Guest on April 22, 2010, at 08:26AM – #1

Who wants this? I prefer the huge surface parking lot. =P

Guest on April 22, 2010, at 09:04AM – #2

I won't be going to play there if thugs and street gangs go to play there too. I've been to the courts in Venice and others around the city, it's not friendly or comfortable. Hopefully there will be a small membership fee or some kind of membership. Doesn't skid row have enough programs for people over there, it's seems like that get most of the money anyway that comes in for DT programs, not everything downtown has always include skid row.

Guest on April 22, 2010, at 10:09AM – #3

unfortunately, i agree with guest #2. i live and work in the historic core and continually new projects in the area are geared towards low income & homeless programs. instead of trying to gentrify this area they are trying to move skid row closer and closer to broadway. this is only going to continue to halt the progress we are already making downtown and encourage more drug dealers and gang members onto more streets.

i have seen this happen with the rosslyn and now the new plans for the other rosslyn include only low income housing. across from the rosslyn (either one for that matter) are homeless and severly low income housing or plans for new housing (next to the now closed cafe that drug dealers sell at constantly).

it is sad that if you stand up and say you aren't happy with that, you are labeled insensitive and ignorant. i am all for people that are really trying to turn their lives around and use these programs to do that, but what i see is more people abusing these systems to sell drugs or just not care to better their lives. and just so you think i am not one of those ignorant people, i have had many conversations with homeless or challenged people in the area and there are many that do want to truly change their lives and better themselves. unfortunately they are few and far between.

it just irritates me that nike built a court for skid row, specifically to play in and they still think they can lay claim to something else. what will happen to this space if a bunch of "thugs" come, like guest #2 suggests, is that real market rate paying residents in the area will not go- which i feel defeats the purpose of having it in the first place, especially if the skid row residents already have places to play.

Guest on April 22, 2010, at 10:12AM – #4

It would be nice to have something like this for recreation, but I tend to agree with the last comment, the gang situation needs to be dealt with or it will be like the Venice B-ball courts etc.. no thanks.. And yes, We need better parking in downtown. As a resident I wont pay $4 to park for one hour and then go spend more money to get lunch at the new downtown restaurants! It's insulting! We need more parking like Santa Monica so people can come and park, and support our local businesses and restaurants and spend their money THERE and not on the overpriced meters and lousy, expensive lots! I tried to find street parking last week, drove around and around until finally finding a spot.. $4 an hour NO THANKS! I did not spend my money that day on the new restaurant downtown, which looked pretty empty, and I did not give $4 to the meter! BAD FOR BUSINESS VILLARAGOSA!

Guest on April 22, 2010, at 11:38AM – #6

The structure has an attractive design, but I wish they could add some more density to the space by increasing its height as downtown is running out of surface lots to develop. In fact, incorporating a Santa Monica-style parking structure into this development could achieve both goals of creating recreation and providing more parking. I know there are many parking haters out there, but the other walkable centers in LA have done so with an ample supply of park and walk parking garages.

Guest on April 22, 2010, at 12:09PM – #8

I agree with #2 and DEFINITELY #3 and certainly #4. Indoor or not, privately run or not, I think there has to be a bigger movement when projects like this are being discussed to address the needs of the people buying lofts, and condos, and spending their money in Downtown to promote business. Skid row always has the loudest voice, but yet has largest negative affect on Downtown Los Angeles. Obviously we have gone off topic, but ironically, skid row manages to have an affect on most things discussed on this blog. I've heard it said before, times up skid row.

Guest on April 22, 2010, at 12:24PM – #9

for all of you wanting a parking garage here, remember that the best way to create an actual walking environment is to walk. All that putting a garage here will do is encourage people to drive a half mile to play basketball rather then spend the ten minutes walking over...as for santa monica, as a park and walk center, the actual residents of that city are on never ending complaint-fest about traffic and blocking new construction. If you want density to work you need public transit and people who are willing to walk a couple of blocks.

As for skid row taking over downtown just remember that the medallion is about to open on 4th and main and sakura crossing opened last summer at 2nd and san pedro. I agree that converting the rosslyn hotel to an official SRO on the same corner where new genesis is about to expand and where chrysalis already is, may not be the best way to create a true mixed income neighborhood, but lets not get overly dramatic about the situation...

Guest on April 22, 2010, at 02:54PM – #10

FYI - The Japanese-American community has a long history of youth and adult basketball leagues. Currently, the practices and games are held all over So. California typically at high schools, jr. high schools and community centers. The leagues operate nearly year round. One local league even hosts an annual tournament in Las Vegas. This project which was spearheaded by the same communuity is intended to bring many of those games and tournaments to the Little Tokyo area.

