05-18-09 by Los Angeles Downtown News

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS

A report featuring the latest information on 112 Downtown projects, along with a special Downtown Residential section.

May 18, 2009

Volume 38, Number 20

INSIDE

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT

11-38 W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M

SLO Patrol Downtown Senior Lead Officers Become the Community Cornerstones Of the LAPD

What’s next for the bankrupt Brockman?

Finally, a leader for the arts high school.

by Ryan VaillancouRt staff wRiteR

ecently, a Fashion District merchant walked into the lobby of the Central Division police station on Sixth Street. In limited English, he demanded that something be done about some illegal vendors selling counterfeit DVDs near Santee Alley. The desk officer, who spoke no Spanish, futilely tried to explain that, without a police report, he could not do much. The man refused to leave. He was

intent on talking about the vendors selling phony goods and did not want to leave a report for just anyone. Unable to assuage the merchant, the desk officer disappeared into the hallways of the Skid Row station. He emerged with Tracy Fisher, senior lead officer for the Fashion District. When the merchant recognized her, he sighed in noticeable relief. When they talked, it turned out he did have information that Fisher, who speaks Spanish, later said will “absolutely” prove useful. see Police, page 9

Mayor on Wire Time to vote for the Best of Downtown.

by Jon RegaRdie

A tiki twist at L.A. Live.

n 1974, Frenchman Philippe Petit created an international stir when he clandestinely reached the roof of New York City’s Twin Towers and proceeded to walk back and forth between THE REGARDIE REPORT

Grammy Museum goes back to the ’80s.

The Barnes Approach

Budget Battles, Ballots and Cops Turn a $530 Million Deficit Into a Tightrope Walk executiVe editoR

them on a tightrope. His feat, chronicled in last year’s Oscarwinning film Man on Wire, was all the more remarkable considering that it took place 110 stories above the ground, without a net. The balancing act Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is currently undertaking makes Petit’s feat look like a school-

photo by Gary Leonard

LAPD Central Area Capt. Blake Chow (center), Sgt. Pete Foster (second from right), and (l to r) senior lead officers Marco Duarte, Karen Owens, Mike Fernandez, Ken Lew, Randy McCain and Tim Nambu.

boy’s parlor trick. This is because Villaraigosa is pulling the equivalent of making multiple high-wire strides, sort of like he is crossing from one tower to the other and from there traipsing to the pointy top of the Empire State Building. It is a bizarre and beguiling situation, one that hizzoner seems to be complicating by his own volition, even when there is a quasi-simple solution. But the easy way out may be the political equivalent of voluntarily downing a hemlock cocktail, and so far he’s showing no inclination to take a sip. It’s all building, and last week, for an hour at least in a Downtown Los see Villaraigosa, page 10

A $10 Million Conversion Creates 68 Apartments, but the Developer Has Claimed the Penthouse by anna scott staff wRiteR

here are several unusual things about the Haas Building, a $10 million Jewelry District project that opened May 1. Among the most unlikely is the sprawling two-level penthouse. Although it is massive, with 16,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, it is not being marketed as a high-end apartment. Instead, the unit atop the building on the northeast corner of Broadway and Seventh Street will become the province of the project’s developer, Zuri Barnes. He plans to use the penthouse as a part-time

residence and rent it out as an occasional party venue. “People thought I’m crazy at the beginning, building myself a unit,” he said during a Wednesday morning tour of the structure. He added with a smile, “If I was borrowing money, probably the bank wouldn’t allow me to do this.” But because Barnes owns the building at 219 W. Seventh St. outright, and funded the conversion of the former office structure into apartments on his own, the longtime Downtown landlord and entrepreneur finds himself in an enviable situation. Not only has he constructed see Haas Building, page 10

Five great entertainment options.

41 CALENDAR LISTINGS 43 MAP 45 CLASSIFIEDS

photo by Gary Leonard

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (left, with LAPD Deputy Chief Charlie Beck and Councilman Jack Weiss) presumably had more fun at a May 11 gun-buyback press conference than he did the following day, when he asked the City Council to declare a fiscal emergency.

photo by Gary Leonard

Zuri Barnes in the 16,000-square-foot penthouse of the 1915 Haas Building. He purchased the structure in 1989, when he only saw profit potential in the groundfloor retail spaces.

Since 1972, an independent, locally owned and edited newspaper, go figure.

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May 18, 2009

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CLASSIC FILM & LIVE ENTERTAINMENT IN HISTORIC THEATRES THE 23 RD ANNUAL PRESENTS

WEDNESDAYS AT 8 PM MAY 27 – JULY 1, 2009 FEATURING THE MOVIE PALACES OF DOWNTOWN’S BROADWAY HISTORIC THEATRE DISTRICT

PHOTO COURTESY OF BERGER/CONSER PHOTOGRAPHY, FROM THE BOOK THE LAST REMAINING SEATS: MOVIE PALACES OF TINSELTOWN

LOS ANGELES THEATRE (1931)

See classic films as they were meant to be seen: on the big screen, in a beautiful theatre, surrounded by hundreds of fellow fans. Last Remaining Seats proceeds benefit the nonprofit Los Angeles Conservancy, which has worked since 1978 to recognize, preserve, and revitalize the historic architecture and cultural resources of greater Los Angeles.

MAY 27 THE STING (1973)OORPHEUM THEATRE (1926) ! OLD UT

S Bob Mitchell performs on the Orpheum’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ Host Charles Phoenix, pop culture enthusiast and author; JUNE 3 BUCK PRIVATES (1941) MILLION DOLLAR THEATRE (1918)

T ! Armed Forces with Dean Mora, the Fort MacArthur Officers Orchestra, Host Tony Valdez of KTTV FOX 11; live “Old Time Radio” L D OtoU the S Osalute the Satin Dollz Pinup Dancers, and Maxwell DeMille JUNE 10 CABARET (1972)U TLOS ANGELES THEATRE (1931) LD O !

S OYork, actor and co-star of Cabaret Host Michael

JUNE 17 MACUNAÍMA (BRAZIL, 1969) MILLION DOLLAR THEATRE — Co-presented with Host Sergio Mielniczenko of Brazilian Hour and Global Village radio shows; DJ Mochilla spinning samba, bossa nova, folk-psyck, and batucada

JUNE 24 A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951) LOS ! ANGELES THEATRE OLD OUT

S James Dean: Behind the Scene and Graven Images Host Leith Adams, Warner Bros. Corporate Archivist and co-author of JULY 1 PANDORA’S BOX (1929)T ORPHEUM THEATRE ! U O LD

O accompanies the film on the Orpheum’s Mighty Wurlitzer organ Host Hugh Munro Neely, film historian; acclaimed organist RobertS Israel FOR INFORMATION AND TICKETS VISIT LACONSERVANCY.ORG OR CALL (213) 430-4219 MAKE A NIGHT OF IT! VISIT LACONSERVANCY.ORG FOR LAST REMAINING SEATS DOWNTOWN DINING SPECIALS SERIES STAR SPONSOR:

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May 18, 2009

AROUNDTOWN Police Nab Suspected Teen Vandal in Chinatown

15-year-old Chinatown resident accused of repeatedly spraying graffiti on the Bernard Street pedestrian overpass, which crosses the Pasadena Freeway, was arrested on vandalism charges on May 12, LAPD officials said. After a witness identified the teen, police served a search warrant at his residence, an apartment building on the 700 block of Lookout Drive, where they found stickers bearing a graffiti “tag” that had been sprayed on the bridge, LAPD Lt. Paul Vernon said. The individual, who allegedly sprayed the monikers “213” and “Fosk,” is estimated to have caused about $9,000 in damage in Chinatown, Vernon said. The same tags were seen on a dumpster outside the apartment complex on Lookout Drive. “There was a person who saw him tagging the bridge who recognized him in the neighborhood and first told his mother and then later, because the mother did not have much of a response, mentioned it at a community meeting and we took it from there,” Vernon said. The suspect has one prior arrest, for throwing rocks and bricks at passing cars, Vernon said. He was released from police custody the day of his arrest and will face a judge in juvenile court.

Siptea Stops Pouring

fter seven months in Downtown Siptea, which aimed to bring lovers of tea together, closed its doors. Laura Stewart, who opened the establishment at 852 S. Broadway last year, blamed the economy and expensive parking meters for the teahouse’s failure. Siptea was scheduled to close Sunday, May 17 (after Los Angeles Downtown News went to press). “Parking isn’t good and there really isn’t much else to do around this area,” she said. “When we first got here meters were $1 an hour. Now it’s $3 and people are not going to come back because of that.” Siptea featured organic products and teas from throughout the world. Stewart said she will continue to sell her tea online at siptea.biz and possibly to local restaurants. She is also on the lookout for a new location, though she said it will likely be outside of Downtown. “I just don’t think my audience is here, I don’t know if this is the area for what I’m doing,” she said.

Downtown Projects Win Preservation Awards

hree Downtown projects were awarded prizes at the 28th annual Preservation Awards Luncheon, presented by the Los Angeles Conservancy last week at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel. Altogether nine prizes were handed out at the event on Thursday, May 14. The recognized Downtown efforts included the 1925 Biscuit Company Lofts, which was renovated in 2006 into 104 condominiums by developer Linear City; the firm was credited for its adaptive reuse transformation and for bringing new life into the Arts District. Also recognized was Cole’s, the oldest restaurant in Los Angeles, which originally opened in 1908 and was renovated by Downtown nightlife pioneer Cedd Moses. The upgrade was cited for its “careful restoration,” according to the Conservancy, which used “invaluable restraint, doing just enough to renew original features while keeping the authentic patina of a century-old landmark.” The third Downtown honoree was the Mark Taper Forum, which reopened in August 2008 after a $30 million, year-long renovation. That project upgraded the 41-yearold building’s theatrical systems, almost doubled the size of the lobby and added bathrooms and a 1,350-square-foot lounge to the 30,000-square-foot circular landmark originally designed by Welton Becket. It was hailed for carefully blending new upgrades with the historic features.

Downtown News Up for Press Club Prizes

ine Los Angeles Downtown News stories or packages have been named finalists in the Los Angeles Press Club’s 51st annual Southern California Journalism Awards. Finalists were announced last week for the awards ceremony that takes place Sunday, June 14, at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. Staff Writer Anna Scott has been named a finalist for Journalist of the Year, the Press Club’s highest honor, in the category of newspapers with less than 100,000 circulation. Scott was also nominated in the investigative reporting category for her article on a con man in the Jewelry District. Other Downtown News finalists include City Editor Richard Guzmán and staff writer Ryan Vaillancourt, both in the business reporting category; Doug Davis for editorial cartooning; art director Brian Allison for design; and executive editor Jon Regardie in the columns category.

Downtown News 3

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News is also up for prizes in headline writing and commentary, for the editorial “Mayor Should Be Honest About Political Future.” Information about the awards, including how to buy tickets, is at lapressclub.org.

Second Johnny Rockets Blasts Off in Downtown

owntowners have another place to get their burger-andfries fix, as a Johnny Rockets began serving last week in Little Tokyo. An official grand opening is scheduled for June for the second Downtown Johnny Rockets. The Little Tokyo spot, at 135 S. Central Ave., is in a 1,200-square-foot space, with room for only about 30 people; although smaller

than most restaurants in the 1950s-inspired chain, it has a full menu, which includes breakfast, and is open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. Downtown’s first Johnny Rockets debuted last May at the Union Bank Tower at 445 S. Figueroa St. A third outpost, which will cater to the USC crowd, is expected to open in 2010, said Mitch Baker, vice president of marketing for Nutri Partners, owner of the Downtown Johnny Rockets franchised locations.

Property Owner Gets Guthrie Fellowship

arryl Holter, CEO of the Shammas Group, which owns several car dealerships and nearly 20 acres along Figueroa Street, has been awarded a Woody Guthrie Fellowship from the nonprofit BMI Foundation, which supports the creation, see Around Town, page 8

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EDITORIALS

Neighborhood Councils Show Their Mettle

n interesting if unintentional experiment in democracy occurred recently, one that propelled a group of Los Angeles stakeholders to rise up in protest. In doing so, they proved that even if the neighborhood council system does not always operate efficiently, in some important ways it has come of age. Volunteer members of the groups have earned a voice in City Hall. The situation stemmed from efforts to address the city’s $530 million (and still climbing) budget deficit. To help reduce costs, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa proposed that the approximately 90 neighborhood councils take a 10% budget cut; each would get $45,000 a year, down from the $50,000 they had been receiving. Then the City Council’s Budget & Finance Committee went

further, proposing that allocations be slashed to just $11,200 apiece. The rationale was that it would save $3.5 million next year and could help preserve jobs the city may have to eliminate to balance the budget. That sparked a buzzsaw of opposition, with neighborhood council members warning that many local improvements and programs would be decimated. An official with the Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council, which has become an active, committed panel in recent years, said, “Every community program we do would be 100% eliminated, from the Skid Row Photography Club to work on sustainability issues.” Opposition from other neighborhood councils citywide was equally intense. By last week, it was clear that the voices had been heard

and, while the budget is still being hammered out, the neighborhood councils may suffer just the 10% cut Villaraigosa mentioned and still supports. If that is indeed what happens, then the victory will be far greater than the approximately $35,000 a year each group has “protected.” The mayor and the City Council bear the burden of proposing unpopular options to make budgets pencil out, and as the past has shown, they will sometimes try to sneak things by; just think of the “holiday hustle,” when plans are pushed forward on the last Council session before the winter break, when relatively few people are paying attention. In this case, citizens were listening and bolted into action. It is clear that the neighborhood councils have become an important part of Los Angeles’ system of checks and balances.

Disappointing Campaign for City Attorney

ome time in the evening of May 19, the people of Los Angeles should know if their next City Attorney is going to be Jack Weiss or Carmen Trutanich. Whoever wins, we hope their behavior will be nothing like it has been in the past few months. Since the March primary that sent these two into a runoff, Weiss, currently a City Councilman, and Trutanich, who works as a defense attorney, have waged war on each other. Their campaigns have seemed to range

from vitriolic to poisonous, with allegations and attack ads becoming the norm. Although each has made some attempt to describe why he is the best man for the job, their minor efforts have been lost amid the negativity. We see why that is, of course. Everyone in the city sees why that is. Both Weiss and Trutanich know that the race is close and that raising questions or dishing dirt about the other guy may be what edges one of them over the 50% barrier. After a long and grueling campaign,

there is no solace in running nice but finishing a close second. It’s win or be forgotten. That’s the way things work politically everywhere. The scenario is especially disconcerting here because of the job that is up for grabs: City Attorney, the second highest elected office in Los Angeles. The person who wins will oversee an office of more than 500 attorneys and will be responsible for prosecuting misdemeanors in the city. The office is tasked with helping the

Crunch Time for Arts School

ife is never easy for the Los Angeles Unified School District, and in particular the district has had an ugly six months in regards to the coming High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. But as the expression goes, now the really hard work begins. The district is under intense scrutiny with less than four months until the $232 million Bunker Hill facility opens. It needs to be a fluid, successful process, and that will not be easy. On May 8, LAUSD Supt. Ramon Cortines announced that a principal had finally been hired for the state-of-the-art school. The limited prep time until opening might work at a small or standard facility. But this is the most architecturally exciting school in the nation, and it has an equally ambitious

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

agenda, seeking to provide a top-notch, arts-based education to 1,700 students. The tasks to come are numerous and onerous: A staff must be hired, an arts curriculum developed and a student body selected. A new executive director must figure out how to raise money and the mechanics of utilizing the facility must be worked out. The task is even more gargantuan than the budget of the Downtown school. If the facility is to be a success, Cortines needs to make it a priority, a tough task as he faces so many pressing matters, chief among them budget cuts and probably laying off teachers. Hopefully now some of the contrarian rhetoric that has

city and the City Council deal with lawsuits and other legal issues. This is an office where sound judgment is required. We would hope that the person at the top, the one who sets the tone for how city business is done, demonstrates wisdom and knows what kind of public face to present when things get tough, as things certainly will. We had hoped for more from Weiss and Trutanich. We hope for better from whoever wins on Tuesday night.

been floated will dissipate: Forces that wanted the school to open as a charter facility had suggested delaying the debut for a year. That proposal was off base. There is room for and merit in the discussion of the school’s future, of whether it should remain an LAUSD-run facility or if a charter group should take over. But that is to come. Right now, the school needs resources of all descriptions to ensure that the opening is smooth.

How to reach us Main office: (213) 481-1448 MAIL your Letter Letters to the Editor • L.A. Downtown News 1264 W. First Street • Los Angeles, CA 90026 Email your Letter realpeople@downtownnews.com FAX your Letter (213) 250-4617 Read Us on the Web DowntownNews.com

Editor & PublishEr: Sue Laris GENErAl MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin ExEcutivE Editor: Jon Regardie citY Editor: Richard Guzmán stAFF writErs: Anna Scott, Ryan Vaillancourt coNtributiNG Editors: David Friedman, Kathryn Maese coNtributiNG writErs: Jay Berman, Jeff Favre, Michael X. Ferraro, Kristin Friedrich, Howard Leff, Rod Riggs, Marc Porter Zasada Art dirEctor: Brian Allison AssistANt Art dirEctor: Yumi Kanegawa ProductioN ANd GrAPhics: Alexis Rawlins ProductioN AssistANt / EvENt coordiNAtor: Claudia Hernandez PhotoGrAPhEr: Gary Leonard AccouNtiNG: Ashley Vandervort sAlEs MANAGEr: Dawn Eastin sAlEs AssistANt: Annette Cruz clAssiFiEd AdvErtisiNG MANAGEr: Catherine Holloway AccouNt ExEcutivEs: Vanessa Acuña, Robert Dutcher, Catherine Holloway, Kelley Smith circulAtioN: Norma Rodas distributioN MANAGEr: Salvador Ingles distributioN AssistANts: Lorenzo Castillo, Gustavo Bonilla The Los Angeles Downtown News is the must-read newspaper for Downtown Los Angeles and is distributed every Monday throughout the offices and residences of Downtown Los Angeles. It is also distributed to the extended urban communities of Glendale, Hollywood, Wilshire Center, Los Feliz, Silver Lake & Larchmont Village.

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May 18, 2009

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Future Uncertain for Brockman Building Project May Not See Residents for Months; Bottega Louie to Stay Open photo by Gary Leonard

by AnnA Scott StAff writer

he Brockman Building stands as one of Downtown’s most anticipated residential conversions, as area boosters hope it will inject pedestrian life onto recovering Seventh Street. Yet although the upgrade was completed last year, the property has yet to see a single resident and is mired in financial troubles. Worse, it is unclear how long the building at Seventh Street and Grand Avenue might remain uninhabited, or even who will own the project a year from now. About the only bright point for Downtowners is that the upscale restaurant and market that opened in the building last month is not embroiled in the project’s troubles, and will continue to operate. Last month, Brockman Building Lofts LLC filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, the first step on the road to liquidation, after parent company the West Millennium Group defaulted on its $35 million construction loan and Countrywide Bank (now owned by Bank of America) initiated foreclosure proceedings. On May 8, West Millennium itself filed Chapter 7. The Brockman now stands in limbo. The first bankruptcy filing halted the foreclosure process, said Countrywide attorney Ken Russak of Frandzel Robins Bloom &

Csato, LLC. Now, with the developer also in Chapter 7, the bank could proceed in a number of ways. “We’ve got a lot of different options to consider, but until we decide on a single course of action, it wouldn’t be wise to discuss them in public,” Russak said. “I don’t want to speculate.” Mark S. Scarberry, a Pepperdine School of Law professor specializing in bankruptcy, said the most likely course of action would be for the bank to obtain permission from a court to proceed with foreclosure. West Millennium attorney Craig Rankin agreed, and said he expects the foreclosure to occur within two months. What might happen after that remains to be seen. “Typically when you have a foreclosure, you have an auction and often the bank bids enough to win at their own auction,” said Scarberry. “The bank can buy it and then turn around and market the property. Or if they don’t want to own it for any extended period they could still sell it.” The risk, he noted, is that if the bank wins the auction but does not market the units aggressively or does not know how to do so, the residences could sit empty. Russak, asked when the property might see residents, would only say, “It could be in the near future, or it could be longer than that.”

metro.net

The future of the Brockman Building, one of Downtown’s most highly anticipated adaptive reuse projects, remains in limbo after its developer filed for bankruptcy.

Tangled Up A conversion of the 12-story, 1921 Beaux Arts building at 530 W. Seventh St. has been in the works since the early part of the decade The 80-unit property was originally expected to open as condominiums in 2005, but issues related to modernizing the former office structure and a budget that skyrocketed from $16 million to more than $35 million caused multiple delays. Most recently, West Millennium Chairman Norman Salter (who along with West Millennium CEO Dilip Ram has filed for personal Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows them to reorganize and repay their debts over time) said that the building would open as rentals last December. But that never happened, and Countrywide began the foreclosure process Jan. 20. Between the $35 million construction loan and multiple liens against the property for unpaid construction work, the Brockman’s debt is approximately $45 million, said Rankin. Amy Goldman, an attorney with Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith LLP, became the property’s court-appointed trustee, charged

with overseeing the liquidation process, after it went into Chapter 7. Goldman last week said there is nothing for her to administer because the Brockman’s debt outweighs its value. “Trustees don’t usually administer buildings when there’s no equity,” Goldman said. In a later email, referring to the $45 million debt, she added, “I do not believe that it would sell near that in this market.” Goldman has not removed herself as trustee, the usual action in such cases, because “the bank is considering a scenario where I will be appointed to deal with certain things before they foreclose,” such as paying bills and maintaining security at the property, she said. Keeping up with maintenance and paying for the building’s utilities are key because the Bottega Louie Restaurant and Market opened on the building’s ground floor April 6. The large, airy space has quickly become a popular dining and shopping spot. Bottega Louie attorney Robbin Itkin of Steptoe & Johnson LLP said that despite the uncertainty over the Brockman’s fate, the restaurant is not in danger of closing or being forced out. “We’ve done everything necessary to make sure there’s no interruption in the operation of Bottega Louie,” she said. “Even if there is a new owner, they will be there.” That is a silver lining to those who have watched the building’s struggles. “It’s unfortunate, because it is a beautiful building right in the heart of Downtown,” said Carol Schatz, president of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District. However, she added, “This project has not been on time from any perspective. It was supposed to have opened up four years ago, and if they had we wouldn’t even be talking about an empty building.” Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

California Hospital Was Built For You

Metro Briefs

Whether it’s a routine visit or a medical emergency, we’re here if you need us. California Hospital is a 316-bed acute care facility that has been serving our community since 1887.

It’s The Right Time to Save. Go Metro. In these uncertain economic times, you can create your own stimulus package simply by going Metro. Experts estimate you can save $8,416 annually by using public transit in LA instead of paying for gas and parking. LA is among the top 20 cities where you can save the most by taking public transit. Find your best route with the Trip Planner at metro.net.

Metro Adding 41 Buses For ExpressLane Project Forty-one compressed natural gas buses are being purchased by Metro for its ExpressLanes demonstration project aimed at maximizing freeway capacity. Next year the buses will provide additional transit alternatives on the carpool lanes along the I-10 (El Monte Busway) and I-110 (Harbor Freeway Transitway) corridors.

$315 Million In Stimulus Funds Proposed For LA Cities Metro is backing state legislation to disperse $315 million of stimulus funding for transportation improvements among all the cities in LA County under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Under the proposal, each city would get a minimum of $500,000 to preserve and create jobs for transportation-related projects.

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Go Metro Rail to see all the action at the 24th Annual LA Marathon on Monday, May 25. The course starts in Universal City and winds through the heart of LA to >nish downtown. Be sure to check metro.net for information on extensive bus detours prompted by the race.

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If you’d like to know more, please call us at 1.800.464.2111, or visit metro.net.

Diagnostic Treatment and Imaging Center

For the second year, California Hospital Medical Center serves as the official medical provider of the LA Marathon. To ensure that each participant is provided timely and proper medical attention, a team of volunteers consisting of doctors, nurses and tech professionals from California Hospital will be stationed in eight separate tents along the 26.2 mile course and at two locations at the finish line. An event that is as strenuous and as widely attended as the LA Marathon demands a tremendous amount of medical resources. California Hospital will again be ready to administer care for the thousands of runners who will be hitting the streets of LA on Memorial Day, May 25, 2009.

CHW California Hospital Medical Center 1-866-213-CHMC • www.chmcla.org

1401 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90015 (On Grand Ave., just 2 blocks from the Staples Center.)

