09-17-12

LOS ANGELES

DOWNTOWN

NEWS Volume 41, Number 38

INSIDE

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT The latest information on 75 Downtown projects, along with a special Downtown Residential section.

7-23 W W W. D O W N T O W N N E W S . C O M

September 17, 2012

The Dancer Benjamin Millepied, Sore Neck and All, Tries to Succeed Where Others Have Failed

Downtown News Turns 40!

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AnVil’s opinion and a Tampa trip-up.

6

Designs for the Sixth Street bridge.

25

photo by Gary Leonard

Benjamin Millepied, a choreographer and former New York City Ballet principal dancer, opens the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center series on Sept. 22-23 with the world premiere of his L.A. Dance Project. It is the city’s most anticipated dance performance in years.

Riot L.A. brings a weekend of laughs.

by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

the Sept. 22 and 23 concerts were also to be among his final professional performances on stage.

For now, however, the dancer can’t dance.

But forget the neck — Millepied has far weightier tasks on his mind. His new company, the L.A. Dance Project, has the promise of being an exciting new initiative that just might fill a cultural void in Los Angeles. The troupe’s debut is the city’s most

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Close ‘Encounter’ at East West Players.

Streetcar Proponents Hope to Bring Voters Aboard

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enjamin Millepied’s neck hurts.

The ghost of an old injury is back to haunt him at the wrong time, just weeks before his new company’s debut at the Walt Disney Concert Hall. While Millepied, 35, has mostly transitioned to a career as a choreographer,

Supporters Launch Campaign for Public Ballot That Is Key to $125 Million Project A festival of light at Pershing Square.

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31 CALENDAR LISTINGS 33 CLASSIFIEDS

by Richard Guzmán city editor

I

f the $125 million Los Angeles Streetcar is to glide through Downtown, it will need area landowners to shell out $62 million. To get that $62 million, the project will need the support of two-thirds of registered voters who live near the route.

Given voting patterns and the fact that the November election will be conducted by mail, streetcar proponents say the decision could be made by as few as 1,000 people. Starting this week, project supporters will begin a full-court

press to get people to say yes. Otherwise, they say, Downtown’s streetcar plans will crumble.

“The local funding for this project is critical,” said 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, the project’s chief proponent. “We hope to get this funding and go to the federal government to get additional funding. If this does not pass we won’t see another campaign for years.”

Huizar and Los Angeles Streetcar Inc., the nonprofit overseeing the effort, will hold a kickoff event for the outreach campaign on Thursday, Sept. 20, at the Cooper Design Space on Los Angeles Street. The gathering, dubbed “Taste of

The Voice of Downtown Los Angeles

anticipated dance event in years.

Los Angeles nurtures a world-class symphony.

Its opera company is widely respected. The theater scene has an elite institution in the Center Theatre Group, and the city is home to two superlative contemporary art museums, as well as the Getty.

Then there’s dance, and L.A.’s long, unsuccessful see Millepied, page 26 Streetcar” and open only to Downtown residents, will provide food and drink from restaurants and bars in the area of the streetcar tracks.

The event was initially planned for about 300 residents at the AT&T Center. When RSVPs for more than 1,000 people came in, they had to move to a bigger space.

Huizar interprets this as a good sign, one that says people are interested in the project. The event, he said, isn’t a hard sell for the streetcar, which would open by 2015, but more about pointing out “how affordable it is.”

“It’s going to be about what someone would pay for a really nice dinner once a year,” he said.

“So the more they hear about the streetcar, the more likely they will be to vote yes.”

The Numbers In July the City Council approved the formation of a tax district that covers an area roughly three blocks around the tracks. Plans call for the streetcar to run from South Park to the Civic Center, with Broadway as the main southbound spine.

The council decision cleared the way for the special election that has engendered some controversy see Streetcar, page 24

2 Downtown News

AROUNDTOWN Downtown Guide Arrives Next Week

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et ready to grasp everything you need to know about Downtown Los Angeles.

On Sept. 24, Los Angeles Downtown News will publish the 84-page Downtown Guide, a glossy magazine with an array of information on area history, hotels, events and dining destinations, along with in-depth descriptions and shopping opportunities in Downtown’s 16 diverse districts. Altogether 110,000 copies of the Downtown Guide will be printed. In addition to the 47,000 distributed with Downtown News, they will be available at multiple Downtown News distribution locations, stores and visitors centers.

The Guide can also be seen online at downtownnews.com or losangelesdowntown.com.

Additional copies can be requested by calling Downtown News at (213) 481-1448.

Flag Court Opens at Grand Park

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nother chunk of the $56 million Grand Park is now open. On Tuesday, Sept.

11, county officials debuted the segment between Hill Street and Broadway, which is home to what is known as the “flag court” for its collection of historic flags. The flags, which previously were arranged in an east-to-west manner, now line up in a north-to-south direction to increase their visibility to pedestrians along Broadway. The Tuesday ceremony included an appearance from service men and women, including Private First Class Bea Cohen, who at 103 is the country’s oldest living female World War II veteran, according to the office of County Supervisor Gloria Molina. Only one block of the park has yet to

September 17, 2012

Twitter/DowntownNews TAKE MY PICTURE GARY LEONARD

debut. That segment, between Spring Street and Broadway, features a one-acre lawn and a small fenced-in dog park, and is due to open in October, said Dawn McDivitt, manager of capital projects for L.A. County.

Sparks Host Sports Career Job Fair

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illions of people come Downtown every year to check out sports events.

This week, one local team will help people get a job in the industry. On Tuesday, Sept. 18, from 4-6 p.m., the Los Angeles Sparks will host the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Career Fair. Participants at the Staples Center event can meet representatives of the Sparks, Dodgers, Clippers, Angels, Kings and Anschutz Entertainment Group to learn about opportunities in fields such as marketing, sales, advertising, ticketing, public relations and finance. Other organizations that will be on hand include the NBA League Office, the Ontario Reign, ESPN Radio, Power 106 FM and Radio Disney 1110 AM. Attendees will also get a ticket to that night’s Sparks game, which tips off at 7:30 p.m. The pre-registration price is $25 and entrance is $30 at the door. Additional information is at (877) 44-Sparks or lasparks.com.

Douglas Family Gives Another $5 Million to L.A. Mission

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n July, Kirk and Anne Douglas announced a $5 million grant for the Los Angeles Mission’s Anne Douglas Center, the women’s wing of the homeless services facility in Skid Row. It was the latest big gift

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

911 Rememberance

L.A.F.D. Training Center

from a couple that has supported the mission since it funded the wing in 1992. On Wednesday, Sept. 12, at a gala to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Anne Douglas Center, Kirk Douglas was tapped to present an award to his wife. During his introduction, he surprised her by announcing that he had doubled the family’s most recent pledge to $10 million. “The story is that Mr. and Mrs. Douglas were visiting the old Los Angeles Mission in the late 1980s and she asked about homeless women,” said L.A. Mission President Herb Smith in a statement. “There were some sheets hanging from a wire, and they pulled them back to show a couple of bunk beds. Mrs. Douglas looked at her husband and said, ‘That’s unacceptable, we have to do something about that.’” More than 250 women have graduated from the Anne Douglas Center’s intensive year-long program since 1992.

Elysian Park

September 11, 2012

Rockin’ With Gene Simmons and, uh, Wolfgang Puck

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t looks like Gene Simmons and Wolf­ gang Puck want to rock and roll and eat and drink all night. The KISS bass player has teamed up with the chef to host Rocktoberfest at L.A. Live. The event, announced last week as the duo sat at a table covered with plates of food and mugs of beer, will take place at L.A. Live from Oct. 15-21.

Rocktoberfest, which runs from 5-11 p.m. through Oct. 20 and from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on closing day, will feature DJs, live bands, “beer-friendly” food and beer specials. The Oct. 15 kickoff features a $100 a head gala hosted by Simmons and Puck. The closing day holds a Craft Beer Festival with more than 50 brews.

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September 17, 2012

Downtown News 3

DowntownNews.com

Real People, Real Stories My experience with Audi of Downtown LA has been nothing less than exemplary. The service staff always provides me with a level of service that is above my expectations.

— Adam Tischer, Vice President, Colliers International

It has always been a pleasure to deal with a true professional organization such as Felix Chevrolet.

It goes without saying that I will continue to do all my business with them.

— Beverly Ziegler, Owner, Ziegler Associates

My purchasing experience with Porsche of Downtown L.A. was as easy and painless as it could have possibly been. I already knew I wanted the car so I didn’t have to go into the dealer at all.

— Steven Chen, Physician, Self-employed

I was especially impressed with their new “Courtesy Car Service” that is now provided by Nissan of Downtown. It was a relief to be able to get back to work so easily and pick up my car later.

— Nancy Nisi, Senior Account Executive, Mount Wilson FM Broadcasting

Although buying a new car can sometimes be a difficult process, we had a great experience when we purchased our new E350 from Downtown LA Motors Mercedes Benz.

— Susie Noonan, Homemaker

From the day I bought my new Beetle to the service department that takes care of it, the staff has been professional, courteous and knowledgeable.

— Alison Rose Jefferson, Self Employed Historian

I work in Downtown and to have a group of family owned dealerships so close by is fantastic.

— Allen Russak, Part-Owner: Russak’s Cured & Smoked Products

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4 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

September 17, 2012

EDITORIALS Downtown Cops and AB 109

Urban Scrawl by Doug Davis

T

he crime reports in Downtown Los Angeles for the current year are disconcerting: Serious crime is up 15% and violent incidents are 18% above the level they were at the same time in 2011. While the streets may not feel different to most people, this matter requires close attention.

Fortunately it is being watched by the LAPD, and earlier this year the department sent an additional 50 police officers from other divisions to patrol Downtown. However, there may be no quick fix — AB 109, the controversial prison “realignment” plan that went into effect in late 2011, is resulting in more criminals coming to the community.

The situation probably will not change in the near future. We know that the LAPD has a lot of demands and a flat overall staffing level, but it is imperative that the extra officers remain in Downtown. The challenges in this neighborhood, in particular around Skid Row, are unique and merit the extra resources.

Los Angeles Downtown News this month looked at what has occurred since Gov. Jerry Brown heeded a federal mandate to reduce overcrowding in state prisons. The counties have been forced to take on responsibilities for more individuals. Now, many low-level felons who once would have been sent to state prison instead are going to county jail, and are then quickly released.

Under AB 109, many of these individuals are supposed to access social services such as substance abuse counseling and mental health treatment. However, the County Probation Department is understaffed, and the people being trained to watch those released through realignment are not all in place. That is partly why, according to the county, less than one-third of those set free through AB 109 receive the required services.

Instead, a number of the people who get out of jail flock to Skid Row. Some come because they lack a safety net and there is a prevalence of shelter beds and meals there.

Others are drawn by the easy access to drugs.

Whatever the reason, local police say the increased number of people in the area and the rise in Downtown crime are linked. Another contributing factor, according to Central Division brass, is the spike in Downtown residents, restaurants and bars — this means more potential crime victims, especially for theft and burglary.

It is easy to blast AB 109 and to decry a situation in which those who most need help are not put in a position to get that support. Much could have and should have been done differently, though the feds did the state no favor with a ruling that forced an almost immediate response. Clearly much needs to be done on this matter.

At the same time, we have no choice but to make decisions that allow the community to respond to the situation at hand. In Downtown, that means the officers deployed here should stay here. Stakeholders in other areas may protest, but their neighborhoods probably do not have the same kind of responsibilities placed on it by the City Council. Keep the officers in Downtown and work to fix the realignment problems.

Cautiously Optimistic for Broadway Theater Improvements

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n 2012, no street in Downtown Los Angeles generates more attention than Broadway. Decades after its golden years, this long-challenged thoroughfare is, once again, a hub of discussion and commerce. Every month it seems there is another attention-generating development, whether it concerns a restaurant, a new use for an old building or the proposed streetcar.

The trend shows no sign of slowing: This year alone we’ve been deluged with, among other things, information about the street getting a department store, Ross Dress for Less, and jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino’s plan to turn an empty building into her new headquarters. A boutique Ace Hotel is under construction.

Instantly popular eating establishments including Umamicatessen and Two Boots Pizza have opened.

Still, there may be no issue more important to the future of the street than the state of its faded, century-old theaters. That’s why it was so interesting when Shahram Delijani, part of the family that owns four of the venues, revealed plans to bring them back to life.

Los Angeles Downtown News wrote about the proposal last week.

This is, potentially, a major turn of events and we’re pleased that the family that owns the Palace, the Los Angeles, the Tower and the State theaters is thinking seriously about their future and wants to deliver a lineup of concerts and a slate of bars and restaurants. However, we have heard plans and promises from many quarters in the past that these structures would be renovated, only to see relatively small steps forward.

We want the theaters to be upgraded and activated — transforming them would benefit all of Downtown. At this point, however, the best we can do is be cautiously optimistic. This is a difficult task. The family will need to show that they are willing to invest even more money and partner with others, and that the promise of a turnaround will be more than words.

The Broadway theaters are relics of an era when people eagerly took the streetcar Downtown to enjoy vaudeville shows and the offerings in then grand movie palaces. Over time, as Los Angeles grew and technology advanced, there were fewer and fewer reasons to visit the aging venues. Though a couple of them persisted in showing films into the ’90s, most closed up before that. Some became swap meets, others served as churches and a few sat empty.

The Delijani family got involved in 1987, when Mayor Tom

Bradley asked patriarch Ezat Delijani to buy the Los Angeles Theatre and save it from the wrecking ball. He did, and over a quarter century the family came to control three other theaters (along with other properties). It was a major commitment to the street and to the city and its history. The family has remained engaged even after the elder Delijani’s passing in August 2011.

There have been occasional attempts to reclaim the glory of the street, with a revival of the theaters always a centerpiece. One, called Nighttime Broadway, was led by Mayor Jim Hahn. Like everything before 14th District City Councilman José Huizar’s Bringing Back Broadway initiative in 2008, it was a good idea with little follow-through. It ultimately went nowhere.

The reality of what a Broadway theater can be in the 21st century came in 2001, when Orpheum owner Steve Needleman spent $3.5 million to renovate the 1926 structure. It now hosts an active concert and events lineup, and is frequently utilized for films and reality TV shows.

The Delijanis appear to be taking a page out of Needleman’s book. They said they will create a production company, the Broadway Theater Group, which will initially focus on the Los Angeles and Palace. The Tower will follow and the State will come into play about five years from now, when a current lease with a church expires.

Promoting and scheduling concerts, theater and other events is harder than it may at first appear. There is competition just in Downtown from the Orpheum, Club Nokia and eventually Main Street’s Regent Theater (which Spaceland Productions hopes to activate), not to mention smaller clubs. Hopefully the Delijanis either have deep connections in the booking industry or plan to partner with or hire experienced people.

Much will likely be revealed in the coming months. So far the family has not indicated how much they intend to spend or when major upgrades could start. We’ve yet to hear which restaurant and bar operators the Delijanis are pursuing.

This is an exciting time for the street, and revived theaters would dovetail nicely with a streetcar and other after-dark dining and entertainment options. We look forward to hearing about the Delijanis’ next steps with their commitment to Broadway, Los Angeles and the historic theaters.

September 17, 2012

Downtown News 5

DowntownNews.com

Happy Big Birthday to Downtown News A Wistful, Pensive and Proud Moment As We Turn 40

by Sue LariS editor and pubLiSher

S

ept. 12 was a wistful day, also pensive and, I admit it, one of which I was a little proud. It was 40 years ago to the day that the first issue of Downtown News was launched.

I was 29 years old, having worked on creating the paper for a year with my now former husband. He was a bored budget analyst with the Army Corps of Engineers and I was a high school teacher of English and French, teaching part-time and staying home parttime to care for our 2-year old. There was not enough money coming in, and we decided to create a newspaper for Downtown L.A., where there didn’t seem to be one.

I had the more flexible schedule, so it fell mostly to me to figure out how to do it. I researched equipment, printers, format, distribution options, news sources, how to finance it — anything that had to be done. He worked hard on it during the weekends.

I was pretty much in love with the idea of creating a newspaper. My best friend Wendy’s aunt and uncle owned the town newspaper when I was a kid and I was transported by the magical world they lived in.

Envious, too. Her uncle had her work on the paper from about age 11. I thought that was the coolest thing imaginable.

That said, I had no idea how deeply being around that paper, the Ferndale Enterprise, had affected me until we started creating what became Downtown News. My passion for the project grew. Thirty days after the launch it was already clear that I didn’t own

the newspaper; the newspaper owned me. It became a great passion, my life’s work, having almost the status of one of my children.

But back to the day of the launch. “Launch” is such a lofty word when you know the real story of the big moment.

