05-16-11

SPECIAL DOWNTOWN DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

NEWS

Boutique building – only 35 Units, 7-units per floor, units are light and airy

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“Real” loft, not “soft” loft (high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick in some units)

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Large units, up to 1800sf available

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Low HOA Dues including parking with every unit, developer has “pre-funded” HOA at $125,000

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For extra $100/mo, owners can “opt-in” to services next door at Pacific Electric Lofts, Including roof-top pool, sun deck, dog-run, conference room and gym!

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All appliances included in purchase price Located in the heart of the Historic Core

Main St. is a wide, one-way street with less traffic and no buildings directly across the street 35 Re-Imagined “Live/Work” Residences Now Offered for Sale • •

of downtown Los Angeles, The Mercantile Lofts

are home to 35 re-imagined “live/ work” residences.

These are “true”District” lofts, featuring 13-ft Edge of the “Historic Core”, away from the chaos of the “Fashion yetceilings, close to everything

For more information, see our ad on page 22.

floor-to-ceiling windows, and a floor-plan

DEVELOPMENT

to suit any need, from 600sf – 1800sf*. With low HOA dues, including on-site parking, Mercantile offers some of the most flexible space, location

and amenities available.

Showroom hourS Friday 2-6 PM, Sat/Sun 12-5 PM and by appointment Boutique building – only 35 Units, 7-units per floor, units are light and airy

ISSUE: 9-25

• •

“Real” loft, not “soft” loft (high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick in some units)

•

Large units, up to 1800sf available

310.888.3729 Units from the High $200,000’s Located in the heart of the Historic Core

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Low HOA Dues including parking with every unit, developer has “pre-funded” HOA at $125,000

•

For extra $100/mo, owners can “opt-in” to services next door at Pacific Electric Lofts, Including roof-top pool, sun deck, dog-run, conference room and gym!

Los TheW Mercantile Reichling W W W . D O W N Tof downtown OJoeW NAngeles, N| 323.395.9084 E S .Lofts C OKeRRy MMaRsico | 213.700.6515

May 16, 2011

Volume 40, Number 20

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joe.reichling@sothebyshomes.com are home to 35 re-imagined “live/ work” residences.

Back From the Dead

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All appliances included in purchase price

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Main St. is a wide, one-way street with less traffic and no buildings directly across the street

•

Edge of the “Historic Core”, away from the chaos of the “Fashion District” yet close to everything

kerry@thedowntownmls.com

Showroom hourS Friday 2-6 PM, Sat/Sun 12-5 PM and by appointment

These are “true” lofts, featuring 13-ft ceilings,

INSIDE

floor-to-ceiling windows, and a floor-plan

to suit any need, from 600sf – 1800sf*. With low

310.888.3729 Units from the High $200,000’s

Joe Reichling | 323.395.9084 joe.reichling@sothebyshomes.com

KeRRy MaRsico | 213.700.6515 kerry@thedowntownmls.com

HOA dues, including on-site parking, Mercantile offers some of the most flexible space, location and amenities available.

Revival of Seven Stalled Downtown Projects Gives Some Hope, But Others Say Don’t Call it a Comeback Urban Scrawl on the Lakers’ demise.

4

•

Boutique building – only 35 Units, 7-units per floor, units are light and airy

•

“Real” loft, not “soft” loft (high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick in some units)

•

Large units, up to 1800sf available

•

Low HOA Dues including parking with every unit, developer has “pre-funded” HOA at $125,000

•

For extra $100/mo, owners can “opt-in” to services next door at Pacific Electric Lofts, Including roof-top pool, sun deck, dog-run, conference room and gym!

•

All appliances included in purchase price

•

Main St. is a wide, one-way street with less traffic and no buildings directly across the street

•

Edge of the “Historic Core”, away from the chaos of the “Fashion District” yet close to everything

Showroom hourS Friday 2-6 PM, Sat/Sun 12-5 PM and by appointment

310.888.3729 Units from the High $200,000’s

Joe Reichling | 323.395.9084 joe.reichling@sothebyshomes.com

Will Rick Caruso run for mayor?

KeRRy MaRsico | 213.700.6515 kerry@thedowntownmls.com

5

Opening a Downtown time capsule.

8

photo by Gary Leonard

Developers Yuval Bar-Zemer (left) and Leonard Hill at the former 2121 Lofts. Their firm Linear City recently acquired the project, now known as Seven and Bridge, and is finishing it. It is one of seven stalled Downtown developments that have been reactivated.

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

A

t first glance, the recent construction work on the Gallery Lofts in the Arts District seems fairly inconsequential. San Diegobased Pacifica Companies last year purchased the relatively small, stalled project previously known as Hewitt Street Lofts and began finishing the development.

Residential living in Downtown.

17

Chinatown, construction crews are working and residents are being wooed.

“We like projects like Hewitt Street Lofts, where no one’s really sure exactly what the status is with the courts, with how much work needs to be done,” said Scott Russell, director of development for Pacifica, which is making its first investment in Downtown. “Groups like ours get in and roll up see Housing, page 26

So a Rabbi, a Priest and a Nun Walk Up to a Bike…

A Little Tokyo dance battle.

29

31 CALENDAR LISTINGS

Annual Blessing of Local Cyclists Returns to Good Samaritan Hospital

by RichaRd Guzmán

32 MAP

city editoR

33 CLASSIFIEDS

ers Cho ead ice R

DO

Sales for the 33 condominiums at 120-130 S. Hewitt St. began last month. Prices start in the high $300,000s.

What makes the project worth a closer look is that it is not alone. In recent months, seven Downtown Los Angeles developments that were derailed by the recession have come back from the dead. From housing projects in the Arts District to a major mixed-use effort in

NEWS

BEST of DOWNTOWN

W

hat do a priest, a nun and a rabbi have in common? Well, in addition to busy church and temple weekends, the answer is some serious blessing skills.

Those skills will be on display on Tuesday, May 17, for one of Downtown’s most unique

events. At 8 a.m., the religious leaders and hundreds of cyclists will roll up to Good Samaritan Hospital in City West for the eighth annual Blessing of the Bicycles.

The event was started in 2004 by avid cyclist and hospital President and CEO Andy Leeka to raise awareness of bike riders and to encourage safety. It also seeks to provide see Bikes, page 30

photo by Gary Leonard

Hundreds of bicycles and their riders will be blessed at Good Samaritan Hospital on May 17. The Blessing of the Bicycles began in 2004.

The Best is Here!

It’s tIme to vote! see page 6 for a lIst of categorIes & nomInees.

2 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

AROUNDTOWN Vote for the Best and Win Big

T

he Best of Downtown is coming, and you’re invited to the proceedings. On May 14, Los Angeles Downtown News opened the polls for the 23rd annual Best of Downtown issue. Readers have the opportunity to weigh in on more than 100 categories, everything from Best Restaurant to Best Cupcake to Best Pet Services to Best Book Store. All voting takes place online at votebestof.com. Voters who fill out at least 30 categories will be entered in a contest to win prizes including an iPod Touch, cash and gift certificates. The grand prize package includes a two-night stay at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel, dinner for two at Sai Sai, $200 cash, dinner for two at Morton’s, a $150 Ticketmaster gift card and a Los Angeles Conservancy walking tour. Voting will continue until June 3 and the Best of Downtown issue will publish July 18.

For more information, see the ballot in this issue on page 6-7.

Alameda and Fourth Goes Rental

A

lthough some believe the Downtown condominium market is recovering, it’s not strong enough for the developers of the $20 million Alameda and Fourth project. The development that was initially announced in late 2006 and has long been planned as for-sale units is instead changing to rentals, said Peklar Pilavjian of Alameda and Fourth, LLC. Although the project is still scheduled for a late 2011 opening, Pilavjian said the developers did not believe they could get the prices they wanted for the units in the current market. He said the project will go condo at an undetermined date in the future. The effort is transforming the 1923 structure, a former Beacon storage company building, into 53 artist-in-residence lofts ranging from 650-2,400 square feet.

Weigh In on Streetcar Route

O

rganizers of the $125 million effort to build a Downtown streetcar have sewn the seeds of a route that connects L.A. Live and the Music Center via the Historic Core. Now, as Metro proceeds with an environmental analysis of the project, it wants the public’s help in fine-tuning the

route. On Tuesday, May 17, Metro will host a meeting at the Los Angeles Theatre where people can learn about route alternatives and push for, or against, potential variations.

Officials say the route long imagined running no farther than First Street to the north and Pico Boulevard to the south will likely have to extend beyond those boundaries to access a needed maintenance facility. Possible twists include adding track through Chinatown, with a potential stop at Olvera Street, or heading south to Washington Boulevard near L.A. Trade-Tech College. Broadway is considered a primary southbound spine, as the effort was born out of 14th District City Councilman José Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway initiative. The Los Angeles Theatre is at 615 S. Broadway. The event starts at 4 p.m. as an open house. Public comment is from 6-7:30 p.m. More information at metro.net/projects/ historic-streetcar-service.

Undercover Cop Shoots Suspected Drug Dealer

A

n undercover officer posing as a narcotics buyer shot and killed a suspected drug dealer on Tuesday, May 10, near Fifth and Spring streets, outside the Alexandria Hotel. At some point during the transaction, the suspect, 51-year-old Dale Garrett, a parolee and a convicted felon with an extensive drug record, threatened an LAPD officer with a 7-inch folding saw, police say. Garrett was shot and transported to a local hospital where he died. Initial reports said that Garrett had robbed one of the officers, though an LAPD press release issued on Thursday did not reference a robbery. Central Area Capt. Todd Chamberlain said the department’s Force Investigation Division is looking into the incident. “It’ll probably take 10 months to a year but all aspects will be reviewed and looked at,” Chamberlain said. “As far as what happened and how it happened, all we know is that the officers were threatened with a knife during some form of a narcotics transaction.” As part of the investigation, Chamberlain said officials will canvass the area looking for more witnesses and analyzing any surveillance footage that may have captured the incident. The Los Angeles Community Action Network, an

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

Find out at the landmark location near Downtown. Home of the original Chili-burger.

Quality and value since 1946:

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Many Imitate, But None Compare!

tax included

photo by Gary Leonard

More than 60 vehicles, including the Fiat 500, were on display last week at Bank of America Plaza as part of Los Angeles Motorexpo.

advocate for local homeless individuals, protested the shooting at the Central Area police station on May 12. An LACAN statement said that none of four people who witnessed the incident “saw the victim attempt to rob or brandish a weapon toward the officers.”

Plans Proceed for Naming Museum After Cerrell

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lans to name an El Pueblo cultural facility after a longtime political advisor and prominent member of the ItalianAmerican community are moving forward. On Tuesday, May 10, the City Council instructed staff at the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument to report back with recommendations about naming the Italian Museum, located in the Italian Hall, after Joseph Cerrell. The Joseph R. Cerrell Italian American Museum, scheduled to open this year, will highlight the history of Italian Americans with art exhibitions, a research archive and a multimedia center. It would also host lectures, festivals, meetings and other community events.

Cerrell was a longtime Los Angeles political advisor who had worked with a who’s who of local and national figures, among them John F. Kennedy. He was also an early supporter of the museum project. He died in December at the age of 75.

May 16, 2011

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4 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

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EDITORIALS Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

Judging McCourt by His Own Standards

I

n the past month, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been hammered by an astounding number of people, among them fans, local business leaders and members of the media. While some of the rhetoric is directed at the performance of the team on the field, most of it flows in the direction of Frank and Jamie McCourt, the Boston couple who acquired the franchise in February 2004 and publicly separated five years later. Particularly compelling are Frank’s own words.

This is a terrible time for Dodger fans, probably the worst since the team came to Los Angeles in 1958. Even before the first pitch was thrown out this season, the divorce of Frank and Jamie and their bitter court battle over the team had earned the enmity of many. The situation worsened following the opening day beating of a San Francisco Giants fan in the parking lot of Dodger Stadium. It ratcheted even higher last month when Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig installed a trustee to oversee the team and its associated operations. In response, McCourt and newly hired Vice Chairman Steve Soboroff have gone on the attack, sometimes embarrassing themselves and by extension the franchise.

While many members of the public have been judge, jury and would-be executioner of the McCourts, one thing that has not been heard is serious self-examination. Although during a recent media whirlwind Frank acknowledged making some mistakes and proclaimed that he is a changed man, his intent was clearly spin, a response to Selig’s moves. This was less personal assessment than it was a carefully calculated and choreographed publicity campaign to allow him to retain control of the ball club.

In short, what has been missing so far is an opportunity to judge the McCourts by their own standards. Fortunately, there is a way to do just that.

Last week, Los Angeles Downtown News published “A Frank McCourt Flashback.” The story was a reprint of a Q&A Downtown News conducted with McCourt on Feb. 13, 2004, the day he and Jamie closed escrow on their $430 million acquisition of the Dodgers. At the time, the new owner discussed his dreams and vision for returning the team to greatness. He also laid down some comments that serve as parameters by which his tenure can be measured today.

In discussing his feelings upon completing ownership, McCourt stated, “When it all set in, here’s this storied franchise and we’re being allowed to be the stewards.” He added, “Our approach is really to get up every day and work as hard as we can and try to leave things a little teeny bit better than

the way we found them that morning.”

In these regards, McCourt has not lived up to his stated standards. Rather than acting as trusted stewards of a treasured part of the city’s psyche, the couple, as demonstrated by court papers, used the team to enrich themselves (media accounts said they took $100 million out of the Dodgers to pay for a lavish lifestyle, including numerous mansions; on a recent radio show Frank said that $50 million of that was a loan that will be paid back).

Are the Dodgers as an organization a “teeny bit better” now than when the McCourts acquired them? Possibly, but if so it is only because the bar was set so low — it’s easy to forget now, but the ownership tenure of Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. was a debacle. What is certain is that the team has regressed since the fall of 2009, when Frank and Jamie publicly separated.

In the 2004 interview, and in a press conference after baseball owners approved his purchase of the team, McCourt discussed what he termed the ABCs of ownership, referencing Accountability, Baseball and Community. “The Accountability was really a catchall for the notion that we’re starting anew, and I expect everybody to hold me accountable,” he told Downtown News. That is precisely what people are doing now, and the results are not pretty. Although McCourt and Soboroff have repeatedly stated the team would not be in a precarious financial state if Selig would approve a $3 billion television contract with Fox, the fans maintain that accountability means never letting the situation progress to that point in the first place. People are doing just what McCourt asked them to do seven years ago.

The B element, Baseball, is where the team has perhaps fared best. The Dodgers made the playoffs four times in McCourt’s first six years of ownership, and twice came within a couple games of reaching the World Series. The poor performance last season, the current mediocre squad and the dim outlook for the future make that easy to overlook. So has McCourt’s either unwillingness or inability to spend for multiple elite players the way top-notch major-market teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies do.

During that 2004 interview, McCourt also addressed the Dodger Stadium experience, stating, “We’ll look at everything we can that increases the revenue streams here, so long as we can translate that to an improved experience for our fans here at the ballpark and a better product on the field.”

Fan experience was an area where the McCourts also initially made some progress, only to sag later. Although ticket, concession and parking prices all steadily rose, upgrades were being made to the half-century old stadium, and the McCourts in spring 2008 announced plans for a $500 million upgrade of the venue and its grounds. Then, whether because of the recession, the couple’s split or something else, those needed improvements ground to a halt. The mega-project never got close to groundbreaking and upgrades on the upper decks didn’t happen. Notoriously lengthy concession lines never sped up, and people questioned the value of a visit to Dodger Stadium.

As that occurred, increasing numbers of fans began to feel uneasy in a place where a few drunk, belligerent people were allowed to ruin the experience for others. Flying expletives and heckling of those wearing the jerseys and hats of opposing teams made some people uncomfortable long before the horrific beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow on opening day.

The feeling that the Dodger Stadium experience is slipping may be the McCourts’ most egregious blunder to date, and this season the team has been plagued by low attendance.

Fans are actually staying away.

The scary part is that the overall situation may get worse before it gets better. Although it is nearly impossible to find a fan who wants continued McCourt ownership, Frank looks to be digging in his heels, stewardship proclamations be damned. The infamously litigious figure is girding for a fight, one that could be drawn out and vicious.

That’s a mistake, and it may merely delay the inevitable of a forced sale of the franchise. Before the season began, this page urged the McCourts to realize that they and the Los Angeles Dodgers are not a good match, and suggested they consider the city and the fans and sell the team to someone with the financial resources and desire to improve it and the stadium.

The feeling is even stronger now, and each time Frank’s lawyers publicly tussle with Jamie’s, and each time Frank and Soboroff trade verbal blows with Selig and the MLB brass, they drive an even bigger wedge between the fans and the Dodgers. They are harming themselves, the team and the community.

By public standards the McCourts have failed. By the standards Frank laid out seven years ago they have failed. They should do the right thing for themselves and the city. They should sell the Dodgers, walk away with their profit, and let someone who cares about Los Angeles and baseball begin to clean up the mess.

May 16, 2011

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 5

A Trolley to the Mayor’s Office Although Rick Caruso Won’t Cop to a 2013 Run, City Hall Is in His Crosshairs

by Jon Regardie executive editor

W

hen it comes to Rick Caruso, there’s really only one thing that anyone connected to the Downtown political scene cares about these days: Will he run for mayor?

This isn’t to say he’s not an intriguing fellow on other fronts. People generally like THE REGARDIE REPORT

to know the success stories of the rich and powerful, and Caruso’s got most folks in Los Angeles beat by a battalion of bank account zeros. There’s loads of interest in how and why he decided to make an outdoor mall with a choo choo trolley at The Grove and why, a few years later, he built another shopping center, also with a choo choo, on Brand Boulevard in Glendale.

While everyone loves shopping and trolleys, that wasn’t what brought people to the Millennium Biltmore Hotel last week. Rather, the crowd that showed up for an event presented by the organization Town Hall-Los Angeles mostly cared about one thing: Will Mall Master Rick enter the race to replace a termed-out Antonio Villaraigosa in 2013?

Before the assault — more on that below — on Thursday, May 12, I made two predictions: First, that Caruso would dodge, waver and refuse to give a yes or no answer, no matter how many times and in what form it was asked. Instead, he’d leave L.A. hanging like the producers of the nighttime soap opera “Dallas” did to viewers at the end of the 1980 season, when millions of Americans were frothing over who shot J.R. Just as that

cliffhanger took months to be resolved, I guestimated that Rowdy Rick would do the same thing. He’d tell the huddled masses that he is considering running but that he doesn’t feel he has to make a decision for months or longer. In that vein, he’d follow Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and City Council President Eric Garcetti, two other prominent figures known to be contemplating a run but who are playing the waiting game. This, by the way, may be the only time Caruso doesn’t get steamy if you compare him to established pols like Yaroslavsky and Garcetti.

The second prediction was that, although he would keep his secret to himself, the crowd would essentially hear a mayoral stump speech. The title of the address was “Los Angeles: A New Kind of Leadership.”

When you drop that moniker and come to a Downtown business crowd, it’s clear that you’re not talking about leadership in building choo choos. Instead, I anticipated that we’d hear a mix of personal biography, business highlights, some political experience — I bet myself $25 he’d reference his time on the L.A. Police Commission, with a side $10 bet that the words “William Bratton” would be uttered — and some sharp critiques of Villaraigosa’s administration and the City Council.

There’s precedent for such an address.

Austin Beutner, Caruso’s presumed rival for the business bloc, made exactly that type of speech to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce in early March, more than a month before he filed papers to begin exploring a campaign. At least City Councilwoman Jan Perry, City Controller Wendy Greuel and radio host Kevin James spared us the pre-

photo by Gary Leonard

When Rick Caruso spoke Downtown last week, he was on the attack. “I believe strongly that City Hall is a roadblock that’s keeping Los Angeles from reaching its potential,” he said.

tending and jumped right in to the race.

So, will Malltastic Rick run?

Bugsy and a Pony “I’m considering it,” he said on the podium, when a polite high school student made the query during the Q&A session. It turned out, this was just about the nicest comment Caruso uttered.

He spent most of his time on the attack, launching a withering artillery barrage toward City Hall and its denizens. While he didn’t mention anyone by name, when he rifled comments about elected leaders looking toward their next free tickets, everyone knew which boyfriend of Lu Parker he meant.

Then he really started speaking his mind.

“What’s happening in Los Angeles is frankly painful to me,” he said. He told the crowd that, “We don’t need political lifers” and followed it with, “We don’t need accommodationists who have an interest in preserving the status quo.”

