LOS ANGELES
DOWNTOWN
40
C
NEWS Volume 42, Number 8
EBRATING EL
YEARS
Since 1972
DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
The latest information on 85 residential, civic, business, cultural and other projects, plus a 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 25, 2013
Restoring Justice A $234 Million Project Will Bring Downtown’s Past Into the Present
photo by Gary Leonard
The $234 million renovation of the Hall of Justice includes the creation of a 1,000-car parking structure. The 1925 building that was closed after the Northridge earthquake will reopen in early 2015. by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
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he 1925 Hall of Justice is awash in change, caught between old and new. The exterior of the building at 211 W. Temple St. is gray and grimy, the result of decades of smog, dirt and exhaust from the hundreds of thousands of cars that crawl by daily on the nearby 101 Freeway. The interior has been largely stripped to its bare bones. However, plenty of signs of the past grandeur remain. The arched, brass-lined glass entrance is still commanding. The
grand lobby retains an elaborate copper-colored ceiling and a pair of powerful marble columns. If all goes according to plan, the faded aspects will soon transform to shiny and updated. The 335,000-square-foot building is in the midst of a $234 million renovation. When it opens, it will house the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office. It has been a long journey for the 1925 edifice that was red-tagged shortly after the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Although the property won’t open until the beginning of 2015, officials overseeing the transformation are finally begin-
ning to see the light, which is both figurative and literal — a key part of the transformation involves polishing the once gleaming Sierra White Granite structure. “It was the same color as City Hall,” said James Kerns, who is in charge of the project and its 400-person crew. Before being shuttered, the building was home to the Sheriff’s Department, a jail, the Coroner’s office and the District Attorney’s office. There were 17 courtrooms and 750 cells in the building. Its history also includes elements of infamy. The jail housed see Hall of Justice, page 32
Grand and Distinct New Park Captures Top Prize at Downtown News’ Annual Awards by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR
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hen it came to crafting a deal with mega-developer Related in 2007 for the rights to build the Grand Avenue project, County Supervisor Gloria Molina didn’t quash the bit of skepticism she felt. Instead, as a condition to build the project, she pushed for Related to pay $56 million up front to cover the cost of building a new park. That work paid off last year when the 12-acre Grand Park opened. Last week, the park received the Project of the Year award at Los Angeles Downtown News’ 12th annual Downtowners of Distinction awards ceremony. “I’m a little cynical about development,” Molina said after
accepting the award on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. “There are always promises that are made to the community and usually not honored. So I was in a position to be very demanding and to leverage that, and I think at the end of the day we made the right decision because today we have a park.” About 350 people attended the event, among them Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich and City Council members Jan Perry, José Huizar, Dennis Zine and Tom LaBonge. They joined hundreds of Downtown civic and business leaders in honoring 11 projects from different districts in see Distinction, page 23
photo by Gary Leonard
County Supervisor Gloria Molina last week accepted the Downtowners of Distinction Project of the Year award for Grand Park from Downtown News Editor and Publisher Sue Laris.
2 Downtown News
AROUNDTOWN Developer Plans 22-Story Tower for Broadway
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zek Shomof, a developer known for turning around old Historic Core buildings, is working on his first ground-up project. Shomof last week revealed that he has begun planning a 22-story tower on the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Broadway. He closed escrow on a deal for the site last week, and while he declined to disclose what he paid, he said it cost more than $10 million. The plan would involve razing a one-story building where the roof has been home to the Devil’s Night Drive-in. The plans for the site are preliminary and could change, but Shomof is bullish on the residential market in the area. At his three Historic Core apartment complexes — Premiere Towers, Spring Tower and City Lofts — “we have no vacancy,” he said. At 22 stories, Shomof’s project would be the first Historic Core development that the city would require be built with steel and concrete. Most residential projects in Downtown have involved mid-rise, woodframed structures. City code requires developers to switch to steel and concrete for buildings more than 75 feet tall.
Grand Park Launching Weekly Farmers Market
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owntown is getting another farmers market, this one at Grand Park every Tuesday. The Grand Park market debuts on Feb. 26 with a collection of fresh produce and prepared foods vendors, along with craft and flower sellers. The market will be produced by Grand Park and managed by Susan Hutchinson, who also oversees the Thursday City Hall farmers market that takes
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place one block away. The market will be situated in the park’s marketplace area, on the south side of the event lawn between Spring Street and Broadway. “We’re trying to serve Downtowners,” said Julia Diamond, director of programming at the Music Center, which handles park operations for L.A. County. “I think it’s going to draw folks even from up on Bunker Hill. It will have a large focus on prepared foods for lunch.” The market is slated to run from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Yaroslavsky Skeptical of Proposed City Sales Tax Increase
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fficials including City Council president Herb Wesson, Police Chief Charlie Beck and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have lined up in support of a half cent sales tax that voters are being asked to approve on March 5. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, however, hardly sounds convinced that the tax, on the ballot as Measure A, is in the best interests of the long-term health of the city. “Personally I haven’t made a decision on it yet, which should tell you something,” Yaroslavsky said on Wednesday, Feb. 20, during a lunch at the Downtown Palm organized by the Los Angeles Current Affairs Forum. Measure A would raise the city sales tax to 9.5%, one of the highest in the state. It needs the approval of more than 50% of the voters to pass. Yaroslavsky, who contemplated but opted against running for mayor, has strongly advocated for infrastructure and transportation projects. In the case of Measure A, however, he is concerned that the tax is not dedicated to a specific use. “This one you’re voting for a pig in a poke,” he said. “It’s going into the general fund, and the city council and the mayor
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Conlon Extends L.A. Opera Contract
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xpect a bit of consistency at L.A. Opera. James Conlon, the music director of the company since 2006, has extended his contract through the 2017/2018 season, officials announced last week. As music director, Conlon shapes the company’s schedule and has the task of interspersing crowd-pleasing warhorses of the genre with lesser known and contemporary pieces. He also created the Recovered Voices series, which presents works by composers who were suppressed by the Nazis during World War II. “James
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has had an incredible impact on the artistic quality of L.A. Opera performances,” said Plácido Domingo, the company’s general director, in a statement. Conlon has conducted 190 performances of L.A. Opera productions, more than any conductor in the Downtown-based company’s history. He has also become known for giving pre-concert lectures that are tailored for relative newcomers to opera, but that are still informative for connoisseurs.
Regional Connector Work to Close Traffic Lanes
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tarting on Monday, Feb. 25, traffic lanes near Fifth and Flower streets will be closed for work on Metro’s Regional Connector. see Around Town, page 6
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Downtown News 3
Celebrating 40 Years
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4 Downtown News
February 25, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
EDITORIALS Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis
Thinking Big
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his week’s issue of Los Angeles Downtown News contains our Development section, which publishes three times a year. Looking at the material, it is clear that Downtown Los Angeles, as a whole, is doing something that has not happened in a while: thinking big. We get that “thinking big” is an inexact term when it comes to an entire community, that no single individual or leader is standing up and saying that everything has changed. But in a way, that’s the point: “Thinking big” is a cumulative statement, the result of seeing scores of projects happening at the same time across many Downtown districts. The section contains updates on 85 projects. Our previous Development section, published last September, held 75. While the number is still short of the 120-plus projects we tracked during the height of the real estate boom, 14 new projects have been added in the last five months. Although one can’t say how many will ultimately make it to an opening date, more developments are being announced and going into construction. We keep seeing “big” plans, whether for housing, business or other sectors. One place the big comes into play is the replacement of the Wilshire Grand Hotel. Property owner Korean Air this month announced that, when completed in late 2016, it will be the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River. Although U.S. Bank Tower will have offices on a higher floor, the Wilshire Grand will hold a spire that rises above the top of the former Library Tower. It may just mean bragging rights, but it is also exciting to think that in a few years Downtown will boast the two tallest structures in the Western United States. The “big” comes across on the civic side as well, with multiple huge-budget projects in different parts of the community. The Civic Center will benefit from the $234 million Hall of Justice upgrade and a $400 million Federal Courthouse slated to break ground this year on the southwest corner of First Street and Broadway. A replacement for the Sixth Street Viaduct, also valued at $400 million, is in the design phase. Then there’s the residential sector, which has rebounded after several years in the doldrums. Multiple projects have broken ground in the past few months, and a rush of activity on Eighth Street will help connect the housing hub of the Financial District and the Historic Core with the activity in South Park. The new developments include a $100 million, 32-story tower from the Onni Group. It is the first of three housing complexes the Vancouver, Canada-based developer plans to do in Downtown. It would be easy to go on and on (and the Development section does just that). It is also easy to see that Downtown is operating with a different mindset. It’s the era, once again, of thinking big.
The Future of Pershing Square
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ershing Square is one of Downtown’s most perplexing conundrums. It’s a huge public space that, by virtue of its design, is used by relatively few members of the public. It’s a park with very little grass. Although it has a lively and well-curated entertainment schedule, it is a location that many area workers and residents avoid because they are put off by the homeless individuals who use the park sometimes as an oasis from the brutal life on the streets of Skid Row and sometimes for activities not worthy of sympathy. Pershing Square needs to be re-examined and re-envisioned. We’re glad that 14th District City Councilman José Huizar has begun the process of doing just that. Change won’t come easily or inexpensively to the site in the heart of the Financial District, but it’s important to have a starting point. The park’s users — all of them — deserve a more friendly and better functioning facility. Huizar recently told Los Angeles Downtown News that Anschutz Entertainment Group has agreed to provide $700,000 in seed money to rethink the park. He has said that “everything is on the table” when it comes to ideas for the future. The nuts and bolts of any change, as well as determining how it would be paid for, will hopefully begin to come into play over the next few months. However, a couple of things are clear from the start. Most importantly, the park needs to be more inviting to pedestrians. Currently, even those who stroll on the sidewalk in front of the Biltmore Hotel or the jewelry buildings on Hill Street have a hard time seeing what is happening inside the park. This is a physical and psychological deterrent. People should be able to walk by and know there is a farmers market, an ice skating rink or a concert and want to enter. Any re-examination should also look at incorporating more green space. The current design is dominated by hardscape, which is all too similar to the surrounding urban terrain. It is not necessary to lay down a vast lawn similar to the one in the new Grand Park, but there should be more greenery than now exists. A potential model is the redesigned City Hall lawn, which features both a grassy area and a large number of drought-tolerant plants. Any upgrade needs to take into account a growing community in Downtown Los Angeles — people with dogs. The number of canines in the Central City is increasing rapidly and the pets are
becoming a way of getting people to interact. While it is too early to call for a dog run in a redesign of Pershing Square, the idea has to be considered. A small dog area was included in Grand Park and it has been a success. Pershing Square has advantages to build upon, and credit there goes to the staff from the Department of Recreation and Parks. Their summer concert and film series has made the park attractive to many, sometimes after dark. The winter ice rink has had a similar result. The weekly farmers market has also been an important addition, something that reminds Downtown of the many ways that a public gathering space can function. One can envision a scenario in which the seasonal entertainment schedule expands, providing even more weekend and evening activities. Perhaps this could dovetail with improved food offerings inside the park. They have long been paltry. Repositioning Pershing Square seems like an immense idea, and we question if someone can ever again bring together so many parties — building owners, local residents, representatives of the homeless community, etc. — and get them all to agree upon needs and specific changes. There’s also the mountainous matter of identifying funds, especially difficult because the surrounding property owners have been paying for the 1994 upgrade for more than two decades (the CRA chipped in $6 million of the $14 million renovation cost; the owners are paying the rest back over 30 years). However, we think Huizar has a good precedent in the changes he has instituted on Broadway. The now 5-year-old old Bringing Back Broadway initiative proves that where there is a will, money and leadership, there is a way to effect change. The Broadway plan was launched by pulling together more than two dozen area stakeholders and getting them to function as “trustees” for the street. They weren’t just observers — they became part of the process and had a stake in the project’s success. We could see the same thing happening in Pershing Square, and hope that the Biltmore, the jewelry building owners and other property owners would all continue to be willing to improve the park. Reinventing Pershing Square is an idea whose time, we hope, has come again. We’re glad to hear that everything will be on the table. Now, it’s time to bring out that table.
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 5
Celebrating 40 Years
Two Huge Apartment Buildings Planned for Broadway Geoff Palmer in Early Stage of Creating 686 Units of Housing by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR
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eveloper Geoff Palmer has built more Central City apartments than anyone else, but the man behind the Tuscan villa-inspired complexes such as the Medici and Orsini has stayed on the outskirts of Downtown. Until now. Palmer, who heads the firm G.H. Palmer Associates, has partnered with parking lot giant L&R Group on a plan to develop a massive, two-building complex that would straddle Olympic Boulevard. Part of the project calls for a 10-story, 439-unit apartment building on what is now a surface parking lot between Broadway and Main Street, just north of Olympic. It would rise directly across from the future Ace Hotel, which is under construction inside the United Artists Theater building. The second edifice is envisioned as a six-story, 247-unit structure that would rise on the lot on Broadway just south of Olympic Boulevard. It would require the demolition of a small building that now fronts Olympic Boulevard. Palmer
ning rules. In City West, he did not have to adhere to the Downtown Design Guidelines, a framework that the Planning Department applies to all proposed projects in the area (he was, however, affected by the Central City West Specific Plan, though he successfully challenged the plan’s affordable housing mandates). On top of the Downtown rules, Palmer’s project is also bound by the 2008 Broadway Design Guidelines, which were established to protect the aesthetic character of the nationally registered historic district. They include a requirement that all buildings in the zone must be at least 100 feet tall. The stricture is intended to maintain the general roofline of the street,
but it has major implications for developers. In Los Angeles, once a building surpasses 75 feet, earthquake and fire safety codes demand that it be composed of steel and concrete, as opposed to the much less expensive wood framing. The southern parcel in the Palmer project is not in the overlay zone, so it could stay below the 75-foot level. Palmer originally filed plans for a 75-foot tall structure on the northern parcel too, but the property’s placement in the overlay zone requires the building to reach the 100-foot threshold. Recently adjusted plans for the north building now satisfy that requirement, said Blake Lamb, the city planner see Housing, page 6
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intends to connect the two addresses via an elevated pedestrian bridge, a design element common in his other projects, according to plans filed with the city. Word of the plan initially had some Broadway stakeholders on edge. While most area property owners support creating more housing, they worried that Palmer’s signature faux Italian Renaissance design would stick out in the historic district. “There was absolutely a concern,” said Steve Needleman, the owner of the Orpheum Theatre and Anjac Fashion Co., which controls several Broadway area buildings. “It was a quiet talk of our little neighborhood.” However, those concerns have been largely assuaged. Early designs for the project appear to take inspiration from the district’s older stone buildings. They depict structures clad in a red brick veneer, with off-white colored podiums and crowns. The street-level podiums include the type of columns common in old bank buildings. “I’m very excited,” Needleman said. “Is every project exactly what you want? Not necessarily. It’s maybe a little larger to scale than what I might want, but overall I’m excited.” Palmer, who owns 2,562 housing units among his four Downtown complexes, did not respond to requests for comment. Local Rules In pursuing a development in the core of Downtown, Palmer is also entering new territory in terms of local plan-
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6 Downtown News
Housing Continued from page 5 handling the project. The project remains preliminary and could see changes in the coming months. The guidelines require projects of the size proposed by Palmer and L&R to include a pedestrian corridor linking Broadway and Main Street. So far, plans filed with the city don’t include such a passageway. While the Broadway guidelines are somewhat flexible and the developer could apply for a variance, city officials are poised to enforce them to the extent possible, in part because the Palmer/L&R project could be precedent setting, said Jessica Wethington McClean, who
oversees 14th District City Councilman José Huizar’s Broadway revitalization effort. The project would be the first ground-up construction within the overlay zone. “We made it really clear from the beginning that when it comes to the design rules, we wrote those rules, and we’re not going to support amending them with the first horse out of the gate,” Wethington McClean said. Another potential concern for the project involves the proposal to build the north structure up against the future headquarters of the Tarina Tarantino jewelry company, also known as the Sparkle Factory. That building’s southern façade bears a mural by famed British street artist Banksy. The property owners are in talks with Palmer and L&R’s representatives to try to preserve the mural and avoid blocking the structure’s
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February 25, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
he jewelry industry is no stranger to the economic factors that have affected American manufacturing. This has been particularly apparent in Los Angeles, which was once the thriving mecca of jewelry manufacturing. Gifted craftsmen, who once created true works of art from gemstones and precious metals, are now surviving job-to-job. With many jewelry companies outsourcing production to China, India and Korea, local manufacturers find themselves unable to compete with the lower priced, mass produced jewelry that is being imported. And, with many consumers seeing only the bottom line, local manufacturers are finding themselves priced out. Despite this, there are a handful of designers who continue to cater to a par-
ticular niche of clients – quality conscious consumers that are looking for something truly unique to mark their special occasions. Since 1989, Single Stone has been flourishing in LA, offering hand crafted fabrication, antique diamonds, and vintage inspiration. Single Stone’s clients come from all walks of life, but share one thing in common they are each looking for exceptionally made jewelry and recognize the importance of keeping industry local. It is with this philosophy that Single Stone can make any idea a reality. Ari Madilian has been showcasing exquisite jewelry in his downtown LA showroom for the past 20 years. There is a second location in San Marino, CA. Reach him directly at ari@singlestone.com.