We did not announce that a new newspaper would arrive on the streets of Downtown.

There was no marketing budget. We had started the paper on $1,400 of borrowed money on a new credit card. The weekend before the launch my former husband and I rented a van and placed 40 news racks we had constructed ourselves out of plywood and angle iron. We painted the boxes bright yellow and put our first logo on the front.

We just plopped the racks down wherever we thought there would be foot traffic. On that Monday night he and I distributed the papers into those racks. We had no idea if anyone would pick them up.

The next morning — it was a Tuesday — he went to work at his office at 300 N. Los Angeles St. and I hired a sitter so I could stand behind the big columns in front of that building and peer around to watch the news rack we had placed there to see if anyone would pick up the paper.

It was nerve-wracking. By 9:30 a.m. only a couple papers were gone. But by 11:30 a.m. there was a steady stream of people picking them up. Apparently the word had spread.

The best moment was when a tall, goodlooking man “made” me behind the pillar. He looked at the photo on the front of the paper, a picture of the two of us painting the news racks, held it up, smiled, and said, “Waitin’ to

The front cover of the first issue of what would become Los Angeles Downtown News.

It hit the streets Sept. 12, 1972.

see if anybody is going to read this, huh?”

So here it is, 40 years later. Instead of 40 news racks we now have 980 distribution points. Instead of our kitchen table, the paper now has its own little office building. Instead of the two employees the paper started with, we have about 20. Instead of a Civic Center,

which is all that was really active in 1972, we now have a full-fledged Downtown that we have had a voice in helping to shape.

Who knew? I didn’t. But I am grateful for it all.

Contact Sue Laris at sue@downtownnews.com.

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6 Downtown News

September 17, 2012

Twitter/DowntownNews

In the Opinion of the Chair, That Vote Was Nuts The Tampa Trip-up Was Vintage Villaraigosa

by Jon RegaRdie executive editoR

A

few weeks have passed since the closing of the Democratic and Republican national conventions.

With the hype dissipated, four standout moments have emerged from the cheerleading spectacles in New Orleans and Tampa: THE REGARDIE REPORT

4) Michelle Obama killed it, her speech easily surpassing her husband’s.

3) Bill Clinton’s was even better, and how does the dude

look so good these days?

2) Clint Eastwood’s empty chair stunt was the stuff of nutty infamy, and if the octogenarian actor was going to talk to something that couldn’t talk back, then why didn’t he at least trot out Clyde the orangutan from Every Which Way But Loose?

1) Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, getting his chance on the national stage, fumbled it fabulously, his botched “In the opinion of the chair…” moment becoming the only thing that, already, people remember about his DNC appearance.

The flub, which was ridiculed across the nation, including on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart,” was fascinating on many levels. It came as a huge divide about Villaraigosa him-

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A man never afraid to express his opinion.

self was flourishing: Although he has been roundly criticized locally for a generally mediocre seven years as mayor, in the past six months he has enjoyed a beguiling batch of positive national press. As those who barely know him fawn, many Angelenos have been shocked at the speculation. Villaraigosa as governor? As an Obama cabinet appointee? Good gravy.

In a way, AnVil’s Tampa troubles showed the world exactly what Los Angeles has learned over the past seven years: Villaraigosa is a character whose seemingly limitless ambition and certainty in his rightness often blinds him to what is front of his face, sometimes to his detriment.

Hear the People, or Not If Villaraigosa had behaved like most people would during the Tampa tempest, there would have been little to talk about.

Then again, he’s not most people.

As a refresher, the matter erupted during an afternoon segment that should have been nothing. Whether by design, mistake or conspiracy, those who assembled the Democratic party platform didn’t include some gobbledygook (the technical name for it) about God and about Jerusalem being the capital of Israel. Thus, they went all Robert’s Rules of Order on the place, with a short speech by platform drafting committee chair Ted Strickland leading to a proposed amendment.

After a motion and the second, AnVil’s task was to take a voice vote to determine if the item could gain a two-thirds approval. He asked, and the ayes and nos were so close that he interrupted his rubber stamping to say, “In the opinion of the — let me do that again.”

A second even closer vote left Villaraigosa flummoxed; he looked as if he had seen a talking orangutan or a man holding a conversation with an empty chair.

He called for a third vote. The aye-no divide was nowhere near 66.7%. While most people would have swallowed hard and noted that the item did not pass, Villaraigosa confidently proclaimed, “In the opinion of the chair, two-thirds have voted in the affirmative, the motion is adopted and the platform has been amended.”

A chorus of boos erupted.

What Villaraigosa failed to realize was that, in sticking to his guns, he was ignoring thousands of people sitting in front of him, which usually isn’t how democracy works. By approving the motion he proved he was either deaf or that the fix was in from the beginning, as evidenced by a “Daily Show” close-up of the teleprompter that read, “In the opinion of the chair, two-thirds having voted in the affirmative…”

Whether he was following orders from higher up or not, Villaraigosa’s spot on the dais didn’t give him the right to ignore the delegates. If his opinion was that the vote constituted a two-thirds majority, then he might as well confidently state that, in the opinion of the chair, The Godfather Part III was the best film in the trilogy. He could just as well say that, in the opinion of the chair, the planet Uranus is inhabited by giant, talking, friendly hamsters who are ruled by a three-legged hamster king named Gorgor and his wife, the hamster queen Priscilla. There’s probably no way the delegates would vote in favor of that, but hey, if it’s his opinion.

Also, “In the opinion of the chair” is not a magical phrase that makes things happen. It’s not synonymous with something Doug Henning would utter as he turns a bouquet of flowers into a duck. You couldn’t quip, for example, “Abracadabra, two-thirds have voted in the affirmative!”

Watching the video later, I couldn’t help but recall the ticket brouhaha of 2010, when Villaraigosa, widely chided for accepting free ducats to dozens of sports and entertainment events in which he probably wasn’t doing city business, refused to acknowledge any transgression. While it would have been easy to say, “I made a mistake,” and move on, he always maintained he was in the right.

It was the same thing after the two-thirds gobbledygook vote: In published reports, Villaraigosa refused to accept the possibility that he erred. No apology, no backing down. No matter what the people said.

I guess everyone’s entitled to their own opinion.

Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.

September 17, 2012

Downtown News 7

DowntownNews.com

Downtown Development Back to the Boom tail space. Wood Partners purchased the site in 2008 and began planning a high-rise, but put it on hold shortly thereafter due to the economic downturn. Company officials said high demand for rental units in Downtown and low construction costs helped restart the plans for the as-yet-unnamed development. A budget has not been released.

nine-story commercial building into apartments. Needleman said work is slated to start in the fall on turning the former Singer Sewing Machine Building at 806 S. Broadway into a unique loft building with nine large units, with only one apartment per floor. He has pulled construction permits for the project. Having one residence on each level means the apartments will measure 5,000-6,000 square feet. The cost of the project is not yet certain. The building, which rises between the Tower and Rialto theaters just south of Eighth Street, had long been home to garment manufacturers. The tenants have all been relocated to other Anjac Fashion-owned buildings, Needleman said.

EMBASSY HOTEL

URBAN RADISH

Plans to turn the vacant Embassy Hotel and Trinity Auditorium in South Park into a 183-room hotel went before the Department of City Planning in August and the project is currently in the entitlement process, said Elizabeth Peterson, a project representative. There is no solid timeline yet on when the hotel near the FIDM campus would open. The renovation would turn the historic structure at 849 S. Grand Ave. into the Empire Hotel, with a 7,600-square-foot outdoor garden, an approximately 2,000-square-foot ground-floor restaurant with more than 200 seats, a lobby bar and a lounge. The project would also upgrade the approximately 12,000-square-foot theater in the building. The property is owned by the Chetrit Group, a New York-based family-run real estate firm. It’s not the first time a renovation for the long-empty structure has been attempted. Several years ago there were failed efforts to turn it into a boutique Gansevoort Hotel.

The reconfiguration of an 8,200-square-foot warehouse into a market serving produce, meat, seafood, dairy and other items will begin in October, said Carolyn Paxton, co-owner of Urban Radish market. The business will be in a metal building across the street from the Biscuit Company and Toy Factory lofts on Mateo Street, near Seventh Street, with an opening scheduled for early 2013, said Paxton. Plans call for an outdoor patio and tables, and the Arts District market will offer salads and artisanal meats and cheeses with locally baked breads and sandwiches. The large mural of a chipmunk on the exterior will remain and greenery will be added around the building. At facebook.com/urbanradish.

JADE ENTERPRISES HOUSING PROJECT

Hamid Behdad of the Central City Development Group said work continues on a plan to create a 376-unit live/work complex in City West. The company, which is partnering on the project at 1027 Wilshire Blvd. with the Amidi Real Estate Group, views the low-rise rental development as the second phase of 1010 Wilshire, a corporate housing complex across the street that Amidi created. Behdad said the focus is still on securing financing for the building. The project would also contain 6,500 square feet of retail and 5,000 square feet of office space.

The timeline will depend on the financing, said Behdad.

The Latest Information on 75 Downtown Projects

by RichaRd Guzmán, Jon ReGaRdie and Ryan VaillancouRt

F

or about 18 months, the Downtown Los Angeles development scene has been slowly yet steadily gaining momentum, with a combination of new projects being announced and long-delayed efforts finally reaching the finish line. People across the region have taken notice.

Now there’s a shift into a higher gear. While some may raise their eyebrows, it is not an exaggeration to say that Downtown is, once again, boomtown.

In recent months the lending market has loosened and a range of real estate and development veterans have announced new projects or restarted previously planned efforts. They include large residential complexes such as the Eighth and Hope Apartments and the SB Omega, Barry Shy’s proposed 40-story Historic Core tower. These are complemented by cultural and business developments: The Hall of Justice in the Civic Center is being restored, a $10 million effort to preserve and showcase a mural by David Alfaro Siqueiros is nearly finished at El Pueblo, an Urban Radish supermarket is under construction in the Arts District and an aged Broadway theater is being transformed into a boutique Ace Hotel.

That’s the proverbial tip of the iceberg, and if Anschutz Entertainment Group is successful in luring an NFL team and getting the green light to build Farmers Field, we could see shades of Downtown 2005, before the recession hit.

In the following pages, Los Angeles Downtown News gives the latest information on 75 Downtown projects. It’s a busy time.

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

1130 S. HOPE ST. Development firm BIMHF, LLC has hired an architect and is in the preliminary design and planning phase for a hotel in South Park at what is now a derelict structure at 1130 S. Hope St. The group, which has previously stated that $25 million in financing is “lined up,” is looking to open a hotel in the three-story edifice in 2014. No budget or design details have been released.

EIGHTH AND HOPE APARTMENTS

Jade Enterprises, a commercial property owner with significant holdings in the Fashion District, submitted plans in August to build its first Downtown residential project. The company is looking to erect a 419-unit, two-building complex at Pico Boulevard and Flower Streets on two side-by-side parking lots, according to plans filed with the city. The project would rise over 42,000 square feet of commercial space, according to a company spokesman, who would not provide budget information. Jade Enterprises’ plan still requires city entitlements, which could take a year or longer.

RESIDENTIAL 1027 WILSHIRE

1111 SUNSET

L.A. HOTEL RENOVATION

rendering courtesy of Wood Partners

PICO HOUSE

An October groundbreaking is set for a Downtown high-rise at Eighth and Hope streets. Vanessa Showalter, a spokeswoman for Atlanta-based Wood Partners, said leasing is anticipated to start in the summer of 2014 for a glass-fronted 22-story apartment tower. The 290-unit building at 801 S. Hope St., on what is currently a parking lot, would feature one- and two-bedroom residences with floor-to-ceiling glass walls, balconies, a pool deck, a six-floor parking garage (including two underground levels) and 5,000 square feet of re-

photo by Gary Leonard

Officials last month launched a $20 million renovation of the former Los Angeles Downtown Marriott. The work on the building now known as the L.A. Downtown Hotel is slated to be complete next spring. The changes at the hotel at 333 S. Figueroa St. include upgrades to all 469 guest rooms, along with the meeting and ballroom areas and the building’s restaurants. The public spaces in the 14-story edifice that opened in 1984 are also being modernized. New carpets, lighting and furniture will be installed. Shenzhen New World Group, which purchased the establishment in 2010 for $63 million, is in final talks with a new operator that should be named this month, said Daniel Teng, the hotel’s general manager. At that point the hotel will gain a permanent name. At thelahotel.com.

Proposals from operators hoping to develop the 1863 Pico House are currently being reviewed, said Chris Espinosa, the general manager of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument. Negotiations with the chosen developer are expected to begin in the fall with a goal of having a revamped Pico House, which faces the plaza at El Pueblo, activated in two years. Espinosa said the ground-floor space will likely be used for a restaurant with the two upper levels serving as offices. The project could also be developed in phases. Bidders had the option of including the adjacent, 1,650-square-foot Hellman-Quon Building in their plans. The Pico House, built by and named for former governor Pio Pico, was the city’s first three-story structure.

Developer Linear City has begun preliminary demolition work for a renovation and residential conversion of the former Metropolitan Water District headquarters at 1111 Sunset Blvd. Company partner Yuval Bar-Zemer said he plans to start looking to hire a general contractor this month. Construction is expected to be complete in February 2014. Linear City, which created the Arts District’s Biscuit Company and Toy Factory lofts, paid $6.8 million last year for the seven-story structure not far from Dodger Stadium.

The project, which will create 92 apartments, is estimated at $15 million. Plans call for taking the horizontal platforms, which jut out a few feet from the façade at every level, and turning them into balconies. Apartments will measure 8001,000 square feet. The 1973 building was originally designed

by William Pereira. At linear-city.com.

SINGER SEWING MACHINE BUILDING

1111 WILSHIRE

Steve Needleman, who runs Broadway property firm Anjac Fashion, plans to break ground soon on a conversion of a

A 210-unit City West apartment complex from Vancouver, Wash.-based Holland Partner Group is on track to open in see Projects, page 8

8 Downtown News

September 17, 2012

Development condo structure developed by Astani that fronts Flower Street.

Amenities in the high-end building will include a movie theater, concierge, business center and coffee bar. At liveapex.com.

Projects

AVANT

Continued from page 7 2013, according to a project representative. A groundbreaking for the $60 million development took place last year. The seven-story building with 7,750 square feet of retail space will hold studio to three-bedroom units. The project will contain an underground parking garage with room for 302 cars. It is near Glo, Holland Partner Group’s first apartment complex in the area.

San Francisco-based Carmel Partners in June bought a threeacre Downtown site from developer Sonny Astani. The property at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue is slated to hold a 700-unit apartment complex. Astani had designed and entitled the project, which he said was sold for $63 million. Carmel Partners’ plan for the development at Eighth Street and Grand Avenue is uncertain, but Astani said that construction would start this year. The project, which Astani had dubbed Angelena, would include 36,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Carmel did not return calls for comment.

BALTIMORE AND KING EDWARD HOTELS

CHINATOWN GATEWAY

Developer Izek Shomof heads a group of investors who in March bought the 265-unit Baltimore and the 150-room King Edward hotels for $9.8 million. Shomof is in the process of renovating the buildings at Fifth and Los Angeles streets. Plans call for a range of cosmetic upgrades, including replacing carpet with tile, repairing broken windows and doing some painting. At the Baltimore, there are plans for a recreation room. The work is being carried out incrementally as occupied units in the residential hotels become vacant.

Shomof said he expects the work to take place over the next three years. Bar proprietors Will Shamlian and Michael Leko have bought the King Eddy Saloon, a watering hole on the ground floor of the King Edward Hotel. They intend to begin renovations early next year and open around spring 2013, Shamlian said. Ricki Kline, the designer for Cedd Moses’s nightlife company 213 Inc., is handling the designs.

APEX

photo by Gary Leonard

BEACON LOFTS An opening late this month is expected for the recently named 53-unit condo complex Beacon Lofts, said Peklar Pilavjian of developer Alameda and Fourth, LLC. The $20 million project at 825 E. Fourth St. will offer condominiums from the low $200,000s to the high $800,000s, Pilavjian said.

The development transformed a six-story, 1923 Arts District building into residences ranging from 650-2,000 square feet.

A second phase of the project is in the planning stage. At beacon-lofts.com.

CHESTER WILLIAMS BUILDING Downtown Management has completed construction on its transformation of the 75-year-old Chester Williams Building at Fifth Street and Broadway into 88 apartments. Leasing has commenced, said Greg Martin, Downtown Management’s vice president. Rents have not yet been set for the units, which range from about 800-1,500 square feet. The project cost was about $15 million. Pharmacy chain Walgreens has signed a lease to occupy the 13,908-square-foot ground-floor commercial space. A timeline for the store’s opening is uncertain, but it is nearing the completion of the permitting process.