Then, just in case there was one dullard in the back of the room who wasn’t sure exactly what Caruso meant, he blitzed just about every elected official in Los Angeles. “I believe strongly that City Hall is a roadblock that’s keeping Los Angeles from reaching its potential,” he said. see Caruso, page 28

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May 16, 2011

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2011 Best of Downtown Nominees EATING BEST NEW RESTAURANT Eco Asian Mas Malo SugarFish CoffeeBar Toranoko Cabbage Patch Toddy G’s Ocho Grill Hashi Ramen House Yojie Vault XXI Portofino Cucina Izakaya Fu-Ga Night Toast Café Swill Automatic Flames Mediterranean Grill Esaan Thai BEST L.A. LIVE RESTAURANT The Farm of Beverly Hills Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse Yard House Boca at the Conga Room ESPN Zone Lawry’s Carvery Rock’N Fish Trader Vic’s WP24 L.A. Market Katsuya Rosa Mexicano Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill BEST AFFORDABLE Nickel Diner Wurstküche Aloha Café Spring St. Smoke House Uncle John’s Café Ocho Grill TiGeorges Farmer Boys Bar and Kitchen Mendocino Farms Blossom Colori Kitchen Eastside Market Italian Deli Toddy G’s BEST MID-RANGE RESTAURANT

Casa Yxta Cocina Mexicana SugarFish Mas Malo J Restaurant & Lounge Church & State Chaya Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine R23 Portofino Cucina Lazy Ox Canteen Swill Automatic Urth Caffé Wokcano First & Hope El Cholo San Antonio Winery & Maddalena Restaurant

BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT

Patina Water Grill The Palm Morton’s the Steakhouse Noé Restaurant & Bar Drago Centro Rivera WP24 Pacific Dining Car

BEST LUNCH

Casa Nickel Diner Wurstküche Urth Caffe Aloha Café Coles Yorkshire Grill Shekarchi Mendocino Farms Blossom Colori Kitchen Pitfire Pizza Company Eastside Market Italian Deli Wokcano Tommy Pastrami San Antonio Winery & Maddalena Restaurant CBS Seafood Farmer Boys Gill’s Cuisine of India

BEST DINNER Cafe Pinot Water Grill The Palm Morton’s The Steakhouse J Restaurant & Lounge Rivera Colori Kitchen CASA Weiland Brewery Lazy Ox Canteen The Gorbals BEST BUSINESS LUNCH Water Grill Drago Centro Daily Grill Patina

Morton’s The Steakhouse Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse Engine Co. No. 28 Checkers Downtown The Palm J Restaurant & Lounge Chaya

BEST BREAKFAST Nickel Diner Angelique Café The Original Pantry Café Philippe, The Original Clifton’s Cafeteria Uncle John’s Café Nick’s Cafe L.A. Café Farmer Boys BEST MIDDLE EASTERN Farid Restaurant Kabab & More Lula Kabob Shekarchi Shish Kabob and Much More Sultan Chicken BEST ASIAN FUSION Eco Asian Urban Noodle Wokcano Zip Fusion Chaya Soi 7 Starry Kitchen BEST MEDITERRANEAN Flames Mediterranean Mediterranean City Grill Night Toast Café Spitz Papa Cristos BEST AMERICAN Daily Grill First & Hope Engine Co. No. 28 Nickel Diner Pete’s Café & Bar Weiland Brewery BEST ITALIAN Zucca Ristorante Maria’s Italian Kitchen Drago Centro L’Angolo Cafe Colori Kitchen Cardini Portofino Cucina La Bella Cucina Cucina Rustica Olive Bistro & Catering San Antonio Winery & Maddalena Restaurant BEST STEAKHOUSE The Palm Morton’s The Steakhouse Pacific Dining Car Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse L.A. Prime Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse Riordan’s Tavern BEST PIZZA Toddy G’s California Pizza Kitchen Rocket Pizza Pitfire Pizza Company LA NY Pizza Bottega Louie BEST SEAFOOD Water Grill McCormick & Schmick’s Fisherman’s Outlet CBS Seafood ABC Seafood Ocean Seafood Senor Fish Rock’N Fish BEST LATIN/MEXICAN Mas Malo Casa Rivera El Cholo Yxta Cocina Mexicana Border Grill Adoro Mexican Grille Barragan’s La Luz Del Dia La Parilla Ensenada Chichen Itza Rosa Mexicano La Adelita BEST FRENCH Angelique Café Café Pinot Kendall’s Brasserie Patina Taix French Garden Church & State BEST BURGER Morton’s The Steakhouse Tommy’s Original Pantry Café Pete’s Café Redwood Bar & Grill Farmer Boys Weiland Brewery D-Town Burger Bar Library Bar Nick’s Café

BEST JAPANESE East Japanese Restaurant Takami Tenno Sushi R23 Arashi Sushi Daikokuya Honda Ya Shabu Shabu House Octopus Yojie Izakaya Fu-Ga Oiwake BEST THAI Authentic Thai Esaan Thai City Thai Soi 7 BEST SUSHI SugarFish Arashi Sushi Takami Sushi Sushi Gen Sushi Go 55 R23 Tenno Sushi Oomasa Frying Fish Zip Fusion Octopus BEST SANDWICH/WRAP Philippe, The Original Cole’s Mendocino Farms Yorkshire Grill Eastside Market Italian Deli Langer’s Delicatessen Sandwich Joint LA Café BEST DIM SUM CBS Seafood Empress Pavilion ABC Seafood Ocean Seafood BEST CHINESE Yang Chow Full House Hop Li Plum Tree Inn Empress Pavilion Green Bamboo BEST MAC N’ CHEESE Pete’s Café and Bar Nickel Diner Cork Bar Bar and Kitchen Engine Co. No. 28 Mac & Cheeza BEST VEGETARIAN FRIENDLY RESTAURANT Shojin Organic & Natural Cabbage Patch Blossom Saffron Indian Cuisine Night Toast Cafe Threads Café and Lounge Infusion Cafe Tierra Café Babycakes Ocho Mexican Grill Loose Leaf ORGANIC OPTIONS Cabbage Patch Threads Café and Lounge Tiara Café Shojin Organic & Natural Mendocino Farms Urth Caffe BEST BAKERY/DESSERTS BabyCakes Big Man Bakes Mikawaya Frances Bakery & Coffee Hygge Bakery Nazo’s Bakery Syrup Desserts BEST CUPCAKES BabyCakes Big Man Bakes Village Kitchen BEST CAFE Tiara Café Infusion Cafe Angelique Café Tulip Café Lost Souls Cafe Urth Caffe Café de Camacho First Cup Caffe Café Metropol BEST RESTAURANT DECOR Cicada Zucca Ristorante Takami Patina Rivera Drago Centro BEST OUTDOOR DINING Border Grill French Garden Traxx Restaurant Cafe Pinot Zip Fusion Chaya Bonaventure Brewing Co.

BEST FOOD COURT 505 Flower/City National Plaza St. Vincent Court Los Angeles Mall Macy’s Plaza Bonaventure Galleria & Food Court AT&T Center Grand Central Market BEST DOWNTOWN VIEW Takami Sushi & Robata Restaurant L.A. Prime WP24 BEST RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE Rosa Mexicano Pete’s Café & Bar Border Grill Chaya Nickel Diner Restaurant Standard BEST HOTEL RESTAURANT Azalea Restaurant & Bar – Kyoto Grand Back Porch – Los Angeles Marriott Downtown Brasserie – Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Cardini – Wilshire Grand Checkers Downtown – Hilton Checkers City Grill – Wilshire Grand LA Market – J.W. Marriott LA Prime – Westin Bonaventure Lakeview Bistro – Westin Bonaventure Bar & Kitchen – O Hotel Seoul Jung – Wilshire Grand Smeraldi’s Restaurant – Biltmore Hotel Restaurant Standard – Standard Downtown WP24 – Ritz Carlton Sai Sai – Biltmore Hotel Grand Café - Omni Los Angeles Hotel Noé - Omni Los Angeles Hotel MOST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT L.A. Prime Drago Centro Cicada Café Pinot Pacific Dining Car Rivera WP24 BEST BARGAIN LUNCH Eastside Market Italian Deli LA Café La Adelita Mendocino Farms Philippe, The Original Farmer Boys Chichen Itza Wurstküche Ensenada Spitz Sultan Chicken Clifton’s Cafeteria Regent China Inn Gus’s Drive-In Gill’s Indian Restaurant Tacone Skews BEST OLD-SCHOOL RESTAURANT Philippe, The Original Clifton’s Cafeteria The Original Pantry Café Nick’s Café Uncle John’s Café Yorkshire Grill Kouraku Hop Louie BEST ICE CREAM/YOGURT Caliyogurt Cherry on Top Cold Stone Creamery New Zealand Natural Ice Cream Pinkberry TCBY` Tutti Frutti Yogurtland

DRINKING BEST SPORTS BAR Big Wangs ESPN Zone The Down and Out BEST COFFEE Urth Caffe Harlem Place Cafe The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf First Cup Caffe Spring for Coffee Groundwork Coffee CoffeeBar L.A. Café Prime Grind Coffee BEST BAR Edison Elevate Lounge J Lounge Crocker Club

BottleRock Redwood Bar & Grill Seven Grand Bar 107 Library Bar Grand Star Casey’s Bar & Grill Cole’s La Cita Las Perlas Big Wangs Broadway Bar The Down and Out Suede Bar & Lounge Tony’s Saloon Villians Tavern The Falls

BEST RESTAURANT HAPPY HOUR McCormick & Schmick’s Weiland Brewery Pete’s Café Daily Grill Morton’s The Steakhouse Nick & Stef’s Steakhouse Suede Bar & Lounge Border Grill Takami CASA ESPN Zone Barragan’s The Palm Bonaventure Brewing Co. Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine Oiwake Soi 7 Yxta Cocina Mexicana El Conquistador Wokcano Katsuya Bar & Kitchen 410 Boyd Izakaya Fu-Ga BEST BAR HAPPY HOUR Edison J Restaurant & Lounge Crocker Club Corkbar Tapas and Wine Bar C BottleRock Redwood Bar & Grill Seven Grand Bar 107 Library Bar Casey’s Bar & Grill La Cita Las Perlas Broadway Bar Tony’s Saloon The Down And Out Suede Bar & Lounge The Falls BEST HOTEL BAR The Mixing Room – J.W. Marriott Point Moorea – Wilshire Grand Glance – J.W. Marriot BonaVista Lounge – Westin Bonaventure Gallery Bar – Biltmore Hotel Standard Rooftop Bar – Standard Downtown The Veranda Bar – Figueroa Hotel Bar & Kitchen – O Hotel BEST LATE NIGHT SPOT Pete’s Café Redwood Bar & Grill Rocket Pizza Restaurant Standard Bonaventure Brewing Co. Casey’s Irish Bar & Grille Takami Weiland Brewery Wokcano J Restaurant & Lounge Bar & Kitchen The Original Pantry Pacific Dining Car Master Chef Kouraku BEST NIGHTCLUB B52 Elevate Lounge Seven Forty Vertigos Club Mayan La Cita Conga Room Edison J Lounge Exchange LA BEST WINE BAR Corkbar Tapas and Wine Bar C BottleRock Swill Automatic BEST RESTAURANT BEER SELECTION Spring St. Smoke House Yard House Big Wangs Casey’s Weiland Brewery Bonaventure Brewing Co. ESPN Zone

ENTERTAINMENT BEST MUSIC VENUE LARGE Orpheum Theatre

Nokia Theatre Conga Room Club Nokia California Plaza (Grand Performances) Pershing Square Staples Center Walt Disney Concert Hall

BEST MUSIC VENUE SMALL 2nd Street Jazz Blue Whale Colburn School Grammy Museum The Smell Redwood Bar and Grill BEST FREE MUSIC/ LECTURE SERIES ALOUD at the Central Library Grand Performances at California Plaza Pershing Square Summer Concert Series SCI-Arc Lectures Dance Downtown at the Music Center Plaza SHOWS THE BEST MOVIES Downtown Independent Last Remaining Seats Regal Cinemas L.A. Live Downtown Film Festival Angel City Drive In Flagship Theaters University Village 3 California Science Center IMAX REDCAT Film Series LA Film Festival BEST MUSEUM California Science Center Museum of Contemporary Art Natural History Museum Japanese American National Museum California African American Museum FIDM Museum Chinese American Museum Grammy Museum BEST DOWNTOWN TOUR Architecture Tours L.A. Downtown L.A. Walks Las Angelitas del Pueblo Esotouric Los Angeles Conservancy Metro Rail Art Tours Museum of Neon Art Tours DCBID Housing Tour Segwow Starline Tours Undiscovered Chinatown Tour BEST ATTRACTION Downtown Art Walk Walt Disney Concert Hall Staples Center L.A. Live Broadway Theaters Angels Flight Metro Union Station BEST FAMILY ATTRACTION MOCA Regal Cinemas at L.A. Live Downtown On Ice (Pershing Square) Bob Baker Marionette Theater Natural History Museum California Science Center BEST FREE FAMILY ATTRACTION Central Library Little Tokyo Shopping Center Olvera Street Chinatown Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Los Angeles State Historic Park BEST PERFORMANCE ART VENUE Ahmanson Theatre Dorothy Chandler Pavilion East West Players Los Angeles Theatre Center The Hayworth Mark Taper Forum REDCAT Bootleg Theatre 24th Street Theatre BEST DOWNTOWN EVENT Downtown Art Walk Pershing Square Ice Rink Golden Dragon Parade Blessing of the Animals Meet Your Neighbor Day (Pershing Square) Autumn Lights Nisei Week National Train Day at Union Station International Pillow Fight Day at Pershing Square Dance Downtown (Music Center) Grand Performances at California Plaza Pershing Square Summer Concerts

VO TE BE S T OF.COM

Lucha VaVoom International Grilled Cheese Festival LA Film Festival

BUSINESS SHOPPING AND SERVICES BEST-LOOKING BUILDING City Hall Bradbury Building Walt Disney Concert Hall Caltrans Headquarters Central Library U.S. Bank Tower Eastern Columbia Ritz Carlton BEST FLORIST Downtown Flowers.Net Paradise Florist Angelic Floral Studio Basic Flowers Bloomies Flowers and Gifts Downtown Florist Athletic Club Flower Shop BEST FARMERS MARKET Pershing Square Farmers Market City Hall Farmers Market 7+FIG Farmers Market Bank of America Farmers Market BEST HOSPITAL Good Samaritan Hospital White Memorial Medical Center St. Vincent Medical Facility California Hospital Medical Center Silver Lake Medical Center Los Angeles Orthopaedic Hospital BEST PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY Brookfield Office Properties CALCO Management CB Richard Ellis Charles Dunn Real Estate Services Cushman & Wakefield Grubb & Ellis DAUM Commercial Real Estate Services Jones Lang LaSalle Lincoln Property Company MPG Office Trust Inc Manulife Financial Downtown Properties Holdings LLC Milbank Real Estate Services Morlin Asset Management, LP Thomas Properties Group, Inc. Transwestern BEST BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT Downtown Center BID Historic Downtown BID Fashion District BID Chinatown BID Arts District BID Industrial District BID Little Tokyo BID South Park BID BEST CHURCH/SYNAGOGUE/ PLACE OF WORSHIP Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Centenary United Methodist Church Founder’s Church New City Church of L.A. Live Church L.A. First Congregational Church St. Peter’s Italian Church Union Church of Los Angeles The Bridge Los Angeles Chabad of Downtown Los Angeles Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple Third Church of Christ Scientist St. Vincent De Paul Roman Catholic Church MOST BEAUTIFUL BROADWAY THEATER Orpheum Theatre Los Angeles Theatre Million Dollar Theatre Palace Theatre Tower Theatre State Theater Mayan Theater (not on Broadway but should be) BEST DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FIRMS Cushman & Wakefield Grubb & Ellis Colliers International Charles Dunn International Studley CB Richard Ellis DAUM Commercial Real Estate Services Travers Realty Corporation

Major Properties MPG Office Trust Inc. Realty Advisory Group, Inc. DAK Realty Reavis Realty Bieker Real Estate Milbank Real Estate Services Jones Lang LaSalle

BEST AUTO DEALER – NEW CARS Porsche of Downtown L.A. Volkswagen of Downtown L.A. Audi of Downtown L.A. Motor Village (Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Ram) Downtown LA Motors Mercedes Benz Nissan of Downtown L.A. Felix Chevrolet and Cadillac Toyota Central Honda of Downtown Los Angeles Nick Alexander Imports BMW Volvo of Los Angeles BEST AUTO DEALER – USED CARS Porsche of Downtown L.A. Volkswagen of Downtown L.A. Audi of Downtown L.A. Motor Village Downtown LA Motors Mercedes Benz Nissan of Downtown L.A. Felix Chevrolet and Cadillac Toyota Central Honda of Downtown Los Angeles Nick Alexander Imports BMW Volvo of Los Angeles BEST AUTO DEALER – SERVICE DEPARTMENT Porsche of Downtown L.A. Volkswagen of Downtown L.A. Audi of Downtown L.A. Downtown LA Motors Mercedes Benz Nissan of Downtown L.A. Felix Chevrolet and Cadillac Toyota Central Honda of Downtown Los Angeles Nick Alexander Imports BMW Volvo of Los Angeles Motor Village BEST LAW FIRM Latham & Watkins, LLP Gibson Dunn Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith, LLP Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker, LLP O’Melveny & Myers, LLP Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP Sidley Austin LLP Fulbright & Jaworski LLP Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP & Affiliates Jones Day Morrison & Foerster LLP Kirkland & Ellis LLP Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP Buchalter Nemer BEST HAIR SALON Candolyn’s Jacqueline’s Salon Salon Eleven Salon on 6 Salon on Seventh Shaniaz Euro-Asian Beauty Neihule Salon Pure Ultima Beauty Center Wolf’s European Hair Design The Artform Studio C & J Beauty Center & Salon BEST BARBER SHOP Rudy’s Barber Shop Bolt Barbers Pacific Center Barber LA Barber College Imperial Barber Shop DENTIST OR DENTAL OFFICE Esthetic Dentistry Dental Group James C. Feng, DDS Zen Dental Plaza Dental Downtown Dental Calm Dental Silvia Kasparian, DDS West Coast Dental Honda Plaza Dental LA Dental Clinic Kathy Maasoumi Family Dentistry BEST CHIROPRACTOR Courtyard Wellness Dr. Continued on next page

May 16, 2011

Downtown News 7

DowntownNews.com

votebestof.com It’s Time to ers Cho d a e ice Cast Your Vote!

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DOWNTOWN DO DOWNT WNTOWN WNTO OWN NEWS

BEST of DOWNTOWN

Voting will be open from May 14 through June 3, 2011.

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

Win a weekend

on the town and more!

Fill out the ballot and your e-mail address will be entered in our drawing. The grand prize winner will receive a complimentary two-night stay at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel that includes dinner for two at Sai Sai, $200 spending cash, dinner for two at Morton’s The Steakhouse, a $150 Ticketmaster gift card, and a Los Angeles Conservancy walking tour. It’s a great package, if we do say so ourselves, worth $1,000.

Additional prizes: iPod Touch, cash prizes, gift certificates and more!

Voting will be open from may 14 through June 3, 2011.

2011 Best of Downtown Nominees Continued from previous page Boris Mayzels Chiropractic & Wellness Center Chiropractic Injury Care Hector Ramos, MD Inc. Chiropractic Care Center Akimoto Chiropractic Office I Chiropractic BEST FITNESS Bally’s Total Fitness Educogym Gold’s Gym Ketchum-Downtown YMCA Los Angeles Athletic Club Pilates Plus Downtown LA The Yard Bikram Yoga Downtown LA 24 Hour Fitness CrossFit Mean Streets Yas Fitness BEST JEWELRY MART St. Vincent Jewelry Center Broadway Mall California Jewelry Mart Chester Williams Building Fox Jewelry Plaza Great Western Jewelry Plaza International Jewelry Center Jewelers Mall Jewelry Theatre Building Jewelry Theatre Center Jewelry Trades Building Jewelry Design Center Los Angeles Jewelry Center West Coast Jewelry Center Wholesale Jewelry Mart 818 Plaza 556 S. Broadway Building Jewelry Tools and Findings Park Central Building Jewelers Wholesale Building 716 Broadway Building BEST MOVING/ STORAGE COMPANY Thriftee Storage Company Remington Moving and Storage Los Angeles Self Storage Los Angeles Movers StorQuest Self Storage BEST SHOE REPAIR Sears Shoe Repair

Shoe Masters Shoe Wiz

BEST ARCHITECTURE/ DESIGN FIRM Leo A Daly, Los Angeles SmithGroup Inc. Altoon + Porter Architects Arquitectonica Levin & Associates Architects RAW International Inc. RMCA Architecture Design Planning Inc. RTKL Associates Inc. HNTB Architecture Inc. HMC Group AECOM AC Martin Partners Johnson Fain Pfeiffer Partners BEST PET BOARDING/ SITTING/ WALKING Bark Ave. Go Dog LA Feet & Paws Walka-Walka Bark & Clark South Park Doggie Daycare Spa and Supplies BEST PET GROOMING Bark Ave. Pussy & Pooch Muttropolitan South Park Doggie Daycare Spa and Supplies Downtown Doggie U Wash BEST PET SUPPLIES/ BOUTIQUE Bark Avenue Pet Project Pussy & Pooch South Park Doggie Daycare Spa and Supplies Pet Care Inc. BEST BANK/CREDIT UNION Bank of America Bank of the West CA Bank & Trust

Cathay Bank Citibank City National Bank East West Bank First City Credit Union Union Bank of CA Wells Fargo LA Financial Credit Union

BEST INVESTMENT/ STOCK BROKERAGE FIRM Morgan Stanley Smith Barney UBS Financial Services Wedbush Secutities SFE Investment Counsel Payden & Rygel Sterne Agee Crowell, Weedon & Co. Howe Barnes Hoefer & Arnett Raymond James Financial Services Wells Fargo Merrill Lynch BEST DRY CLEANERS Bunker Hill Cleaners Monte Carlo Cleaners Sloans Dry Cleaners Tokyo Cleaners Urban Life Cleaners Cleaners Depot BEST OPTOMETRIST Downtown LA Optometric Vision Center Kurata Eyecare Center Los Angeles EyeCare Optometry Group East West Eye Institute Dr. Kleinman Optometry Robert Shapiro, OD, FAAO LA Vision Optometry Richard Hoffman Optometrist LA Optical Gallery Dr. Gary Reiger - Optometrist BEST HOTEL JW Marriott Wilshire Grand Kyoto Grand Biltmore Hotel Westin Bonaventure

Omni Los Angeles Hotel Ritz Carlton Hilton Checkers Historic Mayfair Hotel Kawada Hotel Los Angeles Athletic Club Marriott Downtown Miyako Hotel O Hotel Standard Downtown LA Stay Hotel Ritz Milner Hotel Sheraton Downtown Figueroa Hotel

MOST ROMANTIC HOTEL Biltmore Hotel Kyoto Grand Ritz Carlton Westin Bonaventure Omni Los Angeles Hotel Figueroa Hotel COOLEST HOTEL The Standard Figueroa Hotel O Hotel Stay Hotel Biltmore Hotel Ritz Carlton BEST WEDDING SPOT Guadalupe Chapel Exposition Park Rose Garden Los Angeles Athletic Club Kyoto Grand Hotel & Gardens Walt Disney Concert Hall Music Center Vibiana’s Figueroa Hotel Zucca Ristorante City Club on Bunker Hill Cafe Pinot Biltmore Hotel St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church Cicada Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels BEST TUX/GOWN STORE IBEX Bridal & Tuxedo Center Bella Bridal & Tuxedo Tokyo Bridal & Tux