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LAUSD Finally Hires Arts School Principal Middle School Administrator to Helm $232 Million School by Ryan VaillancouRt

Blake sought to distance herself from the school’s combative past. “I’m excited to start with this team and with these kids and our families that will make this school a community,” she said. Chief among charter proponents has been billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad, who pledged $5 million to support the school when it was being planned. Broad has not yet delivered on his pledge, but Cortines said he expects him to “follow through.” “We sent him a bill,” said Cortines, as he turned his gaze on the school’s helix-wrapped tower, a non-functional architectural feature that rises over the Hollywood Freeway that Cortines said Broad lobbied for intensely. More Citywide Seats? The 1,700-seat school will open this year without a senior class to 1,100 ninth, tenth and eleventh graders. In addition to Blake, the school will be run by an administrative team that includes Executive Director Rex Patton, who will primarily serve a fundraising role. Assistant principals Kenneth Martinez of Hollywood High will oversee the arts high school’s theater arts program and Yolanda Gardea from North Hollywood High will head up the music program. Assistant principals will be hired to run the visual arts and dance programs, Alonzo said. Cortines said the administrative team’s most pressing task is to assemble a faculty. Other duties include devising an arts curriculum for the school, which will also teach the staterequired courses in math, English, history and science. The district has received “hundreds” of applications from prospective teachers, Alonzo said, but it remains unclear how the school will be affected by the district’s budgetary woes: Facing a nearly $600 million deficit, the district may lay off as many as 5,000 teachers. “That [hiring] process has already started, but with the bumping that is going on in the district and the notices I have sent to teachers, that somewhat compounds this issue,” Cortines said. The school has also faced questions regarding its student

staff wRiteR

fter months of searching for a principal to lead the $232 million High School for the Visual and Performing Arts, the Los Angeles Unified School District announced May 8 that it has hired Suzanne Blake to head the Downtown facility. Blake leaves Vista Middle School in Van Nuys, where she has served as principal since opening the school in 2004. She has degrees in dance and education and has worked as an administrator and teacher at several schools. “It is a dream come true to me to be at a school that will put my two loves together: dance and education,” Blake said at a press conference at the high school at 450 N. Grand Ave. The San Fernando Valley native said she has been a supporter of the arts in Los Angeles for 25 years. According to a resume provided by the district, Blake has worked mostly as a school administrator and as a teacher of health-related subjects. Her only stint as an arts instructor was in 1993 and 1994 when she taught dance, along with English as a second language and health, at Reseda High School. The district previously offered the job to principals of two high-profile East Coast arts high schools; both originally accepted and then later declined the post. (An executive director was also hired for the school in 2007, but she later quit.) The district then pursued Los Angeles area candidates, though Local District 4 Supt. Richard Alonzo said few with extensive arts credentials applied. “Of the 19 candidates that we had there were probably only two that had a specific arts education background,” said Alonzo. “However, the two things that were important were the sensibility of knowing the importance of the arts and the demonstration of their educational leadership.” The school is set to open in September under district control, after Supt. Ramon Cortines and Alonzo blocked an effort by a coalition of education and business leaders to turn the school into a charter. Those same advocates have pledged to pursue a charter conversion of the school after it opens.

photo by Gary Leonard

On May 8 LAUSD officials announced that Suzanne Blake will be the principal of the $232 million High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. The facility opens in September.

make-up, with some arguing that it should open as a districtwide school and not give priority to local residents. Alonzo, the primary handler of the school for the past two years, has staunchly defended the plan to keep the school open for local students whose socioeconomic background has restricted their access to the arts. Cortines said he would consider opening the school citywide if local students do not pounce on their chance to attend. That scenario could play out before September if more students do not apply for about 300 unfilled 10th and 11th grade seats. While the ninth grade class has a waiting list, the district has had trouble finding students to transfer to the upper grades, Alonzo said. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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8 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

DowntownNews.com

Trading on an Icon New Downtown Trader Vic’s Revives a Tiki Tradition by RichaRd Guzmán city editoR

the

rader Vic’s, which opened at L.A. Live this month, has some big shoes to fill. It’s not because the tiki-themed establishment is taking over a space left vacant by a beloved restaurant, or that it is in competition with any of the other dining options at the South Park development by the Anschutz Entertainment Group. Rather, Trader Vic’s biggest competition is Trader Vic’s itself, or at least the memory of the original, beloved Beverly Hills landmark that closed in 2007 after more than 50 years. With that backdrop, a lot is familiar in the new locale. The Chinese oven has been warmed up and the nearly legendary tropical drinks are being mixed. The biggest difference may be that the new, 340-seat restaurant is adjacent to Staples Center, the Nokia Theatre and the other attractions of L.A. Live. “We have the benefit of 600 events a year with thousands and thousands of people coming, so that makes it obviously completely different from the Beverly Hills location,” said John Valencia, president and CEO of the Valencia Group, which owns and operates the new iteration of Trader Vic’s. While Lakers games and concerts will draw customers, Valencia said he is also catering to locals. Thus, the restaurant will start offering a lunch menu in a few weeks, something most Trader Vic’s in other cities don’t have, he said. There are also plans for a Sunday brunch and live Polynesian music on the weekends. The food is familiar to Trader Vic’s fans, with traditional dishes like prime flat iron steak, seared Hawaiian tuna, duck and wasabi filet mignon. But reviving the feel of the Beverly Hills Trader Vic’s will be no small task, acknowledged Valencia, who was a customer at the old location. Valencia would not disclose the cost of the 8,000-square-foot restaurant that opened on May 2. Situated on Olympic Boulevard north of Nokia Plaza, it has three large tiki columns on the patio facing the street. They attract a lot of attention from passing cars and provide a noticeable contrast to the contemporary design of the building. Inside, many of the furnishings come from other Trader Vic’s locations. The bar top was acquired from Trader Vic’s in Japan and Chicago. “That combination makes the bar top about 40 years old, so a lot of drinks have already been had on these tops,” Valencia said. Trader Vic’s fans will recognize the tiki

mugs at the lounge. The tables also hail from other Trader Vic’s, as do the outrigger canoes attached to the ceiling, which is angled to enhance the feeling of being in a hut. Then there are the cocktails. The Mai Tai, which was invented by Trader Vic’s, is available, as are the Tiki Bowl, meant for two, and the Big Kahuna, a signature drink with a blend of rums and fruit juices. “We tried to incorporate the look and feel of the Beverly Hills location and of traditional Trader Vic’s to attract that customer from the Westside to Downtown, even though most of them, when I speak to them now, haven’t come here for years,” Valencia said. Old customers will also recognize the Chinese wood-burning oven, which is on display behind a glass wall in the dining room. Born From Hinky Dinks Trader Vic’s was founded in San Francisco in 1932 by Victor “Trader Vic” Bergeron. With $700, he set up a small restaurant called Hinky Dinks, which quickly became known for potent tropical drinks and Polynesian food with an American flair. It became one of the most popular restaurants in the Bay Area and by 1936 it was called Trader Vic’s. The franchise now boasts about 25 outposts around the world. A local Trader Vic’s opened in 1955. In its more than half-century run, the restaurant in the Beverly Hilton hotel became a popular island getaway in the middle of a metropolis. The restaurant closed in 2007 after plans for a new hotel put it out of business. A scaled-down Trader Vic’s Lounge still operates at the hotel, but for many, the feeling of the South Pacific and the cheesy island charm have floated away. “There are certain iconic restaurants here in Los Angeles and Trader Vic’s is one of them,” said local food expert Merrill Schindler, who is a contributing editor to the Zagat Los Angeles restaurant guide and hosts a weekly radio show on dining and restaurants on KABC 790 AM. “From generation to generation, what a cool place it was to drink these really big drinks that made you really drunk,” he said. “The place was nutty looking, the food was funny. It was something you didn’t ever want to go away and I’m really glad to know it’s coming back.” While it will not be easy to get Westsiders to trek through traffic for a drink or a meal Downtown, Schindler said the new Trader Vic’s, which he has yet to visit, may have the historic pull to woo old customers while also

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John Valencia, CEO of the Valencia Group, opened the Trader Vic’s at L.A. Live on May 2. He hopes to recapture the popularity of the restaurant that was a Beverly Hills landmark for more than 50 years.

attracting a new generation of regulars. “There are so many people who are nostalgic for it,” he said. “Generations keep discovering Trader Vic’s. I think people will want to go check it out.” That is what L.A. Live officials are banking on. “L.A. Live is pretty much content-driven right now until the movie theater and the hotel opens up,” said Lee Zeidman, general manager of the $2.5 billion sports and entertainment complex. “What we’re trying to activate are the people who live on the Westside or Pasadena or the Downtown community

to come to the restaurants when we don’t have anything going on in terms of a game or concert. I think Trader Vic’s will do that to the extent that they do have that following.” So far, that seems to be happening, Valencia said. He noted that crowds have been sizable, with an approximately 50-50 mix of old customers and people discovering the new Trader Vic’s. “We’re here, we’re open,” Valencia said. “We want to make sure people know Trader Vic’s is back, and it’s back in Downtown L.A.” Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

Around Town Continued from page 3 performance and study of music. The program funds scholarly projects focused on folk musician Guthrie, utilizing the holdings available at the Woody Guthrie Archives in New York City. Holter, who is also an adjunct history professor at USC, is working on a book titled Woody Guthrie in Los Angeles, 1937-1941, which explores an oft-overlooked period in Guthrie’s life and the formation of his music and politics.

Survey Says

ays before Los Angeles voters go to the polls to pick a new City Attorney, Los Angeles Downtown News readers have spoken — and it was not even close. In an online poll on ladowntownnews.com that

ended May 14, 65% of respondents picked attorney Carmen Trutanich, trouncing City Councilman Jack Weiss, who pulled 27%. Another 10% were undecided while 11% indicated they would not vote. Of course, the poll was not close to scientific (it was on the Internet, after all), and anyone, no matter how old and whether or not they were registered to vote, could participate. This week’s poll question concerns the Dodgers, and asks: “How should Manny Ramirez, who is serving a 50 game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance, be punished?” Answers range from no punishment to being thrown out of baseball. To vote, go to ladowntownnews.com and scroll down; the poll is on the front page on the left.

May 18, 2009

Downtown News 9

DowntownNews.com

Police Continued from page 1 The encounter typifies the relationship that senior lead officers, who serve as public liaisons for the department to communities citywide, are expected to have with members of the neighborhoods that they police. It is particularly important in Downtown Los Angeles, a growing urban sector with an increasing number of 24-hour residents. The program is one of the cornerstones of community-based policing: As the logic goes, small communities within larger districts need a go-to cop so they can ask questions, report suspicious activity or request assistance with a law enforcement issue. When it works, it goes both ways — as senior lead officers establish themselves as recognized faces and build trust in the community, they know who to talk to when looking for street-level intelligence. Finger on the Pulse Central Division, which covers most of Downtown, is carved into six mini-districts, from Chinatown to Skid Row to South Park. Each has two senior lead officers — one heads up a foot beat in their area, the other works primarily out of a patrol car. “I think they’re little chiefs in their area,” Central Area Capt. Blake Chow said. “They’re the individuals that are supposed to interface with the community and are supposed to know intimately what is going on in the area and work on developing solutions to those problems.” If senior lead officers, or SLOs, are “little chiefs” in the figurative sense, Deon Joseph is proof that they can have a commanding presence. The barrel-chested Joseph, who is the Skid Row SLO, seems like he’d be equally at home playing linebacker for USC as policing the streets of Central City East. Joseph, who has served as the senior lead in Skid Row for about three years, said the position requires a certain personality. One has to be able to relate to their community, or at least want to relate, he said. Officers not inclined to hand out their cell phone numbers to hundreds of residents and businesses, let alone answer calls on their days off, need not apply.

Joseph said that on a recent day off he received about 10 calls from community members. One was from a woman he knows from his Skid Row “ladies nights,” an education seminar he launched in November to teach women about domestic violence, sexual assault and self defense. Clearly distressed, the woman explained that she was being stalked.

‘They’re the individuals that are supposed to interface with the community and are supposed to know intimately what is going on in the area and work on developing solutions to those problems.’ —Capt. Blake Chow

Being off-duty, Joseph encouraged the woman to head to the station and file a report. She said no thanks, she would wait until he returns. “Sure enough when I get there tomorrow, I’m going to deal with it so she has a taste of justice at least from a patrol level,” he said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen at the [District Attorney] level, or the trial, but I know she can come to me.” Though Joseph’s focus is primarily on the poverty-stricken streets of Skid Row, he also interfaces with the business owners and galler-

ies along Main Street, a primary artery of the monthly Downtown Art Walk. On more than one occasion, gallery owner Bert Green said that merchants and Art Walk organizers have put their heads together with Joseph to solve problems related to the event, which draws more than a thousand people. “Having this relationship with somebody who is sort of a conduit to the police department in general is extremely valuable to us, because whenever we have a problem, we call and they come talk to us,” Green said. “They often come to us and express concerns and it allows us to make adjustments to our formula. It’s been a good back and forth.” Better Know a District A key responsibility for SLOs is learning the law enforcement issues that are unique to, or prevalent in, their district. For example, Fisher, the Fashion District SLO, has become something of an expert on illegal food vending, Chow said. Fisher noted that she also tiptoes along a fuzzy line between cracking down on unlicensed bacon-wrapped hot dog purveyors and relying on those vendors for information about gangs who are intimidating the cart owners, requiring them to “pay for protection.” “We’re working to try and explain to them that while we’re concerned about illegal vending, we’re more concerned that gang members are extorting money,” said Fisher, who patrols the area with her partner, foot beat SLO Randy McCain. “That is our bigger priority and if they come forward, we’re not going to put them in handcuffs because they sell fruit on the street.” When selecting officers to take on the SLO role, Chow said he looks not just for someone with good communication skills, but also a person who will go to bat for their district. “All the SLOs, I think you’ll find, are very connected with the communities that they work for, and when you start talking to them

what you’re going to find, what really sets them apart is they really care about what’s going on in their area,” Chow said. “They kind of take it to heart.” Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Know Your SLO

he LAPD’s Central Division covers most of Downtown Los Angeles. The division is divided into six parts, each of which has two Senior Lead Officers (one who patrols in a car, the other on foot). Below are their names and how to reach them. Chinatown Tim Nambu, (213) 793-0743 Ken Lew, (213) 793-0733 Fashion District/Jewelry District Marco Duarte, (213) 793-0741 Willie Carter, (213) 793-0729 Historic Core/Skid Row Lenny Davis, (626) 482-8661 Deon Joseph, (213) 793-0740 Arts District/Little Tokyo/Toy District/ Eastern Skid Row Karen Owens, (213) 944-1237 Steve Nichols, (213) 793-0742 Earl Wright, (213) 793-0732 South Park Mike Fernandez, (213) 793-0731 Fashion District/Street Vending Tracy Fisher, (213) 793-0734 Randy McCain, (213) 793-0739

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10 Downtown News

Haas Building Continued from page 1 his dream building, but he is under little pressure to quickly lease units despite the abysmal economy and ample competition. There are other ways the economics of the project don’t fit with what is considered traditional. Barnes has donated a 1,300-square-foot, second-floor space to the Jewish Community Center Chabad of Downtown L.A., the area’s first synagogue in 60 years. Rabbi Moshe Greenwald, who runs the synagogue, said the rent-free space is ideal. “The space is beautiful,” Greenwald said. “I think the Jews that live Downtown are… less traditional than your average Jewish community, so the space works for them. It became a match made in heaven.” Though Barnes spent five years converting the Hass Building, forgoing a contractor and haggling himself with suppliers and workers to keep costs down, the time and effort were worth it, he said. Even with nearby rental projects on the market, including the Chapman Flats at 756 S. Broadway and the Judson building at 424 S. Broadway, Barnes said he is not worried. “For me, this is actually the best time financially, because I don’t have construction costs anymore,” he said. “When you don’t owe money to the bank, you don’t worry.” Powered by Chicken Barnes emigrated from Israel to Los Angeles in 1973 and soon began purchasing residential and commercial buildings in Hollywood, West Hollywood and Downtown. Most of his Downtown projects before the Haas Building were low-income residential conversions, Barnes said, including the Yorkshire Hotel at 710 S. Broadway and the Portsmouth Hotel at 1308 S. Hill St., which he developed with the Community Redevelopment Agency and eventually sold. He currently owns two other properties in Downtown, both single-story buildings on Los Angeles Street occupied by garmentindustry tenants.

May 18, 2009

DowntownNews.com Barnes purchased the 12-story, 1915 Haas Building (formerly known as the Broadway Exchange building) in 1989. He acquired the edifice, along with another building on the southeast corner of Broadway and Seventh Street that has since been torn down to make way for a parking structure, for $7 million. At the time, Barnes said, he was focused on the Haas Building’s ground-floor retail opportunities and had no plans to activate the upper levels. “I figured the worth of the building by the retail, because everything upstairs was empty,” he said. “There was no use for it. Then, when lofts started making waves, I started to research it.” Revenue from Barnes’ other residential projects, plus income from several Carl’s Junior and Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises that he owns (including a KFC near the Haas Building on Broadway), funded the 68-unit conversion. The project was designed by the Santa Monica-based architect Lucas Rios Giordano, whose firm has worked on Downtown projects including the Santee Village complex in the Fashion District. Maintaining the Haas Building’s historic character was a priority. “The building was empty for many years, so we had to put a lot of work into it, but we kept some of the elements of the offices,” said Giordano. For example, the thick, white- and gray-swirled Carrera marble that once covered the walls and floors in the building’s hallways are now found in the units’ bathroom countertops and in the trim lining the hallways and doors. The splotchy, imperfect terrazzo tile floors add another historic touch. “Those were the original floors,” said Giordano. “We just patched them and let the patching be seen. We didn’t fight the character of the building.” The Light Stuff Of all the Haas Building’s quirky details, Barnes takes the most pride in its lighting schemes. In addition to standard overhead lights, the apartments feature lights over the kitchen countertops, above the windows and other places. “Lighting is my favorite,” Barnes said as he

Villaraigosa Continued from page 1 Angeles ballroom, it looked like he was feeling the pressure. The first tightrope is the $530 million deficit the city is facing in the upcoming fiscal year (expected to balloon to more than $1 billion the following year). Villaraigosa introduced his budget proposal last month and has since been taking his dog-and-pony show to forums across the city, though considering the potentially draconian cuts, the pony might have to be laid off (or at least downsized to a Shetland). The deficit is why you hear the phrase “shared sacrifice” — AnVil’s slogan for across-the-board cuts, complete with union givebacks — uttered so frequently that it seems like it was market tested before it was rolled out. The second tightrope walk is the 2010 gubernatorial race, which everyone and their Shetland pony believes Villaraigosa intends to enter shortly after he begins his second mayoral term in July. To have a chance at beating Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom in the Democratic primary, Villaraigosa first needs to resolve the local deficit in a manner that shows he has the financial skills to help an ailing California. However, he needs to work things out here in such a way that he does not alienate the union backers he had in his mayoral elections and will need to ascend to Sacramento. The simple way out is complicated by the first two tasks: the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department account for a large percentage of the budget, and chops there could help make up the deficit. In particular, serious money could be saved by postponing or rolling back the expansion of LAPD officers, and by last week some city officials, including a majority of the Council’s Budget and Finance Committee, were latching on to the idea. Of course, there is about as much chance of this getting Villaraigosa’s blessing as there is of Donald Trump

photo by Gary Leonard

Units in the Haas Building rent for $1,299-$2,600. The kitchen appliances were made in Israel.

proudly demonstrated different units’ lighting configurations. “Every bedroom has maybe four or five switches. It’s something that most people don’t notice, but I love lighting.” The units, which range from 575-1,200 square feet and rent for $1,299-$2,600, boast other distinguishing features, including walkin closets in even the smallest apartments, exposed brick walls, individual air conditioners and state-of-the-art, stainless steel kitchen appliances. The kitchen equipment testifies to Barnes’ knack for balancing thrift and luxury. All of the appliances were custom-made in Israel and shipped here, he said, because, “they’re good quality, they gave me a good deal and I wanted to give them work.” Then there is the penthouse, which when not being used by Barnes will be marketed for events under the moniker Loft Seven. It features an 8,000-square-foot layout with a vast living area, three bedrooms and a full catering kitchen. Marble stairs and a private elevator lead to an 8,000-square-foot rooftop with another kitchen. There is also an enclosed Jacuzzi — it seats 20. Touch panel screens control the apartment’s strategically placed LED bulbs, allowing for literally thousands of lighting combinations in all colors. The panels also control heat and air-conditioning, and can lower and raise the shades over the long row of south-facing windows on the first

being named People magazine’s next Sexiest Man Alive. Villaraigosa has spent about 29% of his first term detailing his desire to get the LAPD to 10,000 officers, and doesn’t want to backtrack when he is so close to the goal — he expects to hit the number in August. If he gets there and shortly after that announces a run for governor, well, won’t that be a coincidence? Thus, instead of pondering a cut to cops, Villaraigosa is going the law-and-order route. No wonder he appeared at a press event last Monday to rah-rah the arsenal acquired in a cash-for-guns event. Even though experts are skeptical that these firearms buybacks actually reduce gun violence, it sure sends a tough-on-crime message when Villaraigosa and others, including aspiring City Attorney Jack Weiss, stand in front of the cameras with the weapons laid out behind them. Union Dues With huge cuts looming, is Villaraigosa feeling the heat? At a luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel last Tuesday, it sure looked like it. Villaraigosa bounded into the May 12 event, organized by Town Hall Los Angeles, happily glad-handing like he always does. He posed for photos, man-hugged a few business bigwigs in that half-second, half-embrace way, and chatted up several tables of high school and college students. But when he took to the podium to discuss the budget, his tone darkened and his smile disappeared. About 20 minutes into the talk he revealed that earlier in the morning he had asked the City Council to declare a fiscal emergency, and that the 400 layoffs he had been planning to start with would instead be ratcheted up to 1,000, with thousands more following in the coming months. “I have very few options here,” Villaraigosa said. The talk had numerous references to the 800,000-pound gorilla in this crisis — the unions. While it took a village to get the city into the stew, the most proffered path to balancing the budget is persuading labor leaders to alter the contracts that they and the city signed. During the talk

level, which provide a view of the turquoise façade of the nearby Eastern Columbia Building. There has been some concern from local stakeholders about the types of events Loft Seven will attract. “There has not been a presentation to the community about what kinds of events will be there, and we have to some degree a concern,” said Russell Brown, executive director of the Historic Downtown Business Improvement District. While the event schedule for Loft Seven is unknown, the Historic Downtown BID plans to hold a meeting there this week, and Brown said he expects to learn more about the project. Barnes said he envisions the space as a community amenity, and in the future hopes to host events for the 2-year-old Downtown Fashion Week there. As for other plans, Barnes said he hopes to bring a market and coffee shop to the building’s ground floor. Meanwhile, units are slowly filling, with 15 leased so far. Barnes said he always planned the project as a rental building and does not expect to convert it to condominiums, even after the housing market recovers. He also intends to hold onto it for the long-term. “I decided I’ll leave it for my grandkids,” he said. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

Villaraigosa detailed some of the items on what he labeled his “menu of options,” such as that if city staffers give up a year of pay raises, 1,300 jobs could be saved, that reforming the overtime system could maintain 700 jobs, etc. While there were warnings to the unions about the consequences of no concessions, Villaraigosa also kinda tried to sweet talk them, framing his address with a litany of past labor greats. He kicked off his talk by quoting former American Federation of Labor leader Samuel Gompers, quipping, “An injury to one is an injury to all.” He went on to name check Dolores Huerta and Cesar Chavez and, holy pun, Batman, he implied that the way out of this mess is for us to echo the “American experiment” and “form that more perfect union.” Yet as Villaraigosa spoke, it seemed like his traditional grin had been reclaimed by the Cheshire Cat. Suddenly Teflon Tony, the mayor who has withstood critiques for extensive traveling, few major accomplishments and an extramarital affair, was down in the dumps. His dour expression and even the way he carried himself made it appear as if he got more than he bargained for when taking over L.A., that he was suddenly in over his head. The sour outlook continued in the moments after the Town Hall talk, when he was asked about offering early retirement to city workers instead of layoffs, something labor leaders are pushing and one of the ideas he embraced early on. “The fact of the matter is we don’t believe that that proposal is fiscally sustainable to the city,” he said, looking as bummed as Dodgers owner Frank McCourt must have been when he realized that the $25 million he had given Manny Ramirez was probably going to the steroids acquisition fund. “And while [I] certainly understand why folks would want an early retirement package as proposed, it just can’t work for us right now.” After a few more comments he was out of the hotel and into his SUV, never even cracking a smile. Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnenws.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

May 18, 2009

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 11

Downtown developmenT

The Factory Place Arts Complex on Sixth Street is one of the more than 100 projects under way in Downtown.

Running Hot and Cold

NEW PROJECTS

MAYFAIR HOTEL

The Latest Information on 112 Downtown Projects by Richard Guzmán, Jon Regardie, Anna Scott and Ryan Vaillancourt here is no single or simple way to describe the Downtown Los Angeles development scene right now. Anyone who lauds the projects coming online could be accused of boosterism during a global recession. Those who mention only the stalled developments could be labeled Downtown bashers for ignoring all the activity occurring in the community. In fact, both sides have an element of truth. In the last year, Downtown has seen some high-profile projects stall, and the fate of efforts like the Grand Avenue plan and the Financial District’s Park Fifth remain unknown. At the same time, housing projects like the Rowan Lofts are opening, business developments such as the Los Angeles Fashion Center are filling up and excitement is beginning to build for the summer arrival of the $899 million Gold Line Eastside Extension. What is perhaps most interesting about the Downtown scene is that, despite the economic woes, some developers are planning for the future. In the past three months word has spread of a $1 billion, two-tower plan to replace the Wilshire Grand hotel, while officials with MOCA are looking toward an expansion of its Little Tokyo facility. What becomes clear is that even if projects are not moving forward now, some are planning for the time when money flows again. In the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News gives the latest information on 112 Downtown projects. Each entry includes a grid reference to a full-color map,

photo by Gary Leonard

which appears on page 19. (Some projects are beyond the map’s boundary and are designated by NA.)

379 parking spaces. Designed by well-known architect Daniel Libeskind, the tower is expected to break ground in 2010, said project spokeswoman Veronica Becerra. The building would rise less than half a mile south of the Convention Center on what are currently two parking lots at 1340-1360 S. Figueroa St. and 1355-1365 S. Flower St. California Human Technologies is led by two South Korean investors, Becerra said. B 9

San Diego-based Amerland Group is seeking $25 million in state bonds to purchase a City West hotel from the investment group Mayfair LLC. Amerland hopes to transform the property at 1256 W. Seventh St. into a 300-unit affordable housing project. There is no timeline yet. NA

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

318 W. NINTH ST. Lance Ordin, who through LJO Properties Inc. owns the 1920s-era building at 318 W. Ninth St., has begun a $250,000 exterior renovation of the property. Ordin started the work, which is being undertaken by the firm J.P. Rodriguez Inc., last month, and expects it to last about three more months. The 12-story Historic Core building, which has already received interior renovations and which is fully occupied by garment manufacturing businesses, will be cleaned, painted and sealed, and a flagpole will be added. C 8

BRISTOL HOTEL Developer Izek Shomof plans to convert a vacant former residential hotel at 423 W. Eighth St. into an affordable housing complex by the end of the year. Shomof said he will seek to enroll the property, which will house 103 efficiency units, in the Section 8 federal rent subsidy program. The ground floor would get a cafe and a D-Town Burger Bar (the first D-Town Burger Bar opened last year at the Hayward Hotel on Spring Street, which Shomof also owns). Other plans in-

MEGATOYS RESIDENCES

clude façade improvements and potentially adding kitchenettes to the units. The project will be privately funded, though Shomof has not disclosed the budget. Shomof purchased the 1906 edifice from prior owner Adolfo Suaya for $2.5 million in March. C7

LIBESKIND TOWER On April 9 the City Planning Commission approved plans for a 43-story tower from developer California Human Technologies, LLC. The development would include a 35-story tower over an eight-level podium and two subterranean levels. It would house 273 residential units, 8,496 square feet of restaurant space, a 9,566-square-foot spa and

Plans to build a six-story residential and commercial building at 905-919 E. Second St., from Megatoys owner Charlie Woo, will likely go before the Planning Department in late May, said Veronica Becerra, a project representative. A previous hearing date had been scheduled for March 27. Although still in the early stage, Becerra said construction could start in the beginning of 2010. Initial plans call for 320 residential units and about 15,500 square feet of ground-floor retail and commercial space on a 2.9-acre site that currently houses the Megatoys warehouse and a parking lot. It is still being determined if the Megatoys structure would be razed and rebuilt. E5

MOCA EXPANSION Plans to build a three-story, 90,000-squarefoot building on a parking lot adjacent to continued on next page

12 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Development

Projects Continued from page 11 MOCA’s Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo are in the early stage and are going through the city Planning Department, said Lyn Winter, a spokeswoman for the museum. An April 14 hearing with the Zoning Administrator was continued while the city reviews information on the project. A new hearing may not take place for months, Winter said. The project would create 6,000 square feet of educational program space, 18,000 square feet of exhibition/storage space (where some items would be on display) and 66,000 square feet of pure storage space. There is no timeline yet for construction or completion. D 4

SIXTH STREET VIADUCT REPLACEMENT Five design options are being considered for the replacement of the ailing, 77-yearold Sixth Street Viaduct, which spans the Los Angeles River between Downtown and Boyle Heights. The possibilities include an exact replica, two traditional arched bridges and two modern-style bridges. One of the modern designs, a cable-stayed option, was previously recommended by city staff. The

recommendation was retracted after public opposition, said city engineer and bridge improvement program manager John Koo. A final Environmental Impact Report on the replacement options is expected by December, and construction could begin in early 2012. The effort is expected to cost at least $345 million. NA

RESIDENTIAL FOR SALE

655 HOPE The 17-story adaptive reuse condominium project has pushed back its target opening date again, this time from late April to July 1, said Larry Carr, project manager for developer SECK Group, LLC. The project has run into a number of fire code-related delays, which have also pushed the cost from $15 million to about $17 million, Carr said. Construction is mostly complete. The developer is installing new fire safety equipment, Carr said. The Financial District project will offer 11 levels of residential space, with 80 lofts from 600-1,268 square feet. Prices, originally set at $395,000-$999,000, have been lowered to $349,000-$920,000. Sales at the building at Seventh and Hope streets will not begin until a certificate of occupancy is obtained. The structure also has three floors of indoor parking, a gym and a roof deck with a wet bar. The restaurant Qdoba is on the

Due to the slowdown in the economy, groundbreaking for the conversion of a fourstory office building in Chinatown into condominiums has been pushed back to early 2010, said Jim Osterling, president of developer Bridge Realty Advisors. The $22 million project would transform the BC Plaza building into a 53-unit complex. Osterling expects condos to sell for $300,000-$600,000. The building would have 13,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space for multiple tenants. Once the conversion begins, construction is expected to last six to nine months. C3

