on its ground floor.

CHINATOWN METRO APARTMENTS Meta Housing, a West Los Angeles-based for-profit developer of affordable housing, is looking to convert two structures at 808 N. Spring St. into a 134-unit apartment complex. One of the buildings, a nine-story edifice built in 1918 as a storage facility for nearby train depots, is the tallest structure in Chinatown. According to the most recent information available, the company is in escrow to purchase the property from the Kor Group, which had planned a market-rate project at the site, for $12 million. The deal will close once Meta completes funding applications, which could come as soon as March, said Meta Housing project manager Tim Soule. The estimated project cost is $51.3 million.

DA VINCI There is no construction timeline yet for G.H. Palmer Associates’ proposed 627-apartment City West complex. The development is currently in the planning stage. Da Vinci would rise at Fremont and Temple streets on a 193,000-square-foot site that Palmer bought in 2004 for about $9 million. The 578,172-square-foot complex would put five floors of housing above three levels of parking with 8,158 square feet of street-front retail. It would include two pools and a full-size basketball court. The Da Vinci site includes a parcel on Temple Street that abuts the nightclub Vertigo’s. Palmer has said he plans to build around the onestory club, but that he would consider purchasing the property if it becomes available. The project is slated for a 2015 completion. At ghpalmer.com.

The third component of developer G.H. Palmer Associates’ Orsini apartment complex is under construction and on pace for a May 2010 completion, company owner Geoff Palmer said. Orsini III is a six-story, 210-unit project at Figueroa Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue; it sits across the street from Palmer’s existing Orsini I and Orsini II. The $43 million effort will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom units, a three-level podium with 13,000 square feet of commercial space and a 477-car garage. At theorsini.com.

PANAMA APARTMENTS SRO Housing Corp.’s plan to convert the rear portion of the 87 emergency shelter units at the Panama Hotel into 41 efficiency apartments for permanent housing is on hold. The nonprofit developer is waiting for its lender to approve a construction loan for the project at 403 E. Fifth St.; the loan has been delayed in part by the state budget crisis, said Joseph Corcoran, SRO Housing’s director of planning and housing development. Construction would take one year, he said. At srohousing.org.

PIERO II photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

the building will feature 107 rehabbed efficiency units and ground-floor retail including a second location for D-Town Burger Bar. A plan to install kitchenettes in the units has been scrapped. The developers hope to enroll the building in the federal Section 8 rent subsidy program. The Shomofs have not disclosed the budget.

GATEWAYS APARTMENTS SRO Housing Corp. is applying for funds to build a 108-unit affordable housing project on a 22,000-square-foot vacant lot at Fifth and San Pedro streets, said Joseph Corcoran, the nonprofit developer’s director of planning and housing development. Plans are in the early stage, but SRO is on pace to begin construction in February 2011. At srohousing.org.

Developer Holland Partners Group is still working on an environmental study of a proposed 360-unit apartment building in City West, said a project consultant. The environmental and entitlement process is expected to be complete this summer. Construction of the development, which would rise on a three-acre parking lot bounded by Wilshire Boulevard, Bixel Street, Sixth Street and Lucas Avenue, would take about two and a half years. David Gray Architects has completed preliminary designs. The Westside-based Nadel Architects will create the final design documents.

RENATO APARTMENTS photo by Gary Leonard

HOLLAND PARTNERS PROJECT

After putting construction on hold last year, developer G.H. Palmer Associates has commenced grading for a 335-apartment complex at Bixel and St. Paul streets, company owner Geoff Palmer said. The City West project follows the same Italian villa-inspired design as Palmer’s other Downtown projects, including the Piero I, which is adjacent to the proposed second stage. Piero II would include a pedestrian bridge over St. Paul Street that would connect a rooftop swimming pool deck to Piero I. The $70 million development is tentatively slated for completion in 2012. At ghpalmer.com.

MATSU

The transformation of a former residential hotel at 423 W. Seventh St. into an affordable housing complex has begun, said Eric Shomof, who is working on the project with his father, developer Izek Shomof. The building is expected to open within two months. They have pressure-washed the façade and are completing repairs such as installing new sprinkler systems and painting the property. When finished,

A six-story apartment project by Avalon Bay, on the southwest corner of Los Angeles and Second streets, continues to be on hold due to the economy, said Phil Silver, a project representative. Slated for a 1.7-acre plot in Little Tokyo, the project would include a 1,700-square-foot fitness center and 8,500 square feet of retail space. Plans call for units designed to condominium specifications, though they will open as rentals.

MAYFAIR HOTEL The for-profit affordable housing developer the Amerland Group is no longer seeking state bonds to purchase the hotel at 1256 W. Seventh St. from investment group Mayfair LLC.

Construction on nonprofit developer SRO Housing Corp.’s Renato Apartments, a 96-unit complex for the chronically

February 22, 2010

Developer SRO Housing Corp. has secured public funds to transform the Ford Hotel at 1000 E. Seventh St., which it purchased in 2008, into 151 studio apartments. The hotel currently has 295 units and is occupied by 132 people, but the building is dilapidated and in need of redevelopment, said Joseph Corcoran, SRO Housing’s director of planning and housing development. Construction is slated to start by early March. The $25 million project would include 90 units for chronically homeless individuals, Corcoran said — each one will include a kitchenette and bathroom. The remaining apartments would be for low-income residents earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income (approximately $60,000). Construction is expected to take 15 months. During construction, current tenants will be relocated to other SRO Housing properties. At srohousing.org.

MIXED USE HERALD EXAMINER BUILDING Plans to transform the former home of the Herald Examiner newspaper at 11th Street and Broadway remain on hold indefinitely, said Marty Cepkauskas, director of real estate for property owner the Hearst Corp. The proposal calls for converting the Julia Morgan-designed Broadway building into 70,000 square feet of office and retail space, and creating two new structures: a 24-story, 268-unit residential tower on the site of the former Hill Street press building; and a 37-story, 319-unit building at 120 W. 12th St. Architect Brenda Levin has been working with Hearst on the restoration part of the plan, while Thom Mayne’s Morphosis firm would handle the new towers.

L.A. CENTRAL

NIKKEI CENTER Developer Nikkei Center LLC still has an agreement with the city to purchase a fiveacre parcel at First and Alameda streets for $44 million, said Jon Kaji of Kaji & Associates, the managing partner in the project. The city recently completed an environmental study of the land and is gathering public feedback on the report until March. The sale is expected to close before the end of the year, Kaji said. Nikkei Center LLC was selected in 2008 to develop the property after a nine-month competition. The group originally included Kaji & Associates, Downtown-based developer Urban Partners and the nonprofit Little Tokyo Service Center, but the latter two have dropped out. LTSC will rejoin the project to develop its affordable component. The city-owned site, known as Mangrove, is part of a 10-acre property that also contains a fire station and an emergency operations center. The $300 million project would include 400 apartments, with 110 reserved for seniors and low-income residents; 80,000 square feet of largely Japanese-themed retail; an office tower; nearly 1,300 parking spaces; and public gardens. Funding, which would come from a mix of American and Japanese investors, has not yet been secured.

SANTEE VILLAGE

UNIVERSITY GATEWAY Construction continues on the 421-unit student housing complex University Gateway, and lease applications are being taken. The $168 million project developed by Urban Partners, at 3335 S. Figueroa St., is slated to open before the start of USC classes this fall, said Rebekah Geare, leasing manager for the project. The eight-story complex will allow students to lease by the bed, so roommates will pay individually. The project will hold about 1,600 students, with a bed in a twobedroom apartment starting at $1,008. A sin-

gle-occupancy, one-bedroom apartment will start at $2,570. University Gateway, designed and being built by Clark Construction, will also house 81,500 square feet of groundfloor retail and 770 on-site parking spaces. Another 440 parking spaces will be a block and a half away at the USC Parking Center. At livegw.com.

VIBIANA Developer Gilmore Associates and Weintraub Financials Inc. have completed a renovation of the event venue, said a company spokeswoman. The upgrades include a garden redesign, mechanical system improvements and a new kitchen. There is no timeline yet for a long-term plan to transform the former home of the mother church of the see Projects, page 12

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Bank of America recently took ownership of the four condominium buildings at the 780,000-square-foot Fashion District mega-complex. The remaining three rental buildings were sold to a state pension fund four years ago. Original developer MJW Investments backed out of the condo portion of the project in 2008, leaving the buildings (and a $67.5 million loan from Bank of America) in the hands of its secondary lender, the Connecticut-based Patriot Group. The Patriot Group subsidiary Santee Village Partners LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last April, according to court documents, but never followed through with a reorganization plan. Bank of America subsequently took over. One of the four forsale buildings never opened and remains empty. Altogether, Santee Village houses

In January, officials revealed that a lot south of the REDCAT theater, originally planned to hold retail for developer Related Cos.’ Grand Avenue project, could instead become the site for a museum housing artwork from Eli Broad’s collection. Meanwhile, most of the rest of the $3 billion, Frank Gehry-designed overhaul of Bunker Hill remains stalled. Related has been unable to obtain the $700 million in construction financing needed for the originally planned 1.3 million-square-foot first phase of the project formally known as The Grand. There is no current timeline for those plans, which include a 48-story Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Residences with 295 hotel rooms and 266 condominiums, a 19-story tower with 126 market-rate apartments and 98 affordable residences, and a 250,000-square-foot retail pavilion. Despite the obstacles, Related West Coast President Bill Witte said the project’s 16-acre, $56 million Civic Park is expected to break ground this summer.

Saeed Farkhondehpour’s $125 million-plus project in the Old Bank District is nearing completion. The development is slated to create 200 apartments at the northwest corner of Fourth and Main streets, in addition to 200,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space. In 2008 the project was placed on hold, then was restarted. Previous plans

The long-stalled, $1 billion project from developer IDS Real Estate Group remains on hold. Plans for the first phase of the development, proposed for a site one block north of L.A. Live, call for a 33-story condominium tower on 1.83 acres. The second phase would bring a 42-story, 388unit condominium tower, and a third phase would create a 480-room hotel with 88 residential units. The final phase would be a 42-story office tower. Each phase would include a five-level parking structure, and 46,000 square feet of retail would be created throughout the life of the project. Three design firms are working on the development: Gruen Associates is serving as executive architect, Arquitectonica is the design architect for the residential towers, and Gensler is handling the office portion.

THE GRAND

MEDALLION

METROPOLIS

445 residences and 66,000 square feet of retail space.

The future of a proposed $1 billion mixeduse complex which was planned to provide the retail complement to L.A. Live is uncertain. New York-based developer the Moinian Group purchased the South Park site, currently a fenced-off parking lot between 11th, 12th, Flower and Figueroa streets, from L.A. Live developer the Anschutz Entertainment Group in 2006. Moinian subsequently defaulted on its $55 million loan from Wachovia bank (now Wells Fargo), prompting the bank to initiate foreclosure proceedings in November. Moinian Group Director of Development Oskar Brecher said that the company is in negotiations with the bank to hold on to the site. A lawsuit between Moinian and AEG over parking revenue from the property is also ongoing.

to raze the headquarters of the Downtown Women’s Center on the block have been canceled; the DWC will renovate and use the building.

photo by Gary Leonard

homeless, is about 60% complete, said Joseph Corcoran, the company’s director of planning and housing development. The project, which will replace the Leo Hotel, includes two levels of subterranean parking with 64 spaces. The $25 million effort at 531 S. San Julian St. is scheduled to be complete in late August. Fifty-eight units will be reserved for chronically homeless, mentally ill people. All the apartments will measure about 350 square feet and will include kitchenettes and private bathrooms and come fully furnished. At srohousing.org.

THE FORD

Downtown News 11

Development

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Development photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

EXPOSITION LIGHT RAIL

Continued from page 11 Archdiocese of Los Angeles into new performance spaces, a restaurant and housing. At vibianala.com.

WILSHIRE GRAND/ KOREAN AIR PROJECT Developer Thomas Properties Group is still working to secure entitlements for a $1 billion redevelopment of the Wilshire Grand hotel at 930 Wilshire Blvd. Financing information has not been disclosed, and there is no current timeline for razing the hotel and replacing it with a residential, office and hotel complex. Owner Korean Air announced the project last year. Preliminary plans by AC Martin Partners call for a 45-story tower with approximately 560 four-star hotel rooms and 100 residences, plus a 65-story Class A office tower. The project would meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Silver Certification standards and include an approximately 18,000-square-foot plaza at Seventh and Figueroa streets, ground-floor retail and 1,900 underground parking spaces.

LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK

CIVIC

image courtesy of Lewis/Schoeplein Architects

CHINATOWN PLAZA IMPROVEMENTS

The Exposition Line is 64% complete, said Gabriella Collins, a spokeswoman for the Exposition Construction Authority. The latest schedule shows a 47-week delay in the light rail project. A full opening is expected in 2011, but a possibility would be a partial opening for the Crenshaw station by the end of this year, Collins said. Work is taking place on all major structures, including the stations and track work on the alignment along the route. The $862 million project will connect Downtown to Culver City. The eight-mile route will share two stops with the Blue Line and will add nine new stations. Management of the project is a joint venture of FCI Construction, Inc., Fluor Corp. and Parsons Corp. At buildexpo.org.