Guest on April 22, 2010, at 09:56PM – #12

Looks like it's open to all residents and it looks like there will be fees associated with the use of the facility. I think this is an awesome idea.

Who will use the BoLA? ➢ Members of athletic organizations throughout the City, including basketball leagues, volleyball leagues, and martial arts dojos. These organizations include, but are not limited to, Japanese Americans. ➢ Little Tokyo and Downtown residents, including seniors, families, and professionals ➢ Local organizations and community groups.

How will the BoLA sustain ongoing operations after it is built? ➢ We have developed a business plan which projects sufficient revenues from court rental fees, memberships, and special event rentals to meet annual operational expenses. ➢ Court rental fees will be comparable and competitive to local gym rentals.

Guest on April 23, 2010, at 09:36AM – #13

Whether or not you WALK, BIKE or cab to any businesses downtown, PARKING is STILL a major issue for those people we want to come and spend their money in our community! Case in point: Spenders from the Westside etc. No one wants to come down here from other areas for this very reason! We could use some of THEIR money?! Here's a good example: from where I live 7th and Mateo, I can drive and to Santa Monica or the Westside faster than I can walk to downtown core... I can also find, safer, better, cheaper parking and plenty of it in Santa Monica, than I can downtown, making it a much easeier choice to to there for lunch or dinner! What is wrong with this picture... we need to keep our money downtown and offer the SAME experience for those coming from the Westside and Pasadena if we want to compete and stay in business!!!! Also, it is NOT safe to walk at night!!!! We need community parking to get people to come and spend time and money!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Guest on April 23, 2010, at 09:42AM – #14

"IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME!" Get Parking! Get the money! Infuse the businesses, and they will come! We need Gyms, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, more Theatre's, and playhouses... build the parking so they can come!!!!! We live in LA, people drive to go places and spend THEIR MONEY! Get their money down here!!! The rest will follow and we can have everything we want!!!!!!

Guest on April 23, 2010, at 07:56PM – #16

It would be good to stay on topic,BUDOKAN! But, for some strange reason, some comment on SKID ROW (thugs and street gangs), for your information LAPD Central Division, stated clearly, " there is no gang problem on Skid Row". If it were, than the Skidrow 3on3 Streetball League, which has an " Gang intervention component " would and should qualify for " gang intervention funding". Secondly, Skid Row RESIDENTS don't even have gy m to go to(statements about Skidrow having places to go play. Is incorrect and based upon false information"!

OG

Guest on April 26, 2010, at 11:31AM – #17

As a representative from the Little Tokyo community, and the agency which is overseeing the development of the Budokan of Los Angeles project, we wanted to first thank those who have come out in support of our project, and to also clarify some misconceptions.

The Little Tokyo community has been wanting to build this multi-purpose sports and activities center for over 20 years. Back in the early 90's, a series of community planning sessions were held in Little Tokyo, and as a result of those meetings, community groups came to the consensus that a gymnasium would be a crucial component to help bring young people back to the area and also help to stimulate the local economy. From that point, the Little Tokyo Service Center has taken the lead to bring this project to fruition. As what was stated in this blog, we hope to begin the final negotiation process with the City in the next couple of months and then launch our capital campaign and help to fulfill this long-awaited dream for the Little Tokyo community.

We realize, as many of you have stated that there are issues of concern-particularly with the potential users of the facility and parking. We believe the Budokan of Los Angeles is for everyone, because there is such a huge need in the Downtown area for a facility like this and it will serve a wide range of users from local Downtown residents to low income families who don't have access to nearby recreational facilities, and we hope it will also connect us closer with our local neighbors from Chinatown, Lincoln Heights, Skid Row, and other parts of the Downtown area. In addition, we hope to attract many people throughout the Southland and make this a destination driven project, which will have significant impact on many of the local businesses in the area. With that said, we also hear your concerns regarding parking. At this current time, while we cannot solve the larger issue of the lack of parking for Downtown, we are looking at the needs and impacts for our project. Currently, our project team is working with a consultant to conduct a parking study for this site and we will continue to keep the door open on a partnership with the City to address some of these parking concerns.

In the meantime, we hope you will continue to support our project as we take these final steps before launching our campaign. We also welcome any of your thoughts or ideas, because we see this project as a "true" community partnership and one that will benefit everyone.

Bill Watanabe, Executive Director, LTSC and Scott Ito, Project Director, Budokan of Los Angeles