BARN LOFTS photo by Gary Leonard

The Wilshire Grand hotel at 930 Wilshire Blvd. will be demolished to make way for a $1 billion residential, office and hotel project, hotel owner Korean Air announced last month. Preliminary designs by architect David Martin of AC Martin Partners call for a 40-story tower housing approximately 700 four- or five-star hotel rooms and 100 residences, plus a 60-story office tower. Features would include environmentally friendly elements designed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification standards, an 18,000-square-foot landscaped plaza at Seventh and Figueroa streets, groundfloor retail and 1,700 underground parking spaces. The 1.7 million-square-foot development would rise on a full city block bounded by Figueroa, Francisco and Seventh streets and Wilshire Boulevard. Downtownbased Thomas Properties Group will develop the project, which has not been entitled yet and still must go through the city approval process. Financing is not in place yet. Thomas Properties Chairman and CEO Jim Thomas said groundbreaking is expected by 2011, and construction would take up to three years. Depending on financing, the project could rise in multiple phases. B 7

711 N. BROADWAY

units. The project’s residences were designed by Nakada & Associates. Organic eatery Urth Caffe opened a location and new headquarters at Barker Block last year. At barkerblock. com. F6

808 S. OLIVE ST. There has been no movement on a proposed mixed-use, residential/hotel project from New York-based developer the Moinian Group, one of the country’s largest privately held real estate companies. The property currently holds a 900-space parking lot and will remain as such until the economy improves, said the Moinian Group’s Oskar Brecher. C7

1133 S. HOPE ST. Vancouver-based Amacon Group is still going through the entitlement process for a ground-up residential high-rise, said Richard Wittstock, the company’s vice president of development. There is not a solid timeline on the project and the developer is still working to obtain permits. Plans call for a 29-story, 159-unit building to rise on a current South Park parking lot across from the South Group’s Elleven high rise. The development, which would take two years to build, would include 250 parking spaces, 6,700 square feet of retail and an outdoor pool. B 9

ALAMEDA AND FOURTH CONDOS Construction on the $30 million adaptive reuse project in the Arts District has been pushed back at least a month, to June or later, due to the economy, said Peklar Pilavjian of developer Alameda and Fourth, LLC. Plans call for the conversion of the five-story, 1923 structure that was once home to the Bekins storage company into 53 artist-in-residence lofts. Units would range from 650-2,400 square feet. Pilavjian said he also plans to build a new residential structure on the side of the lot fronting Alameda Street, though no timeline has been announced for that phase. E5

AMP LOFTS

Construction continues on the conversion of the former Spreckels Brothers sugar beet warehouse at 940 E. Second St. into a 58,000-square-foot residential complex. The development is expected to open in July, said developer Mark Borman of Barn Lofts LLP. Prices have not yet been set for the 38 market-rate, three-story, loft-style townhouses, ranging from 1,300-2,600 square feet. All units contain two-and-a-half bathrooms, two bedrooms and roof decks, and the project holds 69 parking spaces. Borman has not revealed the project’s budget. F5

CITY HOUSE AND THE OLYMPIC Olympic on Grand, LLC, a partnership of investors that includes developer the Titan Organization, is still searching for financing for a proposed 800,000-square-foot residential and hotel project in South Park. Though the project has been repeatedly delayed, Gary Warfel, a partner in the development group, said the team is looking for funding and that the project has not been shelved. Plans call for a 60-story structure, the City House, and the 49-floor Olympic. Residences would start at 1,200 square feet and $700,000. The development at Grand Avenue and Olympic Boulevard would cost about $450 million, Warfel said. Once expected to break ground in early 2008, the project currently has no timeline. At titanorganization.com. C8

CONCERTO photo by Gary Leonard

rendering by AC Martin Partners

WILSHIRE GRAND/ KOREAN AIR TOWERS

ground level and there is another restaurant space with a full liquor license currently for lease. At 655hope.com. B7

An adaptive reuse project at 695 S. Santa Fe Ave. is still on hold, said developer David Seewack, as he and partner Scott Spiwak wait to take their proposal to the Community Redevelopment Agency board for approval. The developers have not disclosed any budget or timeline information for the Arts District project. They hope to transform the current home of American Moving Parts, a truck part supply company owned by the developers, into 182 live-work lofts and 3,000 square feet of retail. NA

BARKER BLOCK The third building in this $75 million Arts District complex opened this month at 530 S. Hewitt St., bringing 116 condominiums onto the market. Lofts range from 7502,400 square feet and prices start in the high $200,000s. Developer the Kor Group anticipates that the Italian restaurant and market Primo Cucina will open as part of the project’s retail portion this spring. There is no timeline for two additional residential buildings at 549 Molino St., which will house 55

As construction on Astani Enterprises’ Concerto continues, the developer has begun sales for the 348 condominiums in two buildings. The first phase of the project includes a mid-rise “loft” structure at Ninth and Flower streets with occupancy slated for June, and a 30-story tower at Figueroa and Ninth streets, which is set to open this fall, said Sonny Astani, the company’s chairman. The structures will hold studio, onesee Projects, page 14

May 18, 2009

Development

Downtown News 13

14 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Development

Continued from page 12 bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom units with prices from $295,000 to $3.5 million for penthouses. There remains no timeline for the second phase, expected to bring another 281 market-rate condominiums in a second 30-story tower. That phase is approved and entitled, but Astani said it will not break ground until the market improves. The entire project includes 27,500 square feet of retail space, 1,000 subterranean parking spots and a pedestrian paseo connecting Figueroa and Flower streets. The buildings will wrap around a courtyard with a one-acre park. A sales and design center is at 900 S. Figueroa St. At concertodowntown.com. B8

EIGHTH AND GRAND Developer Astani Enterprises has modified plans for a proposed multi-phase, mixed-used development at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue. Company Chairman Sonny Astani had received entitlements for a three-tower condominium project that would have created 875 units in 15-, 21- and 38-story towers, along with 36,000 square feet of retail on what is now a surface parking lot. However, he has submitted a request to the Planning Department to modify the plans, and to create instead a 14-story residential tower, a two-story commercial building and a 53-story residential tower, said Jae Kim of the city Planning Department. A pedestrian paseo would connect Grand Avenue and Olive Street. Astani stressed that the project has no timeline, and it will likely not pick up steam until the economy improves. At astanienterprises.com. C7

photo by Gary Leonard

EL DORADO

PARK FIFTH There has been no progress on a proposed $1.3 billion project just north of Pershing Square, as developer David Houk of the Houk Development Company continues to seek new capital partners in the project, he said. The fully entitled project would rise on a current parking lot at Olive and Fifth streets; a paint-splattered sign touting the effort is currently on the site. The development would include a 76-story tower, which would be the tallest residential building west of Chicago, and a 44-story tower joined by a third, 15-story residential building. The project would create 790 condominiums and a 212room hotel, plus retail and restaurant space. C 6

SHY BARRY TOWER II Developer Barry Shy plans to begin construction on a 39-story, 700-unit condominium tower at 601 S. Main St. in 2010, he said. In the meantime, he plans to build a five-story parking structure on the site, which will eventually sit beside the residential building. Groundbreaking on the garage is expected in six months, said Shy, and construction will take approximately one year. D7

SOUTH FIGUEROA Groundbreaking on two 34-story condominium towers at 624 W. 12th St. and 1200 S. Figueroa St. is expected to take place in early 2010, said Rhonda Slovak, a representative of developer South Group. She said the developer is currently focusing on selling units in another, already-open South Group project, Evo. The Portland-based developer, which created a trio of high-rises in South Park, purchased the property for $23.5 million. The towers are being designed by GBD Architects and TVA Architects Inc. Each will contain 324 condominiums with hardwood floors, decks and balconies. The South Group still has plans for a third tower at 1241 S. Flower St. At exploresouthgroup.com. B 9

ZEN

Developer Downtown Properties plans to complete its renovation of a former hotel at 416 S. Spring St. in the fourth quarter, said Bill Stevenson, a partner with the company. Construction is expected to be substantially complete by the end of August, and fire department inspections are slated to begin in June and take four months, Stevenson said. The 1913, 12-story building is being transformed into 65 units that will range from 850-1,700 square feet. Prices will start in the $400,000s. Each condominium will feature at least one balcony. Residences include Italian kitchens and bathroom cabinets, while penthouses will have private gardens. Downtown Properties is in the process of selling a parking lot immediately south of the project to the city; it is slated to become a public park. At eldoradolofts.com. D6

HEWITT FIRST

Although a groundbreaking has been pushed back from 2009 to 2011, project spokeswoman Beverly Zeigler said developer Kawada Company of America continues to move forward on the 50-story Zen condominium tower slated for Third and Hill streets. Part of the delay has been so the developer can conduct a full environmental impact report. If built, the skyscraper would be taller than any current residential building in Downtown. Designs by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill call for a tower atop a 10-story parking podium with 302 lofts; 66 of them would be reserved for workforce housing. Residences would range from 502-2,420 square feet and there would be about 10,000 square feet of retail or restaurant space. Construction would take four years. C 5

RESIDENTIAL FOR RENT

308 E. NINTH ST. The transformation of a five-story, 73,000-square-foot former warehouse should be complete and open by the third quarter of this year, said architect David Gray. The warehouse is being converted into 38 lofts by developer South Park Group. The building will feature a ground floor Starbucks and eight two-level penthouse units. No information about project cost or rental rates has been released. D8

Meruelo Maddux Properties filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March, two weeks after the Downtown landowner announced that it was in default of $226 million in loans. The company has also ceased all major development activity, except for its under-construction apartment project 717 Ninth in South Park, which is being financed by an $84 million loan. The 35-story tower, which will be the largest purely residential property in Downtown when it opens, is on schedule to debut in September, Meruelo Maddux spokesman Michael Bustamante said. Workers are currently installing finishes — cabinets, counter-tops and other elements — inside the units, Bustamante said. At meruelomaddux.com. B 8

1027 WILSHIRE Plans have changed for the project at 1027 Wilshire Blvd. in City West, said Hamid Behdad of the Central City Development Group, which is partnering with the Amidi Real Estate Group on the effort. A 52-story tower with 402 condominiums is no longer on the table, and the developers instead are pursuing plans to create a low-rise rental project with 356 units. The development would include 5,000 square feet of retail and 5,000 square feet of office space. No timeline has been announced, though Behdad said he expects to have entitlements by the end of the year. A7

2121 LOFTS According to the most recent information available, construction on the second phase of an adaptive reuse project at 2121 E. Seventh Place has been stalled since last year, and developer Concerto Development has not announced an opening date for the completed first phase, which contains 19 townhouses. Phase two is expected to house 59 live-work lofts in two buildings. Killefer Flammang designed the 125,000-squarefoot project, and units range from 750-2,100 square feet. NA

BROCKMAN BUILDING Developer West Millennium filed for bankruptcy on the $35 million adaptive reuse project at 530 W. Seventh St. in March, after Countrywide Bank initiated foreclosure proceedings on the property. On May 8, the parent company also filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Meanwhile, the 12-story building’s 80 apartments sit empty. Units range from 850-2,280 square feet and feature original exposed brick walls, a fitness center, hot- and cold-water outdoor spas, a lounge, a sun deck and individual storage units. The Italian restaurant and grocer Bottega Louie opened on the ground floor in April. C7

DA VINCI G.H. Palmer Associates, the developer known for an array of Italian villa-inspired apartment projects, is in the planning stage for the Da Vinci, a 670-unit complex that would rise at Fremont and Temple streets. Palmer bought the property in 2004 for about $8.2 million. It consists of 31 lots totaling about 202,000 square feet. The 508,000-square-foot effort would put six floors of housing above one level of subterranean parking. It would include two pools, one of which would be on the roof, and a full-size basketball court. The Da Vinci site includes a parcel on Temple Street that abuts the nightclub Vertigo’s. Palmer has said he plans to build around the one-story club, but that he would consider purchasing the property if it becomes available. The project is currently making its way through the entitlement process and is awaiting a date to go before the Planning Commission. B 4

FACTORY PLACE ARTS COMPLEX photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

pany’s Rita Simbulan. The South Park project is planned for a parcel near the company’s Packard Lofts. Designs by Killefer Flammang Architects call for a 25-story tower with 250 loftstyle condominiums, two levels of underground parking with 390 spaces and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail with day care facilities. At veniceinvestments.com. B 8

717 NINTH

Construction is nearly finished and move-ins could begin by June, said Salar Royaei, a spokesman for Mika Realty Group, the developer of the 33-unit project. Prices have yet to be finalized for the adaptive reuse effort at 120-130 Hewitt St. in the Arts District. The project will offer residences in two buildings, one erected in 1936, the other in 1948; a central entrance will feature a water fountain powered by solar energy. Units will range from 800-2,500 square feet and will have 18-26 foot cathedral ceilings and stainless steel kitchens. At hewittfirst.com. E5

L.A. LOFTS A proposed 432,000-square-foot project at 1028 S. Hope St. from Venice Investments remains on hold due to the economy as the developer continues to look for financing, said the com-

photo by Gary Leonard

Move-ins at the 1291-1333 E. Sixth St. project are expected to begin in July, said Anthony Godard, building manger and see Projects, page 16

May 18, 2009

Downtown News 15

Development

SAVE WATER, SAVE MONEY. MANDATORY WATER CONSERVATION STARTS JUNE 1ST Reduce Your Water Use

Know the Law

Southern Californiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current water shortage has created the need for serious conservation now. Beginning June 1, LADWP will apply shortage year water rates to customers as a means of encouraging conservation. Under shortage year rates, the amount of water allotted to single family residential customers at the lowest price - called Tier 1 - will be reduced by 15%. Commercial, apartment and condo customers also must reduce their water use but are subject to a different conservation formula. Customers who stay within the new allotment will not be affected while customers who exceed their Tier 1 allotment will pay more for each gallon they use over their limit.

On June 1 watering with sprinklers will be restricted to Mondays and Thursdays - before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. - only. Violators are subject to fines. The City has other prohibited uses of water which are also being enforced. Are you obeying the law?

To learn more visit www.ladwp.com or call 1-800-DIAL DWP. Start conserving water now.

16 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Development

Projects

photo by Gary Leonard

SAKURA CROSSING

Continued from page 14 property agent for the project by developers Howard and Matt Klein. The row of brick-clad warehouses has been transformed into 63 live-work units and two retail spaces, which have not been leased yet, Godard said. Apartments in the Arts District effort range from 600-1,800 square feet and will rent for $1,595-$5,000. The project includes multiple courtyards, a pool, fire pits, event space and a dog park. Seattle-based Tony Bell Architecture handled the designs. Formerly known as the Sixth Street Lofts, Factory Place is the second part of a three-phase development. The first was an 80-unit live-work complex at 1308 Factory Place built in the early 1980s. The third phase calls for 45 live-work residences in a three-story structure adjacent to the 1308 Factory Place building; entitlements for that phase have been secured, but permits have not been attained. Construction will likely begin by early 2010. At factoryplacelofts.com. F6

GATEWAYS APARTMENTS SRO Housing Corp. plans to start sending out funding applications in the fall for a proposed 100 to 120-unit affordable housing project on a 22,000-square-foot vacant lot at Fifth and San Pedro streets, said Joseph Corcoran, the nonprofit developer’s director of planning and housing development. Plans are in the early stage, though they hope to begin construction by winter 2010. At srohousing.org. E 6

HOLLAND PARTNERS PROJECT A 360-unit project in City West is still in the entitlement process. The building, from developer the Holland Partners Group, would rise on what is currently a three-acre parking lot bounded by Wilshire Boulevard, Bixel Street, Sixth Street and Lucas Avenue. The site was previously owned by the nearby Good Samaritan Hospital. Preliminary designs were completed by David Gray Architects, and the Westside-based Nadel Architects will create the final design documents. A 7

A luxury apartment complex from developer the Related Cos. will open in approximately two months, said Related of California President Bill Witte. The six-story building at Second and San Pedro streets, designed by Thomas P. Cox Architects, contains 230 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and most units will rent for $1,600 to $3,200. The project also contains a 20% affordable component. It features hardwood floors, a pool, a landscaped podium deck, a rooftop screening room with an adjacent deck, a fitness center and business lounge. At sakuracrossing.com. D5

photo by Gary Leonard

JAMES M. WOOD APARTMENTS podium with 13,000 square feet of commercial space and a 477-car garage. At theorsini.com. B 3 photo by Gary Leonard

NEW CARVER APARTMENTS

PIERO II After halting excavation on the 335-apartment complex in fall 2008, construction was re-initiated in February, said Geoff Palmer, owner of developer G.H. Palmer Associates. Palmer has been at odds with the city over a requirement in the Central City West Specific Plan that mandates developers include some affordable housing. Palmer won a judgment enabling him to proceed without affordable units on the Piero II (the city is pursuing an appeal). Situated between Bixel and St. Paul streets in City West, the project follows the same Italian villa-inspired design as Palmer’s other Downtown projects. Piero II is slated to include a pedestrian bridge over St. Paul Street that would connect a rooftop swimming pool deck to the existing Piero I complex. The $70 million development is tentatively due for completion in spring 2011. A7

RENATO APARTMENTS Nonprofit developer SRO Housing Corp. is on track to complete the 53-unit project for chronically homeless tenants this month; the development would be 100% occupied by July 1, said Joseph Corcoran, the company’s director of planning and housing development. The $14.5 million effort at 506 S. San Julian St. in Skid Row will include 31 units for tenants with severe mental illness. The project is funded in part with $6.1 million from the city’s Permanent Supportive Housing program, Corcoran said. At srohousing.org. D6

MATSU Plans to build a six-story apartment complex on the southwest corner of Los Angeles and Second streets by developer AvalonBay Communities have been pushed back at least until the end of 2009, said Phil Silver, a project representative. He said the company’s policy at this time is not to build anything in the first half of the year. There is no timeline yet on when the project would continue. The 1.7-acre development in Little Tokyo would include a 1,700-square-foot fitness center and 8,500 square feet of retail space. The developer has said the project would be designed to condominium specifications, though it would open as rentals. D5

A permanent supportive housing project from developer Skid Row Housing Trust is expected to be finished in September, a couple of months later than the previously scheduled completion date of July, said SRHT Director of Special Projects Molly Rysman. The colorful, circular building at 325 W. 17th St., designed by Michael Maltzan, will house 95 efficiency units for low-income, disabled adults. There will also be drug treatment, mental health and other services on site. The project’s total budget is $35 million, which includes the $18 million construction cost plus architectural fees and other expenses. C 10

ORSINI III Developer G.H. Palmer Associates continues construction on a $43 million, 210-apartment complex at Figueroa Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue. The five-story, City West project remains on schedule for an August 2010 opening, company owner Geoff Palmer said. Situated across the street from Palmer’s existing Orsini I and Orsini II projects, Orsini III will feature studio, one- and two-bedroom units, a three-level

Nonprofit developer Single Room Occupancy Housing Corp. broke ground on the Renato Apartments, a 96-unit complex for the chronically homeless, in November. The Renato will replace the 38-unit Leo Hotel at 531 S. San Julian St., which was demolished, said Joseph Corcoran, the company’s director of planning and housing development. Demolition was completed in April and crews are now doing excavation and shoring work. Corcoran said the construction of the new structure should begin by July. The $25 million project is expected to open in April 2010. Fifty-eight units will be reserved for chronically homeless, mentally ill people. All the apartments will measure about 350 square feet, and will include kitchenettes and private bathrooms and come fully furnished. The project is funded by $9.5 million from the city’s permanent supportive housing program, $2 million from the City of Industry’s affordable housing program, $14.5 million in federal low-income housing tax credits and $1.5 million from the Community Redevelopment Agency. At srohousing.org. D6

ROSSLYN LOFTS Developer the Amerland Group is approximately 80% finished converting the former Frontier Hotel at 111 W. Fifth St. into a mixed-income apartment project, said company CEO Jules Arthur. The 259 units on the property’s third through ninth floors range from 300-325 square feet and are geared

May 18, 2009

Downtown News 17

toward low- to moderate-income tenants, with rents ranging from $500-$796. The 38 market-rate units on floors 10-12 are 600-1,300 square feet and rents start at $995. Construction on the market-rate portion of the property is complete. Building features include an on-site laundry facility, subterranean parking, concrete floors and exposed brick walls. At rosslynlofts.net. D 6

be released in time for the project to begin construction by Aug. 1, Corcoran said. At srohousing.org. D6

SB TOWER

The company behind the proposed 262-unit, $165 million mixed-use project filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in March. Developer Larry Bond of Chinatown Blossom Plaza, LLC said that the filing was necessary to halt Morgan Stanley Real Estate and its Prime Property Fund, the first mortgage lender on the project, from foreclosing on and killing the development. Bond is looking for new equity partners to move forward. Blossom Plaza would include two residential towers designed by Nakada & Associates, 43,000 square feet of retail space and a 372-car garage, with about half of the spaces available to the public. Blossom Plaza is planned for the site of the former Little Joe’s restaurant, at 900 N. Broadway in Chinatown, and would connect the Chinatown Metro Gold Line station and Broadway. The development would offer 20% affordable housing and include a 17,500-square-foot plaza for cultural events. The city is contributing $41 million to the effort. C 2

A 19-story, adaptive reuse project at 600 S. Spring St. is approximately five months from completion, said developer Barry Shy. The building’s 250 apartments range from 7001,500 square feet and will rent for $1,200-$2,000. The property will offer a rooftop pool and spa, a recreation room, a gym and 8,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. At laloftrental.com. D 7

THE FORD Developer SRO Housing Corp. is still working to secure public funds to transform the Ford Hotel at 1000 E. Seventh St., which it purchased in February 2008, into 151 studio apartments. The hotel has 295 units and is occupied by 132 people, but the building is dilapidated and in need of redevelopment, said Joseph Corcoran, SRO Housing’s director of planning and housing development. The project would include 90 units for chronically homeless individuals, Corcoran said. The remaining apartments would be for low-income residents earning up to 50% of the Area Median Income (which is approximately $60,000). The company hopes to break ground in March 2010. At srohousing.org. E 7

WINSTON/PANAMA APARTMENTS SRO Housing Corp. is looking to convert the rear portion of the 87 emergency shelter units at the Panama Hotel into 41 new efficiency apartments for permanent housing. The project at 403 E. Fifth St. has been on hold, however, because it is slated to use money from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s homelessness initiative: Due to the state budget crisis, those funds have been frozen, said Joseph Corcoran, SRO Housing’s director of planning and housing development. The nonprofit developer expects the money to

photo by Gary Leonard

Development

Mixed Use

BLOSSOM PLAZA

CHINATOWN GATEWAY Officials with developer Equity Residential would offer no new information on the proposed 321,000-square-foot development at Broadway and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue. But according to officials with the Community Redevelopment Agency, the slow economy has put the project on hold while more financing is being lined up. If it proceeds, the development would create a six-story building with 280 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, and 18,000 square feet of retail. The project would include 581 parking spaces as well as 30,000 square feet of recreational outdoor space, a pool and a landscaped plaza. Thomas P. Cox Architects is handling the designs. C 3

HERALD EXAMINER BUILDING A proposed mixed-use project in the former home of the Herald Examiner newspaper at 11th Street and Broadway

remains on hold due to the financial market, said Marty Cepkauskas, director of real estate for property owner the Hearst Corp. With hopes that the economy will recover soon, however, Hearst will begin searching for a development partner or a tenant to start the project. Plans for the effort, where entitlements have already been secured, include the conversion of the Julia Morgan-designed Broadway building into 70,000 square feet of commercial office/retail space. The project would also include two new buildings: a 24-story, 268unit residential tower on the site of the former press building on Hill Street, and a 37-story, 319-unit high-rise at 120 W. 12th St. Hearst continues to work with architect Brenda Levin on the restoration of the Herald Examiner building as part of the project. C9 continued on next page

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18 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Development

Projects

UNIVERSITY GATEWAY photo by Gary Leonard

Continued from page 17

L.A. CENTRAL New York-based developer the Moinian Group is still seeking a $700 million-plus construction loan for a $1 billion development, said the company’s Oskar Brecher. The fully entitled project at 11th and Figueroa streets, adjacent to L.A. Live, would include 53- and 37-story towers housing 860 marketrate studio, one- and two- bedroom condominiums averaging 1,000 square feet. Moinian would also fund 172 off-site, low-income residences. The project would feature 250,000 square feet of retail space, a grocery store, restaurants and a boutique hotel with 222 rooms. B9

photo by Gary Leonard

MEDALLION

Construction continues on the $168 million student apartment complex at the southeast corner of Figueroa Street and Jefferson Boulevard. The project from developer Urban Partners broke ground approximately one year ago and an opening has been scheduled for fall 2010. The project, designed and being built by Clark Construction, will house 421 apartments, 81,500 square feet of ground-floor retail and 770 on-site parking spaces. Another 440 parking spaces will be a block and a half away at the USC Parking Center. At urbanpartnersllc.com.