FEDERAL BUILDING

A community-oriented effort to revitalize the heart of Chinatown is ongoing, as some 40 property owners have applied for up to $3 million in city grants to renovate their buildings. The Community Redevelopment Agency is leading the program to revitalize Central and West plazas and Bamboo Lane. The grants, through the CRA’s façade improvement program, would cover property owners’ efforts to add new paint, install Chinese architectural features and create neon lighting. Other proposals call for a teahouse in West Plaza and a stage in Central Plaza; a projection screen, refurbished public restrooms and a renovated wishing well in Central Plaza; more lantern lighting throughout the area; and a weekly night market. The market could commence in July, said Bibiana Yung, CRA assistant project manager. The infrastructure changes are considered long-term projects, with no set timeline.

DOWNTOWN REGIONAL CONNECTOR The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is refining design concepts for a proposed two-mile transit link connecting the Gold, Blue and upcoming Expo light rail lines through Downtown, said a spokesman. The concepts will become part of a draft Environmental Impact Statement/Report analyzing the potential effects of different alignments and transportation modes. Metro officials are considering three options: an at-grade light rail line that has been estimated at $800 million or a $910 million subway, both of which would run along Second Street. The third concept would also follow the underground alignment but with some slight variation. Metro plans to hold community meetings on the project in April, and will release its environmental study this summer. Officials have said they would begin seeking funding once the Metro Board of Directors approves the final EIR, which could take an additional two years. The project is expected to be partly funded by Measure R, the countywide half-cent sales tax approved by voters. At metro.net.

Valencia, a spokeswoman for First District City Councilman Ed Reyes. She said that late last year the City Council approved the purchase of a 6.3-acre site in Lincoln Heights for $17 million; that parcel will be used as a park and for storm water treatment. An updated River Improvement Overlay Plan is online at the city Planning Department’s website. The overall project could take decades and full funding has not been secured. Meanwhile, the Army Corps of Engineers continues to work on a feasibility study for ecosystem restoration; that is expected to be complete within two years. The revitalization efforts include three Downtown sites: the state park at Taylor Yard, the Chinatown area and the Industrial District. At lariver.org.

Although a $90 million seismic upgrade at 300 N. Los Angeles St. was scheduled to be completed this summer, the addition of newly acquired Recovery Act funds has pushed that date to summer 2011, said Gene Gibson, regional public affairs officer for the General Services Administration. The Civic Center building was selected by the GSA to be a Recovery Act-funded “High Performance Green Building” project, which will provide $19.5 million. Gibson said the stimulus funds will in essence provide a “tune-up” that will make the edifice more energy efficient. Meanwhile, some of the current work being done includes new fire safety systems, replacement of original ceiling and lighting systems, signage, security systems, elevators and the removal of hazardous materials.

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE Plans to build a federal courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles remain stalled, said Gene Gibson, regional public affairs officer for the U.S. General Services Administration. Congress had appropriated $314 million for the project at First Street and Broadway. The plans called for 41 courtrooms, judges’ chambers and office space for federal agencies. Increased construction costs, however, meant that the GSA had to go back to the drawing board. New estimates for the project soared to more than $1 billion. The 3.6-acre site previously held a state office building but is now just a fenced-off hole.

Plans to develop the full 32-acre park adjacent to Chinatown are again moving forward, although it will be done more “economically” than originally planned, said James Valdez, supervising ranger for the California State Parks Department. Valdez said specifics are being worked out and the project should start within two years. New details or costs have not been determined for the redesigned plans. The project had been placed on hold due to the state’s budget issues. Previous plans to transform the site, still known to many as the Cornfield, included creating a space for cultural events and an open meadow for recreation, as well as kiosks that would highlight the agricultural and cultural history of the city. At parks.ca.gov/lashp or lashp.wrdpress.com.

METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER Though construction on the $80 million Metropolitan Detention Center is complete, the LAPD Jails Division has not moved in. The facility built to replace the smaller Parker Center jail requires more staffing — 164 employees compared to the 83 needed at the old jail — a situation made difficult by the city’s budget deficit. The department is assessing the possibility of redistributing Jails Division staff across the city in order to open the MDC, said Capt. Clayton Farrell. The 160,000-square-foot project on Los Angeles Street has no timeline.

SIXTH STREET VIADUCT REPLACEMENT According to the most recent information available, the city is considering seven design options for a bridge that would replace the ailing, 78-year-old Sixth Street Viaduct, which spans the Los Angeles River between Downtown and Boyle Heights. A final Environmental Impact Report on the project, which will analyze the options, is expected to be published in the spring. The project is estimated to cost up to $374 million, according to a recent report by the City Bureau of Engineering. Department officials have said that the replacement would be funded by a mix of federal and state sources. The report also projects that construction would begin in November 2013 and be completed at the end of 2016.

SPRING STREET PARK photo by Gary Leonard

12 Downtown News

HALL OF JUSTICE The County Board of Supervisors is still waiting for a report from county staff about the feasibility and cost of restoring the 14-story building at 210 W. Temple St., said Tony Bell, communications deputy for Supervisor Mike Antonovich, who along with Supervisor Gloria Molina introduced a motion last year asking to look at what it would take to open the building. The 1925 Civic Center structure once housed the Sheriff’s Department, a jail, the Coroner’s office and the District Attorney’s office. It was vacated after the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and is now empty and gutted. Previous restoration efforts have placed the price tag for bringing the building back as high as $300 million; officials have said they hope the economy and lower raw materials prices would reduce the cost now.

LOS ANGELES RIVER The $2 billion project to clean and green 32 miles of the Los Angeles River continues to move forward, said Monica

An approximately one-acre proposed park on Spring Street between Fourth and Fifth streets is slated to open in 2011, said a spokeswoman for Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry. The city purchased the parcel, which currently holds a parking lot, from developer Downtown Properties for approximately $5 million last June. The lot sits between

February 22, 2010

Downtown News 13

Development

CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT

photo by Gary Leonard

Downtown Properties’ Rowan and El Dorado buildings. Design concepts are in the works.

ANGELS FLIGHT photo by Gary Leonard

SCHOOLS CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 12 In early 2009, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board approved a plan to find a charter school organization to develop and operate a new Downtown high school. The proposed 500-seat facility would rise next to the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex at 322 Lucas Ave. in City West. The district’s next step is to solicit bids from charter organizations to help fund and eventually run the school. At lausd.net.

CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 13 Construction continues on the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Central Region High School No. 13, which broke ground in September 2008, said Shannon Haber, spokeswoman for the LAUSD Facilities Division. The $161 million institution will be comprised of five small learning communities that include classrooms and science labs. The project would hold performing arts facilities, a library, two gymnasiums, a food service area and lunch shelter, as well as central administrative offices and playing fields. It is slated to open in 2011. The district used eminent domain to acquire the 23-acre site north at Taylor Yard in 2007, then agreed to pay former owner Meruelo Maddux Properties $50 million for the land. The district had long sought to build the 2,295-seat school to relieve overcrowding at nearby high schools. At lausd.net.

LOS ANGELES TRADE-TECH COLLEGE

in the hotel, was initially scheduled to open last year but now is slated to debut in the fall. It was held up in the design process, said Shannon Haber, a spokeswoman for the LAUSD Facilities Division. Still to come are a 1,000-seat school for fourth through eighth graders and a 2,474-seat high school; those are estimated to cost a combined $300 million and are slated to open this fall. The Hensel Phelps Construction Company is building all three schools. The campus will include two gymnasiums, a swimming pool, a soccer field and extensive athletic facilities. At lausd.net.

USC HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS

L.A. Trade-Tech’s multi-phase, $600 million upgrade continues. Currently underway at the school at 400 W. Washington Blvd. are a $34 million restoration of the 100,000-square-foot A Building, estimated for completion by 2011. A two-floor, $6 million Child Development Center was completed in December, providing 14,238 square feet of space for children up to 12 years old and increasing capacity from 50 to 96 children. The center is both a childcare center and a teaching facility that will house an infant classroom. Anil Verma Associates, a Los Angeles-based architecture and engineering firm, is the project manager. Trade-Tech is in the preliminary planning phases for a new track and field, a sports and wellness center and a construction technology building.

The $80 million Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research is targeted for a fall completion, said project spokeswoman Meghan Lewitt. The five-story, 87,000-square-foot Broad Center, on the school’s Health Sciences Campus northeast of Downtown, will house researchers working on stem cell studies aimed at developing treatments for an array of diseases. The facility is the result of a public-private partnership between the votercreated California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the USC Keck School of Medicine and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. CIRM awarded USC nearly $27 million for the facility this year, supplementing a $30 million gift from the Broad Foundation in 2006. Construction began in 2008.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

USC UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS

The first phase of the 24-acre, three-school campus on the site of the former Ambassador Hotel west of Downtown — a 1,050-seat school for kindergarten through third graders — debuted last September. The facility cost $80 million. A onethird acre park along Wilshire Boulevard that includes an art installation honoring Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was killed

Angels Flight remains closed more than nine years after an accident killed an 83-year-old man and injured seven others, but John Welborne, president of the Angels Flight Railway Foundation, said an opening of the railway that would connect Bunker Hill and the Historic Core is very close. Numerous previously announced opening dates have been missed. In November the California Public Utilities Commission approved the funicular’s safety program, and Welborne said the fire department has signed off on emergency plans. However, a CPUC official said that all of the safety measures the agency and the National Transportation Safety Board called for in 2003, after an investigation of the accident, have not been completed, and that must occur before the railway reopens. The two cars, Olivet and Sinai, were returned to the track in late 2008.

BROADWAY REVITALIZATION Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway initiative to revitalize Broadway between Second Street and Olympic Boulevard continues. Designs for the Broadway Streetscape Plan, intended to improve the street’s appearance, were unveiled in November after a 10-month public input process. The designs envision wider sidewalks, reduced traffic lanes, original-style streetlamps and other cosmetic upgrades. The City Council in September adopted a similar plan, the Broadway Entertainment Overlay Zone and Design Guide ordinance, which is aimed at encouraging commercial, see Projects, page 14

The university’s Ronald Tutor Campus Center, which broke ground in May 2008, remains on target for completion this summer, said Carl Marziali, a university spokesman. The 192,000-square-foot facility will include space for student government, gathering areas, a food court and more. The building includes seating and food service comparable to the space that was lost when the old structure was demolished. At usc.edu.

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Projects Continued from page 13 entertainment and cultural uses on Broadway. An environmental review of a proposed streetcar that would connect the Music Center and Bunker Hill with L.A. Live and the Convention Center via Broadway is pending, according to Huizar’s office. However, the nonprofit formed to guide the streetcar has raised just a small fraction of the estimated $100 million needed for the project. This year is expected to bring $4.4 million in sidewalk reconstruction with the Community Redevelopment Agency. At bringingbackbroadway.com.

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER A $145 million expansion of the California Science Center, featuring the World of Ecology wing, will open March 25, said Shell Amega, a project representative. The 170,000-squarefoot space in Exposition Park will feature exhibits that illustrate principles of ecological science. Interactive galleries with aspects of aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens will also be part of the exhibit that will feature hundreds of plants and animals.

DODGER STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS

story, 90,000-square-foot building that would rise on a parking lot adjacent to MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo, but the project continues, said Lyn Winter, a spokeswoman for the museum. In documents filed with the Planning Department, MOCA requested a five-year period after approval to begin construction, which would take about 18 months. Plans call for 6,000 square feet of educational program space, 18,000 square feet of exhibition/storage space and 66,000 square feet of pure storage space.

Renovations to Exposition Park’s Natural History Museum continue on schedule, said an NHM spokeswoman. The $91 million project will bring three new permanent exhibits to the recently rehabbed 1913 main building. A mammal exhibit will open this summer and another new exhibit, titled Dinosaur Mysteries, will arrive in 2011. A third wing focused on environmental history will debut in 2012. Plans include new teaching gardens and a new parking garage, opening in 2011. At nhm.org.

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photo by Gary Leonard

The high-profile, $500 million renovation of the Dodger Stadium grounds, previously announced to debut opening day of the 2012 baseball season, has been delayed, said Dodger Vice President of Communications Josh Rawitch. He declined to comment on the project’s financing status or the new timeline for completion. Renovation plans, which could change, call for an upgraded, landscaped entrance; a new promenade called Dodger Way with restaurants, shops and a Dodger Museum; a landscaped plaza beyond center field; an outdoor walkway around the stadium’s perimeter; two new garages to replace some surface-level lots; and an outdoor plaza.

Developer Gilmore Associates has recently hosted events during the monthly Downtown Art Walk at the 10,000-squarefoot space at 448 S. Main St. However, plans to transform the former movie house into a 400-seat live music venue with a lounge and restaurant remain stalled, said a spokeswoman for Gilmore. At regentla.com.

VARIETY ARTS CENTER There has been no movement on the vacant 1912 theater at 940 S. Figueroa St. The property just north of L.A. Live remains for sale, though owner David Houk would not disclose the asking price.

BUSINESS

photo by Gary Leonard

MOCA EXPANSION

7+ FIG RENOVATION No timeline has been announced for the completion of the second phase of the renovation of the outdoor shopping center at Seventh and Figueroa streets, said Bert Dezzuti, senior vice president for owner Brookfield Properties. Dezzuti did say the next round of upgrades would be tied in with the future tenant of the vacant Macy’s spot; the former store had a 125,000-square-foot footprint. While Brookfield Properties is not disclosing plans for that space, numerous Downtown real estate sources late last year stated that advanced negotiations were underway between Brookfield and Minneapolis-based retailer Target. The mall has already undergone preliminary upgrades including repainting the old 1980s color motif. An 80,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by Bullock’s is also vacant.