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Construction on the podium deck is complete and framing is underway for the 300,000-square-foot Chinatown Gateway at Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue, said Allison Geiman, a development associate with developer Equity Residential.

The $92.9 million project is on track for completion in late 2013. Work began last year on the six-story building that will house 280 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, along with 18,000 square feet of retail at 639-643 Cesar Chavez Ave. The project is being designed by Thomas P. Cox Architects and will include a plaza, 17-foot wide sidewalks and a 588-car subterranean garage.

DA VINCI A groundbreaking is scheduled for this month for developer G.H. Palmer Associates’ 630-apartment complex in City West, said company owner Geoff Palmer. The development is rising at the corner of Fremont and Temple streets on a 193,000-square-foot lot that Palmer purchased in 2004. Plans call for a 578,172-square-foot complex with five floors of housing above three levels of parking, along with 8,200 square feet of street-front retail. The style will be similar to Palmer’s other Italian-inspired apartment complexes in Downtown.

At ghpalmer.com.

GATEWAYS APARTMENTS According to the most recent information available, SRO Housing Corp. expects to finish construction on a 108-unit affordable housing project in August 2013. SRO Housing broke ground in February on the development that is rising on a formerly vacant 22,000-square-foot lot at Fifth and San Pedro streets. All apartments will be efficiency units with an average size of 300 square feet. The project will aim for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification. At srohousing.org.

HELLMAN BUILDING Allen Gross has an agreement to buy the Herman H. Hellman building at Fourth and Spring streets and plans to convert the see Projects, page 10

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Century West Partners broke ground in May on the $154 million Avant in South Park. The three-building, 440-unit project was originally envisioned as a $95 million pair of seven-story apartment structures set to rise on two parking lots at 1360 S. Figueroa St. and 1355 S. Flower St. Plans for a third building at 1420 S. Figueroa St. were added as part of a second phase of the development. The two seven-story buildings will be constructed simultaneously and will be connected by a walkway with completion expected by September 2013. The second phase will begin early next year and should be complete by July 2014, said Michael Fifield, a partner in the project. The plans call for studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as live-work units above 11,000 square feet of retail space.

ANGELENA

The sleek black South Park edifice originally known as Concerto but now called Apex is set to begin leasing this month, property manager Paul Chambers said. Interior construction is not yet complete, but move-ins on finished floors will begin around Oct. 1. Rental rates have not been finalized for the units, which range from 592-2,200 square feet. The building got its new name in 2011, after it was taken over by ST Residential. The company purchased the 30-story, 271-unit tower at Ninth and Figueroa streets following a legal dispute with original developer Sonny Astani. The firm, a subsidiary of New York-based Starwood Capital, has remodeled the lobby and the pool deck. The lobby will be reserved entirely for resident-serving amenities instead of a commercial use, as was originally planned. A new structure that will house a gym was built on the pool deck, which is shared with a mid-rise

Downtown Management previously opened the Jewelry Trades and the Spring Arcade buildings.

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September 17, 2012

Development four swimming pools, two indoor basketball courts and a sand volleyball court. Phase one includes 495 units. At lorenzousc.com.

Continued from page 8 1903 former bank facility into 212 apartments. Gross is awaiting city approvals, along with the close of escrow, to proceed with the conversion. He plans to set aside about 20% of the units for affordable housing. A zoning administrator considered the proposal on Sept. 6 and plans to issue a decision this month. Up for consideration is a proposed exception to a rule in the adaptive reuse ordinance that requires, in the case of residential conversions, units in a building to average at least 750 square feet. Meeting that stipulation would mean the structure, also known as the Banco Popular Building, could have no more than 178 apartments. The proposal from Neighborhood Effort, the development firm run by Gross and his wife Arax Harutunian, instead calls for 212 units averaging 610 square feet. They would range from 4811,576 square feet, said Elizabeth Peterson, whose land-use firm the Elizabeth Peterson Group is representing Neighborhood Effort.

Gross is also seeking approvals for alcohol sales at four onsite restaurants.

LORENZO A March 2013 opening is expected for phase one of G.H. Palmer Associates’ $300 million, 950-unit Flower Street apartment complex, according to company head Geoff Palmer.

The complex is rising at Flower Street and Adams Boulevard near the campus of USC. The development on a 9.4-acre lot will incorporate the same Italian Renaissanceinspired design and amenities as Palmer’s other Downtown projects. Rents for the oneto three-bedroom units will start at $826 a bed. The entire complex is slated to include

METRO AT CHINATOWN SENIOR LOFTS

LOTUS GARDEN

The $44 million Metro at Chinatown Senior Lofts is about 70% complete and should be finished by the end of the year, said Tim Soule of developer Meta Housing. Moveins will start in the first quarter of 2013; pre-leasing for the 123 affordable units for senior citizens is underway. The project at 808 N. Spring St. is converting two aged Chinatown structures into an apartment complex. Funding came from sources including the Los Angeles Housing Department’s Neighborhood Stabilization program and tax-exempt bonds. At metahousing.com.

photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

to allow for a space-saving stacking effect is part of the project.

Completion of the $24 million Lotus Garden has again been pushed back, this time to spring 2013. Originally anticipated for an opening in spring 2012, the low-income Chinatown housing complex has been delayed twice due to shoring issues related to the tricky hillside location at 715 Yale St., said Katelyn Silverwood, a spokeswoman for developer Affirmed Housing Group. When completed, the 60-unit project will bring an eight-story complex for families earning 30%-60% of the county’s median household income. Rents are expected to range from $370 for studios to $1,236 for a three-bedroom apartment. A 63-space garage in which cars will be moved vertically and horizontally

NEW GENESIS Construction is complete on nonprofit developer Skid Row Housing Trust’s $22.3 million project at 458 S. Main St. Designed by Killefer Flammang Architects, and funded by a mix of local, state and federal sources, the New Genesis will provide 106 residences, mostly for homeless individuals. Although the city has yet to issue final occupancy sign-offs, they are expected imminently, said Molly Rysman, director of external affairs for SRHT. Twentyfive percent of the apartments will be set aside for working people earning less than $35,460 per year. Ninety-eight residences will be efficiency apartments and eight will be one-bedroom, loft-style spaces. The complex will include a solar energy system on the roof and is expected to be the first permanent supportive housing effort in Los Angeles built to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum standards. The food truck Great Balls on Tires has a lease in place to operate a restaurant on the ground floor. At skidrow.org.

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Onni Group, a Vancouver-based developer that last year bought two Downtown properties, is nearing a groundbreaking on a 32-story apartment tower at Ninth and Olive streets. The proposed $100 million project at 888 S. Olive St. calls for 283 units. It is slated to begin construction this fall and take about two years to build, said Chris Evans, Onni’s executive vice president. The project does not yet have a name.

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designs for the development known as PWC Family Housing. The project will include 54 parking spaces and approximately 4,000 square feet of common space.

ROSSLYN HOTEL APARTMENTS SRO Housing Corp. is in the pre-development stage for a renovation of the 264-unit affordable housing complex at Fifth and Main streets. The company, which bought the property in 2010 with help from the Community Redevelopment Agency, is required to preserve the affordable residences in the edifice. According to the most recent information available, SRO expects to have funding for the project this year and start construction by January 2013. The renovation would take place with tenants still in the building, but SRO expects the structure to be about 35% vacant when work begins. At srohousing.org.

SB OMEGA Barry Shy is in the preliminary phase of planning a 40-story tower that would rise at 601 S. Main St. The 350-unit development would include 35 residential floors over a five-level, 1,200-space parking facility. Shy, who says the project is “by right,” is looking to break ground by April. It is unclear, however, whether the site’s zoning regulations would allow a tower of that size. The building would be Shy’s sixth Historic Core apartment project, but his first ground-up development.

SPRING STREET APARTMENTS/GARAGE Downtown Development recently adjusted plans for its Historic Core property. Now, the firm that owns the neighboring Spring Arcade Building envisions six floors of apartments above a six-level parking structure on Spring between Fifth and Sixth streets.

The street level would be reserved for commercial or retail use, and there would be an additional two parking levels below ground, said Greg Martin, Downtown Management’s vice president. Martin said the project will not need any special land-use entitlements, but permits are expected to take about nine months to secure. The emphasis on parking — there would be about 500 spaces in the garage — stems from the company’s desire to provide more space for people coming to the area to shop. Downtown Management also opened two nearby apartment buildings — the Jewelry Trades and Chester Williams buildings — that lack parking.

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Concrete pillars have risen for a City West project from the Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation and the Pilipino Worker’s Center. The 45-apartment project at 153 N. Glendale Blvd., which broke ground in May, will include 22 residences for homeless individuals and nine units for what are termed transition-age youth. Birba Group Architects are handling

photo by Gary Leonard

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The Star Apartments is about 25% complete and a fall 2013 opening is expected for nonprofit developer Skid Row Housing Trust’s 102-unit permanent supportive housing complex at the southeast corner of Sixth and see Projects, page 12

September 17, 2012

Development

Downtown News 11

Continued from page 10 Maple streets. Michael Maltzan Architecture is handling designs for the development, which will reinforce an existing structure and add new residential units above it. It is the first prefabricated multifamily housing project in Los Angeles. At skidrow.org.

TITLE INSURANCE BUILDING An investment group led by Historic Core developer Izek Shomof acquired the Title Insurance Building at 433 S. Spring St. in April and plans to build 250 condominiums.

Shomof would not disclose the purchase price, but said he partnered on the deal with Naty Saidoff, owner of Capital Foresight, a Bel Air-based commercial real estate holding company. Capital Foresight paid for the property in an all-cash deal, Shomof said.

The developers are in the preliminary design phase and hope to secure entitlements and break ground early next year; the project would take three years to build. The 13-story Art Deco Title Insurance Building opened in 1928. The insurance company left the property in the 1970s and it housed a furnishings design center in the 1980s. The deal is tied in to the adjacent structure at 419 S. Spring St., where PNK I Group plans to create a hotel.

MIXED USE BLOSSOM PLAZA According to the most recent information available, the city is still negotiating a develop-

Figueroa streets. Original plans had called for building two towers in two phases. Seoulbased Korean Air is a subsidiary of the shipping magnate Hanjin. A hotel operator has not yet been selected.

ment agreement with Forest City Residential West for a project on Broadway between College and Spring streets. Forest City officials, who several months ago were looking for funding, have stated that the project would likely be similar to what original developer Larry Bond had in place. Those plans, which have already gone through the entitlement process, call for a mixed-use effort with more than 200 residential units, 20% of them dedicated to affordable housing, in two towers. The original project would also have created 43,000 square feet of retail space, a 372car garage and a 17,500-square-foot plaza to be used for community events.

CIVIC BROADWAY REVITALIZATION

METROPOLIS According to the most recent information available, IDS Real Estate Group is courting hotel operators to anchor a mixed-use development on a 6.5-acre site bounded by Eighth, Ninth and Francisco streets and the Harbor (110) Freeway. IDS has envisioned a multi-phase project with up to two hotels and ground-floor retail. Recent plans called for about 300,000 square feet of retail, but that has been scaled back, said IDS senior vice president Patrick Spillane. The development, which still lacks a timeline and budget, aims to transform Francisco Street into an active pedestrian corridor feeding into L.A. Live. The project is looking to piggyback on the business interest that would follow if AEG is successful in its effort to expand the Convention Center and build an NFL stadium.

ONE SANTA FE The $160 million project that will bring a sixstory building with 78,000 square feet of retail and commercial space to the Arts District is on track for completion by late 2014, accord-

photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

September 17, 2012

Development

ing to officials with Canyon-Johnson Urban Fund Investments, one of the partners in the development. The 438-apartment effort just east of the Southern California Institute of Architecture will include a 15,000-squarefoot space intended for a grocery store, a 47,400-square-foot plaza facing Santa Fe Avenue and 802 underground parking spaces. The project is rising on a four-acre portion of a 32-acre plot used by Metro for the maintenance and storage of rail cars. Twenty percent of the units will be reserved for lowincome tenants. The long-stalled project got a financial boost this year when CanyonJohnson joined the development team that consists of Beverly Hills-based The McGregor Company, Polis Builders and Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group.

THE GRAND Grand Avenue project developer Related Companies announced in August that it has secured financing to build its planned $100 million, 19-story apartment tower south of the Broad museum site. The deal, which includes equity financing from the State Teachers Association of Ohio and a construction loan from Citibank, positions Related to break ground as soon as November, said Bill Witte, president of Related California. Plans call for 271 units, 20% of which would be priced for low-income tenants, and 5,000 square feet of commercial space envisioned as a restaurant.

The site, known as parcel M, is cleared for two towers of up to 35 stories. Parcel M is one of four pieces that comprise the project formally known as The Grand. The Frank Gehry-designed complex that was originally envisioned as phase one, and called for two luxury residential towers with a boutique hotel and 250,000 square feet of retail space, remains on hold. Related has missed multiple deadlines to break ground on the largest piece of the project, and instead has secured repeated extensions. The Grand Avenue Authority approved a two-year extension for phase one through February 2013. The firm is expected to offer an alternative plan for the site by then, as part of another extension request. The $100 million tower is expected to open by late 2014, said Witte.

WILSHIRE GRAND REPLACEMENT Interior demolition, the first step in Korean Air’s plan to raze the aged Wilshire Grand Hotel and build a $1 billion tower in its place, is under way. A groundbreaking on the new 70-story tower with 900 hotel rooms and 400,000 square feet of office space is slated for 2013. High-speed elevators will ferry hotel visitors to a top-floor “lobby in the sky.”

Martin Project Management, a new venture by architect Chris Martin (whose firm AC Martin is handling the project designs), has been appointed to manage the development on the northwest corner of Seventh and

Progress continues on the 10-year Bringing Back Broadway project spearheaded by 14th District City Councilman José Huizar. The environmental review for the Broadway Streetscape Master Plan, designed by the Downtown-based firm Melendrez, was completed in March. It aims to reduce lanes of traffic, create wider sidewalks, and add seating, lighting and pedestrian amenities to the corridor. The project has also lured numerous new businesses to the street known for a dozen historic movie palaces; they include Alma, a restaurant at 952 S. Broadway, Umamicatessen at 852 S. Broadway, the Downtown outpost of Two Boots Pizza at 828 S. Broadway and the Los Angeles Brewing Company at 750 S. Broadway. Ross Dress for Less, the discount retail chain, is set to open a store at 719-725 S. Broadway early next year while Oregon-based Ace Hotel is working on bringing a 180-room boutique hotel to the United Artists Theater at 933 S. Broadway. Huizar’s office is also working on a set of commercial reuse guidelines to activate the nearly 1 million square feet of vacant space above street level and a sign district for the street to preserve and reactivate the historic signs on the buildings. At bringingbackbroadway.com.

CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 12

photo by Gary Leonard

12 Downtown News

The charter school organization Camino Nuevo plans to open a 500-seat facility in City West in 2013. The Los Angeles Unified School District owns the site adjacent to the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex on Third Street just west of the Harbor (110) Freeway. Construction is underway on a 55,361-square-foot, three-story school on a sliver of land immediately east of the Miguel Contreras Learning Complex athletics fields, near the intersection of Miramar Street and Huntley Drive. It will include 19 classrooms, 47 underground parking spaces, administrative offices, a dining area, a library and science labs.

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE Despite the forceful opposition of two congressmen, plans are proceeding to build a $400 million federal courthouse at the southwest corner of First Street and Broadway.

Officials with the federal General Services Administration are in the process of selecting

September 17, 2012

Downtown News 13

Development

a design and construction team from four finalists narrowed down in late March. A team is expected to be chosen this month with completion of the project by spring 2016. The courthouse would be a 600,000-square-foot edifice with 24 courtrooms, 32 judges chambers and 110 parking spots on a 3.6-acre site that is currently empty. It will house district judges, jury assembly facilities, offices for the U.S. Marshals Service and more. As part of a second phase of the project, GSA officials are looking for a developer to take over the federal Spring Street Courthouse, which will be vacated when the new building opens. In exchange for the Spring Street property, the developer would have to build a federal office building next to the new courthouse.

HALL OF JUSTICE

and gas. Architecture firm AC Martin is working with Clark Construction on the project that will preserve architectural elements and create an underground 1,000-car garage on the north side of the building. The exterior of the granite structure will undergo a high-pressure wash. When the building opens it will house the Sheriff’s Department, the District Attorney’s office and other county agencies.