Construction crews have completed the framing work for the parking facility and completion of the project is expected by the end of the year, said developer Saeed Farkhondepour. The project, which last year stalled and then re-started, is on the northeast corner of Fourth and Main streets and is slated to include 200 residential units, 750 parking spaces, more than 200,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, restaurants and a rooftop bar. The construction cost was originally set at $125 million but has since increased by an undisclosed amount. M2A architects is in charge of the designs. D6

METROPOLIS IDS Real Estate Group hopes to break ground on the first part of a long-delayed, $1 billion project near the end of 2010, though progress will depend on the state of the mortgage markets and the overall economy, said IDS Senior Vice President Patrick Spillane. The project’s first phase would create a 33-story condominium tower on 1.83 acres and take approximately three years to build; the second phase would deliver a 42-story, 388-unit condominium tower; and a third phase would bring a 480-room hotel and 88 residential units. The fourth and final phase would be a 42-story office tower. Each phase would include a five-level parking structure, and 46,000 square feet of retail would rise over the life of the project. The entire development would be complete by 2020. The site sits one block north of L.A. Live. Gruen Associates is the executive architect, while Arquitectonica is the design architect for the residential towers, and Gensler is handling the office portion. B8

photo by Gary Leonard

NIKKEI CENTER

budget information has not been disclosed. The site, formerly known as Mangrove, is part of a 10-acre property that the city purchased in 2002. The land is adjacent to the Little Tokyo/ Arts District Metro Gold Line station, scheduled to open this summer, a fire station and an emergency operations center. The development team, which includes Kaji & Associates and the Downtown-based Urban Partners, was selected last summer after a nine-month competition to buy the land for $44 million. The Nikkei Center would include approximately 400 apartments, with 110 designated for seniors and low-income households, 80,000 square feet of largely ethnic-themed retail, an office tower, nearly 1,300 parking spaces and public gardens. E 5

ONE SANTA FE Construction documents for the $140 million, 500,000-square-foot Arts District project are nearly complete and should be ready for submission to the city for plan checks by June, said Chuck Cowley, a partner with One Santa Fe developer the McGregor Company. The project should break ground this year, possibly by October, he said. The development would include 439 units above 70,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, commercial and live-work space. The design by Michael Maltzan features vertical gardens along the main facade and a 5,000-square-foot community center. The five-story project would stand on a four-acre site that currently houses an MTA lot. The property is bounded by Santa Fe Avenue, the First and Fourth street bridges and Metrolink service tracks adjacent to the Los Angeles River. F 5

SANTEE VILLAGE According to the most recent information available, the final piece of the 780,000-square-foot Fashion District project, the 73-unit Santee building, has been completed, though no timing was given for an opening. Connecticut-based lender the Patriot Group last October took over developer MJW Investments’ stake in the massive development. The project consists of seven buildings on a site bounded by Los Angeles, Maple, Seventh and Eighth streets. It houses 445 lofts, approximately one-third of which are rentals, and 66,000 square feet of retail space. Last November, the project’s anchor retail tenant, a Rite Aid, closed. D7

THE GRAND Developers of a proposed mixed-use project are finalizing terms of a negotiating agreement with the city to purchase the five-acre site at First and Alameda streets, said Bill Watanabe, executive director of the Little Tokyo Service Center, which is part of the development team. There is no timeline yet and

There is still no groundbreaking date for the $3 billion project that would redefine the northern part of Grand Avenue, said Bill Witte, west coast president of developer the Related Cos. The Bunker Hill mega-project has stalled while Related seeks an estimated $700 million construction loan; the ongoing recession has frozen lending markets. The approximately $1 bil-

lion, 1.3 million-square-foot first phase of the Frank Gehrydesigned development would include a 48-story Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Residences with 295 hotel rooms and 266 condominiums, a 19-story tower with 126 market-rate apartments and 98 affordable units, a 250,000-square-foot retail pavilion and a 16-acre Civic Park. The County Board of Supervisors approved schematic designs for the park, prepared by architects from Rios Clementi Hale Studios, last month. The park, budgeted for $56 million already in hand, is scheduled to break ground in the first half of 2010. C5

VIBIANA Developers Tom Gilmore and Richard Weintraub, who completed an $8 million renovation of the former St. Vibiana’s cathedral in 2006, are undertaking a second phase of upgrades, including a garden redesign, mechanical system improvements and a new kitchen, said a spokeswoman for Gilmore Associates. Future plans include transforming the former rectory into a restaurant, as well as developing a mixed-use high-rise on a parcel south of the cathedral. No timeline has been announced for the project on Main between Second and Third streets. At vibianala.com. D5

CIVIC

DOWNTOWN REGIONAL CONNECTOR The Metropolitan Transportation Authority continues to analyze the potential environmental impacts of a two-mile Downtown transit link, said project manager Dolores Roybal. The Regional Connector would unite four light-rail lines through Downtown: the existing Blue and Gold lines, the Gold Line Eastside Extension opening this summer and the under-construction Expo Line. The link could take the form of an $800 million street-level route or a $910 million subway. The environmental review is expected to take up to three years. If the Metro Board of Directors approves the ultimate Environmental Impact Report, Metro staff would then begin seeking funding. Some money is expected to come from Measure R, the countywide half-cent sales tax approved by voters last November. NA

EXPOSITION LIGHT RAIL Construction continues on the Expo Line, with work underway in utility and corridor improvements on Flower Street from Washington Boulevard to Vermont Avenue, said Gabriela Collins, a spokeswoman for the Exposition see Projects, page 20

20 Downtown News

a public park on Spring between Fourth and Fifth streets. The city plans to buy the property from developer Downtown Properties for $5.6 million. The land currently houses a parking lot and construction equipment for the developer’s adjacent Rowan and El Dorado loft buildings. There is no timeline yet for completion, though design and construction are expected to take several months. D6

schools

AMBASSADOR HOTEL SCHOOLS photo by Gary Leonard

Continued from page 18 Construction Authority. The work includes relocation of water lines, gas, power, cable TV, sewer and storm drains and the installation of street signs, traffic signals and street lighting. The $808 million light rail line will connect Downtown to Culver City, and completion is slated for 2010. The eightmile route will share two stops with the Blue Line and will add nine new stations. Management of the project is a joint venture of FCI Construction, Inc., Fluor Corp. and Parsons Corp. At buildexpo.org. NA

photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

May 18, 2009

Development

FEDERAL BUILDING The seismic upgrade at 300 N. Los Angeles St. in the Civic Center continues, said Gene Gibson, regional public affairs officer for the General Services Administration. Completion of the $90 million effort is expected in the summer of 2010. The project is being undertaken in stages so that business in the building can continue. The work includes new fire safety systems, ceilings, energy-efficient lighting, signage, security systems, elevators and the removal of hazardous materials, Gibson said. D 4

photo by Gary Leonard

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

Durrell, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Public Works. The $440 million replacement for Parker Center is mostly complete, and contractors are now working on the plaza, which includes landscaping and sidewalk improvements, she said. Interior work is nearly finished and contractors have begun testing the building’s systems, Durrell said. The 10-story, 500,000-square-foot structure, designed by DMJM and constructed by Sylmar-based Tutor-Saliba, broke ground in November 2006. The building, just south of City Hall, will include a small, landscaped park along Second Street, a 400-seat auditorium and a 300-car LAPD garage. Police Chief William Bratton has said the city will celebrate the building’s opening in October. D5

LOS ANGELES RIVER

There are no plans for the deep hole at First Street and Broadway, and efforts to create a new federal courthouse remain stalled, said Gene Gibson, regional public affairs officer for the General Services Administration. Congress had appropriated $314 million for the project, but an increase in construction costs forced the GSA back to the drawing board — estimates last year put the price for the structure near $1 billion. Initial plans called for 41 courtrooms, judges’ chambers and office space for federal agencies, though any building may have to be downsized. The 3.6-acre site previously held a state office building. C 5

GOLD LINE EASTSIDE EXTENSION The Metro Gold Line’s extension from Downtown to East Los Angeles is on track and on schedule, said Jose Ubaldo, a spokesman for Metro. Completion for the $899 million light rail line is expected by mid-summer. Currently trains are being tested on the rails and the installation of the overhead power lines is complete, as are the platforms and canopies at the stations. Finishing touches are being applied, including final tune-up work on escalators in the underground stations. The project will extend the Gold Line from Union Station across the 101 Freeway with eight new stations and culminate at Atlantic Avenue. There will be a Downtown station serving Little Tokyo and the Arts District. Officials say the extension could carry 23,000 riders a day by 2020. D4

HALL OF JUSTICE

Public meetings to comment on the project, which aims to clean and green 32 miles of the Los Angeles River, will take place in the summer, said Monica Valencia, a project spokeswoman. An updated River Improvement Overlay Plan is now available for public viewing at the city Planning Department’s website. The project includes design guidelines and recommendations for development within half a mile of the waterway. The Army Corps of Engineers is working on a feasibility study for ecosystem restoration; it is expected to be complete within two years. Some projects funded by state bond money are already moving forward, including the building of bike paths near Elysian Park. Of the five “Opportunity Sites” the revitalization features, three are in and around Downtown Los Angeles: the state park at Taylor Yard, the Chinatown area and the Industrial District. The overall project is estimated at $2 billion; no timeline has been announced. At lariver. org. NA

LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK Work on the designs by San Francisco-based Hargreaves Associates for the transformation of the site formerly known as the Cornfield has been put on hold due to the state’s bond freeze, said Sean Woods, superintendent of the Los Angeles sector of California State Parks. He said all projects statewide that have bond funding are on hold due to the economy. Designs are 50% complete and work will restart as soon as money flows again, Woods said. Meanwhile, the California State Parks Department continues to try to raise funds for long-term development of the 32-acre park adjacent to Chinatown (currently just 12 acres are being used). Plans for the site include creating a space for cultural events and an open meadow for recreation, as well as kiosks that would highlight the agricultural and cultural history of the city. Nine acres would be set aside for natural habitats and a nature preserve. Depending on when the bonds are activated, final technical drawings could be complete by 2010. At parks. ca.gov/lashp or lashp.wordpress.com. C 1

METRO DETENTION CENTER

Construction continues on the 24-acre, three-school campus on the site of the former Ambassador Hotel west of Downtown. A one-third acre park along Wilshire Boulevard that will include an art installation honoring Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, who was killed in the hotel, broke ground last August and is expected to open this summer, said Shannon Haber, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Facilities Division. Plans call for a 1,050-seat school for kindergarten through third-grade students; the $80 million facility is 80% complete and scheduled to open this fall. Also coming are a 1,000-seat school for fourth through eighth graders and a 2,474-seat high school; those schools are estimated to cost a combined $300 million and are slated to open in fall 2010. The Hensel Phelps Construction Company is building all three schools. The campus will include two gymnasiums, a swimming pool, a soccer field and extensive athletic facilities. NA

CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 12 The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education in January approved a plan to tap a charter school organization to develop and operate a new Downtown high school. The 500-seat facility would abut the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex at 322 Lucas Ave. in City West. The proposal was originally approved about five years ago, but was then shelved. Now the plan is moving forward, and the district’s next step is to draft and issue a request for proposals to find a charter organization to help fund and eventually run the school. A6

CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 13 Groundbreaking on the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Central Region High School No. 13 took place last September and construction is expected to be complete in 2011, said Shannon Haber, spokeswoman for the LAUSD Facilities Division. The district acquired the 23-acre site north of Downtown at Taylor Yard by eminent domain in November 2007, then agreed in June 2008 to pay former owner Meruelo Maddux Properties $50 million for the land. The district had long sought to build the 2,295-seat school to relieve overcrowding at nearby high schools. The $161 million institution will be comprised of five small learning communities that include classrooms and science labs. Shared facilities would include performing arts classrooms, a library, a multi-purpose room, two gymnasiums, a food service area and lunch shelter, as well as central administrative offices and playing fields. NA

Plans to renovate the stately facility at Temple and Spring streets in the Civic Center, which was damaged 15 years ago by the Northridge earthquake, remain on hold due to the state’s budget crisis, said John Edmisten, a spokesman for the county’s Chief Administrative Office. The county is still searching for financing options for the $200 million restoration of the building’s exterior and grand lobby. There are no hearings scheduled with the County Board of Supervisors, who have to approve construction plans, regarding the facility, Edmisten said. Meanwhile, the building remains vacant. C4

Construction of a facility that will house female inmates at Los Angeles and Temple streets is very close to being complete, said Tonya Durrell, a spokeswoman for the city Department of Public Works. The last remaining activities include testing of the building’s mechanical systems and finishing minor construction details. The general contractor is Bernards Construction. Originally slated to open in fall 2008, the 160,000-square-foot, five-level building will have more than 500 beds. D4

LAPD HEADQUARTERS

SPRING STREET PARK

HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

The new Los Angeles Police Department headquarters remains on target for a June 2009 completion, said Tonya

The city’s Recreation and Parks Commission this month is expected to approve the purchase of a nearly one-acre site for

Construction on the LAUSD’s $232 million High School No. 9, also known as the High School for the Visual and

Downtown News 21

Development ing treatments for an array of diseases. The facility is the result of a public-private partnership between the votercreated California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the USC Keck School of Medicine and the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation. CIRM awarded USC nearly $27 million for the facility this year, supplementing a $30 million gift from the Broad Foundation in 2006. NA

USC UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS The university’s 192,000-square-foot Campus Center broke ground in May 2008 and remains on target for completion in summer 2010, with classes beginning that fall, said Carl Marziali, a university spokesman. During construction of the Campus Center, the school has installed a temporary dining facility. The 20,000-square-foot building includes seating and food service comparable to the space that was lost when the old building was demolished. The project follows the new School of Cinematic Arts building, which was completed in December. NA Performing Arts, is complete, and the campus is set to open in September. The 238,000-square-foot project at 450 N. Grand Ave., which broke ground in 2006, is designed by Coop Himmelb(l)au and HMC. Highlights of the development include a 950-seat auditorium and a tower that rises 140 feet. The 1,728-student high school will feature four academies: music, dance, visual arts and performing arts. While students are slated to occupy the school in September, there has been a political tug-of-war centered around who will run the school, the LAUSD, or a charter organization. It is now set to be an LAUSD facility. C 4

LOS ANGELES TRADE-TECH COLLEGE A multi-phase, $750 million upgrade at L.A. Trade-Tech College continues. Currently underway at the school at 400 W. Washington Blvd. are a $34 million restoration of the 100,000-square-foot A Building, estimated for completion by 2011, and the $78 million South Campus project, which will consist of two five-story buildings with more than 121,000 square feet of offices and classrooms, said Campus Project Director Deba P. Mohapatra. The South Campus is scheduled to be complete in 2010. Construction of the school’s Child Development Center is done, but additional site work is taking place before its expected opening this year, said Mohapatra. The two-floor, $6 million facility will provide 14,238 square feet of space for children up to 12, increasing capacity from 50 to 96 children. It is both a childcare center and a teaching facility that will house an infant classroom, a first for the college. Anil Verma Associates, a Los Angeles-based architecture and engineering firm, is the project manager. NA

CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT

ANGELS FLIGHT An opening date for Angels Flight is “coming quite soon,” said John Welborne, president of the Angels Flight Railway Foundation. The funicular has been closed for more than eight years, but Welborne said progress has been made recently: The cars, Olivet and Sinai, were returned to the tracks in November, and full-speed tests were conducted in January. Load tests took place in March and were witnessed by the California Public Utilities Commission, which must give its OK before Angels Flight can reopen. The railway met all the standards set forth for the tests, Welborne said. The tests included running the system with one of the two counterbalanced cars empty, and the other with a load exceeding maximum passenger capacity. A total of 7,500 extra pounds were in Olivet, consisting of 260 borrowed cases of Fiji Water, said Welborne. Angels Flight consulting engineers also are working on final safety reports for submission to the CPUC, Welborne said. The railway has been closed since the Feb. 1, 2001, accident that killed 83-year-old Leon Praport and injured seven others. Multiple reopening dates announced by the Foundation have not been met, and those seeking to get from Bunker Hill to the Historic Core still have to walk a long flight of stairs. C 6

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER A spring 2010 opening is scheduled for the California Science Center’s $145 million phase II expansion, featuring the World of Ecology wing, said Shell Amega, a project representative. The expansion is 90% complete. The project will add 170,000 square feet of space to the four-story structure in Exposition Park; it will allow for new exhibits that will illustrate principles of ecological science. The exhibit will hold interactive galleries with aspects of aquariums, zoos and botanical gardens. Hundreds of plants and animals will be featured. At californiasciencecenter.org. NA

DODGER STADIUM IMPROVEMENTS

BROADWAY REVITALIZATION

USC HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS USC’s $80 million Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research is targeted for a 2010 completion after breaking ground on Sept. 3, 2008, project spokeswoman Meghan Lewit said. The fivestory, 87,000-square-foot Broad Center, on the school’s Health Sciences Campus northeast of Downtown, will house researchers working on stem cell studies aimed at develop-

Fourteenth District City Councilman José Huizar’s 16-month-old effort to revive Broadway between Second Street and Olympic Boulevard is largely in the fundraising stage. Members of the initiative’s 27-member Board of Trustees last summer formed a nonprofit entity to guide the creation and operation of a Downtown streetcar, a major component of Bringing Back Broadway. The group has so far secured $10 million of the estimated $100 million needed to finish the project, and expects to raise the bulk of the budget through private donations. Huizar’s office has made offers on four contiguous properties as a potential site for a new parking garage, and has identified $27 million in city funds for the acquisition. Huizar estimates the garage will require another $25 million for construction. Legislative measures are also in the works to improve Broadway’s sidewalks and infrastructure, and create an equivalent of the adaptive reuse ordinance aimed at commercial properties, which Huizar hopes will bring new businesses to the upper floors of Broadway’s buildings. At bringingbackbroadway.com. C6

rendering courtesy of Johnson Fain

photo by Gary Leonard

May 18, 2009

photo by Gary Leonard

Work will take place during the off-seasons on a multi-phase, $500 million renovation of the Dodger Stadium grounds, and completion is expected by opening day of the 2012 baseball season. Plans call for an upgraded, landscaped entrance; a new promenade called Dodger Way with restaurants, shops and the Dodger Museum; a landscaped plaza beyond center field connecting to Dodger Way; an outdoor walkway around the stadium’s perimeter; two new garages to replace some surface-level lots; and an outdoor plaza with 360-degree view of city. Architecture and planning firms Johnson Fain continued on next page

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22 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Development

Continued from page 21 and HKS are leading the design team. At losangeles.dodgers. mlb.com. B1

years to retrofit and restore. It will open to the public next summer, with exhibitions in the rotunda and in its north wing, titled the Age of Mammals hall. The building’s south wing, to house an exhibition titled Dinosaur Mysteries, will open in 2011. A third wing will open in 2012, showcasing an exhibition that focuses on Southern California’s environmental history. At nhm.org. NA

ENGINE CO. NO. 17

PACIFIC STOCK EXCHANGE

Plans to convert Engine Company No. 17, a 1927 firehouse at 710 S. Santa Fe Ave. in the Industrial District, into a restaurant and gallery are going through the public hearing process, according to Brandon Finch, a spokesman for the project. However, an opening is estimated to be more than a year away. Live entertainment and dancing are also planned for the 8,721-square-foot, two-story Beaux Arts structure, which was purchased by Jeffrey Birkmeyer. Built in 1904, the building was a working fire station until 1980. NA

According to the most recent information available, Downtown landowner Michael Delijani is working to turn the 12th floor, terrace and rooftop of the former Pacific Stock Exchange building at 233 S. Beaudry Ave. into a 90,000-square-foot restaurant and nightclub with live entertainment and a dance floor. Delijani did not return recent phone calls and has not given a timeline or budget information. The Westside-based Nadel Architects is working on designs for the property as well as an adjacent 18-story tower. Delijani previously said the project would include a new, lowrise apartment building just west of the existing structure. Currently, the 126,602-square-foot building consists of 10 levels of parking, one floor of offices and the former trading floor, which closed in 2001. A 5

HYGGE The long-awaited South Park restaurant, which would feature a 4,883-square-foot dining area with 239 seats, a bar, lounge and an outdoor patio, still has no opening date, said Bryan DeSena, a spokesman for developer South Group. However, a bakery is expected to debut this month as part of Hygge, he said. The Danish restaurant is slated for the ground floor of the Luma high rise at 11th and Hope streets. B8

JAPANESE VILLAGE PLAZA RENOVATION American Commercial Equities, the owner of the outdoor mall between First and Second streets east of Central Avenue, has completed mechanical system and roofing upgrades and begun major façade improvements, said Mark Hong of CB Richard Ellis, who is handling leasing for the property. The improvements will include new storefronts and uniform signage, Hong said. Efforts to attract new, Asian-oriented businesses to the shopping center continue, and a new Japanese chain restaurant featuring a sushi bowl concept is expected to open by June. Mitchell Sawasy of Downtown-based Rothenberg Sawasy Architects is designing project. D5

REGENT THEATER There has been no movement on developer Gilmore Associates’ plan to transform the theater at 448 S. Main St. into a live music venue with a lounge and restaurant, said a spokeswoman for the developer. In the meantime, Gilmore Associates has partnered with arts/music organization Little Radio, which plans to host concerts in the venue and has moved its online radio station and record shop to the adjacent gallery space. Gilmore signed a long-term lease for the 10,000-square-foot property in 2006. D6

UNION RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

L.A. LIVE

photo by Gary Leonard

Plans have yet to be finalized for the second phase of the renovation of the outdoor shopping center, said Bert Dezzuti, senior vice president for owner Brookfield Properties. The mall just underwent the first phase of upgrades, which included repainting to update the 1980s color motif. The $3 million project also added more indigenous plants and new furniture in the plaza and throughout the space at Seventh and Figueroa streets. Last year one of the anchor tenants, a Macy’s, closed, leaving a large space in the mall open. Brookfield Properties purchased 7+Fig and an adjacent high-rise in 2006. B 7

CECIL HOTEL/STAY There have been no new upgrades to the 600-room Cecil Hotel at 636 S. Main St., or the adjacent hotel and youth hostel Stay, said Bill Lanting, president of the Lanting Hotel Group, which manages both businesses. A development team headed by Fred Cordova purchased the Cecil in 2007, and last July opened Stay, which shares an elevator and three floors with the larger hotel. Earlier this year, the hotel opened a ground-floor coffee shop and market called Marty, and management is in the process of trying to obtain a liquor license for a proposed ground-floor restaurant called Tuck. The Cecil’s owners are still in litigation with the city over the building’s designation as a residential hotel, a classification they are protesting. At stay-hotels.net. D7

CLEANTECH MANUFACTURING CENTER The Community Redevelopment Agency in September announced a plan to develop a 1 million-square-foot industrial center east of Santa Fe Avenue, near 15th Street and Washington Boulevard, for companies that manufacture green technologies such as wind turbines or hydrogen fuel cells. The Italian railcar company AnsaldoBreda, which is angling to renew a contract with Metro to build light rail cars, is in talks with the agency about developing a manufacturing plant at the site, said Sharon Gi, a CRA assistant project manager. Under the company’s proposal, it would become the site’s anchor tenant, and other tenants would be involved in green industry. The CRA hopes to launch a request for proposals to secure a developer, but no timeline has been set, Gi said. NA

CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL photo by Gary Leonard

Progress continues on the $2.5 billion South Park complex from developer Anschutz Entertainment Group. This month, the restaurant Trader Vic’s opened, following other recent arrivals including Rock’n Fish, said AEG spokesman Michael Roth. The final piece of the ESPN Los Angeles Production Center debuted in April; it includes television facilities where the West Coast broadcast of “Sports Center” is based. Production and broadcast facilities for radio station 710 ESPN opened the previous month. Coming this quarter will be the Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, and later this year the restaurant Rosa Mexicana will arrive. The 14-screen Regal Cineplex is slated to come online in November. At lalive.com. B8

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

7+FIG RENOVATION

Meruelo Maddux Properties is still without a tenant for its restaurant and lounge space on the ground floor of the Union Lofts. The 6,000-square-foot space at 760 S. Hill St., which once served as Union Bank’s grand entry, has been empty since the residential project opened in February, 2008. Meruelo Maddux spokesman Michael Bustamante said there remains no timeline for the project. The designs by architecture firm Killefer Flammang also call for a lounge in the bank’s former vault. At meruelomaddux.com. C 7

VARIETY ARTS CENTER This 1924 venue at 940 S. Figueroa St. is still on the market, said owner David Houk. Previously listed with CB Richard Ellis for $12.5 million, the property’s current asking price is undisclosed. Houk, former owner of the Pasadena Playhouse, purchased the building in 2007. B 8

BUSINESS

611 W. SIXTH ST. The Exposition Park museum unveiled the first completed phase of its ongoing $91 million renovation last month — an upgrade of the 1913 building that will ultimately house three major exhibitions. The structure, originally designed by architects Frank Hudson and William Munsell and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, took more than two

According to the most recent information available, New York-based Chetrit Group is looking to turn the 620-foot-tall edifice at 611 W. Sixth St. into more than 500 residential and commercial condominiums. Designs on the project were complete as of last September. The first 15 floors would feature 135 office condos while 402 live-work units are planned for floors 16-42. The project, being designed by Epstein ISI, would include about 700 parking spaces. B 7

Much of the exterior glass has been installed on the 54-story South Park tower that is the centerpiece of Anschutz Entertainment Group’s L.A. Live project. The $900 million establishment is scheduled to open in February 2010, said AEG spokesman Michael Roth. The L-shaped building features two hotels: a 123-room Ritz-Carlton and an 878-room JW Marriott. The top floors of the tower will hold 224 RitzCarlton condominiums priced from $1 million-$10 million. Architecture firm Gensler is designing the building at Olympic Boulevard and Georgia Street. The project, which

May 18, 2009

Downtown News 23

Development 30,000-square-foot gymnasium that would house four courts for basketball, volleyball or martial arts. At ltsc.org. D5

MARRIOTT HOTEL RENOVATION

DOWNTOWN WOMEN’S CENTER

Previously announced extensive renovations are on hold, as in April the owner of the 469-room Downtown Marriott filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the hotel at 333 S. Figueroa St. Owner Namco Capital Group has been under legal and financial pressure from a bevy of lawsuits alleging that the company and its founder, Ezri Namvar, lost as much as $400 million lent to him. B6

After planning to break ground in February, leaders of the Downtown Women’s Center are still waiting for the state to release money so they can start construction on the organization’s new home at 434 S. San Pedro St. The 67,000-squarefoot facility, which will include 71 apartments for low-income women, is “shovel ready,” but the project can’t move forward without approval from the state. The state has committed to provide about $8 million, or 30% of the project’s budget, said Joe Altepeter, the DWC’s site director. The DWC has embarked on a $35 million campaign to fund and operate the facility. The new headquarters, to be called Project Home, will allow the DWC to help more than 3,000 women and serve 75,000 meals annually, an increase from its current level of aiding 2,000 women and serving 45,000 meals a year at its 325 S. Los Angeles St. location. The DWC is vacating its current home to make way for the under-construction Medallion development. The Community Redevelopment Agency has pitched in $3.5 million. At dwcweb.org. E 6

photo by Gary Leonard

STANFORD REGENCY PLAZA

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH A development team headed by David Houk is no longer involved in the proposal to build a mixed-use project on church-owned property at 1010 S. Flower St., said project consultant Peter Davis of BTG Advisors. BTG is in talks with other developers who might work with the church to build a residential-retail project and new church building in exchange for the property’s ground lease rights. B 8 Developer the KI Group is on target to finish construction of an $80 million, 400,000-square-foot complex for wholesale garment showrooms in September, said Wizeman Kangavari, a partner in the company. Plans call for 132 showrooms that will sell for $1 million-$3 million. The project at 810 E. Pico Blvd. is being designed by the firm MAI. E 9

NONPROFIT/COMMUNITY

BUDOKAN LOS ANGELES After receiving city approvals last year, the Little Tokyo Service Center is in the planning phase for a 30,000-squarefoot recreation center slated for a parcel on Los Angeles Street between Second and Third streets. The project, long known as the Little Tokyo Recreation Center, has officially been dubbed Budokan Los Angeles. Budokan is a Japanese word that traditionally referred to martial arts centers, but in modern times means a type of community center, said Bill Watanabe, the LTSC executive director. The gym is not slated to break ground for at least 18 months, because the property is still being used as a staging ground for construction of the new LAPD headquarters. Once the land becomes available, two buildings need to be demolished, Watanabe said. Meanwhile, the LTSC is beginning to reach out to potential donors and is looking into public funds to help pay for the $15 million project, he said. Preliminary designs by architecture firm Takase and Associates call for an approximately

including $3 million in state Prop 40 funds, CHMC is working to raise $8 million to pay for the remainder of the project. At chmcla.org. C10

YWCA JOB CORPS CAMPUS The YWCA of Greater Los Angeles is working on a $60 million expansion of its Job Corps Campus in South Park. Construction is scheduled to be complete in July 2010, according to the group’s website. Plans call for a 154,000-square-foot development at Olympic Boulevard and Olive Street with 200 rooms for students and an intake center, cafeteria and library, as well as medical and dental centers that would serve 1,200 students annually. The seven-story steel and glass structure, designed by Jenkins, Gales and Martinez Architects, would put the YWCA Job Corps under one roof, instead of using six buildings in Downtown and one in Hollywood. The new facility would also increase the organization’s number of residential beds from 380 to 400, according to the website. C8

OPENED IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS

BOTTEGA LOUIE RESTAURANT AND MARKET photo by Gary Leonard

has employed more than 1,000 construction workers, will also hold a 2,000-person ballroom, the largest in the city. B 8

GOOD SAMARITAN EXPANSION Good Samaritan Hospital is still awaiting city and state approvals for an expansion that is expected to break ground in the fall, hospital spokeswoman Katrina Bada said. Bada said the hospital expects planning approvals by late August. Construction on the approximately 190,000-square-foot building at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street on the hospital’s City West campus is expected to take 18 months. The development will house a first-floor women’s health/imaging center, a pharmacy and cancer treatment services. The building will also include an extensive outpatient surgical service facility on the second floor and five levels of physician’s offices. The project cost is estimated at $70 million to $80 million. Architecture firm Ware Malcomb is handling the designs. NA

HOPE STREET FAMILY CENTER Developers of the future home of the California Hospital Medical Center’s Hope Street Family Center plan to begin a construction bidding process in October. Nonprofit developer Abode Communities is handling the project for the hospital, which has been planning the recreation and social services center for low-income families for more than two years. Abode hopes to begin construction by early 2010 on a four-story, 26,000-square-foot structure at the southeast corner of Venice Boulevard and Hope Street that would include administrative offices, classrooms and an outdoor basketball court. Partially funded by a variety of grants,