Hilda’s Bridal Shop & Formals Plaza Suit & Tuxedo Minguita’s Bridal

BEST AUTO BODY/REPAIR E&L Auto Body Downtown Auto Repair & Body Shop Globe Auto Body 1st Choice Collision Center Motor Village A.C. Auto Finishing Downtown LA Motors Honda of Downtown LA BEST PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DASH Downtown FlyAway Subway, Light Rail, Buses (Metro) Taxis Regional Rail Services (Metrolink) BEST STORE FOR THE HOME Novecento Antiques I Squared (Sub) Urban Home Design Theory Dearden’s Tiffany Antiques Cleveland Art BEST PRESCHOOL La Petite Academy Lumbini Child Dev. Center Pilgrim School Nishi Hongwanji Child Dev. Center Chinatown Service Center Child Dev. Center Joy Picus Child Dev. Center Harry Pregerson Child Dev. Center Hope Street Friends BEST DAYCARE Chinatown Service Center Child Dev. Center Joy Picus Child Dev. Center Harry Pregerson Child Dev. Center

Hope Street Friends La Petite Academy

BEST EVENT VENUE JW Marriott Los Angeles Convention Center Center at Cathedral Plaza California African American Museum AT&T Center Millennium Biltmore J Lounge Los Angeles Center Studios ESPN Zone Orpheum Theatre Figueroa Hotel BEST MEETING SPACE Drago Centro Plum Tree Taix French Restaurant Maria’s Italian Kitchen Morton’s The Steakhouse Patina Café Pinot CASA Daily Grill Palm Restaurant Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine San Antonio Winery & Maddalena Restaurant BEST NEW BUSINESS Two Bits Market QPop Downtown LA Bicycles DTLA Bikes Illest Neihule Nail and Tanning Salon Motor Village BEST BOUTIQUE STORE Flea Kapsoul PopKiller RIF Kimski Makes Raw Materials Stelladottir Crack Gallery & Boutique FIDM Museum Shop Flock Shop

VO TE BE S T OF.COM

LA Phil Store Skingraft Bliss QPop

BEST ADAPTIVE REUSE RESIDENTIAL BUILDING San Fernando Building Continental Building Hellman Building The Flat 1010 Wilshire Glo SB Tower Chapman Flats Gas Company Lofts Pegasus Pan American Lofts Little Tokyo Lofts Santee Village Pacific Electric Eastern Columbia Metro 417 Orpheum Lofts Packard Lofts Federal Reserve Lofts Toy Factory Lofts Biscuit Company Lofts Sky Lofts Higgins Building Flower Street Lofts Library Court Douglas Building Mercantile Lofts Cornell Building Alta Lofts The Rowan Roosevelt Lofts Gallery Lofts Santee Court 655 Hope BEST BUILT-FROM-THEGROUND-UP RESIDENTIAL BUILDING Medici Orsini Piero Evo Luma Elleven 717 Olympic Market Lofts Barker Block Visconti

Mozaic Teramachi Hikari Sakura Crossing Promenade Promenade West Met Lofts Promenade Towers Grand Tower Museum Tower

BEST MEN’S CLOTHING Los Angeles Suit Outlet Macy’s American Apparel Le Monsieur Roger Stuart Clothes Art Lewin & Co. Kimski Makes Stelladottir BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING Macy’s Express American Apparel FIDM Scholarship Store The Suit Closet Kimski Makes Stelladottir BEST EMPLOYMENT AGENCY Act 1 Personnel Services Manpower Apple One Employment Services Adams and Martin Group Helpmates Staffing Services Teruko Weinberg Incorporated Workplace Hollywood Zion Partners Advantage Professional Staffmark Stivers Staffing Services BEST BOOKSTORE Caravan Bookstore Central Library Store Christian Science Reading Room Kinokuniya Bookstore Libros Revolución Metropolis Books The Last Bookstore

8 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Twitter/DowntownNews

A Call From the Past Opening of 1961 Time Capsule in AT&T Building Has a Personal Touch for Three Sisters

by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

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o one knew what would come out of the copper-colored cylinder that had been sealed 50 years ago at the AT&T Madison Complex in Downtown. But Arlene McClure had high hopes that it would be a message from the past.

In 1961, when the building at 420 S. Grand Ave. was dedicated, a group of Pacific Bell employees filled the “Capsule of Communication” with items from the era.

Their instructions were not to open it for half a century.

Although no one was certain what had been placed in the time capsule, McClure knew there was something for her and her two sisters.

“He told us that he had put something in there for us girls, so to be sure to be around when it’s opened,” said McClure, who was 25 on May 9, 1961, when her father, Earl Ray Brubaker, a public relations executive for the telephone company, helped choose the items that went into the capsule.

That’s why McClure and her sisters, Linda Muir, 59, and Judy Balsley, 70, were in Downtown Los Angeles on Monday, May 9.

They stood among a room full of reporters as news cameras jostled for the best shot of the items being pulled out by Jorge Moreno, AT&T’s general manager of central office operations for Los Angeles.

Shortly after 11 a.m., Moreno went to work. Following a brief struggle with the tight screws, and a bit of hammering to loosen the

photo by Gary Leonard

Arlene McClure and her sisters came Downtown for the May 9 opening. In 1961 their father said he had put something for them in the time capsule.

photo by Gary Leonard

Items pulled from a time capsule buried 50 years ago in a Downtown building included a blue Princess phone.

top of the capsule, he reached into the tube and began pulling out items.

A phone book that appeared to be almost brand new arrived first. It was followed by a bulky headset used by operators back in the day. Then came a blue Princess phone, which

delighted the crowd. It debuted in 1959 and was designed for use in the bedroom, since the rotary dial lights up at night.

The sisters waited eagerly.

Tech Central The 10-story building serves as the “backbone” of the AT&T network, Moreno said.

Internet data and phone calls made from landlines are routed through the edifice. So it was no surprise that some of the items were tools used by the telephone company at the time. The capsule also yielded a few solar-powered batteries and an issue of Pacific Telephone magazine, an industry publication from the era.

Moreno also pulled out a metal bar. At first the gathered AT&T officials were puzzled.

They finally realized it something called a bus bar, which was used to conduct electricity on a switchboard.

Business cards of the era, many from phone company employees and some belonging to city officials, came next. They were followed by old issues of the Los Angeles Times, the Herald Express and the Los Angeles Mirror. There were also some slides and several undeveloped rolls of film.

“We kind of figured that there would be some photos and newspapers and a lot of folks guessed correctly that there would be a Princess phone,” Moreno said.

Moreno said the company tried to locate family members of people involved with the see History, page 28

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May 16, 2011

Downtown News 9

DowntownNews.com

Downtown developmenT

Getting Active on the Downtown Front The Latest Information on 69 Projects

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

1111 WILSHIRE Vancouver, Wash.-based Holland Development broke ground on a seven-story, 210-unit project at 1111 Wilshire Blvd. in City West in mid-April. It is a scaled-down version of the 11-story, 398-unit tower the company had previously envisioned (in 2007 the firm had discussed a 40-story tower on the site). The project includes about 8,000 square feet of retail space and is expected to cost about $60 million, said Tom Warren, the firm’s chief operating officer. The project is diagonally across the street from Holland’s other City West development, the apartment complex Glo. The 1111 Wilshire tower is expected to be complete in the fall of 2012.

ENGINE COMPANY NO. 17 An effort to convert Engine Company No. 17, a 1927 firehouse at 710 S. Santa Fe Ave. in the Industrial District, into a restaurant and bar is back on track. On April 25, the city’s Office of Zoning Administration was presented with the revamped plans as part of an effort to secure a liquor license for the project. Similar plans for the 1904 firehouse were put on hold in 2009 after the Central Area Planning Commission rejected the effort due to neighbors’ protests over additional parking. The building had been a fire station until 1980.

LORENZO G.H. Palmer Associates plans to break ground this month on phase one of a $300 million, 913-unit Flower Street apartment complex that the company expects will cater largely to USC students. The Lorenzo, which will incorporate the same Italian Renaissance-inspired design and upscale amenities as Palmer’s Downtown projects, is slated to rise at Flower Street and Adams Boulevard on what is currently a vacant, 9.4-acre lot, company owner Geoff Palmer said. Phase one includes 495 units and is expected to take 24 months to complete, with an opening tentatively planned for fall 2013 in time for the beginning of the school year.

LOTUS GARDEN Affirmed Housing Group broke ground April 4 on Lotus Garden, a 60-unit, $24 million affordable housing complex at 715 Yale St. The firm’s first foray in the Los Angeles market,

the eight-story Chinatown project is supported in part by a $4.2 million loan from the Community Redevelopment Agency. The project will serve families earning 30%-60% of Los Angeles County’s median income, with rents ranging from $370 for a studio to $1,236 for a three-bedroom apartment. The building’s water heating system will come from solar-powered, high-efficiency boilers. The design, by Los Angeles-based Togawa Smith Martin Residential, features a rooftop recreation area, a barbecue station and group gardening plots. The building also incorporates a mechanical parking garage known as a car matrix. Cars will be housed in a nearly three-level, semi-automated garage that moves vehicles vertically and horizontally to allow for a space-saving stacking effect. Drivers will access their auto from the ground level. The garage will hold 64 vehicles. Lotus Garden is expected to open in the fall of 2012. At affirmedhousing.com.

MARRIOTT HOTELS On April 19, a development group led by Portland-based Homer Williams announced that it is buying a parking lot on the northeast corner of Olympic Boulevard and Francisco Street, and will turn it into a two-hotel complex with 377 rooms. Williams, of the firm Williams/Dame & Associates, along with Seattle investment entity American Life, will pay $120 million to acquire the land from Anschutz Entertainment Group and build a 22-story tower that will hold 180 Courtyard by Marriott rooms and a separate 197room Residence Inn. The 300,000-square-foot project, which will rise across the street from the 1,001-room Ritz-Carlton/ J.W. Marriott hotel, is slated to break ground in March 2012 and open two years later. The project is fully financed by American Life and no loans are needed, said Williams.

ONE SANTA FE

seven and bridge Linear City, developer of the Toy Factory and Biscuit Company lofts, is finishing a three-building, 78-unit apartment project in the Arts District. Linear City acquired the development, formerly known as 2121 Lofts, which had been mired in legal battles involving the former developer and lender, in March. It opened the first building, a 19-unit structure, in April. The two remaining buildings are on pace to open between October and December, said Yuval Bar-Zemer, a partner in the firm. The buildings will include restaurants and other commercial spaces, he said. The project cost is estimated at $5 million. At linear-city.com.

WINSTON BUILDING Legacy Real Estate Holdings is transforming the long-abandoned Jeffries Banknote building at Los Angeles and Winston streets into 43 apartments. Legacy broke ground on a $3.5 million-$5 million residential conversion of the 1927 structure in January and expects to open the project in summer 2012, said Stephan Schmidt, development director and spokesman for the firm. The Winston will feature a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 600-1,200 square feet, most of them with balconies. Currently washed in a layer of white paint, the exterior of the structure will be buffed to feature its original brick.

RESIDENTIAL FOR SALE BARN LOFTS photo by Gary Leonard

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A groundbreaking is scheduled for October for the $150 million One Santa Fe project. First broached in 2005 as a $60 million development, it stalled amid the economic downturn.

However, it has come back, and recently secured the last of its financial commitments when the city approved a $4 million loan from the Community Redevelopment Agency for its affordable housing component. The project team consists of the Beverly Hills-based McGregor Company, Polis Builders, which includes longtime Downtown player Nick Patsaouras, and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group. The project, to rise across from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, consists of a six-story building with 438 housing units. There would also be 78,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, including a 15,000-square-foot grocery store and a 3,000-square-foot space to be used rent-free by community arts organizations. Additionally, there would be a 47,400-square-foot plaza and 802 parking spaces. The CRA’s loan will subsidize 88 affordable housing units aimed at artists. The apartments will run from studios to two-bedroom townhouses ranging from 431-1,216 square feet.

rendering by Togawa Smith Martin Residential

Ryan Vaillancourt ne thing you can say about Downtown Los Angeles is that when it comes to development, the community doesn’t stay static. From about 2004 to 2007, it seemed that a new housing or other project was being announced every week. By late 2008 and into 2009, the constant was projects tumbling into trouble.

The trend of activity continues now, though there’s a bright side: Once again, projects are being added to the Downtown roster. In the past three months alone, eight developments that are either new or were stalled for years have bounced forward. They include numerous housing efforts and even a hotel project.

This is not to imply that things are like they were in the boom years. Nor is it to suggest that the economic downturn is over — certain key projects like L.A. Central and the Grand Avenue plan continue to seek financing.

In short, it appears that this is a time of cautious optimism and enthusiasm. Construction on Chinatown Gateway and the Winston Building both create jobs and residential momentum. The groundbreaking on Eli Broad’s $100 million art museum proves that progress can occur on Grand Avenue. Recent arrivals such as the $27 million La Plaza de Cultura y Artes show that new cultural attractions can find an instant audience. Those are just the beginning.

In the following pages, we provide the latest information on 69 Downtown projects.

rendering courtesy of Michael Maltzan Architecture

by Roselle Chen, Richard Guzmán, Jon Regardie and

Last month, Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds announced that it was putting the final touches on the Barn Lofts, and that sales would begin shortly. Canyon-Johnson, whose partners see Projects, page 10

10 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Development

Continued from page 9 include Earvin “Magic” Johnson, acquired the 38-condominium complex at 940 E. Second St. that was originally developed by the Borman Group; the Borman Group lost control of the project after encountering problems with its lender, but is still involved in the development as an advisor.

The 1906 former sugar beet warehouse, once utilized by the Spreckels Sugar Company, is being turned into three-story, loft-style townhomes ranging from 1,300-2,600 square feet.

Prices start in the high $400,000s. The residences include outdoor porches and balconies, hardwood floors, parking and laundry hook-ups. Rockefeller Partners Architects is helping finish the project.

BROWNSTONE LOFTS A completion date for the 55-unit condominium transformation of an 83-year-old building at 1168 W. Bellevue Ave. has been put on hold as the developers seek a loan extension. If the project receives the extension, it will take about four months to finish the development. Even with the delay, pre-sales are underway, and prices range from $375,000-$1.4 million. The three-story 1928 building includes studio, oneand two-bedroom units, and 18 penthouses that have private trellised decks. The project will include a pool, gym and a small private dog park and there will be concierge service. At thebrownstonelofts.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

CONCERTO

RESIDENTIAL FOR RENT 11th AND GRAND TOWER Meruelo Maddux, the Downtown landowner and developer embroiled in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, submitted applications last year to build a 21-story residential tower on the northwest corner of 11th Street and Grand Avenue. There remains no timeline for the project, which would require a construction loan. The company hopes to secure a loan this year, said Andrew Murray, Meruelo Maddux’s CFO. The surface of a former parking lot at the site was removed last June and the company is allowing another developer to store a crane there. Eventually, the company hopes to build a tower with 19 units (one per floor), all at about 4,000 square feet, which the firm says would fill a niche in family housing Downtown. The architect on the project is Meruelo Maddux’s Manuel Funes.

1027 WILSHIRE Late last year, the Central City Development Group secured entitlements for a 376-unit live/work complex at 1027 Wilshire Blvd. in City West. The company, which is working on the project with the Amidi Real Estate Group, views the low-rise building as the second phase of 1010 Wilshire, a corporate housing complex across the street, said Hamid Behdad of the CCDG. Behdad said the focus is now on securing financing for the development that 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.

to $44 million. The property is believed to be worth less than its outstanding debt.

CHESTER WILLIAMS BUILDING Downtown Management is transforming the 75-year-old Chester Williams Building at Fifth Street and Broadway. The company plans to spend about $15 million converting the former office edifice into 88 apartments, said Greg Martin, the company’s vice president. Martin said the project should open by mid-2012. Pharmacy chain Walgreens has signed a lease to occupy the 13,908-square-foot ground-floor commercial space starting in 2013.

CHINATOWN METRO APARTMENTS According to the most recent information available, construction could begin by the fall on Meta Housing’s conversion of two structures at 808 N. Spring St. into a 123-unit apartment complex. The $44 million project includes a nine-story edifice built in 1918 as a storage facility for nearby train depots.

It is the tallest building in Chinatown. The company has been in escrow to purchase the property from the Kor Group since 2009 for $10 million. The deal is slated to close once Meta completes funding applications.

CHINATOWN GATEWAY photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

follow later with a 40-story, 700-unit condominium tower.

However, due to the economy, he said the construction might be delayed. No budget has been announced.

photo by Gary Leonard

ALAMEDA AND FOURTH

In February, as part of a bankruptcy settlement deal, ST Residential completed its takeover of the 30-story tower developed by Astani Enterprises. Construction, however, is not yet complete on the structure that encompasses phase two of the development (a seven-story, 77-unit building that fronts Flower Street that is open was the first phase). ST officials are deliberating whether to open the project as apartments or to sell the units as condos, said ST spokesman Pete Marino. The company expects to make a decision in June. Marino said the project is about 85% complete, and is in need of some final interior work, including the finishes in some units. The sleek black edifice includes 271 studio to three-bedroom residences. The settlement also gives ST Residential control of Astani’s planned phase three, which would add another 281 units in a second 30-story tower on the same block. Phase three is entitled, but there is no timeline for construction. At stresidential.com.

SANTEE VILLAGE The team of Kennedy Wilson and RECP/Urban Partners bought a long-stalled trio of Fashion District buildings — the Eckardt, the Cornell and the Santee — in November.

The partnership has since sold the 73-unit Santee to Essex Property Trust, which plans to fold the building into its adjoining apartment complex known as Santee Court.

Meanwhile, Kennedy Wilson/RECP continue to sell the 48 units in the Eckardt. The 16 remaining residences range from 813-936 square feet and have an average price of $250,000.

The owners launched sales at the 94-condo Cornell May 14. Thirty-six units were sold before the team bought the structure, so 58 will be available. Pricing info has not yet been released. At santeevillagelofts.com.

SHY BARRY TOWER Developer Barry Shy had planned to start construction on a six-story parking garage at 601 S. Main St. in August, and

A groundbreaking was held in April for a long-stalled, 321,000-square-foot development at Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue. The project, by Equity Residential, will create a six-story building with 280 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with 18,000 square feet of retail, at 639-643 Cesar Chavez Ave. The project, being designed by Thomas P. Cox Architects, includes a landscaped plaza, 17-foot wide sidewalks and a 588-car subterranean garage. Chinatown Gateway was originally announced about five years ago with two additional developers, and in 2007 the cost was estimated at $90 million. The project then stalled. The other developers have left and no price estimates are being publicly announced. An opening is scheduled for 2013.

DA VINCI Completion of an approximately $20 million project that will transform a six-story Arts District building into apartments is still scheduled for late 2011, said Peklar Pilavjian of developer Alameda and Fourth, LLC. The project had been planned as condominiums, but is changing to rental status because developers do not think they could get the prices they wanted for units in the current housing market. Pilavjian said the building will convert to condos sometime in the future.

The project at Fourth and Alameda streets is transforming the 1923 structure into 53 artist-in-residence lofts. Units will range from 650-2,400 square feet. A second phase of the project is in the planning stage. It calls for a new housing structure on the side of the lot fronting Alameda Street.

BROCKMAN BUILDING After a protracted bankruptcy process, lender Bank of America was allowed to foreclose on developer West Millennium Group’s 80-unit Brockman Building in December. But according to the most recent information available, the bank, which had a subsidiary, Wycliffe A., take over the property at 530 W. Seventh St., has yet to decide how to proceed with the building. In January, Bank of America officials had been considering three options for the structure: marketing the entire building for sale; selling individual units; or leasing them. Typically, banks opt to unload foreclosed properties in a single deal. Bank of America lent developer West Millennium Group $35 million to finance the renovation of the 1921 Brockman Building, and costs later escalated

There remains no construction timeline for G.H. Palmer Associates’ proposed 627-apartment complex in City West. The development is currently in the planning stage.

Da Vinci would rise at Fremont and Temple streets on a 193,000-square-foot site that Palmer bought in 2004 for about $9 million. The 578,172-square-foot complex would put five floors of housing above three levels of parking with 8,158 square feet of street-front retail. The site includes a parcel on Temple Street that abuts the nightclub Vertigo’s.

At ghpalmer.com.

GATEWAYS APARTMENTS SRO Housing Corp. is still looking for the money to build a 108-unit affordable housing project on a 22,000-squarefoot vacant lot at Fifth and San Pedro streets, said Joseph Corcoran, the nonprofit developer’s director of planning and housing development. Plans are preliminary, but SRO expects to secure the funds by November and begin construction in 2012. At srohousing.org.

MEGATOYS RESIDENCES Developer Charlie Woo continues having discussions with investors about funding a 49,000-square-foot apartment complex he plans to build on the Megatoys warehouse site and an adjacent parking lot. Woo originally planned to do condominiums on the property at 905 E. Second St. in the Arts District, but has switched to a rental project due to the

May 16, 2011

Downtown News 11

Image by Megatoys Company LTD

PANAMA APARTMENTS SRO Housing Corp.’s plan to convert the rear portion of the 87 emergency shelter units at the Panama Hotel into 41 efficiency apartments for permanent housing remains on hold.

The project at 403 E. Fifth St. would turn the entire 221-unit emergency housing complex into about 100 apartments with support services onsite, said Joseph Corcoran, SRO’s director of planning and housing development. The project is not expected to move forward before 2012. At srohousing.org.

image courtesy Skid Row Housing Trust

Development

PIERO II

NEW GENESIS Work continues on nonprofit developer Skid Row Housing Trust’s $22.3 million affordable housing project at 458 S. Main St. The complex will include a solar energy system on the roof and is expected to be the first permanent supportive housing effort in Los Angeles built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification standards. Designed by Killefer Flammang Architects, and funded by a mix of local, state and federal sources, the New Genesis will provide 106 residences, mostly for homeless individuals. Twenty-five percent of the apartments will be set aside for working individuals earning less than $37,260 per year. Ninety-eight residences will be efficiency apartments, and eight will be one-bedroom, loft-style spaces. Completion is expected in March 2012, said Molly Rysman, director of external affairs for the Trust.

Had Dump

ROSSLYN HOTEL Nonprofit developer SRO Housing Corp. is in the pre-development phase for a renovation of the 264-unit affordable housing complex at Fifth and Main streets. The company, which bought the property last year with help from the Community Redevelopment Agency, is required to preserve the affordable residences in the building. SRO expects to have funding for the project by mid-2012 and to start construction by the end of that year, said Joseph Corcoran, the developer’s director of planning and housing development. At srohousing.org.

