Medallion Sidewalk Gets a Redo
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Residents of the Historic Core got a short glimpse at what life will be like when work is finished at the Medallion project yesterday, but today wide sidewalks were replaced by jackhammers as a crew went to work on replacing the broken-up stretch of concrete outside the development.
Scaffolding came off the new ground-up structure in the last two weeks, and on Wednesday crews were packing up the sidewalk tents that have stretched along 4th and Main for more than a year.
The mixed-use project contains 96 rental apartments, and should open this summer. The developer expects rents to range around $2.25 per square, according to a February update from Curbed.
Neel Sodha on March 25, 2010, at 03:06PM – #1
At least the development brings some life into the area. Now...what about a Fresh 'n Easy supermarket coming here.....
SeanYodaRouse on March 25, 2010, at 03:17PM – #2
I don't see Fresh & Easy putting in a market less than 2 miles away from one they just opened (at S Central & E Adams).
Neel Sodha on March 25, 2010, at 06:45PM – #3
Talking to the Fresh 'n Easy people at Central & Adams, they have noted that a lot of their customers are coming from the central downtown area. I think they're paying attention and could be close to reality soon...
But, not getting away from the topic. Medallion is not a building that fits the character of this neighborhood. Thus, this would be the only building in which "chain stores" should be welcomed. All other surrounding buildings, should stay locally owned and independent.
Tim Quinn on March 25, 2010, at 08:03PM – #4
This is only phase one of this project. No?
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on March 25, 2010, at 09:06PM – #5
Tim: I think in this market, any phases not underway right now are pretty much speculative.
Guest on March 25, 2010, at 10:52PM – #6
a vibrant downtown means a mix of indy and chain stores throughout not in just specific buildings. Whether or not this building looks like the others doesn't change the fact that it will add very welcome new life to this corner that didn't exist before.
Say what you will about its design, but I think it's a lot better than having a surface parking lot there, which was a visual blight and did nothing for the area.
Christophe Serafino on March 25, 2010, at 11:54PM – #7
I like the building. It's nice to see a mix of old and new co-exist together, it gives the area more character and keeps things interesting. People who dislike it, just be happy it's not stucco with a Spanish style roof!
Rich Alossi on March 26, 2010, at 07:42AM – #8
Great to hear they're replacing the sidewalks. I feared the developer wouldn't be replacing them, and the stretch along Main was one of the worst in Downtown. Hoping there will be some sort of landscaping as well.
Simon Ha on March 26, 2010, at 08:39AM – #9
Neel: Fresh 'n Easy has been trying to get a location in this area for a while. They looked at Sakura Crossing and other mixed-use buildings in the area but they have strict spatial and loading requirements that make it difficult in a mixed-use building with retail space that's not specifically designed for a market.
I think the design of the building is very clean and simple and I'm glad to see this project finally come to fruition.
Brigham Yen on March 26, 2010, at 05:59PM – #10
Old and new should co-exist together. How else would cities evolve? Go to any older city (like New York, Chicago, London, etc.) and you'll discover century-old buildings next to brand spanking new structures.
Guest on March 26, 2010, at 06:17PM – #11
Glad that a new development is there. Even more fascinating is what was once there at the NE corner of 4th and Main: The Westminster Hotel: http://www.csulb.edu/~odinthor/socal2.html
Buildings can't live forever, just like humans. But if they add character and dimension, buildings will be well appreciated and remembered.
Guest on March 26, 2010, at 09:37PM – #12
Since Trader Joe's, for whatever reason, has been such wussies over the idea of opening a location in downtown, it's even more important that Fresh 'n Easy take their place and enter the fray. Although their selection in general is more limited than TJs, they actually have a better array of prepared meals. By contrast, TJs offers mainly salads for lunch/dinner.
Fresh 'n Easy also has some pretty good store-brand frozen dinners, better than what TJs offers (at least if price is a consideration), and much, much better than the junk associated with Swanson.
Jeremy on March 27, 2010, at 10:38AM – #13
It's good to see what's behind the scaffolding.
I like fresh n easy, but I'd rather not have that take business away from a locally owned market like this one that's only going to be a block or two away.
http://blogdowntown.com/2010/03/5207-two-bits-market-hopes-to-bring-fresh-options
Guest on March 29, 2010, at 10:08AM – #14
When do we get more interesting architecture downtown that actually heralds future thinking in new construction projects? One would think that with Sci-Arc downtown and the Morphosis building that more interesting buildings would crop up.
The Medallion looks less like a modern pendant and more like an early 2000 penal colony.