An upscale, Italian-themed market and sit-down eatery opened on the ground floor of the Brockman Building at Seventh Street and Grand Avenue on April 6. The 185-seat establishment is open from 6:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and features breakfast, lunch and dinner menus. Highlights include a deli case offering more than 100 rotating dishes throughout the day, a patisserie, a pizza oven and a cocktail bar. The small grocery section carries wines, olive oils, jams, honey and other specialty items. At bottegalouie.com. C7

BOTTLE ROCK The South Park wine bar debuted last week. Located at 11th and Hope streets on the ground floor of the Met Lofts, the Downtown location is a larger version of its Culver City counterpart, with 3,776 square feet of space near Staples Center. At bottlerock.net. B 8 continued on next page

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Projects Continued from page 23

CHAYA BRASSERIE The Downtown Los Angeles branch of the high-end fusion establishment opened March 16 on the ground floor of City National Plaza. The outpost at 515 S. Flower St. is the fourth location for the French/Japanese restaurant. The 156-seat Chaya Downtown has a patio, lounge, sushi bar and a private room for special events. At thechaya.com. B6

GREAT REPUBLIC LOFTS After switching from condominiums to rentals in February,

May 18, 2009

Development

photo by Gary Leonard

24 Downtown News

the Great Republic Lofts, a 100,000-square-foot adaptive reuse project at 756 S. Spring St., is open and 20% leased, said Jacob Jalil, co-owner of the project. The conversion was deigned by architect David Gray. The 12-story building, with 72 units averaging approximately 850 square feet, was recently approved for Historic-Cultural Monument status by the Cultural Heritage Commission. Design features include glass tile in the bathrooms, exposed brick walls and concrete-beam ceilings. At greatrepubliclofts.com. D7

L.A. FASHION CENTER After wrapping up construction late last year, the $130 million Los Angeles Fashion Center, known as L.A. Face, opened for business in late April and will host a grand opening on May 20. Developer Crestpoint Group, Inc. has sold 150 of 200 units in its seven-story complex for wholesale garment showrooms. The units range from 1,000-1,400 square feet

and sell for $800,000-$1.2 million, said Fraydoon Bral, a partner in Crestpoint. However, 50 units have been withheld, and will be sold at a later date when the market recovers and the developers can command higher prices. The mega-project at 14th Place and San Pedro Street, notable for its aqua-colored windows, is the largest commercial project to open in the Fashion District in the past 10 years. E9

L.A. FASHION MART After completing construction in early March, developer Jade Enterprises opened its $80 million complex for wholesale garment showrooms in mid-April, and leasing is now underway, said the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eli Taban. The 320,000-square-foot facility at Stanford Avenue and 12th Street in the Fashion District features 117 wholesale units. Taban would not disclose leasing prices. Like most wholesale projects east of San Pedro Street, the development caters to sellers of womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contemporary fashions. E9

MAGNOLIA The Downtown branch of Magnolia opened at 825 W. Ninth St. in South Park on March 16. This is the second location for the restaurant, which features classic American fare, a white marble bar, leather banquettes, a lounge and a patio. Magnolia is open until midnight Monday through Friday and 2 a.m. on the weekends. At magnoliala.com. B 8

ROOSEVELT LOFTS In April developer Milbank Real Estate filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for its $150 million Roosevelt Lofts. The developer has not been able to close any sales in the building at 727 W. Seventh St., citing a conflict with its construction lender, Bank of America. The move came about one month after a group of former buyers filed a lawsuit against the developer, alleging that the company misrepresented its sales numbers to coax buyers into purchase agreements and failed to uphold several stipulations in its contract. Seen by many as a key to reinvigorating the Financial District, the project has been beset by a series of construction and permit-related delays. Meanwhile, Milbank has reduced its condo prices by about 15% throughout the building and has sold 68 of its 222 units, said Sales Director Randelle Green. As the developer goes through the reorganization process, buyers are being allowed to live in the building on a temporary rental basis, project spokeswoman Kathleen Flood said. At rsvlt.com. B 7

ROWAN LOFTS Residents have started moving in to the Historic Core project, after a Feb. 8 auction that resulted in the sale of 63 of 79 units that were put on the block. Developer Downtown Properties has sold 90 of its 206 units, and 45 have closed escrow, Downtown Properties partner Bill Stevenson said. The developer worked with its lender so it could begin move-ins even though fewer than half of the units were sold. Residences in the 280,000-square-foot, 13-story structure were originally priced from $300,000 to more than $1 million. Now, they range from the low $200,000s-$800,000, Stevenson said. Some of the 500- to 1,400-square-foot condos in the 1912 building at 460 S. Spring St. feature private patios or balconies. Architecture firm Killefer Flammang designed the project. At rowan-lofts.com. D6

SB SPRING Construction on a 12-story, adaptive reuse project at 650 S. Spring St. is complete, said developer Barry Shy. The 190 apartments range from 600-1,500 square feet and rents are $1,200-$2,000. The building features a rooftop pool, gym and recreation room. The ground floor commercial space will serve as an event hall, and negotiations are under way to bring in an operator for a basement bar and lounge, Shy said. He hopes to open the basement to the public within five months. At laloftrental.com. D7

May 18, 2009

Downtown News 25

DowntownNews.com

a special advertising supplement

Value Pricing and High Style Select Homes Reduced Up to $230,000 at Little Tokyo Lofts

ittle Tokyo Lofts, the most upscale authentic loft residences in Downtown L.A., has announced new 2009 value pricing to accommodate todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buyerdriven market. Prices have been reduced on nearly half of the 31 remaining units as the exclusive community nears its final release. FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

Little Tokyo Lofts feature studios, and one- and two-bedroom authentic New York-style lofts from the mid $200,000s

The 15 homes with recent price reductions reflect the wide array of floor plans, sizes and locations available at Little Tokyo Lofts. The average price reduction is $150,000, and some homes have been reduced as much as $230,000. New legislation provides first-time homebuyers with a tax credit of up to $8,000, which unlike previous programs does not need to be repaid. There is also a state tax credit of up to $10,000 for qualified buyers. See a sales associate for program details. Little Tokyo Lofts has also added generous buyer incentives, which can be applied toward the sale price, closing cost, HOAs or rate by down. See a sales agent for more details. Located in the heart of Little Tokyo and adjacent to the Arts District, Little Tokyo Lofts is a sanctuary in the city. The Zen courtyard garden, hot spa and heated pool, and outdoor grilling area are perfect destinations for escaping the rigors of the big city.

photos by Gary Leonard

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

The homes at Little Tokyo Lofts feature open floor plans, hardwood floors, original beams and other vintage architectural elements, 12-foot ceilings, central heating and air conditioning, and original steel casement windows. The modern kitchens offer new stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and maple cabinetry. The homes range in size from 650-square-foot studios to 2,200-square-foot, two-story ground floor townhomes, and an expansive two-story penthouse loft with spectacular city skyline views. Residents have access to a gated multi-story parking garage with key card access and a pedestrian bridge connecting to the main building. Security guards monitor the premises around the clock. Homeowners will experience the exciting and eclectic lifestyle that this unique neighborhood offers. Residents are within walking distance of Union Station, the Music Center, MOCA and countless other attractions. The community features a private fitness center open to all residents and the SmartBark dog park, which features a fenced-in, 100-foot long dog run with benches and a Dogipot pet waste station. Come view your future loft during the upcoming Open House on Saturday, May 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call (213) 626-6400, email Nicole LaBeaud at nicole@littletokyolofts.com, or visit littletokyolofts.com. The Little Tokyo Lofts sales office and models are located on-site at 420 S. San Pedro St., Suite 103. Open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

26 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Residential

Worry-Free Downtown’s Favorite New Residence Living The Barker Block Creates a

The Chapman Flats Offers Flexible Lease Terms and Incentives

One-of-a-Kind Community in the Arts District

t’s hard to find another residence in Downtown, or all of Los Angeles, that has seen a better response, better sales or has more fans than the Barker Block. This new loft community in the heart of the Arts District has brought modern design to an authentic Angeleno warehouse space, mixing new and old with the flair and style that the KOR Group is renowned for. It’s hands down the hottest block in town.

ince its introduction of the “No Worry Lease” in early April, Chapman Flats at Broadway and Eighth Street has received numerous inquiries each day from prospective tenants. The “No Worry FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

The Barker Block is a new living concept by the KOR Group, the creators of some of the most contemporary and sought after hotels, destinations and designer residences. And, just like their noted properties (Viceroy, The Tides & Avalon), Barker has been crafted with inspired design, unexpected details, perfect flow and just the right touch of indulgence. When combined with this incredibly unique, vibrant and eclectic neighborhood, these loft homes offer a truly one-of-a-kind living experience. Barker was created from an idea that your home should be more than a living space. It should be a living experience. It’s a complete community, bringing together residential, live/ work, retail and incredible amenity spaces that are connected to surrounding restaurants, cafes (including the new Urth Caffé across the street), lofts and art studios. There’s a much bigger picture here, several blocks all connected and engaged. Walkable, friendly, beautiful and real. Inside, the aesthetic in each of these homes features a unique mix of contemporary elements and historic materials. Wood rafters show a century of character over polished concrete, original wood floors give a rich contrast to modern furniture, and brick walls from the early 1900s serve as a backdrop to sleek countertops and steel staircases. Each home has been individually crafted with a unique variation of these materials, giving every one its very own character.

Surrounding the homes is a long list of amenities and community features that includes what has to be the best rooftop deck in Downtown, complete with pool, spa and private cabanas overlooking the skyline. Along with this, there is a professional fitness center with floor-to-ceiling city views, an outdoor living room with fireplace, roaming landscaped courtyards featuring a water garden and grass sitting area, the Artist’s Alley, a public arts space for art shows and intimate concerts, on-site retail and live/ work spaces, and a general feeling of community that can’t be replicated in a slick high-rise or cramped condo complex. All together, Barker Block should be on the top of anyone’s list for a new home. And it obviously is, with its status as the best-selling community in Downtown. So give this unique project a look and check out the incredible model lofts and equally cool neighborhood. The Barker Block is now offering lofts priced from the $300,000s. Learn more at the Barker Block Sales Gallery, across from Urth Caffé, at 510 S. Hewitt St., #105. Open daily 10 a.m.6 p.m. Visit barkerblock.com or call (213) 620-9650.

Lease” allows a tenant who loses a job to terminate the lease with no penalty, or Chapman will reduce the rent by 20% for three months. The historic building, which generated excitement after its grand opening in June 2008, features inContinued on next page

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

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May 18, 2009

Continued from previous page dividually designed flats with classic heritage and contemporary finishes that appeal to those interested in urban living. The building has a lush rooftop park with pond, gazebo, lounge, barbeque and a classic marble entry, 360-degree views of the city and doorstep access to groundfloor retail including Monte Carlo dry cleaners and Kelly’s Coffee and Fudge Factory. The 13-story Chapman is located in an eclectic and artsy neighborhood, with an endless list of local galleries, restaurants, bars and shopping options just steps away. Venturing out a few more blocks, the marquee Downtown destinations await, from Staples Center, Nokia Theatre and L.A. Live to Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Museum of Contemporary Art. This location also makes for incredible freeway access to surrounding areas, as well as instant access to Metro bus and rail lines. The building is pet friendly and within walking distance of Ralphs. Each flat features a modern kitchen with Caesar stone countertops, stainless steel appliances, refrigerator, polished concrete floors, exposed brick and large windows. The 168-unit Chapman building was initially developed as a condominium project but was converted to rentals. Monthly rents are $1,300 to $3,500 and include a parking space. Additional parking spaces are also available. The move-in special includes free rent for the first month. “We care about the people in our community and feel we need to respond to their fear about the economy and uncertainty about their employment,” said Mark Farzan, a co-developer of the project. “With this offer, we try to lessen the uncertainty when tenants need to make a decision about where they want to rent. There has been tremendous interest from renters who are seeking a dynamic urban environment like Downtown.” More details are available at The Chapman Leasing Center at 223 W. Eighth St., at the corner of Broadway, or by visiting chapmanflats.com or calling (213) 892-9100.

Downtown News 27

Residential

Visionary Condo Development Rises at Ninth and Fig Concerto Combines Architectural Living and Green Space

ith the opening of Concerto at Ninth and Figueroa streets, a new chapter begins in Downtown’s residential evolution. Enduring design, spectacular city views and the understated luxury of Southern FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

California living converge at Concerto, the new $300 million condominium development covering 100,000 square feet in Downtown L.A.’s South Park. Situated at one of the most vibrant intersections in Los Angeles, steps away from L.A. Live and Staples Center and walking distance to Disney Hall, the Music Center and MOCA, trendy restaurants, distinctive shopping and renowned educational institutions, Concerto promises residents an urban living experience equal to that of other great cities of the world. Composed of a trio of contemporary structures — two soaring, 30-story (335 feet) glass towers and a mid-rise (70 feet) loft building — Concerto expresses the concept of architectural living through inventive design, quality construction and uncompromising attention to detail. “I’ve developed many properties across Los Angeles, all of which have one thing in common — they embrace great design whether you are considering a studio or

one of the penthouses,” said developer Sonny Astani. “With Concerto we have achieved this on a grand scale in a truly extraordinary location.” Designed by Douglas Hanson of the award-winning architectural firm DeStefano Partners, Ltd., Concerto features studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units with prices ranging from $350,000 for lofts to $3.5 million for penthouses. Concerto’s sig-

nature features include 10.5-foot ceilings, full-length exterior glass walls and innovative structural engineering to create transparency and unobstructed views. European cabinetry and appliances are in the kitchens. Each residence boasts a city, pool, garden or paseo view and all benefit from Concerto’s clever ventilation system, which augments traditional AC and allows a free flow of fresh air. Sustainable elements of design, construction and operation will enable Concerto to qualify for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Within Concerto, a full acre of elevated private green space surrounds a saltwater pool, cabanas and fire pits. Concerto will also engage the surrounding neighborhood with public green space including a tai chi park and a paseo lined with gingko trees that change colors with the season. Occupancy of the 77-unit loft collection begins in June 2009. Occupancy of the first tower with 271 units is planned for fall 2009. Prospective homeowners can preview Concerto at the on-site Sales and Design Center at 900 S. Figueroa St., which is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and by appointment at (213) 537-0007. Visitors can also arrange to tour model residences and individual units available for purchase. For more information, visit concertodowntown.com.

PRICE REDUCTIONS + INCENTIVES = BRAND NEW HOME visit barker block today for details on our best prices yet

STYLE FOR ALL Prices From The Low-$300’s + Special 2.375% Interest Rate + Up To $18,000 In Tax Credits + First 10 Residences Only +

NEW SOUTH BUILDING RELEASE The new South Building at Barker Block has just been released. It features the same beautiful design that has made Barker a best-seller, along with new floorplans, distinct historic details and access to the incredible, resort-style rooftop and amenity collection.

SEE IT TODAY New Sales Gallery Located Across From Urth Caffe 510 S. Hewitt Street #105 : Open Daily 10am-6pm 213-620-9650 : barkerblock.com

This is not a loan commitment, nor is it a guarantee of any kind. Rate is based on information available at the time of production. Rates assumes 740 or greater mid-FICO score, and 20% down payment. Rates, fees & programs are subject to change without notice. This is not an offer to sell, but is intended for information only. The developer reserves the right to make modifications in materials, specifications, floorplans, designs, pricing, scheduling and delivery of homes without prior notice.

Exclusively represented by The Mark Company

Downtown News : 10.25” x 7.625” | Insertion Date: 5/18/09

From KOR, the creators of Avalon & Viceroy

28 Downtown News

South Park’s New Silhouette Sales Success at Evo Signifies Steady Consumer Demand

vo, the much anticipated third phase of South, Los Angeles’ first and only LEED certified, “green” community, is perhaps the most successful and indemand residence in America. Los Angeles city officials continue to applaud the high-rise’s exceptional achievements. Sales success here is a tangible sign that consumer confidence does exist in the residential real estate market, based on the optimal conditions of Evo’s location, building design and amenities. Evo is Downtown’s only new-construction highrise available for move-in before 2010. As with developer The South Group’s other two projects Elleven and Luma, Evo is outpacing all other residences for sales in Downtown. Evo is nearly 40% sold out and averages more than $10 million in sales every month. Recent closings include two penthouses, sold for $3.1 million and $3.2 million, the highest purchase prices for residential units in Downtown L.A. Despite an extremely challenging economic environment, Downtown remains a center of activity. By the end of 2009, more than 200 new businesses — including dozens of restaurants — will have opened since 2007. L.A. Live will produce an economic impact of $10 billion, creating more than 25,000 jobs and generating $18 million in new annual tax revenues. Evo is just steps from Staples Center, red-carpet events at the Nokia Theatre, Club Nokia, the Conga Room and the Grammy Museum, which are expected to host at least 600 events annually. “The growing collection of nearby new restaurants, retailers, and basic neighborhood-serving amenities has transformed Downtown into an increasingly vibrant, sustainable and dynamic neighborhood,” said Ninth District Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry. “Both Evo and South offer residents a great location in the heart of Downtown and their unique pedestrianfriendly and thoughtful design elements set them apart

s one of Downtown’s newest residential additions, this 128-unit building is a jewel box of stunning contemporary homes in the heart of Little Tokyo. Each studio, one- and two-bedroom home is designed with oversized windows for views and light, sleek granite kitchens, FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

Evo’s Two-Forty Lounge offers residents exclusive access to one of Downtown’s hottest new locations.

as a model for future projects.” Architecturally stunning and sustainably superior, Evo’s sleek and stylish silhouette rises 24 stories over South Park at the corner of 12th Street and Grand Avenue. Condominiums are priced from $385,000 to $3.6 million, with floor plans ranging from 730 to 3,500 square feet. Evo consists of 311 one- and two-bedroom soft loft condominiums and two-story live-work townhomes. Each residence features high-end amenities and rich refined finishes such as natural hardwood floors and wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, designer countertops and fixtures, expansive operable windows, decks, Juliet balconies, walk-in closets, four levels of secured parking and a 24-hour attendant. Interested homebuyers may call (213) 622-5400, visit evoluxury.com or stop by the Evo Sales Gallery at 408 W. 11th St. (at Grand Avenue).

voted downtown's best residential living six years in a row

FREE RENT SPECIALS! Studio, one & two Bedrooms Granite kitchens Italian marble counter baths Washer/dryer in every home Crown molding Direct TV & Internet access Oversized windows with Dramatic views of the city • European maple cabinets • Balcony or patio

• • • • • • • •

L.A.’s Brilliant New Rental A Hot Neighborhood, a Cool Building and a Warm Welcome

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

• • • • • • •

May 18, 2009

Residential

Nine foot ceilings Subterranean, gated parking Private one acre park Golf driving cages Putting green Tennis courts Sand volleyball court Designer carpet And ceramic tile • Roof top pool and spa

sumptuous baths, media outlets and washers and dryers. But Hikari is more than a place of residence. It is a place of wonder, where residents can go for a swim in a glistening blue pool, sunbathe on a private terrace, socialize in a fabulous lounge, exercise in the state-of-the-art fitness center, and even conduct business in the building’s fully equipped business center. There is also convenient 24-hour underground parking with direct building access. Historic Little Tokyo is now Downtown’s hottest place to live. Absolutely everything can be found in this diverse neighborhood and it is a short walk to surrounding districts bursting with music, restaurants, art, shopping, sports and nightlife. Living at Hikari brings all the things you love closer than ever, such as exhibits Continued on next page

DOWNTOWN LIVING WITH A TWIST Soaring 30 stories over 9th & Figueroa, Concerto and its distinctive architectural “twist” announce a visionary new residential high-rise for Downtown. Surrounded

• • • • • • •

Fitness center with sauna Executive Business Center Study Library FREE tanning bed 24-hour doorman Spectacular waterscapes Lush courtyards

by a full acre of green space, condominiums feature full-length glass walls, hardwood floors, European appliances and a unique fresh air ventilation system. Outside, take a dip in the saltwater pool, a stroll along the paseo or a class in the Tai Chi park. That’s downtown living, Concerto style.

(9th & Fig)

close to l.a. live and nokia theater

888.886.3731 •TheMedici.com 725 Bixel St., Los Angeles, CA 90017

concertodowntown.com

213.537.0007

May 18, 2009

Residential

Downtown News 29

South Park’s Icon Tax Credits and Low Interest Rates Spur Sales at Market Lofts

arket Lofts, South Park’s iconic mixed-use building with Ralphs Fresh Fare, is revving up the market with impressive sales activity spurred by state and federal tax credits. Buyers are eager to take advantage of these tax breaks that allow them to buy a new loft and live in FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

the hub of Downtown’s vibrant urban scene. Heeding signs that the real estate bottom has hit, buyers are taking swift action before the tide turns. “Buyers are particularly concerned about California’s $10,000 tax credit that is expected to run out soon,” states Don Mercado, sales manager. “Market Lofts offers completely finished lofts so buyers don’t have to lose precious time waiting for a move-in date while the clock ticks on the credit. They are also able to seize a low interest rate before they start to go up. ” The time is now to visit Market Lofts before this once-in-alifetime buying opportunity vanishes. The state tax credit of up to $10,000 applies to all buyers purchasing newly built residences. It must be a principal residence and the buyer must reside in the residence for two years immediately after purchase. Buyers need to act quickly because the allotment of funds for the state credit is running out. Once the allotment of funds is reached, the $10,000 tax credit will no longer be available. In addition to the state credit, buyers can also take advantage of the $8,000 federal tax credit. It is available to first-time buyers only (cannot have owned a primary residence in the last three years) and is for principal residences. Please talk to your tax advisor for more information on both the federal and state tax credits. Come see how far your money and tax credits will go at Market Lofts, Downtown L.A.’s sizzling address. Located at the corner of Ninth and Flower streets in desirable South Park, and two blocks from L.A. Live, Market Lofts defines the new-age, mixed-use urban living with its flexible, open lofts and a bustling Ralphs supermarket on the ground floor. Offering a variety of plans to meet budget and space preferences, Market Lofts can make the dream of living in Downtown L.A. come true. The one- and two-bedroom lofts measure from approximately 695 square feet to 1,588 square feet. The urban-style interiors feature flexible open space to create endless room configurations. Design highlights include high concrete ceilings, exposed ducts and pipes, concrete or hardwood floors (per plan), and large windows. In addition, every loft comes pre-wired for instant connectivity to all technology. High-end kitchens are generously outfitted with granite countertops, sleek imported Italian cabinetry and stainless steel Whirlpool appliances. Equally impressive are the in-house amenities including an outdoor deck complete with pool, spa and barbecue area, a spacious social room with gourmet kitchen, a fitness center, and a screening room. There is also a residents-only entrance and a lobby with three elevators. In addition to the immensely successful Ralphs supermarket, other ground floor conveniences include The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Quiznos, the UPS Store, Robeks Juice, Cold Stone Creamery and Pastagina restaurant. Moreover, residents can walk to Staples Center and the glitzy new L.A. Live, a world-class entertainment campus offering a variety of exciting venues and restaurants. Nokia Plaza spans 40,000 Continued from previous page at the Museum of Contemporary Art, concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, Lakers games at Staples Center, cocktails at The Standard hotel and sushi at A Thousand Cranes. And with around-the-clock garage access, homeowners can go anywhere, anytime. More than an address, Hikari was envisioned as an oasis by Related, the nation’s most acclaimed developer of luxurious metropolitan homes. Over the past quarter-century, Related has dramatically redefined the American skyline through its contribution of important new architectural landmarks in such cities as New York, Miami, Chicago, San Francisco and Boston. Now, working in concert with world-renowned architect Frank Gehry, Related is helping to fulfill the incredible potential of Downtown Los Angeles with an extraordinary master plan comprised of commercial, cultural and residential components. The Hikari, at Second and Central streets, is the firm’s first luxury residence in Downtown Los Angeles. The Hikari leasing office is open Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (213) 625-8500.

square feet with plenty of outdoor space to accommodate festivals, live performances, special events and a farmers market. Market Lofts is by Lee Homes and CIM Group, the cutting-edge urban renewal team acclaimed for their highly successful mixed-use communities throughout the area. Two-bedroom lofts are priced from the $400,000s. Onebedroom lofts are priced from the $300,000s. A 5% broker cooperation is now available. Visit the Market Lofts professionally furnished models today. Market Lofts is at 645 W. Ninth St., #219. Enter the sales office through the residential lobby on Hope Street. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call (213) 553-9375 or visit market-lofts.com.

the loft life

Lofts for Sale from $245K GRAND OPENING Now Open: 11 – 6 Daily Downtown LA

IN E IT V D MO RE *

206 LOFT RESIDENCES 5TH + SPRING | 213.213.1898 WWW.ROWAN-LOFTS.COM

C X E A AT18K T I D $ E TO M P IM U

*SEE YOUR TAX ADVISOR

30 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Residential

Escape to an Urban Oasis Location, Luxury and Lifestyle Unfold at The Medici

he Renaissance has arrived in Downtown Los Angeles. Standing elegantly in the heart of this dynamic urban village, The Medici effortlessly combines the finest in luxury, location FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

and lifestyle. Tuscan-inspired architecture surrounds lush, garden courtyards with cascading waterfalls and soothing fountains, allowing you to escape to an urban oasis in the center of Downtown. The centerpiece of this recreational paradise is a picturesque, one-acre private park offering picnic facilities, sand volleyball and tennis courts, a putting green, golf driving cages, a professional jogging path and a play area. Feel like unwinding after a workout in the stateof-the-art fitness center? Take in the breathtaking skyline views from The Medici’s rooftop swimming pool, relax in the sauna and steam baths or reenergize in the meditation garden.

Eager to explore Los Angeles’ numerous cultural and entertainment options? Simply consult with The Medici’s concierge service and secure tickets for concerts, sporting events and theater productions. Residents of The Medici will find themselves constantly surrounded by decadence. Sophisticated living areas offer fine Italian marble vanities, maple wood cabinetry, recessed lighting and large picture windows with breathtaking city vistas. In addition to offering resort-style living at its finest, The Medici has everything needed for life on the go, including a 24-hour doorman, 24-hour onsite management and maintenance, high-speed Internet, dry cleaning pick-up and delivery, and a business center with an executive conference room and library. Choose one of 25 unique floor plans and finally have the opulent lifestyle you’ve always wanted. The Medici is at 725 S. Bixel St. For leasing information, call (888) 272-5614 or visit TheMedici.com.

Teramachi Homes is not only downtown L.A.’s most luxurious new 55+ community, it’s also the enclave with the best social events. From bingo and movie night to walking clubs, museum tours, and group dining and shopping, there’s always something fun for residents to do. We put the ACTIVE in active adult living!

City Living With Old World Charm The Piero Offers Discerning Residents Elegant Amenities in a Vibrant Setting

rom the formal entry lobby with sky high ceilings and a black baby grand piano, to the lush courtyards and tranquil FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

water features, Piero sets the standard in Los Angeles for gracious European living.

Constructed with the finest Old World building methods and incorporating all of the most modern features of today’s demanding lifestyle, this spectacular community incorporates the best of yesterday and today. Piero offers uninterrupted views Continued on next page

IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY! BRAND NEW APARTMENT HOMES iN the traDitioNaL eLegaNCe oF a worLD-CLaSS reSort

FREE RENT SPECIAlS!*

*oN SeLeCteD uNitS For a LimiteD time oNLy. CaLL For DetaiLS.

Starting at $1645

• Convenient Little Tokyo Location • Fitness Room • Pool • Sauna • 24-Hour Security • 1 and 2 Bedrooms • Guest and Community Lounges • From the Mid $300,000s and the Mid $500,000s

TeramachiHomes.com (213) 471-2969

Sales Ofﬁce Open: Thursday–Monday from 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

267 S. San Pedro Street Los Angeles 90012 Free parking, enter on San Pedro

Juliana@TeramachiHomes.com Juliana Park

The purchase of a Teramachi home is open to everyone, however the primary resident must be 55 and better. Prices, terms, and conditions subject to change without notice. Model shown reflects no racial preference. ©2009 Teramachi Seniors Housing, LLC.