LOS ANGELES RIVER In August, the state legislature approved a bill that makes it easier for people to access the river. SB 1201 requires the Los Angeles County Flood Control District to provide public access to navigable sections of the river for recreation and educational purposes. Previously, the Environmental Protection Agency had designated the river as “traditional navigable waters,” which led to supervised canoe and kayak trips down a 1.5-mile stretch in the San Fernando Valley. Another recent victory for the $2 billion, decades-long effort spearheaded

by First District Councilman Ed Reyes was President Barack Obama’s inclusion of funding for the Los Angeles River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study in his 2013 budget.

May marked the five-year anniversary of the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan.

photo by Gary Leonard

LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK

The transformation of the historic Hall of Justice is on schedule and a 2014 opening is expected, said Kerjon Lee, public affairs manager for the County Department of Public Works.

The 1925 building at 211 W. Temple St. that was damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake is undergoing a $231 million renovation. The work includes seismic improvements, elevator upgrades, new electrical and mechanical systems and connecting the building to systems for sewage, water

The Environmental Impact Report has been completed and approved and construction drawings should be complete by the end of the year for an $18 million renovation of the park on the edge of Chinatown, said Sean Woods, a California State Parks superintendent. Construction is expected to begin in the fall with completion to follow in 12-18 months.

Work at the 32-acre facility will add a welcome pavilion, a promenade for a farmers market, an amphitheater, wetlands areas and infrastructure improvements such as permanent restrooms. At lashp.wordpress.com.

LOS ANGELES STREETCAR A November election is scheduled in which area residents who are registered voters will decide whether local prop-

erty owners will have to pay $62 million over 30 years to help fund the $125 million Los Angeles Streetcar. In July, the City Council approved forming a tax district that would charge property owners within about three blocks of the streetcar tracks. Rates will be approximately 16 to 45 cents per square foot of space annually, with the highest figure for those closest to the route. Officials with Los Angeles Streetcar Inc., the nonprofit organization leading the effort, still need to seek $52 million from the federal government for the project. So far $10 million from the now-defunct Community Redevelopment Agency has been secured. The route, which would connect South Park to the Civic Center with a main spine on Broadway, was recently altered, with cost concerns prompting the elimination of a planned segment on First Street to Grand Avenue. Current proposals call for the project to open in 2015.

PARKER CENTER REPLACEMENT Officials with the city Bureau of Engineering are preparing a draft environmental impact report studying several proposals for razing, replacing or renovating Parker Center, the former LAPD headquarters. The site would then get another, as-yet undetermined use. The building at 150 N. Los Angeles St. was mostly vacated in 2009 when the department moved into the Police Administration Building. Some city staffers remain in the structure, but the building is expected to be empty by the end of the year. The EIR is studying five options for the site, including reusing the edifice, partial demolition and renovation, and demolition and replacement with a temporary parking lot. There is no timeline, but the report is expected this fall, said Richard Lee, a spokesman for the Department of Public Works.

REGIONAL CONNECTOR In June, the Federal Transit Administration gave the goahead for the $1.34 billion Regional Connector to proceed.

Metro is now conducting preliminary engineering and utility relocation work along the route of the 1.9-mile underground light-rail link. The agency last month began a slate of community meetings to discuss station designs for three new underground stations at First Street and Central Avenue; Second see Projects, page 14

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Development crete area into a tailgating center with green space. It would be capable of holding 15,000 people.

ITALIAN AMERICAN MUSEUM

rendering courtesy of Metro

Continued from page 13

Street and Broadway; and Second and Hope streets. Officials also unveiled a “kit of parts” design proposal for the stations, in which each one would use similar materials, though they would not be replicas. The project is facing a legal challenge from Thomas Properties Group and the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, which object to plans to build a tunnel with the socalled cut-and-cover method down Flower Street. Most of the route will be dug by an underground tunnel-boring machine.

The tentative timeline calls for a groundbreaking in 2013 with completion in 2019. At metro.net/projects/connector.

SIXTH STREET VIADUCT REPLACEMENT In July, the city selected three finalists to design the replacement for the ailing 80-year-old Sixth Street Viaduct. The bridge spans the Los Angeles River between Downtown and Boyle Heights. The city last year approved the Environmental Impact Report for a bridge replacement in the form of a cable-supported structure; in choosing that option, the board rejected calls to copy the existing design. The city is targeting a groundbreaking for the $401 million project in 2015, and completion could come by 2017. One of the finalists — AECOM, Parsons Brinckerhoff or HNTB — is expected to be chosen in the fall. The final public design presentations were slated for Sept. 17-18. At 6stbrp.nationbuilder.com.

CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT FARMERS FIELD/CONVENTION CENTER EXPANSION

The city began work this summer on seismic upgrades to the Italian Hall as part of the $4.5 million Italian American Museum of Los Angeles, said Marianna Gatto, the museum’s executive director. She said they are working on schematic designs and hope to open by early 2014. The project is renovating the 1908 Italian Hall at 645 N. Main St. The museum will be on the second floor of the building. The structure’s yellow brick façade, the Main Street storefronts and windows will be restored and the edifice will be seismically upgraded. The museum’s 4,000-square-foot main showroom and multipurpose space will have exhibits that can be moved to make way for cultural and educational programs and events. The facility will be overseen by the Historic Italian Hall Foundation, which has secured about $2 million and aims to have $4 million in hand by the opening. The $4.5 million cost includes about $1 million in work already completed. The city is contributing approximately $1 million in structural upgrades.

845 S. FIGUEROA/SMART & FINAL

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM A spring 2013 debut is expected for Becoming Los Angeles, a 14,000-square-foot permanent exhibition that will look at 500 years of local history. It is part of the NHM’s seven-year, $135 million transformation that includes the Dinosaur Hall, which opened last year. The North Campus, a 3.5-acre project that will create a new “front yard” for the facility, with outdoor exhibits in 11 zones, is expected to open in June 2013, in time for the centennial of the NHM. Portions of the North Campus, the Erika J. Glazer Home Garden, where visitors and school groups will learn to plant their own gardens, and the 1913 Garden, featuring flowers and plants blooming year-round, are already open. At nhm.org.

SIQUEIROS MURAL AND INTERPRETIVE CENTER An Oct. 9 opening is scheduled for the Siqueiros Mural and Interpretive Center, according to Melissa Abraham, a spokeswoman for the J. Paul Getty Trust. The Getty, along with the city, financed the nearly $10 million project and is overseeing the conservation of the “America Tropical” mural and creating an Interpretive Center in the nearby Sepulveda House.

The 18-by-80-foot artwork was painted in 1932 by Mexican muralist David Alfaro Siqueiros on a second-story wall of the Italian Hall. The project includes a rooftop-viewing platform.

The Interpretive Center will provide information about the life and artistry of Siqueiros. The nonprofit group Amigos de Siqueiros will manage the center.

rendering courtesy of Gensler

SPRING STREET PARK

Parking lot giant L&R Group continues a major renovation of the exterior of a 1969 office building at 845 S. Figueroa St. The building will be home to a 25,000-square-foot Smart & Final grocery store by the first quarter of 2013. The company acquired the South Park edifice in 2004 and let it sit empty for nearly seven years. Plans call for a facelift that will replace the dark façade with floor-to-ceiling windows, said project manager Gilad Lumer. The renovation is expected to be complete in mid-November, at which point Smart & Final will begin its interior build-out. L&R moved its headquarters to the top floor of the building last year, but has yet to sign other office tenants. Most of the 125,000-square-foot interior remains gutted. Lumer said space will be built out according to tenant needs. At 845fig.com

ACE HOTEL A late 2013 opening is expected for the Ace Hotel, said Ryan Bukstein, a representative with the Oregon-based parent company. The project is transforming the United Artists Theatre at 933 S. Broadway into a 180-room hotel. The 13-floor development will include a 1,600-seat entertainment venue in the theater, along with a pool, restaurant and bar.

Connecticut-based Greenfield Partners purchased the property last year for $11 million. The onetime movie palace had long been owned by the University Cathedral, a congregation made famous by the late pastor Dr. Gene Scott. The structure was built in 1927 by United Artists founders D.W. Griffith, Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford. At acehotel.com.

CLARK HOTEL

photo by Gary Leonard

Anschutz Entertainment Group this month hopes to secure approval from the City Council for the 10,000-page Environmental Impact Report for the Farmers Field project.

The company, which developed Staples Center and L.A. Live, hopes to be in position to break ground on a 68,000-seat stadium by spring 2013, though no work would begin until a deal with a team is signed and an agreement with the NFL is in place. The $1.4 billion project would raze the Convention Center’s West Hall and erect the stadium where it now stands. A replacement for the lost Convention Center building, dubbed the Pico Hall and being designed by the firm Populous, would rise contiguous to the current Convention Center. Architecture firm Gensler is handling designs of the stadium that would feature a “deployable,” or removable roof. The timeline envisions the first professional football game taking place in the stadium in fall 2017. The project would also include a $10 million expansion of the Blue Line’s Pico Station as part of AEG’s effort to have 25% of game attendees utilize public transit. Additionally, a $10 million renovation of the Convention Center’s Gilbert Lindsay Plaza would create a “gateway” for the stadium by turning the con-

BUSINESS

photo by Gary Leonard

Projects

completed earlier this year. Numerous vertical poles have been placed on part of the project that will support a massive concrete overhang. Once completed, the museum on Grand Avenue across from the Colburn School will house philanthropist Eli Broad’s 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. The institution being designed by the New York firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro is on pace for a late 2013 opening.

The installation of an elaborate, honeycomb like veil that will shroud the building is slated to start in November, according to project manager Kevin Rice. At broadartfoundation.org.

Although initial work began last year, a formal groundbreaking for the .7-acre Spring Street Park took place Aug. 2. The $8 million project between two condominiums buildings is expected to take about a year to complete. The park at 426 S. Spring St. is being designed by Lehrer Architects and will feature a lawn, plazas with curving benches and a water feature.

Preliminary construction began in October 2011 with the installation of an electrical system to power the fountain and park lights, a sprinkler system, a sewer line and a drainage line for storm water.

THE BROAD Work continues on the $100 million museum known as The Broad, which is rising on top of a three-level, 370-car garage

The Hotel Clark could return to life by the end of the year, said Elizabeth Petersen, a project representative. Interior work on the 11-story building at 426 S. Hill St. owned by the Chetrit Group has been completed and the structure is slated to become a 347-room hotel with three restaurants. It would also hold an 11,500-square-foot banquet space. Officials are seeking some city permits, and once those are acquired the building’s façade will be power washed in preparation for the opening. New York’s King & Grove Hotels is slated to operate the establishment. The building just north of Pershing Square is one of three large vacant Downtown properties owned by the Chetrit Group.

CLEANTECH MANUFACTURING CENTER Development firm Trammell Crow reportedly closed on a deal this month to buy a 20-acre site owned by the now defunct Community Redevelopment Agency. The firm plans to build a $40 million manufacturing facility geared toward clean technology companies. The CRA had long struggled to sell the site near 15th Street and Washington Boulevard, in part because the land is contaminated. Trammell Crow

September 17, 2012

Development

bought the property for $15.4 million, which covers the amount of the outstanding loan made on the site to the CRA. The CRA successor agency approved the sale in March and can now pay off its loan on the land, though the entity remains responsible for paying for environmental remediation of the property.

Trammell Crow has pledged to conduct a $100,000 marketing campaign to attract clean technology manufacturing tenants to the site.

Its purchasing agreement, however, does not require the firm to lease space to cleantech companies. It could also target food distributors and garment makers. Multiple previous agreements to sell or lease the property fell through before the Trammell Crow purchase was solidified.

CLIFTON’S CAFETERIA RENOVATION Andrew Meieran, the owner of Clifton’s Brookdale Cafeteria, continues a major renovation that will add three new bars and another restaurant to the property at 648 S. Broadway. Meieran said he is updating the cafeteria on the ground level without altering its historic character; the street-level overhaul will anchor the first phase of the project, which will also include the addition of a “neighborhood bar” on the mezzanine.

Future phases will include the transformation of the second floor into a jazz and blues lounge/bar called The Brookdale, as well as a speakeasy style bar in the basement. The third floor is slated to get a tiki bar dubbed “Pacific Seas,” after Clifton’s other original location (Clifton’s had two outposts, Clifton’s Brookdale and Clifton’s Pacific Seas). A fine dining restaurant will go on the fourth floor, and an existing bakery will be renovated and set up to sell wholesale and retail pastry products. The main cafeteria is slated to reopen early next year, and the new venues will arrive in phases every three months after that.

The initial phase will include a renovation of the building’s façade, which has yet to be touched because interior seismic upgrades, which are under way, must be completed first. Meieran hopes to get the property listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

FIGAT7TH RENOVATION/ TARGET

purveyor Mendocino Farms. The project is being designed by Gensler. At figat7th.com.

LA KRETZ INNOVATION CAMPUS A groundbreaking is expected for a clean technology business incubator in the Arts District by January, with plans to open by June, said Fred Walti, executive director of the project at 411 Hewitt St. The facility, to be built inside an existing structure, was conceived by a partnership between the now defunct Community Redevelopment Agency and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Officials are applying for building permits and are preparing to issue a bid for a general contractor. The campus will house the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator, which will encompass a group of clean technology companies working with processes related to sustainable uses of natural resources. The DWP paid $11.1 million for the building on the block bounded by Hewitt, Colyton, Fifth and Palmetto streets. A temporary 3,500-square-foot facility is operating nearby.

City and incubator officials are trying to secure public funds to turn an adjacent parking lot into a park. At laincubator.org.

LITTLE TOKYO GALLERIA Construction continues on the renovation of the 25-year-old shopping center at 333 S. Alameda St. Crews are working on a new entertainment hub anchored by a 24-lane bowling alley, a sports bar, a family restaurant and an upgraded video arcade. That portion should be completed by December with a grand opening by February, said Jay Chun, president of property manager Kaufman Commercial Group. The mall owners, Three Alameda Plaza, purchased the 250,000-square-foot structure in 2008.

Other plans in the three-story edifice include the addition of about eight new restaurants and giving a modern look to the gray, fortress-like exterior. A dim sum restaurant opened in August, replacing the Vault 21 lounge on the ground floor. A coffee shop and Japanese restaurant are currently under construction. The exterior work should begin early next year.

An Oct. 14 opening is scheduled for FIGat7th, the renovated shopping complex at Figueroa and Seventh streets, and its anchor store, a 104,000-square-foot Target. The other anchor, the sporting goods giant Sport Chalet, which signed a lease to fill a 26,800-squarefoot space on the lower level of the plaza, will open in May 2013. Brookfield Properties, the owner of the shopping center, has spent $40 million on the renovation that is reconfiguring the outdoor mall, including creating a new grand entrance into Target. The project will also hold a 25,000-square-foot dining area with about 18 restaurants. Some of the confirmed eateries are La Mill Coffee, Loteria Grill and a third arm of Downtown sandwich

photo by Gary Leonard

photo by Gary Leonard

MARRIOTT HOTELS

A groundbreaking was held June 25 for the $172 million development that will create two Marriott brand hotels in a single building in South Park. Portland-based Williams/Dame & Associates and American Life Incorporated are behind the 373,000-square-foot project that will hold a 174-room Courtyard by Marriott and a 218-room Residence Inn in a 23-story high-rise just north of the RitzCarlton/J.W. Marriott. The project is being built by SODO Builders LA LLC, with architecture by Portland’s GBD Architects. The hotels are expected to open in summer 2014.

ROSS DEPARTMENT STORE Plans call for a Ross Dress for Less to open at 719-725 S. Broadway in early 2013, according to officials with 14th District City Councilman José Huizar, whose office is facilitating the project. The discount retail outlet will open a 39,000-square-foot store at the former Woolworth Department Store building and take up the basement and ground floor of the edifice. The project is expected to generate 50 jobs. Plans call for the restoration of the grand staircases, two new elevators, an escalator system and a DWP substation in the basement to power the property. Ross signed a 10-year lease for the structure and has the option of expanding into the two upper floors of the three-story edifice.

SPARKLE FACTORY Jewelry designer Tarina Tarantino and her husband and partner Alfonso Campos are converting a long-vacant 1914 building at 908 S. Broadway into a headquarters for their jewelry business. Dubbed the Sparkle Factory, the 23,800-square-foot structure will house design and production operations as well as a ground-floor store. Work is now underway, Campos said, and the shop is expected to open in late spring 2013. The company is planning to move its offices into the seven-story building by November. At thesparklefactory.blogspot.com.