STAR APARTMENTS The nonprofit developer Skid Row Housing Trust is planning a 102-unit permanent supportive housing complex at the southeast corner of Sixth and Maple streets. Michael Maltzan Architecture has been retained to design the project. The development would reinforce an existing structure on the site

and add new residential units above the in-place shell. SRHT is in the final stage of assembling public and private financing and hopes to begin construction by March 2012, said Molly Rysman, director of external affairs for SRHT.

THE FORD photo by Gary Leonard

market and a desire to keep construction costs low. He said the change does not affect the entitlements. The 2.9-acre complex will include about 300 apartments, nearly 16,000 square feet of retail space and about 700 parking spots. No budget information has been released.

Work continues on developer G.H. Palmer Associates’ 335-apartment complex at Bixel and St. Paul streets, with an opening planned for this August, company owner Geoff Palmer said. The City West project employs the same Italian villa-inspired design as Palmer’s other Downtown developments, including the adjacent Piero I. Piero II is slated to include a pedestrian bridge over St. Paul Street that will connect a rooftop deck to the first phase of the Piero. The $70 million development will have a spa, theater, library, gym, fire pit and communal barbecues. At ghpalmer.com.

Developer SRO Housing Corp. continues to transform the Ford Hotel at 1000 E. Seventh St. into 151 studio apartments and remains on pace to finish in September, said Joseph Corcoran, the nonprofit developer’s director of planning and housing development. The effort is about 70% complete.

When acquired by SRO, the hotel had 295 units and 132 people lived in the dilapidated building. The $25 million project see Projects, page 12

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A weekend closure of the I-405 Freeway–between the US-101 freeway and the Getty Center Drive ramps– is scheduled for Saturday, July 16 (beginning at midnight) thru Sunday, July 17. The closure is required to allow safe demolition of a portion of the Mulholland Boulevard Bridge, part of the freeway improvements project. For the latest on road closures and construction delays, as well as project updates, go to metro.net /405.

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12 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

MIXED USE BLOSSOM PLAZA The Community Redevelopment Agency received six proposals from developers in a recently completed public bidding process for the former Blossom Plaza. CRA officials expect to select a developer by the end of June, said Bibiana Yung, a project representative. The CRA and First District City Councilman Ed Reyes hope to activate the 1.9-acre site on Broadway between College and Spring streets. The Chinatown location was formerly slated for a $165 million development, though that died due to financing issues. The city then purchased the fully entitled land for $9.9 million.

The lot holds the former Little Joe’s restaurant, which has been closed for more than a decade.

L.A. CENTRAL The fate of the long-stalled South Park mega-project remains uncertain. Five years ago New York-based Moinian Group, owner of a parking lot across from Staples Center, announced plans to build 53- and 37-story towers housing 860 condominiums, plus 250,000 square feet of retail space, a grocery store, restaurants and a boutique hotel with 222 rooms.

Those failed to come to fruition when the company was unable to secure a loan for the $1 billion project at Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street. Moinian officials, who are still in search of financing, bought the lot for $80 million from L.A. Live developer Anschutz Entertainment Group in 2006.

Oskar Brecher, director of development for Moinian, said that when the project does get financed it will have fewer residential units and an increased hotel component.

THE GRAND Grand Avenue project developer Related Companies is working on plans for a 20-story apartment tower that would rise on a plot originally intended for phase two of the three-phase Grand Avenue project. The firm has until October 2012 to break ground on the tower, which would rise on what is now a parking lot south of Gen. Thaddeus Kosciusko Way on lower Grand Avenue. Preliminary plans for the edifice call for about 260 units, 20% of which would be priced as affordable housing, and up to 15,000 square feet of retail space, said Related California President Bill Witte. Known as parcel M, the site is environmentally cleared for two towers of up to 35 stories. The project includes a condo tower that would rise above the future Broad museum parking lot; that tower has a groundbreaking deadline of 2016. Meanwhile, the Frank Gehry-designed phase one, which calls for two luxury residential towers with a boutique hotel and 250,000 square feet of retail, remains on hold. Related has missed multiple deadlines to break ground on the largest piece of the project, and instead has secured repeat extensions. Most recently, the Grand Avenue Authority approved a two-year extension for phase one through February 2013.

VIBIANA Plans are underway to convert the rectory of the former cathedral into a fine dining restaurant, said Anika Warden Ingalls, executive director for Vibiana. There is no timeline yet on when that restaurant will be complete. Developers Gilmore Associates and Weintraub Financial Services recently completed a second round of renovations that upgraded the garden and mechanical systems and created a new finishing kitchen at the events venue. The 130-year-old landmark now hosts community gatherings, performances, fundraisers, weddings and other events. The partners have obtained entitlements for, but are not yet moving forward on, a high-rise for the property immediately south of the former cathedral.

According to the restaurant’s website, Grace at Vibiana would take up the first three floors of the rectory building and would include a bar and lounge with a rooftop terrace.

WILSHIRE GRAND REPLACEMENT The City Council in March approved a plan to build a $1 billion, two-tower project at the northwest corner of Seventh and Figueroa streets, in place of the Wilshire Grand hotel.

Korean Air, the owner of the hotel, and Thomas Properties

CIVIC

talize Central and West plazas and Bamboo Lane. The grants, through the CRA’s façade improvement program, cover new paint, the installation of Chinese architectural features and neon lighting.

DOWNTOWN STREETCAR Meetings between property owners and the nonprofit L.A. Streetcar Inc., set up by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar and a group of Downtown stakeholders, have begun.

The aim is to determine the details of a proposed improvement district that would raise about half of the funds for the $125 million project. LASI officials have been focusing on a tax on private property; it would potentially require a two-thirds vote from people who live within a few blocks of the route, said Dennis Allen, executive director of LASI. The streetcar project is entering its environmental review and public input phases through Metro; that is expected to last a year or more. In March, the Community Redevelopment Agency gave final approval to an $8.3 million allocation for the project. Huizar hopes to break ground in 2013 and open the line that would likely connect L.A. Live and Bunker Hill, with a main spine on Broadway, two years later. Metro is also holding a May 17 meeting to consider possible route changes.

BROADWAY REVITALIZATION The 10-year plan to revive the Broadway corridor between Second Street and Olympic Boulevard continues. Fourteenth District Councilman José Huizar launched the Bringing Back Broadway initiative about three years ago. Huizar’s office is working on completing a set of commercial reuse guidelines for making changes that adhere to the California Historic Building Code in some of the street’s aged structures. Huizar has said he hopes to activate the nearly 1 million square feet of vacant space above street level. The Broadway Streetscape Master Plan is currently in the environmental review phase and should be finished this year. Additionally, work continues on a plan that would allow placing historic signs on buildings that existed long ago, but are no longer allowed due to city codes.

EXPOSITION LIGHT RAIL photo by Gary Leonard

Continued from page 11 will create 90 residences for chronically homeless individuals; units will contain a kitchenette and bathroom. The remaining apartments will be for people earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income (approximately $60,000). At srohousing.org.

CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 12 rendering by Quatro Design Group

Projects

Group, which is working as the developer on the deal, intend to raze the 1952 building at the end of this year and erect a 45-story tower holding a 560-room, fourstar hotel along with 100 residences. A 65-floor office tower would follow when the office market strengthens. TPG officials have said they hope to begin construction on the hotel tower in December 2012 and open it in 2015. The hotel’s development agreement with the city is for 20 years. The project will include numerous electronic billboards and an array of architectural lighting.

rendering courtesy Thomas Properties Group

Development

Work is 90% complete on the Exposition Light Rail, a $930 million project that will connect Downtown to Culver City, said Gabriella Collins, a spokeswoman for the Exposition Construction Authority. A fall opening is expected for the line’s La Cienega station. Train testing began in March and crews are finishing work on the street reconstruction. A 2012 debut is expected for the Venice/Robertson station, now known as the Culver City Station. Final paving, furnishings, traffic signals and signage work is underway there. The eightmile route will share two stops with the Blue Line and will add nine new stations. At buildexpo.org.

FEDERAL BUILDING

The charter school organization Camino Nuevo, which runs five schools in the Westlake-MacArthur Park area, plans to open a 500-seat school in City West by 2013. The Los Angeles Unified School District owns the site adjacent to the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex on Third Street just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway. The move was spurred by Prop.

39, a state law that requires school districts to make space available to charters. District officials are still in the environmental study phase. Plans call for a 55,361-square-foot, three-story facility on a sliver of land immediately east of the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex athletics fields, near the intersection of Miramar Street and Huntley Drive. The new school will share the playing fields. It would include a 47-space, subterranean garage.

CHINATOWN PLAZA IMPROVEMENTS Work continues on revitalizing the heart of Chinatown. So far, 48 property owners have signed up for city grants to renovate their buildings and construction has started on five businesses, said Bibiana Yung, a project representative with the Community Redevelopment Agency. Dozens of other projects are in various pre-building stages such as plan check and design review. The CRA is leading the program to revi-

An October completion is scheduled for a $90 million seismic upgrade of the Federal Building at 300 N. Los Angeles St., said Traci Madison, acting public relations officer for the General Services Administration. The project grew in scope when it secured $19.5 million in Recovery Act funds to make the Civic Center property more energy efficient. The structure has been upgraded with new fire safety systems; the original ceiling and lighting systems have been replaced.

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE No funding was provided in the current federal budget to build a courthouse on a 3.6-acre Civic Center site, said Traci Madison, acting public relations officer for the General Services Administration. She said the GSA is considering what steps to take next with the project. The site is at the southwest corner of First Street and Broadway and had been slated to hold a 41-room courthouse, though the project stalled after the projected cost rose to more than $1 billion — Congress had appropriated $314 million for the building.

The site was previously home to a state office building, but it was razed and now there is just a fenced-off hole. Meanwhile, for almost a year the city Chief Legislative Analyst’s office has been working to determine whether an exchange involving the Federal Courthouse site and the vacated Parker Center would be in the city’s interest. Eva Kandarpa, a spokeswoman for Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry, said there is no information yet on when the CLA’s report will be complete.

GRAND AVENUE CIVIC PARK Construction continues on the $56 million Grand Avenue Civic Park, and an opening is scheduled for summer 2012,

May 16, 2011

Downtown News 13

photo by Gary Leonard

Development building; the firms had been working on a previous renovation effort that was halted when costs rose. This time, a protest was lodged by another construction firm that bid for the job and the project was again put on hold. The supervisors had approved a $244 million upgrade of the building at 211 W. Temple St. When completed, the building will once again house the Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney and other county agencies. A completion date had been set for 2014, though it is unknown if that can still be met.

LOS ANGELES RIVER

HALL OF JUSTICE A county report to determine whether a protest filed against the selection of a construction firm to rehabilitate the historic structure has merit was set to be released late last week (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press). In November, the County Board of Supervisors was slated to approve the hiring of Clark Construction and architecture firm AC Martin Partners to oversee the rehabilitation of the 1925 Civic Center

LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK In March, the board of the California High Speed Rail Authority approved recommendations for a route that would approach Union Station by tunneling deep under the Los Angeles State Historic Park; the panel had considered a proposal that would require shallow digging and the temporary closure of the park. With that decided, the California State Parks Department continues to move forward with an $18 million plan to renovate the 32-acre park on the edge of Chinatown. A public meeting is scheduled for September to discuss the plans, which include a welcome pavilion, a promenade for a farmers market, an amphitheatre, some wetland areas and infrastructure improvements such as permanent restrooms. Construction is set to begin in 2013 with completion approximately 18 months later, said Sean Woods, a California State Parks superintendent. At lashp.com.

rendering courtesy Bureau of Engineering

said Grand Avenue Authority Chairman Nelson Rising.

Work on the project began in July 2010. The project was funded by the up-front payment made to the county by Grand Avenue project developer Related California, plus accrued interest on that payment. The design by Rios Clementi Hale Studios will eliminate the large circular parking ramps at the west end of the site (across from the Music Center) and the L-shaped entrance points near Broadway. The 12acre facility will feature terraced green space, pathways, an event lawn, additional trees and a small dog run. The historic Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain is being restored.

Monuments on the site have either been moved to another location or protected from construction. About 100 trees have also been removed and will be replanted later.

project. The overall effort could cost $2 billion and take decades. The Army Corps of Engineers is working on a feasibility study for ecosystem restoration that is expected to be complete within two years. An updated River Improvement Overlay Plan is available for viewing on the city Planning Department’s website. At lariver.org.

Plans to revitalize the Los Angeles River continue. Last year the Environmental Protection Agency designated the river as “traditional navigable waters.” On March 2, the City Council authorized the Bureau of Engineering to issue permits to tour operators for access to city-owned land on the river.

The Army Corps of Engineers, which along with the city is responsible for operations and maintenance on parts of the river, previously granted authorization to tour groups.

According to First District City Councilman Ed Reyes, who authored the motion, for years groups have conducted tours of the river, which increases awareness of the waterway and helps with efforts to revitalize the area. Reyes has also been working with officials and environmental groups to identify an area along the waterway to launch a pilot program for non-motorized boating. Reyes, along with other local leaders and representatives of the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan, continue to lobby for federal dollars for the

LOS ANGELES TRADE-TECHNICAL COLLEGE The multi-phase, $613 million upgrade of the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College campus at 400 W. Washington Blvd. continues. A $65 million upgrade of the west wing of the 102,295-square-foot “A” Building is scheduled to be completed in early fall, with an atrium and gallery spaces, among other improvements. Plans are also underway for a proposed $90 million Construction Technology Building on land across Grand Avenue from the South Campus. The project will include a 1,000-space parking structure with stations for charging electric vehicles. The South Campus dedication ceremony will take place May 19. The $23 million renovation of the Learning Resource Center is scheduled for complesee Projects, page 14

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14 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

image by Gensler

Development

Projects

and Fifth streets is expected a year later. The city purchased the parcel from developer Downtown Properties for approximately $5 million. The space between Downtown Properties’ Rowan and El Dorado buildings is currently a parking lot.

Continued from page 13 tion in late 2012. Anil Verma Associates, a Los Angeles-based architecture and engineering firm, is the project manager. At lattc.edu.

photo by Gary Leonard

THE BROAD

PARKER CENTER REPLACEMENT

L.A. Downtown News

DowntownNews

REGIONAL CONNECTOR

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr:to Dawn Eastin Metro continues work on

the final environmental impact report for Editor: the $1.44 billion fully underground light-rail link ExEcutivE Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán known as the Regional Connector. The study is expected to stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt becoNtributiNG complete late this year.

The agency recently began preEditors: Kathryn Maese liminary geotechnical tests alongJimthe route, evaluating soil coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Farber, Jeff Favre, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, and Rod Riggs, Porter Zasada and measuring vibration noiseMarc impacts.

The project will come with at least Art dirEctor: Brianthree Allisonnew underground stations, at Second AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa and Hope streets, Second Street and Broadway and at Second ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins Street and Central Avenue. A fourth station, originally slated Gary Leonard toPhotoGrAPhEr: go at Fifth and Flower streets, has been nixed to save costs.

AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt Once the environmental study is finished, design and engineering would take another two years. Completion is tentaAdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: tively pegged for Annette 2019. Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Bill McBee, Brenda Stevens

SIXTH STREET VIADUCT

circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Inglesis still waiting for state apThe city’s Bureau of Engineering distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzoimpact Castillo, Gustavo proval of the environmental report Bonilla on plans to re-

place the ailing, 78-year-old Sixth Street Viaduct. The bridge The Losthe Angeles NewsRiver is the must-read newspaper for Downtownand Los Angeles spans LosDowntown Angeles between Downtown Boyle and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Heights.

Angeles. According to the most recent information available, the bureau One copy perexpects person. state attorneys who are reviewing the EIR to finish by September. A chemical reaction is breaking down the bridge, though officials have said there is no imminent danger of collapse. Since 2007, bureau staff has been looking at repairing, or more likely replacing the structure. Current projections are that a new bridge won’t come until 2017 at the earliest. The project is estimated at $359 million. The city has identified a new cable-supported structure as a preferred design.

CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT FARMERS FIELD On March 25, Anschutz Entertainment Group announced that it has selected Gensler to design the proposed $1 billion football stadium/events center that would rise on a 15-acre plot between Staples Center, Pico Boulevard, Chick Hearn Court and Cherry Street. Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, has said that he hopes a 64,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof would open in time for the 2015 NFL season and be the site of the 2016 Super Bowl. Although no team has been announced, plans call for the $1 billion development to rise where the current West Hall of the Convention Center now stands; that structure would be razed and a $350 million edifice, to be known as Pico Hall, would be built attached to

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie

the main Convention Center building.

AEG hasGuzmán promised to citY Editor: Richard stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt back the city-issued bonds on the new convention facility. In coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese February, AEG announced thatcoNtributiNG it had inked a naming rights writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Los Angeles Downtown News deal with Farmers Insurance, worth a reported $700 million, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 began in April for the 370-car parking to call the venue Farmers Field.ArtLeiweke has said that in ad- Ground demolition1264 dirEctor: Brian Allison phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 garage that will serveweb: as the base for philanthropist Eli Broad’s dition to NFL games and possible NCAA Final Fours, a floor AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa DowntownNews.com Rawlins $100 million contemporary art museum. The three-level gacould be put over the playingProductioN field and ANd theGrAPhics: stadiumAlexis could email: realpeople@downtownnews.com rage is expected to be complete by the end of November, said hold large conventions. AEG PhotoGrAPhEr: has begun theGary project’s Leonardenvifacebook: Karen Denne. The timeline ronmental impact report, which is expected to take about a Broad Foundation spokeswoman L.A. Downtown News AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt year, and is meeting with city officials to try to hammer out a envisions finishing the museum in spring 2013. The project, AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: SteveVenue Nakutin previously known as the Broad Collection, will be named deal for the city-owned property.

Denver-based ICON twitter: sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz DowntownNews the Broad Art Foundation but referred to as The Broad.

Group is working as AEG’s “owner representative” on the clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway firm Diller, Scofidio + Renfro unveiled the threeproject. At farmersfield.com. AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, CatherineArchitecture Holloway, The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read Bill McBee, Brenda Stevens level museum’s design in January.

It features pre-cast newspaper for Downtown Los Angelesa and is dis- contributed the everymuseum Monday throughout officesincluding and circulAtioN: Norma Rodas crete web that will encase on fivethesides, residences of Downtown Los Angeles. distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles the roof, letting diffuse light inside and providing the primary One copy per person. distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla Plans for a three-story, 90,000-square-foot museum build- structural support for the building. The 93,000-square-foot ing that would rise on a parking lot adjacent to MOCA’s museum will house Broad’s 2,000 contemporary works, with Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo are still ongoing, but rotating pieces on display in the third floor gallery. The projEditor & PublishEr: Suesaid.

Laris The there is no timeline or budget, a MOCA official ect will include a public plaza to the south and west of the site, GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn land would be transformed into 6,000 square feet ofEastin educa- and widened sidewalks along Grand Avenue between Second tional program space, 18,000 square feet of exhibition/storage and Third streets. The CRA is spending $52 million on the ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie space and 66,000 square feet ofcitY pure storage space.

Planning plaza, sidewalks and garage portions of the project. Broad Editor: Richard Guzmán Department records indicate that inwritEr: 2009 MOCA requested will cover the rest of the museum construction cost, in addistAFF Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese tion to the $7.7 million he paid to lease the land for 99 years. a five-year period after approval to begin construction.

Once coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Farber, Jeff Favre, construction begins it would take about 18 months to com- JimThat money will fund an affordable housing component for Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Lostower Angeles Downtown plete the project. a planned apartment next to theNews museum. Broad will 1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 also endow the museum with $200 million.

Art dirEctor: Brian Allison phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617

MOCA EXPANSION

AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins

The Natural History Museum will mark the halfway point PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard of a seven-year, $135 million transformation with the July 16 opening of the 14,000-square-foot Dinosaur Hall.

In January, AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt the museum unveiled the Tyrannosaurus Rex centerpiece AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin for the exhibit. A new exhibition exploring the natural and sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz cultural history of Los Angeles and Southern California is clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway scheduled to debut the following year on the museum in AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Exposition Park. The North Campus, 3.5-acre project that Bill McBee,aBrenda Stevens will create a new “front yard” for the facility, with outdoor circulAtioN: Normain Rodas exhibits in 11 “zones,” is scheduled to open 2012. The distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles North Campus will cost $30 million; $10 million comes from distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla the county and the rest will be secured from private donors.

Plans also call for a glass entrance pavilion for the museum, scheduled for completion by November 2013, in time for the celebration of the NHM’s 100th anniversary. Work on the Exposition Park attraction began in 2006. At nhm.org.

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BUSINESS

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SPRING STREET PARK The city’s Bureau of Engineering is finishing construction plans and will soon begin to seek permits and approvals for a new Downtown park. Construction, starting with site demolition and the removal of old basement space, is scheduled to commence in August, said Eva Kandarpa Behrend, a spokeswoman for Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry.

Completion of the one-acre park on Spring between Fourth

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

web: DowntownNews.com email: realpeople@downtownnews.com

photo by Gary Leonard

The city is still mulling a property swap with the federal government that would give it control of a 3.5-acre parcel bounded by Broadway and First, Second and Hill streets in exchange for the Parker Center site. The City Council continues to wait for a report from the Chief Legislative Analyst on the feasibility of such a deal — the council ordered the study in July 2010. Parker Center, the LAPD’s 54-year-old former headquarters, has been empty since the department’s 2009 move into the Police Administration Building. The city was looking at authorizing an Environmental Impact Report that would study five options for the site, including adaptive reuse of the building, partial demolition and renovation, and Los Angeles Downtown News demolition and replacement with a temporary parking lot.

1264 W. First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026 Now, the focus has shifted to the possible swap; the federal phone: 213-481-1448 • fax: 213-250-4617 government had planned to build a courthouse on the 3.6web: DowntownNews.com • email: realpeople@downtownnews.com acre parcel, but the plan has long been stalled. facebook: twitter:

ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writEr: Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jim Farber, Jeff Favre, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard

A $40 million renovation of the outdoor shopping center at Seventh and Figueroa streets continues. When completed, the facility will get a new name, FIGat7th, and will include a 500-seat indoor/outdoor dining area. Construction began in January after Target and mall owner Brookfield Properties signed a deal for the Minneapolis-based retailer

AccouNtiNG: Ashley Schmidt AdvErtisiNG dirEctor: Steve Nakutin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Iedia Hess, Catherine Holloway, Bill McBee, Brenda Stevens circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles.