CECIL HOTEL/STAY

Museum of Contemporary Art officials are not offering a timeline or budget information on plans for a three-

CLEANTECH MANUFACTURING CENTER

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According to the most recent information available, plans to build a restaurant and nightclub on the 12th floor, terrace and rooftop of the former Pacific Stock Exchange building at 233 S. Beaudry Ave. are going through the city’s entitlement process. Downtown landowner Michael Delijani plans on creating a 90,000-square-foot venue with live entertainment and a dance floor. There is no timeline or budget information available and Delijani said an opening date would depend on his ability to obtain financing. Nadel Architects is working on designs for the property as well as an adjacent 18-story tower. Delijani, who did not return recent phone calls, previously said plans also call for a new, low-rise apartment building just west of the existing structure. Currently, the 126,602-square-foot building consists of 10 levels of parking, one floor of offices and the former trading floor, which closed in 2001.

JVP owner American Commercial Equities has finished removing a wall that enclosed the outdoor mall at First Street and Central Avenue to create a new entrance, said ACE President Marvin Lotz. The company is still in the process of securing permits for other renovations, including upgrading the landmark fire tower at the First Street entrance, installing new walkways and landscaping and replacing some storefronts. Downtown-based Rothenberg Sawasy Architects is designing the upgrade.

February 22, 2010

Development

rendering courtesy of the Community Redevelopment Agency

14 Downtown News

The owners of the 600-room Cecil Hotel at 636 S. Main St. and the adjacent youth hostel Stay are still trying to secure a liquor license for a proposed ground-floor restaurant, said Bill Lanting, president of the property manager, the Lanting Hotel Group. Lanting said he expects to get a beer and wine license within eight weeks. In the meantime, the owners are working on improvements to the Cecil rooms including bathroom, electrical and HVAC upgrades. A lawsuit between the hotel owner, which is a development team headed by Fred Cordova, and the city over the building’s designation as a residential hotel is ongoing.

The Community Redevelopment Agency is in talks with multiple potential anchor tenants for its proposed 1 millionsquare-foot industrial center east of Santa Fe Avenue, near 15th Street and Washington Boulevard. The industrial campus is being positioned for companies that manufacture green technologies such as wind turbines or hydrogen fuel cells. The CRA and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had sought to tap Italian railcar company AnsaldoBreda to develop a manufacturing plant at the site and serve as an anchor tenant for the project, but the deal fell through last year. Though initial plans called for an industrial park that would house an anchor tenant and other firms, the CRA is currently considering contracting with one firm to occupy the entire property, said Christine Kalamaros, the agency’s senior real estate development agent for the Downtown region. If the talks do not lead to a deal, the CRA would initiate a public bidding process. There is no set timeline for the project. At crala.net/ct.

EMBASSY HOTEL Work on construction documents continues in the plan to turn the vacant Embassy Hotel and Auditorium at 851 S. Grand Ave. into a luxury boutique hotel, said Tara Jones Hamacher, a historic consultant for the project. Embassy Partners LLC, a subsidiary of New York-based Chetrit Group, which looked at a renovation of the South Park property about two years ago, is working on the effort. The project would restore the lobby, balconies and the domed pavilion. A new arched awning and new elevators would also arrive, and the auditorium, originally a 1,500-seat venue, would be restored and become a banquet hall. The vacant lot immediately south of the hotel would likely house a pool, deck and green space. No timeline or budget has been set for the project, said Hamacher.

ENGINE CO. NO. 17 Plans have been canceled to convert Engine Company No. 17, a 1927 firehouse at 710 S. Santa Fe Ave. in the Industrial District, into a restaurant and gallery with live entertainment, said Brandon Finch, a project representative. The development had been put on hold last summer after the Central Area Planning Commission rejected it due to neighbors’ protests over required additional parking. The 8,721-square-foot, two-story Beaux Arts structure is owned by Jeffrey Birkmeyer. Built in 1904, it was a working fire station until 1980.

MIGNON A 620-square-foot wine bar at 128 E. Sixth St., by Santos Uy and Daniel Kronfli, is going through final city inspections, said Joe Wedding of MASS Architecture & Design, which is working on the project. The bar is expected to open by the end of the first quarter. There is no budget information available for the small U-shaped wine and cheese bar. Uy and Kronfli also own the wine bar Bacaro LA. At mignonla.com.

OMNI HOTEL RENOVATION A $12 million renovation of the hotel is set to start near the end of this year, said Chaya Donne, director of marketing for the Bunker Hill facility. The approximately three-month effort will upgrade guest rooms as well as public and meeting spaces. The 17-story hotel at 251 S. Olive St. has 453 rooms.

WESTIN BONAVENTURE RENOVATION Part of a $35 million renovation will be completed this year, said Mike Czarcinski, managing director for the Westin

photo by Gary Leonard

STANFORD REGENCY PLAZA

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL EXPANSION Good Samaritan Hospital is pursuing city and state approvals for a medical office building that would break ground this summer, said hospital spokeswoman Katrina Bada. Construction on the approximately 190,000-square-foot structure at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street in City West is expected to take approximately two years. The development would house a first-floor women’s health/imaging center, a pharmacy and cancer treatment services. The building would also include an extensive outpatient surgical facility on the second floor and five levels of physicians’ offices. The project cost is estimated at $70 million to $80 million. Architecture firm Ware Malcomb is overseeing the design, while Millie and Severson is handling construction.

HOPE STREET FAMILY CENTER

BUDOKAN LOS ANGELES

PROJECT HOME

The Little Tokyo Service Center continues to work with the city on plans for a multi-purpose recreational facility on a cityowned parcel on Los Angeles Street between Second and Third streets in Little Tokyo. Last October, the city and the LTSC agreed on a basic deal to free up the space for the facility, said LTSC Executive Director Bill Watanabe. However, they have yet to begin the process of negotiating a lease for the site. Long known as the Little Tokyo Recreation Center, the project has officially been dubbed Budokan Los Angeles. (“budokan” is a Japanese word that traditionally referred to martial arts centers, but in modern times means a type of community center.) The LTSC has begun to reach out to potential donors and is looking for public funds to help pay for the $15 million project, Watanabe said. Preliminary designs by architecture firm Takase and Associates call for an approximately 30,000-square-foot gymnasium that would house four courts for basketball, volleyball or martial arts, plus a rooftop outdoor space. At budokanofla. org.

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH South Park-based First United Methodist Church has entered into an exclusive negotiating agreement with the Central City Development Group, said Rev. Sandie Richards, the pastor of the church. She said she hopes a deal with CCDG can be finalized by the summer. The 153-year-old FUMC owns a current parking lot at Flower Street and Olympic Boulevard; the church would partner with CCDG to build a project on the site, creating space for FUMC as well as other elements, possibly housing or office space. The church, which would maintain ownership of the land, had previously looked at building a high-rise, but due to the economy Richards said the project would likely contain fewer stories.

Construction has begun on the long delayed, $73 million Downtown L.A. YWCA Job Corps Urban Campus. The 155,000-square-foot building at 1020 S. Olive St. is set to open in mid-2012, said Sandra Rahimi, senior finance officer for the Community Redevelopment Agency. The project is slated to house the YWCA Job Corps Center and will consolidate the program’s housing and service facilities, which are currently scattered throughout six sites in Downtown. The Job Corps program provides job training and transitional housing for homeless, emancipated and at-risk youth. The seven-story building will feature classrooms, a medical center and 200 residential rooms that will house 400 Job Corps trainees. The YWCA purchased the site in 2004 for $3.5 million.

OPENED IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS BABYCAKES Vegans can now freely indulge in donuts, cupcakes and cookies in Downtown Los Angeles. Babycakes opened on Jan. 3 at the

photo by Gary Leonard

NONPROFIT/COMMUNITY

The California Hospital Medical Center is finalizing negotiations with the Community Redevelopment Agency to construct a $15 million recreation and childcare facility at the southeast corner of Venice Boulevard and Hope Street. Groundbreaking is tentatively planned for May. The Hope Street Family Center, which will be designed by the nonprofit Abode Communities, calls for a four-story, 26,000-square-foot structure housing administrative offices, classrooms and an outdoor basketball court, said Abode Communities project captain Julie Kim. The project’s financing includes $3 million in state Prop 40 funds and an $8 million loan from the CRA. At chmcla.org.

An $80 million, 400,000-square-foot complex for wholesale garment businesses is about 90% complete, but is currently on hold as developer the KI Group has sued the project lender. There is no timeline on finishing construction, pending the outcome of the lawsuit, said Wizeman Kangavari, a partner in the company. Plans call for 132 showrooms that will sell for $1 million-$3 million. The project at 810 E. Pico Blvd. is being designed by the firm MAI. The project had been slated to open last fall.

YWCA JOB CORPS CAMPUS photo by Gary Leonard

Bonaventure Hotel. In April the renovation of 700 rooms will be finished, and by the close of the year the refurbishment of the lobby, meeting space and entrances will be done. The remaining rooms in the 1,354room hotel at 404 S. Figueroa St. will be upgraded in 2011. The hotel will remain open throughout the renovations.

Downtown News 15

Development

Pacific Electric Building at Sixth and Los Angeles streets. The strictly vegan bakery operates in a 900-square-foot space. It is the second Babycakes location; proprietor Erin McKenna her first establishment in Manhattan four years ago. At babycakesnyc. com.

CONCERTO ANNEX Move-ins for the 77 units in developer Astani Enterprises’ seven-story “loft” building at Ninth and Flower streets began in November; that followed a one-day sale in August during which the property sold out. The property in South Park is the first part of the project to come online; the 271 condos in an adjacent 30-story tower are expected to open this year. At concertodowntown.com.

CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL The first guests began checking in to the $1 billion Convention Center headquarters hotel on Feb. 15 (a ribbon cutting ceremony took place the following day). The 878 rooms in the J.W. Marriott portion of the hotel are now open, and the 123 Ritz-Carlton rooms are scheduled to debut March 15. It took desee Projects, page 16

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Last August the Downtown Women’s Center broke ground on Project Home, a housing development for homeless women. The 67,000-square-foot industrial space at 434 S. San Pedro St. is being turned into 71 apartments for low-income women, said Joe Altepeter, the organization’s site director. Project Home will allow the DWC to help more than 3,500 homeless women and serve 75,000 meals annually, an increase from the current level of aiding 2,000 women and serving 45,000 meals a year at its 325 S. Los Angeles St. location. While initial plans called for the DWC to vacate the Los Angeles Street locale to make way for the nearby Medallion development, that project has been scaled back and will not require the DWC’s displacement, Altepeter said. Thus, once Project Home is complete, the DWC intends to renovate its current building and use it as well. The Community Redevelopment Agency has pitched in $3.5 million for Project Home. Another $8 million is coming from state funds and the nonprofit is 85% finished with a capital campaign to raise $35 million for the project. The target completion date is this October, with move-ins expected in December, Altepeter said. At dwcweb.org/ projecthome.htm.

photo by Gary Leonard

February 22, 2010

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16 Downtown News

photo by Gary Leonard

MENDOCINO FARMS A second outpost of Mendocino Farms opened on Nov. 16. The 2,100-square-foot space from Mario Del Pero and Ellen Chen is on the ground floor of Cititgroup Center at 444 S. Figueroa St. Architecture firm Poon Design oversaw the transformation of a former computer store. The restaurant is three times the size of Mendocino’s first outlet at Cal Plaza on Bunker Hill.

the extension could carry 23,000 riders a day by 2020. At metro.net/eastside.

photo by Gary Leonard

L.A. LIVE

LITTLE BARN Downtown children received an indoor playground last October when Little Barn opened in City West. The 3,000-square-foot establishment is housed in a former printing shop at 130 S. Beaudry Ave. The business founded by Jennifer Frizzell and Stephanie Raye includes a lounge area, a bounce house, a swing set, tractor cars, a climbing wall, an oversized chalkboard and a ball pit. At littlebarn.org.

FACTORY PLACE ARTS COMPLEX The adaptive reuse project at 1291-1333 E. Sixth St. in the Arts District is open and about 40% occupied, said developer Howard Klein. The row of brick-clad warehouses has been transformed into 51 live-work units and two retail spaces. Lofts range from 6002,000 square feet and rent for $1,350-$4,500. The project includes a gym, courtyards, a pool, fire pits and event space. Seattle-based Tony Bell Architecture handled the designs. At factoryplacelofts.com.

GOLD LINE EASTSIDE EXTENSION The Metro Gold Line extension from Downtown to East Los Angeles opened to riders on Nov. 15. The $899 million light rail line extends the Gold Line from Union Station across the Los Angeles River and into East L.A. with eight new stations, culminating at Atlantic Avenue. The new Downtown station serving Little Tokyo and the Arts District is at Alameda and First streets. Officials say

house student services in the north building and classrooms in the south edifice. The fivestory, 121,000-square-foot buildings feature eye-catching architecture by the firm MDA Johnson Favarro. The south property houses two 100-seat lecture halls. The corners of the twin buildings undulate, like drapes blowing in a light wind. At lattc.edu.

The Regal Cinemas Stadium 14, one of the last major elements of the 27-acre L.A. Live campus, opened Oct. 16. The multiplex at 1000 Olympic Boulevard includes state-ofthe-art technology, including four theaters capable of screening 3D films. There is also an 800-seat “premiere” theater built to handle red-carpet openings for Hollywood studios. The theaters join the more than a dozen restaurants, nightclubs and entertainment venues that comprise developer Anschutz Entertainment Group’s $2.5 billion project in South Park. The first elements of L.A. Live came online in late 2007.