Early drawings depict a brick veneer façade, as opposed to the Tuscan villa inspired design for which Palmer is known.
southern windows. At 100 feet, the proposed building would cover the entire Tarantino edifice. “My concern was for taking the Banksy and making sure they didn’t build right up against our building, but they seem to be open to the idea,” said Alfonso Campos, Tarantino’s husband and business partner. “I think so far
they’re willing to meet with everyone to ensure they get everyone’s support.” No information has been released on the budget for the project. According to G.H. Palmer Associates’ website, an opening is slated for 2017. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.
Around Town Continued from page 2 There will be temporary lane closures on Fourth, Fifth and Flower streets for the next eight weeks, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Mon.-Fri., according to Metro. Two lanes of Fifth Street will be closed between Olive and Flower streets and two lanes of southbound Flower Street between Fourth and Fifth streets will also close. Additionally, the work will require both north/south crosswalks at Fifth and Flower streets to close intermittently, but never at the same time. Access to driveways will be main-
tained. The work could mark the first Regional Connector-related disruption in the Financial District. Thomas Properties Group, which owns City National Plaza, and the Westin Bonaventure Hotel have sued Metro in order to block the plan to dig a trench along Flower Street between Third and Fifth streets. The Regional Connector is a 1.9-mile underground light rail route that, when completed in 2019, will minimize transfers for riders of the regional rail system.
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February 25, 2013
Downtown News 7
Celebrating 40 Years
Downtown Development A Very Busy City
ish a $600,000 cleanup of the land before it can be sold, said General Services spokesman Michael Liang. There is no timeline for a potential sale.
The Latest Information on 85 Downtown Projects
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ne’s take on the activity level in Downtown Los Angeles depends on perspective. If you compare the current development scene to 2006, the height of both the real estate boom and what came to be called the era of irrational exuberance, then things are barely moving. If, on the other hand, you weigh the Downtown of 2013 versus the Downtown of 2000, then the community is virtually exploding. The truth, of course, lies somewhere in the middle. It is foolish to believe that Downtown will ever again see the sheer number of cranes that dotted the skyline seven years ago. That said, things have unequivocally rebounded from the lows of the recession, and once again there are thousands of construction jobs in the Central City. There’s big money flowing here too. The Wilshire Grand hotel replacement is a $1 billion project, and the Regional Connector runs nearly $1.4 billion. The replacement for the Sixth Street Viaduct will cost $400 million, and the new Federal Courthouse in the Civic Center is expected to have a similar price. Then there’s the big question mark of Farmers Field. The point is, the Downtown development scene in the first quarter of 2013 is extremely busy, and almost everywhere one looks, work is proceeding on housing, civic, cultural and other projects. The face of the community is still in the midst of a major change. In the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News provides the latest information on 85 Downtown projects. There’s plenty of action.
NEW PROJECTS These projects were either publicly announced, were revived or gained prominence in the past five months.
12TH AND GRAND
but will be reproduced on the building’s south facing wall. The structure also has a 12-foot ficus tree growing out of the wall near the top of the building. Gray said it will be removed.
AVA LITTLE TOKYO Work continues on a two-phase development from Avalon Bay Communities in Little Tokyo. Phase one of the project at the southeast corner of Second and Los Angeles streets will be a six-story building with 104 apartments. It will include 13,500 square feet of retail space and is scheduled to open in late 2014. The second phase, a 176-unit structure, is scheduled to break ground in June.
Peter Fleming, the president and CEO of City Market of Los Angeles, is in the early stage of planning a transformation of 10 acres of mostly unused Fashion District produce warehouses into a $1 billion hub of housing, office space, hotel rooms and a college campus. The proposal to reinvent the 1909 produce mart known as City Market would require an environmental impact report and, at the earliest, an initial phase of the project could break ground in mid-2014, said Fleming. The project site comprises the blocks bounded by Ninth, San Pedro, San Julian and 12th streets. The plan calls for a campus anchored by a college-level institution that focuses on fashion, architecture, design, culinary arts or another creative industry, Fleming said. It would also include 945 housing units, 210 hotel rooms, 225,000 square feet of retail and 295,000 square feet of creative office space. The first phase would likely create 150 housing units. Fleming said it could take 20 years to complete the entire project.
DODGER STADIUM UPGRADES
photo by Gary Leonard
Metro in October broke ground on Division 13, a bus maintenance facility on the northeast and southeast corners of Vignes Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue, near Union Station. The $72 million development, which includes a $52.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation, will contain a multi-level garage, a maintenance building, a fueling depot and areas for washing buses; the latter will incorporate a storm water reclamation system. The project, designed to hold 200 buses, is intended to meet Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Gold standards. Low-maintenance vegetation will be incorporated as part of a green roof. An opening is anticipated for late 2014.
photo courtesy Los Angeles Dodgers
NEW PERSHING APARTMENTS
In the wake of their $2 billion acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers last May, Guggenheim Baseball Management launched an estimated $100 million worth of stadium upgrades in the off-season. The improvements include the renovation and expansion of the restrooms on the upper levels of the stadium, with a 62% increase in the number of facilities for women. Improvements are also coming to the concession stands in the effort to speed up food service. Concourses are being widened, state-of-the-art scoreboards are being erected and Wi-Fi and cell phone service are being boosted. Team officials have said they hope to have all the renovations ready for the opening of the season in April, though they acknowledged that fine-tuning some elements may last into the first or second homestand.
FIRST AND BROADWAY GRAFFITI PIT Architect and building owner David Gray is undertaking a $7.5 million renovation of the property at 351 S. Broadway. Plans call for turning the structure into an office building for creative use tenants. Completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2014 for the project that also calls for the addition of a sixth floor and the creation of a ground-floor bar. On Jan. 9, crews unveiled the original façade, which had been covered for about 60 years. A mural that had covered the façade since the early 1990s called “Calle de la Eternidad” was removed
METRO BUS FACILITY
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Developer Sonny Astani last year partnered with parking lot giant L&R Group to buy a three-acre South Park parcel for $29 million. Astani, who developed and then lost the Concerto tower (which opened recently as the Apex), said he hopes to break ground on a $250 million apartment complex on the site at 12th Street and Grand Avenue late this year. The proposed 640-unit complex would be bounded by 12th and Olive streets, Pico Boulevard and Grand Avenue. The partnership is planning a two-phase development, with the initial segment consisting of a 300-unit, seven-story structure. The complex will eventually have 42,000 square feet of retail space. The property currently operates as a parking lot.
351 S. BROADWAY
The city Bureau of Engineering is overseeing a major replanting of the park and lawn areas that surround the $440 million Police Administration Building. The work will address a slate of landscape maintenance mishaps that allowed weeds to proliferate and caused many plants and trees to die. The renovation plan includes a complete weed removal; improvements to the irrigation system; replacing dead plants and trees; and the replacement of certain plant species that require regular maintenance with hardier varieties, said Tonya Durrell, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Works. The work is slated to last up to four months.
rendering courtesy of Metro
by RichaRd Guzmán, Jon ReGaRdie and Ryan VaillancouRt
LAPD PARK REPLANTING
The city and county are both in preliminary talks with the state Department of General Services about buying a derelict state-owned property in the Civic Center. The fenced-off lot on the northeast corner of First Street and Broadway contains the remnants of an office building razed after an earthquake 41 years ago. The state is now looking to sell the plot. Officials with the city and county have separately expressed interest in buying the parcel known by some as “the graffiti pit” and turning it into a park. The site is adjacent to Grand Park, which opened last summer. State officials still need to fin-
Skid Row Housing Trust is in the process of securing financing for a renovation of the Pershing Hotel at Fifth and Main streets. The 69-unit residential hotel would be dismantled in a way that keeps the historic facades intact. The project would still contain 69 units, though they would be about 400 square feet and include kitchens and bathrooms; the current rooms average approximately 150 square feet. The proposed renovation, which would take 18 months, is in line with the nonprofit developer’s shift in recent years toward providing larger units for its low-income and formerly homeless tenants. The project would also create up to 30 parking spaces. The budget has not yet been determined. Architect Wade Killefer is handling designs, said Mike Alvidrez, SRHT executive director.
OLYMPIC AND HILL APARTMENTS The Hanover Company is in the planning stage for a 284-unit apartment complex that would rise on a current parking lot at Olympic Boulevard and Hill Street. Hanover plans to build seven stories of housing with 12,400 square feet of street-level retail, said Frank Pasker, the project manager for Thomas P. Cox Architects, which is handling the designs. The ground floor will also hold three live/work units. The developer plans to break ground around May 1 and construction would take approximately one year. Hanover, which developed the luxury apartment tower 717 Olympic, bought the Hill Street site from Evoq Properties. Hanover started designs and permitting last year while the purchase was in escrow. The deal closed in January.
PICO AND FIGUEROA HOUSING COMPLEX The city launched a public bidding competition in November, asking developers to offer plans for a 19,000-square-foot citysee Projects, page 8
8 Downtown News
February 25, 2013
Development
Projects Continued from page 7 owned parcel on the northeast corner of Figueroa and 12th streets, across from the Convention Center. The city is looking to sell the site to a developer that will erect a four-star or boutique hotel. The property is a parking lot that sits immediately south of the building where a Hooters restaurant is located. Bids were due Feb. 15. The winning bidder would have to move the proposal through the city entitlement process. The city has not revealed an asking price for the land, but the adjacent 2.7-acre parcel at 1220 S. Figueroa St. sold for $31 million.
The project would also contain 6,500 square feet of retail and 5,000 square feet of office space. The timeline will depend on the financing, said Behdad.
1111 SUNSET
DA VINCI Construction began in September on developer G.H. Palmer Associates’ 630-apartment complex in City West, said Geoff Palmer. Work is underway on the corner of Fremont and Temple streets for the 578,172-square-foot complex rising on a 193,000-square-foot lot that Palmer purchased in 2004. Plans call for five floors of housing above three levels of parking, along with 8,200 square feet of street-front retail. The style will be similar to Palmer’s other Italian-inspired apartment complexes in Downtown. According to Palmer’s website, the project will open in summer 2014. At ghpalmer.com.
EIGHTH AND GRAND APARTMENTS
rendering courtesy Arquitectonica
Developer Linear City is converting the former Metropolitan Water District headquarters at 1111 Sunset Blvd. into 92 apartments. The façade has been removed, and construction is expected to be completed with move-ins starting by the end of the year, said company partner Yuval Bar-Zemer. Linear City, which created the Arts District’s Biscuit Company and Toy Factory lofts, paid $6.8 million last year for the seven-story structure not far from Dodger Stadium. The project cost is estimated at $15 million. Plans call for taking the horizontal platforms, which jut out a few feet from the façade at every level, and turning them into balconies. Residences will measure 800-1,000 square feet. The 1973 building was originally designed by William Pereira. At linear-city.com.
1111 WILSHIRE Grand Avenue project developer Related broke ground in January on a $120 million apartment tower. The 19-story edifice is rising on Grand Avenue, just south of the underconstruction Broad art museum. It will consist mostly of luxury units, but 20% of the 271 apartments will be set aside as affordable housing. The tower represents a scaled-down version of what Related received entitlements for in 2007, when it envisioned two buildings of up to 35 stories. Designed by Miami-based Arquitectonica, the building will include space on the ground level for two restaurants. It is slated for a late 2014 completion.
SARES-REGIS LITTLE TOKYO The effort to build a 240-unit apartment complex at Second and San Pedro streets in Little Tokyo is in the city’s plan check process, said Mike Winter, senior vice president of development for Sares-Regis Group. A groundbreaking is scheduled for April with completion expected in two years, he said. The company acquired the property at 232 E. Second St., which is currently a parking lot, last year. The site is adjacent to Avalon Bay Communities’ Ava development.
THE CHELSEA Construction is set to begin this month on a $5 million project that will transform a long-vacant Historic Core structure into a 28-unit apartment building called The Chelsea, said developer Nick Hadim. Completion on the property nicknamed the Ghost Building is expected by the end of this year with move-ins in early 2014. The seven-story former hotel at 216 W. Fifth St. was built as an annex to the Alexandria Hotel in 1910. A dispute between property owners led to the annex being walled off in 1934. Since it was an annex, the building has no stairs or elevators. Those will be added as part of the project, said Hadim.
RESIDENTIAL 1027 WILSHIRE Work continues on a plan to create a 376-unit housing complex in City West, said Hamid Behdad of the Central City Development Group. The company, which is partnering on the project at 1027 Wilshire Blvd. with the Amidi Real Estate Group, views the low-rise rental development as the second phase of 1010 Wilshire, a corporate housing complex across the street that Amidi created. Behdad said the focus continues to be on securing financing for the proposed structure.
Vancouver, Wash.-based Holland Partner Group is in the final stage of construction and an opening is expected next month for a 210-unit City West apartment complex, according to a project representative. The $60 million development at 1111 Wilshire Blvd. is a seven-story building with 7,750 square feet of retail space. The project with studio to threebedroom apartments will contain an underground parking garage with room for 302 cars. It is near Glo, Holland Partner Group’s first residential complex in the area.
1130 HOPE ST. According to the most recent information available, the development firm BIMHF, LLC is in the preliminary design and planning stage for a hotel in South Park. The project, at 1130 S. Hope St., would rise on a site that currently holds a derelict three-story structure. The group has previously stated that $25 million in financing is lined up, but neither budget nor design details have been released.
AVANT The first phase of Century West Partners’ $154 million Avant in South Park is on schedule for completion in the fourth quarter of this year, according to company officials. The initial phase will contain 247 apartments in a pair of sevenstory buildings rising on two former parking lots at 1360 S. Figueroa St. and 1355 S. Flower St. The structures will be connected by a walkway. The second phase, a third building at 1420 S. Figueroa St. containing 193 units, is on track for a spring groundbreaking. The plans call for studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as live-work units over 11,000 square feet of retail space.
BALTIMORE AND KING EDWARD HOTELS According to the most recent information available, developer Izek Shomof is in the process of renovating a cluster of residential hotels at Fifth and Los Angeles streets. Plans call for a range of cosmetic upgrades including replacing carpet with tile, repairing broken windows and doing some painting in the 265-unit Baltimore and the 150-room King Edward hotels. At the Baltimore, there are plans for a recreation room. The work is expected to be carried out over the next two years as occupied units in the residential hotels become vacant. Bar proprietors Will Shamlian and Michael Leko have bought the King Eddy Saloon, a watering hole on the ground floor of the King Edward Hotel. It closed last year and they are renovating it. Ricki Kline, the designer for nightlife company 213 Inc., is handling the bar designs.
rendering courtesy of Carmel Partners
photo by Gary Leonard
RELATED PARCEL M TOWER
San Francisco-based Carmel Partners broke ground in January on a 700-unit apartment complex at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue. Carmel bought the three-acre site from developer Sonny Astani last year for $63 million. Unlike Astani, who planned to erect a project called Angelena in phases, Carmel is building the complex in a single phase, with completion slated for fall 2015, said Dan Garibaldi, the firm’s vice president of development. Carmel is not utilizing Astani’s design, which called for an undulating façade. Instead, Carmel’s plan features floor-to-ceiling glass and balconies for most units. The building will have 36,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.