One copy per person.

to become the anchor tenant. Plans call for a 104,000-square-foot store to open in fall 2012. The renovations at the 330,000-squarefoot mall are scheduled for completion at the same time. Most of the restaurants and businesses have moved out for the renovation, with the exception of California Pizza Kitchen, Starbucks, Morton’s The Steakhouse, Adoro Mexican Grille, Gold’s Gym and Yolanda Aguilar Spa. The mall will see its current circular layout of stairways, zigzagging escalators and side elevators replaced with a grand stairway that will lead shoppers directly into the Target entrance from Figueroa Street. A glass canopy will top the center and the twin columns that front the mall will be increased in height and sheathed in glass. The project is being designed by Gensler.

BYD HEADQUARTERS Chinese electric car manufacturer BYD, which stands for Build Your Dreams, announced plans last April to bring its headquarters to the Figueroa Corridor. The company is in the process of renovating its space at 1800 S. Figueroa St., said Michael Austin, a BYD spokesman. The company had expected to finish and occupy the space in the middle of this year, but Austin declined to provide an updated timeline for opening, which has been delayed by the city permitting process.

The facility will function as a showroom for the firm’s electric cars and other sustainable technologies, including solar energy creation and storage systems, and a center for research and development offices. The property is owned by the Shammas Group.

CECIL HOTEL Bill Lanting, president of The Lanting Hotel Group, which operates the 600-room Cecil Hotel, would not comment on any current developments in the Historic Core structure.

Previously he said that improvements to the aged hotel at 636 S. Main St. were on hold due to a lawsuit between his company and the city over the building’s designation as a residential hotel. The operator had wanted the property removed from the city’s list so it could be upgraded and marketed to a more upscale audience.

CLEANTECH MANUFACTURING CENTER Genton Property Group, a Culver Citybased developer, has agreed to buy the city’s 20-acre property known as the Cleantech Manufacturing Center for $15.4 million. The sale was approved by the CRA

Downtown News 15

Development and City Council in March, but is still in escrow. Genton envisions a $90 million, 500,000-square-foot clean technology manufacturing campus that will be occupied by a mix of tenants and owner-users. The pending sale includes a slate of requirements that the agency says will bind Genton to develop the site specifically for companies involved in the manufacturing of products and technologies that contribute to environmental sustainability. While the deal has not yet closed, Genton has hired a Jones Lang LaSalle brokerage team to market the property. The structure/s must meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification standards, and Genton would have to hire local workers and ensure agency-defined living wages for construction and permanent jobs. The CRA expects the project to generate 400 construction jobs and 250 permanent positions.

LITTLE TOKYO SHOPPING CENTER According to the most recent information available, plans continue for the renovation of the 25-year-old Little Tokyo Shopping Center. No timeline has been provided for completion of the upgrades to the mall at 333 S. Alameda St. A group of Korean-American investors purchased the property in 2008 and last year announced plans to add about eight new restaurants to the three-story edifice. They also said the fortress-like building would undergo a renovation to create a more open and inviting look. The 250,000-squarefoot building last year saw the arrival of a nightclub, Vault 21, and Woori Market, a Korean grocery chain.

WESTIN BONAVENTURE RENOVATION The $35 million renovation of the 1,354room hotel at 404 S. Figueroa St. is expected to be complete by the end of June, two months ahead of schedule, said Mike Czarcinski, managing director of the Financial District establishment. Upgrades to the concierge and hotel registration areas were completed in April, and renovations for the massive lobby finished and opened on May 4. Also finished recently were improvements to some of the public spaces. The hotel has remained open throughout the renovations.

NONPROFIT/COMMUNITY BUDOKAN LOS ANGELES The Little Tokyo Service Center is near the

rendering courtesy of Little Tokyo Service Center

May 16, 2011

medical office building at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street in City West. The hospital has begun utility installation and site preparation for the $80 million project. Shoring for the building’s foundation is expected by the summer. The project’s expected completion time is about two years. The facility would include a pharmacy, an outpatient surgical center and five levels of physicians’ offices.

Architecture firm Ware Malcomb is overseeing the design, while Millie and Severson is handling construction.

HOPE STREET FAMILY CENTER end of its negotiations with the city over a ground lease for the site of the group’s proposed recreation center, said Bill Watanabe, the LTSC executive director. A lease for the property at 237-249 S. Los Angeles St. was approved by the City Council’s Information Technology and Government Affairs Committee on May 2, and is expected to make its way to the full council this month.

The 38,000-square-foot project called the Budokan of Los Angeles will hold up to four full-size basketball courts and a rooftop garden with a jogging track. According to the city, the fair value of the land is $6.8 million.

Upon approval of the lease, LTSC will launch a capital campaign to raise approximately $22 million for the project.

GOOD SAMARITAN EXPANSION Good Samaritan Hospital is moving forward on plans to build a 190,000-square-foot

On April 1, California Hospital Medical Center, in partnership with architect and project manager Abode Communities, broke ground on the $15.7 million Hope Street Family Center. The four-story, 25,500-squarefoot project at 1600 S. Hope St. will offer a range of services supporting low-income area families, including an outdoor basketball court and children’s play area. The development, scheduled to be finished in summer 2012, will increase CHMC’s educational, recreation and community wellness opportunities for children and working-poor families living in and around Downtown. The building is slated to secure LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The hospital has so far raised $10.2 million for the project. At chmcla.org.

YWCA JOB CORPS CAMPUS Construction is 70% complete on the $73 million Downtown L.A. YWCA Job Corps Urban Campus, and completion is expected see Projects, page 16

Join Us For The Fourteenth Annual

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The Downtown Community shows its appreciation for our Los Angeles City Firefighters with a truly one-of-a-kind event featuring a Firefighter Photo Booth, Wilshire the Fire Dog, LAFD Merchandise and the Los Angeles Kings!

Fire stations partner up with local businesses to offer a taste of the Fire House! Celebrities and Los Angeles businesses also compete in Firefighter Muster Games featuring: Bucket Brigade, Suit Up Competition and Old Fashioned Hose Cart Pull.

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16 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Continued from page 15 by mid-2012, said Ann Hickambottom, the YWCA manager of strategic planning. The site for the 155,000-square-foot building at 1020 S. Olive St. was acquired by the YWCA in 2004 for $3.5 million. Vertical construction of the seven-story building was completed last year. The project will include a medical center, classrooms, a dining hall, commercial kitchen and 200 residential rooms that will house 400 Job Corps trainees. The building will consolidate Job Corps’ current facilities, which are scattered throughout six Downtown sites.

photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

photo by Gary Leonard

Development

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The $15 million renovation of the Omni Hotel Los Angeles at 251 S. Olive St. was completed in late March, said Chaya Donne, director of marketing for the Bunker Hill facility. The cost of the work, which includes upgrades of meeting spaces and guest rooms, increased from $12 million last year to 1264 W. 1st St., LA, CA 90026 about $15 million.

During (213) 481-1448 • FAX the (213)renovation 250-4617 the hotel was gutted two floors at a time. All 17 floors were refurbished. The LADowntownNews.com four-month transformation of the 19-year-old establishment brought new furnishings, new artwork, 42-inch flat-screen TVs and new carpeting. The hotel, which has 453 rooms, remained open throughout the renovation.

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Officials with the Luxe City Center did not return calls for comment, though according to the hotel’s website, reservations are being taken for the 164 rooms and 16 suites. The former Holiday Inn on Figueroa Street across from L.A. Live has been transformed into a more upscale property with larger rooms. The effort was undertaken in partnership with longtime property owner Emerick Hotel Corporation. The work included room renovations and a rehab of the lobby, two restaurants and the building’s exterior and signage. Sand Design oversaw the work. The hotel never closed during the transformation. The budget was estimated at $10 million. At luxehotels.com.

Angeles State Historic Park.

will unvei alifornia photo by Gary With one l plans for State Leonard hand exten an $18 millio Woods could Parks Superinten ded outw n dent Sean on the steering hardly ard and ment last wheel, he week as contain his excite- future of the site. eagerly envis the other be a Los Ange he drove les place wher ioned the “We’ll have around cart-like vehicState Historic Park farmer’s mark e we can have the welco in his green the have peop le. vendors pull me pavil le on hand , golf histo in for a “We’re also et. to hand out ion here. We’ll ric tours creating a it’s of maps going to the park, creating a and lead pay hom citrus promenade ” he pavilion age to the grove; here, a promenthused. “We’re prior to rail activ agricultur ity. You enade whic through a al past can imag citrus prom h will enade durin ine walking g the bloom ing see Park, page 10

For Hom St., the first housing development eless Wom for longtime Downtown en, a New Home businessman MichaelD Fallas, includes 88 open-space lofts ranging from 623-2,263 square feet. Rents are $1,150-$4,500.

The edifice was originally designed by John Parkinson, whose works include Union Station, City Hall and the Coliseum.

Architect Rocky Rockefeller oversaw the current transformation. The building was the former home of the Los Angeles Central Library and, on the ground floor, houses Fallas’ 40,000-square-foot discount retail store Fallas Paredes.

22 CLASSI FIEDS

LUXE CITY CENTER

The $27 million La Plaza de Cultura Y Artes opened April 16.

Developed by the County of Los Angeles and located at 501 N. Main St., the 2.2-acre facility is adjacent to El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. The museum/Mexican American cultural center is housed on two floors in the renovated Vickrey-Brunswig Building, a structure built in 1888, and the 1883 Plaza House. The attraction includes an evolving permanent exhibit on the ground floor that traces the role of Mexicans and Mexican Americans in the founding and shaping of Los Angeles. The second floor features a re-creation of 1920s-era Main Street. There is also a 30,000-square-

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The Belasco Theatre returned to life on March 19. The 1926 venue at 1050 S. Hill St. reopened after a $12 million upgrade from Christina and John Kim, who have a long-term lease on the space. The project restored the original theater, a separate ballroom, a downstairs lounge that functions as a jazz club, and created two restaurant spaces and a ground-floor wine bar. State-of-the-art lighting and sound systems have been installed in the 40,000-square-foot space. At thebelasco.com.

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May 16, 2011

Downtown Residential

Downtown News 17

photos courtesy of Bunker Hill Towers

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

a special advertising supplement

Cultural Connection The Towers Deliver a Rich Downtown Experience

D

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

tural sculptures composed of glass, steel and stone. Yet historical elements of yesterday also remain — artifacts of this city’s rich past.

From the faithful climb of the renowned cars of Angels Flight to the fantastic urban spectacle of California Plaza, daily life in the Towers’ neighborhood remains unsurpassed. Extraordinary fountains, garden alcove retreats, gourmet dining and first-run entertainment provide the perfect setting for a lifetime of enjoyment. Downtown holds all the essentials to fulfill the most demanding lifestyles.

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.

18 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Downtown Residential

Luxury Living From the Mid $200,000s 655 Hope Offers High-Rise Style at Affordable Prices

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deally located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles’ transportation, shopping and financial center, 655 Hope presents affordable ownership options for high-rise living. Stunning cityFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

scape views from this live/work building arise from 17 stories of sleek steel, stone and glass along the Seventh Street retail and restaurant row corridor.

The SECK Group delivers this limited ownership opportunity in Downtown’s Central Business District. Originally priced up to $850,000, each modern residence is

now available from the mid $200,000s. A 3% co-op commission is also available to qualified brokers.

Each urban loft area offers one to two bedrooms and one to two baths in up to 1,268 square feet with exceptional views from floor-to-ceiling windows. Residents also have the benefits of a roof deck with bar, an onsite fitness center, 24-hour lobby and parking attendant, and a community room.

The 655 Hope information office, open daily from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., is located at 655 Hope Street, #1605. To schedule a private model tour, call (213) 892-0240 or visit 655Hope.com for more information.

Not Just A Place.

A Lifestyle.

Cornell Building Back on the Market Loft Buyers Offered ‘Crazy Cash’ For Incentives and Upgrades

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eal Lofts in the Cornell Building at Santee Village Lofts are now back on the market, with prices starting at $169,000. Lucky buyers got Crazy Cornell Cash during a special grand FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

opening weekend promotion: a $10,000 incentive coupon plus $4,000 in appliance upgrades. Discerning downtowners on the list at santeevillagelofts.com were the first to receive pricing and the invitation to jump on this amazing opportunity.

The sales team just announced that Crazy Cornell Cash will continue throughout the term of the offering, with equally impressive prices and incentives.

“In recent years I’ve really become a fan of the ever evolving Downtown,” said Scott Benson, one of newest homeowners at Santee Village Lofts. “When this project came along with fair prices and excellent incentives, getting involved made perfect sense.”

Completely renovated, the historic Continued on next page

> dive in today

> now leasing. Cooperating Brokers Welcome Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool.

Metro station. Resident’s Lounge. Zen garden.

call> 213.623.3100 visit> www.rsvlt.com >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5 727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles

Bunker Hill Towers

866.608.1551

234 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

May 16, 2011

Downtown News 19

Downtown Residential

Resort Living With City Views At The Orsini’s Grand Tuscan Village, a Luxurious Lifestyle Is Closer Than You Think

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lose your eyes and envision yourself in a luxurious European village with lushly landscaped courtyards, grand fountains and gorgeous views set against the backdrop of a vibrant urban atmosphere.

This dream could soon be a reality at The Orsini, a grand Tuscan village in Downtown Los Angeles offering world-class FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

amenities, incredible city views and an unparalleled attention to detail that touches every corner of this urban paradise.

Wrap yourself in luxury in one of The Orsini’s sophisticated living areas, offering airy interiors, stylish colonial crown moldings and gourmet kitchens equipped with sleek granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The luxurious baths are comprised of elegant tile floors, richly framed mirrors and

beautiful Italian marble vanities.

The Orsini is the perfect place for your active lifestyle, featuring a virtual sports center with Brunswick bowling and golf; a regulation-size indoor basketball court; an onsite park surrounded by a jogging track; and a state-of-the-art fitness center with vanities, locker rooms and steam rooms.

Even the most active residents will enjoy lounging by one of the two resort-style pools, unwinding at the spa and free tanning facility or taking in a show at the 29-seat movie theater.

A rarity in Downtown, Orsini residents can take advantage of ample free parking with each home, as well as a one-of-a-kind karaoke lounge with a private resident liquor cabinet.

Immediately outside of The Orsini’s gates lies a bevy of entertainment and cultural offerings such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, Staples Center and Downtown’s vibrant shopping and restaurant scene.

With myriad unique floor plans from which to choose, including studios, one- and two-bedroom units, the luxurious lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of is closer than you think.

And with the opening of the Orsini Phase III, there are even more options for luxury living, including units with magnificently landscaped, secluded patios.

The Orsini is at 550 N. Figueroa St. For leasing information, call (877) 267-5911 or visit theorsini.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

Continued from previous page Cornell Building is an ideal choice for the buyer that wants real loft architecture, industrial design details and a commitment to contemporary expectations with modern finishes such as granite counters and detailed cabinetry. All units have oversized manufacturing windows, spectacular natural light and a bold industrial feel. With available choices of elevation and orientation, there is a loft in the Cornell Building that will appeal to every taste and budget.

Cornell residents have access to rooftop retreats including a basketball court, golf driving range, pool, spa and barbeque lounge. The adjacent Santee Courtyard includes generous outdoor seating, an ambient water feature, gourmet market, dog park, fitness center and food court for conversation and convenience. An interesting community of like-minded cultural creatives, freelancers and professionals enjoy hanging out in the city’s Historic Core.

Walking distance from the area’s most treasured fashion and design studios, the Cornell Building is steeped in the creative climate of today while maintaining its connection to the culture it has served for decades. Dozens of eclectic boutiques, bars, eateries and galleries form a neighborhood tapestry that offers true urban experience.

A new ownership group led by Kennedy Wilson has directed these lofts back to market at these extraordinary prices. KW’s presence brings stability and opportunity to this historic project located in one of Downtown’s emerging hot zones.

Those registered at santeevillagelofts.com have exclusive access to up-to-the-minute Crazy Cornell Cash price and incentive information. The sales center is located in the Santee Village Courtyard and five sparkling new models are being shown daily.

For more information on the Cornell Building at Santee Village Lofts visit 716 S. Los Angeles St. (inside Santee Court) or santeevillagelofts.com. Call the Sales Center at (213) 867-2131 or connect and “like us” at Facebook.com/santeevillagelofts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

TOWERS T H E

A PA RT M E N T S

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

RESIDENCES: SINGLES • STUDIO • ONE BEDROOM • TWO BEDROOM

20 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Downtown Residential

Redefining the Best in Contemporary Living Alta Lofts Invites Buyers to Unique Auction Event May 22

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lta Lofts artfully blends the old with the new for the best in contemporary living. With nearby access to the Gold Line and close to Downtown L.A., Silver Lake, Pasadena and Dodger Stadium, these

At Santee Court, Functional Industrial Lofts Are Elegantly Tailored to Reflect a New Urban Landscape

A

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

industrial-style lofts provide both convenience and style in the heart of Lincoln Heights.

Kennedy Wilson, the nation’s leading real estate auction company, will deliver this exceptional ownership opportunity on Sunday, May 22, for those seeking a dynamic lifestyle at unprecedented pricing. Originally priced up to $560,000, these 40 bank-owned lofts have starting bids as low as $125,000, and present a smart investment in Los Angeles real estate.

Alta Lofts is a bold fusion of contemporary design and historic architecture.

Constructed in 1925, the building served as the Fuller Paint Company Warehouse for decades. More than 80 years later, this study in contrasts features original, neoclassic architectural elements and industrial-style lofts with the convenience of nearby Downtown Los Angeles.

This adaptive reuse building features lofts with up to two bedrooms and two baths reaching 1,965 square feet with exposed beams and ductwork with original

History Meets Style

t Santee Court, residents will find open floor plans that bask in sunlight by day and the glow of the city at night. Outside these grand living spaces, a vibrant neighborhood awaits in the pulsing heart of the city.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

concrete pillars. A limited number of lofts further showcase individual private balconies, exposed original walls and ceilings with structural elements from the 1920s, state-of-the-art sectional roll-up overhead doors, and hardwood flooring (floors 2, 3 and 4). Gourmets of all levels will enjoy stainless steel Whirlpool kitchen appliances, sleek granite countertops and stainless steel sinks.

Alta Lofts’ first floor presents a landscaped, open-air courtyard, a barbecue area and paseo. A fifth-floor deck, workout area and social room are ideal spaces for active residents. Direct-access, gated parking is also available for residents and guests.

Broadening the neighborhood’s East-

Lots of Style.

Loads of Features.

Lofts of Space.

Now Renting! The Historic Gas Company Lofts.

Get ready for the thrill of a lifestyle.

Spectacular spaces. Soaring ceilings. Sophisticated finishes.

All in the heart of LA’s hip hot South Village.

213.955.5700

gascompanylofts.com

side appeal is its proximity to the San Antonio Winery and the Brewery Arts Complex, recognized as a burgeoning artists’ colony. Alta Lofts is near Dodger Stadium, Elysian Park and is just 3.8 miles from the Metro Gold Line stop.

The L.A. River is less than one mile away and the 5 and 10 freeways are close. Alta Lofts is adjacent to Silver Lake, Los Feliz, Glendale, Echo Park and Pasadena, and just minutes from Chinatown, Downtown L.A. and L.A. Live.

The Alta Lofts auction information office is open daily from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. and is at 200 N. San Fernando Rd., Unit 101.

For auction information, visit ALTALoftsAuction.com or call (800) 522-6664.

Brokers are welcome.

Santee Court is comprised of nine fashion manufacturing buildings originally built between 1908 and 1929, several of which underwent modifications between 1935 and 1955. Each building has been designated a local historic monument.

These heavy concrete-framed buildings reflect distinctive architectural style through their decorative façades and oversized rotating windows — typical design elements of the time. There is the Gothic Revival style of the Textile Building (built by Florence Casler in 1926), the Spanish Churrigueresque Revival style of the Marion Gray Building (built in 1926), and the Art Deco/30s Moderne style of the 700 Building (built in 1908 then renovated in 1935). Utilitarian structures like the 716 Building (built in 1916) feature large Mondrian-looking windows designed for basic ventilation and lighting.

In addition to the eye-catching architectural design, Continued on next page

May 16, 2011

Downtown News 21

Downtown Residential

A Piece of History at The Mercantile Lofts Limited Number of Units Offered for Sale as Condominiums

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ocated in the heart of the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles, The Mercantile Lofts beholds a rich history. Built in 1906 as the original home of the Columbia Outfitting Company, The Mercantile exhibits archiFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

tectural characteristics of The Chicago School-Beaux Arts design. The historic floor-to-ceiling window walls are one of the earliest examples of glass curtain wall construction in Downtown Los Angeles, and mark one of the building’s most unique design features.

Converted to 35 live/work lofts in 2007, The Mercantile was re-imagined in 2010 and is now being offered for the first-time as for-sale loft condominiums. A wonderful mix of history and contemporary style, The Mercantile’s recently remodeled lobby and common areas offer vintage appeal together with modern sophistication.

With only a limited number of units available for sale, The Mercantile offers an exclusive boutique urban live-work

experience. True open loft layouts accentuated by floor-toceiling windows, 18-foot ceilings and an array of site plans ranging from approximately 600 to 1,900 square feet offer unlimited potential.

Each loft at The Mercantile comes with an appliance package (comprised of a refrigerator, dishwasher, washer and dryer), onsite subterranean parking or storage area, low HOA dues and an optional amenities package. The latter includes access to a rooftop pool/spa, sun-deck, dog-run, media center, fitness center and business lounge directly next door at the adjacent landmark Pacific Electric Lofts.

The Mercantile is located in one of the most lauded pockets of the Historic Core, a neighborhood that has truly embraced the essence of Downtown Los Angeles’ vibrant renaissance.

Within a short walk of The Mercantile, residents can explore myriad fine restaurants, bakeries, wine bars, nightclubs, art galleries and coffee shops in a rapidly evolving community that caters to those seeking urban cool and sophistication.

Prices start in the high $200,000s.

The Mercantile Lofts are at 600 S. Main St. For more information visit mainmerc.com, or contact Joe Reichling at (323) 3959084 or Kerry Marsico at (213) 700-6515.