NEW CARVER APARTMENTS The Michael Maltzan-designed affordable housing complex at 325 W. 17th St., just north of the 110 Freeway, opened in September. The circular building from developer Skid Row Housing Trust 97 holds efficiency units for homeless, disabled adults and is already fully occupied, with a waiting list, said SRHT Director of Special Projects Molly Rysman. The $34 million project includes on-site resident services such as job training and mental health counseling.

POLICE ADMINISTRATION BUILDING photo by Gary Leonard

EMIL BROWN LOFTS Move-ins began Jan. 10 for the apartments in a renovated five-story, 73,000-square-foot former warehouse, said Kat Pytka, a leasing agent for the building. Twenty-six of the 38 units in the refurbished 1922 edifice have been rented, she said. The building, at 308 E. Ninth St., was developed by the South Park Group — which includes architect and developer David Gray — and features eight three-level penthouses. Rents are $1,200$3,400 for apartments that are 750-1,700 square feet. At emilbrownlofts.com.

plans have been pushed back while memorial officials try to raise the $1 million needed for the project. The final phase, a 20-foot high structure near the wall, would pay tribute to the 40 Latino recipients of the medal.

LOS ANGELES ATHLETIC CLUB HOTEL RENOVATION photo by Gary Leonard

Continued from page 15 veloper Anschutz Entertainment Group less than three years to build the 54-story structure, which also includes 224 Ritz-Carlton condos on the upper levels. The residences are priced from $900,000 to $10 million and approximately 50% have been reserved, said AEG President Tim Leiweke, though he also said he expects some of the buyers to drop out. Gensler handled the designs of the building and Nabih Youssef Associates oversaw the seismic work. The project includes the $80 million Gallery Collection, a series of conference and meeting rooms to handle business groups. Approximately 3,600 people were hired during the building process, and the hotel is creating 700 new jobs.

photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

February 22, 2010

Development

L.A. TRADE-TECH COLLEGE TOWERS The oldest of nine schools in the Los Angeles Community College District, L.A. TradeTech in February opened its first new buildings since 1974. The structures along Grand Avenue, which cost a combined $145 million, The members-only club last year completed an approximately $2 million renovation of its 72 hotel rooms, which range from about 350-500 square feet. The upgrades included changes to the facility’s nine one-bedroom suites, which have been made over to reflect different themes, including “beach club” and “yacht club”; other units are in the colors of USC and UCLA. In addition to the hotel, the 1912, 12-story building at 431 W. Seventh St. houses an 80,000-square-foot athletic complex, a sports bar, dining facilities and event space.

MEDAL OF HONOR MEMORIAL A portion of the Eugene A. Obregon Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial opened at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in December. The Wall of Honor contains the names of all Congressional Medal of Honor recipients — there have been approximately 3,000 — since the award’s creation by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862. Jim Proser, a volunteer for the project, said that future construction

A grand opening for the $440 million new headquarters for the Los Angeles Police Department took place Oct. 24. The replacement for Parker Center is a 10-story, 500,000-square-foot structure that was designed by DMJM and constructed by Sylmarbased Tutor-Saliba. The project, which broke ground in November 2006, includes a small, landscaped park along Second Street, a 400seat auditorium and a 300-car LAPD garage. It is expected eventually to hold 2,300 people — 800 more than Parker Center. A water feature in front of a planting by the sidewalk serves double duty as a security wall. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification of the building was planned to be “silver,” but city engineers are optimistic that it might reach the “gold” level.

SB TOWER Developer Barry Shy began leasing apartments in a 25-story, 270-unit adaptive reuse project in January. Residences in the building at 600 S. Spring St. range from 700-1,500 square feet and rents are $1,250-$2,800. So far the building is nearly 20% leased, Shy said. There are balconies in every unit, and the building offers a rooftop pool and spa, a recreation room and gym. The property’s 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space remains unoccupied.

February 22, 2010

Downtown News 17

DowntownNews.com

photo by Gary Leonard

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photo courtesy of The Rowan

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February 22, 2010

Residential

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Downtown News 19

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Meet at Sakura Crossing Little Tokyo Apartments Highlight Sophisticated, Modern Design

akura Crossing is bold and contemporary. Its forms, colors and materials were inspired by neighborhood warehouses and Toy District buildings. At the same time, the architecture of Sakura Crossing subtly references its immediate surroundings, especially the revered Noguchi garFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

den directly across San Pedro Street. Modern, yet respectful of both its neighbors and the past, Sakura Crossing is a welcome new addition to the streetscape of Downtown L.A. Sakura Crossing invites residents to experience the very best in sophisticated, modern home design. From the distinctive and stylish oval lobby with its towering glass panels, limestone flooring and Venetian plaster walls to the sleek, contemporary interiors, every detail of Sakura Crossing reflects the impeccably assured design sense of Studio Gaia. Employing a subtle blend of contrasting and complementary colors, textures and materials, Studio Gaia has created a uniquely contemporary living environment that is at once casual and sophisticated. Homes Designed to Delight A passion for space, style and state-of-the-art sophistication is evident in this extraordinary collection of contemporary architect-designed homes that range from spacious sun-filled studios to light and airy one- and two-bedroom apartments, many featuring private outdoor terraces. The architect’s eye is evident in every element from the gourmet kitchen’s sleek, white contemporary cabinetry with stainless steel appliances and polished Caesarstone counters to the honed hardwood floors specially selected for living and dining areas. The ceramic tiled baths are appointed with oversized medicine cabinets, abundant mirrors and opulent Caesarstone vanities. Notable features include a stackable washer/dryer, designer carpeting in all bedrooms, and customized and/or walk-in closets in every residence. Additional stunning amenities include: Continued from previous page tains and immaculate landscaping — a true departure from the ordinary. Promenade Towers’ individual design includes apartments with balconies, contemporary solariums and angular rooms as exciting as the property’s unique exterior styling. Grand Tower’s sensuous granite exterior distinguishes this landmark development as the address that reflects success. The 24-hour manned lobby provides impressive passage to spacious apartment homes with balconies and a rooftop pool, spa and fitness center with beautiful mountain and city views. Adjacent to the renowned California Plaza, entertainment can be found virtually at your doorstep. Museum Tower neighbors the beautiful Museum of Contemporary Art. This fine collection of apartment homes features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Exhibit your most precious belongings amidst the outstanding backdrop of the city skyline. A controlled access lobby, pool, spa and fitness center provide the upscale amenities Downtown residents desire. Double Assurance of Quality: For more than 50 years, Shapell Industries and Goldrich & Kest Industries have established themselves among America’s most successful and most honored residential developers. Today, their nationwide reputation for providing exceptional housing is earned through a consistent dedication to quality craftsmanship and design. As a result, many of their joint ventures have been cited as model developments. Marina Park in San Diego, Town Square in Santa Ana and The Promenade and Promenade West in the Bunker Hill district of Los Angeles have all achieved unparalleled success in these prominent urban centers. Together, they bring to the Towers Apartments a vast combination of experience, talent and integrity. Each has proven its dedication for a total of more than 90 years. It is that strong combination of experience, innovation and commitment to quality that makes Shapell Industries and Goldrich & Kest Industries a team you can rely on for excellence. For leasing information at the Promenade Towers, 123 S. Figueroa St., call (213) 617-3777. For leasing information at the Grand Tower, 255 S. Grand Ave., call (213) 229-9777. For leasing information at the Museum Tower, 225 S. Olive St., call (213) 626-1500, or visit TowersApartmentsLA.com

n Rooftop lounge with three landscaped sundecks for sunbathing, entertaining and private barbecue dining n Rooftop screening room with oversized outdoor private terrace n Lushly landscaped courtyard terrace with outdoor fireplace, pool and Jacuzzi, and outdoor barbecue dining* n State-of-the-art, private fitness center with strength training and cardio theater with individual TV screens** n Professionally designed business center with Internet access* n 24-hour underground parking with direct building access**

n Convenient on-site ATM (*Additional charge; **additional charge for some services.) Sakura Crossing is much more than just a place to live. It’s much more fun… with much less stress. To speak with a leasing agent, call (213) 625-9200 Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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20 Downtown News

February 22, 2010

Residential

The Rowan Hosts a Double Credit Weekend

In the Heart of Little Tokyo

Home Buyers Invited to Take Advantage of the Federal Tax Credit and a $10,000 Savings

Hikari Offers Stunning Contemporary Homes in One of Downtown’s Hottest Districts

s one of Downtown’s coolest residential additions, this 128-unit building is a jewel box of stunning contemporary homes in the heart of Little Tokyo. Each studio, one- and two-bedroom home

On Saturday and Sunday, March 6 and 7, The Rowan is hosting a “Double Credit Weekend” and a win-win savings opportunity to beat the deadline on the Federal tax credit program while taking advantage of a selection of loftstyle residences. This meticulously restored Downtown landmark is at the corner of Fifth and Spring streets in the heart of the historic Old Bank District.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

Cranes. And with around-the-clock garage access, homeowners can go anywhere, anytime. More than an address, Hikari was envisioned as an oasis by Related, the nation’s most acclaimed developer of luxurious metropolitan homes. Over the past quarter-century, Related has dramatically redefined the American skyline through its contribution of important new architectural landmarks in such cities as New York, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston. The Hikari leasing office is open Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (213) 625-8500.

reating a special opportunity to beat the deadline on the federal tax credit program and purchase a select few loft-style residences, The Rowan is hosting a special Double Credit Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

March 6 and 7. For one weekend, buyers will receive an extra $10,000 in addition to the up to $8,000 in federal credits currently available to qualified purchasers. The Rowan also is designated as a Mills Act historic

With lower prices, drastically reduced HOA dues

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is designed with oversized windows for views and light, sleek granite kitchens, sumptuous baths, media outlets and washers and dryers. Hikari is more than a place of residence. It is a place of wonder, where residents can go for a swim in a glistening blue pool, sunbathe on a private terrace, socialize in a fabulous lounge, exercise in the state-of-the-art fitness center, and even conduct business in the building’s fully equipped business center. There is also convenient 24-hour underground parking with direct building access. Historic Little Tokyo is Downtown’s hottest place to live. Absolutely everything can be found in this diverse neighborhood and it is a short walk to surrounding districts bursting with music, restaurants, art, shopping, sports and nightlife. Living at Hikari brings all the things you love closer than ever, such as art exhibits at the Museum of Contemporary Art, concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Lakers games at Staples Center, cocktails at The Standard hotel and sushi at A Thousand

building, which provides for an approximately 80% property tax reduction. Prices from $229,000 for a studio and from $315,000 for a one-bedroom underscore the reasons to take action now. Excellent low-rate financing makes buying even easier. Additionally, 3% broker cooperation is extended to qualified agents who pre-register their clients. Once home to many of Los Angeles’ oldest and most prominent law offices and brokerage firms, The Rowan has been meticulously revived in a classic Continued on next page

A hot neighborhood. A cool building. A warm welcome. Concerts at Disney Exhibits at MOCA Laker games at Staples Drinks at The Standard Sushi at A Thousand Cranes Shopping in Little Tokyo Glistening swimming pool Landscaped courtyard BBQ grill & fire pit Luxurious lounge Modern fitness center Hi-tech business center Stunning Lobby Gourmet kitchens & baths Resident service center Underground parking Washers/Dryers in every home Private Terraces and more!

www.hikarila.com Sales Office Open: Thursday–Monday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Juliana@TeramachiHomes.com

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*Credit for HOA cost given at close of escrow. **Federal tax credit information available at federalhousingtaxcredit.com. Tax credits available on homes purchased before April 30, 2010. 4% broker cooperation fee. See a sales representative for details. The purchase of a Teramachi home is open to everyone, however the primary resident must be 55 and better. Prices, terms, and conditions subject to change without notice. ©2010 Teramachi Seniors Housing, LLC.

Luxury Studio, 1 & 2BRs for Rent Call (213) 625-8500 We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.