SPRING STREET HOTEL PNK I Group, a Hollywood-based hotel developer and operator, is planning a hotel at 419 S. Spring St., where the company has held a lease since 2007. The firm, however, could not be reached for comment. PNK, which develops and operates primarily mid-

Downtown News 15

market hotel brands such as Comfort Inn and Holiday Inn, had not finalized its financing as of May. It is unclear whether the company, which was in advanced negotiations to bring a Cambria Suites to the vacant building, has made progress on the deal. The company had imagined a hotel where the rooms would mimic the residential loft aesthetic of the neighborhood. The project is tied in to Historic Core developer Izek Shomof’s effort to turn the adjacent Title Insurance Building into 250 condominiums.

WAL-MART Despite efforts by labor groups to stop a WalMart Neighborhood Market from opening near Chinatown, the Bentonville-Ark.-based retailer is on track to bring the store online by early 2013, said Rachel Wall, a company representative. The 33,000-square-foot business on the ground floor of Grand Plaza, a 302unit senior housing complex at 701 W. Cesar Chavez Ave., is currently under construction.

A hiring center will open nearby in late fall to find the 65 employees to staff the store that will sell groceries and include a pharmacy.

The project squeaked through the city approval process by obtaining its final building permit a day before the City Council approved an ordinance aimed at stopping WalMart from opening the store.

NONPROFIT/COMMUNITY BUDOKAN OF LOS ANGELES Backers of the Budokan of Los Angeles, a proposed $22 million recreation center planned by the Little Tokyo Service Center, see Projects, page 17

16 Downtown News

Development

September 17, 2012

September 17, 2012

Development

Downtown News 17

an outdoor basketball court and a children’s play area. The building is slated to secure LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Construction is mostly complete and the organization plans to move to the new edifice in November. In August, the facility’s name was changed to the Hope Street Margolis Family Center in honor of a $2.5 million gift from the Robert and Lisa Margolis Family Foundation. At chmcla.org.

Projects Continued from page 15

continue to seek grants and donations to pay for the project.

Its biggest gift, a $5 million grant of Prop 84 funds distributed by the California Department of Parks and Recreation, came earlier this year; so far a total of about $7 million has been raised. The Budokan would be a 38,000-square-foot facility on Los Angeles between Second and Third streets. The effort would include a four-court gymnasium, community space and a rooftop garden with a jogging track. It would provide space for several sports with an emphasis on martial arts tournaments. Project director Scott Ito said project officials tentatively hope to break ground in 2014 and open the facility in 2016. At budokanoflosangeles.com.

GOOD SAMARITAN EXPANSION Construction continues on a 190,000-square-foot medical office building at Wilshire Boulevard and Witmer Street in City West, and completion is slated for the second quarter of 2014, according to hospital officials. The $80 million project will create a facility with a pharmacy, an outpatient surgical center and five levels of physicians’ offices. The building will also serve as home to some of Good Samaritan’s specialty medical clinics, among them cardiology, orthopedics and primary care. The oncology/cancer services department will move into the new building with advanced technology; imaging/radiation services will expand with the new building to include services dedicated to women. Architecture firm Ware Malcomb is overseeing the design, while Millie and Severson is handling construction.

HOPE STREET MARGOLIS FAMILY CENTER The $15.7 million Hope Street Margolis Family Center, formerly known as the Hope Street Family Center, is on track for a fall completion, said center director Vickie Kropenske.

The four-story, 25,500-square-foot project, a partnership between Abode and California Hospital Medical Center, broke ground last April. The building at 1600 S. Hope St. will offer services supporting low-income families and will include

Move-ins began in June at the Brockman Lofts, two months after Denver-based Simpson Property Group completed its $38.75 million purchase of the 80-apartment edifice at 530 W. Seventh St. The project was planned as a $17 million condominium complex in 2005, but stalled when the price increased and the original developer went bankrupt.

Apartments start at $2,200 and go up to $10,000 for a penthouse. They range from 802-2,279 square feet. Amenities include 24-hour valet parking and concierge service. At thebrockmanla.com.

CITY HALL LAWN The public space in front of City Hall reopened July 19, nearly eight months after the park had been closed due to damage inflicted on the property by campers with the Occupy L.A. movement. The 1.7-acre space has been replanted with more native plants and drought-tolerant landscaping; city landscapers and engineers managed to reduce turf coverage throughout the property by 51%. The south lawn, which fronts First Street, continues to hold wide swaths of grass. Most of the turf reduction was achieved on the west and north sides of the building, where grass was replaced with a colorful mix of agaves, aloe and other succulents.

Move-ins have begun and only four units are still available at the Gallery Lofts, said Elizabeth Lande, a project representative. Escrow has closed on 13 units so far in the building at 120-130 S. Hewitt St. in the Arts District. The 33 condominiums range from 900-1,700 square feet and are priced from $345,000-$515,000. The project features granite countertops in the kitchens and baths, stainless steel appliances, tiled showers, open beam cathedral ceilings and original brick walls. At galleryloftsla.com.

GRAND PARK The first phase of Grand Park opened on July 26 and the second phase debuted Sept. 11. Currently users have access to the portion of the facility that extends from Grand Avenue to Broadway, and the final phase, stretching to City Hall, is scheduled to come online Oct. 6. The $56 million transformation was paid for by Grand Avenue project developer Related Cos.; County Supervisor Gloria Molina arranged for the firm to provide an up-front payment when it won the development rights to the project. The park features a wide staircase off Grand Avenue, creating better sightlines from the street.

There is also a reimagined Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain,

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with a membrane pool that people can walk through. There are concrete and green expanses, pink furniture, a variety of mini-gardens and a fenced-in area for dogs. At grandpark. lacounty.gov.

SEVEN AND BRIDGE Linear City, developer of the Toy Factory and Biscuit Company lofts, has completed and fully leased its 78-apartment, three-building project near Seventh and Santa Fe streets in the Arts District. Linear City signed a lease with chef Ori Menashe and restaurateur Bill Chait to open an Italian eatery called Bestia at the site. It is expected to debut in October. Bread Lounge, a bakery at the project, opened this year. Linear City is in negotiations with another restaurant operator to take over a commercial space in the third building. At linear-city.com.

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Rendering courtesy of Little Tokyo Service Center

OPENED IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS

The 43-apartment The Jeffries opened in June, following a $5 million renovation. The 1927 structure at 117 Winston St., which was home to the Jeffries Banknote Company until the late 1980s, was transformed by Fashion District player Leon Neman. Residences range from 550-975 square feet and feature high-end finishes including stone countertops, tile backsplashes and wooden cabinets. The building has only 14 parking spots; most parking is in an adjacent lot. At thejeffriesla.com.

18 Downtown News

September 17, 2012

DowntownNews.com

a special advertising supplement

Leaving a Legacy MDM Builders Makes Its Mark on Downtown Development

M

DM Builders is a family-owned business that offers a full range of services from pre-construction to construction completion, and serves both inFROM OUR ADVERTISERS

dividuals and private corporations throughout the greater Los Angeles area.

The company has become a major player in Downtown’s development with an impressive list of projects in its portfolio, including Chapman Flats, Great Republic Lofts, Milano Lofts, the Haas Building, the Spring Arcade Building, the Silo Vodka Bar, Loft Seven and many others.

MDM Builders maintains a wide network of construction industry experts, coupled with a depth of knowledge and local teams

that offer unsurpassed services. This enables the company to provide exceptional and dedicated client services for some of the most complex projects.

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thus creating successful projects.

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Throughout the years, MDM has established a reputation for high quality construction, achieving project excellence, delivering client satisfaction, and operating with integrity while maintaining financial stability. In addition, the company is committed to protecting and preserving the environment, and supporting local communities. As a familyowned business, it values each of its clients like family.

M. Librush construction, Inc., is doing business as MDM Builders Group, which is incorporated in the state of California with a California construction license.

photo by Gary Leonard

DOWNTOWN RESIDENTIAL

MDM Builders Group is at 219 W. Seventh St. For information call (213) 327-0646 or visit mdmbuilders.com.

September 17, 2012

Downtown Residential

Downtown News 19

20 Downtown News

Cultural Connection

At the Center Of it All

The Towers Deliver a Rich Downtown Experience

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owntown Los Angeles: Here, the living experience goes unmatched anywhere in the West.

It’s a lifestyle richly embellished with art, music and the cultural events that make headlines. Downtown breeds success, FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

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.

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Extraordinary fountains, garden alcove retreats, gourmet dining and first-run entertainment provide the perfect setting for a lifetime of enjoyment. Downtown holds all the essentials to fulfill the most demanding lifestyles.

During the day, you are moments from the business district, minimizing or even eliminating a commute. Evenings become immersed in a flood of nightlife, movies and culture beneath the brilliant lights of the city. Day and night, the Towers place residents among all the excitement Downtown offers.

Promenade Towers greets guests via a two-story lobby embellished with a tranquil indoor waterscape. Four impressive towers embrace a breathtaking pool, spa and fitness center in an oasis of flowing fountains and immaculate landscaping — a true departure from the ordinary.

September 17, 2012

Downtown Residential

Promenade Towers’ individual design includes apartments with balconies, contemporary solariums and angular rooms as exciting as the property’s unique exterior styling.

Grand Tower’s sensuous granite exterior distinguishes this landmark development as the address that reflects success. The 24-hour manned lobby provides impressive passage to spacious apartment homes with balconies and a rooftop pool, spa and fitness center with beautiful mountain and city views. Adjacent to the renowned California Plaza, entertainment can be found virtually at your doorstep.

Museum Tower neighbors the beautiful Museum of Contemporary Art. This fine collection of apartment homes features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. Exhibit your most precious belongings amidst the outstanding backdrop of the city skyline.

A controlled access lobby, pool, spa and fitness center provide the upscale amenities Downtown residents desire.

Double Assurance of Quality: For more than 50 years, Shapell Industries and Goldrich & Kest Industries have established themselves among America’s most successful and most honored residential developers. Today, their nationwide reputation for providing exceptional housing is earned through a consistent dedication to quality craftsmanship and design. As a result, many of their joint ventures have been cited as model developments. Marina Park in San Diego, Town Square in Santa Ana and The Promenade and Promenade West in the

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

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For leasing information at the Promenade Towers, 123 S. Figueroa St., call (213) 6173777. For leasing information at the Grand Tower, 255 S. Grand Ave., call (213) 2299777. For leasing information at the Museum Tower, 225 S. Olive St., call (213) 626-1500, or visit TowersApartmentsLA.com.

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. Residents live within a one-block radius of everything they need, and the best part is no driving is required. Enjoy seasonal and weekly events, such as a farmers market every Wednesday and Friday, and the Ralphs Fresh Fare is literally steps away. The surrounding neighborhood also features a pharmacy, a post office, an outdoor shopping mall, Staples Center and L.A. Live.

With such a multitude of choices within walking distance, it is difficult to decide which restaurant to dine at. The Metro is a block away, making it a breeze to be in Orange County or North Hollywood in less than an hour.

Continued on next page

The world at your doorstep.

Our unique downtown location offers city views and an abundance of activities to maintain your active lifestyle. u 8-Acre,

Park-like Campus u Enjoy your meals in either the Grand Dining Room or Skyline Bistro u Transportation to Special Events and Doctors Appointments u Independent, Assisted Living and 24/7 Skilled Nursing in One Location 573 South Boyle Avenue, Los Angeles 323.263.6195 hollenbeckpalms.com A RETIREMENT OASIS SINCE 1890

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September 17, 2012

Downtown News 21

Downtown Residential

A Commuter’s Dream Explore the New Lofts and Live/Work Collection at Raymond Renaissance muters. Easily catch the Metro Gold Line to Downtown Los Angeles, or hop on the 210, 134, 710 or 110 freeways.

Raymond Renaissance is comprised of two gracious buildings: the former Raymond Theater, and a new residential building to the south. The interior of the Raymond Theater has been tastefully transformed into stylish retail spaces, lofts and live/work units that feature ceiling heights ranging between 11 feet and two stories. The historic auditorium’s interior walls and ceiling have been renovated and restored to their original beauty. The addition of 12 skylights brings light and air to the five-story atrium.

Attached to the theater is a newly constructed six-story res-

J

ust 20 minutes from Downtown L.A. on the Metro Gold Line, the new lofts and live/work spaces now available at Raymond Renaissance provide an ideal setting for modern lifestyles. With features like beautiful oversized windows, private patios or balconies and a flexible layout, these homes

idential building. Its brick and stone façade, copper detailed roof, and street level granite wainscoting salute the stately era in which buildings echoed their community’s pride and sense of worth. The building is comprised of three ground floor retail spaces that front Raymond Avenue and Holly Street.

Raymond Renaissance provides threshold access to a grand past and a vibrant present — whether you’re stepping into or out of the building.

View the new lofts and live/work spaces still available at 125 N. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena or call the Sales Gallery today at (626) 396-0800. Open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. daily; closed Fridays.

View the floorplans at raymondrenaissance.com.

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are perfect for a discerning buyer.

Prices range from $499,000 to $899,000, with spacious units between 1,400 and 3,025 square feet. Sited at the intersection of Raymond Avenue and Holly Street in Old Pasadena, the Raymond Renaissance provides full access to a dynamic and beloved neighborhood.

Known for its independent artisans, picturesque streetscapes, cosmopolitan spirit and rich history, Old Pasadena offers that rare combination of cultural vibrancy within an intimate scale that adds ease and grace to everyday living.

Options abound just outside Raymond Renaissance’s front door: n Enjoy a concert at the Levitt Pavilion in Memorial Park n Appreciate the beauty of picturesque City Hall n Get inspired: take in an exhibition, performance or class next door at the Armory Center for the Arts n Delight in the ease of shopping at ground-level retailers Maude Woods, Therapy and Market on Holly Street n Take a leisurely walk to Colorado Boulevard to shop at Sur La Table, Goorin Bros. and Crate and Barrel n Entertain at delectable local eateries like Marston’s Restaurant and Louise’s Trattoria The location also provides exceptional access for com-

It’s our business to make you comfortable... at home, downtown. Corporate and long term residency is accommodated in high style at the Towers Apartments. Contemporary singles, studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartment homes Move-In provide fortunate residents with a courteous full service lobby attendant, heated pool, spa, complete fitness center, sauna and recreation room with kitchen. Beautiful views extend from the Towers’ lofty homes in the sky. Mountain vistas and slender skyscrapers provide an incredible back drop to complement your decor. Far below are a host of businesses ready to support your pampered downtown lifestyle. With spectacular cultural events nearby, even the most demanding tastes are satisfied. Downtown, it’s not just big business anymore. Visit the Towers Apartments today.

Spec ial s

Grand Tower

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

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

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

Promenade Towers 123 South Figueroa Street Leasing Information 213 617 3777

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

Located directly in the center of Downtown Los Angeles, Gas Company Lofts is part of South Village, a multiblock residential and retail community that includes rental housing and a full-service grocery store. These elements make it the hotspot of L.A. The Gas Company Lofts’ historic architecture is complemented by quality finishes in each unit, creating a signature project and luxurious environment.

Interior amenities include a variety of granite countertops, dark cherry wood and maple cabinetry with modern design finishes and brushed stainless steel appliances. The “green” floors are reused materials such as cork, bamboo or distressed concrete. All apartments come with garaged residential and gated parking, free of charge.

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

Community Amenities: ~ 24 Hr. Manned Lobby ~ Pool / Saunas ~ Fitness Center ~ Covered Parking

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

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

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

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

8 7 7 - 2 65 - 714 6

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22 Downtown News

September 17, 2012

Downtown Residential

Join a Professional Community at TENTEN Wilshire The Only Place Where Living, Working and Playing Is Just a Suitcase Away

T

ENTEN Wilshire is the ideal place for business-minded individuals to live, work and play. Perfect for high tech, start-ups, entrepreneurs, entertainment, fashion, legal, finance, consulting, FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

real estate, advertising and much more, TENTEN Wilshire provides the perfect blend of amenities and necessities to make your decision an easy one. 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 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.

TENTEN Wilshire is also Enterprise and Empowerment zoned, which gives businesses the ability to write off up to 67% of the rent, including other tax benefits.

Suites come equipped with every imaginable amenity including 24/7 valet parking, drop-off service within two miles, free basic utilities, wired and wireless high-speed Internet, premium cable TV, local phone calls, iPod ready sound systems, high definition LCD TVs, full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and extensive kitchenware sets, and individual thermostats for opti-

mum cooling and heating.

TENTEN Wilshire received the award for “Best Rooftop in Downtown Los Angeles.” Inspired by luxury resorts, the world-class rooftop features a full gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, locker rooms, a movie/screening room, lounge, fire pits, barbecue areas, sundecks, custom outdoor billiard and foosball tables, all while being surrounded by endless panoramic views. A great venue for the complimentary happy hour five days a week, ideal for meeting people and networking, it is easy to see why TENTEN Wilshire is the complete lifestyle solution business professionals need.

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

Union Station, your access point to Los Angeles’ rail system, is also nearby. With neighbors like the Walt Disney Concert

A Retirement Oasis Hollenbeck Palms Offers Residential Living at Its Best

S

erving the Greater Los Angeles area for more than a century, men and women in their senior years have enjoyed Hollenbeck’s active, rewarding and secure FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

Hall, Exposition Park and the Staples Center, additional entertainment and recreational activities are available year round.

L.A. Live, a 4 million-square-foot sports and entertainment district offers many exciting venues and restaurants as well.

With flexible lease terms, TENTEN Wilshire is the perfect option, whatever your needs may be. It’s a lifestyle solution for professionals wanting to live, work and play… no matter how long or short the stay.

TENTEN Wilshire is at 1010 Wilshire Blvd. For information call (877) 338-1010 or visit 1010Wilshire.com.

COMMUTER’S DREAM LOFTS AND LIVE/WORK

COLLECTION!

fa l l

environment where friendships grow as personal interests are pursued. Hollenbeck Palms’ unique Downtown-adjacent location offers city views and provides residential living, assisted residential living and skilled nursing services on an eight-acre, park-like campus.

More than just a place to live, Hollenbeck is truly “home” to approximately 230 residents and is designed to provide the best in retirement living. Residents choose from a variety of accommodations, ranging from studios to two-bedroom condo-style apartments with full kitchens, balconies, washer/dryers, underground parking and other amenities designed for today’s older adults making lifestyle transitions.

Monthly fees include: n Three delicious meals served daily in both an elegant grand dining room and more casual Skyline Bistro n Transportation to medical appointments and Continued on next page

arts &EntErtainmEnt C u lt u r e P r e v i e w

CURRENT UNITS AVAILABLE UNIT

SQ.FT.

PRICE

211

1139

$499,000

209

1152

$499,000

511

1150

$545,000

413

3025

$899,000

FEATURED HOME #411 1886 SQ.FT. $685,000

411411

1,886 square 1,886 square feet* feet*

The Lofts and Live/Work Collection in Raymond Theatre provides a magnificent backdrop to a thriving community.

Adjacent to the Metro Gold Line Station and two blocks from Colorado Blvd. shopping, dining and entertain, the location is perfect for downtown commuters.

The lofts and live/work features include:

OPEN BELOW

DINING BEDROOM

FLEX SPACE

PATIO

BATH

OFFICE/ LOFT DEN

OPEN ABOVE

Raymond Renaissance 125 North Raymond Avenue Pasadena, CA 9110

Sales and marketing Sales and bymarketing Polaris Group

by Polaris - a licensed GroupCalifornia - a licensed broker.

California DRE License broker. DRE # License # 01499250. Floor 01499250. plans, elevations, Floor plans, renderings, elevations,photographs, renderings, photographs, features, finishes features, and finishes and specificationsspecifications are subject toare change subject at to any change time and at any should timenot and beshould relied not upon beas relied upon as representations, representations, expressed orexpressed implied. The or implied. seller reserves The seller the reserves right to the make right to make changes at any changes time without at any time priorwithout notice. Any priorreference notice. Any to square reference footage to square refers footage to refers to approximate approximate sizes only. Neither sizes only. sellerNeither nor broker seller has nor confirmed broker has room confirmed dimensions. room dimensions.

t: 626.396.0800 f: 626.396.0801 live@RaymondRenaissance.com

© 2012 RAYMOND © 2012 RENAISSANCE. RAYMOND RENAISSANCE. ALL RIGHTSALL RESERVED. RIGHTS RESERVED.

*4% Broker co-op applies only to LIVE/WORK lofts unit numbers #411, #412 and #413. All other homes have a 3% broker co-op. Sales and marketing by Polaris Group - a licensed California broker. DRE License # 01499250. Floor plans, elevations, renderings, photographs, features, finishes and specifications are subject to change at any time and should not be relied upon as representations, expressed or implied. The seller reserves the right to make changes at any time without prior notice. Any reference to square footage refers to approximate sizes only.

Neither seller nor broker has confirmed room dimensions.

DowntownNews_7.625x5_r2.indd 1

THEATER

MUSIC

MUSEUMS

EVEN TS

Ahmanson Mark Taper REDCAT Dorothy Chandler East West Players

L.A. Philharmonic Staples Center Club Nokia Nokia Theater LA Opera

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PUBLISHES Oc tOBEr 1, 2012

* All square *footage All square is approximate. footage is approximate.

Raymond Renaissance Raymond Renaissance 125 North Raymond 125 NorthAvenue Raymond Avenue Pasadena, California Pasadena,91103 California 91103 live@RaymondRenaissance.com live@RaymondRenaissance.com RaymondRenaissance.com RaymondRenaissance.com

los angeles Downtown news will Publish a ComPrehensive rounD-uP of ConCerts, theater, museums, restaurants anD more!

A Comprehensive Round-Up of Downtown's:

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September 17, 2012

Downtown News 23

Downtown Residential

Continued from previous page shopping n Free parking n Free laundry facilities and service n Activity programs including trips and special events n Emergency-call system in each apartment n Professional security personnel and gated perimeter n Check writing/cashing services n U.S. Postal Services The Assisted Residential Living Program (ARL) provides services to residents in their apartments. Trained ARL nurses assist with the activities of daily living while residents enjoy the continuity of living in their own familiar surroundings. Hollenbeck Palms’ Skilled Nursing offers 24-hour care and is Joint Commission accredited.

Prospective residents, their families and friends are encouraged to schedule a tour and complimentary lunch.

Hollenbeck Palms is at 573 S. Boyle Ave. For more information call (323) 263-6195.

In the Heart of the City The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live Beckon Discerning Buyers

T

he 224 luxury homes of The RitzCarlton Residences at L.A. Live are the most exclusive residences in Los Angeles. Located on the top floors above The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in the FROM OUR ADVERTISERS

heart of L.A. Live, the Residences feature expansive views of the Downtown Los Angeles skyline, San Gabriel Mountains, Pacific Ocean and Hollywood Hills.

In addition to the HOA-included services, residents enjoy a host of other amenities: 24-hour valet parking; 24hour dedicated lobby ambassador; dedicated residential concierge; daily breakfast catered by The Ritz-Carlton; private residential lounge and dining room with wine storage; travel and sports library; private screening room; and private residential fitness center.

The rooftop pool, spa and terrace is a sky-high, secret oasis with private ca-

banas, amazing views and the chic bar Blu, which Travel + Leisure magazine recently ranked among America’s Best Outdoor Bars. Residents can order inhome dining from WP24 by Wolfgang Puck and celebrity chef Kerry Simon’s L.A. Market, and they have access to exclusive passes to VIP seating and luxury suites at Staples Center, Nokia Theater and Club Nokia.

The dramatic views and outside appearance of the Residences are matched by the exquisitely designed interiors.

The elegant kitchen cabinets are crafted in Italy by Snaidero in a selection of refined finishes. Fixtures are complemented by natural stone flooring and countertops, including marble and granite. In most living spaces, the ceilings are 10 feet high, which amplify their floor-to-ceiling views.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live was developed by AEG, owner and

operator of some of the world’s most successful arenas, theaters, stadiums and developments, including the L.A. Live sports and entertainment district, Los Angeles’ Staples Center, London’s The O2 arena and Shanghai’s MercedesBenz Arena.

Homeowners at The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live enjoy V.I.P. access to adjacent venues including Staples Center, Nokia Theater, Club Nokia, the Grammy Museum and dozens of restaurant and entertainment options.

One-, two-, and three-bedroom Residences are available with prices ranging from $1.3 million to $4.5 million.

Located on the 50th and 51st floors are the single- and two-story penthouses ranging from $3.6 million to $9.3 million.

For more information on The RitzCarlton Residences at L.A. Live, visit AllAccessLiving.com or call (213) 6224242.

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24 Downtown News

September 17, 2012

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Streetcar Continued from page 1 — inhabitants of apartments and condominiums get to vote, but landowners whose home addresses are outside the area do not. Voters will have until Dec. 3 to mail ballots to the City Clerk. The project needs the approval of two-thirds of those who vote.

If it passes, property owners — whether of a condominium or an entire building or lot — would pay from 16-45 cents per square foot, with the highest rates for those right along the route. Payments would be on an annual basis for 30 years.

According to figures provided by LASI, the average condominium owner would pay $58.16 per year, with the majority of units taxed less than $100 annually.

Renters would not be directly assessed, but landlords could raise rates to recoup their increased costs.

Shiraz Tangri, general counsel for LASI, said there are about 7,000 registered voters in the area, although the figure could rise as they urge people to register to vote as part of the streetcar campaign. Still, he said he expects only about 1,000 people to cast a ballot.

Like Huizar, he believes this is the make-or-break moment for the project.

“If residents don’t get behind this, the project doesn’t go forward for another generation,” Tangri said.

If the vote passes, LASI officials will then seek $52 million from the federal government ($10 million has been secured from the now-defunct Community Redevelopment Agency).

The project has twice lost out on bids for federal funds.

Proponents say approval of the tax will make it easier to obtain federal money.

Local Opposition While the project has strong backing from some property owners, even those who can’t cast ballots, not everyone supports the process. The plan has generated opposition from some landholders who maintain that they deserve a vote if they will pay.

“The promoters of the streetcar are going to residents because they have a better chance of passing it than if they were to go to the property owners,” said Greg Martin, vice president of Downtown Management, a company led by Australian businessman Joseph Hellen.

The company owns three apartment buildings in the Historic Core, including the recently opened Chester Williams Building at 215 W. Fifth St. near Broadway, and stands to face a hefty assessment. Martin said that if burdened with a new tax, rates will go up for their renters. He also questioned the tax projections and fears they could end up significantly higher than what voters have been told.

But renters like Annika Sandberg, who lives in the Metropolitan building at Fifth Street and Broadway, said any added cost would be worth it.

“The streetcar will add so much charm and a historical element and will make it easier to get around,” she said.

Also in support is Karin Liljegren, an architect who lives in the Roosevelt Lofts. She said condo owners would benefit because the streetcar would raise the value of their homes.

“I think for the residents for sure it’s a win-win whether you own a condo or rent,” she said.

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Supporters of the Los Angeles Streetcar this week will launch a public outreach campaign in anticipation of a November vote of area residents. If two-thirds of local inhabitants don’t approve the funding for the project, the streetcar could die.

Streetcar proponents know they have a busy few months ahead of them. Tangri said LASI officials plan to conduct outreach at events such as the upcoming CicLAvia and a Halloween party at Grand Hope Park. They also plan to meet with HOA groups in condominium buildings.

Contact Richard Guzmán at richard@downtownnews.com.

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September 17, 2012

DowntownNews.com

Bridge Designers Dream Big City Shows Off Finalists for Replacement of the Sixth Street Viaduct

by Ryan Vaillancourt staff writer

C

ity officials have not yet decided which architecture firm will design the new $400 million Sixth Street Viaduct. One thing is certain though — no matter who is selected, the bridge connecting Downtown and Boyle Heights will instantly become a new civic icon that prizes pedestrians as much as cars.

Three finalists in the city’s international design competition to reimagine the 1932 bridge unveiled their proposals at a meeting in Boyle Heights on Wednesday, Sept. 12. It was the first of four public presentations, including one in Downtown on Monday night.

The designs by HNTB Corp., AECOM and Parsons Brinckerhoff are all aesthetic departures from the existing bridge, which must be replaced due to a chemical reaction causing the concrete structure to deteriorate — the condition has been likened to a “concrete cancer.”

images courtesy of L.A. Bureau of Engineering

(from top) Sixth Street Viaduct designs from HNTB Corp., AECOM and Parsons Brinckerhoff all envision a bridge with not only automobile access, but also space for pedestrians and bicyclists. See more renderings at downtownnews.com

While each design gives the bridge a dramatic appearance, the most striking difference between the current span and any of the potential replacements is not a matter of aesthetics but of function: Each firm placed an emphasis on pedestrian and bicycle access to the two-thirds of a mile span.

The proposals all call for pedestrian or bicycle lanes, whether at car level or via dedicated lanes under the bridge surface. The designs also reimagine the land beneath the viaduct in the Arts District and in Boyle Heights as active park and plaza spaces.

The proposals mark a major evolution in city thinking on the bridge replacement project. Three years ago, when 14th District Councilman José Huizar was told by the Bureau of Engineering that the structure needed to be replaced, he balked.

“I said ‘no way,’ because I’m a preservationist at heart,” Huizar recalled Wednesday night.

After city engineers convinced Huizar that preservation was impossible or too dangerous, he insisted that it be replicated.

But several influential figures, including Lewis MacAdams, co-founder of the Friends of the Los Angeles River, were pushing the Bureau of Engineering to conduct an international competition. Huizar was later persuaded that a modern design could facilitate community access to the river. The competition was launched in April.

“We can’t help but be thrilled,” MacAdams said of the finalists’ visions. “Here’s this immense infusion of money into the middle of the city and it’s focused around the L.A. River and the riverbanks and the evolution of the river through Downtown.”

MacAdams is one of nine people selected by Huizar and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to serve on a project design advisory committee. The group will consider all three proposals and submit a recommendation to the Bureau of Engineering, which has the final call. A selection is expected in October, said City Engineer Gary Lee Moore.

Negotiations with the competition winner would take about three months, with an 18-24 month design process slated to start by January. Construction would last three years, so tentative completion could be as far away as 2019.

From a design standpoint, HNTB offers the most wow

Downtown News 25

factor. The firm’s vision includes a series of 10 arches that echo and multiply the two arches on the current bridge. The design is the only one of the three that would eliminate an existing support pylon that juts out of the middle of the river.

AECOM’s design hinges on a series of towers that are capped with golden sculptures meant to convey angels. The bridge would be supported by a cable system.

The proposal from Parsons Brinckerhoff, which also calls for a cable-supported structure, imagines a bridge with a separated pedestrian pathway drawn down the middle, with car lanes on the outside (there is a bike lane on the outside too). The chief support structure resembles a pair of wings.

The three finalists will present their designs and answer questions, and the city will take public input at presentations on Monday, Sept. 17, at SCI-Arc’s Keck Hall (350 S. Merrick St.) and on Sept. 18 at the Boyle Heights Technology Youth Center (1600 E. Fourth St.). Both meetings are from 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

26 Downtown News

Twitter/DowntownNews

September 17, 2012

Millepied Continued from page 1 record in growing a world-class company. Not that others haven’t tried. The Joffrey Ballet, one of the most recognized names in dance, took up residence at the Music Center in the 1980s, only to falter without a groundswell of audience or philanthropic support. The Los Angeles Ballet formed in 2006 and is growing, but the Culver City-based troupe is still widely unknown and its schedule is sparse.

Many hope, and some actually believe, that Millepied has the right mix of pedigree, name recognition and fundraising savvy to build a company that can fill theater seats, generate sustained audience interest and, finally, put Los Angeles on the dance map.

Although his dancers have yet to take the stage, Millepied too is already thinking long term.

“I definitely hope to be creating a lasting institution,” he says in a soft French accent.

“I wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.”

Local Fascination On a Wednesday morning in late August, Millepied, stiff-necked, cruises from his home in Los Feliz toward the Historic Core’s Los Angeles Theatre Center, where the L.A. Dance Project occupies two thirdfloor studios. As Millepied approaches the faded Beaux Arts former bank building at around 11 a.m., the company’s dancers are already nearing the end of morning rehearsal.

Administrative staffers in a separate office are busy planning the tour that will commence immediately after the Disney Hall concerts.

Millepied darts out of the elevator wearing a crisp blue Dodgers cap with a curved brim and a pair of black sunglasses that belong to his wife, the actress Natalie Portman. A halfweek’s worth of stubble blankets his carved

photo by Gary Leonard

Dance proponents hope that Millepied’s resume and crossover appeal — he choreographed the 2010 film Black Swan and is married to the movie’s star, Natalie Portman — will help establish the type of company the city has never been able to sustain.

jawline. He seems rushed and exhausted, but relieved to be in the studio. After dropping his bags and ditching the cap in his office, he whisks into the rehearsal space, hugs a visiting instructor and offers smiling salutations to the sweaty dancers.

The Bordeaux-born Millepied — pronounced “meel-pee-ay”; the name translates almost providentially to thousand-footed — was awarded a grant from the French government in 1993 to study in the New York City Ballet’s school. He matriculated into the company, staying for 16 years, and

was a principal dancer from 2001 until he retired in 2011. In 2004 and 2005 he directed the Morris Center Dance Workshop in Bridgehampton, New York, and from 2006 to 2007 served as choreographer-inresidence at the Baryshnikov Arts Center in New York.