AUCTION FINAL DAYS TO REGISTER!

BANK OWNED

Starting Bids from

$125,000 Lofts Previously Priced Up to $560,000

Sunday, May 22 nd

40 Industrial-Style Lofts •

Auction Information Office Open Daily From 11 AM to 6 PM 200 N. San Fernando Road, Unit 101 Los Angeles, CA 90031

Up to 2 Bedrooms and 2 Baths with Up to 1,965 Sq. Ft.

•

Industrial-Style, Open-Living Spaces with Exposed Beams, Ductwork and Pillars

Brokers Welcome

•

Nearby Access to Metro Gold Line and Close to Downtown LA, Silver Lake, Pasadena and Dodger Stadium

•

Landscaped, Open-Air Courtyard and Paseo

•

Workout Area, Social Room and BBQ Area

FHA FINANCING AVAILABLE Continued from previous page residents enjoy modern amenities that include a rooftop swimming pool, soothing hot tub, basketball court, putting green, mini driving range and barbecue area.

The property also features landscaped gardens and pedestrian promenades, relaxing fountains, patios and courtyards. Residents will also enjoy 24-hour courtesy patrol, secured onsite parking, and secure laundry and vending centers.

The Santee Court leasing office is at 716 Los Angeles St., Suite B. Call (866) 499-2749 or visit santeecourt.com.

Short-term leasing available.

Copyright 2011 – Kennedy Wilson. All rights reserved. All bids subject to Seller’s Reserve. CA Real Estate Broker, License #00867471.

The square footage shown is approximate and is not based upon the dimensions shown in the condominium plan and does not reflect the usable square footage of the interior areas of a unit. The square footages used in sales materials are measured using a modified Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) method in which square footage calculations are measured from the exterior face of walls or surfaces directly adjacent to common and/or outside areas, and from the centerline of shared walls. Room sizes, square footages and scale are approximations only. The final size and the usable square footage of a room or unit is subject to constructed measurements. The builder reserves the right to modify features, plans, specifications and materials without notice.

For A Brochure 11KW0230_Alta_LADowntownNews.indd 1

•

ALTALoftsAuction.com

•

(800) 522-6664 4/29/11 10:43 AM

22 Downtown News

A Rare Opportunity at the Roosevelt Residences

At the Center Of it All

Select Units Open for Leasing at This Historic Seventh Street Property

Gas Company Lofts Offers a Home in the Heart of South Village

C

ome see what all the talk is about.

Poised at the corner of Seventh and Flower streets, this imposing historic residence in Downtown L.A. has stood since 1927. Situated in the Financial District, the Roosevelt Residences

I

magine living, working and playing in an exquisitely restored historic landmark. The beautifully restored Gas Company Lofts offer extraordinary city views that capture the imagination and open floor plans with limitless options to tap your creativity.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

is walking distance to L.A. Live, Ralphs, Bottega Louie, the Theater District and so much more.

Seventh Street is fast becoming the Third Street Promenade of Downtown Los Angeles, and is safe, clean and booming. Sitting above the 7th & Metro subway station, residents have easy access to everything from LAX to North Hollywood including Hollywood & Highland, Pasadena, Hollywood & Vine and Universal Studios. The Roosevelt is ideally located near FIDM, USC and neighboring universities, making them the premier residence in L.A. The two main features separating this property from others are location and amenities. The Roosevelt Residences feature a beautiful rooftop pool and resident lounge, a 1,500-squarefoot, state-of-the-art fitness center, tanning salon, valet parking and guest parking for family and friends — a rarity in Downtown.

May 16, 2011

Downtown Residential

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

Although reintroduced to sell in 2007, the Roosevelt Residences has recently decided to lease select units, affording an amazing opportunity for clients. The homes are beautifully appointed with Sub-Zero refrigerators, Bosch and Kohler appliances and fixtures, hardwood floors and Jacuzzi soaking tubs.

Lease rates start from $2,000, with

soft-loft floor plans and original ceilings creating a strong urban feel. Square footage ranges from 800 to 1,450, giving clients plenty of living and design options. The Roosevelt offers two-level “townhouse” style living as well as single floor plans.

The leasing showroom is open daily.

Please call (213) 623-3100 or visit the website at rsvlt.com.

The inviting neighborhood entices residents outdoors to explore the parks, eclectic shopping and exceptional dining. Convenience is the priority of the easygoing lifestyle at Gas Company Lofts. Residents live within a one-block radius of everything they need, and the best part is that there is no driving required. Enjoy seasonal and weekly events, such as a farmers market every Wednesday and Friday, and the Ralphs Fresh Fare is literally steps away. The surrounding neighborhood also features a pharmacy, a post office, an outdoor shopping mall, Staples Center and L.A. Live.

With such a multitude of choices within walking distance, it is difficult to decide which restaurant to dine at.

The Metro is a block away, making it a breeze to hop on and be in Orange County or North Hollywood in less than an hour.

Location, location, location! It is one of the most important things to consider when moving to a new home.

Located directly in the center of Downtown Los Angeles, Gas Company Lofts is part of South Village, a multiContinued on next page

Located in the heart of the Historic Core of downtown Los Angeles, The Mercantile Lofts are home to 35 re-imagined “live/ work” residences.

These are “true” lofts, featuring 13-ft ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and a floor-plan to suit any need, from 600sf – 1800sf*. With low HOA dues, including on-site parking, Mercantile offers some of the most flexible space, location and amenities available.

•

Boutique building – only 35 Units, 7-units per floor, units are light and airy

•

“Real” loft, not “soft” loft (high ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, exposed brick in some units)

•

Large units, up to 1800sf available

•

Low HOA Dues including parking with every unit, developer has “pre-funded” HOA at $125,000

•

For extra $100/mo, owners can “opt-in” to services next door at Pacific Electric Lofts, Including roof-top pool, sun deck, dog-run, conference room and gym!

•

All appliances included in purchase price

•

Main St. is a wide, one-way street with less traffic and no buildings directly across the street

•

Edge of the “Historic Core”, away from the chaos of the “Fashion District” yet close to everything

Showroom hourS Friday 2-6 PM, Sat/Sun 12-5 PM and by appointment

310.888.3729 Units from the High $200,000’s

Joe Reichling | 323.395.9084 joe.reichling@sothebyshomes.com

KeRRy MaRsico | 213.700.6515 kerry@thedowntownmls.com

Sales and marketing by Sotheby’s International Realty and The Downtown MLS – license # 01427385. All information is subject to change at any time. All references to square footage and dimensions are approximate, and have not been confirmed by developer or the Broker or sales agents. Please refer to all disclosures, furnished upon request.

Out Of the pa st but in the mOment Rooftop Pool & Spa ■ On-Site Shops & Restaurants Rooftop Lounge w/BBQ ■ Fitness Center ■ Dog Park Concierge Service ■ Storage ■ Business Center Historic Lofts for Lease

716 Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014 866.499.2749 | www.santeecourt.com

May 16, 2011

A Residential Pioneer Bunker Hill Towers Is Much More Than an Address

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unker Hill Towers is more than an apartment community. It is a part of Downtown Los Angeles’ historical fabric. This pioneering residential project broke ground in 1967 as Downtown’s first luxury residential high-rise, and its three buildings served as a focal point for the massive BunFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

ker Hill redevelopment area, preceding the Arco Towers, the Bonaventure Hotel and many other landmarks.

Bunker Hill Towers was the first project to address a jobs-tohousing imbalance in a city that had grown out rather than up for most of the 20th century. Catering to Downtown’s emerging professional class, the project represented a pioneering example of master planning at a time when the term was just being coined. “Designed as a self-contained private enclave, our community offers an on-site market, cleaners, hair stylist, pharmacy

Downtown News 23

Downtown Residential

and financial services in addition to suburban recreational amenities such as a resort-size, heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi spa, tennis courts, and a barbecue and picnic area,” says Don Kinney, an Essex Property Trust representative.

Its proximity to Downtown offices and cultural attractions has become an increasingly important draw for Bunker Hill Towers residents, who still access the Financial District via the project’s original elevated walkways. The community offers everything from outstanding performances at venues like the Orpheum, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Staples Center to landmarks such as the Grand Central Market, Millennium Biltmore Hotel and the Bradbury Building.

The expansive grounds feature trees, gardens, fountains, recreation areas and landscaped plazas that provide privacy. It is one of the most unique high rises in Downtown Los Angeles largely due to the fact the community has resort-like amenities and a shared courtyard. The architecturally contemporary apartments feature walls full of windows, and each comes with a refrigerator, microwave, gas stove and low fixed utility rates.

Onsite services include conveniences such as a hair salon, dry cleaners and market. Residents are also just minutes away from the 110 and 101 freeways and half a dozen bus lines.

With the conversion of the 32-story center tower to condominiums in 1980, Bunker Hill Towers Apartments is now comprised of two 19-story buildings offering 456 studio, oneand two-bedroom units. Essex Property Trust Inc. has owned and managed this community since 1998.

Bunker Hill Towers Apartments is at 234 S. Figueroa St. For information visit the on-site leasing office daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (866) 608-1551.

Real loft living… …in the downtown Arts District.

Continued from previous page block residential and retail community that includes rental housing and a full-service grocery store. These elements make it the hotspot of L.A. The Gas Company Lofts’ historic architecture is complemented by quality finishes in each unit, creating a signature project and luxurious environment. Interior amenities include a variety of granite countertops, dark cherry wood and maple cabinetry with modern design finishes and brushed stainless steel appliances. The “green” floors are reused materials such as cork, bamboo or distressed concrete. All apartments come with garaged residential and gated parking, free of charge.

The Gas Company Lofts leasing office is open Monday Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday by appointment only. Appointments are highly recommended on weekends. For information contact (213) 955-5700 or visit gascompanylofts.com.

Loft condominiums ideally located in LA’s sophisticated Arts District provide a uniquely appealing home at Gallery Lofts.

Combining old and new, Gallery Lofts offers the comfort and convenience of state-of-the-art finishes in a historic framework.

• Lighted and gated parking with assigned spaces • Granite counters in kitchens and baths • Open and airy mezzanine-style sleeping lofts • Stainless steel GE™ appliances • Pre-wired for TV, Internet and telephone • Lush interior courtyard with bamboo and water features • Walking distance to Metro Stop and Dash Bus Stop

From the high $300s Decorated models open daily, 10:30 to 5:30 (Closed Tues. & Wed.)

120-130 South Hewitt St., Los Angeles • www.GalleryLoftsLA.com 855-281-8200

Prices, details, specifications and features subject to change without prior notice.

Sales exclusively by Home Builders Marketing Services, Inc. DRE #01163523.

24 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Downtown Residential

A New Lifestyle at TenTen Wilshire The One-Stop Residence for Savvy Business Professionals and Urban Dwellers

GET MOVING! Move-Ins Are Starting

655 Hope is proud to announce that our new homeowners have begun moving in. Get moving to 655 Hope and enjoy:

1 or 2 Bedrooms – Up to 1,268 Sq. Ft. Roof Deck with Bar Fitness Center and Community Room 24-Hour Lobby and Parking Attendant An Ideal Location Along the 7th Street Retail and Restaurant Row Corridor

Celebrate the benefits of an Attainable Urban Lifestyle at Attractive Sales Prices.

Hurry in to choose among Limited Inventory on Select Plans in a Prime Downtown Location.

Take advantage of Record Low Interest Rates and settle into your chic 655 Hope condominium.

Sales Gallery Open Daily 10-6 655 Hope Street, #1605 (Hope & 7th) Downtown Los Angeles

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have all three been addressed in a single lifestyle solution. Located on Wilshire Boulevard, TenTen Wilshire offers 227 luxury suites in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles.

At TenTen Wilshire, all suites are designated live/work, so conducting business from home in a professional manner just became possible. The suites at TenTen Wilshire come equipped with every imaginable amenity including 24/7 valet parking, drop-off service, free basic utilities, wired and wireless Continued on next page

May 16, 2011

Downtown News 25

Downtown Residential

Continued from previous page high-speed Internet, premium cable TV, local phone calls, iPod-ready sound systems, high definition LCD TVs, full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and extensive kitchenware sets, and individual thermostats for optimum cooling and heating.

TenTen Wilshire recently received the award for “Best Rooftop in Downtown Los Angeles.” Inspired by luxury resorts, the world-class rooftop features a full gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, locker rooms, a movie/screening room, lounge, fire pits, barbecue areas, sundecks, custom outdoor billiard and foosball tables, all while being surrounded by panoramic views. It is also a great venue for the complimentary happy hour five days a week, ideal for meeting people and networking. Stop by on Thursdays from 5:30 to 8 p.m. for a wine and cheese mixer. It is easy to see why TenTen Wilshire is the complete lifestyle solution business professionals need.

In an area lined by the most extensive freeway system in the world, including the 110, 10, 101 and 5 freeways, Downtown Los Angeles, home to major legal, financial and telecommunications companies, is also a center for the entertainment, textile, jewelry and fashion industries. Just two blocks from TenTen Wilshire is 7th Street/Metro Center, which offers easy access to Los Angeles’ subway system, instantly connecting commuters to Long Beach, Hollywood, Pasadena, LAX and more. Union Station, the access point to Los Angeles’ commuter rail system, is also nearby.

With neighbors like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Exposition Park and the Staples Center, additional entertainment and recreational activities are available year round. L.A. Live, a 4 million-square-foot sports and entertainment district, offers many exciting venues and restaurants as well. With flexible lease terms, TenTen Wilshire is the perfect option, whatever your needs may be. TenTen Wilshire is a new lifestyle solution for professionals wanting to live, work and play, no matter how long or short the stay.

For more information about TenTen Wilshire contact (877) 338-1010 or visit 1010wilshire.com. TenTen Wilshire is at 1010 Wilshire Blvd.

Grand Opening Underway at Gallery Lofts Downtown More Than 30 Loft Condos Combine Historic Charm With Sleek Design

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The surrounding neighborhood offers a wide selection of stylish cafes, galleries, boutiques, restaurants and nightspots, and the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) is a few blocks away.

The first phase of 16 homes at Gallery Lofts boasts 26-foot floor-to-ceiling glass windows opening onto a central atrium court with lush landscaping and water features.

First phase homes range from approximately 1,210 to 1,580 square feet in size, while second phase homes, each with a distinctive design, range from roughly 900 to just over 1,700 square feet. Units at Gallery Lofts are priced from the high $300,000s.

Combining the historic brick charm and exposed beam ceilings of the original building shell with sleek modern touches creates a unique style at Gallery Lofts.

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Housing Continued from page 1 our sleeves and finish the project.”

While some might view the jump in activity as a sign that Downtown is ready for another round of building, a spurt not seen since around 2003, others take a more cautious approach. Several trophy developments remain stalled and few new projects are getting off the ground. In short, a scattering of revived housing efforts shouldn’t be mistaken for a robust recovery in the making, said Richard Green, director of the Lusk Center for Real Estate at USC. “I think it sounds like some entrepreneurial people who are trying to time the market, but it’s not large enough to call it a trend,” Green said.

Among those taking a chance are Canyon-Johnson Urban Funds, a real estate investment partnership between Canyon Capital Realty Advisors and Earvin “Magic” Johnson with nearly $2 billion in equity, which recently returned to the Downtown market.

Last month, it announced that it had acquired the stalled Arts District project the Barn Lofts (original developer the Borman Group is still aboard as an advisor). The three-story townhomes are expected to hit the market, re-branded as 940 East 2nd Street, in mid-June. Prices will start in the upper $400,000s.

While Canyon-Johnson is making a bet on the community, Quincy Allen, a managing partner with the firm, said the deal and the others like it amount essentially to a micro trend.

These kind of actions are limited by the number of projects that remain in financial distress, he said.

“I think you have to clear the market up and while there are those opportunities out there, that’s where the attention will be turned,” he said.

Outside and Inside Those reviving stalled projects include firms that are both new to the area, and those with local experience. The latter include Yuval Bar-Zemer and Leonard Hill’s development firm Linear City, which built the Toy Factory and Biscuit Company lofts.

The firm recently bought the loan of the stalled project long known as 2121 Lofts, just around the corner from their other two Arts District projects. Linear City foreclosed on the original owner and is now spending about $5 million to finish the three building, 78-unit complex at Seventh Street and Santa Fe Avenue. It plans to open the project, renamed Seven and Bridge, this year.

“From my perspective, this is more a reflection of, at what point a project or the players within a project have reached the reality check of what is the new marketplace,” Bar-Zemer said.

photo by Gary Leonard

Chinatown Gateway, a 280-apartment complex at 639-643 N. Broadway, broke ground last month after being completely stalled for two years. The project was first announced about five years ago.

Other projects that failed amid the recession and have since come back to life under new ownership include Santee Village, a three-building condo project purchased out of foreclosure by Kennedy Wilson and RECP/Urban Partners in November. Urban Partners also has deep experience in Downtown, having developed the Caltrans building and, near USC, University Gateway.

Kennedy Wilson/Urban Partners have been marketing condos in two of the Santee Village buildings, the Eckardt and the Cornell, both of which were partially occupied after an initial sales effort in 2008 (a kick-off sales event for the Cornell started May 14-15). The buildings had been stalled by legal issues related to original developer MJW Investments’ default.

Kennedy Wilson/Urban Partners did not disclose what they paid for the three building package, but they are marketing units for sale at the Eckhardt for about $280 per square foot. MJW Investments had been selling the same units for close to $600 per square foot.

Dirt, Meet Shovel It’s unclear exactly how many failed projects are waiting for a revival via new owners, but they include the Brockman Building at 530 W. Seventh St. Lender Bank of America foreclosed on developer West Millennium, which went bankrupt after nearly completing a $44 million residential conversion of the site in 2008. The bank has yet to begin marketing the property.

“I don’t know how many more opportunities there are like this,” said Allen of Canyon-Johnson. “But to the extent that those dwindle, then I think that’s when attention is turned to pulling development plans off the shelf and looking at new ground-up development.”

There is no mass return of the construction cranes that in 2007 dotted the Downtown skyline, but some builders that

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have retained control of their properties are finally breaking ground on projects they announced before the downturn.

Holland Development started work on a 210-unit apartment complex at 1111 Wilshire Blvd. in City West in April.

The $60 million project is a scaled-down version of the 11-story, 398-unit structure that the Vancouver, Wash.-based firm had previously envisioned, and is a far more modest effort than a 40-story tower that Holland discussed for the site in 2007.

Chicago-based Equity Residential also broke ground last month on the long-stalled Chinatown Gateway project. It marks a revival of a 280- apartment effort that’s been in the works for at least five years and was previously estimated at $90 million. The development, which includes 588 parking spaces and 20,000 square feet of retail, completely stalled in 2009.

“We think that economy-wise, it’s a good time to start the project,” Equity spokeswoman Mee Semcken told Los Angeles Downtown News earlier this year. When it opens in 2013, she said, “The economy will be back and we’ll be able to fill retail commercial spaces and rent out the apartments.”

In October, a development partnership led by the McGregor Group plans to break ground on One Santa Fe, a $150 million mixed-use project near the Southern California Institute of Architecture. The project with 438 housing units that was announced in 2005 had been unable to secure financing for years. The project was recently boosted by a $4 million loan from the Community Redevelopment Agency.

If the Downtown housing market is showing signs of recovery, growth in the form of new projects still faces a key obstacle — financing. Related Cos., developer of the Grand Avenue project, continues to come up empty in its search for a construction loan to build a residential, hotel and retail complex south and east of Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Similarly, the New York-based Moinian Group, which for years has pledged to build a massive mixed-use center on Figueroa Street, just east of Staples Center, is without a loan.

Smaller developers like Linear City have also found credit hard to acquire. The Arts District company has financed its purchase and ongoing renovations of Seven and Bridge out of pocket, but Bar-Zemer said he is trying to get a line of credit to help capitalize the project. The banks he’s approached haven’t outright declined his requests, but they haven’t agreed to lend on the project either, he said.

What’s clear, Bar-Zemer said, is that despite the lasting hurdles to new development, the recent flurry of comeback projects represents a long overdue and crucial correction of the market.

“For the last three or four years there’s been too much noise in the system, people using every trick in the book to try and resuscitate their project,” Bar-Zemer said. “But at the end of the day, the numbers are either there or they’re not.”

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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May 16, 2011

Downtown News 27

DowntownNews.com

A Fashion Fight Over Knockoffs Local Industry Players Battle a Proposed Anti-Piracy Bill

by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

C

ounterfeiting, piracy and trademark violations have plagued the fashion industry for years. Nobody knows that better than the California Fashion Association, a trade group that represents thousands of Downtown-based garment designers and manufacturers.

That’s why at first it may seem puzzling that the CFA would oppose a government effort to help designers fight copycats. But that’s what’s playing out in Washington, D.C. this week.

The CFA is seeking to kill the Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act, the latest iteration of a four-year effort to extend copyright protection to fashion designers. The legislation, which counts New York Sen. Charles Schumer as a chief backer, would allow American designers who feel that their creations have been reproduced by a competitor to sue the alleged mimic.

Schumer’s not the only high-profile figure backing the bill.

CFA President Ilse Metchek said Diane von Furstenberg, president of the powerful New York Council of Fashion Designers of America, and designers Vera Wang and Max Azria are among the supporters.

While the policy may sound helpful, Metchek says the devil, which as far as she is concerned might as well be wearing von Furstenberg, is in the details. Metchek maintains that in going after pirates and knockoff makers, the bill casts a net that also entangles designers like Galina Sobolev, owner of the L.A.-based contemporary women’s line Single Dress.

“Say Nicole Richie comes out with a new boho dress and I do the same one that I’ve done 10 years ago,” Sobolev said last week during a Downtown panel discussion sponsored by the CFA. “I can sue her, she can sue me…. Small companies might think they’re creating something new but in reality there’s nothing under the sun that hasn’t been done before.”

Supporters of the legislation like Narciso Rodriguez, who made Carolyn Kennedy’s 1996 wedding dress, believe the bill

would provide crucial protection for designers. Rodriguez told the New York Times that had the bill been in place, it could have thwarted the myriad copycats who seized on the attention to his Kennedy gown and profited by selling cheaper knockoffs.

Debate over the bill centers on an age-old art world question: Is it even possible to be original? During the May 10 panel event at the California Market Center, Metchek showed slides of older dresses that mirrored Rodriguez’s creation for Kennedy. Bill Blass, it appears, did the same dress in 1973. A Vogue pattern of an apparently identical garment was published in 1960.

