Eric Richardson [Flickr]

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — I have to admit there were times when I thought the scaffolding might just never come off the Mandel Lofts building. The project had dragged on and on, with no new information (other than the occasional "going a new direction with the ground floor").

There was work going on, sure, but it never seems substantive. They'd paint something, or brick in the spots for signage, but nothing that seemed important.

Then suddenly today the building emerged from its hiding. Instantly that corner looks so much better. I haven't peeked inside to see how work might be coming on that 7-Eleven, but from across the street it looks very nice.

Update (Monday): A shot of the building with scaffolding: