Marriott to Create the 'Los Angeles Edition' Downtown
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Times reports that Marriott is bringing a "boutique" hotel to Downtown as part of a joint venture between the firm and hotelier Ian Schrager.
Marriott and Schrager declined to say exactly where in downtown and Hollywood the hotels would be, but they are expected to open in about three years and have about 200 rooms apiece.
They would be part of the new Edition chain -- as in, the Los Angeles Edition. Other Editions are planned in Paris, Madrid, Costa Rica, Miami, Washington, Chicago and Scottsdale, Ariz.
"We're going to use a lot of different designers and each one will be totally different," Schrager said.
It's unclear whether the venture would intend to build a new hotel or to rehab an existing structure. The former Embassy Auditorium is still without a hotel partner after the May pullout of NYC-based Gansevoort, and would be roughly the size in question (plans had called for 170 rooms).
Update (11am): Added information on LASED Olympic North zone, hinted at in the Washington Post story.
Olympic North sub area shown in relation to Olympic East, site of the Nokia Theatre. Map from LAESD Specific Plan.
In the comments below, Rich links to this Washington Post story on the venture, which mentions a possible site as part of L.A. Live. That complex is part of the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment District specific plan, which specifies permitted uses and master plans five large parcels. Two are under the current L.A. Live development, one is the lot where Fig Central is supposed to go, one is the site for South Figueroa and the final parcel is an undeveloped site on the north side of Olympic boulevard.
This last piece, the Olympic North sub area, would be the site of any additional hotel development in the LAESD area. Currently a surface parking lot, the site is owned by the L.A. Arena Land Company, the entity created for L.A. Live development. The plan calls for the site to include 200 - 400 rooms of hotel uses, and up to 100 residential units in 500,000 sq. ft. of development.
Now, is that where this new venture is going to go? That we don't know. It is, though, where an additional hotel use would go if it were going into the LAESD land.
Rich Alossi on January 29, 2008, at 07:26AM – #1
According to the Washington Post, the Downtown location is potentially at LA Live, where the Marriott Marquis and Ritz-Carlton will be.
Washington Post
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on January 29, 2008, at 07:44AM – #2
Thanks Rich. AEG's plans for L.A. Live have typically shown another hotel on the north side of Olympic. If I'm recalling correctly, the site wasn't / isn't owned by AEG, so it would likely mean Marriott doing the development instead of just coming in as a tenant. The release on Ian Schrager's site seems like it could support either side.
David Kennedy on January 29, 2008, at 08:55AM – #3
Well, if this ends up as part of the effort to clear the north side of Olympic, that would be a welcome news. The existing car wash, apartment complex and tire dealership are not what AEG wants across the street. They really have to go.
brady westwater on January 29, 2008, at 09:48AM – #4
Rehab sites are also currently being looked at.
D on January 29, 2008, at 04:01PM – #5
i do recall Tim Lieweike mentioning a possible hotel deal about a year back when he was asked about that site. Hopefully. It will be a great hotel zone with The Edition, Ritz, Marriot, LA Central Hotel, the possible hotel at 8th and fig and so on. Finally, the convention center will be used to its full extent.
Norbie 7 on January 29, 2008, at 05:13PM – #6
Hmmm, that street off of Olympic that goes on up to 9th and becomes the northbound freeway onramp: if I remember right, there is a fancy old brick building at the southeast corner of the intersection of that and Ninth Street. Does anyone know where the forthcoming Doheny Club is going in? Could it be this structure? Nice selection if so, a post-event watering hole one block north of L.A. Live, with great freeway access.
Metro Local on January 29, 2008, at 06:07PM – #7
Maybe the Doheny Estate? Just a thought.
Desert Bruin on January 30, 2008, at 01:57AM – #8
I think the Doheny mansion is now some sort of nunnery. The Petroleum Building; could there be some sort of connection there?