EIGHTH AND HOPE APARTMENTS Work is underway on a 22-story apartment tower in South Park. Completion is expected in late 2014 with leasing starting shortly thereafter, said Vanessa Showalter, a spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Wood Partners, the project developer. The 290-unit building at 801 S. Hope St. would include oneand two-bedroom residences with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, balconies, a pool deck, a six-floor parking garage (including two underground levels) and 5,000 square feet of retail space. The project has been in the works since 2008 when Wood Partners purchased the site. The company then put the project on hold due to the economic downturn.
GATEWAYS APARTMENTS SRO Housing Corp. remains on pace to finish construction of a 108-unit affordable housing project in August. The development is rising on a formerly vacant 22,000-square-foot lot at Fifth and San Pedro streets. All apartments will be efficiency units with an average size of 300 square feet. The project will aim for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification. At srohousing.org.
HELLMAN/BANCO POPULAR BUILDING Developer Allen Gross is in the plan check stage for a conversion of the Herman H. Hellman building (also known as the Banco Popular Building) at Fourth and Spring streets. Gross is awaiting city approvals to proceed with the project that would create 212 apartments. He intends to set aside about 20% of the units for affordable housing. A zoning administrator approved a request to create residential units smaller than 750 square feet. The proposal from Neighborhood Effort, the development firm run by Gross and his wife Arax Harutunian, calls for units averaging 610 square feet, with an overall range of 481-1,576 square feet. Once construction begins it would take about 18 months, Gross said.
JADE ENTERPRISES PROJECT Jade Enterprises, a major commercial property owner with significant holdings in the Fashion District, has submitted plans to build its first Downtown residential project. The company is looking to erect a 419-unit, two-building complex at Pico Boulevard and Flower Street on two side-by-side see Projects, page 10
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 9
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Development does not yet have a name, is slated to open in early 2015.
Projects
PWC FAMILY HOUSING
JIA APARTMENTS
Construction is about 25% complete on a City West project from the Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation and the Pilipino Worker’s Center. The 45-apartment project at 153 N. Glendale Blvd., which broke ground in May, will include 22 residences for homeless individuals; nine of the apartments are for what are termed transition-age youth. Birba Group Architects is handling designs for the development known as PWC Family Housing. The project will include 54 parking spaces and approximately 4,000 square feet of common space. It is expected to be complete in September, according to a spokesman for the LTSC.
photo by Gary Leonard
Continued from page 8 parking lots, according to plans filed with the city. The project would rise over 42,000 square feet of commercial space. Jade Enterprises’ plan still requires city entitlements. Getting those approvals could take a year or longer.
photo by Gary Leonard
ROSSLYN HOTEL APARTMENTS
Work is proceeding on the 300,000-square-foot Jia Apartments, formerly known as Chinatown Gateway, at Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue, said Allison Geiman, a development associate with developer Equity Residential. The $92.9 million project at the southern entrance to Chinatown will open in phases, with a first round of units available for move-ins by late summer. The entire project is slated to be open by December, said Geiman. Work began last year on the six-story building that will house 280 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with 18,000 square feet of retail at 639-643 Cesar Chavez Ave. The project is being designed by Thomas P. Cox Architects and will include a plaza, 17-foot wide sidewalks and a 588-car subterranean garage. The developer has not yet inked any leases for the ground level commercial spaces.
LORENZO Phase one of G.H. Palmer Associates’ $300 million, 950-unit Flower Street apartment complex is on track for a March opening, said company head Geoff Palmer. The first phase of the project rising on a 9.4-acre lot at Flower Street and Adams Boulevard will include 495 units and incorporate the Italian Renaissance-inspired design in Palmer’s numerous other Downtown projects. The massive development will include four swimming pools, two indoor basketball courts and a sand volleyball court. Rents for the one- to three-bedroom units pitched to USC students will start at $826 a bed. At lorenzousc.com.
LOTUS GARDEN An August completion is expected for the $24 million Lotus Garden, said Katelyn Silverwood, a spokeswoman for developer Affirmed Housing Group. Shoring issues related to the tricky hillside location at 715 Yale St. have caused delays for the project originally scheduled to open in spring 2012. Those issues have been resolved and framing was recently completed, Silverwood said. The developer is also nearly finished with a 63-car garage in which vehicles will be moved vertically and horizontally to allow for a space-saving stacking effect. The 60-apartment project will bring an eight-story complex for families earning 30%-60% of the county’s median household income. Rents are expected to range from $370 for studios to $1,236 for a three-bedroom apartment.
ONNI GROUP TOWER
SB OMEGA Developer Barry Shy is still in the planning stage for a 40-story tower that would rise at 601 S. Main St. The 350-unit development would include 35 residential floors over a five-level, 1,200-space parking facility. Shy said he is looking to break ground this year, but the timeline is uncertain. He is currently preparing a geological report required by the city. The building would be Shy’s sixth Historic Core apartment project, but his first ground-up development.
SINGER SEWING MACHINE BUILDING Steve Needleman, who runs the Downtown property firm Anjac Fashion, is overseeing a conversion of an eight-story commercial building into apartments. The Singer Sewing Machine Building at 806 S. Broadway will be transformed into a unique loft structure with eight large units, one on each floor. Having one residence per level means the apartments will measure 5,000-6,000 square feet. The cost of the project is not yet certain. The building, which rises between the Tower and Rialto theaters just south of Eighth Street, had long been home to garment manufacturers. The tenants have all been relocated to other Anjac Fashion-owned buildings, Needleman said. The ground level will be converted to a parking facility for tenants. The project is slated for completion by late 2014.
SPRING STREET GARAGE AND APARTMENTS Downtown Management remains in the design phase for a proposed apartment building that would sit above a new garage on what is now a parking lot. The site is between the Spring Arcade Building and the Alexandria Hotel on Spring south of Fifth Street. Current plans call for a five-level garage with more than 400 parking spaces, with eight levels of housing above it, providing 120 units, said company vice president Greg Martin. The street level space would be reserved for commercial or retail use, and there would be two additional parking levels below ground. Martin said the firm hopes to break ground this summer.
STAR APARTMENTS
rendering courtesy of Onni
A groundbreaking was held on Feb. 14 for a 32-story apartment tower from Vancouver-based Onni Group. The approximately $100 million structure will create 283 one- to threebedroom luxury apartments. The high-rise at 888 S. Olive St. is the first of three towers that Onni plans to build in Downtown; another will be next to this new building. Renderings show a heavy use of glass and balconies on most units. The structure, which
SRO Housing Corp. expects to break ground by April on a renovation of the 264-unit affordable housing complex at Fifth and Main streets. The nonprofit is in the process of relocating residents who would be affected by the renovations (all tenants will have the opportunity to stay in the building), said Anita Nelson, CEO of SRO Housing. The company, which bought the property in 2010 with help from the Community Redevelopment Agency, is required to preserve the affordable residences in the edifice. The project will take place in three phases, with different segments of the building being upgraded at different times. The work includes the addition of a restroom and kitchenette to all apartments and a restoration of the lobby, during which a now covered skylight will be revealed. Work is expected to last about 18 months. The project cost, including acquisition of the building, is $33 million. At srohousing.org.
Skid Row Housing Trust’s Star Apartments is 70% complete. The Michael Maltzan-designed permanent supportive housing complex, which is comprised of 102 prefabricated housing units stacked above an existing commercial structure at Sixth and Maple streets, will include a recreation area with a running track and basketball court. The County Department of Health Services will operate a clinic in a street-level space. Another commercial space will be filled by Piece by Piece, an organization acquired by SRHT that teaches individuals to make mosaic art from salvaged materials, said SRHT Executive Director Mike Alvidrez. The developer expects to get its certificate of
occupancy by July 1. The Star is the first permanent supportive housing project to use prefabricated construction in the country, according to SRHT. At skidrow.org.
TITLE INSURANCE BUILDING Bel-Air based Capital Foresight bought the Title Insurance Building at 433 S. Spring St. last year with plans to convert the structure into condominiums. The company, however, has yet to finalize its plan. The entitlement process is expected to begin within six months, according to a spokesman for the company. Historic Core developer Izek Shomof, who partnered with Capital Foresight on the acquisition, is no longer involved in the partnership. Before the partnership dissolved, Shomof had said the team planned to convert the 1913 Art Deco structure, which has long been used primarily for filming, into 250 condominiums. The deal is tied in to the adjacent structure at 419 S. Spring St., where an entity called PNK I Group plans to create a hotel. The status of the hotel deal is uncertain as PNK did not respond to calls for comment.
MIXED USE BLOSSOM PLAZA A representative of developer Forest City said that the company is targeting a mid-2013 groundbreaking for the long awaited Blossom Plaza. Completion of the project at 900 N. Broadway in Chinatown is anticipated in 2015, the representative said. Plans for the $90 million effort call for about 240 market rate and affordable rental units, 20,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and a 175-space parking garage, along with a public plaza that would connect Broadway to the Gold Line Station. The project has been in the works in one form or another for nearly a decade. More than a year ago the city entered into a negotiation agreement with Forest City to replace the original developer on the project. Initial plans called for a $165 million complex with 262 housing units in two towers. Forest City officials expect to begin the permitting process this month.
METROPOLIS IDS Real Estate Group continues to court hotel operators to anchor a long delayed mixed-use development on a 6.5-acre site bounded by Eighth, Ninth and Francisco streets and the Harbor (110) Freeway. IDS has envisioned a multi-phase project with up to two hotels and ground-floor retail. The developer recently modified its entitlements so that it now has approvals to build five towers, instead of the previous four. The development, which still lacks a timeline and budget, aims to transform Francisco Street into an active pedestrian corridor feeding into L.A. Live.
ONE SANTA FE A late 2014 completion is expected for the $160 million One Santa Fe, according to officials with Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund Investments, one of the partners in the Arts District development. The project will bring a six-story building with 78,000 square feet of retail and commercial space to a plot just east of the Southern California Institute of Architecture; the project is rising on a four-acre portion of a 32-acre property used by Metro for the maintenance and storage of rail cars. One Santa Fe will include 438 apartments, a 15,000-squarefoot space slated for a grocery store, a 47,400-square-foot plaza facing Santa Fe Avenue and 802 underground parking spaces. Twenty percent of the units will be reserved for low-income tenants. The development team also includes The McGregor Company, Polis Builders, Cowley Real Estate Partners and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group. Canyon Johnson joined the project as an equity partner in late 2011 and kick-started the construction. see Projects, page 12
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 11
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12 Downtown News
February 25, 2013
Development
THE GRAND Grand Avenue project developer Related has officially thrown out its original vision for a $2 billion mixed-use complex with hotels, condominiums and retail designed by Frank Gehry on a parcel across from Walt Disney Concert Hall. Now, Related is planning a scaled-back project that will be undertaken in phases, starting with a residential tower on a portion of the site, likely near the corner of Grand Avenue and Second Street. The Grand Avenue Authority, the joint powers panel comprised of city and county officials that oversees the project, voted in January to give Related three months to submit a detailed plan for the tower. After the residential building, future structures and uses would be determined depending on demand in commercial markets. The new tower will likely be similar to the building that broke ground south of the Broad museum in December, said Bill Witte, president of Related California. He also said it could include both rental and for-sale units.
WILSHIRE GRAND REPLACEMENT Demolition of the old Wilshire Grand hotel is underway. It is the first step in Korean Air’s plan to build a $1 billion tower in its place. A groundbreaking on the 71-story structure with 900 hotel rooms and 400,000 square feet of office space is slated for this fall. High-speed elevators will ferry hotel visitors to a topfloor “sky lobby.” Martin Project Management, a new venture by architect Chris Martin (whose firm AC Martin is handling the project designs), is managing the development on the northwest corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets. Seoul-based Korean Air is a subsidiary of the shipping magnate Hanjin. A hotel operator has not yet been selected. The project’s design is the first Downtown high-rise to utilize a sloped roof, instead of a flat surface to accommodate a full helipad. In lieu of the helipad, the tower will include an array of safety infrastructure elements to satisfy fire code requirements. The project is slated to be completed in December 2016.
CIVIC BROADWAY REVITALIZATION The 10-year Bringing Back Broadway initiative spearheaded by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar hit its halfway point in January. The Broadway Streetscape Plan is scheduled to go before the city Planning Commission this month. It would reduce the lanes of traffic on Broadway from four to three, with one southbound and two northbound lanes. It also calls for widening sidewalks, creating more sidewalk dining and increasing loading areas to help businesses. Additionally, work continues on the effort to create a set of guidelines to activate the 1.5 million square feet of vacant space above street level. Huizar said an ordinance should be completed this year. In September, the Delijani family, which owns the Palace, State, Los Angeles and Tower theaters, announced a phased, long-term plan to upgrade the venues and hold concerts and other events there, while also creating restaurants and bars. Meanwhile, business continues to advance on the street. In December the 17,000-square-foot French restaurant Les Noces Du Figaro opened at 618 S. Broadway and construction is under way on a Ross Dress for Less at 719-725 S. Broadway. The Oregon-based Ace Hotel is working on bringing a 180-room boutique establishment to the United Artists Theater at 933 S. Broadway.
CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 12 Completion of a 500-seat facility in City West is expected this month, with classes starting in August for ninth and 10th grade students at a new charter school, said Ana Ponce, founder of Camino Nuevo Charter Academy, the organization that will run the school. By 2015 the school will add 11th and 12th grade classes. The 55,361-square-foot, three-story school at 1215 W. Miramar St. will include 19 classrooms, 47 underground parking spaces, administrative offices, a dining area, a library and science labs. It is located immediately east of the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex athletics fields.
FEDERAL COURTHOUSE A groundbreaking on a $400 million federal courthouse is slated to take place this year, with completion by 2016, according to officials with the office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard. In December, federal officials announced that
HALL OF JUSTICE
The effort to build a streetcar in Downtown cleared a major hurdle in December when voters approved a tax of up to $85 million to pay for a portion of the $125 million project. It is now in the environmental review stage. A draft Environmental Impact Report is expected to be complete this summer and a final version will go before the City Council in spring 2014. Officials with Los Angeles Streetcar Inc. are also putting together their plan to secure $52 million for the project from the federal government’s Small Starts program. The streetcar would run from L.A. Live to the Civic Center with spines on Broadway and Hill Street. Streetcar officials hope to open the project by 2016.
NINTH STREET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
photo by Gary Leonard
Continued from page 10
Work continues on the rehabilitation of the historic Hall of Justice, with completion expected by the end of 2014 and an opening in early 2015, said James Kern, a spokesman for the County Department of Public Works. Currently the building is undergoing seismic improvements that will make it sturdier. In March, crews will begin power washing the exterior of the 1925 edifice at 211 W. Temple St. The structure was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake and is undergoing a $234 million renovation. The work includes elevator upgrades and new electrical and mechanical systems. Architecture firm AC Martin is teaming with Clark Construction on the project that will preserve architectural elements and create an underground 1,000-car garage on the north side of the building. The first floor of the structure will feature a display area with some of the property’s historic elements, including a cellblock that once held Charles Manson. When the building opens it will house the Sheriff’s Department and the District Attorney’s office.
LOS ANGELES RIVER Work continues on the $2-billion, decades-long effort to revitalize the Los Angeles River. This month First District City Councilman Ed Reyes, who is spearheading the effort, announced a $2.5 million federal grant to study ways to activate the river in communities such as Atwater Village, Cypress Park and Lincoln Heights. Last summer the state legislature approved a bill that makes it easier for people to access the river. SB 1201 requires the Los Angeles County Flood Control District to provide public access to navigable sections of the river for recreation and educational purposes. The Environmental Protection Agency has also designated the river as “traditional navigable waters,” which led to supervised canoe and kayak trips down a 1.5-mile stretch in the San Fernando Valley. Additionally, the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study has been included in President Barack Obama’s 2013 budget.
LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK Progress continues on the $18 million effort to renovate the Los Angeles State Historic Park. Funding for the entire project has been included in this year’s state budget; it will go before the legislature for approval in May, said Sean Woods, a California State Parks superintendent. Construction drawings are about 75% complete and a groundbreaking is expected this fall with completion 12-18 months later. Work at the 32acre attraction will add a welcome pavilion, a promenade for a farmers market, an amphitheater, wetlands areas and infrastructure improvements such as permanent restrooms.
An extensive $54 million replacement of the Ninth Street Elementary School is nearly finished, and a fall opening is expected for the campus at Ninth Street and Towne Avenue, said Shannon Haber, an LAUSD project representative. The work involves replacing old bungalows and creating a 450seat elementary school that will be operated by the LAUSD. The project will include a 405-seat middle school that will be run by Para Los Niños.
PARKER CENTER REPLACEMENT Officials with the city Bureau of Engineering are still preparing a draft environmental impact report analyzing proposals for razing, replacing or renovating Parker Center. The report on the now empty former LAPD headquarters — the final employees working in the building were relocated in January — is slated to be released in April, at which point the city will take public comments on the options, said Tonya Durrell, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Works. The structure at 150 N. Los Angeles St. was mostly vacated in 2009 when the LAPD moved into the new $440 million Police Administration Building. The EIR is studying five options for the Civic Center site, including reusing the edifice, partial demolition and renovation, and demolition and replacement with a temporary parking lot.
PICO HOUSE Proposals from two operators hoping to develop the 1863 Pico House were rejected by the city, said Chris Espinosa, the general manager of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Espinosa said neither proposal met the criteria set forth by the city to transform the structure, which was built by and named for former governor Pio Pico. Espinosa said one developer asked for a 50-year lease to make the project profitable; the city was prepared to offer a 20-year agreement. Now, he said, the city will likely bring in a consultant to determine what improvements need to be considered in order to make the city’s first three-story building more cost-effective for future developers. In the meantime, the building will continue to be used as a meeting and event space and for filming.
REGIONAL CONNECTOR The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is in the final design phase for the $1.37 billion Regional Connector. Crews are already at work relocating utilities along the 1.9-mile underground light-rail route. The agency launched a bidding competition to find a developer to oversee the design/build project. The connector calls for three new underground stations at First Street and Central Avenue; Second Street and Broadway; and Second and Hope streets. The project is facing a legal challenge from Thomas Properties Group and the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, which object to plans to build a tunnel with the so-called cut-and-cover method down Flower Street; they say that will decimate business. Most of the route will be dug by an underground tunnel-boring machine. A judge last fall denied a request from the property owners to halt all project work as their lawsuits unfold. The tentative timeline calls for a completion in 2019. At metro.net/projects/connector.
SIXTH STREET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
LOS ANGELES STREETCAR
rendering courtesy LASI
Projects
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill Architects had won the contract to build the facility that will rise on a current empty lot on the southwest corner of First Street and Broadway. SOM will partner with Clark Construction on the 500,000-square-foot building. The courthouse will rise on a 3.6-acre eyesore property that once held a state office building. The project will include 24 courtrooms, 32 judges’ chambers and 110 parking spots. It would house district judges, jury assembly facilities, offices for the U.S. Marshals service and others.
HNTB Corp. won a design competition last fall to replace the ailing Sixth Street Bridge, and city officials are now working on final contract negotiations with the firm, said Tonya Durrell, a spokeswoman for the city Bureau of Engineering. The $400 million contract will formalize the working design, budget and schedule of the project. HNTB’s design features a series of arches spanning the length of the bridge connecting the Arts District and Boyle Heights. The arches connect with the ground near the banks of the Los Angeles River, where HNTB imagines a series of park spaces. The design team assembled by Kansas City, Mo.-based HNTB, which has a
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 13
Development
rendering courtesy of HNTB
ate a live music facility and include a restaurant. However, he has yet to secure building permits. Frank said he hopes to get permits by March to begin building out the space. If that happens, an opening for the Historic Core project would take place by early fall, Frank said.
SPRING STREET PARK
A July opening is scheduled for the Spring Street Park, said Mike Schull, assistant general manager for the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Landscaping work is underway at the .7-acre site at 426 S. Spring St. The $8 million project between two condominium buildings is being designed by Lehrer Architects. It will feature a lawn, plazas with curving benches and a water feature.
THE BROAD photo by Gary Leonard
Downtown office, includes prominent L.A. architects Michael Maltzan and AC Martin Partners. Once a contract is signed, it will mark the start of a design process that could last up to two years, said City Engineer Gary Lee Moore. Construction would take three years, so tentative completion could be as far off as 2019. The project comes as the 1932 bridge slowly deteriorates. A condition known as alkali-silica reaction has caused the concrete in the structure to weaken. Officials have stressed, however, that there is no imminent risk of collapse.
Work continues on the $130 million museum known as The Broad, which is rising on top of a three-level, 370-car garage that was completed last year. Officials marked the “topping out” of the structure in January. Once completed, the museum on Grand Avenue across from the Colburn School will house philanthropist Eli Broad’s 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. The institution being designed by the New see Projects, page 14
CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT FARMERS FIELD/CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION The City Council in September approved the development agreement and the 10,000-page Environmental Impact Report for the Farmers Field project. However, the development that would create a South Park football stadium and renovate and reposition the aged Convention Center is on hold as Anschutz Entertainment Group is up for sale. The uncertain ownership situation is why, most observes believe, no professional team announced a move to Los Angeles when the six-week window for such decisions was open early this year. Although AEG officials had hoped to break ground on a 68,000-seat stadium by this spring, plans will be delayed at least a year; AEG has said it will not begin construction until a deal with a team is signed and an agreement with the NFL is in place. The $1.4 billion project would raze the Convention Center’s West Hall and erect the stadium where it now stands. A replacement for the lost Convention Center building, dubbed the Pico Hall and being designed by the firm Populous, would rise contiguous to the current Convention Center. Architecture firm Gensler is handling designs of the stadium that would feature a “deployable,” or removable roof. The soonest a game could take place would be fall 2018. The project would include a $10 million expansion of the Blue Line’s Pico Station as part of AEG’s effort to have 25% of game attendees utilize public transit. Additionally, a $10 million renovation of the Convention Center’s Gilbert Lindsay Plaza would create a “gateway” for the stadium by turning the concrete area into a tailgating center with green space. It would hold up to 15,000 people.
NEW CONSTRUCTION / ADAPTIVE RE-USE SPECIALIST Commercial • Residential • Restaurants • Retail Chester Williams Building: Winner of the 2013 Historic Core Downtowners of Distinction award, constructed by MDM Builders Group.
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ITALIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM Light demolition work has begun at the Italian Hall as part of the effort to open the $4.5 million Italian American Museum of Los Angeles. The work by the city’s Bureau of Engineering and General Services Department includes removal of drywall and other non-historic elements in the 1908 structure. An opening is expected in late 2014. The museum will be on the second floor of the building at 645 N. Main St. The structure’s façade as well as the Main Street storefronts and windows will be restored and seismic upgrades will be implemented. The museum will house a 4,000-square-foot main showroom and multipurpose space and will have exhibits that can be moved to make way for cultural and educational programs and events. The museum will be operated by the Historic Italian Hall Foundation. At italianhall.org.
The HAAS Building Chapman Flats Great Republic Lofts The HAAS Building:
Winner of the 2010 Jewelry District Downtowners of Distinction award, constructed by MDM Builders Group.
Chester Williams Building LoftSeven The Jeffries Silo Vodka Bar
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM In July, the Natural History Museum will open a new 14,000-square-foot permanent exhibit. Becoming Los Angeles, which will look at 500 years of local cultural and ecological history, will mark the culmination of the NHM’s seven-year, $135 million transformation that includes the Dinosaur Hall, which opened in 2011. The North Campus, a 3.5-acre project that will create a new “front yard” for the facility, with outdoor exhibits in 11 zones, is expected to debut in June, in time for the centennial of the NHM. Becoming Los Angeles will employ artifacts as well as audio and video components in the effort to trace the city’s history from pre-European times to the modern era. At nhm.org.
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The plan to reactivate the Regent Theatre at 448 S. Main St. is proceeding slowly. Mitchell Frank, who also owns the concert promoter Spaceland Productions and is a partner in the Seventh Street restaurant Más Malo, has approvals to oper-
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February 25, 2013
Development
York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro was originally slated for a late 2013 opening, though that has been pushed back to mid2014. The installation of an elaborate, honeycomb-like veil that will shroud the building is slated to start this spring. At broadartfoundation.org.
BUSINESS 845 S. FIG/SMART & FINAL
CLIFTON’S CAFETERIA RENOVATION
MARRIOTT TOWER
Andrew Meieran, the owner of Clifton’s Brookdale Cafeteria, is moving forward on a major renovation that will add three new bars and another restaurant to the historic property at 648 S. Broadway. Meieran said a series of delays related to city plan check and inspection issues has put him nine months behind schedule. He hopes to open the first phase of the project, which includes the cafeteria, plus two new bars, by October. The project involves updating the cafeteria on the ground level without altering its historic character; the streetlevel overhaul will anchor the first phase of the project, which will also include the addition of a bar on the mezzanine. Future phases will include the transformation of the second floor into a jazz and blues lounge called The Brookdale, as well as a speakeasy-style bar in the basement. The third floor is slated to get a tiki bar dubbed Pacific Seas, after Clifton’s other original location (Clifton’s had two outposts, Clifton’s Brookdale and Clifton’s Pacific Seas). A fine dining restaurant will go on the fourth floor and an existing bakery will be renovated and set up to sell wholesale and retail pastry products. Meieran hopes to get the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
photo by Gary Leonard
EMBASSY AUDITORIUM
The State Bar of California purchased the building at 845 S. Figueroa St. from L&R Group in November and will use the upper four floors for its Southern California operations. The building renovation initiated by L&R is ongoing and is expected to be complete shortly. The State Bar will begin its tenant improvements soon thereafter and will take occupancy in the fourth quarter of this year, according to a spokesman for the State Bar. Smart & Final has started building out its space for a ground floor supermarket and plans to open in the second quarter of this year.
ACE HOTEL An opening is expected late this year for the Ace Hotel, said Ryan Bukstein, a representative with the Oregon-based parent company. The project is transforming the 13-floor United Artists Theatre at 933 S. Broadway into a 180-room hotel. The project will include a 1,600-seat entertainment space in the theater, a pool, restaurant and bar. The structure was built in 1927 by United Artists founders D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. For years it operated as the headquarters church for televangelist Dr. Gene Scott. At acehotel.com.
CLARK HOTEL The Clark Hotel, an 11-story building at 426 S. Hill St., has long stood as an empty eyesore just north of Pershing Square. Officials representing building owner the Chetrit Group did not respond to requests for comment about the current status of the building. However, officials previously said that interior renovations have been completed, and that the structure is slated to become a 347-room hotel, operated by New York’s King & Grove Hotels, with three restaurants. The project would also hold an 11,500-square-foot banquet space. No obvious work has taken place to upgrade the faded exterior of the property.
CLEANTECH MANUFACTURING CENTER Development firm Trammell Crow plans to build a $40 million manufacturing facility geared to clean technology companies on a 20-acre site purchased from the Community Redevelopment Agency last year. The CRA had long struggled to sell the site near 15th Street and Washington Boulevard, in part because the land had been contaminated by previous occupants. Trammell Crow bought the property for $15.4
Last August, plans to turn the vacant Embassy Hotel and Trinity Auditorium in South Park into a 183-room hotel went before the Department of City Planning. However, officials representing property owner Chetrit Group, a New York-based family-run real estate firm, did not respond to requests for comment about the current state of the development. According to the most recent information available, plans call for turning the historic structure at 849 S. Grand Ave. into the Empire Hotel, with a 7,600-square-foot outdoor garden, an approximately 2,000-square-foot ground-floor restaurant with more than 200 seats, a lobby bar and a lounge. The project near the FIDM campus would also upgrade the approximately 12,000-square-foot theater in the building.
LA KRETZ INNOVATION CAMPUS/ CLEANTECH INCUBATOR A groundbreaking is expected by May for a clean technology business incubator in the Arts District, said Neal Anderson, assistant director of the project at 411 Hewitt St. The campus will open in phases, with the first part coming online within eight months of the groundbreaking and a full opening nine months later. The facility, to be built inside an existing structure, was conceived by a partnership between the now defunct Community Redevelopment Agency and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Officials are expecting construction bids this week. The campus will house the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, which will encompass a group of clean technology companies working with processes related to sustainable uses of natural resources. The DWP paid $11.1 million for the building on the block bounded by Hewitt, Colyton, Fifth and Palmetto streets. A temporary 3,500-square-foot facility is operating nearby. City and incubator officials are trying to secure public funds to turn an adjacent parking lot into a park. At laincubator.org.
photo by Gary Leonard
photo by Gary Leonard
Continued from page 13
opened at the shopping center. Officials involved with the project have said the renovation will bring a new entertainment hub anchored by a 24-lane bowling alley, a sports bar, a family restaurant and an upgraded video arcade. The mall owners, known as Three Alameda Plaza, purchased the 250,000-square-foot property in 2008. Other plans for the three-story edifice include the addition of new restaurants and giving a modern look to the gray, fortress-like exterior.
Construction crews are nearing completion of the seventh floor of a 23-story building that will hold two Marriott hotel brands, and a topping out of the structure is expected to take place in July, said Gregory Steinhauer, chief operating officer of Seattle-based American Life Inc., which is partnering on the $172 million South Park development with Portland’s Williams/Dame & Associates. The 373,000-squarefoot project will hold a 174-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 218-room Residence Inn in a high-rise just north of the Ritz-Carlton/J.W. Marriott. The hotels are expected to open in July 2014, said Steinhauer. The project is being built by SODO Builders LA LLC, with designs by Portland’s GBD Architects.
ROSS DEPARTMENT STORE A Ross Dress for Less at 719-725 S. Broadway is scheduled to open in the first quarter of this year. The exterior of the building, which once housed the Woolworth Department Store, has been cleaned and signage with the new name has been installed. The 39,000-square-foot discount retail outlet will fill the basement and ground floor of the building. Plans call for the restoration of the grand staircases, two new elevators, an escalator system and a DWP substation in the basement to power the property. Ross signed a 10-year lease for the structure and has the option of expanding into the two upper floors of the three-story edifice.
SPARKLE FACTORY Jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino and her husband and business partner Alfonso Campos are converting a long-vacant 1914 building at 908 S. Broadway into a headquarters for their jewelry empire. Dubbed the Sparkle Factory, the 23,800-square-foot structure will house design and production operations as well as a ground-floor store. Several complications tied to the building’s aged infrastructure have delayed the construction timetable, but Campos said the company plans to move into the upper floor offices by March 1. A street level shop is slated to open in late summer. The building is known in part for the artwork painted on its side by British street artist Banksy. At thesparklefactory.blogspot.com.
URBAN RADISH
L.A. HOTEL RENOVATION The former Los Angeles Downtown Marriott, currently known as the L.A. Downtown Hotel, is now part of the Hyatt Regency chain. However, the new name of the 469-room establishment at 333 S. Figueroa St. won’t be official until May, when it will become The Hyatt Regency Los Angeles Downtown. The property is currently undergoing a $20 million renovation that includes upgrades to all the guest rooms, along with improvements to the lobby, the meeting and ballroom areas and the restaurants. The hotel’s 290 employees will remain on staff after the name change.
LITTLE TOKYO GALLERIA According to the most recent information available, construction continues on upgrades to the faded, 25-year-old shopping center at 333 S. Alameda St. In late December, an outpost of Tom N Toms Coffee, a Korean-based chain,
photo by Gary Leonard
Projects
million, which covered the amount of the outstanding loan made on the site to the CRA. Trammell Crow has pledged to conduct a $100,000 marketing campaign to attract clean technology manufacturing tenants to the property. The purchasing agreement, however, does not require the firm to lease space to clean technology companies. It could also target food distributors and garment makers. Trammell Crow is currently in the preliminary planning phase for the project.
An April opening is scheduled for a market that will sell produce, meat, seafood, dairy and other items, said Carolyn Paxton, co-owner of Urban Radish. The project is turning
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 15
Development
GOOD SAMARITAN EXPANSION
APEX
NONPROFIT/COMMUNITY BUDOKAN OF LOS ANGELES Backers of the Budokan of Los Angeles, a proposed $22 million recreation center being planned by the Little Tokyo Service Center, continue to seek funding for the project. The biggest gift, a $5 million grant of Prop 84 funds distributed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, came last year; so far a total of about $8 million has been raised, said project manager Scott Ito. The Budokan would be a 38,000-square-foot facility on Los Angeles between Second and Third streets. The effort would include a four-court gymnasium, community space and a rooftop garden with a jogging track. It would provide space for several sports with an emphasis on martial arts tournaments. Ito said project officials hope to break ground in 2014 and open the facility in 2016. At budokanoflosangeles.com.
photo by Gary Leonard
WAL-MART NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET An opening is expected within a few months for a Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market in Chinatown, said Rachel Wall, a company representative. The 33,000-square-foot supermarket on the ground floor of Grand Plaza, a 302-unit senior housing complex at 701 W. Cesar Chavez Ave., will employ 65 people; the store will sell groceries and include a pharmacy. The project squeaked through the city approval process by obtaining its final building permit a day before the City Council approved an ordinance aimed at stopping Wal-Mart from opening the store.
OPENED IN THE PAST FIVE MONTHS
Construction on a 190,000-square-foot medical office building at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street in City West is on schedule and an opening is expected in the second quarter of 2014, according to a hospital official. The $80 million effort will create a facility with a pharmacy, an outpatient surgical center and five levels of physicians’ offices. The building will also serve as home to some of Good Samaritan’s specialty medical clinics, among them cardiology, orthopedics and primary care. The oncology/cancer services department will move into the building with advanced technology, and the imaging/radiation department will expand to include services dedicated to women. Architecture firm Ware Malcomb is overseeing the design, while Millie and Severson is handling construction.
HOPE STREET FAMILY CENTER A grand opening is expected this fall for the $15.7 million Hope Street Margolis Family Center, formerly known as the Hope Street Family Center, according to a project representative. Construction of the four-story, 25,500-squarefoot project, a partnership between Abode and California Hospital Medical Center, should be complete in May. The building at 1600 S. Hope St. will offer services supporting low-income families and will include an outdoor basketball court and a children’s play area. The building is slated to secure LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.
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Move-ins began in November for Apex, a 30-story South Park luxury apartment complex. The sleek dark glass edifice at Ninth and Figueroa streets, with portions that bolt out of the top floors, was originally developed as the Concerto by Sonny Astani; he lost the project amid the recession due to problems with his lender, and it ultimately ended up in the hands of ST Residential, a division of Starwood Capital. The 270 residences range from 650-2,300 square feet. Rents are $1,900-$10,000 per month and the one- to three-bedroom apartments come with hardwood floors, washers and dryers and stainless steel appliances. The project includes a 966-space garage that also serves the nearby Concerto Lofts. Additionally, the project has a dog park and a lounge for residents.
photo by Gary Leonard
an 8,200-square-foot warehouse into a market across the street from the Biscuit Company and Toy Factory lofts in the southeast portion of the Arts District. The business will be housed in a metal building and will have an outdoor patio and tables. In addition to the grocery items, Urban Radish will sell sandwiches, salads, artisanal meats and cheeses and locally baked breads. The large mural of a chipmunk on the exterior will remain and greenery will be added around the building. At facebook.com/urbanradish.
BEACON LOFTS Move-ins have begun at the Beacon Lofts, a long-delayed 53-condominium complex at 825 E. Fourth St., said Peklar Pilavjian of developer Alameda and Fourth, LLC. About 18 residences have been sold and another 30 are in escrow, he said. Prices for the condos in the $20 million development run from the low $200,000s to the high $700,000s; units range see Projects, page 16
16 Downtown News
February 25, 2013
Development
METRO AT CHINATOWN SENIOR LOFTS
Projects
ect at 458 S. Main St. has 106 residences, mostly for homeless individuals, but 25% of the apartments are set aside for working people earning less than $35,460 per year. The complex has a solar energy system on the roof. The food truck Great Balls on Tires has signed a lease to operate a restaurant on the ground floor, but the timeline for opening is uncertain. Ice cream shop Peddler’s Creamery is building out a store in the other commercial space and is expected to open this spring. At skidrow.org.
Continued from page 15 from 650-2,000 square feet. Pilavjian said he expects to sell out within two months. The Beacon Lofts were constructed out of a 1923 Arts District building. A second phase of the project is in the planning stage. At beacon-lofts.com.
CHESTER WILLIAMS BUILDING
SIQUEIROS MURAL AND INTERPRETIVE CENTER
FIGAT7TH RENOVATION/ CITY TARGET Brookfield Properties’ $40 million upgrade to the FIGat7th shopping center was completed in the fall, and an opening for the 104,000-square-foot City Target, the retail anchor of the project, took place Oct. 10. The upgrades to the 1986 shopping center include a new grand entrance with a stairway that opens the facility to pedestrians on Figueroa Street. As part of the project, the mall’s parking has been reconfigured, with 500 of the 2,400 spaces set aside solely for those who come to shop or dine. The renovation of the mall was designed by Gensler and began in January 2011. The array of stairways, zigzagging escalators and side elevators has been removed, as has a large metal frame that once hovered above the mall; the latter has been replaced with a glass canopy and twin columns sheathed in glass. The project includes a 25,000-squarefoot food court with 500 seats and, ultimately, approximately 20 restaurants. Coming in the spring is an outpost of Sport Chalet. The sporting goods giant will fill a 26,800-square-foot space on the lower level.
photo by Gary Leonard
Downtown Management finished its transformation of the 75-year-old Chester Williams Building at Fifth Street and Broadway last fall. The building with 88 apartments is now about 65% leased, said Greg Martin, Downtown Management’s vice president. The project cost was about $15 million. Pharmacy chain Walgreens has signed a lease for the 13,908-square-foot ground-floor commercial space. The shop, which will compete with the Rite Aid across the street, is slated to open late this year.
Move-ins for the $44 million, 123-unit Chinatown project began in January, said Tim Soule, project manager for Meta Housing, the developer. The project at 808 N. Spring St. converted two aged structures into an affordable senior housing complex with rents ranging from $499 for studios to $1,112 for two-bedroom lofts. The project includes an art gallery fronting Alameda Street that will display work by the tenants. There is also an exercise room, screening room and tenant lounge. There is no onsite parking available, but the complex is a short walk from the Chinatown Gold Line station. Funding came from sources including the Los Angeles Housing Department’s Neighborhood Stabilization program and tax-exempt bonds.
NEW GENESIS APARTMENTS Leasing began in November, and Skid Row Housing Trust’s $22.3 million New Genesis Apartments is now 90% occupied, said SRHT Executive Director Mike Alvidrez. The proj-
On Oct. 9, David Alfaro Siqueiros’ mural “América Tropical” went on public view, 80 years to the day after it had initially been unveiled. The original artwork sparked controversy for its images that were interpreted as anti-American, and it was soon whitewashed. Decades later, the city and the Getty Conservation Institute partnered on a $9.95 million effort to remove the paint and “conserve” rather than restore the 80-by-18-foot artwork. The mural, on the second-floor exterior wall of Olvera Street’s Italian Hall, is visible from a specially created viewing area built above the Sepulveda House. The platform is 150 feet away from the artwork. “América Tropical” is now protected from the elements by a canopy and side shades. The project includes the interpretive center, which is inside the Sepulveda House. It features bilingual, multimedia presentations about Siqueiros’ life, the artwork and the conservation process.
YWCA JOB CORPS CAMPUS The $78 million project from the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles was dedicated on Oct. 4. The seven-story Jobs Corps building at 1020 S. Olive St. houses 400 students between the ages of 16 and 24 as the YWCA prepares them for careers in fields such as healthcare, electronics, business and the culinary arts. Highlights include a library with 95 computers hooked into the Los Angeles City Municipal Library, as well as a medical center that, like other parts of the building, is both a teaching and service facility. The project allowed Job Corps operations previously split between Downtown and Hollywood to be concentrated in a single location.
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February 25, 2013
Downtown Residential
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ilgrim School is a true Downtown treasure, a school with a distinctive preschool program that begins at age 2 (named Best Preschool by the readers of the Downtown News), and FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
continues through high school with a college preparatory program and 100% college acceptance rate. Small class size and a nurturing community spirit offer each student the ability to develop their individual strengths. The classically beautiful campus offers a city experience in a peaceful setting, and the diversity of the Pilgrim community reflects the face of Los Angeles. In summer 2012, The Mayflower House boarding facility for students in grades 9-12 was added, so it is now both a day and a boarding school. Located just four Metro stops west of Downtown at the corner of Sixth and Commonwealth, Pilgrim School was established in 1958 as a division of First Congregational Church. Pilgrim prides
itself on offering an education that is both creative and traditional, based on sound moral values, a student-created honor code, and a student-run honor council. Pilgrim is a 1:1 laptop school and is piloting an iPad program. Technology is stateof-the-art, while the Brown Family Fine Arts Center offers students the opportunity for an extensive hands-on education in the fine arts. Pilgrim School offers a unique opportunity for all students to interact with artists and writers through the Visiting Artists and Writers Program. Artists such as Addi Somekh, Katya Khan and June Edmonds, and authors such as Betty Birney, Charles Harper Webb, Susan Goldman Rubin and David St. John spend time with students beginning in kindergarten. Pilgrim is committed to the education of the whole student: traditional academics, state-of-the-art technology, a strong foundation in the arts, and a place in athletics for every student. To learn more about the school or to tour the historic campus, call (213) 355-5204.
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 19
Downtown Residential
THE COMFORTS OF HOME, THE CHARACTER OF THE RITZ-CARLTON. • 224 Residences designed by Gensler • 2 & 3 Bedroom Residences on Floors 27 to 52 • Stunning views from Downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean • Concierge, Valet Parking, Pool, Fitness Center, Media Room, Private Lounge Welcome to access and privilege. Welcome to The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE.
DOWNTOWN IS THE CITY’S HEART AND L.A. LIVE DOESN’T MISS A BEAT. • • • •
Now Selling from $1.6M to $9.3M | Models Open Immediate Occupancy | Sales Gallery Hours M-F 10-6 | Sat/Sun 11-5 900 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 213.622.4242 | AllAccessLiving.com
Sports & Entertainment District 20 Restaurants 14 Movie Screens 6 Live Entertainment Venues including STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE
BROKERS WELCOME
The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. LIVE (”Residences”) are not owned, developed, leased or sold by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC (”Ritz-Carlton”). Ritz-Carlton manages the Residences pursuant to a management agreement. Some of the amenities and services described are available for purchase from the hotel and others are provided through one of the two owner associations at no additional cost to residents. Some amenities and services are subject to change. The developer reserves the right to make modifications in materials, specifications, plans, pricing, various fees, designs, scheduling and delivery of the homes without prior notice. All dimensions are approximate and subject to normal construction variances and tolerances. Plans and dimensions may contain minor variations from floor to floor. This is not an offer to sell, lease or solicitation to buy or lease to residents in jurisdictions in which registration requirements have not been fulfilled, but is intended for information only. Listing Broker for the Sales Only: The Agency, CA DRE #01904054. 2/19/13. Obtain the Property Report or its equivalent by Federal and State law and read it before signing anything. No Federal or State agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Any information provided by Olympic and Georgia Partners, LLC relating to any other leasing program by any other owner is provided solely as an accommodation and Olympic and Georgia Partners, LLC has no liability or responsibility for such leasing program(s) and makes no representations regarding any such leasing program(s). R
eal estate
20 Downtown News
Downtown Residential
February 25, 2013
Champions Lounge Celebrates Milestone Sales Surpass 70 Percent at The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live
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t a recent reception, AEG President and CEO Tim Leiweke, Los Angeles Kings captain Anze Kopitar and other VIPs dedicated the new Private Champions Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live. The unveiling included a specially commissioned sculpture designed by Lasvit FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
Lighting featuring Swarovski crystals representing the world championships won by Los Angeles teams since the opening of Staples Center in 1999, including the Kings’ 2012 Stanley Cup victory. The 700mm diameter crystal rings designed by Czech artisan Katarina Kudejova Fulinova, in a collaboration between interior
designers Bowery Design Group and Lasvit, are now permanently displayed on the 27th floor of The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live. The sculpture is a highlight of the stunning, new, million-dollar Champions Lounge, with sweeping Los Angeles skyline views. The residents-only lounge offers a state-of-the-art wine-tasting and storage vault, one-of-a-kind glass billiard table, an onyx high-top table lit from within, and a media room perfect for private screenings. Each artisanal amenity was carefully selected or uniquely designed for its beauty and elegance, including the glass billiard table custom designed in Australia. The lounge’s full-service amenities include a new breakfast and coffee bar.
“L.A. Live and Staples Center are truly the home of worldchampionship teams and world-class entertainment,” said Leiweke. “And The RitzCarlton Residences at L.A. Live is living at the highest level of service, amenities and location that L.A. has to offer. Those who live here — whether they are from the realms of entrepreneurship or the arts, or they are citizens of the world — love Downtown Los Angeles and its world-class sports teams, dining and entertainment options. This dramatic new space with its sculpture and trophies high above the city is dedicated to them all.” The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live is the best-selling luxury residential development in Los Angeles, and its array of exclusive amenities such as those represented by the Champions Lounge are a primary reason for that success. “With more than 70 percent of our 224 homes already purchased and our sales pace continuing to build upon the tremendous success we had last year, this $1 million investment is a gesture of gratitude to our homeowners,” said RCR Vice President Kimberly Lucero. “It cements the reputation of The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live as the one place in
Los Angeles where all owners’ needs and wants are accommodated in an environment of sophistication and energy.” For more information visit AllAccessLiving. com or call (213) 622-4242.
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 21
Downtown Residential
The Premier Senior Living Community Hollenbeck Palms Offers a Park-Like Setting With Striking Views of Downtown
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ocated on an exquisite, eight-acre park-like campus, Hollenbeck Palms is the premier senior living community in Los Angeles. Striking panoramic views of Downtown surround this centrally located facility offering FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
independent residential living, assisted residential living and 24-hour skilled nursing. Hollenbeck Palms is a Continuing Care Retirement Community offering a wide array of amenities that will provide residents and their family the comfort of knowing they not only have a rewarding lifestyle but also one with great opportunities for enjoyment. The Hollenbeck award-winning activities team has planned an exciting social calendar filled with special events, performances and trips. Hollenbeck offers a network
Racetrack and Laughlin. The Grand Dining Room offers a restaurant-style setting for heart healthy options from breakfast to dinner. If you’re searching for casual dining, the Skyline Bistro offers flexible hours located in Magnolia Court. Take in the Italian Riviera themed dining area or view the L.A. skyline from the al fresco deck. A variety of living arrangements are available to fit every need. In Magnolia Court, one and two-bedroom apartments feature a balcony or patio, full kitchen, washer/dryer hookups, and walk-in closets. High-speed Internet and cable TV access are available throughout the campus. Invite family to meet in one of several spacious reception areas including beautiful
lounges and fully-equipped game rooms. Hollenbeck also specializes in making your move easier. They can help decide what furniture and possessions will look best in your new home and even assist with packing and moving. On Wednesday, March 6, Hollenbeck is partnering with Gentle Transitions to host a moving seminar providing information on just how they can help potential residents and their family with these transitions. Space is limited for this event, so please RSVP early to (323) 843-2599. Call now and ask about the $2,000 offer on moving costs for select apartments. Hollenbeck Palms is at 573 S. Boyle Ave. For more information visit hollenbeckpalms.com.