February 22, 2010

Downtown News 21

Residential

Yes You Can at TENTEN Wilshire The Only Place Where Living, Working and Playing Is Just a Suitcase Away

ENTEN Wilshire is the ideal place for business-minded individuals to live, work and play. Whether you are a travel manager, relocation specialist, working professional or entrepreneur, TENTEN Wilshire provides the perfect blend of amenities and necessities to make your decision an easy one. FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

point to Metrolink, Los Angeles’ rail system, is also nearby. With neighbors like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Exposition Park and the Staples Center, additional entertainment and recreational activities are available year round. L.A. Live, a 4 million-square-foot sports and entertainment district offers many exciting venues and restaurants as well. With flexible lease terms, TENTEN Wilshire is the perfect option, whatever your needs may be. TENTEN Wilshire, a

You have heard the phrase “Live, Work and Play” countless times, but not until now have all three been addressed in a single lifestyle solution. Located on Los Angeles’ world famous Wilshire Boulevard, TENTEN Wilshire offers 227 luxury suites in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. At TENTEN Wilshire, all suites are designated live/ work, so conducting business from home in a professional manner just became possible. The suites at TENTEN Wilshire come equipped with every imaginable amenity including 24/7 valet parking, drop-off service within two miles, free basic utilities, wired and wireless high speed Internet, premium cable TV, local phone calls, iPod ready sound systems, high definition LCD TVs, full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and extensive kitchenware sets, and individual thermostats for optimum cooling and heating. TENTEN Wilshire received the award for “Best Rooftop in Downtown Los Angeles.” Inspired by luxury resorts, the world-class rooftop features a full gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, locker rooms, a movie/ screening room, lounge, fire pits, barbecue areas, sundecks, custom outdoor billiard and foosball tables, all while being surrounded by endless panoramic views. A great venue for the complimentary happy hour five days a week, ideal for meeting people and networking. Stop by on Thursdays from 5:30-8 p.m. for a wine and cheese mixer. It is easy to see why TENTEN Wilshire is the complete lifestyle solution business professionals need. In an area lined by the most extensive freeway system in the world, including the 110, 10, 101 and 5 freeways, Downtown Los Angeles, home to major legal, financial and telecommunications companies, is also a center for the entertainment, textile, jewelry and fashion industries. Just two blocks from TENTEN Wilshire is the 7th Street/Metro Center, which offers easy access to MetroRail, Los Angeles’ subway system instantly connecting commuters to Long Beach, Hollywood, Pasadena, LAX and more. Union Station, the access Continued from previous page Beaux Arts style. Nickel and silver detailed Art Deco elevator doors pay tribute to the grandeur of a bygone era, while Italian Carrera marble lines the walls of the elegant foyer and lobby as well as the hallway floors of the upper stories that have been artfully reconfigured into loft-style condominiums. Exposed brick walls and 10- to 15-foot ceilings showcase the distinction of these versatile living spaces. Expanding upon the open and airy arrangements, nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, many of which are framed in Honduran mahogany, flood the interiors with natural light. Reflecting the impeccable taste of Goodwin Gaw, president of Downtown Properties, the residences are finely finished with Scavolini cabinetry, granite or Caesarstone countertops, Bosch kitchen appliances and Toto toilets. Encompassing up to approximately 1,415 square feet, the studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans all incorporate full-sized kitchens and one or two full bathrooms, plus walkin closets and space for washers and dryers. With the same ingenuity and high-style aesthetics that achieved acclaim at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Dodd Mitchell Design has created a residents’ lounge complete with a media center and kitchenette. There also is a landscaped garden with hot and cold spa tubs and a barbecue area. Situated in the heart of the Old Bank District, the Rowan is surrounded by an ever-growing array of restaurants, theaters, art galleries and shops. An adjacent, nearly one-acre site has been purchased by the City of Los Angeles for a future park, while just a few blocks away are the Financial District and the Civic Center. Located at Fifth and Spring streets, The Rowan’s sales information center and five models are open from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m., Thursday through Tuesday (closed on Wednesdays). For further assistance, call (213) 213-1898 or visit Rowan-Lofts.com.

new lifestyle solution for professionals wanting to live, work and play… no matter how long or short the stay. For more information about TENTEN Wilshire contact (877) 338-1010 or visit 1010wilshire.com. TENTEN Wilshire is at 1010 Wilshire Blvd.

Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore! Call Now Fo r

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes Move-In provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses 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.

Spec ial s

Grand Tower

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

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22 Downtown News

February 22, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

Continued from page 1

Central City East photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

Bunker Hill

Chinatown Photo by Brion Topolski

Distinction

the positive elements in the neighborhood. One success is the basketball league founded three years ago by Manuel Compito. The Skid Row 3-on-3 Streetball League works on multiple levels: It provides recreational opportunities and a point of pride for men in the community, and the Saturday morning games in Gladys Park function as a neighborhood gathering point, a place where the drugs and demons endemic in the area are largely left behind. Activists including Jeff Page have worked with the city and private sponsors to get players a new court surface and uniforms. The result is an oasis in a tough neighborhood.

with unexpected angles and swirls that challenge any notion of what a school should look like. The state-of-the-art facilities are equally astounding, from the library in the soaring, slanted cone to the 950-seat theater to the gorgeous dance studios. Ultimately the school will serve 1,700 students from ninth to 12th grades, with curriculums built around dance, music, theater and visual arts. It is appropriate that the next generation of cultural achievers will learn both in the shadow of Downtown’s cultural treasures, and in a campus that itself inspires.

Winner: High School for the Visual and Performing Arts

he $232 million High School for the Visual and Performing Arts is one of the most expensive schools in the nation. It is also one of the most striking. The Grand Avenue campus, orchestrated by the Los Angeles Unified School District and designed by Austrian architect Wolf Prix, is all steel and shimmer,

Winner: Skid Row 3-on-3 Streetball League

Winner: Cirque Berzerk

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February 22, 2010

Downtown News 23

DowntownNews.com

last summer Cirque Berzerk returned larger, louder and even stranger. The show was again a hit, thanks to its collection of artists including fire breathers, fishnet-clad dancers and homoerotic acrobats. Yet there was a greater impact, and by erecting a 1,754-person big top in the park, Berzerk founders Kevin Borque and Suzanne Bernel activated the area several nights a week for nearly two months. Suddenly, a locale with little after-dark appeal was abuzz with activity and people were able to hit Chinatown restaurants and bars before and after the show, or use the Gold Line to take in some entertainment. It was another example of something new and untried succeeding in Downtown.

the ultra-modern CalTrans headquarters to its east. The PAB offers ample glass, an open courtyard on the First Street side and a small park in the rear of the building. The new structure is not only a landmark, but also a symbol of the change and openness that came to the department during the tenure of former Chief William Bratton. It’s no wonder he decided to stay to see the building opened, though it’s new Chief Charlie Beck who gets the best office in the place.

photo by Gary Leonard

gives Downtown hundreds of new, high-paying jobs. Already, some of those working on site are living in the area.

photo by Gary Leonard

Figueroa Corridor photo by Gary Leonard

Civic Center

Regal Cinemas Stadium 14

Winners (Tie): ESPN Production Center Winner: Police Administration Building

he $440 million price tag for replacing, at a new location, the outdated and earthquake-ravaged Parker Center will make anyone blanche. Fortunately, the new headquarters for the Los Angeles Police Department is a stately and worthy home for the entity that has undergone significant change over the past seven years. The 10-story project directly south of City Hall complements both that historic building and

SPN Headquarters: The ESPN Zone may be the first and most obvious sign that the sports giant has arrived in Downtown Los Angeles, but the biggest boom from the Bristol, Conn.-based company comes in the form of the cable network’s West Coast studios and broadcast facilities. In setting up television, radio and Internet news hubs in the complex at L.A. Live, and by broadcasting an installment of the flagship “Sports Center” show from the studios, ESPN has given international attention to Downtown. But it is not only about the community looking good: ESPN’s investment

or decades, those who wanted to catch a first-run movie in a modern theater had to leave Downtown. That changed in October with the debut of the Regal Cinemas Stadium 14. The multiplex provides workers, residents and visitors with a state-of-the-art movie-going experience, and crowds will only increase now that the adjacent Convention Center hotel has opened. But the benefits extend well beyond the opportunity to see popcorn flicks, comedies and serious dramas on the silver screens: The facility includes an 800-seat “premiere theater,” which means Downtown can host the type of large, stylish, red carpet debuts that Hollywood studios drool over. That both draws attention to Downtown and provides a business bounce to surrounding restaurants and bars. The new theaters are a win for the entire community.

Financial District Winner: Pershing Square Programming

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February 22, 2010

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photo by Gary Leonard

Continued from page 23 the street. Despite this, the staff that oversees the attraction at 532 S. Olive St. lures thousands with a constant lineup of concerts, films, ice skating, a farmers market, family events and neighborhood celebrations. Under the auspices of city Department of Recreation and Parks staff including Louise Capone, Pershing Square provides a summer lineup that features big name bands playing on weekend nights and smaller acts that entertain lunchtime crowds. There are outdoor movies on Fridays in the fall, and the winter is highlighted by the Downtown On Ice skating rink, which offers the unlikely opportunity to glide on ice in the shadow of skyscrapers. At night, the skating is enhanced by indie rock and other bands. As the Downtown residential community grows, so do the opportunities for free fun at Pershing Square.

Winner: The Rowan

Winner: Haas Building and Chabad of Downtown Los Angeles

ike many area developers, Downtown Properties was hit hard by the recession, and the prospects for The Rowan, a 206-condominium development at 460 S. Spring St., were put into question. But when the situation was bleakest, the development team took a risk: Last February, they put 79 units in the $50 million project up for auction. More than 60 sold, laying the groundwork to open the building. It also set a precedent, as after the Rowan’s success, auctions have been tried at several other Downtown buildings. These may not provide the profits anticipated before the market soured, but they enable the buildings to be active, viable parts of the community. In The Rowan’s case, this means adding hundreds of stakeholders to the area and giving new life to a 1912 former office tower. Although other developers might have declared bankruptcy and sealed off their projects, Downtown Properties found a successful way to utilize the 13-story building.

he Jewelry District has seen relatively little growth during Downtown’s boom period, but that changed in May with developer Zuri Barnes’ $10 million, self-funded transformation of the Haas Building. The project created 68 apartments in the edifice at 219 W. Seventh St., and architect Lucas Rios Giordano focused on preserving the 1915 structure’s historic character. What also sets the building apart is the second floor Jewish Community Center-Chabad of Downtown Los Angeles. Downtown’s first new full-time synagogue in more than 60 years was founded by Rabbi Moshe Greenwald, and already it has celebrated the High Holy Days and the creation of a new Torah. Barnes provides the 1,300-squarefoot space rent free, and the result is that the community’s growing Jewish population now has a place to gather and to worship.

photo by Gary Leonard

Little Tokyo

photo by Gary Leonard

Distinction

Jewelry District photo by Gary Leonard

Historic Core

Winner: Sakura Crossing

he Little Tokyo residential revolution continued in June, when Related Cos. opened the 230-apartment Sakura Crossing. Within a few months, the neighborhood had hundreds of new inhabitants eager to give up their cars and walk to area restaurants, bars and businesses. The $78 million development at 235 S. San Pedro St. feeds off the energy of other area housing complexes, including Hikari, which Related opened in 2006. Sakura Crossing pays heed to the community, both with its name (“Sakura” refers to the cherry trees on the project site) and through design and landscaping elements. The project, designed by Thomas P. Cox Architects, offers a surprising 34 layouts, and woos residents with upscale amenities including a pool, two roof decks and a screening room.

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Measure R Returns $22 Million To Cities

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The >rst installment of Measure R funds totaling $22.3 million are going out to 72 cities in LA County for transportation improvements. The funds received from July through December ranged from $1,895 for the City of Industry to $9.6 million for the City of LA. Find out more at metro.net/MeasureR.

Check Online For Sepulveda Pass Updates Find out the latest on road closures and construction delays on the I-405 Freeway through the Sepulveda Pass at metro.net/I-405. Metro and Caltrans are widening the freeway between the I-10 and U.S. 101 to add a carpool lane and reduce travel time on one of the busiest – and most congested – freeways in the nation.

High-Speed Train Gets $2.3 Billion

COSMETIC, TMJ, SLEEP APNEA, & GENERAL DENTISTRY

California has been awarded $2.3 billion in federal funds for its high-speed rail project between Anaheim and San Francisco. The state had applied for funds to help build four segments of track – Union Station to Anaheim, San Francisco to San Jose, Merced to Fresno and Fresno to Bakers>eld.

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February 22, 2010

Downtown News 25

DowntownNews.com

Union Station/El Pueblo photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

South Park photo by Gary Leonard

Seventh Street Corridor

Winner: Bottega Louie Restaurant and Market Winner: Rivera Restaurant

Winner: Gold Line Eastside Extension

hen it opened at the base of the bankrupt Brockman Building in April, people naturally wondered whether Bottega Louie would survive. It took only about six minutes to realize that the restaurant and market had hit the sweet spot in terms of price, cuisine and ambience. The establishment in a high-ceilinged, 10,000-square-foot space at 530 W. Seventh St. is packed all the time, whether a weeknight, a weekend or for lunch or happy hour. The mostly Italian menu, including the shareable pizzas, lures the crowds and sparks foot traffic on the block. There are other benefits too, including the 250 jobs created by the bustling business. No one knows when the Brockman will get through its muddle, but whenever it does, residents will have one of the city’s best new restaurants at their doorstep.

he opening of Rivera restaurant in January 2009 resonated not just in Downtown, but throughout the country. The “comeback” project of chef John Rivera Sedlar, a pioneer in the fusion food movement, has earned raves everywhere from Los Angeles to Esquire magazines. Inside a sleek, stylish space at 1050 S. Flower St., Sedlar offers an attractive, Latininspired menu. He has fun with the ingredients, cooking methods, spices and presentation. Although there is a bar, don’t come in expecting a quick drink — the “mixologists” take their time delivering new and inventive beverages, even squeezing their own juices, for concoctions that should be savored. Rivera was not just Downtown’s best new restaurant of 2009 — it was one of the best in the country.

n one hand, the Gold Line Eastside Extension, which opened in November, is exactly what it is intended to be: a way to get people from Boyle Heights and other East Los Angeles neighborhoods to Downtown. But the $898 million project is also much more: The six-mile light rail line connects two communities that though physically close sometimes seem worlds apart. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority spent years studying, preparing, designing, building and testing the line that now takes cars off the streets and makes it easy to head to a new neighborhood. The eight stations also feature thoughtful design, and the Arts District/Little Tokyo stop is an instant benefit for that neighborhood. With the Gold Line Extension, the transit agency is helping bring a disparate region together.

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February 22, 2010

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Hotel Continued from page 1 to the 878-room Marriott portion of the hotel. The Marriott was sold out for its first three nights as it hosted Pollstar Live, a meeting of concert industry workers and executives. Leiweke said the ceremony was the eighth of nine ribbon cuttings at L.A. Live; the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s second hotel, a 123-room Ritz-Carlton, is scheduled to open March 15. The building also includes 224 Ritz-Carlton condominiums on the upper floors. They are priced from $900,000 to $10 million. Leiweke took pains to state that the project was privately financed by AEG and its investment partner MacFarlane Partners. Although the company and the city reached a deal giving AEG a 20-year exemption from the 14% Transient Occupancy Tax normally assessed on hotel room stays, Leiweke said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We did it without any risk to the taxpayers.â&#x20AC;? The 54-story facility required 18,000 tons of steel and 100,000 square feet of carpet, said hotel General Manager Javier Cano. It also features 6,000 windows and 25,000 lights. It has five kitchens and includes the $80 million Gallery Collection, an assortment of banquet and meeting facilities. The project, which broke ground June 1, 2007, employed 3,700 construction workers. The two

hotels have created 700 full-time jobs, about 300 of them in the food and beverage division. Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, said the positions, which are all union, will help â&#x20AC;&#x153;rebuild the middle class.â&#x20AC;? Officials anticipate that the Marriott/Ritz combo will allow Los Angeles to attract conventions and trade shows that otherwise would be difficult to bring to the city. Los Angeles has long had difficulty competing against San Diego and Anaheim, both of which have thousands of hotel rooms, and ample nightlife activity, within walking distance of their convention centers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we lacked was this world-class convention center hotel,â&#x20AC;? said Ninth District City Councilwoman Jan Perry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It makes us competitive. It makes us attractive.â&#x20AC;? Mark Liberman, president of L.A. Inc., the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s convention and visitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; bureau, said that the local industryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest moment will come in August, when the Convention Center hosts a gathering of the American Society of Association Executives. It will bring 16,000 meeting planners to Downtown Los Angeles, where they will experience the new hotel, L.A. Live and the rest of the resurgent community. The aim is to convince them to host their future meetings in Downtown. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Super Bowl of all conventions,â&#x20AC;? he stated. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

The 878-room Marriott provides four-star amenities such as an indoor swimming pool. The 123-room Ritz-Carlton, a five-star establishment, opens March 15.

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Downtown News 27

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February 22, 2010

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CALENDAR The Subject Is Drama photos by Craig Schwartz

Everything Comes Up ‘Roses’ in Taper’s Revival of a 1964 Pulitzer-Winning Play

Director Neil Pepe was originally set to direct David Mamet’s Speed the Plow to open the Mark Taper Forum’s 2010 season. He signed on to direct Frank Gilroy’s The Subject Was Roses instead.

by Anna Scott staff writer

brutal economic downturn and wartime strife are both major news topics in 2010. But when those issues are addressed on the stage of the Mark Taper Forum this week, they won’t have anything to do with The Great Recession or the campaigns in Afghanistan and Iraq. Instead, the play The Subject Was Roses will take on those matters, and toss in the theme of crumbling family dynamics, in a piece first performed in 1964 and set more than 50 years ago. While the storyline may be old, Frank Gilroy’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning material still offers plenty for modern Los Angeles audiences to relate to, says Neil Pepe, director of the show that opened Feb. 21. It runs through March 21. “There are themes that are universal,” said Pepe. “I suppose the most universal aspect is a family coming to terms with itself, but there

are other themes as well: the idea of a son leaving home, going off to war and coming home with a changed perspective; the idea of people being in long-term relationships and having certain ideas about how they want their lives to be and how they end up. “It’s a very truthful and heartfelt play.” Martin Sheen, Frances Conroy and Brian Geraghty star in the three-character drama as John, Nettie and Timmy Cleary, respectively. As the play unfolds, the father, mother and son are forced to examine their flawed, overlapping relationships. Sheen’s performance as John Cleary constitutes the most highly anticipated aspect of the production. That is not just because he is the biggest name in the cast, but also because he played Timmy in the play’s 1964 Broadway debut, earning a Tony Award nomination for his work. Sheen’s return to the drama, this time as Timmy’s father, has brought not just star power but an extra layer of insight, said Pepe.

“He has such a rich history with the play. He was an extraordinary resource during rehearsals,” said the director. “He knows a lot about the details of the story, how certain things came about, so that was a gift.” Digging Deep The Subject Was Roses takes place entirely inside the Clearys’ Bronx apartment. The show opens the morning after the family has hosted a big homecoming party for Timmy, who spent three years away in basic training and fighting in World War II. The story unfolds over approximately the next two days, revealing John’s alcoholism, Nettie’s deep disappointment with her husband and her life, and Timmy’s experience as he sees his parents clearly (and if there is a symbolism in the family name of Cleary, so be it) for the first time. “It’s kind of a moment of truth and reckoning in a family, in terms of where they are and where their dreams have ended up,” Pepe said. “It’s about the son coming home

and trying to resolve some of the family problems, and in some cases he succeeds and in some cases he fails.” Without revealing the ending, Pepe said that by the time the curtain falls, the three characters have a better understanding of who they are and how they relate to each other, for better or worse. “That’s one of the things that’s universal about the play,” he said. “For any family, it’s difficult to truly look at where you are, to talk frankly about where things are going and accept people for who they are.” Gilroy’s rich, nuanced material necessitates a demanding rehearsal process, Conroy said. The actress best known for her role as the matriarch on HBO’s “Six Feet Under” said she has constructed a detailed history for her character, Nettie, based on hints in the script, that help her penetrate the role. “She’s with a man that she knows has been with other women, she’s affected by his drinking, yet she can remember what she grew up around and she has this son who has come back, who was her friend growing up and protector,” said Conroy. “That’s the world she’s in, that’s where you find her when the play opens.” The biggest challenge, Conroy said, “is just going through this process, being patient and allowing your mind to find your way.” Replace the Plow Timing presented another challenge in bringing The Subject Was Roses to the Taper stage. David Mamet’s Speed-the-Plow was originally scheduled to open the theater’s 2010 season. Late last year, however, officials suddenly announced that the show, which had run on Broadway, would be replaced by The Subject Was Roses. Pepe, who had directed the New York Speed-the-Plow and was slated to lead the Taper version as well, stayed on to helm Roses. “It was a little bit of a time crunch, only because we decided to do the play in November and we were going into rehearsals on January 13,” he said. “Outside of that, it’s been the normal four weeks of rehearsal and about 10 days of previews before opening night.” Casting for Roses, Pepe said, came naturally. With Sheen secured, the director tapped Conroy, whom he had known for decades. Geraghty, who starred with Sheen in the 2006 film Bobby and recently in the Oscarnominated The Hurt Locker, also emerged as a natural fit. “It’s been an ideal cast for the show,” said Pepe. “It’s really been a joy to work on.” The Subject Was Roses runs at the Mark Taper Forum through March 21. Performances are Tuesday-Friday at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 and 8 p.m. and Sundays at 1 and 6:30 p.m. At 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

February 22, 2010

Downtown News 29

DowntownNews.com

Quest for Enlightenment Finding Inner Peace With a Video Game by Jeff Favre contributing writer

eaching a state of enlightenment and inner peace sounds enticing, but in this era of the Internet, hundreds of cable channels and high-stress jobs, who has time to take the steps required to be still with one’s self? One possible answer put forth by a character in Les Thomas’ light-hearted drama Cave Quest is ridiculous, but in the best possible way. The world premiere of this 85-minute one-act play, directed by Diane Rodriguez at Downtown’s East West Players, balances pure fantasy and distinct possibility. More than that, Cave Quest — with an assist from two impressive performances — answers the question in a way that opens up a whole universe of other questions, which provide food for thought that lingers long after its conclusion. While the muddled final section could use some tweaking to find a clearer voice, Cave Quest is thoroughly entertaining, funny and charming. So how do you find inner peace? According to Justin Yi (West Liang) the answer is to turn the eternal search into one of the video games that he and his partner in Seattle design. To get the mystical steps that he will convert into a visual version of Cliffs Notes, Justin travels to a remote cave in the Himalayas to interview Padma (Kim Miyori), a Buddhist nun who hasn’t spoken in several years. Like Justin, Padma is American. She was born and raised in Fresno before becoming a Buddhist and moving to a cave, where she meditates for 18 hours a day. It’s no surprise that Padma isn’t too interested in turning her quest for enlightenment into a video game. It’s even less surprising that a woman who hasn’t spoken in years would be taken aback — and severely annoyed — by a hyperactive, whiny, selfish intruder who seems incapable of shutting up for 10 seconds. Like a video game, Cave Quest is a two-person battle. Justin uses every weapon in his arsenal to try to pry secrets from Padma, who blocks Justin’s verbal blows with her steely resolve. There are a few minor twists, but the play’s soul remains a

philosophical discussion over the meaning of experience and whether a pretend experience, such as playing a video game, can be the same as years of daily meditation if the brain thinks it is. The story never leaves the realm of possible, thanks to two captivating performances. Liang has the unenviable task of playing an annoying person. Within 10 minutes, it’s almost difficult not to echo Padma’s pleas for Justin to be quiet. Thomas has written a credible character, one you probably would find in an actual video game development company, and Liang refrains from overplaying the part. He also executes a fully believable panic attack, a key moment that elicits some needed sympathy. In sharp and intriguing contrast, Miyori portrays Padma as quiet and measured. Padma says more with her silence, thanks to Miyori’s expressive performance. And most interesting is how Miyori exposes cracks in Padma’s serenity. There are hints of discomfort and fear that arise with Justin’s arrival, hinting at unresolved issues from her life before becoming a nun. Thomas’ script loses some footing toward the climax while quickly trying to wrap up an intractable struggle, though in the last moments Cave Quest again finds itself. Rodriguez, a veteran director, expertly handles material that requires severe pacing fluctuations, from rapid-fire action and dialogue to silent and still. John Iacovelli’s Himalayan cave set design perfectly sets the mood. Textured and intricate, cozy yet spacious, Iacovelli’s cave with surrounding snowy mountain peaks exudes mysticism. The set even includes a piece of technical wizardry that, aided by Christopher Kuhl’s subtle lighting, rivals a professional magic act. The key to Cave Quest, though, is its humor. Insightful pokes at today’s short attention span youth, mixed with the stranger-in-a-strange-land device provides plenty of laughs. It’s the laughter that keeps Cave Quest entertaining without feeling preachy, allowing its deeper concepts to connect with the audience and leave a lasting impression. Cave Quest runs through March 14 at East West Players, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000, ext. 20, or eastwestplayers.org.

photo by Michael Lamont

Justin Yi (West Liang) meets Padma (Kim Miyori) a Buddhist nun in Les Thomas’ Cave Quest.

photo by Michael Lamont

Les Thomas’ Cave Quest looks for ways to turn the quest for enlightenment into a video game.

Editorial Cartoons and Illustrations by Doug Davis Opening Art Walk Reception: Thursday, March 11 • 7–9 p.m. Gallery Hours: Mondays–Fridays 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Saturdays noon–6 p.m. Sundays noon–3 p.m. Take My Picture 860 S. Broadway (at 9th) Los Angeles, CA 90013 213-622-2256 info@garyleonard.com

www.douginks.com douginks@roadrunner.com

30 Downtown News

February 22, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

The ‘Don’T Miss’ LisT

SponSored LiSting Doug Davis: Inking Outside the Box Take My Picture Gallery, 860 S. Broadway, (213) 622-2256, garyleonard.com or douginks.com. March 11, 7-9 p.m.: Award-winning editorial cartoonist Doug Davis — creator of the Los Angeles Downtown News’ “Urban Scrawl” — opens a new show of cartoons at Gary Leonard’s Take My Picture gallery on March 11, coinciding with the March Art Walk.

photo by Michael Lamont

Wednesday, Feb. 24 Aloud at Central 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz makes sense of the current financial crisis, in conversation with Los Angeles Times editor-at-large Jim Newton. SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu. 7 p.m.: The school hosts architect Monica Ponce de Leon, principal at Office dA, the firm best known in Los Angeles for its leading green design of Helios House, a sustainable gas station at the south east corner of Olympic and Robertson Boulevards. Business Plan Basics 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7110 or lapl.org. 6-8 p.m.: Learn the basics of writing a business plan and securing financing in this free workshop that will also cover marketing, sales, distribution and management and finance.

one

Music for a good cause will take over the Colburn School’s Zipper Hall on Sunday, Feb. 28, when blind mezzo-soprano Laurie Rubin performs a program of Mozart, Gershwin, Sondheim and others — the show will benefit the Israel Guide Dog Center for the Blind. Rubin has had a solo recital at Carnegie Hall and has hit numerous other milestones with her powerful, rich voice. And who doesn’t love dogs? The concert that starts at 7:30 p.m. is a win-winwoof/win — for Rubin, the audience and the guide dogs. At 200 S. Grand Ave., (818) 905-1421 or laurierubin.com.

Friday, Feb. 26 Farmlab Public Salons 1745 N. Spring St., Unit 4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Noon: Wes Jackson, president of The Land Institute (founded in 1976), will describe how, through a combination of genetics, plant breeding and evolutionary biology, we can save our agricultural soils and waters from erosion and chemical contamination.

FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., downtownindependent.com for showtimes. Through March 3: In Bulletproof Salesman, a self-confessed war profiteer, Fidelis Cloer finds the perfect war when the US invades Iraq. But as the war evolves, Fidelis quickly finds himself engaged in a pathological arms race. Feb. 22, 7-11 p.m.: “Film Courage” co-hosts David Branin and Karen Worden lead this interactive event featuring Mike Pasley’s The Stevie Wondershow and an audience networking session after the film. Feb. 24, 8:30 p.m.: The LA3DClub has teamed up with the venue to present screenings of independent 3-D movies, this time featuring Scar 3-D (www. scarthemovie.com) and a Q&A with director Jed Weintrob and producer Norman Twain, moderated by Ray Zone. Feb. 26-March 4: Zombie Girl: The Movie chronicles the creative passion of Emily Hagins, an extraordinary pre-teen girl following her filmmaking dreams. The film documents the exhilarating and heartbreaking two years it took her to make it. Flagship Theatres 3323 S. Hoover St., (213) 748-6321 or flagshipmovies.com. Through Feb. 25: The Wolfman (12:30, 3, 5:30, 8 and 10:30 p.m.); Valentine’s Day (2, 4:45, 7:30 and

Continued on next page

Three

h Cass photo by Sara

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The down town ind ependen will host a t sc and netwo reening, discussion rking oppo rtunity for movie buff s 22, from 7 on Monday, Feb. -11 p.m. T he organized by the Inte evening, rnet radio show Film C with a scre ourage, will begin en The Stevie ing of the indie film Wondersho w (the tagline boast s that it’s a comedy about insa nity, sillyn e ss and reality , infamy T Q&A with V), followed by a dir and an aud ector Mike Pasley ience netw orking session. At 25 1 617-1033 S. Main St., (213) or downtow nindependent.com. Contact A nn anna@dow a Scott at ntownnews. com.

Catch the newly opened The Ultimate Wave at the California Science Center this weekend. The 3D IMAX film, featuring surfing champ Kelly Slater as he takes on the waters of Tahiti, is, like, totally radical. And kinda gnarly. Dude! But also bodaciously educational! The movie uses extreme surfing not just to spread radness, but to explore the science of waves. It also examines the relationship between the sport of surfing and Tahitian history. Toobular! The 45-minute film, which opened Feb. 12, runs seven days a week through June 24. At 700 Exposition Park Dr., (213) 744-2019 or californiasciencecenter.org.

There’s nothing like some frank talk about the city’s fiscal crisis with your eggs and coffee, right? In that case, you won’t want to miss City Controller Wendy Greuel’s breakfast address at the Omni Los Angeles Hotel on Tuesday, Feb. 23. The talk, titled “Back to Basics: How Los Angeles Recovers,” will focus on Greuel’s ideas for tackling the city’s $212 million deficit. The event hosted by the organization Town Hall-Los Angeles starts at 8 a.m. and includes breakfast and a Q&A session. At 251 S. Olive St., (213) 628-8141 or townhall-la. org.

four

sunday, Feb. 28 MOCA, Geffen Contemporary 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-1794 or moca.org. 7 p.m.: In this event for museum members, MOCA presents “Live Sprawl,” a new interactive performance by Los Angeles–based artist collective Lucky Dragons, created specifically for the evening. The performers will engage partygoers in the collaborative construction of their environment using sound, video, lighting, physical contact, conversation and other surprise elements. For more information, including on membership, contact membership1@ moca.org.

by AnnA Scott StAff writer

Tuesday, Feb. 23 Aloud at Central 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7000 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Brighde Mullins, director of USC’s Master of Professional Writing Program, talks with three writers — John D’Agata, Michael Govan and Verlyn Klinkenborg — on the landscape and finite resources.

Dog-AiD, exTreme Surfing, ClASSiCAl roCk AnD film TAlk

TWo

EVENTS

LISTINGS

February 22, 2010

Downtown News 31

DowntownNews.com

We Got Games The Lakes Roll, While the Clippers Wave the White Towel Los Angeles Lakers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7100 or nba.com/lakers. Feb. 26, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 28, 12:30 p.m.: The Lakers take their purple and gold show to Memphis (Feb. 23), where Pau will try to remind his brother Marc which Gasol has a championship ring. Then they head to Dallas (Feb. 24) to take on Dirk Nowitzki and his new teammate Caron Butler. Andrew Bynum is back, and with Kobe expected to play too, the Lakers should be at full strength to finish the week with two home games, first against the Philadelphia 76ers and then, in the match-up of the week, the Denver Nuggets. Los Angeles Clippers Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., Continued from previous page 10:15 p.m.); Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (1:30, 4:15, 7 and 9:45 p.m.). Regal Cinema L.A. Live 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (877) 835-5734 or lalive.com. Through Feb. 25: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (11 and 11:40 a.m. and 1:30, 3:10, 3:50, 4:40, 6:20, 7, 7:50, 9:30, 10:10 and 11 p.m.); Celine: Through the Eyes of the World (7:30 p.m.); From Paris With Love (11:30 a.m. and 2, 4:20, 6:50 and 9:10 p.m.); Legion (11:50 a.m. and 2:20 and 4:50p.m.); Avatar in 3D (11:20 a.m. and 3, 6:40 and 10:20 p.m.); Crazy Heart (12:50, 3:40, 6:30 and 9:10 p.m.); Valentine’s Day (1, 1:40, 4, 4:40, 6:50, 7:30, 9:40 and 10:20 p.m.); The Wolfman (11:40 a.m. and 12:20, 2:10, 2:50, 4:50, 5:30, 7:20, 8, 9:50 and 10:30 p.m.); Dear John (1:20, 4:10, 6:40 and 9:20 p.m.); Shutter Island (12, 12:40, 1:30, 3:10, 3:50, 4:40, 6:20, 7, 7:50, 9:30, 10:10 and 11 p.m.).

THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Bob Baker’s Marionettes 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Feb. 23-26, 10:30 a.m.; Feb. 27, 2:30 p.m.: Downtown’s puppet master, Bob Baker, is known for his homemade puppets and down home fun. This show, “Fiesta Alegre,” features some gesticulating cacti, flamenco dancers and a stubborn donkey. Through April 11. Cavequest David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 eastwestplayers.org. Feb. 24-27, 8 p.m.; Feb. 28, 7 p.m.: The search for inner peace is a life long journey. But Justin Yi plans to condense that journey into minutes by packaging it into a $49.99 video game. To help his cause, he tracks down Padma, a legendary Buddhist nun in a Tibetan cave high in the Himalayas. Padma hasn’t spoken in three years but Justin hopes she will divulge her secrets of enlightenment to him. When his wit and charm fails, Justin resorts to tactics deemed less heroic. Through March 14. Dreamgirls Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Feb. 25, 2 and 8 p.m.; Feb. 26, 8 p.m.; Feb. 27, 2 and 8 p.m.; Feb. 28, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: This musical tells the rags-to-riches story of an up and coming, 1960s girl group, and the triumphs and tribulations that come with fame and fortune. Through April 4. Exiles The Hayworth Theatre, 2509 Wilshire Blvd., (323) 960-4442 or thehayworth.com.

RESTAURANTS

(213) 742-7100 or nba.com/clippers. Feb. 22 and 24, 7:30 p.m.: Clippers fans got it bad, and that ain’t good. Blake Griffin is out for the season. And now, former coach and current General Manager Mike Dunleavy is blowing up the squad: He just traded the team’s best defender in Marcus Camby to the Trailblazers for a backup point guard, an injured bench player and, the best player in the deal, a handful of cash. That bodes well for next year. As for this year, well, the thunderous dunking DeAndre Jordan should get more playing time, which means more laughing at his hilarious, shotput-style free throws. Oh yeah, they host the Charlotte Bobcats and Detroit Pistons before heading to Phoenix (Feb. 26) and Sacramento (Feb. 28). Los Angeles Kings Staples Center, 1111 S. Figueroa St., 1 (888) KINGS-LA or kings.nhl.com. With the winter Olympics underway in Vancouver, the NHL remains on hiatus until March 2. Next week, the Kings come down the home stretch of the season with a pair of road games before hosting the Montreal Canadiens on March 6. —Ryan Vaillancourt

Feb. 26-27, 8 p.m.; Feb. 28, 3 p.m.: Cuban American immigrant Rolando and his son are permitted to return to Cuba to retried relatives in the 1980 Mariel Boatlift, but they must carry back with them a convicted murderer, a raving lunatic and, worst of all, Rolando’s brotherin-law who had betrayed him to the Communists twenty-years before. When a storm leaves their tiny vessel helplessly adrift at sea, the tension escalates as the refugees find themselves in a desperate battle against the elements, each other and the demons of their past. Through Feb. 27. The Peacock Men Company of Angels Theatre, 501 S. Spring St., companyofangels.org. Feb. 26-27, 8 p.m.; Feb. 28, 7 p.m.: Five Black men explore contemporary American culture, images, labels, dreams deferred and their own subconsciousness in this wacky, lyrical, quirky dark comedy. Through March 7. The Subject Was Roses Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 628-2772 or centertheatregroup.org. Feb. 24-26, 8 p.m.; Feb. 27, 2:30 and 8 p.m.: Feb. 28, 7 p.m.: A young man’s return from World War II becomes a catalyst for an emotional tug-of-war in which love is a prize and a weapon. Martin Sheen returns to the play that earned him a Tony Award nomination in 1964, now as the patriarch of a family forced to confront its own privatized emotions and buried truths. Frances Conroy (Six Feet Under) and Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker) complete the family triangle struggling to reconnect after years of emotional distance and rediscover the beauty in the simple gift of roses. Through March 21. Teatro En El Blanco: Diciembre REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat.org. Feb. 24-27, 8:30 p.m.: From the roiling imagination of Chilean writer-director Guillermo Calderón comes this politically charged, haunting drama about a near-future war in the Andes. Peppered with surprising doses of pitch-black comedy, Diciembre takes place in Santiago on Christmas Eve 2014 with the city besieged by Peruvian forces. Performed in Spanish with English supertitles.

photo by Gary Leonard

Clippers General Manager (and ex-coach) Mike Dunleavy spent much of last week trading players. The team is officially playing for next year.

Feb. 27, 7-9 p.m.: Vocalist Kathleen Grace. Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or caseysirishpub.com. Fridays, 10:30 p.m.: Live rock and indie acts on the Jameson stage. Chop Suey Café 347 E. First St., (213) 617-9990 or chopsueycafe.com. Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m.: Live jazz on the patio of the restored landmark. Cicada Cicada Restaurant, 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or clubcicada.com. Sundays, 6-11 p.m.: The restaurant is transformed into a vintage, old Hollywood-style dance club every Sunday. Come out to appreciate the big band, swank costumes, dinner and cocktails. Visit cicadaclub.com. Conga Room L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic, (213) 749-0445 or congaroom.com. Feb. 23, 8 p.m.: Guitarist and singer, Carlos Baute. Feb. 24, 8 p.m.: Maria Fatal. Feb. 25, 8 p.m.: Amanda Miguel y Diego Verdaguer. Feb. 27, 8 p.m.: Amarfis y la Banda De Atake. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. Feb. 23, 10 p.m.: The Pine Hill Haints and Almighty Do Me A Favor. Feb. 24, 10 p.m.: Mark Growden and Dorian Wood. Feb. 26, 10 p.m.: The Cute Lepers, Prima Donna, Clorox Girls, DRex, The Spurts and Luxury Sweets. Feb. 27, 10 p.m.: Mike Watt and The Missing Men and Spot. Feb. 28, 10 p.m.: Pirate Burlesque with Lavender La Rue and more. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., sevengrand.la. Feb. 22, 10 p.m.: Adam Schroeder.

Continued on next page

ROCK, POP & JAZZ 2nd Street Jazz 366 E. Second St., (213) 680-0047, 2ndstjazz.com or myspace. com/2ndstreetlivejazz. Tuesdays: Jazz jam session. Music usually starts at 9 or 10 p.m. Café Metropol 923 E. Third St., (213) 613-1537 or cafemetropol.com. Feb. 26, 8-10 p.m.: Keen Inkling plays modern jazz.

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32 Downtown News

February 22, 2010

Twitter/DowntownNews

But Wait, There’s More!

Additional Event Information on the Web

MUSEUMS

Listings Continued from previous page Feb. 23, 10 p.m.: The Makers. Feb. 24, 10 p.m.: Leila Avila. The Smell 247 S. Main St., thesmell.org. Feb. 26, 9 p.m.: The Haters, Sissy Spacek, Gerritt Wittmer and Paul Knowles and AMK. Feb. 27, 9 p.m.: Bipolar Bear, Residual Echoes, Neverever and Twisted Stars. Feb. 28, 1-8 p.m.: Azatlan Underground, Subsistenzia, Guerrilla Queenz and In Lak Ech.

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

FIDM Museum and Galleries 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1200 or fidm.edu. Grammy Museum L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Through March 28, 2010: In 1956, photojournalist Alfred Wertheimer was hired by RCA Victor to shoot promotional images of a recently signed 21-year-old recording artist, Elvis Presley, and his instincts to “tag along” with the artist after the assignment resulted in 56 striking images that provide an intimate look at Elvis before he exploded onto the scene and became one of the most exciting performers of all time. The collection is called “Elvis At 21.” Through summer 2010: “Michael Jackson: A Musical Legacy” includes Jackson’s trademark fedora and gloves, six elaborately embellished jackets, original lyrics, a Jackson 5 stage costume and more. Across eight video monitors, the museum will also present footage of Jackson’s appearances on the annual Grammy Awards, as well as never-before-seen video of some of Jackson’s famous friends sharing their memories of him. The exhibit will feature a new interactive experience which will allow visitors to dance on a floor of light-up tiles, mimicking Jackson’s own moves in the “Billie Jean” music video. Through summer 2010. Ongoing: “Roland Live” is a permanent installation courtesy of the electronic musical instrument maker, Roland Corporation. The exhibit gives visitors a chance to participate in the music-making process by playing a wide variety of Roland products, from V-Drums and BOSS pedals to VIMA keyboards and the MV-8800 Production Studio. Japanese American National Museum 369 E. First St., (213) 625-0414 or janm.org.

