Whitman Lam on July 22, 2010, at 12:54AM – #1

How is that station going to be even remotely close to Dodger's stadium ? You still have to cross Broadway, walk up a hill, cross the 101 fwy, walk up a steep hill, wade through a sea of parked cars before you get to the ticket window.

It does offer a nice view of the Cornfield park and LA river.

Tim Quinn on July 22, 2010, at 06:11AM – #2

Think shuttle, Whitman.

I would hate to see a charming cliffside covered over by a boring apartment building. If they do this it had better be good architecture.

Simon Ha on July 22, 2010, at 08:25AM – #4

E: I've made that walk several times and it's not easy. You do however get to the stadium faster on foot than in a car. Just don't do it for a day game during a heatwave. You'll be the sweatiest fan in the stadium.

Also, this path is probably not listed because it weaves through a residential neighborhood. It's a shorter walk but not as exciting as the Chinese Disneyland-bridge route:)

But seriously, I'd like to see some transit and pedestrian connection between the Gold Line Station(s) and Dodger Stadium. Perhaps Johnson Fein can take another look at in their design since this will sit on the shelves for a while.

Susana Benavidez on July 22, 2010, at 08:51AM – #5

I am hoping for a connection closer to Solano Ave so that we can use it to get to Solano Elementary. :) Currently I take the 45 and walk up the hill. The walk isn't that bad. If I can do it with a 4 and a 5 year old then it can't be that bad. You will get sweaty but that will just give you a glowy complexion :)

Brigham Yen on July 22, 2010, at 09:41AM – #6

I like this idea a lot. It can't stop there though. The city needs to push for the empty lots around the Cornfield and Chinatown Gold Line station to be developed into mixed-use projects as well. I have a feeling that if this project does go through, it will give the area more momentum.

Fleece on July 22, 2010, at 09:58AM – #7

It's good to get the conversation started on something like this, but I'm not sold yet that it's enough for a Dodger Stadium shuttle stop. Does the current shuttle go up Bishops Road to Stadium Way? Because it's one lane in each direction and I assume it's packed on game day. Not saying that means don't do a shuttle, but it might not be ideal in that location.

The other issue is what this will look like from inside the cornfields. I feel like the current distance between the edge of the park and the nearest buildings (on the northwest side of Broadway) is part of the park's character. It gives it a much more wide-open feel, even with the occasional Gold Line train passing by. This would be lost by dropping a mixed-use development on the edge of the park. If I was in the park, I would feel more hemmed in, especially if we're talking something two stories or more. Happy to be corrected if I'm wrong.

carter on July 22, 2010, at 11:22AM – #8

Relocate Dodger Stadium to the Sports Arena site adjacent to the Coliseum, convert Chavez Ravine to residential and parks, and you no longer have the need to get up that hill, on foot or via any other means. Keep in mind high speed rail needs in the area - would any of this impede those needs? The Riboli family is very real estate focused, and owns mucho property in this area, Pasadena, and elsewhere. But, am very glad some people are looking into real estate development in this economic climate.

Susana Benavidez on July 22, 2010, at 02:58PM – #9

Carter- Chavez Ravine used to be homes and parks, albeit it served a different demographic than what you might have in mind. It was largely a immigrant Latino enclave.

Scott Mercer on July 22, 2010, at 08:54PM – #10

2400 foot underground tunnel with moving walkways, security cameras, and massive banks of escalators at the end to get you elevated to the level of the stadium.

Built and owned by the McCourts or whoever ends up owning the team and the stadium. They have enough money to build it. This could be part of the proposed massive renovations they proposed.

It would cost way way way way less than putting a train in a tunnel to go there, so it could be affordable, and a 2400 foot walk, while almost half a mile, is just as far as walking from many areas of the parking lot.

I'm guessing a facility like that would only cost tens of millions rather than hundreds of millions or billions.

But really, Dodger Stadium should have direct train service. This might be the closest we get.

Harry M on July 23, 2010, at 03:21AM – #11

I always wondered if a parallel street-car circular, (a la the proposed street-car circular now under proposal for Broadway/Grand/South Park), that circulated on the northern section via the 101 Freeway could propel a Dodger Stadium public transportation hurdle. It could travel on Alameda, Sunset (this could help generate traffic for the Echo Park/Silverlake Sunset Street culture/arts/bars and what-not.

Vero Queero on July 23, 2010, at 10:51AM – #12

I like Carter's suggestion, there's really no need for the Sports Arena any more. Chavez Ravine was once residential, it would be nice to see it return to that state.

Jim Shafer on July 23, 2010, at 11:29AM – #13

Instead of the "Event Station", I wonder if it would be possible to have a short line break off from the northbound Gold Line just north of the Chinatown station but where's it's still elevated. It would continue to rise up to the level of Broadway, then turn left onto Bishops Way, running slowly down the middle like the Gold Line along Marmion Way just before the Highland Park station, then go over the Pasadena Freeway (sorry, the Arroyo Seco Parkway), and on up to the stadium. Not cheap, but much cheaper than tearing down Dodger Stadium and rebuilding elsewhere. And to help justify the cost, build a large parking structure (or structures) right by the stadium that would free up maybe half the land to be converted to park/athletic fields, easily reached by the same "Stadium Shuttle" spur line. One more advantage of this idea is that you could get on this line at Union Station, so many more people could access it without transferring onto a bus from the "Event Station" site,etc.