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
of highly skilled physicians offering walk-in access and onsite medical services including general checkups, podiatry, dental and hearing care. Transportation is provided to local physicians and weekly shopping. The modern fitness center, nine-hole putting green, dance classes and billiards room provides activity year round. Residents, families and friends are all invited to join Hollenbeck’s special events and dining. Want to explore the best venues L.A. has to offer? Hollenbeck offers group rates to the Ahmanson, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Staples Center, Del Mar
Promenade Towers 123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove & Dishwasher ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Solariums and/or Balconies
On-Site: ~ Convenience Store / Coffee House / Yogurt Shop / Beauty Salon
museum Tower 225 South Olive Street Leasing Information 213 626 1500 Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Concierge ~ Pool / Spa / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Gas BBQ Grills ~ Recreation Room
Apartment Amenities: ~ Refrigerator, Stove, Microwave & Dish washer (most units) ~ Central Air & Heating ~ Balconies (most units)
8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6
TOWERS T H E
A PA RT M E N T S
www.TowersApartmentsLA.com MAID SERVICE • FURNITURE • HOUSEWARES • CABLE • UTILITIES • PARKING
RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM
22 Downtown News
Downtown Residential
Cultural Connection The Towers Deliver a Rich Downtown Experience
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owntown Los Angeles: Here, the living experience goes unmatched anywhere in the West. It’s a lifestyle richly embellished with art, music and the cultural events that make headlines. Downtown breeds success, housing prominent firms in impressive architectural sculptures composed of FROM OUR ADVERTISERS
glass, steel and stone. Yet historical elements of yesterday also remain — artifacts of this city’s rich past. From the faithful climb of the renowned cars of Angels Flight to the fantastic urban spectacle of California Plaza, daily life in the Towers’ neighborhood remains unsurpassed. Extraordinary fountains, garden alcove retreats, gourmet dining and first-run entertainment provide the perfect setting for a lifetime of enjoyment. Downtown holds all the essentials to fulfill the most demanding lifestyles. During the day, you are moments from the business district, minimizing or even eliminating a commute. Evenings become immersed in a flood of nightlife, movies and culture beneath the brilliant lights of the city. Day and night, the Towers place residents among all the excitement Downtown offers. Promenade Towers greets guests via a two-story lobby embellished with a tranquil indoor waterscape. Four impressive towers embrace a breathtaking pool, spa and fitness center in an oasis of flowing fountains and immaculate landscaping — a true departure from the ordinary. Promenade Towers’ individual design includes apartments with balconies, contemporary solariums and angular rooms as exciting as the property’s unique exterior styling. Grand Tower’s sensuous granite exterior distinguishes this landmark development as the address that reflects success. The 24-hour manned lobby provides impressive passage to spacious apartment
homes with balconies and a rooftop pool, spa and fitness center with beautiful mountain and city views. Adjacent to the renowned California Plaza, entertainment can be found virtually at your doorstep. Museum Tower neighbors the beautiful Museum of Contemporary Art. This fine collection of apartment homes features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Exhibit 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.
DOWNTOWN LIVING OuR iSSue fOR the DOwntOwn DwelleR. Downtowners reveal how they live and what they love about their homes. Highlights on local business and a guide to Downtown services. And the best places to live in Downtown.
Don’t miss your chance to reach 150,000 readers! Section Publishes: March 18, 2013 Space Reservation: March 13, 2013
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February 25, 2013
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 23
Celebrating 40 Years
Distinction
photos by Gary Leonard
Continued from page 1 Downtown. The district winners were chosen by the Downtown News editorial department, while the Project of the Year was voted on by community leaders from each district. Grand Park was recognized for becoming a new community gathering place, with cultural events, a dog park and a water feature that has become a kids’ splash zone, among other amenities. “It is so wonderful to see people enjoying it,” Molina said. Another district winner that has drastically changed the Downtown landscape was the FIGat7th renovation and City Target in the Financial District. The $40 million makeover by Brookfield Properties transformed an outdated outdoor mall into an active shopping and eating spot. “It means a lot to us because it reflects the sentiment of Downtown,” said Robert Cushman, vice president of operations for Brookfield Properties, as he accepted the prize. “We saw that the Downtown community was changing dramatically and that really enabled us to put together this project.” A project that came about unexpectedly won in the Civic Center. City officials were honored for rebuilding the City Hall lawn with increased sustainable plants after Occupy L.A. protesters destroyed the park in 2011. “We hadn’t planned on redoing the park at that time, but the opportunity arose so we met that challenge,” said Tom Gibson, a landscape architect with the city Department of Recreation and Parks.
Other cultural honorees included the $10 million conservation of David Alfaro Siqueiros’ 18-by-80 foot mural “América Tropical,” which won in the El Pueblo/Union Station district; L.A. Live’s lineup of community events in South Park; and the opening of the Space Shuttle Endeavour exhibit at the California Science Center, in the Figueroa Corridor. Housing complexes that secured Distinction prizes included the 7+Bridge complex in the Arts District by veteran developer Linear City; the Chester Williams Building in the Historic Core, developed by Joseph Hellen’s Downtown Management; and the long-awaited Brockman Lofts by developer Simpson Housing Group in the Seventh Street Corridor. The Seventh Street Corridor category actually held a tie, with Ricardo Zarate’s Peruvian restaurant Mo-Chica also winning. Another restaurant, Josef Centeno’s Bäco Mercat, captured the Distinction prize in the Old Bank District. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.
Representatives of projects that won Downtowners of Distinction awards last week were (top row, l to r) the Brockman Lofts, 7+Bridge, (second row) the “América Tropical” conservation, the FIGat7th renovation, (third row) the reinvention of the City Hall lawn, Bäco Mercat, (fourth row) the Chester Williams Building, the L.A. Live Community Events, the Space Shuttle Endeavour exhibit and (bottom row) Mo-Chica.
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24 Downtown News
February 25, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
A Distinct Evening Scenes and Faces From the 12th Annual Downtowners of Distinction Awards Photos by Gary Leonard
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February 25, 2013
Downtown News 25
photos by Alex J. Berliner/ABI Images
Celebrating 40 Years
Clothing Optional
Costume Designers Go Many Different Routes in Films on Display at FIDM Gallery The annual FIDM showcase of costumes from the past year’s films includes outfits from Lincoln (above) and Les Miserables (below). The exhibit runs through April 27 at the school’s South Park campus.
by Kylie Jane WaKefield
T
here are many things that go into making a movie. There’s directing, acting and writing, to name the most obvious (and most honored). Then there are less celebrated but equally important elements, among them lighting, sound and costume design. Downtown Los Angeles doesn’t have much to do with sounds and lights, but costumes are front and center in South Park. The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising recently opened its 21st annual installment of the show the Art of Motion Picture Costume Design. The exhibit, which features outfits from more than 20 films, runs through April 27 at FIDM’s Downtown museum space. The exhibit includes outfits from the five nominees for this year’s Best Costumes prize: Anna Karenina, Les Miserables, Lincoln, Mirror Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman. Also featured are clothes from The Artist, which captured the Oscar last year. Kevin Jones, FIDM’s costume historian, said that he and his team showcase many types of clothing because “we want everyone to see the broad range of design.” He noted that the same amount of work goes into a film’s costumes whether it is a contemporary production or set in the 18th century. Over the course of a year, Jones and his colleagues look at 60 films, then whittle their selections down to about 24. The costumes are from a mix of independent, low budget, blockbuster and award winning (and nominated) films. Along with the Oscar nominees, costumes from Skyfall, The Avengers, The Hunger Games, Django Unchained and The Master are on display. By the time the costumes make it to FIDM’s Downtown Los Angeles museum space, they are already two to three years old. The tricky part, said Jones, is to retrieve them before they are destroyed, recycled, sold off at charity auctions or sent back to rental warehouses. They are collected by the gallery through studios, private collectors, archives and sometimes even the movie stars themselves.
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Another challenge is that the costumes come from literally all over the world. Jones recalled one instance in which an outfit was stopped at customs and not allowed in the country because it had certain feathers on it. Up to the moment until the doors of the exhibit actually open, the team is working behind the scenes to get all the costumes ready, he said. Around the World Colleen Atwood, who won Oscars for Alice in Wonderland, Chicago and Memoirs of a Geisha, has her work from Snow White and the Huntsman on display at FIDM. In the show’s
program notes, she said that the costume changed as the main character, Snow White (played by Kristen Stewart), went through her journey. The dress starts out long, Atwood said, “but she eventually gets a makeover from the Huntsman during their travels. Then we reveal a shorter version of her dress with the leggings, which will hopefully appeal to the girls today, but still stay viable within the realm of the story.” Creating all of the costumes for the film required Atwood and her colleagues to collect materials from around the globe.
There were beetle shells from Thailand, sequins from China and fabrics from Turkey on the outfits. When designing the costumes for The Hunger Games, Judianna Makovsky noted that she had to live up to expectations of fans of the books. She tried to stay as close as possible to the descriptions by author Suzanne Collins. This meant inspiration from various time periods, whether the modern era or the hairstyle of Marie Antoinette. The Art of Motion Picture Costume Design even features something that most people would never expect to see in a museum — outfits from an animated film. At the beginning of the exhibition is a glass box that contains the clay figures from ParaNorman. Alongside it are boards that show photos of ideas for the characters’ costumes. The designer for the film was Deborah Cook. In the show’s media notes she said that her team researched fabrics and did color tests to determine what would and would not work on camera. She pointed out that a small grain or weave would be fine in a wide shot, but that it would be distracting in a close-up. Though they are not all on display at the FIDM exhibit, ParaNorman required designers to create 120 different costumes. Norman himself has five costume changes in the movie, and the bottom edge of his T-shirt alone contains 102 stitches, while the neckline had 48. Jones stressed that it is important to see the costumes in person because many times computer effects will distort them. “All of that can affect how the costumes are finally going to appear onscreen,” he said. “The designer has to understand every one of those processes and be there when all of those processes are happening.” The 21st annual Art of Motion Picture Costume Design runs through April 27 at the FIDM Museum & Galleries, 919 S. Grand Ave., (213) 623-5821 or fidmmuseum.org. It is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
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Celebrating 40 Years
February 25, 2013
The Haunting East West Players Show Explores Ghosts of the Vietnam War by Jeff Favre contributing writer
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hosts and the paranormal are popular, enduring and fiercely debated subjects, whether in literature, movies or, these days, reality TV shows. The latest in the long line of people to take up the subject is playwright Eddie Borey, who balances the life-altering philosophical elements of death and happiness with a moody, mysterious ghost story in Christmas in Hanoi. The show opened recently at East West Players’ David Henry Hwang Theatre in Little Tokyo. It continues through March 10. The plot of the two-hour play at times is spread too thin, but the tone and atmosphere set by director Jeff Liu smooth over the rough patches, leaving a riveting story. The ghost in question is the recently deceased Onah Ganley (Elyse Dinh, who also skillfully takes on a variety of smaller roles), the Vietnamese wife of an Irish-American alcoholic, Philip (Michael Krawic). Her children are Lou (Joseph Daugherty), a laidback acupuncturist, and an uptight, unhappy anesthesiologist, Winnie (Elizabeth Liang). The family, including grandfather George (Long Nguyen), heads to Vietnam. Winnie and Lou don’t realize at first that Philip has hidden motives for taking the family trip to Onah’s homeland: He plans to see a spirit medium during the visit because he’s being haunted. Soon, Lou begins receiving visits from his deceased mother, though Winnie is unable to see or hear her.
Though scary, Onah serves as a beacon, making sure the family is aware of what the other spirits are demanding of them. Ghosts, and how to honor deceased loved ones, hold a significant place in Vietnamese culture, as Borey explains in a program note, citing the unrest and anger of the people killed in what is referred to there as the “American War.” Those lost lives serve as the subtext to the family drama, along with the idea that carrying guilt means you’re never free from pain. George, who serves as an occasional de facto narrator, notes that he isn’t haunted by ghosts because he always has moved forward and lived without regret. During the trip, however, he realizes that his decision to fully assimilate his family in the American way of life may have been a mistake, as they don’t know the Vietnamese language or culture. If these psychological concepts seem a bit dull, don’t worry. The visits from the ghosts are exciting and even a bit scary thanks to John Zalewski’s sound design. Demonic voices, distorted Christmas carols and other auditory additions, mixed with Jeremy Pivnick’s shadow-streaked lighting, provide an appropriately creepy feel. Adding to the spooky landscape is FrancoisPierre Couture’s minimal but effective set design. There are a few benches and bamboo shoots, but the focal point is a large doorway, which is used as a portal between the physical world and the spirit one. The only drawback in Borey’s script is that it contains a bit too much repetition. This is
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SEVEN GRAND 515 W 7th St., Downtown
Performing songs from his new album “Crooked Hearts”
Wednesday Feb. 27 @10pm with The Youngs Darryl Holter is an original taste of American music, drawing from country, blues and folk traditions.
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photo by Michael Lamont
A family’s visit to Vietnam brings up plenty of old wounds and spirits in Christmas in Hanoi. It runs at East West Players through March 10.
a result of the thin plot — after all, it is little more than a simple journey to key areas of Vietnam. Also, the characters don’t grow and change much emotionally. Liu maintains a steady, casual tone and pace. This allows a few explosions of spectral fury to shock the audience. The ensemble works well together as a loving yet dysfunctional family. Liang, as Winnie, has the difficult task of conveying dissatisfaction with life, while Daugherty as Lou mirrors the cool surfer dudes of Santa Monica. The most memorable role, in terms of writing and performance, is George, whose life has been filled with tragedy, but who has survived by quickly adapting and never look-
ing back. Nguyen’s comic timing and knowit-all delivery offer plenty of small laughs. For the most part, however, Christmas in Hanoi is a dramatic look at how loss can affect you. Not only are the play’s ghosts scary, but they never allow the audience to forget the devastation the country suffered during the war, and how multiple later generations were decimated. Other plays, books, films and TV shows may deal with this issue, but Borey’s original idea, which East West Players handles expertly, will remain memorable for years to come. Christmas in Hanoi runs through March 10 at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org.
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 27
Celebrating 40 Years
EVENTS
E H T LI
Blue Whale 123 Astronaut E. S. Onizuka St., (213) 620-0908 or bluewhalemusic.com. Feb. 26: Dan Tepfer and Sara Gazarek. Feb. 27: Shofar: Mikolai Trzaska, Raphael Roginsky and Macio Moretti. Feb. 28: Sam Gendel. Bootleg Bar 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 389-3856 or bootlegtheater.org. Feb. 25, 8 p.m.: Years from now, we’ll all get together and laugh about the good times we had at the Mystery Skulls February residency. Feb. 26, 8 p.m.: Tasteful electronic underpinnings, well-mixed guitars, an utter lack of whiny lyrics, no false fetishism or nostalgia for an American heartland that never existed — Ramona Falls, how are we supposed to write something cynical about you? Feb. 27, 7 p.m.: Willy Moon’s vintage-lovin’ rock sounds like Robbie Williams if the latter had been specially engineered in a laboratory to create music perfect for selling imported beer. Feb. 27, 8 p.m.: Francisco the Man is another SoCal indie surf rock band. Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la. Feb. 28, 10 p.m.: Broader Than Broadway’s electronica variety program is how you chose to spend your early 30s. Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com. Feb. 27, 9 p.m.: “Underground” electronic artists
Continued on next page
photo courtesy of As I Lay Dying
ROCK, POP & JAZZ
In the 21st century, th e word supernatural is more than a show on th CW network. As impr e essive as the Jared Pa dalecki/Jensen Ackles vehicle may be, when it comes to Downtown, Supernatural is a show at the Japanese Amer ican National Museum The exhibit, on display now through March 17 , features things such as tentacle-strewn beings, huma ta n flight and possession . The phenomena depicted by artists Audrey Ka wasaki, Edwin Ushiro and Timo thy Teruo Watters are other erworldly and unexplaina ble. Boo! At 100 N. Ce ntral Ave., (213) 625-0414 or janm.org.
photo courtesy of Audrey Kawasaki
If the state of the American economy and the ever-increasever-increas ing city deficit are any indication, we could use a hard leslesson about the consequences of borrowing money. Enter the cult classic ’80s film Sticky Fingers.. The hilarity-tinged cautionary tale about the hazards of borrowing money from your drug dealer friend screens Wednesday, Feb. 27, at the Downtown Independent. Irreverent ten-dencies collide as Outfest sponsors yet another oftforgotten piece of cinema as part of its Downtown 30 series. At 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com.