TMI057_55+Living_Qtr Pg_[Downtown News] Client: Teramachi Homes

Trim:

5"w x 7.625"h (Qtr Pg)

550 N. Figueroa St. DowNtowN LoS aNgeLeS (CorNer oF Figueroa & w. SuNSet BLvD.)

May 18, 2009

Downtown News 31

Residential

A Complete Lifestyle Solution TENTEN Wilshire Is the Only Place Where Living, Working and Playing Are Just a Suitcase Away lounge, fire pits, barbecue areas, sundecks, custom outdoor billiard and foosball tables, all while being surrounded by endless panoramic views. A great venue for the regularly scheduled mixers that are ideal for meeting people and networking, it is easy to see why TENTEN Wilshire is the complete lifestyle solution business professionals need. TENTEN Wilshire is located on the west side of the 110 Freeway across from the Wilshire Grand. Just two blocks from TENTEN Wilshire is the 7th Street/Metro Center, which offers easy access to MetroRail, Los Angeles’ subway system, instantly connecting residents to Long Beach, Hollywood, Pasadena, LAX and more. Union Station, your

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

EVONOMICS Exceptional prices, special tax incentives and historically low interest rates make this the absolute best time to purchase a new home at the most sought-after residence in downtown. In fact, with 25 sales last month, Evo was the best-selling new residence in all of Los Angeles. Luxury is well within reach – don’t miss this incredible opportunity to own the very best for less.

FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

ADD IT UP

You have heard the phrase “Live, Work and Play” countless times, but not until now have all three been addressed in a single lifestyle solution. Located on Los Angeles’ world famous Wilshire Boulevard, TENTEN Wilshire offers 227 luxury suites in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. At TENTEN Wilshire, all suites are designated live/work, so conducting business from home in a professional manner just became possible. The suites at TENTEN Wilshire are equipped with every imaginable amenity including free basic utilities, wired and wireless high speed Internet, premium cable TV, local phone calls, iPod ready sound systems, high definition LCD TVs, full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and extensive kitchenware sets, in-unit washer/dryers, and individual thermostats for optimum cooling and heating. TENTEN Wilshire received awards for the “Best Rooftop in Downtown Los Angeles” and “Downtowners of Distinction.” TENTEN Wilshire was also nominated for “Project of the Year.” Inspired by luxury resorts, the world-class rooftop features a full gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, locker rooms, a movie/screening room, Continued from previous page of one of America’s most dynamic skylines. Within moments of your front door, drama and music are available at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, sporting and concert events are available at the Staples Center, and the Financial District is within walking distance. And five-star dining and world-class shopping are just seconds away. Piero is truly in the center of it all. After you have indulged in all that the city offers, you will be nestled in comfort and convenience back home at Piero. Reserved, gated parking and a 24/7 door attendant offer peace of mind, letting you rest easy knowing that you may return home at any time and have a place to park and a familiar face at the front desk. Personal time at Piero can be spent lounging in the cityside pool, relaxing in the spa or dry sauna, or working off some of the city’s indulgences in the private fitness center. Piero also offers residents plenty of amenities for weekday activities, including a business center, conference rooms and wireless Internet. The homes at Piero were planned with the discerning resident in mind. All of the homes feature granite and marble countertops, washers and dryers, tile kitchen and bath floors and a full Whirlpool appliance package. Nine-foot ceilings and traditional crown molding create an open, elegant feeling that truly gives that Old World feeling. Fully furnished corporate apartments are also available at Piero. These homes offer everything to make your stay memorable. From one month to one year, these furnished apartments offer extreme convenience. At 616 St. Paul Ave., (877) 223-1494. Visit thepiero. com for more information and to schedule a tour.

access point to MetroLink, 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-squarefoot 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 information about TENTEN Wilshire call (877) 3381010 or visit 1010Wilshire.com.

SPECIAL PRICING FROM $385K

$8,000 FEDERAL TAX CREDIT

$10,000 STATE TAX CREDIT

10% DOWN PAYMENT OPTIONS

4.875% INTEREST RATES AVAILABLE*

CONTACT THE EVO SALES TEAM TODAY TO SCHEDULE A TOUR. EVO SALES GALLERY : 408 W. 11TH ST. : OPEN DAILY 10AM - 5PM 213-622-5400 : EVOLUXURY.COM Exclusively represented by The Mark Company This is not a loan commitment, nor is it a guarantee of any kind. Rate is based on information available at the time of production. * Rates assumes 740 or greater mid-FICO score, and 20% down payment. Rates, fees & programs are subject to change without notice. This is not an offer to sell, but is intended for information only. The developer reserves the right to make modifications in materials, specifications, floorplans, designs, pricing, scheduling and delivery of homes without prior notice.

Downtown News : 6.75 x 12 : 5/18 insertion

32 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Residential

At the Center of It All Gas Company Lofts Offers a Home In the Heart of South Village

magine living, working and playing in an exquisitely restored historic landmark building. The beautifully restored Gas Company Lofts offer extraordinary city views that capture the FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

imagination and open floor plans with limitless options to tap your creativity. 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. Tenants 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 farmer’s market every Wednesday and Friday, and the Ralphs Fresh Fare is literally steps away. The surrounding neighborhood also features a pharmacy, a post office, Macy’s, 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 rail 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. Gas Company Lofts has it in spades. Located directly in the center of Downtown Los Angeles, it is part of South Village, a multi-block residential and retail community that includes rental housing and a full-service grocery store. South Village, created by the CIM Group, a leading developer in urban investments, has become the cornerstone of South Park and the Financial District. These elements make it the hotspot of L.A.

The Gas Company Lofts’ historic architecture is complemented by the modern amenities and quality finishes in each loft, 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. At the Gas Company Lofts, tenants have the convenience of a stellar concierge service and on-site security. Concierge services include reservations, fluff and fold, dry cleaning, pet services, spa services, grocery delivery, dry carwashes and much more. The Gas Company Lofts leasing office is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Reservations are highly recommended on weekends. For information contact (213) 955-5700 or visit gascompanylofts.com.

Elegant Apartment Living Free Rent Specials*

• Washer/dryer in every residence • State-of-the-art fitness center with saunas, steam rooms and free tanning facilities • Swimming pool with relaxing sundeck and spa • 24-hour doorman • FREE gated and reserved garage parking

• Business center with conference room, computer offices, copier and fax machine • Exquisitely designed interiors with all the upgrades you would expect in a luxury apartment home. • Peaceful and lavishly landscaped garden courtyards with water fountains

* Limited time offer, select floorplans, restrictions apply.

TheVisconti.com

877.644.2623 1221 W. 3rd Street

Cultural Connection The Towers Deliver a Rich Downtown Experience

owntown Los Angeles: Here, the living experience goes unmatched anywhere in the West. A lifestyle richly embellished with art, music and the FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

cultural events that make headlines. Downtown breeds success, housing prominent firms in impressive architectural 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 firstrun 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. Continued on next page

May 18, 2009

Residential

Downtown News 33

A Passion for Homebuilding Teramachi Developer’s 55+ Community Fulfills Long-Time Personal Goal

ore than 20 years ago, developer Tom Wong envisioned a state-of-the-art, active adult enclave offering luxury, security and community in the heart of Little Tokyo. Today, the Downtown Los Angeles community known as Teramachi Homes has become a sought-after adFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

dress for residents 55 and older. More than 65% of the homes have sold. Located at the corner of San Pedro and Third streets in Downtown L.A., Teramachi Homes is a luxury condominium development. From the lobby to the amenities to the elegant floor plans, it’s clear that no expense was spared in Teramachi’s design. “I built this project with my parents in mind,” said Wong. “It was my sincere hope that every feature I included in this project would be something they would appreciate and make them feel safe, comfortable and happy.” With three decades of homebuilding and property management experience, Wong was well prepared to achieve his goal. Teramachi Homes reflects Wong’s development expertise as well as his passion for homebuilding. “I take great pride when I hear appraisers, building inspectors, the LAPD, friends and fellow builders say that this is the best building in Downtown L.A,” said Wong. From the foundation to the roofing material and the individual units to the common areas, the commitment to craftsmanship and detail is evident. A variety of community features have been included to maintain a sense of serenity and quiet. The air conditioners are mounted on spring isolators to dampen the vibration noise and the building’s elevators are also whisper quiet. Other design elements include the special sound insulation between every floor and the double frame and double insulated walls between every unit. An acoustical engineer helped mitigate the sound between units and floors. Teramachi’s amenities have also been well designed. The community offers residents a central Zen garden, a gym with steam room, indoor/outdoor pool, private flower and vegetable planters, 24-hour security guard and a multipurpose Continued from previous page 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.

community room. Teramachi also features an onsite hair salon and bookstore. Teramachi’s one and two-bedroom homes are priced from the mid $300,000s and the mid $400,000s. While occupancy of Teramachi Homes is exclusive to residents 55 or older, homes are available for anyone to purchase. To learn more, log on to teramachihomes.com, call (213) 471-2969 or visit the sales office at the corner of San Pedro and Third streets in Downtown Los Angeles.

EAST MEETS WEST

Mid-Wilshire Luxury Residences IMMEDIATE MOVE-INS

Brilliant Design Blending Beauty & Purity // Breathtaking Views of Los Angeles

SALES CENTER HOURS

Custom Wireless Electronic Access // Generous Patios & Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

Mon-Sat: 10am–6pm Call for appointment

Designer Sky Deck, Pool, Gym & Lounge // Adjacent to Metro Purple Line Station

www.solairwilshire.com 3785 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles CA 90010 Sales Center: 1801 T: 213.387.9099

34 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Residential

Loft Living in a Historic Landmark Benchmark Prices and Low-Rate Financing Make The Rowan a Solid Value

apitalizing upon today’s low interest rates and up to $18,000 in federal and state tax credits, savvy buyers are taking advantage of The Rowan’s market-setting prices to obtain the luxury loft and Downtown lifestyle they always dreamed of enjoying. FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

“When 63 Rowan lofts were sold in one day, a pricing benchmark was established so that today’s buyers know that they are getting a solid value at The Rowan,” said William R. Stevenson, a partner in Downtown Properties. With a real sense of time and place, this Downtown landmark has been meticulously revived in a classic Beaux Arts style. Nickel and silver detailed Art Deco elevator doors pay tribute to the grandeur of a bygone era, while Italian Carrera marble lines the walls of the elegant foyer and lobby as well as the hallway floors of the upper stories that have been artfully reconfigured into new, loft-style condominiums. Exposed brick walls that soar to heights of up to approximately 15 feet showcase the uniqueness of these luxury living spaces. Expanding upon the open and airy arrangements, nearly floor-to-ceiling windows, many of which are framed in restored Honduran mahogany, flood the interiors with natural light. With the same touches of distinction as incorporated into the home of Goodwin Gaw, president of Downtown Properties, the residences are stylishly appointed with Scavolini cabinetry, granite or CaesarStone countertops, Bosch kitchen appliances and oversized bathrooms with Toto toilets. Topped in light- or darktoned maple, the floors as well as the finished ceilings have been engineered for sound-attenuation. Highlighting the current selection are several one-bedroom/ one-bath lofts overlooking Spring Street. Ideal for those who need an extra bedroom on an occasional basis, another plan features two bathrooms, along with an extended living room that can be partitioned into a second sleeping area. Studio and two-bedroom/ two-bath arrangements are also available. The Rowan residences feature full kitchens, walk-in or ward-

Brilliant Design and Thoughtful Planning East Meets West as Solair Wilshire Opens Newly Finished Luxury Tower

Quality craftsmanship and exceptional appointments underscore the reasons why savvy buyers are taking advantage of The Rowan’s marketsetting prices to obtain a new, luxury loft in a meticulously restored Downtown landmark building at the corner of Fifth and Spring streets in the heart of the Old Bank District.

robe closets and space for washers/dryers. Additional amenities include a private residents’ lounge with a media center and kitchenette, plus a landscaped garden with spa tubs and a barbecue area. Located at the corner of Fifth and Spring streets, The Rowan is surrounded by an eclectic array of restaurants, theaters, art galleries and shops. Both the Financial District and Civic Center are within easy walking distance. Market-setting, one-bedroom loft prices starting in the low$300,000s underscore this unprecedented purchase opportunity. A 3% broker cooperation is available to qualifying agents. As a further savings, The Rowan is a designated Mills Act historic building, which provides for approximately a 60% reduction in property taxes. The Rowan’s sales information center is at 460 S. Spring St. Five models are open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. For further assistance, call (213) 213-1898 or visit Rowan-Lofts.com.

t the juncture of Mid-Wilshire and Koreatown, the completion of Solair Wilshire is a prime example of transit-oriented development in a premier location. Adjacent to Hancock Park, a short drive to Beverly Hills and FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

home to a thriving neighborhood complete with shopping, culture and entertainment, Solair is the address for those seeking the urban lifestyle without sacrificing luxury or convenience. At the intersection of Wilshire and Western, Solair is a 24-story high rise with 186 residences, combined with a two-story, 40,000-squarefoot plaza offering high-end retail brands, dining and services. The property sits atop the end of the Metro Purple Line subway. Solair provides homeowners with an unprecedented level of prestige, convenience, privacy and elegance. Five-star amenities, breathtaking views, generous patios, contemporary design and residencContinued on next page

Elegant Apartment Living Dramatic Downtown Views

A hot neighborhood. A cool building. A warm welcome.

• Luxurious interior upgrades including granite & marble countertops, stainless steel appliances & a washer / dryer in every apartment home • Business Center complete with study library, computer center and conference room • Jr. Olympic-size pool & spa with gorgeous city views & expansive sun decks • Fitness Center including saunas, steam & tanning rooms • 24-hour doorman, concierge services Gated community with FREE reserved parking • View our website for additional details and SPECIALS Free Rent Specials*

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

*All Specials are subject to change.

ThePiero.com

Piero

877.223.1494 616 St. Paul Avenue

www.hikarila.com

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

May 18, 2009

Residential

Downtown News 35

Resort Living The Orsini’s Grand Tuscan Village

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 your reality at The Orsini, a grand Tuscan village in Downtown Los Angeles offering FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

world-class 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 vanity areas, 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. Immediately outside of The Orsini’s gates lies a bevy of en-

Continued from previous page es with considerable size offer true extravagance. The Zen-inspired lobby features reflecting pools, wood louver walls and metal louver ceilings, designed by internationally recognized interior design firm Super Potato. A spectacular stone wall and sculptural centerpiece was delivered from Japan, quarried from the same spot Noguchi sourced his materials. Customized wireless electronic access to the property provides maximum security and safety at all times. Four floors of onsite parking are available with two spaces per home. Extensive additional guest and retail parking is also accommodated on a separate floor. Onsite storage units are available for purchase. A seventh-floor Sky Deck features a resort-style pool and spa, complete with furnished cabanas, lounge and seating areas, fire pit, function room, gym and expansive city views. Life inside a Solair home offers brilliant design and thoughtful planning. All residences have expanded views and most offer outdoor living spaces. Imported stone and hardwoods are accented by light from floor-toceiling windows. Space is beautifully efficient, creating openness and comfort. Interior blends seamlessly into exterior as oversized terraces give way to the surrounding horizon, creating an architectural statement of beauty and purity. High-speed elevators are remarkably quiet with an exceptionally smooth ride. Developed by KOAR, Solair represents marquee work from architectural firm Archeon, interior design by Super Potato and construction by Bovis Lend Lease. The developer’s vision gathered an international team of specialists, then focused their decades of experience on creating this state-of-the-art residence for an unequalled living experience. Solair residences range in size from 1,340 square feet to 3,000 square feet with units up to three bedrooms and three bathrooms. Prices start at $650,000. A newly opened sales center is located on the 18th floor with several finished units available to show. To tour Solair, visit solairwilshire.com or contact a sales concierge at (888) 8Solair.

tertainment and cultural offerings such as Walt Disney Concert Hall, Staples Center and Downtown’s vibrant shopping and restaurant scene. With myriad unique floor plans to choose from, including studios, one- and two-bedroom units, the luxurious lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of is closer than you think. The Orsini is at 550 N. Figueroa St. For leasing information, call (877) 267-5911 or visit theorsini.com.

The Ultimate In Downtown Living

Rooftop Pool / Cabanas / Lounge / BBQ Grills / Hardwood Floors Bosch Washer & Dryer in Each unit / Sub-Zero Refrigerators / Private Balconies* 24-Hour Fitness Center / Hydrotherapy Massage / Tanning / Conference Center Concierge Service / On Site Resident & Guest Valet Parking Walk-In Closets / Zen Garden Area / Spa Style Tubs / Bathing Vessels

727 W. 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90017

WWW.RSVLT.COM

877.44.RSVLT

This offering is made solely pursuant to the public offering for the condominium (which is available upon request from the developer), and no statement should be relied upon except as specifically set forth in the public offering statement. This is neither and offer to sell, nor a solicitation of offers to buy, any of the condominium units in those states where such offers of solicitation cannot be made. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THIS OFFERING. This is not an offer to residents of New York or New Jersey or where prohibited by state statutes. Any references to prices, specifications or locations, are subject to change without notice. Models used in this ad do not reflect any racial preference.

36 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Residential

The Roosevelt Welcomes First Residents

Luxury for Lease The Great Republic Lofts Switches From Condominiums To Apartment Homes

Ground Floor Retail Tenants Open for Business and Development Moves Forward

he restoration of the Great Republic Lofts at 756 S. Spring St. is nearing completion and preleasing of the historic units has begun. Just steps away from Downtown’s theater and fashion districts, the lofts have been outfitted to condominium

he Roosevelt Residences is a for-sale luxury high-rise community that has undergone a three-year conversion and renovation, and is now welcoming its first residents and some ground floor retail tenants. Nearly complete, it is serving as home to several buyers, who are waiting close to escrow on their homes.

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specifications and feature upscale finishes and fixtures such as Bosch appliances and hardwood flooring. A representative of Landmark Property Management, Continued on next page

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“We’ve been working with our lender for months trying to get escrows closed. In the meantime, some of our buyers asked if they could move in and rent their units while they wait out the escrow process,” said Randelle Green, sales director for The Roosevelt. Several celebrities reside at The Roosevelt Residences, including Lamar Odom, who plays for the L.A. Lakers. Priced from the $400,000s to $2 million, The Roosevelt offers unmatched amenities, including an elegant rooftop pool with cabanas, outdoor fireplace and city skyline views; worldclass fitness center; 24-hour security; immediate adjacency to the 7th Street Metro Center (Red Line); a business center and conference room; wireless Internet access; tanning and hydrotherapy rooms; massage room; and on-site valet parking for residents and guests. Ground floor retail tenants have opened, including Famima, a convenience store; Marie’s Coffee, which has undergone a significant makeover and offers a variety of coffees, freshly-squeezed juices, delicious soups, made-to-order sandwiches and desserts; and Octopus Japanese Restaurant, which specializes in Japanese-fusion cuisine, including fresh sashimi, sushi and hand-rolls. The Roosevelt joins a long list of residential developments in Downtown Los Angeles affected by a deteriorating nation-

al economy. Recently, the developer of the project, Roosevelt Lofts, LLC, voluntarily filed Chapter 11, the section of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that regulates company reorganizations. This voluntary action is taken by companies to resolve financial challenges in order to maximize the value of their assets. Filing for Chapter 11 provides Roosevelt Lofts, LLC with the tools necessary to restructure its loan agreement with the construction lender in order to allow for the closing of units currently under contract, proceed with sales of additional units, and complete the project. During the reorganization, day-to-day sales activities will continue without interruption at the luxury community. The sales office remains open and sales associates are available to work with prospective buyers in the purchase of loft homes. For additional information about The Roosevelt, please call Randelle Green at (213) 623-3100, or visit the community at 727 W. Seventh St. in Downtown Los Angeles.

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May 18, 2009

Downtown News 37

Residential

Visconti Brings a Tuscan Village to Downtown A Luxury Apartment Community With Resort-Style Living

he graceful serenity of a quaint, Tuscan village meets the urban sophistication of Los Angeles with the arrival of the Visconti, G.H. Palmer Associates’ latest Downtown masterpiece. This new luxury apartment community effortlessly brings together the finest elements of locaFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

tion, amenities and lifestyle in the heart of one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities.

Elegant beauty is meticulously breathed into every element of this stunning new community. The Visconti’s trademark, Tuscan villa-inspired design features European resort-style architecture comprised of lushly landscaped courtyards, breathtaking piazzas and exquisite fountains and waterfalls. The Visconti’s exterior gives way to 297 spacious residences offering an unparalleled level of both luxury and convenience. The sumptuous interiors of the Visconti meld European elegance with modern sophistication, boasting nine-foot ceilings, designer-inspired color schemes, elaborate crown moldings, Italian marble bath vanities and custom-trimmed interior doors. Residences also feature individual washer/dryers, generous walk-in closets, DSL and DirecTV access. Gourmet cooking aficionados can prepare memorable meals within the Visconti’s spacious kitchens, which feature granite countertops, state-of-the-art stainless steel appliances, rich European maple wood cabinets and elegant, ceramic tile floors. Active residents not content to simply soak in the Visconti’s relaxing ambiance and stunning views can enjoy the community’s Junior Olympic sized swimming pool and spa, state-ofthe-art fitness center with LCD TVs, yoga and dance studio Continued from previous page the manager of the building, said, “We think Great Republic will compete very well as a rental project Downtown. We have amazing views, very high-end finishes and fixtures, a beautiful roof deck, and the majority of our units are corner units with lots of windows. It’s a wonderful development.” The building itself has a slim footprint, resulting in corner unit layouts that make up over two-thirds of the apartments. These open loft-style units with high ceilings have expansive windows with breathtaking views of the Los Angeles skyline. Original brick and concrete details were preserved throughout, as were the grand features of the entrance foyer off Spring Street. The building also features a rooftop open-air spa, a glass-walled rooftop gym and a garden seating area with skyline views. Comprised of studios and one-bedroom layouts ranging from 662 to 1,011 square feet, rents start at $1,410 and go up to $2,020 for select top-floor units. Landmark Property Management is a wholly owned subsidiary of Kor Realty Group based in Los Angeles. Landmark manages commercial and multi-family properties throughout Southern California with a particular focus on Downtown Los Angeles. Contact the leasing office for a personal tour at (866) 526-1823.

with Pilates equipment and spacious training rooms. Residents with a flair for the urban lifestyle will find the excitement of Los Angeles right at their fingertips. Located amidst the city’s landmark restaurants, entertainment venues and cultural attractions, the Visconti places its residents in an eclectic urban environment. A brisk walk or short car trip leads to such quintessential L.A. landmarks as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, historic Chinatown and hallowed Dodger Stadium. The gated community features a 24-hour doorman, business center with adjacent conference room, study library with high-speed Internet access and a recreation room with a full

bar and catering kitchen. One-bedroom pricing begins at $1,900 and two-bedroom pricing ranges from $2,275 to $2,492. Selected floor plans are eligible for up to one month free rent. The friendly and professional leasing consultants are now leasing the beautiful two-bedroom, two-bath residences. The square footage of these units ranges from 979 square feet to 1,444 square feet. For even more upscale living, the Visconti also features two 1,976-square-foot penthouses. The Visconti offers truly elegant living in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. The Visconti is at 1221 W. Third St. For leasing information, call (877) 644-2623 or visit thevisconti.com.

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38 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

Residential

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

akura Crossing is bold and contemporary. Its forms, colors and materials were inspired by neighborhood warehouse and Toy District buildings. At the same time, the architecture of Sakura Crossing subtly references its immediFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

ate surroundings, especially the revered Noguchi garden directly across San Pedro Street. Modern, yet respectful of both its neighbors and the past, Sakura Crossing is a welcome new addition to the streetscape of Downtown L.A. Sakura Crossing invites residents to experience the very best in sophisticated modern home design. From the distinctive and stylish oval lobby with its towering glass panels, limestone flooring and Venetian plaster walls to the sleek, contemporary interiors, every detail of Sakura Crossing reflects the impeccably assured design sense of Studio Gaia.

Employing a subtle blend of contrasting and complementary colors, textures and materials, Studio Gaia has created a uniquely contemporary living environment that is at once casual and sophisticated. Homes Designed to Delight A passion for space, style and state-of-theart sophistication is evident in this extraordinary collection of contemporary architectdesigned homes that range from spacious sun-filled studios to light and airy one- and two-bedroom apartments, many featuring private outdoor terraces. The architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s eye is evident in every element from the gourmet kitchenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sleek, white contemporary cabinetry with stainless svteel appliances and polished Caesarstone countertops to the honed hardwood floors specially selected for all living and dining areas. The ceramic tiled baths are appointed with oversized medicine cabinets, abundant mirrors and opulent Caesarstone vanities.

Notable features include a stackable washer/dryer, designer carpeting in all bedrooms, and customized and/or walk-in closets in every residence. Additional stunning amenities include: n Rooftop lounge with three landscaped sundecks for sunbathing, entertaining and private barbecue dining n Rooftop screening room with oversized outdoor private terrace n Lushly landscaped courtyard terrace with outdoor fireplace, pool and Jacuzzi, and outdoor barbecue dining* n State-of-the-art, private fitness center with

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Developer reserves the right to change features, amenities and pricing without notice.

The developer/seller reserves the right to change features, amenities, and pricing without notice. Renderings, photography, illustrations, floor plans, amenities, finishes and other information described are representational only and are not intended to reflect any specific feature, amenity, unit condition or view when built.

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May 18, 2009

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Downtown News 39

Crossing All Borders REDCAT Taps Teens for a Unique Look at Immigration Issues by Richard Guzmán city editor

n its five-year existence, REDCAT has never been known to play it safe. The Downtown performing arts venue is synonymous with cutting-edge and adventurous work. So Behind the Barbed Wire, a play that documents the human impact of the U.S.-Mexico border and touches on immigration and civil rights issues — which often ignite passionate responses from both sides of the spectrum — seems right at home on the REDCAT stage. What makes the performance on May 22 and 23 stand out from the other standout works is the cast: a group of kids from 10 to 18 years old, some of whom have had no theater experience. “Usually when you think about theater created for and by young people, you think of playing it safe. But one of the unique things about this program is that they have really grappled with some pretty intense issues,” said Mark Murphy, executive director of REDCAT. “Sometimes you try to protect younger children, assuming they can’t grasp complicated ideas, but they’re expressing these ideas and they have something original to say about it,” he added. The play is produced by CalArts’ Community Art Partnership program, which provides after-school arts programs for youth, and Plaza de la Raza Youth Theater Program, a nonprofit cultural arts center in Lincoln Park. B.J. Dodge, who is directing the 37 actors in the play, said the work has been a year in the making and touches on many different theater disciplines. It includes live music and interpretative movement, though it is neither a musical nor a dance. It was developed by Chicana playwright Virginia Grise, but was written by the kids themselves.

“Young people are perhaps even more open to combining different artistic disciplines to tell a story because they haven’t been trained in more traditional theatrical techniques,” Murphy said. What some participants lacked in traditional theatrical training, they made up for in preparation for the play. Working after school for two semesters at Plaza de la Raza, the kids immersed themselves in the work. Led by Grise, they took field trips to the border and were instructed to act like a camera and capture what they saw there in writing. They were also taught to think about borders in a different way, as limits placed on them, such as economic borders, and as religious, social and identity issues. The kids filled notebooks with physical observations and observations about themselves. These writings were developed into the play by Grise, who added topics like the 1917 Bath riots in El Paso, Texas, Japanese interment camps and the terrorist attacks on 9-11. “It’s about the physical border and symbolic border in our lives and a history of U.S. policy in terms of immigration,” Grise said. The play comes to REDCAT as part of the Downtown venue’s ongoing collaboration with the Community Arts Partnership program, which gives young performers a chance to work at professional venues and expose them to a wider audience. On June 4, the venue will host a screening of short videos and animated films created by high school students. An exhibit of paintings, photography and other artwork by high school students comes to REDCAT on June 6. Student View For 18-year-old high school senior Jose Estrada, working on the play brought up a lot of questions about his family’s own history.