“That’s not to say [Rodriguez] copied the Vogue pattern, but there’s a history to all of these designs,” Metchek said. “A designer coming out of an art school in Boise can think their design is original… and if it shows up on somebody else’s runway, they can sue under this law.”

Symbols and Silhouettes Under current law, garment makers looking to protect their intellectual property have a few tools. They can register a symbol as a trademark, like Chanel’s inverse double “C” design, or they can copyright certain original patterns, such as Burberry’s iconic cream and black plaid, or the specific stitching on the back pocket of Levi’s jeans. The essential formula for copycats is to slap one of these symbols or patterns on an often Chinese-made bag (or sunglasses, jeans, etc.) and pass it off as the real deal.

When it comes to a garment’s silhouette — its basic outline and shape — there’s little a designer can do to protect his or her work from copies. Under the new law, designers who believe their new sleeve design, or shoulder cut or cuff is original can copyright that element. The copyright would be in place for three years.

It’s no coincidence that the New York fashion world is largely behind the Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention Act, and West Coast companies like the members of the CFA are skeptical.

photo by Gary Leonard

Ilse Metchek and the California Fashion Association say a proposed anti-counterfeiting bill would be a major blow to the industry.

The New York segment of the industry is buoyed mostly by fashion’s biggest name designers. The garments that end up in Saks Fifth Avenue or Barney’s are, for the most part, not created in Los Angeles. The meat of the L.A. Fashion District is middle market and discount threads. Local wholesalers count discount stores — from Ross Dress for Less to Forever 21 and H&M — among their most prized clients. The CFDA, on the other hand, considers those stores, especially Forever 21, to be prime knockoff culprits.

If the law gets passed, it won’t be East Coast versus West Coast, said Richard Reinis, an attorney who works with the CFA. “It will be plaintiffs versus defendants,” Reinis said.

Metchek said she is slated to meet in Washington with California Sen. Dianne Feinstein to “educate her on the dangers of the bill” on Monday, May 16.

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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History Continued from page 8 capsule 50 years ago but were unsuccessful. Brubaker’s daughters, however, had sought out AT&T officials, and visited the capsule about 10 years ago. Their anticipation grew during the ensuing decade. “I’m really hoping it was something he wrote to us or a picture,� Balsley, the middle sister, said as they waited for Moreno to pull out what their father had left for them.

After removing a few more cards, Moreno pulled out an envelope addressed to McClure and her sisters. The women recognized their father’s handwriting right away. With a sudden hush of the crowd, McClure made her way to the front of the room next to Moreno.

She called her sisters up to join her.

Her hands shook in anticipation as she

opened the small, plain white envelope that had darkened and hardened with old age. “Here’s the picture I promised you,� read a note. It accompanied a small black and white photograph of the three sisters and McClure’s husband sitting on a couch. Her father had taken it at their Whittier home. “I was so hoping it was a picture, and it’s one we haven’t seen before,� Muir, who was 9 when it was taken, said. “It was just wonderful,� McClure remarked as she clutched the small photograph, which she plans on enlarging and copying for her sisters. “It’s a reminder of how much he loved us and this was like having him with us again.�

The items will be displayed in the building. Moreno said AT&T is considering creating another time capsule to be opened in 50 years.

Contact Richard GuzmĂĄn at richard@downtownnews.com.

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Caruso Continued from page 5 Ricky Rocket was just getting started.

Caruso went bombs away on the city’s response to unemployment, declaring, “Our job creation efforts have been an abject failure.� He described Los Angeles’ gross receipts tax as “a job killing machine� that skims money off the top, and then went on to compare this to what the mob did in Las Vegas.

On the bright side, he didn’t use the words “sleep with the fishes� or equate anyone in local government with Bugsy Siegel.

He even seemed to take a bayonet to Beutner, riffing on the theme of government creating an environment where the private sector can thrive, and mentioning L.A.’s hiring of a jobs czar. “I’m very happy with the limited success they have had,� he said.

Jaws were dropping around the room by this point, but in a suit that looked like it cost $9,000, and with every hair in place, Caruso was revving. With an easy speaking manner and a style that was equal parts CEO and Messiah, there were even personal tones. He brought up his own company’s effort to get involved in an LAX contract and, after asking if anyone had arrived there recently, declared, “You could be landing at any third-world country on the face of the Earth.�

Ultimately he brought up his time as president of the Los Angeles Police Commission (there’s my $25!), and took pride as he recounted the decision to force Bernard Parks from the chief’s job (he didn’t mention Mayor Jim Hahn’s role in the matter), citing rising crime and low morale. He said any

mayor should have every city department general manager reveal their top three priorities, and he stated that Bill Bratton’s goal was to reduce crime by 20%, and even though he used the nickname for William I’m giving myself the $10.

Then, like everyone else on the campaign trail, he seized on the subject that infuriates high-propensity voting parents. While he wasn’t the first, he was the latest to call for the break-up of the LAUSD. He championed charter and magnet schools and other institutions that have ties to the community.

Then, shockingly, fascinatingly, and to a degree even beautifully, he described the school district as “an educational gulag from which we have to free our children.�

Wow. I mean, Blake-Griffin-dunking-over-a-carwith-Stalin-in-the-passenger-seat wow.

I’m not sure who came up with the line, whether it was a speechwriter or Caruso himself, but whoever put those words to paper deserves a pony.

Of course, he also touched on gridlock, then lambasted expensive subway construction, saying aboveground-rail is the way to go, especially given Los Angeles’ climate. “At The Grove we have a trolley,� he said. “It is packed. And it goes nowhere!�

Nowhere is exactly where Caruso isn’t going. He may not cop to it yet, and he may claim he’s still looking behind the scenes and “considering� things, but this was a speech aiming his trolley right at the mayor’s office.

It is still nearly two years until voters go to the polls. If this is how it starts, look out.

Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

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Mortal Moves

Young hip-hop fans square off on the dance floor in East West Players’ season-ending production Krunk Fu Battle Battle, which runs May 18-June 26.

East West Players Brings a Hip-Hop Musical to the Stage

MAY 2 here’s a battle brewing on a Little Tokyo stage.

by RichaRd Guzmán

city editoR

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In one corner is the best dancer in school. In the other, it’s the new kid on the block, returning to the old neighborhood to rediscover his turf underew the tutelage of nN s an old school master.cebook.com/L.A.Downtow Fa If it sounds a little like The Karate Kid goes dancing, that’s not far off. The modern twist continues with the dance “weapons”: performers bust out the windmill, the Roger Rabbit, krunking and other moves that have yet to earn a name.

It all comes together in Krunk Fu Battle Battle, the closing production in an East West Players season meant to shake up the status quo. It was an intentional effort by the 45-year-old Asian-American company to draw in a new, younger crowd.

Krunk Fu features a cast chosen for their dance abilities.

They have the added responsibilities of rapping, singing and, of course, acting.

“There’s a lot of raw youth energy in this show,” said Tim Dang, EWP’s producing artistic director, who will be directing the production that runs May 18-June 26. ews.com or “Almost all of them never sang or rapped on stage before, ntownN rner at Dow co nd ha ht t r rigcomfortable aillispossible,” the uppeas so my goal was to makel inthem /forms/mas nnews.com E-NEWS Look for this symbo w.ladowntow w w P U Dang SIGNadded.

The Dance Kid While some aspects of the show may have been unfamiliar to the performers, the story is something much of the audience will quickly recognize.

It wasn’t actually based on the 1984 Ralph Macchio/Pat Morita hit The Karate Kid, but the storyline is very similar to the movie. Here, “wax on, wax off” and the crane kick are replaced by the Robocop and the windmill.

“Instead of martial arts, this is based on the world of hip-

an!

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hop,” said Blas Lorenzo, who plays Sir Master Cert, an old that would match the emotion of hip-hop. He believes it school B-Boy and narrator of the musical, who could be crosses all cultures and ages. thought of as the Mr. Miyagi of the show.

“I think that this show really is literally a multigenerational, The story is based around Norman Lee, a 17-year-old multi-demographic show,” Sia said. “They don’t spend a middle class student who, like many kids his age, loves hip- lot of time talking about being Asian. Any ethnic group can Starts hop. Lee’s middle-class suburban world is shaken up when relate to it. It’s a show you can go to see with your cousin or he and his mother Jeanie have to return to her old Brooklyn uncle13 or grandfather.”

May 6/May Chinatown neighborhood.

It’s an interesting statement because, in recent years, EWP’s He soon falls for Sweet Cindy Chang, a young beauty who audience base has been uncles, grandfathers and other older is involved with local tough guy and skilled dancer Three- individuals used to the company’s steady diet of stories spePoint. Under the guidance of Sir Master Cert, an old friend of cific to the Asian-American experience, and revivals of popuLee’s mom, the young dancer squares off against the top dog lar shows such as Sweeney Todd, but with an all-Asian cast. in a dance battle.

While the upcoming 46th season, which launches in Lorenzo, a fan of old-school hip-hop acts such as Run September, is a return to more familiar territory with four Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com DMC, acknowledged that audiences may be surprised to productions focusing on love stories, Krunk Fu marks the end see an all-Asian cast immersed in hip-hop. Nevertheless, he of a season that brought male nudity, themes of sexual abuse thinks the production works because of the storyline and the and a story about a geriatric male porn star to the David appeal of the music.

Henry Hwang Theatre.

“It’s not something everyone might be expecting,” said “I think [the season] definitely worked out for us,” Dang Lorenzo. “But hip-hop is a multicultural thing. Every com- said. “We got a lot of press, just in terms of subject matter, munity has a section of hip-hop.” and we brought in a younger crowd.”

Dang focused on finding dancers who could be taught to StartsDespite the initial attention, Dang admitted that crowds sing and rap, rather than trying to teach vocalists the moves. during the first part of the season were about 10% smaller Maythan 13 they were in the previous year. He said attendance rose He said he wanted the players to appear as urban kids who learned dancing from the streets. during the latter half of the season.

To make the rapping and singing feel more natural, styles While he acknowledges that the next season is not quite were tailored for the characters. For example, older characters as radical as the one coming to a close, he notes there will like Sir Master Cert rap in a style reminiscent of pioneers like still be an edge. After all, the line-up includes A Widow of No Grandmaster Flash. Younger performers may sound more Importance, a play that deals with a “cougar” relationship. like current star Little Wayne, Lorenzo said.

Krunk Fu Battle Battle runs May 18-June 26 at the David Check Website Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com The lyricsOur and vocal music for wereFull written

by Marc Macalintal Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, 120 and Beau Sia. Sia a Chinese-American poet and spoken word Judge John Aiso St. (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org. artist from Oklahoma, said Dang asked him to write lyrics Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

MAY 16

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photo by Gary Leonard

May 16, 2011

30 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Bikes Continued from page 1 some peace of mind to those who prefer to get to and from work, or accomplish errands or just exercise, on two wheels.

This year, riders will benefit from leaders of the Christian, Jewish, Catholic, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu faiths. Some will do it with words and some will have other accoutrements. While it may strike those unfamiliar with the Downtown ritual as odd, to those doing the blessing, it is part of the calling.

“My religious tradition calls upon me to say at least 100 blessings a day, so everything can be blessed,” said Rabbi Jason Van Leeuwen, who has participated in the event for four years.

“I bless people, I bless things. Sometimes I walk into the kitchen at family events and I’ll bless the lentil soup and walk away,” he said with a laugh.

So it wasn’t strange when his brotherin-law, who is an avid cyclist, asked Van Leeuwen to take part in the event.

“I’m happy to do the blessing of the bikes,” he said.

The rabbi sometimes brings his guitar and performs religious songs. Other times he carries the shofar, a traditional Jewish ram’s horn, to call upon people to stay out of the way of bicyclists. Most of the time he’ll offer the traveler’s prayer, usually recited by Jews before they go on trips.

“My primary concern is that they continue to bike in safety,” he said. “Judging from the look of gratitude and the smiles on their

photo by Gary Leonard

Twitter/DowntownNews faces, the people really feel like they’re going to be OK and maybe on many levels, not just physically but spiritually as well.”

Van Leeuwen doesn’t keep a record of how effective his bicycle blessings are, but the overall attention the event receives helps keep drivers aware of those who are out on two wheels, he said.

Golden Spoke During the outdoor event, riders show up to the entrance of the hospital on their bikes.

They roll up to the religious leaders for their blessing, then ride around the hospital to honor and salute people who have been injured while on a bicycle.

There is also a free bicycle safety check and other tools and suggestions to keep riders out of harm’s way.

For some of the participants, the hospital is a kind of home. Rev. Jerry Anderson, the chaplain of Good Samaritan, said he has blessed so many things through the years that he didn’t give it much thought when Leeka approached him to bless bicycles.

“I certainly thought it was a good idea,” he said. “I’ve blessed everything else, I might as well bless bikes.”

Anderson said he has blessed cars, motorcycles and animals. His blessing technique includes sprinkling Holy Water on riders as they roll in front of him. He said he is always struck by how seriously many of the participants take the ceremony.

“Even some people who don’t really go to church, they get excited when their bikes are blessed,” he said. “When they get that water on them they feel safe.”

He has also noticed that the event attracts serious cyclists who spend a lot of time on

This year, blessings will come from leaders of the Christian, Jewish, Catholic, Islamic, Buddhist and Hindu faiths.

the road.

“I think in part it’s that they like the idea someone is officially taking what they do seriously enough to make a ritual out of it, and it’s also fun,” he said For Sister Alice Marie Quinn, the founder and director of St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, which delivers food to needy people, you can never be too safe. She speaks from experience: Quinn once broke her elbow while in a bicycle race.

Although she hasn’t ridden much since the accident, Quinn has been doing the Good

Samaritan event for three years. She delivers the guardian angel’s prayer to cyclists, hoping they’ll have better luck than she did.

“I’m a Catholic and I’m a nun and I believe in blessings,” she said. “They’ll never hurt you and you can’t have too many blessings, so I give them whenever I can.”

This week, she’ll find plenty of takers.

The Blessing of the Bicycles is Tuesday, May 17, 8-9:30 a.m. at Good Samaritan Hospital, 616 S. Witmer Ave., (213) 977-2911 or goodsam.org.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

MAY 12 – JUNE 26, 2011 KRUNK FU BATTLE BATTLE BOOK BY Qui Nguyen LYRICS BY Beau Sia VOCAL MUSIC BY Marc Macalintal DANCE MUSIC PROVIDED BY Rynan Paguio AND

Jason Tyler Chong

DIRECTED BY Tim Dang MUSICAL DIRECTION BY Marc Macalintal CHOREOGRAPHY BY Jason Tyler Chong

Under the guidance of Sir Master Cert, young Norman Lee battles the baddest b-boy crew at Sunset Park High for respect, honor, and the heart of sweet Cindy Chang.

A hip-hop musical extravaganza!

Generous support for this production is provided by the S. Mark Taper Foundation Endowment for East West Players In association with Projekt NewSpeak and Kollaboration A partner of the National Asian American Theatre Festival.

www.EastWestPlayers.org (213) 625-7000

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Downtown News 31

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LISTINGS EVENTS Tuesday, May 17 Blessing of the Bicycles Good Samaritan Hospital, 616 S. Witmer St., 8-9:30 a.m.: The eighth annual Blessing of the Bicycles has spiritual leaders from different faiths imparting blessings for safety. There is also a commemorative lap around the hospital campus and a free bike safety check. Go ahead, bless your bike.

You know you want to.

2011 Compensation and Benefits Survey The California Endowment, 1000 N Alameda Street (213) 346-3260 or cnmsocal.org.

8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.: Presented by the Center for Nonprofit Management, the first “post-recession” survey and its results will be used to set the salary standards for area nonprofits.

ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.

7 p.m.: Written in the aftermath of his wife’s death, Francisco Goldman’s Say Her Name weighs the unexpected gift of love against the blinding grief of loss.

Soapbox Slam, Butoh’s Back and a Phil Full of Brahms

A

photo by Anna Hult

saTurday, May 21 LA Convention Center 1201 S. Figueroa St., (213) 741-1151 or lacclink.com.

6 a.m.-6 p.m.: It’s muscle mania at the L.A. Muscle Championship.

1-5:30 p.m.: At the Shaolin Summit, learn about the ancient Chinese martial artists through kung fu demonstrations; pick up secret Shaolin training techniques and learn how the fighting monks inspired the likes of Wu Tang Clan and other bastions of Western pop culture.

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.

couple years Race that took place a he Red Bull Soapbox ents to hit ev eatest, most bizarre ago was one of the gr day, May 21, it’s back, with 40 Satur Downtown in years. On taking jumps and drops and 90-des er rac x bo ur drivers handmade soap d Grand Avenue. Amate un aro d an downhill ed gree turns down ck in the gravity-power compete against the clo d on creativity and showmanship. ge race, but they also get jud ous designs, like a rolling sushi ge tra ou me so ing specExpect to see pits open at 11 a.m. allow t race e Th . ipe gp firs e bar or a giant ba Th . cars and meet the teams Fifth Street tators to check out the At . t concludes at 3:15 p.m is at 1 p.m. and the even soapboxrace.com. ull and Grand Avenue, redb

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ides Gustavo Dudamel pres ms over the complete Brah Los symphonies in the s “Brahms Angeles Philharmonic’ runs through June 5 Unbound” series, which ll. This week, the t Ha at Walt Disney Concer on the composer’s maestro takes only Symphony No. 2 (the as ) one to include a tuba e. tur well as his Tragic Over en th il Ph e th , 77 18 From rpe time travels to 2008 to of e form the U.S. premier ncer Glorious Percussion, a co orchesto for percussion and Sofia tra by Russian composer for n Gubaidulina. Know l her intense and unusua ina instrumental comb tions and a spiritual aesthetic, her work offers an exciting juxtaposition with the old master. Performances run Thursday-Saturday, May 19-21, at 8 p.m., and May 22 at 2 p.m., at 111 S. Grand Ave., laphil.com.

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

photo by Gary Leonard

2

e sprung up in Japan strange, subversive danc after World War riots following the student rd the grotesque, abwa to nt II. Butoh, with its be lled its slow, hyper-contro e surd and taboo and th as ll we as d authority movement challenge 20, ay M , ay id scene. On Fr to contemporary dance e m co s ist art ost butoh three of the world’s forem rformance is the open. pe REDCAT. The 8:30 p.m on the form taking place m siu aji ing event of a sympo 22. Japanese dancers Ak at UCLA through May rm rfo pe n Ka and Katsura Maro (shown here) ime rks “A Baby” and “T wo the signature solo age, La an Jo Seattle-based At Machine,” respectively. lo. so w” ido r “Black W aka Kogut, presents he 7-2800 or redcat.org. ) 23 631 W. Second St., (213

Friday, May 20 LA Convention Center 1201 S. Figueroa St., (213) 741-1151 or lacclink.com.

Through May 22: The Everything To Do With Sex Show consumer trade event.

VISION 2020: Leading Los Angeles into the Future 633 W. Fifth St., 3rd Fl., (213) 639-0764 or aialosangeles.org.

8-9:30 a.m.: The eighth annual AIA|LA Breakfast Series presents John Deasy the new superintendent of LAUSD. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Blvd., (213) 763-DINO or visit nhm.org.

10 a.m.; May 21, 10 and 11 a.m.: Dig in to “Critter Club” with stories, games and a tongue-tied craft.

For 3- to 5-year-olds and a participating adult.

Asian & Pacific Islander Older Adult Festival Angelus Plaza, 255 S. Hill St., (213) 623-4352,ext. 317.

2 p.m.: The annual event will feature exotic music, dance and exercise demonstrations from various Asian and Pacific Islander nations. Japanese, Korean and Angelus Plaza Asian folk dancers will be joined on stage by the Tai Chi class. Admission is free and open to the public and refreshments will be served.

MORE LISTINGS

calendar@downtownnews.com

photo by Tom Zimmerman

Thursday, May 19 Unusual Suspects Theatre Company’s Third Annual Benefit Cicada, 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-8488 x205 or theunusualsuspects.org.

6:30 p.m.: Celebrities, community leaders and supporters of the youth theatre program will honor L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, actor Roma Maffia of Nip/Tuck fame and two youth alumni.

ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org.

7 p.m.: In his new novel A Moment in the Sun, indie filmmaker John Sayles travels from the Yukon gold fields, to New York’s bustling Newspaper Row, to Wilmington’s deadly racial coup of 1898 and beyond.

LA Mode 2011 California Market Center Fashion Theater, 110 E. Ninth St., (310) 434-3005.

7 p.m.: With proceeds going to the Red Cross for Japan relief efforts, the Santa Monica College Fashion Program presents the annual fashion show in which students showcase their cutting-edge designs.

CalArts Writers Showcase REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800, redcat. org.

7:30 p.m.: The School of Critical Studies holds a reading of the best new fiction and poetry by MFA candidates in the Writing Program.

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ighttime in Los city’s shimmer and Angeles brings out the merman and neon explorer/historian m Zim shine. Photographer To ages from their ongoing quest to document im nt se ent at Eric Evavold will pre ed “Neon Noir.” The ev titl k tal a in n tio na mi L.A.’s nocturnal illu al Library kicks off the ay, May 18, at the Centr sd ne ed W pher’s on . p.m :15 12 time series The Photogra ch lun e) fre d (an lar pu day re-launch of the po ng Room A and trade the d eti Me to ls tua vic ay dd Eye. Bring your mi , high-rises, cars an luminosity of street lights l.org. the in ing sk ba ht, nig for lap th St., (213) 228-7000 or neon signs. At 630 W. Fif

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s in bea uti ful , you ng wr ite r die age the at nt a bodysurfing accide n cke stri efgri of 30, leaving behind a r tho Au rs. yea husband of only two nstra to ght Francisco Goldman sou ing love form the tragedy into art, balanc t pain ins aga n against loss and passio Her Say el nov l in the autobiographica e lud inc rks wo Name. Goldman, whose and ns cke Chi The Long Night of White s at the The Art of Political Murder, appear Aloud the of t Central Library as par p.m.

7 at 17, y series on Tuesday, Ma or 25 -70 228 3) At 630 W. Fifth St., (21 aloudla.org.

