As Main Loses Benches, Spring Adds Them

By Eric Richardson
Published: Thursday, April 24, 2008, at 10:23PM

Eric Richardson

Typically when something shows up on the street while a crew is nearby, it's just a prop. This bench in front of L.A. Cafe on Spring is for real.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — One would be excused for thinking that the two benches that showed up on Spring street today were part of the set for CSI:NY, whose filming across the street had added NYC newsracks to the same block. The two black benches are here to stay, though, part of developer Izek Shomof's efforts to improve the streetscape in front of his buildings.

The installation of the new benches on Spring comes right on the heels of the removal of two benches on Main last week. Those benches had been a sore point for business owners on the block.

Shomof has reason to care about the sidewalks on Spring between 6th and 7th. He owns four buildings on the block: the Hayward Apartments, Premiere Towers, Spring Tower Lofts and City Lofts. Benches aren't the first amenities to get added to the sidewalk; last month he installed doggie bag dispensers in front of Premiere Towers and City Lofts.

Will the Spring street benches prove more successful than the ones on Main? One sits right in front of the entrance to L.A. Cafe. Owner David Bakhshi thinks it's a great addition. "It completely changes the feel of the sidewalk," he said soon after the bench was installed. The second bench is just up the block, close to the newly redone entrance to Maison Bertet.

Whether the benches are a hit with patrons and those walking along the sidewalk remains to be seen.

Eric Richardson

One of the new benches sits in front of L.A. Cafe on Spring street, facing into the main entrance.

Comments

Bench Warmer writes:

I love it.

# on Apr.25.2008 AT 01:27 PM

Benjamin Pezzillo writes:

Boo took to this bench this morning as I waited for my coffee drink like she'd done it everyday for the last two years. Luca, not so quick to jump up and get comfortable but he'll figure it out soon enough.

# on Apr.25.2008 AT 05:33 PM

Russell Brown writes:

The benches are the same. They were removed from Main Street, stored at the BID service center for 1 week and moved to Spring.

Seems that the more active and lively stretch on Spring will be a better watched (and security patrolled) area. It was anticipated that certain stretches of Main Street were not ready, but we tried to be proved wrong. I figured Metropolis Books, Stella Dotler clothier, Dale Young Gallery, the artsy tattoo shop, the Regent Theatre and the DLANC office could be a great gathering spot. Seems the homeless thought the same thing.

Thanks Izek and Eric for installing these so fast. 12 hours for Install. If this was the City, we would still be waiting until next year (i.e... the promised and 4 times guarenteed sidewalk repair on Main Street just steps away from Old Bank DVD and a soon to open new restaurant by Ray of Old Bank Market.

Also expect to see 40 new trash cans (with locking tops) installed within the Historic Downtown BID boundaries within the next month along with dog care kiosks sponsored by DLANC.

Thanks for noticing, Russ

# on Apr.25.2008 AT 08:34 PM

tornadoes28 writes:

On a side note related to the street scape, I wish something would be done with the oversized, overgrown fig trees that line the streets of downtown.

I am all for trees and greenery and shade, but these fig trees are an innapropriate tree for narrow streets amid tall buildings.

They completely block many views and with the limited sunlight in many areas of DT because of tall buildings, these trees make it to depressingly dark.

And then there is the fact that these trees completely destroy sidewalks and their trunks are completely filled with grafitti scars.

If you look at pictures of other dense DT places from Chicago to New York and even Tokyo, they don't have these massive overgrown trees overwhelming the streets. These cities have smaller and more pleasant trees that match the size and type of street.

I wish these huge fig trees would be replaced. Of course the tree huggers will come out in force against it though. The tree huggers should pay extra taxes to fix all the broken sidewalks then.

# on Apr.28.2008 AT 11:04 AM

Raul writes:

I just came from LA Cafe, and sadly the bench is already broken.

# on Jun.02.2008 AT 11:07 AM

Eric Richardson writes:

Broken? Given that there was a film crew parking their trucks along that curb yesterday, I have to wonder if an errant back-up might have had anything to do with it.

# on Jun.02.2008 AT 11:24 AM

Benjamin Pezzillo writes:

The bench was broken before yesterday's production, Hotel for Dogs, showed up for additional footage they didn't get in November when the writers picketed their shoot at the Hayward.

The bench damage has been attributed to an Office Depot truck late last week.

# on Jun.02.2008 AT 05:45 PM

DOCTOR WARD writes:

The bench went into a little surgery earlier today. I think she's ok now...

# on Jun.02.2008 AT 06:24 PM