A Musical Double Dose East West Players Has Mixed Results With Works By Stephen Sondheim and Jason Robert Brown by Jeff Favre contributing writer

he Little Tokyo theater company East West Players is conducting an interesting experiment with a backto-back staging of Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me a Little and Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years. The two, both one-act musicals, share striking similarities, but also have dramatic differences. Of course, an experiment in theater succeeds only if the result is an entertaining evening. Even though both works are flawed, this nearly three-hour experience has moments to please almost any type of musical theater fan, thanks in particular to four stellar performances. The production continues through June 21 at the David Henry Hwang Theatre. To call these wonderful productions of middling musicals by two extraordinarily talented lyricist-composers obviously isn’t an enthusiastic endorsement, but it’s an endorsement nonetheless. East West deserves credit for the imaginative pairing. Both two-person musicals contain virtually no dialogue and only a few duets. Though both are about relationships, they deal with loneliness and isolation. First up is the Sondheim musical, or rather the musical created by Craig Lucas and Norman Rene from Sondheim songs written for some of his other shows, which didn’t

make the final cut for various reasons. If you’re wondering how a cohesive plot can be built from such disparate songs, the answer is, it can’t. That is the major shortcoming of Marry Me a Little. Instead, a storyline is substituted with a scenario — a man and woman (Mike Dalager and Jennifer Hubilla) live alone in the same Manhattan building and sing about the highs and lows of love. The creative twist, which director Jules Aaron deftly stages, is that both characters share the same physical space (a comfy studio apartment, set designed by John H. Binkley), but are unaware of each other’s presence. Only during a few fantasy-driven songs, such as “Once Upon a Time” and “A Moment With You,” do they interact. The songs are the equivalent of outtakes, so none are recognizable hits. Still, Marry Me a Little travels through more than a quartercentury of Sondheim’s canon, illuminating his tongue-tripping lyrics and intricate melodies (ably interpreted by Marc Macalintal). The tone ranges from whimsy (“Pour le Sport,” written in 1956), to somber (“It Wasn’t Meant to Happen,” which was cut from 1971’s Follies). Dalager, who starred in East West productions of Sondheim’s Passion and Sweeney Todd, builds a three-dimensional character through his charisma and emotional subtleties. Hubilla’s lilting soprano is ideal for several Sondheim tunes, in particular the title

photo by Scott Groller

CALENDAR Students ranging from 10 to 18 prepared for more than a year for Behind the Barbed Wire. The REDCAT show uses the U.S.Mexico border as a launching point to address immigration issues.

“My grandmother came from Mexico through the mountains while she was pregnant with my dad. It made me think of what she must have gone through and stories she never told,” he said. But Estrada chose to write more about his internal borders rather than try to recreate his grandmother’s experience. “I decided to write about what made me feel more free, which is when I’m drawing,” he said. “But I learned so much more from the play. It made me learn more about the history of [immigration], things I’ve never thought about much.” The play will likely inspire the audience to think about things they too may otherwise overlook, Murphy added. “The themes they’re exploring provide an opportunity for real engagement in the issue, and it’s a great opportunity to hear from young people about their personal response and thoughts about these issues,” he said. Behind the Barbed Wire runs May 22-23 at 7:30 p.m. at REDCAT, 631 W. Second St., (213) 237-2800 or redcat.org. Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

of genres. Most of Jamie’s songs derive from gospel, blues and pop, while Cathy’s are more dramatic, in a classic musical theater mode. Brown’s lyrics are simplistic and his rhyme schemes are obvious, but he has a knack for comedy. In Cathy’s ode to the pitfalls of acting, she sings, “I’m up every morning at six/And standing in line/With 200 girls/Who are younger and thinner than me/ Who have already been to the photo by Michael Lamont gym.” Jennifer Hubilla appears in Stephen Sondheim’s Marry Me The Last Five Years offers little a Little. The one-act musical at East West Players is paired new other than Brown’s playing with Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years. with chronology. But Paz and Lee elevate the material several song (excised from 1970’s Company). notches. Paz has one of the pur Ultimately, though, complimentary vi- est singing voices in theater; she gradually gnettes don’t adequately replace a plot, and builds power throughout the 80-minute because none of the songs are as strong as piece until the dramatic finale, “Goodbye the ones that made it into finished musicals, Until Tomorrow.” there are no hidden gems. Lee’s enthusiasm for the material injects Meet in the Middle needed energy, in particular with the light In contrast, The Last Five Years has a hearted “Shiksa Goddess.” clear, if contrived, story. Brown’s one in- Director Jon Lawrence Rivera adds inspired idea is having struggling actress teresting visual elements that help define Cathy (Jennifer Paz) relive a failed relation- the characters’ alternate paths. Ivy Chou’s ship from its end to the beginning, while costumes, for example, move from black to up-and-coming author Jamie (Michael K. gray to white for Cathy and in the opposite Lee) moves from start to finish. direction for Jamie. A large upstage screen The pair meet only in the middle, sharing displays solitary trees against a sea of gray. the duet “The Next Ten Minutes,” when It’s the skill of Rivera, Aaron and their they decide to marry. The series of solo respective casts that turn The Last Five Years performances suggests that they never truly and Marry Me a Little into enjoyable excurconnect, with Cathy living in Jamie’s shad- sions. The material may be uneven, but East ow and Jamie becoming fully self-absorbed. West Players’ execution is first-rate. Unlike Sondheim, whose style is un- Marry Me a Little and The Last Five Years mistakable, Brown, known to many in run at East West Players through June 21, Downtown for his teen musical 13 at the 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000, or Mark Taper Forum, borrows from a variety eastwestplayers.org.

40 Downtown News

Grammy Museum Show Turns Focus Back on Photographer Moshe Brakha staff wRiteR

hen Moshe Brakha finished his stint in the Israeli military, he set shore for Los Angeles, intent on becoming a photographer. During the 1970s and ’80s, he captured dozens of up and coming punk rockers and pop artists, from The Screamers to Madonna, when they were still, as Brakha says, “penniless.” Always more comfortable behind the lens, Brakha, born in 1947, has his first major show, Occupation Dreamer, at the Grammy Museum. It runs through Aug. 9. Los Angeles Downtown News: Why the title Occupation Dreamer? Moshe Brakha: Either you can dream or you fall asleep. It’s the way it works in life. Some people dream to get somewhere, or some keep sleeping, you go nowhere. And your dream becomes a job, an occupation. Everybody that works in this world, musicians, artists, are people with open dreams. If you don’t have this drive you’re not a dreamer. You’re a sleeper. Q: It’s been more than 20 years since the last of the photos in this show were taken. Why do the show now? A: I’m a guy that always believed himself to be in a jungle; I’m always behind the scene, behind the camera. I really think it takes character to do shows. You start to have to talk and be somebody to do it, because usually I used to deal with rock stars. They’re the stars, I’m the photographer. I just got small credit. But my sons wanted to do it and they said why not here, at the Grammy Museum, and I said, “sure.”

Q: What was it that drew you to the punk and rock scenes in the 1970s and ’80s? A: The old punk era happened in front of my fingers. I sort of walked into it and there was an opportunity to express yourself, and you start to meet people who go along with your expression. It was like sandwich, your cheese and bologna.

photos courtesy of Moshe Brakha Photography

An Eye for Music by Ryan VaillancouRt

May 18, 2009

DowntownNews.com

Q: Your portraits required unique access to these artists. How were you able to get so close and have such intimacy? A: It’s always asking and being a nice guy. I would take pictures and the next day I come with a yellow box and the next day there are 10 other artists wanting to have shots taken of them. People always want shots. It gets to the point where they ask you, so I was a Cinderella as well. But I was very friendly and involved with most of these artists. A lot of them recognized my talent. Q: You’ve aged side-by-side with the artists you photographed. Are you still an avid punk listener? Do you still go to shows? A: I’m full-time. Long hair was fantastic but rich punk is a classic. That’s got nothing to do with whether I go to shows now; it’s a mark on you. It’s in your blood. It’s my music and that’s what I stand by. Q: What do you hope people get out of the show? A: You know, just enjoy themselves. Operation Dreamer runs through Aug. 9 at the Grammy Museum, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Ste. A245, (213) 765-6800 or grammymuseum.org. Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

Photos on display in Moshe Brakha’s Operation Dreamer include a 1985 shot of Madonna at a New York club and a portrait of Run DMC.

May 18, 2009

Downtown News 41

SearchDowntownLA.com

LISTINGS EVENTS SPONSORED LISTINGS: Cole’s Sunday Brunch Premieres 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-4090 or colesfrenchdip.com Starting on May 24, Cole’s, the self-proclaimed Originators of the French Dip, debuts its Sunday Downhome Downtown Brunch. The menu includes Eggs BeneDip; Harry Cole’s French Toast featuring Cole’s own sourdough bread dusted with powered sugar and served with warm maple syrup; Fluffy P.E. Pancakes; Mickey Cohen’s Favorite Corned Beef Hash and Biscuits and Sausage Gravy; a fresh-baked trio of buttermilk biscuits topped with caramelized onion marmalade and served with sausage gravy; and a 213 Locals Breakfast, two eggs any style, home fries, ’Old Fitzgerald bourbon-soaked bacon and a Fresh Fruit plate. Brunch drink specials, all $5, include Sparkling Wine, Mimosas, Irish Coffee, Bloody Marys and Bloody Bulls, a Cole’s-crafted cocktail spiced with a shot of Beef Au Jus.

rtesy photo cou ngfellow of Kim Stri

Friday, May 22 Farmlab Public Salons 1745 N. Spring St. #4, (323) 226-1158 or farmlab.org. Noon: Kim Stringfellow and Wonder Valley artist Chris Carraher will present the Jackrabbit Homestead, an online multimedia project focuses on Southern California’s Morongo Basin. The pair will discuss the legacy of the Small Tract Act in the region near Joshua Tree National Park. Stories from this regional history are told through the voices of local residents, historians, and area artists — many of whom reside in reclaimed historic cabins and use the structures as inspiration for their creative work. Continued on page 42

photo by Ed Rampell

with is dotted uilt e e r T a u esteads, b near Josh go Basin “jackrabbit” hom land from n o r o M The n as ceived ins know e who re . Artist small cab andoned by thos ract Act of 1938 artT ab rea and later through the Small and Morongo-a iday, w Fr o m ll a n S fe o g b Uncle Kim Strin ppear at Farmla Homestead, r to a c u d it a and e ckrabb r will discuss Ja Carrahe resentaist Chris m noon-1 p.m. to ased multimedia p in the fro nd web-b ho reside May 22, g book a lighting artists w ) 226-1158 or in m o c h a fort , (323 w high ng St., #4 tringfello tion by S bins. 1745 N. Spri ca reclaimed . rg .o b farmla

photo courtesy of Camerata Pacifica

Tuesday, May 19 ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Author Christopher Buckley, the son of the late American conservative party’s ideological godfather, William F. Buckley, shocked many when he proclaimed support for Obama. Think Dad was rolling around in his grave? He’s in conversation with L.A. about a new memoir with L.A. Times columnist Gregory Rodriguez. Wednesday, May 20 Meeting of the Real Estate Minds City Club, 333 S. Grand Ave., (213) 633-1990. 11:30-2 p.m.: The Institute of Real Estate Management presents an expert panel to discuss the future of the business, delving into topics including compensation and employment trends. Lunch and networking included. ALOUD at the Central Library 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. 7 p.m.: Colson Whitehead will discuss “Sag Harbor: A Novel,” about the historically African-American enclave of Sag Harbor, on the east end of Long Island.

Have a swingin’ time, literally, at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on Friday, May 22, when the exclusive, normally members-only club opens its doors to the public for its new monthly event, Fourth Friday Swing Dances. The name pretty much says it all—swing dancing on the fourth Friday of each month. The evening begins with a free swing dancing lesson at 7:30 p.m., and then you can swing it to the live 10-piece band Swing Inc. from 9 p.m.-midnight. No partner required, so give it a shot. Admission is $12, and “classy casual” dress is requested. 646 S. Olive St., (213) 625-2211.

Camerata Pacifica is “not your parent’s chamber ensemble,” or so the organization says. Judge for yourself on Wednesday, May 20, when the genre-bending group performs a free concert at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels with the L.A. Orchestra. The performance, which will close Camerata Pacifica’s 19th season, is the precursor to a $500 per ticket gala at the nearby California Club honoring arts patron Warner Henry — but those of us saving money are free to attend just the concert. If you have not yet made it to the Cathedral, this is your chance. 555 W. Temple St., (213) 680-5200 or cameratapacifica.org.

photo by Gary Leonard

Lakers Playoff Pints Special at Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or caseysirishpub.com. Watch the Lakers action on eight screens. For all Laker playoff games, the bar offers 20oz Bud Light Ale on tap for $5. Team Trivia is every Wednesday, at 6 p.m. There’s no entry fee and you can win prizes. Know your Godzilla from your Bridezilla? Wild Bunch from Brady Bunch? The Knack from the Knicks? Test your wits and win prizes playing Pop Quiz Team Trivia. Live Irish music with Kris Colt and the Black Rose Band at 9 p.m. on May 22.

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photo by Robert Millard

Cole’s Historic Bar Saloon Specials 118 E. Sixth St., (213) 622-4090 or colesfrenchdip.com. Cole’s is launching new happy hour beer, wine and food specials, from 3-7 p.m., daily. The special includes $2 off all spirits, tap beer and wine. Half French Dip sandwiches are $4, or $5 with fries. And every Tuesday, it’s the same drink specials all day, all night. Cole’s is closed on Monday for filming and private events.

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Talk about dad rolling over in his grave! Christopher Buckley, the son of the late American conservative party’s ideological godfather, William F. Buckley, supported Democrat and now President Barack Obama in last year’s election. Expect Buckley the younger to talk about that and more, including his new memoir Losing Mum and Pup, on Tuesday, May 19, at 7 p.m., when he appears at the Central Library as part of the Aloud series. He will be in conversation with L.A. Times columnist Gregory Rodriguez. 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7025 or aloudla.org. Contact Anna Scott at anna@downtownnews.com.

42 Downtown News

Listings Continued from page 41

BARS & CLUBS The Association 610 S. Main St. Carved out of the back area that used to belong to Cole’s, the bar in front, the Association is a dimly-lit, swank little alcove with some serious mixologists behind the bar. Banquette 400 S. Main St., (213) 626-2768 or banquette-cafe.com. This petite cafe and wine bar with its red and white striped awning has become a popular hangout for casual evenings of drinking wine and meeting up with friends. During monthly Art Walks on the second Thursday of the month, Banquette buzzes with almost every kind of Downtown denizen you could imagine. They have a small but lovely selection of wines by the glass as well as beers. Barbara’s at the Brewery 620 Moulton Ave., No. 110, (323) 221-9204 or barbarasatthebrewery.com. On the grounds of the Brewery, this bar and restaurant in an unfinished warehouse is where local residents find their artistic sustenance. Beer on tap, wine list and full bar. Bar 107 107 W. Fourth St., (213) 625-7382 or myspace.com/bar107. Inside the keyhole-shaped door, tough-as-nails Derby Dolls vie for elbowroom with crusty old bar guys and a steady stream of Old Bank District inhabitants. Velvet señoritas, deer heads with sunglasses, a wooden Indian and Schlitz paraphernalia plaster the red walls. There’s no shortage of entertainment, with the funky dance room, great DJs and the occasional rock band. In the photo booth, you can capture your mug in old-fashioned black and white. Located just two blocks east of the Pershing Square Metro stop, Bar 107 is open from 3 p.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Blue Velvet 750 S. Garland St., (213) 239-0061 or bluevelvetrestaurant.com.

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May 18, 2009

DowntownNews.com Located off a small side street, look for the blue neon sign that says The Flat. This stylish poolside restaurant and lounge in the former Holiday Inn (now a residential building) features sparkling views of Staples Center, a dining room with a 17-foot sunken granite table, and a sleek bar with white stools where you can saddle up cowboy style. Bonaventure Brewing Company Westin Bonaventure, 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 2360802 bbc2go.com. Where can you get a drink, order some decent bar food, sit outdoors and still feel like you’re Downtown? It’s a tall order to fill, but this bar in the Bonaventure Hotel does it admirably. Sure, the hotel is vaguely ’80s, and you’ll probably encounter some convention goers tying a few on, but it only adds to the fun. Pub Quiz Trivia Night every Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. Bona Vista Lounge 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 624-1000 or starwoodhotels.com. Located in the heart of the Financial District in the landmark Westin Bonaventure Hotel, this revolving cocktail lounge offers a 360-degree view of the city. Bordello 901 E. First St., (213) 687-3766 bordellobar.com. If the name doesn’t clue you in, a sultry voiced “madam” on the answering machine lets you know Bordello isn’t exactly for the buttoned-up crowd. This onetime house of ill repute has shed its most recent life as Little Pedro’s with a gussied up interior oozing sex appeal — lush scarlet velvet, ornate black chandeliers and heart-shaped chairs in hidden alcoves. Bottlerock 1150 S. Flower St., bottlerock.net Situated on the ground floor of the Met Lofts in South Park, this wine bar features a vast range of bottles from around the world and a price range equally as wide. Wines by the glass start at around $8, but if you’re feeling overcome by oenophilia (or just deeppocketed) there are some first growth Bordeauxs for more than $1,000 for the bottle. And if you don’t get your fill while at the bar, which also features a rotating crop of artisanal beers and a full dinner menu, Bottlerock also sells bottles at retail. Broadway Bar 830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or thebroadwaybar.net.

Join Us In Celebrating... Join Us In Celebrating...

h AnniversAry! Our 60th AnniversAry! Saturday, June 20, 2009

y, June 20, 2009Wells Fargo Theater

Located next to the Orpheum Theatre in the Platt Building, the Broadway Bar’s blue neon sign beckons patrons inside to its 50-foot circular bar. The casual-chic spot is based on Jack Dempsey’s New York bar, with low lighting and a dose of ’40s glam. There’s a patio upstairs with nice views, and a jukebox. Casey’s Irish Bar & Grille 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com. With its worn brick staircase, tin ceilings and dark wood decor, it’s easy to see how this neighborhood bar and grill still works its Irish charm. Regulars cozy up to the 60-foot mahogany bar with a pint of Guinness and a plate of bangers and mash. Casey’s has a full menu with six beers on tap and a selection of Belgian ales and microbrews. Cicada 617 S. Olive St., (213) 488-9488 or cicadarestaurant.com. Every Sunday, the restaurant is transformed into a vintage, old Hollywood-style dance club, with a big band, swank costumes, dinner and cocktails (visit cicadaclub.com). Ciudad 445 S. Figueroa St., (213) 486-5171 or ciudad-la.com. Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger’s Downtown restaurant serves up Latin recipes from Spain and South America. The modern space also hosts a thriving happy hour with live music on the outdoor patio several nights a week. Don’t miss the mojitos. Club 740 740 S. Broadway, (213) 225-5934 or 740la.com. This 1920s theater has been transformed into a three-level party playground sprawling over 40,000 square feet. Club 740 is a spectacle with ornate gold balconies, go-go dancers and private skybox lounges. Music includes hip-hop, Latin vibe, Top 40 and indie rock. Cole’s 118 E. Sixth St., colesfrenchdip.com. This beloved restaurant saloon has been renovated under new ownership. The great leather booths and dark wood bar of the old spot remain, but now the glasses are clean. Draft beer, historic cocktails, and a short wine list. Corkbar 403 W. 12th St., corkbar.com. If the name didn’t give it away, this South Park establishment is all about the wine, specifically, California wine. Situated on the ground floor of the Evo condominium building, Corkbar serves up a seasonal food menu of farmer’s market-driven creations to go with your Golden State pinots, cabernets and syrahs. Eastside Luv 1835 E. First St., (323) 262-7442 or eastsideluv.com. A stone’s throw from Mariachi Plaza and all that Metro Line construction, this tucked-away spot features Mexican movie posters on the wall, good beer on tap, regular sangria, live bands, and different from anything to its west, no attitude. e3rd 734 E. Third St., (213) 680-3003 or eastthird.com. This Asian-style steakhouse with an artsy flavor features a sleek lounge with low, circular tables and a long psychedelic bar that changes colors like a mood ring. There’s a full bar, inventive cocktails (including soju) and a reasonable wine list. DJs spin. Edison 108 W. Second St., (213) 613-0000, edisondowntown.com. Downtown history has come full circle in this for-

mer power plant turned stunning cocktail bar. The Edison is perhaps Downtown’s hottest hotspot and draws an eclectic crowd, including jaded Hollywood types who can’t help but gawk at the preserved bits of machinery, the huge generator and the coal box that now houses the jukebox. Far Bar 347 E. First St., (behind the Chop Suey Café), (213) 617-9990 or chopsueycafe.com. Tucked behind the Chop Suey Café is the Far Bar, where intimacy and a sense of noir L.A. collide. If you can find the place, which you enter through the back of the café or via a skinny alley a few doors down, you can throw them back in the same spot author Raymond Chandler is rumored to have done the same. Figueroa Hotel 939 S. Figueroa St., (213) 627-8971 or figueroahotel.com. The Moroccan-inspired Figueroa Hotel just a block north of Staples Center manages the unique feat of making you feel like you’re in the heart of the city and removed from it at the same time. The light-filled Veranda Bar is just steps from the clear, glittery pool, and it’s common to see suit-clad Downtowners a few feet from swimsuit-wearing Euro-tourists. Gallery Bar Millennium Biltmore Hotel Los Angeles, 506 S. Grand Ave., (213) 624-1011 or millenniumhotels.com. This elegant lounge in the Millennium Biltmore Hotel is known for its martinis, wines and vintage ports. Genji Bar Kyoto Grand Hotel and Gardens, 120 Los Angeles St., (213) 253-9255 or kyotograndhotel.com. The Genji Bar offers a hip, private karaoke room that you and a dozen or so of your friends can rent for about $10 a piece. It’s got new songs, old songs, odd songs and songs that you wish no one would sing. It also means you can warble “Sweet Home Alabama” all you want without the agonizing wait. Golden Gopher 417 W. Eighth St., (213) 614-8001 or goldengopherbar.com. This stylish, dimly lit space with exposed brick walls, chandeliers and golden gopher lamps has a rockin’ jukebox, cheap Pabst Blue Ribbon and an outdoor lounge for smokers. Best of all, it also has Ms. Pac Man and Galaga. The bar also has a rare take-out liquor counter. Grand Star Jazz Club 943 Sun Mun Way, (213) 626-2285. Firecracker club heats things up every other Friday atop the Quon Brothers’ Grand Star. Start the evening at the latter, where the lapu lapus are wicked strong. There’s usually alternating karaoke and a good jazz trio. Upstairs you’ll find the hip-hop haven known as Firecracker, a longtime dance club with good music and an eclectic, lively crowd. Hop Louie 950 Mei Ling Way (Central Plaza), (213) 628-4244. This is old school Chinatown, on the ground floor of the Hop Louie Restaurant, with slightly indifferent bartenders and décor — it’s actually a relief. J Restaurant & Lounge 1119 S. Olive St., (213) 746-7746 or jloungela.com. Once the site of the historic Little J’s, this South Park lounge a stone’s throw from Staples Center now offers signature cocktails, cigars, beer and about 20 wines by the glass. The sprawling space is high-

continued on page 44

Autry National Center of the American West

ls Fargo Theater 4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, California 90027 We welcome our special guests, internationally acclaimed opera stars Center of the American West

Marilyn Horne • Mary Costa • Heinz Blankenburg

ge Way, Los Angeles, California 90027

Featuring Two Performances of “The Treasure of California”

uests, internationally acclaimed opera stars 2:00pm and 4:30pm

Mary Costa • Heinz Blankenburg Reception & Silent Auction 3:00pm

Tickets are $60.00

Featuring Two Performances of “The Treasure of California”

GUILD OPERA COMPANY

1636 N. Cahuenga Blvd., Suite 204, Hollywood, CA 90028 Phone: (323) 463-6593 Fax: (323) 463-2926 E-mail: GuildOperaCo@aol.com

www.GuildOpera.org Check out Guild Opera on LAArtsEd.org – a searchable online catalogue.

2:00pm and 4:30pm

The Pope was impressed. You will be, too. 90 YEArS ANd STILL GrOwING! An invitation to tour historic IMMACULATE CONCEPTION SCHOOL

PARtIALLY fUNDED bY LA COUNtY ARts COMMIssION

830 Green Avenue (West of Staples Center across from Loyola Law School)

For ordetails detailscall: call:Jeanette JeanetteFloyd Floyd(323) 323-463-6593 For tickets tickets or 876-7735

RSVP FOR GUIDED TOUR: 213-382-5931 x 23

Reception & Silent Auction 3:00pm

Excellence in Education since 1919

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

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

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May 18, 2009

44 Downtown News

May 18, 2009

DowntownNews.com

But Wait, There’s More!

Listings for additional concerts, exhibits and more in Downtown Los Angeles can be found on our website. Go to downtownnews.com/calendar for full information, including time and location, for all the happenings in Downtown.

Additional Event Information on the Web

Free Parking Next to Restaurant

700 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 | Tel: 213.617.2323

10 PieCe sPeCiAL

Now Accepting Credit Cards

Free Delivery With minimum order of $10. Only when available. Limited area & hours.

Party Paks Available

thighs & Legs

2 Downtown Locations Corner of BroADwAy & 3rd

Grand Opening Special 30% OFF on All Services & Supplies

www.southparkdoggie.com Day & Overnight Care, Grooming & Food!

onLy

226 E. 9th St.

+ TAX

FAshion DistriCt at corner 9th/Santee (213) 623-5091 • (213) 327-0645

Tel/Fx:

(213) 623-9405

Voted

Best Bakery

WEDNESDAYS Pershing Square Farmers Market 532 S. Olive St., ccfm.com 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.: Rows of fresh, in-season produce and a variety of hot snacks. ThurSDAYS City Hall Farmers Market South Lawn of City Hall, between Main and Spring streets, downtownfarmersmarket.org. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Farm fresh produce, flowers, olives, oils, hummus, dips, honeys and crafts. Music 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. It’s a chance to pick up fresh goods and get some face time with your favorite civil servant. 7+Fig Farmers Market 725 S. Figueroa St., (213) 955-7150 or 7fig.com. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.: The outdoor mall in the Financial District offers produce, hot and sweet kettle corn, flowers, honey, breads, bonsai trees, tamales, olives, nuts and more. FriDAYS Bank of America Farmers Market 333 S. Hope St., at Bank of America Plaza, ccfm.com. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Visitors rave about the falafel, samosas and tamales, but there’s also produce, flowers and crafts.

mousses • fresh fruit tarts • cookies • pastries asian pastries • edible sculptures • cupcakes downtown delivery available

7 days a week: M-F & Sun: 7am-9pm, Sat 7am-10pm

30 Years Experience

213.680.0008

943 N Broadway, Los Angeles

EvEnT inFo

4 wEb: www.DowntownNews.com 4 EMAiL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

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

FREE

Best Of Downtown 2007

EASy wAyS To SubMiT youR

Remember, you can read the paper two days before it hits the streets at

Wonder Bakery Themed, Birthday, Generic, Seasonal or Custom-Designed Cakes

Tel/Fx:

FARMERS MARKETS

CATERING

L.A., CA 90012 (213) 626-7975 • (213) 626-8235

(213) 626-4572

$9.99

y.c aker

rB onde ww.W

palm trees and vintage circular booths. The 40-foot stage jumps with DJs and go-go girls, while a large bar stretches across the opposite end of the wall. Weiland Brewery 400 E. First St., (213) 680-2881 and 505 S. Flower St., (213) 622-1125 or weilandbrewery.net. This Brewery with two Downtown outposts hosts one of the friendliest happy hours in town from 3-7 p.m. and 10 p.m.-close. Zita Trattoria 825 James M. Wood Blvd., (213) 488-0400. Located within steps of the Staples Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center, this skylight-lit trattoria and bar offers many wines by the glass.