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photo by Jerry Bauer

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

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

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May 16, 2011

Downtown News 33

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

plaCe your ad online aT www.ladownTownnews.Com

FOR RENT

l.a. downtown news classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ad Deadlines: Thursday 12 pm REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL lofts for sale

TheLoftExpertGroup.com Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper

213.598.7555 acreage/lots WINE COUNTRY Estates only $6000 / Acre. Own your own vineyard or just enjoy the prestige of living in wine country. Call Now Eagle Realty 1-800-4486568. (Cal-SCAN) out of state 20 ACRE RANCH Foreclosures Near Booming El Paso, Texas.

Was $16,900 Now $12,900. $0 Down, take over payments, $99/mo. Beautiful views, owner financing, Free map/pictures.

1-800-343-9444. (Cal-SCAN) SACRIFICE SALE - Nevada’s 3rd Largest Lake 1.5 hours South of Tahoe on California border, 1 acre Panoramic Lake View/Access $24,900 (was $49,900). 1.5AC Bold Lake Front $89,800 (was $149,900).

Very rare gorgeous homesites, central water, paved roads. Awe inspiring views. Owner says sell!

1-888-705-3808. (Cal-SCAN)

NY STATE LAND Rivers & Small Lakes for Sale 27 Acres-Salmon River Area -$39,995. 97 Acres w/ Stream Surrounded by State Land -$110,995. Independence River-Adirondacks-16 Acres WAS: $129,995. Now $79,995.

Oneida Lake Proximity 16 Acres -$29,995. Over 100 New Properties Offered. Call 800-229-7843 Or Visit www.LandandCamps. com. (Cal-SCAN) real estate services CONSIDERING FORECLOSURE? Are you late in payments? A short sale may be your solution. Call Lady Rodriguez, Realtor 310-600-7534. Represent both buyers and sellers.

PROBATE SOLUTIONS Need an heir cash advance on estate before it even closes? Call Richard for all the details 1-800-2565018 ext. 101. timeshare/resorts SELL/RENT Your Timeshare For Cash!!! Our Guaranteed Services will Sell/ Rent Your Unused Timeshare for Cash!

Over $95 Million Dollars offered in 2010! www.SellaTimeshare. com (877) 554-2098. (CalSCAN)

All submissions are subject to federal and California fair housing laws, which make it illegal to indicate in any advertisement any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income or physical or mental disability.

We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

“Be wary of out of area companies. Check with the local Better Business Bureau before you send any money for fees or services. Read and understand any contracts before you sign.

Shop around for rates.”

FOR RENT

CALL FOR SPECIALS @ The Visconti. Free parking, free tanning, free wi-fi + biz center avail.

Cardio Salon, pool, Spa, steamroom, sauna. Call us today. 866742-0992.

REAR HOUSE 2bd ft/bk yd storage area near school bus fwy Crd Ck no laundry or pets 323533-1687

apartments/unfurnished

loft/unfurnished

Milano Lofts

old Bank District The original Live/Work Lofts

$550 APARTMENT To Share.

Own Entrance. New Paint & Floor. Laundry On-Site. Free Parking. 433 Cottage Home St. 818-593-9060.

Now LeasiNg! • Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views 6th + Grand Ave. • 213.627.1900 milanoloftsla.com

from $1,100 Cafes, Bars, Shops, Galleries, Parking adjacent. Pets no charge Call 213.253.4777 laloft.com

BRAND NEW Luxury Apartments Homes. Orsini III. Now open for immediate Occupancy.

Call for Specials. Never Lived in, Free Parking, Karaoke Room, Free Wi-Fi, Indoor Basketball, Uncomparable Amenity Package. Call today to schedule a tour - 866-479-1764.

office space SHARE 300 Square Feet Office Space in Little Tokyo $200/ month. Call 213-273-3994.

commercial space WAREHOUSE FOR LEASE 4000sf with two secured loading bays large enough for two 20ft trucks. 400 amp electrical panel, skylights, office, storage and restroom. NNN $3895p/m Call Robert DRE #01458843 213-399-9001

LOFT LIVING

homes/unfurnished MT WASHINGTON Mid-Century Ranch Home, 2B/2B. Private, tranquil. Major appliances included. Fireplace, Garage. No pets, smokers. Available June 1.

310-891-1937

CALL FOR SPECIALS @ the Medici. Penthouse 1 & 2 bdrm apts. Granite kitchens, washer/ dryers, business center, 2 pools, spa! Visit TheMedici.com for a full list of amenities. Call 888886-3731.

Want to share

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

EMPLOYMENT drivers 17 DRIVERS Needed! Top 5% Pay! Excellent Benefits. New Trucks Ordered! Need 2 months CDL-A Driving Experience.

1-877-258-8782. www.MeltonTruck.com. (Cal-SCAN) COMPANY DRIVERS (Solos & Teams) * Great Pay * Great Miles * CDL-A Required We have a variety of Regional, Dedicated and OTR positions available, based on location. Call now: (866) 7898947. (Cal-SCAN) COMPANY SOLOS & Teams Western US! $300 Bonus after 30 days. Excellent Pay. CDLA, 1-year OTR or recent grad.

Hazmat required. 1-888-9059879 or www.AndrusTrans.com.

(Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS/CDL Training - Career Central. No Money Down. CDL Training. Work for us or let us work for you! Unbeatable Career Opportunities. *Trainee *Company Driver *Lease Operator Earn up to $51k *Lease Trainers Earn up to $80k 1-877-3697091. www.CentralDrivingJobs. net. (Cal-SCAN) HOME WEEKENDS & Through House During Week! Intra-State Flatbed Position Now Available!

Potential to make $1,000/wk!

Excellent Equipment and benefits. CDL-A, 6mo. OTR. 1-888801-5295. (Cal-SCAN)

DRIVERS - CDL-A Flatbed Drivers Needed. Teams, Solos & O/O’s. Great pay & benefits.

Consistent miles & hometime. 1 yr. Experience Required. 1-888430-7659. www.Trans-System. com. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS - No Experience - No Problem. 100% Paid CDL Training. Immediate Benefits. 20/10 program. Trainers Earn up to 49c per mile. CRST VAN EXPEDITED. 1-800-326-2778. www.

JoinCRST.com. (Cal-SCAN) DRIVERS - Reefer team lessee. Average $1.03/mile (+ fuel surcharge). Paid CDL Training Available & Benefits! Call Prime Today! 1-800-277-0212. www.

PrimeInc.com. (Cal-SCAN) professional GOOD IDEA Studio requires a designer, 5 years architectural design experience and Bachelors degree in design or related discipline for Los Angeles location. Fax resume and cover letter to Louis Molina at 213-2503625. sales LOAN OFFICERS- Tired of Working For a Broker- Work with a Mortgage Banker FHA, VA, Jumbo, Reverse- excellent commissions- Ray-800-429-5000 visit www.OakTreeFunding.com click Virtual LO. (Cal-SCAN) Continued on next page

The Downtown > now leasing. Cooperating Brokers Welcome We've got what Renaissance > now leasing. you're searching for!

DowntownNews.com Collection Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool.

Cooperating Brokers Welcome Cooperating Brokers Welcome

Valet parking.

Fitness Center.

Rooftop Valet parking.

Fitness Center.

Rooftoppool. pool.

Metro station.

Lounge.

Zen Garden.

MetroResident’s station. Resident’s Lounge.

Zen garden.

Be Inspired...

Metro station. Resident’s Lounge. Zen garden.

call> 213.623.3100 visit> www.rsvlt.com

Beautiful

call> 213.623.3100 Best Downtown Locations! > now leasing. > SHOWROOM OPEN: now leasing. visit> www.rsvlt.com M-F 10-6, S-S 11-5 Cooperating Brokers Welcome >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-sCooperating 11-5 Brokers Welcome

EstD 1912

727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles

Valet parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool.

Metro station. Resident’s Lounge.Valet Zen garden. parking. Fitness Center. Rooftop pool.

727 W. Seventh St.

Historic beauty.

Modern refinement.

Eclectic elegance.

Metro station. Resident’s Lounge. Zen garden. call> 213.623.3100 Downtown Los Angeles visit> www.rsvlt.com >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5 call> 213.623.3100 727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles >showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5

visit> www.rsvlt.com

727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles

>showroom open: m-F 10-6, s-s 11-5

noW leasing

727 W. Seventh St., Downtown Los Angeles

$1,400’s/mo. free parking

Orsini

ROOFTOP GARDEN RETREAT WITH BBQ AND LOUNGE GRAND LOBBY • FITNESS CENTER • SPA MODERN KITCHEN w/CAESAR COUNTERTOPS HIGH SPEED INTERNET DESIGNER LIVING SPACES • PET FRIENDLY • DRAMATIC VIEWS WALKING DISTANCE TO RALPHS SUPERMARKET

550 NORTH FIGUEROA ST.

877-231-9362

WWW.THEORSINI.COM

Medici the loft expert! group

725 SOUTH BIXEL ST.

TM

877-239-8256

WWW.THEMEDICI.COM

756 S. Broadway, Los Angeles 213-892-9100 | chapmanf lats.com Downtown since 2002

• Gorgeous Layouts • 10-15’ Ceilings • Fitness Center • Wi-Fi Rooftop Lounge • Amazing Views

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

Voted Best Downtown Residential Real estate Agent Call us today!

Bill Cooper • 213.598.7555 • TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Furnished single unit with kitchenette, bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly rate $275 inc.

Piero 616 ST. PAUL AVE.

877-235-6012

WWW.THEPIERO.COM

Visconti 1221 WEST THIRD ST.

866-690-2888

WWW.THEVISCONTI.COM

FREE Rent Specials On Select Floor Plans

Pricing subject to change without notice.

MILANO LOFTS Now Leasing!

Elegant World Class Resort Apartment Homes

Monthly from $550 utilities paid.

(213) 612-0348

• Free Resident/Guest Parking in Gated Garage • Private Library, Business Center & Conference Rooms • Free Wi-Fi & DSL Computer Use • Resident Karaoke Lounge • Directors Screening Room • Lavish Fountains & Sculptures • On-Site Private Resident Park with Sand Volleyball, BBQ’s and Jogging Track • Night Light Tennis Courts • Indoor Basketball

Version 3

• Brunswick Four-Lane Virtual Bowling • Full Swing Virtual Golf • 3100 Square Foot Cybex Fitness Facility • Free Tanning Rooms • Massage Room, Sauna & Steam Room • Rooftop Pools with Dressing Rooms • Concierge Service • 24-Hour Doorman • 24/7 On-Site Management • Magnificent City Views *Amenities vary among communities

34 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

Twitters/DowntownNews

Continued from previous page

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Help Wanted INTERNATIONAL Cultural Exchange Representative: Earn supplemental income placing and supervising high school exchange students. Volunteer host families also needed. Promote world peace! 1-866-GO-AFICE or www.afice.org. (Cal-SCAN) TECHNICIANS for Satellite TV Installation. Work as Independent Contractor. Knowledge of low voltage electronics. Reliable truck, ladder, hand tools. Lift 50+ lbs. $600-$1200wkly. 602-7696472. (Cal-SCAN)

Business Opportunities

home improvement

START WORKING Today.

Home Based Business. Weekly Payout. Simple Proven System.

Free local training. Call 800-6730024. (Cal-SCAN)

SERVICES

contractorsbuilders Plumbing, Electrical, Tile, Hardware 80% savings OT Liquidators 1920 E. Olympic

213.614.0018

Professional

Attorneys

Director of Religious Education Korean Christian Nah Sung Church 1324 S. Berendo Street Los Angeles, CA 90006 Send resume to: Ho Yoon Jung

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION! Family, Criminal, P.I. for more than 20 yrs!

Child Support / Custody Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español / Korean

Get your GREEN CARD or CITIZENSHIP Law Office of H. Douglas Daniel Esq., (213) 689-1710

CALL NOW

FOR may MOVE-IN SPECIALS

213.749.9300

WWW.PACKARDLOFTSLOFTSLA.COM

Business Services

Health & Fitness

ADVERTISING- BEST Kept Secret. A business card sized display ad 140 California community newspapers. Reach 3 million+ Californians. Cost $1,550.$1.33 cost per thousand. Free brochure (916)288-6019; www.CalSDAN.com. (Cal-SCAN)

ATTENTION Joint & Muscle Pain Sufferers: Clinically proven all-natural supplement helps reduce pain and enhance mobility. Call 888-589-0439 to try Hydraflexin Risk-Free for 90 days.

(Cal-SCAN)

CLASSIFIED Advertising. 240 California community newspapers reaching over 6 million Californians. 25-words $550 works out to 18 cents cost per thousand! Free email brochure.

Call (916) 288-6019. www.CalSCAN.com. (Cal-SCAN) Cleaning CONCEPTO’S CLEANING Crew. Professional, experienced, cleans apartments, homes, offices and restaurants.

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

Financial Services CASH NOW! Cash for your structured settlement or annuity payments. Call J.G. Wentworth.

1-866-494-9115. Rated A+ by the Better Business Bureau.

(Cal-SCAN)

DIABETES/ Cholesterol/Weight Loss. Natural Product for Cholesterol, Blood Sugar and Weight. Physician recommended, backed by Human Clinical Studies with amazing results.

Call to find out how to get a free bottle of Bergamonte! 888-6159598. (Cal-SCAN) VIAGRA 100MG and CIALIS 20mg!! 40 Pills - 4 Free for only $99. #1 Male Enhancement, Discreet Shipping. Only $2.70/ pill. The Blue Pill Now! 1-888904-6658. (Cal-SCAN)

HIGH SCHOOL Diploma! Graduate in 4 weeks! Free Brochure.

Call Now! 1-866-562-3650 ext.

60 www.SouthEasternHS.com.

(Cal-SCAN)

2001 PORSCHE CARRERA CABRIOLET 3.4L V6, Polar Silver/Grey, Crest Wheel Caps, 56K miles #1S651787 $32,988.

Call 888-685-5426.

MEDICAL MANAGEMENT Careers start here - Get connected online. Attend college on your own time. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800481-9409. www.CenturaOnline. com. (Cal-SCAN)

2005 NISSAN SENTRA SEDAN Great Value, A/C, CD, 35MPG Highway N110123-1 / 51560337 $7,499 call 888-838-5089

Psychic PSYCHIC READER Spiritual advisor. Tarot $20. Confidential text for one free question 323493-9494.

AUTOS PRE-OWNED

Education ATTEND COLLEGE Online from Home. *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance.

Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. SCHEV certified.

Call 888-210-5162 www.Centura.us.com. (Cal-SCAN)

Downtown L.A. AUTO GROUP Porsche Volkswagen Audi Mercedes-Benz Nissan chevrolet cadillac

Elevate Your Lifestyle @ PE Lofts Today!

■ Covered On-Site Parking ■ 24 Hr. State of the Art Fitness Center ■ Heated Pool and Spa ■ Rooftop Lounge with Cabanas, Fireplace and BBQs

DowntownNews.com

(866) 561-0275 • PELOFTS.COM • 610 S. Main, Downtown LA

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

2007 MERCEDES CLK350A CABRIOLET Certified, 3.5L V6, Indium Silver, Auto, Only 45K Miles #5160/F223491 $29,994 Call 888-319-8762.

2007 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TURBO Only 30k Miles, Blk/Blk, CD, 32MPG Highway V110331 - 7M003955 $14,388 Call 888781-8102.

2008 NISSAN TITAN KING CAB Certified, Auto, AC, 8 cyl NIIQ0025-1 / 8N317410 $14,999, call 888-838-5089 2008 SMART Car Convertible.

Yellow and black. 14,500 miles.

Original owner. Mint Condition. $11,650 o.b.o. 323-466-4665.

2010 AUDI A4 CABRIOLET 2.0 TURBO Leather, ABS, Dual Zone A/C, Only 50K Miles 7K018416 / ZA9951 $20,890 Call 888-583-0981

Casaloma L.A. Apartments Clean unfurnished bachelor rooms with shared bath at $550/mo. with private bath at $695/mo.

Sec. Deposit Special @$100 Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site.

Gated building in a good area.

208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown LA

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

May 16, 2011

Downtown News 35

DowntownNews.com

2010 CHEVY COBALT Great Fuel Economy. White/Gray, Only 39k Miles #UC808R/103397 $14,900 Call 888-879-9608.

For a complete list of our pre-owned inventory, go to www.DTLAMOTORS.com Autos WAnted 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) DONATE YOUR Car: Children’s Cancer Fund! Help Save A Child’s Life Through Research & Support! Free Vacation Package. Fast, Easy & Tax Deductible. Call 1-800-252-0615. (CalSCAN) DONATE YOUR Vehicle! Receive Free Vacation Voucher.

United Breast Cancer Foundation. Free Mammograms, Breast Cancer Info www.ubcf.info Free Towing, Tax Deductible, NonRunners Accepted, 1-888-4685964. (Cal-SCAN) WANTED / CASH Paid!!! Any Pre ‘73 Mercedes SL’s, Porsche 356/911/912, Jaguar XK/XKE or other Interesting sports cars. Any Condition!!! Call Bob 714-3902425. (Cal-SCAN)

ITEMS FOR SALE Books GET THIS BOOK!! “100 Foods To Keep Your Body Healthy” visit www.Lulu.com 919-459-5858

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

LEGAL

2014 S. Longwood Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90016, are hereby registered by the following registrant: BRIAN SCOTT BEVERLY, 2014 S. Longwood Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90016. This business is conducted by an Individual. Registrants has not begun to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein.

This statement was filed with the County Clerk of Los Angeles on April 11. 2011 NOTICE—This fictitious name statement expires five years from the date it was filed in the office of the county clerk. A new fictitious business name statement must be filed before that time. The filing of this statement does not of itself authorize the use in this state of a fictitious business name in violation of the rights of another under federal, state, or common law (see Section 14411 et. seq. Business and Professions Code).

Pub. 5/09, 5/16, 5/23, 5/30/11 nAme chAnge suPeRioR couRt oF caLiFoRnia, countY oF Los anGeLes centRaL DistRict oRDeR to sHoW cause FoR cHanGe oF name no. Bs131591 to aLL inteResteD PeRsons: Petitioner: ADOLFO XAVIER QUINTERO by his mother ALEXANDRA IZQUIERDO filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows: Present name: ADOLFO XAVIER QUINTERO Proposed name: XAVIER IZQUIERDO THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter shall appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: JUNE 24, 2011 Time: 9:00 AM Dept.: 1A Room: 548 The address of the court is 111 North Hill Street, Los Angeles CA 90012. A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN NEWS, 1246 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA of general circulation.

Dated: 4/21/2011 Hon. Matthew C. St. George, Commissioner PUB. 5/02, 5/09, 5/16, 5/23/11

Fictitious Business nAme

madison hotel Clean furnished single rooms. 24-hour desk clerk service.

•Daily, $30.00 •Weekly, $109.00 •Monthly, $310.00 (213) 622-1508 423 East 7th St.

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.) Starting Jan. 1, 2011

Studio 280 sqft.

Full Bathroom Apartment One Month FREE!

$700 mo. to mo. (No Contract) $680 on 6 mo. Lease $623 on 12 mo. Lease

No Application Fee! - Sec. Dep. $175 Free Utilities, 24 hr. laundry, Around the Clock Courtesy Patrol

112 W 5th st., Los angeles, ca 90013 213.908.9006 ask for Courtney • rosslynstudios.com

WaReHouse FoR Lease 18,000 sf, 21% office/showroom space, 2 DH loading doors, fenced.

Close to 5, 110, & Goldline Station. $0.44/SF/Mo/IG.

call K3 investments 626 272-1373 DRE#01139858.

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator.

Full bathroom.

Excellent location.

Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $595 utilities paid.

(213) 627-1151

PREMiERE TOWERS

7000 sqft. Basement Space ✦ set up for Gallery/Office space

CAll FoR PRiCE

• w/Gallery Lights • Wide Private (Spring St.) Entrance • Ideal for Art Gallery, SPA, Office Space • Wired for internet service/telephone outlets • Prime Location in Downtown (Gallery row, residential area, wine bar, café, market)

213.627.6913 | cityloftsquare.com

Children’s Performing Group

Sunshine Generation Singing, dancing, performing and fun!

For boys & girls ages 3 and up!

SunshineGenerationLA.com • 909-861-4433

THE ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

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

sAkurA heAlth gym & sAunA, inc.

HBODY

MASSAGEH

$7,499

NISSAN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

888-838-5089

2005 NISSAN SENTRA SEDAN N110123-1/5l560337

Great Value, A/C, CD, 35MPG Highway

$14,999 2010 Nissan Altima 2.5S Coupe ..................................... $21,999 Certified, Only 8K Miles, auto, AC, CD and more. N111040-1/AC104229 2008 Nissan Armada LE 4X4 ........................................... $29,999 Certified, 8 Cyl., 4WD, Grey. #N110674-1 / 8N632795 2008 Nissan Titan King Cab ............................................

Certified, 8 Cyl., Silver, Auto. N110025-1 / 8N317410

$14,388

VOLKSWAGEN OF DOWNTOWN L.A.

888-781-8102

2007 VW JETTA TURBO V110331- 7M003955

Only 30k Miles, Black/Black, CD, 32 MPG Highway

$14,380 2010 VW GTI 2.0 Turbo Hatchback ............................... $23,980 Certified, Only 9k Miles, 16V GDI DOHC . ZV1183 / AW280740 2008 VW Touareg SUV .................................................... $28,980 Certified, Only 31k Miles, 24V GDI DOHC, Navigation. ZV1225 / 8D046176

2008 VW Rabbit Hatchback ...........................................

Certified, Only 19k Miles, Blk/Blk, 2.5L 20V MPFI DOHC. ZV1226 / 8W256660

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36 Downtown News

May 16, 2011

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18 new loft condos Prices start at

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Certain restrictions apply. Must close within 45 days of the accepted purchase agreement. Incentives only available if using our preferred lender. The Seller reserves the right to change prices and incentives without prior notice or obligation. All units are subject to prior sale or reservation. Kennedy Wilson, A California Real Estate Broker. License #00746768

models oPen daily

sales center:

716 Los Angeles St, Suite D Los Angeles, CA 90014 hours: M-F: 11-6 / S-S: 12-5

cornellbldg.com

213 . 867.213 1

The Seller reserves the right to change prices without prior notice or obligation. All units are subject to prior sale or reservation. Kennedy Wilson, A California Real Estate Broker. License #00746768