THrEE
saTurday, March 2 Grand Park’s Downtown Bookfest Between Grand and Spring, Temple and First, (213) 972-8080 or grandparkla.org. 11 a.m.-6 p.m.: Bibliophiles unite in this celebration of all things literary. Musical performances, crafts, readings, an appearance by poet laureate Eloise Healey and the opening of permanent lending libraries mark this fine occasion. Talking Covers with Jonathan Lethem Last Bookstore, 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com. 4 p.m.: Author Jonathan Lethem (Dissident Gardens, Fortress of Solitude) joins Talking Covers blogger Sean Manning for a literary examination of the thing we all love to judge.
One
In the first decade of the 20th century, the debuts of Debussy’s La Mer and Stravinsky’s Firebird heralded a new paradigm in classical composition. The Frenchman’s trio of oceanic suites and the Russian’s complex elaboration on folk motifs ensconced the form in new delights of dissonance and a fresh becoming. More than a century later, the L.A. Philharmonic proudly solidifies Gustavo Dudamel’s title of maestro as he presides over four performances of the two essential pieces. On Thursday-Friday, Feb. 28-March 1, the Dudamel abides at 8 p.m. at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. He also does Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. At 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com.
TWO
Friday, March 1 First Fridays 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3388 or nhm.org. 5 p.m.: Mingle amongst the museumgoers as lectures on California earthquake tectonics and performances by indie rock outfits Allah-Lahs and The Babies nuance your evening. Yes, you can bring Babies to the museum.
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Tuesday, February 26 Gavin Newsom at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 2287500 or lfla.org. 7:15 p.m.: Former San Francisco mayor and current state Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom pontificates on the role of government in the digital age. Thursday, February 28 Art Talk at MOCA MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 621-1710 or moca.org. 7 p.m.: Museum curator Alma Ruiz discusses the museum’s process of acquiring new work. Hint: They don’t steal it.
T ’ N
DO S S M I ST
photo by Anna Hult
SPONSORED LISTINGS Macy Gray Hosts Black History Celebration Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, 450 N. Grand Ave., (213) 217-8600 or seatyourself.biz/vapa9. March 1 and 2: Phenomenal, a Celebration of Black History, Exceptional Youth That Changed The World, is a variety show that benefits the Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts and homeless teens. Singer Macy Gray will perform in the show, showcasing talents of students through acting, dancing, singing, and visual art. Tickets are $10 for students, $20 for adults. Tickets are $75 and $100 for a special gala pre-party with a special guest artist on March 2 from 5-6:30 p.m.
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It’s time to recognize the OP (original puppeteer) of Downtown string pulling: Bob Baker. For 53 years, his Bob Baker Marionette Theatre has been a home to artisans plying the ageold trade of puppetry. Guests can now indulge in a bit of rural fun with Something to Crow About, a bucolic showcase of more than 100 puppets choreographed in a celebration of American farm life and the artistic potential of string. The show runs in the City West theater every Thursday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Call for reservations. Afterwards, enjoy the ice cream in the party room. At 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. photo courtesy Bob Baker Marionette Theater
Send information and possible Don’t Miss List submissions to calendar@downtownnews.com.
28 Downtown News
Feeling Bookish at Grand Park O
n Saturday, March 2, Grand Park is going to the books. During the event dubbed BookFest, Downtown’s newest green space will host a bounty of literary activities, including the debut of four “give a book, take a book” lending libraries that will remain after the day ends. The Last Bookstore will oversee a pop-up bookstore, with readings arranged by Writ Large Press. The Central Library and Ryman Arts will lead children’s crafts, and Libros Schmibros will do book swaps and giveaways. An array of performances will include a reading by Eloise Healey, who in December was named the first poet laureate of Los Angeles. The party, which will also include food trucks, goes from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Between Grand Avenue and Spring, Temple and First streets, (213) 9728080 or grandparkla.org.
photo by John McCoy
Continued from previous page Flosstradamus have forged a career on being cooler than you. Feb. 28, 7 p.m.: The Devil Wears Prada and As I Lay Dying are teaming up to provide an evening of deity-approved metalcore. March 1, 9 p.m.: Revel in Morgan Page’s ability to create electronica without 140 beats per minute. March 2, 8 p.m.: It’s no Rio, but you’ll probably be able to get your kicks at the Brazilian Carnaval “Exotica.” Escondite 410 Boyd St., (213) 626-1800 or theescondite.com. Feb. 25, 10 p.m.: Yonatan and Friends sounds like a faith healing seminar but is in fact a jazz outfit. Feb. 26, 10 p.m.: Ask piano songstress Bunny West about her time in Newhall. She’ll probably sing you a song. Feb. 27, 10 p.m.: INS has yet to catch on, so enjoy Irish import the Mighty Stef with help from Bryan Titus. Feb. 28, 10 p.m.: A little blues from the Downtown Train. Exchange LA 618 S. Spring St., (213) 627-8070 or exchangela.com. Feb. 28, 9 p.m.: Newcomers “Epiphany” are hosting a night of electronica that will rival “Awakening” and “Inception” in depth of lineup and utter pretension. This week features Digitalism, Classixx and Switch. March 1, 10 p.m.: If you’re wondering why Rite Aid was sold out of its entire stock of hair gel, it’s because Tritonal is playing. March 2, 10 p.m.: If House DJ Cedric Gervais’ blank staring press photo or his big single “Molly” are any indication, his knowledge of MDMA is robust and firsthand. Nokia Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 763-6020 or nokiatheatrelalive.com. March 1, 8 p.m.: With a keen perception of their target demographic, conservative firebrands Bill O’Reilly and Dennis Miller have scheduled an evening of their rhetoric in the heart of Los Angeles. “Bolder and Fresher” promises a newly emboldened disregard for reality. March 2-3, 8 p.m.: If you’ve ridden the subway recently, you may have noticed the penetrating gaze of Ricardo Arjona staring out at you from Metro advertisements. With his haphazard 5 o’clock shadow and low cut T-shirt, the Guatemalan “Nocturnal Animal” is here for two nights. One-Eyed Gypsy 901 E. First St., (626) 340-3529 or one-eyedgypsy.com. Feb. 27: RT n the 44s. Feb. 28: Many Distant Cities. March 1: The Downtown Train. March 2: The Vibrometers. Redwood Bar and Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 652-4444 or theredwoodbar.com. Feb. 25: The Burning Dolls and Mountains of the
Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St., (213) 742-7326 or staplescenter.com. March 1, 8 p.m.: If you like your music ’80s and your food meatless, it’s Morissey. March 2, 7 p.m.: Local merchants should expect a run on pacifiers and brightly colored articles as Tiesto comes to town.
Moon. Feb. 26: Billy Bones. Feb. 27: Birthday Suits, Sassafras and Crime Rock. Feb. 28: Early Bird Circus featuring Fortunate Dudes, Herbert Bail Orchestra and Shawni. March 1: Symbol Six, The Gears and The Crowd. March 2: Turbonegra, The Smears, A Pretty Mess and Kevin Seconds. March 3: The Preservation and The Far West. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 or sevengrand.la. Feb. 25: Due largely to their mixing of Balkan sounds with New Orleans traditionals, RootSystem nearly chose the name C. Ray Milosevic. Feb. 26: The Makers would like to remind those who stand too close to the band area as they make their improv jazz that sometimes whiskey can be a detriment to clean smelling breath. Feb. 27: A loyal contingent of Yankees fans gather in the crowd to chant “Darryl! Darryl!” as local guitar man Darryl Holter and Fleeting Heart take the stage. The Smell 247 S. Main St., alley between Spring and Main streets, thesmell.org. Feb. 27: OBN III’s, Pangea and Audacity. March 1: R. Stevie Moore, Lake, Plateaus and Bouquet. March 2: Protectme, Palm Reader, Business Cats and Canyons.
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FILM Downtown Independent 251 S. Main St., (213) 617-1033 or downtownindependent.com. Feb. 25-26, 4, 5:45 and 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 27-28, 3:30 and 5:15 p.m.: The Jeffrey Dahmer Files is an experimental documentary that uses archival footage, interviews and fictionalized scenarios to tell the story of the people around Jeffrey Dahmer during the summer of his arrest in 1991. Feb. 27, 7 p.m.: Outfest 30 presents this special screening of ’80s cult film Sticky Fingers. IMAX California Science Center, 700 State Drive, (213) 7442019 or californiasciencecenter.org. Explore the remnants and wisdom of an ancient empire in Mysteries of Egypt. Ice and polar bear enthusiasts will likely dig To the Arctic 3D.
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L.A. DOWNTOWN NEWS
FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2013
SmARTphONE & LET READy! TAbLET
6–10 PM Enjoy a free evening of art, music and entertainment as Pasadena’s most prominent arts and cultural institutions swing open their doors.
FREE!
PARTICIPATING INSTITUTIONS Alliance Française de Pasadena / Armory Center for the Arts / Art Center College of Design / artWORKS Teen Center / Lineage Performing Arts Center / Norton Simon Museum / Pacific Asia Museum / Pasadena Museum of California Art / Pasadena Museum of History / Shumei Arts Council / Side Street Projects
NO APP REQUIRED
METRO GOLD LINE FREE SHUTTLES Free shuttles, running 6–10 p.m., will loop Take Gold Line to Memorial Park Station in throughout the evening with stops at each venue. Pasadena. More info at metro.net. Park at any one venue and ride to the others. ARTNIGHT BICYCLE TOURS ARTS BUS For more information, visit cicle.org. Pasadena ARTS Route 10 runs along Colorado Boulevard and Green Street until 8 p.m. artnightpasadena.org Information at cityofpasadena.net/artsbus. facebook.com/artnightpasadena ArtNight is an ongoing partnership among many cultural institutions and the Cultural Affairs Division of the City of Pasadena. More information: 626.744.7887. Accessibility and alternative formats: 626.744.7062. Para español, visite artnightpasadena.org.
TAX
HUNGRY, PARTY OF ONE.
Tel/Fx:
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$10.99
Experience the gripping story full of hope, crushing disappointment and triumph in Hubble 3D. REDCAT 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 of redcat.org. Feb. 25, 8:30 p.m.: Leave the psychedelics at home, as the lucid visuals and twisting narrative turns of Altered States will be more than enough brain candy. Feb. 28, 8:30 p.m.: The perspective bending work of Deleuze and Guattari manifests itself via another rhizome in Maglioni and Thomson’s IN Search of UIQ. March 2, 8:30 p.m.: Lou Harrison: A World of Music celebrates the American composer, artist, writer and activist who forged a new course for 20th century music. Regal Cinemas 1000 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 763-6070 or lalive.com/movies. Through Feb. 28: Jack the Giant Slayer 3D (10 p.m.); Bless Me, Ultima (1:10, 4:10, 7 and 9:40 p.m.); Dark Skies (11:50 a.m., 2:30, 5:20, 8 and 10:40 p.m.); Snitch (1:30, 4:30, 7:10 and 10 p.m.); Escape from Planet Earth (11:20 a.m. and 4 and 9 p.m.); Beautiful Creatures (9:50 p.m.); Escape from Planet Earth 3D (1:40 and 6:30 p.m.); A Good Day to Die Hard (1:30, 4:10, 6:50, 9:30 and 10:20 p.m.); Safe Haven (11:20 a.m. and 2, 4:40, 7:30 and 10:20 p.m.); Identity Thief (1:20, 4:20, 7:20 and 10:10 p.m.); Side Effects (1:30, 4:20, 7:10 and 9:50 p.m.); Warm Bodies (12:50, 3:40,
L.A., CA 90012 (213) 626-7975 • (213) 626-8235
with Tortillas & Salsa
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February 25, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
Breaking News | Photos | Videos Comment | Search Archives
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 29
Celebrating 40 Years
THEATER, OPERA & DANCE Backbeat Ahmanson Theatre, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org. Feb. 26-March 1, 8 p.m: Before Sgt. Pepper. Before Abbey Road. Even before Ringo, there were five Beatles. Five rowdy working class lads from the docks of Liverpool rocking out eight days a week in the raucous clubs and red-light seediness of Hamburg, Germany, creating an epic new sound. Here’s the story about the band you never knew, unless of course you happened to see Backbeat the movie 19 years ago. Through March 1. Bob Baker’s Something to Crow About The Bob Baker Marionette Theater, 1345 W. First St., (213) 250-9995 or bobbakermarionettes.com. Feb. 26-March 1, 10:30 a.m. and March 2-3, 2:30 p.m.: Come join Mama and Papa Goat and 100 more of the Bob Baker Marionettes for a musical “day on the farm.” Expect everything from dancing scarecrows to tap dancing bullfrogs warbling “Shine on Harvest Moon.” Call for reservations.
THE ANSWER
TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
Earthquake Science and Surf Rock photo courtesy of Natural History Museum
6:30 and 9:20 p.m.); Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (7:40 p.m.); Mama (10:10 p.m.); Silver Linings Playbook (1, 3:50, 6:40 and 9:30 p.m.).
E
arthquakes are a part of life in Los Angeles. But even people who have lived in L.A. their entire lives haven’t experienced the “big one” yet. The Northridge temblor in 1994 and even the Long Beach earthquake of 1933 won’t compare to the big San Andreas shake. At the March 1 installment of the Natural History Museum’s First Fridays series, Dr. Lucy Jones will get deep into the local tectonics and what it all means during a 6:30 p.m. lecture. Stick around for SoCal surf rockers Allah-Las (pictured) and Babies. That’s a band, not actual babies. At 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-3388 or nhm.org.
Christmas in Hanoi East West Players, 120 Judge John Aliso St., (213) 6257000 or eastwestplayers.org. Feb. 28-March 2, 8 p.m. and March 3, 2 p.m.: A mixed race family returns to Vietnam for the first time since the war. See review p. 26. Through March 10. Tribes Mark Taper Forum, 135 N. Grand Ave., (213) 6282772 or centertheatregroup.org. Feb. 27-March 2, 8 p.m. and March 3, 1 and 6:30 p.m.: Billy is in love. For the first time in his life as a deaf person, he has found Sylvia. As they begin their romance, one question becomes deafening: Why did Billy and his family never learn sign language? Through April 24.
CLASSICAL MUSIC Tuesday, February 26 John Adams and Gustavo Dudamel at Green Umbrella Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323)
850-2000 or laphil.com. 8 p.m.: The L.A. Philharmonic’s devoted section of contemporary classical music proudly unites two world class conductors with pieces by Pereira, Chin and Adams himself. Thursday, February 28 Dudamel Conducts Stravinsky’s Firebird Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (323) 850-2000 or laphil.com. Feb. 28-March 1, 8 p.m. and March 2-3, 2 p.m.: Debussy’s La Mer and Stravinsky’s Firebird form the backbone of this highlight performance by Dudamel and the Phil. Friday, March 1 Auryn Quartet at Da Camera Society Doheny Mansion, 10 Chester Place, (213) 477-2929 or dacamera.org. 8 p.m.: In this intimate chamber music performance in University Park, the Auryn Quartet features pieces by Schumann, Mozart and Ravel.
MORE LISTINGS Hundreds of listings of fun and interesting things to do in Downtown Los Angeles can also be found online at ladowntownnews.com/calendar: Rock, Pop & Jazz; Bars & Clubs; Farmers Markets; Events; Film; Sports; Art Spaces; Theater, Dance and Opera; Classical Music; Museums; and Tours.
2 yOUR EvENT INfO
EASy WAyS TO SUBMIT
4 WEB: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EMAIL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com
Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number. Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.
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30 Downtown News
February 25, 2013
Celebrating 40 Years
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tributed every Monday throughout the offices and circulAtioN: Jessica Tarr ANDREA’S WALK-N-ROLL SEDAN Certified, Red Brick residences Downtown Los Angeles. Dog Walker/Pet Sitter. of ReliablePearl/Silver, 30mpg, CU0827R distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles Downtown since 2002 Experienced. One Much love, copy perattenperson. / L651168 ONLY....$11,995 call distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavotion Bonilla and play. 626-484-9142 an888-845-2267 www.carsonnisdreathedogwalker@gmail.com
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Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin
Los Angeles Downtown News 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 phone: 213-481-1448 fax: 213-250-4617 web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com
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ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editor: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Dave Denholm, Jeff Favre, Greg Fischer, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Ryan E. Smith, Marc Porter Zasada
Gross rent between $1500-$3000
Commercial Retail Store Front (2400 sq ft) on Hill St. Downtown L. A. Call Pierre or Terri @ 213-744-9911
FictitiOus Business name statements:
Only $ 85. FOr 4 insertiOns
Call (213) 481-1448 for details. (Note: The Downtown News does not perform filing services)
AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Yoji Cole, Catherine Holloway, Sol Ortasse sAlEs AssistANt: Claudia Hernandez circulAtioN: Jessica Tarr distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla
Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins
The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.
PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard
One copy per person.
February 25, 2013
Downtown News 31
Celebrating 40 Years
2009 MERCEDES CLK350 AMG Certified, White Stone, 3.5L, low miles 5940C / F270087 ONLY....$25,991 Call 888-3198762. www.mbzla.com 2009 CHEVY MALIBU HYBRID 4dr. Gray/Gray, Great Mileage, AC, Loaded F13074-1/ F131890 ONLY....$13,995 Call 888-3047039 www.felixchevrolet.com
For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com
DONATE YOUR CAR – Fast Free Towing 24 hr. response - Tax deduction. United Breast Cancer Foundation. Providing Free Mammograms & Breast Cancer Info 888-792-1675 (CalSCAN) WANTEd Any Condition Pre 1973 Mercedes SL, other convertibles, Porsche 356, 912, 911, Jaguar XK150 through E-types. Gas station signs. Other interesting cars considered. 714-2673436 or michaelcanfield204@ gmail.com (Cal-SCAN)
Autos WAnted
Sell your items under $300… 12 words, 2 weeks it’s FREE!
dONATE YOUr CAr, truck or boat to Heritage for the Blind. Free 3 day Vacation, Tax deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 888-9026851. (Cal-SCAN)
EMPLOYMENT
GenerAl
drivers drIVEr - $0.01 increase per mile after 6 and 12 months. $.03/ mile quarterly bonus. daily or Weekly pay. CdL-A, 3 months current exp. 800-414-9569 www. driveknight.com (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS: Freight Up = More $ Plus Benefits, New Equip & 401K. Class A CdL required. 877-258-8782 www.ad-drivers. com (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS: Inexperienced? Get on the road to a Successful Career with CdL Training. regional Training locations. Train and work for Central refrigerated (877) 369-7091 www.centraltruckdrivingjobs.com (Cal-SCAN)
WANTEd – site safety supervisor Looking for someone with excellent safety & health track record. Experience with OSHA, dEP, EPA compliance, B.S. in Health & Safety or equivalent. Apply at www.york.voithhydro. com Job Number NA760 (CalSCAN)
ANNOUNCEMENTS notices CA$H PAId for diabetic strips!! don’t throw boxes away-Help others! Unopened /Unexpired boxes only. All Brands Considered! Call Anytime! 24hrs/7days (888) 491-1168 (Cal-SCAN)
dId YOU KNOW that Ten Million adults tweeted in the past month, while 164 million read a newspaper in print or online in the past week? Advertise in 240 California newspapers for one low cost. Your 25 word classified ad will reach over 6 million+ Californians. For brochure call Elizabeth (916)288-6019. (CalSCAN) reunions
PersonAls
Misc. iteMs
MEET SINGLES right now! No paid operators, just real people like you. Browse greetings, exchange messages and connect live. Try it free. Call now 1-800945-3392. (Cal-SCAN)
EdENPUrE® Portable Infrared Heaters. Join the 3 million beating the cold and winter heating bills. SAVE $229 on our EdenPUrE® Model 750. Call now while supplies last! 1-888-7529941. (Cal-SCAN)
ITEMS FOR SALE MedicAl MerchAndise
The 1957 & 1958 graduating class of Long Beach Polytechnic (Poly) High School in Long Beach, CA is holding its 55th and 56th year reunion on March 16, 2013 at the Grand in Long Beach. Please contact Sandy Schroeder Leafsted at 562-5975497 for details.
ATTENTION sleep APNEA sufferers with Medicare. Get free CPAP replacement Supplies at No Cost, plus free home delivery! Best of all, prevent red skin sores and bacterial infection! Call 888-699-7660. (Cal-SCAN)
SAWMILLS from only $3997.00Make & save money with your own bandmill- Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free Info/dVd: www. NorwoodSawmills.com (CalSCAN) Furniture WING CHAIrS GOOd CONdITION. $250 pair. re-upholstery available. 323-514-7719.
DOWNTOWN L.A. AUTO GROUP WWW.DTLAMOTORS.COM
NISSAN
of Downtown L.A. 888-838-5089 635 W. Washington Blvd. • downtownnissan.com
NEW ’13 Nissan Altima 2.5S Lease for only
$129
VoLkSwAgeN
Carson
NISSAN
of Downtown L.A.
888-781-8102 1900 S. Figueroa St. • vwdowntownla.com
NEW ’13 Volkswagen Jetta S Lease for only
per month for 39 mos
$149
Felix
888-845-2267 1505 E. 223rd St., Carson • carsonnissan.com
NEW ’13 Nissan Rogue S Lease for only
$179 per month for 39 mos
per month for 36 mos
CHeVRoLeT 888-304-7039 3300 S. Figueroa St. • felixchevrolet.com
NEW ’13 Chevy Camaro LS Buy for only
$21,999
Plus tax, 39 month closed end lease on approved credit. $0 Sec. Dep. $5359 due at Signing. (Excludes taxes, title, other options & dealer fees). Residual $14,280. Model # 13113. $0.15/mile over 12,000 miles/year. 5 At this Price.
Plus tax 36-month closed end lease on approved VW Credit., $1,999 due at signing. (Excludes title, tax, 1st mo. pymt, options and dealer fees). MSRP $17,470 with manual trans. $0 security deposit. $0.20/mile over 36,000 miles. # 411061. Offer ends February 28, 2013.
Plus tax 39-month closed end lease on above average tier approved credit., $2999 due at signing. (Excludes title, tax, 1st mo. pymt, options and dealer fees). $0 security deposit. $0.20/mile over 12,000 miles/yr. 1 at this offer # C130048/008216.
MSRP $25,445 Felix Discount -$1946 Customer cash -$500 Competitive lease $1000 (NON GM Lease) Net Cost $21,999. 5 at this price
2002 Nissan Altima Sedan ................
2009 VW CC Sport 2.0L .....................
2007 Ford Focus ................................
2010 Chevy Aveo ..............................
$6,999
$17,890
Only 87K miles, Looks and Runs great, N130239-1/2C197821
Turbo, Auto, Gray/Beige, Only 21K miles. ZV1997 / 9E568766
2007 Nissan Altima Sedan ...............
2012 VW Passat 2.5S ........................
$13,999
$17,980
Only 42,000 Miles, Must See, N130227-1/7N418393
2005 Nissan Armada SE ................... 5.6L V8, Silver/Black, Leather, 38K miles, NI4111/5N706134
$15,999
Plus 296 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
ToYoTA
Downtown L.A. 800-574-4891 1600 S. Figueroa St. • toyotadowntownla.com
NEW ’12 Toyota Camry LE Lease for only
$199
Certified, White/Blk, Only 463 Miles, 32mpg. ZV2031 / CC061558
2012 VW Jetta GLI ............................ Turbo, Silver/Black, Only 6646 Miles. ZV2081/ CM458892
$22,680
Plus 392 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
2007 Dodge Ram Pickup .................. 3.7L V6, Auto, Red/Gray, Leather, 1 owner. CU0893P / 604015
888-319-8762 1801 S. Figueroa St. • mbzla.com
NEW ’13 Mercedes C250 Lease for only
per month for 36 mos
$299 per month for 48 mos
$8,995
2011 Nissan Versa ............................. Certified pre-owned. Won’t last. CU0902R / 364923
$11,995
Plus 311 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
AuDI
Downtown L.A. Motors
MeRCeDeS BeNz
$7,995
Great car, fantastic mileage. CU0904P/245655
of Downtown L.A. 888-583-0981 1900 S. Figueroa St. • audidtla.com
NEW ’13 Audi A4 2.0T Lease for only
$369
Red/Gray, Great Mileage, Must See. F13618-1 / B096184
$10,995
2011 Chevy HHR LT Sport ............... Gray/Gray, Auto, 40K Miles, 32 MPG. UC409R / S659470
$13,995
2011 Chevy Impala LT ...................... White/Gray. V6, 35K Miles. UC434R / B1310113
$15,995
Plus 198 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
PoRSCHe
of Downtown L.A. 888-685-5426 1900 S. Figueroa St. • porschedowntownla.com
NEW ’13 Porsche Boxster Lease for only
per month for 42 mos
$499 per month for 24 mos
+ tax 48 month closed end lease on approved credit. $2399 due at signing excluding title, taxes, options, acquisition fees, dealer fees & first payment. Zero Sec. Dep. .25cents/ mile over 10K miles/year. 5 to choose. MSRP $36255.
+ tax 42 mo. Closed end lease on approved credit. $0 Sec. Dep. $0 Down plus first month payment, license and registration, and bank acquisition fee. Must qualify for the New Owner Appreciation or Audi Loyalty Rebate of $1000. $0.25 per miles over 10,000 miles/ year. 2 at this offer DA175839, DA175793.
Plus tax 24-month closed end lease offered to highly qualified lessees on approved credit. $2995 due at signing. (Excludes title, tax, 1st month’s pymt, options and dealer fees). $0 security deposit. Residual of $39,436.40. $0.30/mile over 5,000 miles/year. 1 at this offer #DS113366.
2012 Hyundai Elantra GLS ...............
2009 Mercedes C300W .....................
2010 Audi A3 2.0T Wagon ................
2010 Porsche Boxster S ...................
$15,988
$25,991
$23,994
Plus tax 36-month closed end lease on approved above average credit. In lieu of factory rebate. $3425 due at signing. $24,060 MSRP, $13,208 residual. $0.15/mile over 36,000 miles. All Model #2532 Offer ends March 4, 2013.
Gray/Gray, Only 35K Miles, Premium Sound. TU0082/127760
Certified, White/Grey, Only 24K Miles. 6322C/ R083029
Certified, Silver/Beige, Turbo, Only 24K Miles. A13598D-1 / AA127029
Certified, Red/Beige, 19” Wheels, Bose. AU730114
$46,895
2007 BMW 328I .................................
2009 Mercedes CLK 350 Coupe ......
2011 Audi A5 Cabriolet ....................
2008 Porsche Cayenne GTS ..............
$17,588
$26,888
$36,980
$46,898
Silver, Low Miles, Very Clean, Manual Trans. TU0089-1/Z78486
2010 Toyota Prius III ......................... Black/Gray, Only 34K Miles, 51 MPG City. T130193-1/050042
$18,988
Plus 500 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
Certified, AMG, White/Stone, 3.5L, 5940C/F270087
Certified, Turbo, Auto, Blk/Blk, Only 23K Miles. A13353D-1 / BN010259
Certified, 4.8L V8, Sand White/Black Low Miles, ZP1556/8LA73049
2010 Mercedes E350W ......................
2011 Audi A6 3.0T Quattro ..............
2011 Porsche Panamera S ...............
$36,991
$43,680
$76,896
Certified, Silver/Black, Only 22K Miles. 121489-1/ A165279
Plus 419 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
Certified, AWD, Blk/Beige. Supercharged V6. A13818D-1 / BN000941
Plus 116 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
Certified, Silver/Blk, 20” Turbo Wheels, Burmester Sound, P13281-1/BL060773
Plus 112 More New & Used In Stock & On Sale!
32 Downtown News
Celebrating 40 Years
Hall of Justice Continued from page 1 prisoners including Charles Manson and Sirhan Sirhan. Marilyn Monroe’s corpse was once stored in the coroner’s wing. Restoring and reactivating the structure is significant on many levels, say longtime Downtown stakeholders. “As a piece of architecture it is exquisite,” said Dan Rosenfeld, who as a former real estate official working for the state participated in past attempts to restore the building. Rosenfeld, who now serves as a senior deputy to Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, added, “It is the oldest and most elaborate building in the Civic Center and we are anxiously awaiting its return in a pristine, restored condition.” Perhaps the most important element of the turnaround,
February 25, 2013
said Rosenfeld, is that the work will return the structure to its original mission. “Its real significance is founded in its purpose, and that is as an expression of the ideal of justice,” said Rosenfeld. Comeback Halted The Hall of Justice is situated in a key Civic Center location. It is northwest of City Hall and across the street from the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. It is also a short walk from the still new $56 million Grand Park. In the years after it was shuttered, there were several attempts to bring back the building. The most notable occurred in 2004, when the courthouse was gutted in preparation for repairs. However, the work was halted when the estimated price of the reactivation soared to $285 million. Finally, in 2010, the County Board of Supervisors approved the rehabilitation project. The contract went to Clark Construction and architecture firm AC Martin. Those two entities had been part of the aborted 2004 upgrade.
You’re invited photo by Gary Leonard
Women’s Wellness Conference Come On & Laugh a Little! Lessons on Stress Management on the Road to Good Health
Keynote Speaker: Shawn Herz, M.S. Gerontology Leonard Davis School of Gerontology University of Southern California
Saturday, March 2, 2013 9:00 AM – 12:20 PM Luncheon following program.
Good Samaritan Hospital Moseley-Salvatori Conference Center 637 S. Lucas Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90017 Continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Parking will be validated.
Free O•P•I to the first 75 people.
This conference was made possible through the generosity of Mr. George Joseph
For more information or to register in advance call 1 (800) GS-CARES (1-800-472-2737). Cost: $25.
James Kerns of the County Department of Public Works is overseeing the renovation of the Hall of Justice. The work includes saving the cellblock where Charles Manson was held.
The renovation is extensive, with work including fixing seismic design flaws, elevator upgrades and installing new electrical and mechanical systems. One of the largest aspects involves building a 1,000-car garage. The excavation and shoring work is complete and Kerns expects four subterranean parking levels to be finished by summer. The structure will eventually rise four stories above street level. Overall construction is about 30% complete, said Kerns, who is assistant deputy director of the Project Management Division of the County Department of Public Works. Crews have removed asbestos and other harmful materials and are currently installing shear walls and drag beams that will enable the building to withstand a high-magnitude earthquake. The most obvious aspect of the project will start in March, when crews begin the months-long process of cleaning the dirty exterior. The work follows a testing period in which crews tried out various chemical cleaners. Ultimately, Kerns said, they settled on a high-pressure washing system that utilizes a mix of recycled glass and stones, but that is still gentle to the granite. He said the gleam should be restored by October. Infamous Past Some of the most interesting work takes place far off the ground. Kerns noted that while the height of the structure won’t change, the 11th and 13th floors have been removed in order to provide more headroom. The former prison, which was housed on floors 10-13, had eight-and-a-half-foot ceilings. Altering those levels and removing the 750 jail cells will allow for higher ceilings, Kerns said, and reduce the weight on top of the building. “You can imagine that wouldn’t make for good office space, so we had to take them out,” Kerns said. There was another benefit, Kerns noted. Recycling the metal from the original 1925 jail cells netted the county $450,000. Although the Hall of Justice is intended to function like a new edifice, many historical elements have been saved and restored. Along with the decorative touches, one of the 17 courtrooms and the law library are being preserved. Both will be used as conference rooms. The historical approach extends to the place where prisoners were housed. The five-jail cellblock that is believed to have held Manson has been moved to the first floor. It is part of a display area that will teach visitors about the building’s past, Kerns said. Old graffiti scratched onto cell walls is still visible. The metal shelves that served as beds have been unbolted from the walls and placed on the cell floors. The cells still house a toilet and a tiny sink. During a recent morning visit, Kerns walked into the cellblock to Manson’s old cell. He stepped into the tiny room as a construction worker stood at the end of the block ready to pull down on a metal handle to demonstrate how the doors closed. With a loud metallic thud, most the cell doors slammed shut. The Manson cell, for some unknown reason, remained open. Rosenfeld said that along with reinvigorating the Civic Center, he hopes the building will serve as a tangible history lesson. “It was created in a time when Los Angeles was still a rough and tumble and sometimes disorderly place,” he said. “To memorialize a little bit of its noir history is important. It’s important for us to understand how far we’ve come.” Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.