Ongoing: “Common Ground: The Heart of Community” chronicles 130 years of Japanese American history, from the early days of the Issei pioneers to the present. Museum of Contemporary Art, Grand Avenue 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org. Through May 3: “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years” is a two-part exhibition that constitutes the largest-ever installation of MOCA’s permanent collection and reflects the museum’s early and ongoing commitment to bringing art of major historical significance and distinction to the public. Part one of Collection, on view at MOCA Grand Avenue, features works made between 1939 and 1979, organized chronologically beginning with Piet Mondrian’s Composition of Red, Blue, Yellow and White: Nom III (1939). Permanent: Nancy Rubins’ cheekily and comprehensively titled “Chas’ Stainless Steel, Mark Thompson’s Airplane Parts, About 1000 Pounds of Stainless Steel Wire, Gagosian’s Beverly Hills Space, at MOCA (2001-2002)” is a monumental sculpture made out of parts of an airplane. Museum of Contemporary Art, The Geffen Contemporary 152 N. Central Ave., (213) 621-2766 or moca.org. Through May 3: “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years” is a two-part exhibition that constitutes the largest-ever installation of MOCA’s permanent collection and reflects the museum’s early and ongoing commitment to bringing art of major historical significance and distinction to the public. The second part of Collection, on view at the Geffen, features works made during the last three decades—the period, beginning with the museum’s founding in 1979, during which MOCA has been actively acquiring works, organizing exhibitions, and engaging with artists in Los Angeles and beyond Museum of Neon Art 136 W. Fourth St., (213) 489-9918 or

Listings for additional concerts, exhibits and more in Downtown Los Angeles can be found on our website. Go to ladowntownnews.com/calendar for full information, including time and location, for all the happenings in Downtown. neonmona.org. Through May 16: “Light Geist” is a group exhibit featuring illuminated works by Stephen Anderson, Epheta, Joella March, Linda Price, Randy Noborikawa and Treiops Treyfid. Through May 16: “So Cal Eats” features photographs from the book by John Eng and Adriene Biondo. Through May 16: James McDemas’ site-specific installation on large-scale found objects and neon signage. Ongoing: Before moving to Glendale, MONA is expanding its program and events series with an upcoming exhibition and retrospective by Bill Concannon, a site-specific installation by Jerico Woggon, a new musical series for emerging artists every Friday night called “Electric Pop” and a monthly photo competition on night photography for every Art Walk. Its first competition for the March 11th Art Walk is juried by Gary Leonard of Take My Picture Gallery.

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Event Info

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February 22, 2010

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All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

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Downtown News 33

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34 Downtown News

February 22, 2010

Twitters/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

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attorneys

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION! Family, Criminal, P.I. for more than 20 yrs! Child Support / Custody Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español / Korean

get your green Card or CitiZenshiP Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

CLeaning

Reroof, Repairs • Lic. #C-39-588045

CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants. Call for a quote. 323-459-3067 or 818-409-9183.

323-229-3320 (C) 323-722-1646 (b)

ComPUters/it

崔Roof Michael Choi Roofing

Since 1972 • FREE Estimate

COMPUTER REPAIR. Free Assessment. 24/7 Onsite Support. Home / Office * Any Computer Issue * Troubleshooting/ Security * Install/ Repair/ Upgrade * Internet/ Antivirus/ Website. Day Davis: 310-592-2740, 818-7955985. ddavis@globaltechnologypros.com. (Cal-SCAN)

massage

Star Holistic Spa Massage/Acupressure $40 (1 hour) 2551 W. Beverly Blvd. LA, CA, 90057 (Beverly Rampart)

edUCation

Tel: 213-383-7676 advertising ADVERTISE ONLINE in a network of 50-plus newspaper websites. Border to Border with one order! $7 cost per thousand impressions statewide. Minimum $5,000 order. Call for details: (916) 288-6010. www. CaliforniaBannerAdNetwork. com. (Cal-SCAN) CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in 240 Cal-SCAN newspapers for the best reach, coverage, and price. 25-words $550. Reach over 6 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 2886019. www.Cal-SCAN.com. (Cal-SCAN) DISPLAY ADVERTISING in 140 Cal-SDAN newspapers statewide for $1,550! Reach over 3 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.Cal-SDAN.com. (CalSCAN) ChiLdCare

Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices

QUALITY LICENSED Full-day childcare available at Joy Picus or Harry pregerson centers. Infants 5 years. (213) 978-0026 (213) 894-1556.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure. Call Now! 1-866-5623650 ext. 60 www.SouthEasternHS.com. (Cal-SCAN) finanCiaL serviCes ARE YOU RECEIVING payments on a Mortgage? To profit from that mortgage- Call Now! 1-888-525-7184 for a free handbook. Recorded message. www. WestEggCapital.com. (CalSCAN) DROWNING IN DEBT? Reduce debt by up to 60%. Affordable payment terms. Avoid Bankruptcy. Debt-Free in 12-48 months. Countrywide Debt Relief. Call 1-866-455-0272. (Cal-SCAN) misC. serviCes PSYCHOTHERAPY for adults and couples. Some insurances accepted. 5th & Grand. CA License LCS21567. Info at (310) 283-9027. (310) 283-9027.

Sell Your Car!

Expose your auto to Downtown Los Angeles. With one of the fastest growing residential areas Los Angeles Downtown News gets results.

Call 213-481-1448

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing! • Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views

Burbank • Brentwood Century City • Downtown L.A. Woodland Hills Locations Nationwide Beautiful Offices For As Little As $400 Fully Furnished/Corporate ID Programs Flexible Terms/All New Suites Services Include: • Reception • Mail • T-1 • State-of-the-Art Voice Mail & Telephone • Westlaw • Fax • Photocopy • More

6th+Grand Ave. • milanoloftsla.com • 213.627.1900

Additional Features: Kitchen Facilities, All Support Services, Great Views, Free Conference Room Hours, Fully Trained Staff, Cost Effective.

DTLA Class A Office Space Avail. for Sublease and/or Sharing

Jenny Ahn (213) 996-8301 jahn@regentBC.com www.regentbc.com

EARN $1000+ WEEkly!

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

We are hiring, NOT downsizing. Bus. to Bus. commercial collection sales. Guaranteed weekly rate + commissions on every deal. $300 Signing Bonus. Downtown LA. 213.621.2394

SunshineGenerationLA.com 909-861-4433

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom. Excellent location. downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

Monthly from $550 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348

THAI MASSAGE SPECIALIST VIP Room Available. The Best Way For Business Meetings & Entertainment

saKUra heaLth gym & saUna, inC.

HBODY

MASSAGEH

First Professionally Licensed Massage Shop in L.A. County.

Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site. Gated building in a good area. 208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. downtown LA

For English Call Pierre or Terri 213.744.9911 For Spanish Call Susana 213.749.0306

doWntoWn soUth ParK affordaBLe Program Studios: $925 1 bdrms $1,056 2 bdrms $1,321

HealtH Dept. rank a for 7 ConseCutive Years

111 N. Atlantic Blvd. Ste #231-233 Monterey Park, CA 91754 (626) 458-1919 [Corner of Garvey Ave.]

Unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath $695/mo.

luxury living

Professional massage for men & women. Services include Thai Massage, Shiatsu Massage, Swedish Oil Massage, Foot Massage, Sauna, Steam, and more. Lounge area.

3386766 0119

HELP WANTED Telemarketing

Approx. 1k to 8k SF Avail. Immed. New space with “creative” design features, great views and LEED certification Recept. Services Avail. Flexible term. Furn. Avail. Sean O’Leary 310.491.2010 sean.oleary@grubb-ellis.com

Low Move in Special

Income and Program Guidelines Apply. Call for Details. High Rise Apartment, Pool, Fitness Center, Subterranean Parking (Additional), Great Location, 2 blocks to Staples Center. Call Toll Free 1-888-810-9608

AUTOS Pre-oWned

doWntoWn L.a. aUto groUP PoRsChE VolksWAgEN AuDi MERCEDEs-BENz NissAN ChEVRolET CADillAC

08 JETTA S SDN 29 HWY MPG. 33199 miles. Air conditionng, power steering, power windows, power locks, cruise control, CD player, VIN 015827. $13,888. 888-781-8102 2007 A4 PREM PKG., heated seats sport suspension $21,888. Stock #ZA9584 VIN 7A272428. 888-583-0981 2007 CARRERA COUPE Black/ blk, certified pre-owned, tiptronic, 21K miles. VIN710520. $62,988. 888-685-5426 2007 MERCEDES BENZ CLK350 V6 3.5L, Automatic, Arctic White, certified, 4594C/212294. $25.994. 888319-8762 2008 TOYOTA YARIS SEdAn Automatic, Air, Cruise, CD, Premium Sound, ABS (4-wheel), Alloy wheels stock #UC518Rvin037040. $9,997. 888-879-9608 2010 NISSAN GTR, too low to quote. Call 888-838-5089.

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com

ITEMS FOR SALE

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF TULARE NO. 09-233616 PLAINTIFF: E.M. THARP, INC. vS DEFENDANT: ENMEX CORP, DbA TRANS ENERGY USA, AND DOES 1-10 Notice! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below. You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form, if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court. There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association. The name and address of the court is: Superior Court of California, County of Tulare 221 South Mooney Blvd. Visalia, CA 93291 Case Number: 09-233616 Dated: July 17, 2009 The name, address, telephone number, and fax number of Plaintiff’s attorney is: Robert Krase, Esq. #073388 132 East Morton Ave. Porterville, CA 93257 Telephone: 559-784-2353 Clerk: LaRayne Cleek Deputy: Anna L. Lopez Pub. 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22/10

LaWn & garden/farm eqUiP NEW NORWOOD SAWMILLSLumberMate-Pro handles logs 34” diameter, mills boards 28” wide. Automated quick-cyclesawing increases efficiency up to 40%! www.NorwoodSawmills. com/300N 1-800-661-7746 ext. 300N. (Cal-SCAN) fUrnitUre HEADBOARD, 9 drawer dresser, 2 mirror, 1 lamp table, $165. 213-924-9462. misC. items Two AKC Registered Teacup yorkshire terrier puppies, male or female. Contact Robinpeter04@ gmail.com.

PETS/ANIMALS adoPt a Pet ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation. org.

ANNOUNCEMENTS sPeCiaL events SONY HOLLAND DUO: Great music for your event or party. Guitar, vocal jazz. Contact sony@sonyholland.com for info. 213 241 9015.

aUtos Wanted voLUnteer oPPortUnities DONATE YOUR VEHICLE! Receive Free Vacation Voucher. United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, NonRunners Accepted, 1-888-4685964. (Cal-SCAN) DONATE YOUR CAR: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (Cal-SCAN)

Helping kids heal. Free Arts for Abused Children is looking for volunteers to integrate the healing power of the arts into the lives of abused and at-risk children and their families. Today is the day to get involved! Contact Annie at volunteers@freearts. org or 310-313-4278 for more information.

LEGAL CiviL sUmmons

Available Immediately Top floor of 11 story (18,000 SF) historic building available now! Perfect for corporate hqtrs. Features separate executive suite(s). Stunning views of LA two blocks away from Staples Center and across the street from the new LA Live complex. We have approximately 7,800 square feet of space open with offices along the exterior. Full kitchen with dishwasher, high exposed ceilings and stained floors. The building also has approx 4,000 sq ft of beautiful contiguous space and some small offices available. These spaces can be viewed by appointment.

the loft expert! group

Downtown since 2002

Don't settle for anyone less experienced! Call us today! Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Information available to qualified prospective tenants. Email request to mdavis@shammasgroup.com or call (213) 746-6300

madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service. •Daily, $25.00 •Weekly, $99.00 •Monthly, $295.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

Take us home ADOPT (OR FOSTER) your forever friend from Bark Avenue Foundation. Beautiful, healthy puppies, dogs, cats and kittens available at Downtown’s largest private adoption facility. Call Dawn at 213-840-0153 or email Dawn@BarkAveLA.com or visit www.Bark Avenue Foundation.org.

FOR RENT? FOR LEASE? FOR SALE?

LOFT LIVING

People are looking here, shouldn’t your ad should be here?

lADowntownNews.com

(213) 481-1448

Your number 1 source for Loft sales, rentals and development!

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Contact Cartifact for the full-color, every-building version of this map and others. Available as a poster and in print, web, and mobile media.

700 S. Flower St, Ste. 1940 Los Angeles, CA 90017 213.327.0200 maps�cartifact.com

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36 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

February 22, 2010

Maguire ProPerties salutes the Los AngeLes Downtown news

Downtowners of Distinction 2010 Congratulations to this year’s honorees high school for the Visual and Performing arts (Bunker Hill) � skid row 3-on-3 streetball league (Central City East) � Cirque Berzerk (Chinatown) � Police administration Building (Civic Center) � esPn’s los angeles Production Center and regal Cinemas stadium 14 (Figueroa Corridor) � Pershing square Programming (Financial District) � the rowan (Historic Core) � haas Building and Chabad of Downtown los angeles (Jewelry District) � sakura Crossing (Little Tokyo) � Bottega louie restaurant and Market (Seventh Street Corridor) � rivera restaurant (South Park) � Metro gold line eastside extension (Union Station/El Pueblo)