As a choreographer he already has an impressive resume, with pieces presented in

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venues from Lincoln Center to the Palais Garnier, home of the Paris Opera Ballet. His crossover moment came when he was hired to choreograph Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 ballet-driven psych thriller Black Swan. The attention ratcheted higher when the media learned that he and Portman, who would go on to win the Best Actress Oscar for her role in the film, were in a relationship. They were

September 17, 2012

Downtown News 27

DowntownNews.com

photo by Christina Edwards

Millepied performs in August during Framework, a series of free performances at MOCA for which he collaborated with painter Mark Bradford.

recently married after Portman gave birth to a son.

So while Millepied says he has long had a “fascination” with Los Angeles, his move and sudden artistic devotion to the city coincide with a practical turn in family life. But the city offers a unique professional opportunity, too: Were Millepied to start a company in New York, he would be a small fish in a pond shared with giants like the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, American Ballet Theatre and the New York City Ballet.

Here, he’s in the spotlight from day one: The L.A. Dance Project’s debut is the opening show in the 10th season of the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at the Music Center series. The series is usually staged at

the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, but the L.A. Dance Project will perform at the higher profile Disney Hall.

“I could have waited for or worked on trying to get some position somewhere that would open up, but what’s really exciting is starting something from scratch that you really create, where you’re not stepping in anyone’s shoes or there are not expectations to keep up an institution that’s partly a museum and so forth,” he says. “And somehow this fascination with L.A. has been existent for a long time and a fascination as to why, as important a city as it is, it wasn’t one that was known for its dance necessarily.”

He’s not the only one perplexed by the minor role dance plays in L.A.’s cultural

scene. Michael Ritchie, artistic director of the Center Theatre Group, moved from New York to Los Angeles in 2004 to take the job.

Why there wasn’t a resident concert dance institution was “one of the first questions I asked when I got here,” he said.

“This is a creative capital of the world and dance is one of those creative endeavors that I hope would have a prominent place here,” Ritchie said. “There are kids living in this city that could be the next generation of great dance artists that, if they’re not exposed to it, they’ll be a loss to them and to another generation of patrons and dance admirers.

“I don’t know that Center Theatre Group would benefit in any way from a strong dance company in Los Angeles, but Los Angeles would benefit from a strong dance company.”

Renae Williams Niles, who puts together the Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance calendar, said a relatively young philanthropic community in Southern California has made it difficult for the area to nourish a resident dance institution. She is among the many who hope Millepied can grow the L.A. audience and inspire more benefactors.

“It’s our hope that the more the community sees dance here at the Music Center, at REDCAT, at UCLA and at the Broad [Stage], that we’re cultivating patrons and hopefully future donors,” she said. “But that has been part of the problem.”

Team Approach If Millepied is to establish a dance company in Los Angeles, he wants to do it on his terms. It’s clear that his model is not one of the grand troupes that exist in New York.

While Millepied is the founder and visionary in chief of the L.A. Dance Project, the group is billed as a collaboration among five people. They include the composer Nico Muhly, who wrote the music for “Moving Parts,” a Millepied original that will have its

world premiere in the Downtown shows (also on the bill are Cunningham’s 1964 “Winterbranch” and William Forsythe’s 1993 “Quintett”). Art consultant Matthieu Humery, producer Charles Fabius and film producer Dimitri Chamblas round out the team.

Although the company’s debut is in the most formal of L.A. stages, Disney Hall, Millepied said the goal is also to perform in more accessible venues, from rooftops to schools, and to work closely with an array of area artists. In the summer, for example, he partnered with local painter Mark Bradford for Framework, a series of three free performances inside the Museum of Contemporary Art. Millepied and company dancer Amanda Wells pirouetted amid paintings and gallery goers as a lone violinist plucked Bach and a recording of Bradford discussing his work played.

On the L.A. Dance Project website, Millepied has posted two videos of his collaborations with the smooth L.A. street dancer Lil Buck. In one, Lil Buck does his krumpmeets-pop-locking routine on the streets of the Arts District to a soundtrack of Bach’s 1741 “Aria” from the Goldberg Variations picked on an electric guitar by Millepied’s brother, Laurent (the videos will be screened in BP Hall 30 minutes prior to the Sept. 2223 shows).

If there’s a critique of the newcomer, it’s in the name and makeup of the troupe. Some local dance world players question how a company founded by someone who recently moved here, with a creative team that includes not a single curator or dancer from Los Angeles, can carry the cultural flag of the city.

“He’s a ballet superstar and I think what he’s doing has great merit and I’m not resentful by any means. I just think it’s interesting see Millepied, page 28

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September 17, 2012

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Millepied Continued from page 27 — why is it called the L.A. Dance Project?” asked Jamie Nichols, the founder and producer of Celebrate Dance, which stages an annual exhibition of local dance groups at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. “The only reason is because he’s doing it here in L.A. and it’s funded by the Music Center.”

Introduce this topic to Millepied and his usual calm, gentle demeanor turns irritable and deliberate. The collaborations with Bradford and Lil Buck, plus planned projects with the artist Alex Israel and others, are ample evidence that the company is engaged with the city, he says. He also dismisses the suggestion that he should have hired local dancers.

“It’s an ignorant criticism,” he says. “I will hire the very best dancers I can find. I’ve got a big job on my hands and success is my concern and when I find someone good here, I’ll hire them. I couldn’t be more involved with or curious about what’s going on here and I

get hot-headed because I’m hearing it once a day right now. It’s stupid.”

Then there’s the fact that, while Los Angeles may lack an iconic resident dance company, it has a healthy tradition of the experimental, multimedia and site-specific work that the L.A. Dance Project promises to explore. Since 1987, Heidi Duckler Dance Theater (formerly Collage Dance Theater) has won acclaim for its works in odd places, from a laundromat to a vacant penthouse in a Financial District high-rise. In the past decade, companies such as Regina Klenjoski Dance Company out of Long Beach and Rosanna Gamson/World Wide have established themselves as serious contemporary dance groups.

The existing scene is not lost on Millepied.

“There is a lot going on in dance here that’s exciting,” he said. “I hope that my project will only help to solidify what’s already here and gather what’s already here.”

What may ultimately set Millepied and his team apart is that, like it or not, the existing companies lack the stature and draw to open the Music Center’s 2012/2013 dance season at Disney Hall. The L.A. Dance Project’s ex-

perimental side may likewise mean that it will never be that typical ballet institution anchored by Balanchine and the form’s warhorses.

“We don’t have a big, huge, hundreddancer ballet company, nor do we have to, but I certainly don’t see L.A. Dance Project becoming that,” Williams Niles said. “I see it as having its own voice, and I think the fact that L.A. Dance Project has a certain level of flexibility only heightens its future capacity.”

That Neck Back at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, Millepied, sitting patiently through an interview, suddenly becomes distracted when the music that accompanies Forsythe’s “Quintett” drifts out of the rehearsal studio.

He insists on taking the interview into the room, to observe his dancers from the doorway.

He originally hoped to dance in the piece — he has never appeared in a work by Forsythe — but it’s not looking good. He grabs his neck and massages it for a moment, then steps into the studio as the dancers are in mid-routine. He thrusts one leg up and spins around once, then retreats to the door.

We’re Like Having Your Own IT Department!

Two weeks before the Disney Hall shows, the dancers for the program are announced.

Millepied is not among them.

His future as a concert dancer is uncertain.

Maybe the neck will heal. Maybe not, but he surely lacks the time to commit to a rigorous rehearsal schedule. In addition to overseeing the artistic direction of the L.A. Dance Project’s upcoming tour, he is developing collaborative projects on the side, thinking about fundraising to sustain and build the company and submitting to a litany of media interviews.

It is clear that Benjamin Millepied still longs to be on the floor as a dancer, but he is embracing the new slate of demands that comes with the shift from performer to institution maker in a new city.

The neck might be fixable, but not without regular physical therapy.

“That’s the one thing I don’t have time for right now,” he says.

The L.A. Dance Project performs Sept. 22-23 at Walt Disney Concert Hall, 111 S. Grand Ave., (213) 972-0711 or musiccenter.org.

Contact Ryan Vaillancourt at ryan@downtownnews.com.

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Downtown News 29

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CALENDAR Abbey Londer, the organizer of the inaugural Riot L.A. on Main Street.

Three venues on the block between Second and Third streets will host more than 30 comedy shows Sept.

21-23.

So a Hundred ComedianS Walk into doWntoWn… Community Gets a Laugh Riot, With Three Days of Standup and Other Performances On a Single Block

by RichaRd Guzmán

“I love Downtown. There’s a lot of really Pepitone will be busy the entire weekend.

At Five Stars Bar, young comedian great things going on here so it’s sort of the The veteran comedian who has appeared Drennon Davis will lead the “Imaginary hat do you get when you mix perfect place to do it,” she said. “I didn’t want numerous times on “Late Night With Conan Radio Program,” a mix of songs, beat-boxing more than 100 comedians, three to use big 1,000-seat O’Brien” will take part and sketches. It’s scheduled for 4:30 p.m. on small venues and one Downtown theaters. This is about in three shows, includ- Saturday. block? intimate spaces and seeing a stand-up headBamford, who is known for her self-depIf everything works out, one of the funniest ing an intimate show.” lining performance on recating routines, recently performed at the weekends ever.

Block Party Friday at 10:15 p.m. at FYF Fest in Downtown and at Nola’s, the The inaugural Riot L.A. comedy festival The festival kicks off The Smell.

Arts District Creole restaurant. She plans to has precisely those elements. Organized by Friday with 8 p.m. shows “It’s going to be a rage- take the bus from her Highland Park home to 26-year-old Detroit native Abbey Londer, at all three venues. induced rant against my- the Downtown festival and said she is excited the Sept. 21-23 event will bring a mix of At the Downtown self and society, equally about seeing so many of her friends perform. well-known and up-and-coming comics Independent, Bamford, against myself and sociShe said that, since she is getting paid, she to three venues on Main between Second who stars in Target’s ety,” he carefully noted. will be doing her best material, which is heavand Third streets: The Smell, the Downtown Black Friday ad camThe next night, also ily focused on food and mental health isIndependent theater and Five Stars Bar. paign, will headline a at 10:15 p.m., the sues. She pointed out that with Downtown’s or ews.com wntownN Starts Sept.

7 The performers include famous names of standup featurer at Donight Downtown Independent foodie scene, and Skid Row nearby, there is rn co nd ha ht the upper rig s.com/forms/maillist in l bo m S sy W ew is E such Horatio ing five other comedians. will screen a documenalready a built-in audience. th nn Sanz of E-N as Patton ow nt w Look forOswalt, do ww.la SIGN UP Night Live,”w Ken Marino from “Saturday At Five Stars Bar, a tary about Pepitone, “I hope there will be free food,” she said. photo courtesy Riot L.A. the former MTV comedy series “The State,” dark dive that usually The Bitter Buddha. He Jimmy Pardo, who has appeared on “Last Maria Bamford will headline an opening Maria Bamford and cult icon Eddie Pepitone. hosts bands, the story- night show at the Downtown Independent. will close out the festi- Comic Standing” and “The Late Show With The shows will range from traditional stand- telling competition “The val as part of the Patton Craig Ferguson,” will host a Saturday afterup to storytelling competitions. There will Moth” will take over.

Oswalt show. noon show at The Smell. The 2 p.m. event, also be film screenings, as well as open mic Comics will have six Pepitone likes that dubbed “The Writers Room,” will be a mix nights on Sept. 22-23 at the Jalisco, a bar on minutes to detail true, the festival is not just of a traditional standup set with a sort of Check Our Website for Full Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com the same block. painfully funny experifocused on traditional roast. While comics Matt Braunger and “It’s a pretty amazing lineup, the best of the ences — expect to hear stand-up. The range, Laurie Killmartin do their four-minute sets, best in L.A.” Londer said. “There are multiple about low points in lives, he said, reflects the L.A. a team of writers will construct jokes and facets of alternative comedy that need to be bad decisions made, sins comedy scene, which is observations about the performances. Pardo celebrated. Not just standup but all of the and misdemeanors. more than just a guy be- will read the commentaries to the audience facets of comedy.”

Sanz will headline the hind a mic. after each routine.

Londer, who has worked with Chicago show at The Smell, an “Comedy sometimes Although this marks the first Riot L.A., comedy outlets including Second City, all-ages venue famous gets pigeonholed, so it’s Pardo said he is not surprised that so many moved to Los Angeles four years ago. She be- ewfor great to have all these well-known comedians are participating. s its punk rock shows. ntownN In .A.Dow gan producing shows at unexpected venues, the event dubbed /L different types of com“The lineup shows how the comedy comm o .c k o o Faceb among them a Chinese restaurant. The event “improv4humans,” he edy shows,” he said. munity comes together to make good comStarts Sept. 14&21 was dubbed Sweet and Sour Comedy. will be joined by host Other weekend high- edy,” he said. “It’s really incredible, or incredShe’s no stranger to Downtown, a place Matt Besser and comelights include a KCRW ibly narcissistic of all of us.” photo courtesy Riot L.A. that in the past two years has seen an ex- dians John Daly and Ian show called “Storytime Riot L.A. is Friday-Sunday, Sept. 21-23, at Jimmy Pardo will host a show dubbed “The plosion of alternative comedy showcases. In Roberts. for Grownups.” It’s Five Stars Bar, 267 S. Main St.; the Downtown Writers Room” at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

April 2011 she organized an event in a wareThe Sunday night hosted by actor Colin Independent, 251 S. Main St.; and The Smell, house on Seventh and Alameda streets. The closing shows include Hanks and will feature 247 S. Main St. Tickets and a full schedule are CheckatOur Full comedians Movie Listings LADowntownNews.com well-off-the-beaten-track show drew about “Patton Oswalt & Friends” the Website Downtownforseven sharing personal tales with at riotla.com.

150 people. It also sparked the idea of doing Independent. Also on the bill are Blaine the audience. It begins at 5 p.m. on Saturday Contact Richard Guzmán at something bigger.

Capatch, Karen Kilgarif and Pepitone. at the Downtown Independent. richard@downtownnews.com.

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30 Downtown News

September 17, 2012

Twitter/DowntownNews

A Close and Sometimes Disturbing ‘Encounter’ Dance-Heavy East West Players’ Show Looks at a Military Past

by Jeff Favre contributing writer

T

he story and movement may not be familiar to most audiences, but the emotions evoked by the Navarasa Dance Theater — love, camaraderie, loss and anguish — are universal.

Those are only a few of the feelings expressed throughout Encounter, which the company has brought to Little Tokyo’s East West Players to open its 47th season. The show runs through Oct. 6.

In a scant 75 minutes, choreographer, director and star Aparna Sindhoor and her cast powerfully explore the severe issues that have grown out of India’s class system, and how the country’s indigenous people are mired in an endless cycle of struggle and persecution.

A deeper knowledge of Indian politics would help an audience grasp all of the show’s nuances despite the dearth of dialogue, but the broad strokes painted in Encounter can resonate with anyone touched by the sting of overt discrimination and racism.

Encounter is based on a short story by Indian writer Mahasweta Devi, adapted by Sindhoor, S M Raju and Anil Natyaveda. With minimal text, the dances are expected to tell the bulk of the story.

Things begin at the end, with Dopdi (Sindhoor) hanging upside-down and being interrogated by military troops led by the harsh Major General Sena Nayak (Sunil Kumar).

Time then jumps back, allowing the viewer to see how Dopdi reached this fate.

It turns out, she is part of a tribal drama company, along with her husband Dulna (Natyaveda). They also are members of the Adivasi Survival Movement, which the military aims to destroy.

By day the couple and other members of the tribe harvest crops. At night they entertain as “starving artists,” which Dopdi makes clear isn’t as romantic as it sounds because they are actually hungry.

The soldiers are searching for Dopdi, with plans to force

her to provide names and locations of the survival movement. On closer inspection, though, the soldiers hold similar desires and needs as the peasants — only they are required to follow the lead of the general.

The few moments of humor and tenderness with the indigenous people are shrouded by a dark cloud because part of the ending has already been shared. Still, Sindhoor’s understated yet honest portrayal allows the tragic events to resonate strongly. She holds back her strongest emotions until an explosive climax.

The remaining cast members have difficulty with the acting part of their performance, each coming off stiff or difficult to understand. The situation is exacerbated because Encounter lacks sufficient plot to give context to the battle between the Adivasi people and the military. If you don’t read the synopsis of scenes in the program, it’s easy to get lost.

Even without a fully realized story, Encounter shines during the dance numbers, which borrow from a variety of genres and are executed with precision and energy.