LADowntownNews.com

213-747-DOGY (3649)

260 S. Broadway

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Continued from page 42 lighted by a 10,000-square-foot outdoor patio featuring cozy cabanas, a glowing fire pit and a 30-foot granite bar. Happy hour is from 5 p.m. until sunset all summer long. La Cita 336 S. Hill St., (213) 687-7111. Though the owners of Echo Park’s Short Stop bought it, little has changed. Everything in this former Mexican Ranchero bar oozes red, from the vinyl booths lining the wall to the glowing light fixtures. Hipsters, Latino regulars and artists mingle as DJs get their groove on during the week. Saturday and Sunday bring Hacienda Nights with traditional Ranchero music. La Fonda 2501 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 380-5053 or lafondala.com. The palatial restaurant and stage has re-opened. Live performances by the Mariachi Monumental de America plays nightly at 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m. The restaurant is open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Library Bar 630 W. Sixth St., (213) 614-0053 or librarybarla.com. This dimly lit bar is more upscale than your typical pub, which means you won’t find a boisterous USC crowd here. A very busy happy hour draws associates from the law firm across the street, as well as bankers, secretaries and other professionals for the grown-up beer and wine selections. There’s a full bar, but the main attractions are the seven craft beers on tap. Mayan 1038 S. Hill St., (213) 746-4287 or clubmayan.com. A multi-level nightclub in the refurbished Mayan Theatre features Latin dance, Spanish rock, house and tropical music on the main floor. Upstairs, its ’80s music, KROQ selections, disco, hip-hop and R&B. McCormick & Schmick’s 633 W. Fifth St., Fourth Floor, (213) 629-1929 or mccormickandschmicks.com. With a bar, adjoining dining rooms and patio where patrons can take in the dazzling skyline, this is a longtime Downtown happy hour scene, and one of its most festive. The drinks come quick, and the food specials are unbeatable — formidable burgers and appetizers for mere dollars. Moody’s Bar and Grille Los Angeles Marriott Downtown, 333 S. Figueroa St., (213) 617-1133 or marriott.com. Located in the lobby of the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown, Moody’s is a traditional sports bar, serving pub grub from steaks to sandwiches. Morton’s The Steakhouse, Bar 12·12 735 S. Figueroa St., (213) 553-4566 or mortons.com. Sinatra croons and cocktails chill. And during Power Hour, bar bites are $5, Mon.-Fri. from 4:30-6:30 p.m. and 9:30-11 p.m. Mountain Bar 475 Gin Ling Way, (213) 625-7500 or themountainbar.com.

sea bass carpaccio and a beefy Royale burger. There are also $4 well drinks and draft beer, and delicious $5 martinis to enjoy while you listen to the DJ music or lounge in a 35-seat booth. Sabor 847 S. Union Ave., (213) 388-3311, saborlounge.com. This neighborhood watering hole hosts hardcore metal music, cheap beer, and smoky patio outside. Seven Grand 515 W. Seventh St., (213) 614-0737 A neon stag head near Seventh Street and Grand Avenue marks the entrance to this high-end whiskey lounge. At the top of a staircase you’ll find a diorama with a gun-toting hunter, one of several quirky elements that also include bejeweled crows in the ladies room, plaid fabric, and plenty of stag and elk imagery. More than 120 whiskeys are displayed behind the stunning backlit bar, and the expert mixologists whip up some truly amazing cocktails (happy hour prices apply all day Monday). A smoker’s patio is onsite. The action around the pool table is always lively and there’s a nice lineup of live music. Standard Hotel 550 S. Flower St., (213) 892-8080 or standardhotel.com. Despite only a few short years in operation, you can pretty much consider the Standard hotel’s rooftop bar a local nightlife veteran. From buttoned-up office workers who flock to the space for happy hour drinks to the swanked-out late-night crowd, the place is always buzzing. Floating amid the surreal skyline, the mod lounge features pod-shaped cabanas, vibrating waterbeds, super hot bartenders and lots of beautiful people. Suede Bar and Lounge Westin Bonaventure, 404 S. Figueroa St., (213) 4893590 or suedebarla.com. This new, crimson-toned pocket has a happy hour Monday through Friday from 4-8 p.m. There are small plates, cigars and a smoking patio. Takami & Elevate Lounge 811 Wilshire Blvd., 21st floor, (213) 236-9600 or elevatelounge.com. This former 1960s office suite is split between the 130-seat restaurant on the east and a stylish lounge on the west. The modern Japanese aesthetic with warm wood tables, leather floors, low lounge seating and striking sculptural pieces makes an immediate impression, though not nearly as much as the wall-to-wall windows and endless views. The stylish lounge features VIP seating, a dance floor, two bars and DJs spinning nightly. Valet available after 6 p.m. nightly (Wilshire/Lebanon). Tapas and Wine Bar C 428 E. Second St., winebarc.biz. In this Little Tokyo establishment, indulgence is the word: Sultry waitresses strutting in French Maid outfits serve up sake and Bordeaux reds to go with exotic tapas and main courses. The interior is decked out in faux fur and black lace curtains. And if watching sports is your indulgence, the Lakers are on TV too. Tatou 333 S. Boylston St., (213) 482-2000 or tatouclub.com. The dance club is pure indulgence, with multiple VIP nooks (some with PlayStation3 systems), a bit of Cocoanut Grove glam in the form of four 15-foot

Fig ue ro

Listings

There’s something to be said for a spot that’s a bit tricky to find. No matter. Your hard work will be rewarded with an extra strong drink at this artsy Chinatown haven decked out with stunning light fixtures, red bleeding walls and post-modern decor. The second level features a dance floor. There’s usually an art show every month, and weekly DJs. The Must 118 W. Fifth St., (213) 627-1162. It’s new to the area, but The Must already feels like a neighborhood spot. With a creative bar list, artisan beers on tap, sangria plus great happy hour and food specials, it’s a welcome addition. You can get everything from Bosnian wine to bottles from small California producers to a bottle of Colt 45 for two (it comes in a bucket of ice with two champagne flutes). O Bar & Kitchen O Hotel, 819 S. Flower St., (213) 623-9904 or ohotelgroup.com. Surrounded by warm orange walls and exposed brick, try California-inspired Mediterranean tapas and relax with a house cocktail or specialty martini. Oiwake 122 Japanese Village Plaza Mall, (213) 628-2678. The first karaoke restaurant and bar in Downtown boasts a monster songbook. Point Moorea Wilshire Grand Hotel, 930 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 8335100 or wilshiregrand.com. Step into the South Pacific at this casual drinking bar that was voted the area’s best place to meet singles by this newspaper. The gathering spot features a grand bar, a martini bar, the Harem Room and a daily happy hour from 5-7 p.m. Redwood Bar & Grill 316 W. Second St., (213) 680-2600 or theredwoodbar.com. This maritime-inspired tavern is decked out in nautical gear, including fishing nets and floats, weathered wooden planks and the stumps of dock timbers. A rusty anchor and reproductions of pirate flags adorn the ceiling of the entryway. DJs spin in a backroom while a high-tech jukebox churns out everything from the Clash to Frank Sinatra. Royal Clayton’s Pub 1855 Industrial St., (213) 622-0512 or royalclaytonstavern.com. This stylish Gothic-Industrial restaurant on the ground floor of the Toy Factory Lofts has a laidback vibe and no Hollywood scene in sight. Drinks are strong, the lighting is soft and the short ribs are insane. There’s a tavern menu after 10 p.m. to keep you going as you play pool or listen to the nightly DJs spin everything from Euro grooves to ’80s anthems. Royale 2619 Wilshire Blvd., (213) 985-0676 or royaleonwilshire.com. Set in the historic Wilshire Royale Hotel on Downtown’s western fringe, Royale restaurant has created a Roaring ’20s cocktail lounge with a modern twist. During the week, check out Happy Hour Remixed (5-8 p.m.), where a bar menu features items from $4-$9 including crispy pork spareribs,

ESTIMATES

Full Computer Service Center Serving Downtown Los Angles Since 1993 12000 sf. Computer Sales and Service Facility • PC Repair / Upgrades • Laptop Repair / Upgrades • MAC Repair / Upgrades • Virus & Spam Removal • Computer Networking • Data Recovery • Printer Repair

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3930 Broadway Place, Los Angeles, CA 90037

323-233-5300

May 18, 2009

Downtown News 45

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

pLACE youR Ad onLinE At www.LAdowntownnEws.CoM

l.a. downtown news classifieds Call: 213-481-1448 Classified Display & Line ad Deadlines: thursday 12 pm

“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.”

REAL ESTATE RESIDENTIAL lofts for sale

LA County 2 & 3 bd homes starting at $83,000 up to $137,000. Call now 24/7

888-873-4633

out of state 20 ACRE RANCHES!! $0 down!! Near Booming El Paso, Texas. $15,900, $159 /month! (10%/209 months) Beautiful Views. Money Back Guarantee. Owner Financing. Free Maps/Pictures. 800343-9444. (Cal-SCAN)

REAL ESTATE COMMERCIAL office space lease/sale

FOR RENT apartments/unfurnisHed

MILANO LOFTS Now LeasiNg!

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acreage/lots

Downtown since 2002 Don’t settle for anyone less experienced!

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Bill Cooper 213.598.7555

TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Buying, Leasing or Selling a Loft?

TheLoftGuys.net LA’s #1 Loft Site

Call 213-625-1313 Homes for sale FORECLOSED HOME AUCTION. Orange, LA, Riverside & More. 600+ Homes Must Be Sold! REDC | Free Brochure. www.Auction.com. (Cal-SCAN)

BANK ORDERED SALE! 48 Acres for $24,900 Enjoy 300 days of sunshine. Clean Title, Warranty Deed. Rocky Mtn. views, utilities. Excellent Financing! Call Today! 1-866-696-5263 x4938. (Cal-SCAN)

DOWNTOWN L.A. OVIATT BUILDING

2 offices for rent, all hook-ups, partly furnished. 530 sqft. $1,000 month, flex lease.

213.623.7008 or 213.280.5452

BUYER’S MARKET. New Mexico. Ranch Dispersal. 140 acres $89,900. River Access. Northern New Mexico. Cool 6,000’ elevation with stunning views. Great tree cover including Ponderosa, rolling grassland and rock outcroppings. Abundant wildlife, great hunting. EZ terms. Call NML&R, Inc. 1-866-360-5263. (Cal-SCAN)

ALA 99¢/Sq. Ft. High Rise Office Space

LAND FORECLOSURES in New Mexico! From as low as $19,995 for 10+/- acre, phone, electric close, views. Guaranteed financing, low down! Going Fast! 888-812-5830. www.SWProperties.com. (Cal-SCAN)

Office Sublet

Walking distance to Metro Station, Social Security Office, Immigration Office, and Jewelry District. Close to 110 &101 Fwy. On site security guard.

213-892-0088

South Park Furnished 10-12 Workstations Great views

Professional service firm preferred

Contact Erin 213.553.1100

213.627.1900 FREE RENT SPECIALS 2 months free! (O.A.C.) New downtown luxury apartments with granite kitchens, marble baths, pool, spa, saunas & free parking. 888-736-7471. APARTMENT FOR RENT: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, balcony. Downtown view, no pets. 562760-0101. FREE RENT SPECIALS free! Panoramic downtown views. 1 bed/1bath starting at $1398. Washer dryer in unit, gated,Pool, spa and sauna. 888-265-1707. FREE RENT SPECIALS Los Angeles Studio $1688/ month Luxury at it’s finest! Granite counters, W & D 888-262-9761. SAN GABRIEL LARGE bright 2 br, 1 ba, lower, new paint, hardwood, blinds, enclosed garage, stove, refrig. $1195. 626-8238053.

FREE RENT SPECIALS (O.A.C.) Brand New Resort Apartments. Granite kitchens, washer/dryers, pools, spas, saunas, fitness ctr, free tanning beds & much more! 866-690-2894. FREE RENT 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.

duplexes 1 BEDROOM, 1 bathroom duplex. $750.00 monthly. 4 minutes to downtown. Older retired couple or single professional preferred. Excellent credit required. 323-466-6666. http:// losangeles.craigslist.org/lac/ apa/1169910617.html.

loft/unfurnisHed

old Bank district

Lofts from $1,100. High ceilings. A/C. Parking available. High speed internet/T1 & direct T.V. Pets no charge. call 213-253-4777 LAloft.com

town Houses MONTEREY HILLS 3 bdrm, 3 story townhouse. 1800 sq. ft. 7 miles to Civic Center. Many extras. $1750/Mo. 626-799-3104. rooms

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Business opportunities ALL CASH VENDING! Be Your Own Boss! Your Own Local Vending Route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy for $9,995. MultiVend LLC, 1-888-625-2405. (Cal-SCAN)

ANNOUNCEMENTS volunteer opportunities

BacHelor rooms 1 Month FREE

Little Tokyo/Arts District Clean shared baths and kitchen.

Free Wireless

$575/Month

213-784-4421

EMPLOYMENT

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. donations

HUGE LOFT FOR RENT. Beautiful live-work loft 4 rent in Downtown LA, 4000 sqft, skyline views, 25ft ceiling, pool. Concrete flrs, New AC/Heat, creative/prof tenants, Historic & more! www.CityViewLofts.info 213-216-3754. REAL ARTIST LOFTS 12002000 Sq. Ft., $1600-$2200/Mo. High ceilings, hardwood floors, fireplace, pool/spa, gated parking, laundry, sorry no dogs, Open House Sundays 12-3pm @ 1250 Long Beach Ave., L.A. 866-4257259, LAartistlofts.com.

drivers INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS & Company Drivers. All 53’ Refrigerated. Various Lanes, 7 Western States. Contact Brent Redmond Transportation Safety Department for details, 1-800777-5342 or www.BrentRedmond.com. (Cal-SCAN) TRUCK DRIVERS: CDL training. Up to $15,000 bonus. Parttime driving job with fulltime benefits. Get paid to train. The California Army National Guard. 1-800-GO-GUARD.com/truck. (Cal-SCAN)

CROSSWORD PUZZLE

JUST $5 can make you feel good. www.homelessinamerica. blogspot.com. Make donations at www.servantsofthefather.org/ donation. musical instruments WE PAY CASH for Guitars, Instruments, Records and accessories. If it’s musical and you want to sell it - then we’re the Guys to Call. 760-987-5349. (Cal-SCAN) Continued on next page

Continued from previous page

SERVICES

AUTOS & RECREATIONAL

laundry service Autos Wanted 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) Domestic Autos 2000 Chrysler Concorde LXI Champagne Color - Leather Seats Only 47000 Miles LIKE NEW - FULLY LOADED - $5,000 213-680-2058.

ITEMS FOR SALE

Let us do the dirty work!

Beverly's Laundromat Drop Off

20% OFF 1st time customers only. Minimum 25lb

Free Pick-up & Delivery with minimum 35lb

610 S. Rampart Blvd. @ 6th St (213)804-0069 Open Daily 7 a.m.-10 p.m. • Free Parking

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

ABOGADO DE IMMIGRACION!

Misc. Items NEVER FEEL SCARED AGAIN! Protect yourself with a stun gun now. Email to receive free report on how stun guns can save your life. CA@BestStunGun.com 1-800-793-0617. (Cal-SCAN)

Family, Criminal, P.I. for more than 20 yrs! Familiar o Amigo Arrestado? Necesita Permiso de trabajo? Tagalog / Español

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

Health & Fitness

Financial Services

HEALTH & NUTRITION products for weight-loss results. Free coaching. 888-223-0457. www. diethelper4u.com.

AMERICAN TAX RELIEF. * Settle IRS Back Taxes * Do You Owe Over $15,000? If So... Call us Now! * Free Consultation*. For Less Than What You Owe! Stop Wage Garnishments! Remove Bank Levies Tax Levies & Property Seizures! Stop Payment Plans That Get you Nowhere! Settle State and Business Payroll Tax Problems Eliminate Penalties, Interest Charges & Tax Liens! * Settle IRS Back Taxes * No Obligation! Confidential! Call American Tax Relief 1-800-496-9891 * Free Consultation * (Cal-SCAN)

tailor

EDDIES TAILOR SHOP Take your wardrobe to the next level! Same Day Service! Open 7 days a week! 115 E. 8th St. L.A. 90014 (213) 399-1177

eddiestailorshop.com Advertising CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING in 240 Cal-SCAN newspapers for the best reach, coverage, and price. 25-words $450. Reach 6 million Californians!. Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www.CalSCAN.com. (Cal-SCAN) DISPLAY ADVERTISING in 140 Cal-SDAN newspapers statewide for $1,550! Reach over 3 million Californians! Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6019. www. Cal-SDAN.com. (Cal-SCAN) NEWS RELEASE? Cost-efficient service. The California Press Release Service has 500 current daily, weekly and college newspaper contacts in California. Free email brochure. Call (916) 288-6010. www.CaliforniaPressReleaseService.com. (Cal-SCAN) Music Lessons Children’s Performing Group! Singing, dancing, performing and fun! For boys & girls ages 3 and up! See SunshineGenerationLA.com or call 909861-4433.

CREDIT CARD RELIEF. * Free Consultation * Save Thousands of Dollars. Out of Debt in Months! Avoid Bankruptcy! Credit Card Relief. Not A High Priced Consolidation Company or A Consumer Credit Counseling Program. Call Credit Card Relief 1-866-479-5353. * Free Consultation * (Cal-SCAN)

LEGAL Fictitious Business Name Fictitious Business Name Statement File No. 20090576138 The following persons doing business as: (1) THE CORVARYS GROUP, (2) VAN PARYS TEAM, 645 W. 9th Street, #416, Los Angeles, CA 90015. , is hereby registered by the following registrants: (1) MICHAEL VAN PARYS, (2) ROSA CORNEJO, 645 W. 9th Street, #416, Los Angeles, CA 90015. This business is conducted by Husband and Wife. Registrants began to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed herein on April 1, 2009. This statement was filed with the

Luxury Rooms in Downtown Monthly Rents Start at $780 1 & 2 Rooms Available

On Spring St.

Spring Tower Lofts:

Open floor plan, 2000 sqft $2200/mo. • Live/Creative work space • 14 story bldg. • Rooftop garden terrace w/city view • Pet friendly

Premiere Towers:

2 bdrms/2 bath, $1550/mo. • Rooftop garden terrace/GYM w/city view • 24 hr. doorman • free (1) parking

Please call 213.627.6913 www.cityloftsquare.com

Bunker Hill Real Estate Co, Inc.

$690 1 Person

50 Channels Direct TV

Mayfair Hotel 1256 West 7th Street

Simin (213) 484-9789 Ext. 555 or (213) 632-1111 OFFICE SPACE

Established 1984

& Gardens. Greenhouse Windows And Balcony. Stunning! $1995 Month. ❏ Prom. West-2 Bed. 2 Bath. 5th Floor. Move In Now. $2,200 Month. ❏ 1 Bed. 1 Bath. Lafayette Park Place. Move In Now. 1100 Month. Foreclosures: ❏ 4 Bedroom, 2 Bath Pasadena. Upgrades. Large Deck. $477,800.

Promenade West Condo

2 Story Townhouse. West Facing With Downtown City View. Upgrades. Large Patio. Very Elegant. Asking $599,900

Mirza Alli

Broker/Realtor Leasing-SalesLoans-Refinance

(213) 680-1720 Call us for other condos for sale or lease Dwntwn & surrounding areas!! e-mail us: Info@bunkerhillrealestate.com

Office Space & Event Space for Lease! Beautiful, historic Banks Huntley building located in Gallery Row district of Downtown LA offering office space close to Federal Court House and City Hall – ideal for non-profits! Rental rate: $1.70-$2.00/sq.ft./month Full Service Gross. Ground-floor event and conference space also available in gorgeous art-deco setting, perfect for private functions, weddings, business meetings, etc. For further information, please contact Joe Dieringer at 213-629-2512 ext. 110

www.Bunkerhillrealestate.com

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

Monthly from $595 utilities paid. (213) 612-0348

Fully furnished with TV, telephone, microwave, refrigerator. Full bathroom. Excellent location. Downtown LA. Weekly maid service.

Monthly from $695 utilities paid. (213) 627-1151

County Clerk of Los Angeles on April 21, 2009. 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. 5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/01/09 Legal Notice NOTICE OF DIVIDED PUBLICATION Made pursuant to Section 3381, Revenue and Taxation Code Pursuant to Sections 3381 through 3385, Revenue and Taxation Code, the Notice of Power to Sell TaxDefaulted Property in and for Los Angeles County, State of California, has been divided and distributed to various newspapers of general circulation published in the County. A portion of the list appears in each of such newspapers. NOTICE OF IMPENDING POWER TO SELL TAX-DEFAULTED PROPERTY Made pursuant to Section 3361, Revenue and Taxation Code Notice is hereby given that real property taxes and assessments on the parcels described below will have been defaulted five or more years, or, in the case of nonresidential commercial property, property on which a nuisance abatement lien has been recorded or that can serve the public benefit by providing housing or services directly related to low-income persons when three or more years have elapsed and a request has been made by a city, county, city and county, or nonprofit organization that property will become subject to the tax collector’s power to sell.

Burbank • Brentwood Century City • Downtown L.A. Woodland Hills Locations Nationwide Beautiful Offices For As Little As $400 Fully Furnished/Corporate ID Programs Flexible Terms/All New Suites Services Include: • Reception • Mail • T-1 • State-of-the-Art Voice Mail & Telephone • Westlaw • Fax • Photocopy • More Additional Features: Kitchen Facilities, All Support Services, Great Views, Free Conference Room Hours, Fully Trained Staff, Cost Effective.

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

Rent

Low Move-in SPECIAL Includes utilities, basic cable channels, laundry room on site, street parking, 1 yr lease.

The Alexandria

Top floor of 11 story (18,000 SF) historic building available now! Perfect for corporate hqtrs. Features separate executive suite(s). Stunning views of LA two blocks away from Staples Center and across the street from the new LA Live complex. The building also has approx 4,000 sq ft of beautiful contiguous space and some small offices available. These spaces can be viewed by appointment. Information available to qualified prospective tenants. Email request to mdavis@shammasgroup.com or call (213) 746-6300

is Now Leasing!

For English Call Terri or Pierre 213.744.9911

On-site laundry, free utilities, indiv. bathrooms, 24 hr. security & pet friendly. Free Internet. Close to metro, restaurants, farmers market & supermarket. Units starting at

For Spanish call Susana 213.749.0306

income & other restrictions apply.

Call 213.626.1743 or stop by for a tour

PUBLIC NOTICE CHINATOWN SERVICE CENTER is planning construction to reconfigure its existing space at 767 N. Hill St. to add 3 exam rooms and enlarge its dental area. The approximately $800,000 project will involve 4,575 sq. ft. Estimated start date is 4/12/10 to be completed on 9/27/10. The environmental review must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and all applicable laws. Interested parties are invited to comment on the project by contacting Lisa Dyer by mail at 767 N. Hill St., Suite 400c, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or by phone at (213)808-1736. An environmental analysis checklist is available for review and can be obtained from the contact above. Pub. 5/18/09

www.LOFTLIVINGLA.com

Available Immediately

$832/month

MARK J. SALADINO TREASURER AND TAX COLLECTOR COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES STATE OF CALIFORNIA PARCEL NUMBERING SYSTEM EXPLANATION The Assessor’s Identification Number (AIN), when used to describe property in this list, refers to the Assessor’s map book, the map page, the block on the map, if applicable, and the individual parcel on the map page or in the

block. The Assessor’s maps and further explanation of the parcel numbering system are available in the Assessor’s Office, 500 West Temple Street, Room 225, Los Angeles, California 90012. The real property that is the subject of this notice is situated in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, and is described as follows: PROPERTY TAX DEFAULTED IN YEAR 2004 FOR TAXES, ASSESSMENT, AND OTHER CHARGES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2003-2004 2846 $469.09 SEDLAK,O AIN: 5535-020-012 2847 $139,847.17 HAIAZI DEVELOPMENT INC C/O GREEN AND MARKER SITUS:1277 N WESTERN AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90038 AIN: 5537-001-003 2848 $121.15 PENTOCOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD SITUS:771 N VIRGIL AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-3646 AIN: 5539-017-001 2849 $55,999.30 CASA BERENDO SITUS:1247 N NEW HAMPSHIRE AVE LOS ANGELES CA 90029-1678 AIN: 5540-015-010 Downtown News CN818556 553 May 11,18, 2009

Exclusively Downtown Since 2001,

Single rooms starting from $550/mo.

at 501 S. Spring St.

The parcels listed will become subject to the tax collector’s power to sell on July 1, 2009, at 12:01 a.m., by operation of law. The tax collector’s power to sell will arise unless the property is either redeemed or made subject to an installment plan of redemption initiated as provided by law prior to 5:00 p.m., on June 30, 2009. The right to an installment plan terminates on June 30, 2009, and after that date the entire balance due must be paid in full to prevent sale of the property at public auction. The right of redemption survives the property becoming subject to the power to sell, but it terminates at 5:00 p.m. on the last business day before actual sale of the property by the tax collector. All information concerning redemption or the initiation of an installment plan of redemption will be furnished, upon request, by Mark J. Saladino, Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, 225 North Hill Street, First Floor, Los Angeles, California 90012. The amount to redeem, in dollars and cents, is set forth opposite its parcel number. This amount includes all defaulted taxes, penalties, and fees that have accrued from the date of tax-default to the date of June 30, 2009. I certify, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct. Dated this 22nd day of April, 2009.

Offices • Offices • Offices • Offices

• Fully Furnished • 100% Utilities Paid • • Refrigerator, Microwave & TV In Each Room • • Wireless Access Throughout Bldg. • Gym • • Close to USC & Loyola Law School • • Presidential Suite with Kitchen • Parking Available Onsite

Special STUDENT RATE!

We are located in a prime area in Downtown LA nice neighborhood w/ salon, market, café etc. Wired for high speed internet & cable, central heat & A/C

For sale: bunker Hill Tower ❏ 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath. Elegant. Ready To Move In. South City Lights View. Recently Refurbished. Offered At $329,999. For Rent: ❏ Prom. West. 2 Bed. 2 Bath. 7th Flr. Elegant Upgrades. Green House. Pride Of Ownership. $3,000 Furn. $2,800 Unfurn. ❏ Prom. West-1 Bed. 1 Bath Penthuse. Overlooks Pool

May 18, 2009

DowntownNews.com

208 W. 14th St. at Hill St. Downtown L.A.

Help Wanted

Dancers Make Big Money Now! 18 and over at Downtown LA’s most upscale Gentlemen’s Club Call 424-222-3739

$ Fictitious Only 85. for 4

BUSINESS NAME

STATEMENTS:

insertions

(213) 481-1448

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Thinking about Leasing or Selling? Buyers visit us for... • SHORT SALES • FORECLOSURES • RENTALS • VIDEO TOURS

Call 877-4LA-LOFTs Drew Panico

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Health Dept. rank A for 7 Consecutive Years

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46 Downtown News

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

(2 blocks west of San Pedro St.)

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May 18, 2009

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close out specials. only a few remain.

INTRODUCING 2009 VALUE PRICING. Prices have been reduced on 15 homes. These lofts feature a wide range of floor plans, sizes and locations. Right now, Little Tokyo Lofts has something for everyone’s budget.

Unbeatable downtown LA prices Interest Rates are Near Historic Lows Your Dollar has Never had More Buying Power Great Buyer Incentives Up to an $8,000 Federal Tax plus $10,000 State Credit See sales associate for details.

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mid $200’s 4% Co-op OPEN HO Satur USE day, May 2 10 am 3rd - 4 pm

420 S. San Pedro Downtown | 213.626.6400 | LittleTokyoLofts.com