A memorable scene featuring Leah Vincent pays homage to the wild abandon of Bollywood movies, including plenty of gyrations and sensual moves set to pop music. One military dance incorporates athletic, synchronized, staccato highstep moves, sharply contrasting with the stooped swaying of the Adivasi as they harvest crops.

There are several highly physical dances almost reminiscent of a Cirque du Soleil act. One incorporates a swinging rope from which Natyaveda hangs and spins. There’s also a tall post that he traverses elegantly during a serene moment. The post is used later as a tool to assist in torturing Dopdi. Though not graphic, the suggested rape of Dopdi is unsettling.

In content and form, Encounter fluctuates from traditional to modern, including composer Isaac Thomas Kottukapally’s score, which at times is dominated by classic wind instruments and percussion sounds, and in other scenes is mostly electronic based.

That tension between the old and new adds a layer of meaning to Encounter. The tribe is in harmony with the natu-

photo by Michael Lamont

Encounter, which opens East West Players’ 47th season, mixes a military tale with some Cirque du Soleil style moments.

ral order of things, while the military appears designed to create chaos and confusion.

A mixture of cool blues and stark whites dominates Jeremy Pivnick’s lighting. Much of the piece is in partial shadow, as if Sindhoor is creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

In this case, however, the beautiful dream becomes a disturbing nightmare. Sindhoor and company may not explain the history and true motivation for the actions depicted in the story, but the impact on the lives of everyone involved is understandable and unforgettable.

Encounter runs through Oct. 6 at the David Henry Hwang Theater at the Union Center for the Arts, 120 Judge John Aiso St., (213) 625-7000 or eastwestplayers.org.

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September 17, 2012

DowntownNews.com

Downtown News 31

EVENTS SPONSORED LISTINGS Autumn Lights L.A. 2012 Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., (213) 2478800, autumnlightsla.com, facebook.com/ autumnlightsla or twittter.com/autumnlightsla.

Sept. 22, 6 p.m.-1 a.m.: Autumn Lights L.A. is a multi-media light art spectacle now in its eighth year. Experience interactive light art, installations, performances, projections, live music and more. All lights by local and international artists. Live feed will be available. Stay tuned on Facebook and Twitter.

Bands include Killsonic, We Funk, Ruby Friedman Orchestra, Easter Conference Champions ECC and Kings of Spade. Bring your dog for the Glo Dog Pet Parade sponsored by Pussy & Pooch. Dog trainer Tamara Clark will provide a free training lesson in managing your dog at public events and through crowds. Meet-up at 8:30 p.m. at the Pershing Square dog run. Complimentary glo pet collars provided.

Under the Sheet Music Festival Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., (213) 8474970 or laparks.org/pershingsquare.

Sept. 21, 8 p.m.: Cuban music revivalism and mythic nostalgia fuel Buena Vista Social Club, which nurtured the likes of Ibrahim Ferrer and “Orlando Cachaito” Lopez.

ere H s I t t a W , Mike e m i T y r a s Splash. o m u Anniver S n w ownto | @ And a D , m news co ntown r dow a d n e l a itor c tings eD son lis n h o J n a

by D

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Thursday, sepTember 20 Aggressive Zoology: How to Survive an Animal Attack MOCA, 250 S. Grand Ave., (213) 626-6222 or moca.org.

7 p.m.: The Fontbron Academy continues its mission of art history education and performance lecturing with a talk on survival in a world run rampant with wild animals. Expect something arty.

The Voting Wars at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: A packed panel of political pundits explore the divisive culture of American politics and question the role of ideological chasms in future politics.

Friday, sepTember 21 Riot L.A. Five Stars Bar, 267 S. Main St.; the Downtown Independent, 251 S. Main St.; and The Smell, 247 S. Main St., riotla.com.

8 p.m.: A massive weekend of Downtown comedy begins, with shows at three venues on Main between Second and Third streets. Altogether there will be more than 100 comedians and 30 shows. See website for full schedule. Thought Sept. 23. saTurday, sepTember 22 Bookbinding at the Last Bookstore 453 S. Spring St., (213) 488-0599 or lastbookstorela.com.

2-4 p.m.: An informational class on the art of bookbinding. For $35, you’ll be led through the process of sewing your own journal. Careful, it’s addictive.

US Sumo Open Noguchi Plaza, 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 628-2725 or usasumo.com.

12 p.m.: Little Tokyo hosts a championship round of the U.S. Sumo Wrestling Open. sunday, sepTember 23 The 64th Primetime Emmys Nokia Theatre, 777 Chick Hearn Court, (213) 7636020 or nokiatheatrelalive.com.

4 p.m.: The biggest faces in television bedazzle the red carpet as the awards show takes over L.A. Live

Continued on next page

photo courtesy of US SUMO OPEN, by Dustin Snipes

Wednesday, sepTember 19 SCI-Arc Lecture Series 960 E. Third St., (213) 613-2200 or sciarc.edu.

7 p.m.: Paul Goldberger, the former architecture critic for The New Yorker, dishes on “Criticism, Architecture and the Age of Twitter.”

And lo, the people rejoiced, for there cameth again that great and certain rock luminary Mike Watt and The Missingmen. On Saturday, Sept. 22, the former bass player for the Stooges and founder of the still-beloved Minutemen will take his seemingly omnipresent trio to the always lovely Bootleg, just west of City West. Between Tom Watson’s skewed, post-Buddy Holly guitar shredding, Raul Morales’ jazzy dance between heavy hits and light touches and Watt’s ubiquitous booming bass is a punchy assemblage of punk, noise and rock. After their set at this year’s Bloomfest, we reckon they’re well worth your time.

At 2220 Beverly Blvd., (213) 3893856 or bootlegtheater.org.

When we look back on classical music in the late 20th century, it’s impossible to ignore the importance of John Cage. As a token of respect for the avant-garde composer, experimental classical performance group Piano Spheres unleashes a night of work from Cage on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Pianist Mark Robson commands the ivory on Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Colburn School’s Zipper Hall to play pieces by Cage, Erik Satie and himself. Tickets are still available via the Piano Spheres website. At 200 S. Grand Ave., (323) 692-8075 or pianospheres.org.

photo courtesy of Mark Robson

If anything could convince you that going off your diet and discontinuing anger management therapy is a good idea, the 12th annual US Sumo Open at Noguchi Plaza might be it. Sumo, if you’re not familiar, is traditional Japanese wrestling in which very large men in skimpy garments known as mawashi slap, fuss and push in an attempt to shove their opponent out of the ring. Gates open at high noon on Saturday, Sept. 22, for this standoff of epic body proportions.

By the way, there are incredible amounts of technique and balance in what at first appears to be a demonstration of brute force. At 244 S. San Pedro St., (213) 628-2725 or usasumo.com.

photo courtesy of LAPL Photo Collection

Tuesday, sepTember 18 How Children Succeed at Aloud Mark Taper Auditorium, Central Library, 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

7:15 p.m.: Journalist Paul Tough introduces us to a generation of scientists and educators who are rethinking our understanding of how children develop character, how they learn to think and how they overcome adversity. He’s got a new book and he’ll talk about it with Patt Morrison

photo by Dallas Kilponen

n the wake of wholesale slaughter alongside a creek called Antietam, then President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The document signaled the end of American slavery and a momentous occasion in the long fight for equal rights. To mark the 150th anniversary of the decree, Classical KUSC will host a commemorative concert on Saturday, Sept. 22. The AT&T Center’s Performance Hall plays host to some top-notch classical singers: Latonia Moore (shown here), Donnie Ray Albert and George Shirley. The 7:30 p.m. show will be preceded by a lecture on Civil War history at 6:30 p.m. You don’t get this every day in Downtown. At 1139 S. Hill St., (562) 436-4352 or musicuntold.com.

The 2012 presidential election finds a nation divided. Worse, a bevy of online comment sections bear the fruit of obstructionist politics, divisive policy and desperate attempts to discredit elected representatives of both parties. Sigh.

On Thursday, Sept. 20, at 7:15 p.m., the Library Foundation’s Aloud program hosts a program titled “The Voting Wars: How Do We Move Beyond Partisanship and Polarization — or Should We?” This panel discussion at the Central Library will help fill the lull between the conventions and the election with a bit of perspective and wisdom. Participants include attorney Connie Rice and moderator Marty Kaplan. At 630 W. Fifth St., (213) 228-7500 or lfla.org.

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

Continued from previous page

ROCK, POP & JAZZ

830 S. Broadway, (213) 614-9909 or broadwaybar.la.

Sept. 20, 10 p.m.: HM Soundsystem + Broader Than Broadway = electronic styling delights.

Casey’s Irish Pub 613 S. Grand Ave., (213) 629-2353 or bigcaseys.com.

Sept. 21, 9 p.m.: The Middle Initials are keeping it mellow.

Sept. 22, 10 p.m.: The Janks return.

Club Nokia 800 W. Olympic Blvd., (213) 765-7000 or clubnokia.com.

Sept. 19, 7 p.m.: Roots jam band par excellance Gov’t Mule.

Sept. 20, 9 p.m.: Authentic English Dubstep from Rusko.

Sept. 21, 8:30 p.m.: Comedy Mutant featuring Brian Posehn, Arj Barker, Kyle Kinane, Pete Holmes and many more.

Sept. 22, 9 p.m.: Guests are in for a lyrical treat as Mos Def and Talib Kweli’s revived Black Star collaboration spins into town.

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

Sept. 17, 9 p.m.: Bluegrass with the Get Down Boys and Ben Powell.

Sept. 18, 10 p.m.: Boom Boom Boom and Bunny West.

Sept. 19, 10 p.m.: Bryan Titus and Ocha La Rocha.

Sept. 20, 10 p.m.: Yonatan and RT & the 44’s.

Sept. 21, 9 p.m.: Johnny Moezzi and Trevoe Menear.

Sept. 22, 11 p.m.: Charlie Chan and The S.O.B.’s.

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

2yOuR EvEnt infO EAsy wAys tO submit

4 wEb: LADowntownNews.com/calendar 4 EmAiL: Calendar@DowntownNews.com

Email: Send a brief description, street address and public phone number.

Submissions must be received 10 days prior to publication date to be considered for print.



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

Sept. 18: Tim Lefebvre.

Sept. 19: Aditya Prakash Ensemble.

Sept. 20: Ross Hammond Quartet.

Sept. 21: The Kandinsky Effect.

Sept. 22: Laurence Hobgood, Ernie Watts, Hamilton Price and the Dan Schnelle Quartet.

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

Sept. 17, 8 p.m.: Moody electro pop for resident Kitten and friends Incan Abraham.

Sept. 18, 7 p.m.: Dawns pulls off the whole Western singer/songwriter thing with a refreshing polish and sublime electric feel.

Sept. 18, 9 p.m.: Noisy, anarchic sound collage from modern psychedelic practitioners Japanther.

Sept. 19, 8:30 p.m.: Indie rock sensibility meets electronic garnish in Autolux, your cyborg music alternative.

Sept. 20, 8:30 p.m.: Fanzine Chickenfactor hosts its 20th anniversary with a little help from Lylies and Stevie Jackson.

Sept. 21, 8:30 p.m.: Someone in the Bright Lights Social Hour plays the Keytar.

Sept. 22, 8 p.m.: It’s a punk Saturday with Mike Watt and The Missingmen.

Sept. 23, 8 p.m.: Enjoy a slice of confrontational British electronica with Micachu and the Shapes.

Broadway Bar

September 17, 2012

Twitter/DowntownNews

 Suim nner m i D ch and D Lun 

32 Downtown News

An Extensive Seafood Menu including Dim Sum at Moderate Prices Relaxed Dining in an Elegant Ambiance Live Lobster Tank

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September 17, 2012

Downtown News 33

DowntownNews.com

CLASSIFIED

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FOR RENT

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

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Continued on next page

Chic Urban Lofts with Massive Floor Plans in an Unbeatable Historic Core Location

T

the LOFT expert!

TM

Downtown since 2002

Bill Cooper 213.598.7555

he Mercantile Lofts offer a wonderful mix of history and contemporary style. Our recently remodeled lobby and common areas offer vintage appeal together with modern sophistication and offer an exclusive live/work experience in LA’s trendiest urban neighborhood.

Centrally located in the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles, The Mercantile offers residents the best that Downtown living offers. Within walking distance are unique dining venues and the epicenter of nightlife which includes local favorites such as The Varnish, The Association, Cole’s French Dip Sandwiches, Mignon Wine and Cheese, BabyCakes NYC, featuring vegan baked goods and our newest establishment—Artisan House, featuring a wonderful bar/restaurant/marketplace with in-suite delivery options The Mercantile’s historic features—such as barn-style doors and exposed brick walls—are highlighted within the context of the building’s modern amenities. These amenities include custom bamboo flooring on some floors, polished concrete flooring on others, stainless-steel appliances and an in-suite washer/dryer unit. Perhaps most unique about the units are their 14 foot ceilings, floor to ceiling windows and floor plans ranging from approximately 1400 to 2000 sf, providing the units with an abundance of volume.

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34 Downtown News

September 17, 2012

Twitter/DowntownNews Continued from previous page

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September 17, 2012

Downtown News 35

DowntownNews.com

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September 17, 2012

Everything Is Illuminated Autumn Lights Festival Brightens Up Pershing Square

by Jon Regardie executive editor

O

ver the decades, Pershing Square has been home to political meetings, big concerts and plenty of protests. On the night of Saturday, Sept. 22, it will be filled with something else: light.

The park in the Financial District is home to Autumn Lights L.A., an annual event orchestrated by Downtown arts fixture Lilli Muller. From 6 p.m.-1 a.m., there will be illuminated creations from dozens of creative types.

Muller spoke with Los Angeles Downtown News about how she expects to attract 30,000 people, and why the night won’t be filled with food trucks.

Los Angeles Downtown News: How did Autumn Lights start?

Lilli Muller: It started in 2005 at the Caltrans plaza. People from the Gallery Row organization called me up and said, “They are giving us the plaza to do an art show. Do you want to do it?” I said, “Heck yeah, I’ll do it.”

We did a daylight show in the gallery gardens on a weekend.

When it was getting dark, it was cool with all the neon in the building. I was thinking of all the people doing light art and said let’s do that, because a lot of these artists don’t get any play.

Q: You moved around for a few years, right?

A: We were part of the Detour music festival, which was kind of a disaster. It wasn’t a good fit.

photos by Gary Leonard

Autumn Lights L.A. will bring dozens of neon creations, projections and other illuminated works to Pershing Square on Saturday, Sept.

22, from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.

In January 2008 I had not decided what to do when [former Downtown gallery owner] Bert Green called me and said, “I’m on the Pershing Square Advisory Board. Do you want to do it there?” I said yeah.

Q: Why is the park a good fit for you?

A: It’s a good place because the cultural diversity of the city is so amazing. They have so much to offer in terms of architecture and art; it’s a patchwork of urban cultural heritage. I want to keep the event in the city because it is an urban grid kind of feel and I want to work with all the cultural canvases I have.

Also I like the shapes there. No event at the park looks better than mine because I can use all the architectural shapes there to put light on the artists’ projections.

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Q: What is it about neon and light art that appeals to you?

A: I don’t work in light. I do sculptures. I do a lot of guerilla curating and community curating and events, and for me it’s all about giving back to the community, and also showcasing local art and talent.

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Q: You’re expecting up to 30,000 people. Are you surprised by how big this has grown?

A: It’s not surprising. Light always fascinates people. This year there will be a lot of interactive artwork and live performances. It’s not a light show. It’s an experience you walk through, and people do things with light and sound. You can touch, play with it, interact with it.

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Q: What are some of this year’s highlights?

A: I have a 3D theater with special glasses. I have a lot of black light live painting. I have one person who is doing — it’s hard to describe. It’s like a huge round piece of glass, eight feet tall.

It’s see-through but like a one-way mirror with strobe lights.

It’s fascinating.

I have a guy who turns sounds into light and you interact with it and change it. I have a lady who is live painting a dancer while a composer does music with it. We have stuff hanging from the trees, someone is doing interactive balls that light up. You name it.

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Q: How do you keep control of such a big crowd?

A: Number one, we don’t serve alcohol. We don’t have food trucks. I have one dessert truck. I don’t want to spend time focusing on food trucks. You get a lot of that at Art Walk.

It’s not a rave. It’s not a music festival. People come down for the art or curiosity. It’s more on that line. You get museum people, gallery people, families with kids. It’s like a community mixer and then you bring in the visitors.

Autumn Lights L.A. is Saturday, Sept. 22, 6 p.m.-1 a.m. at Pershing Square, 532 S. Olive St., autumnlightsla.com.

Contact Jon Regardie at regardie@downtownnews.com.