Developer to Present Plans for 19-Story Apartment Tower Next to Broad Museum
Related Companies / Arquitectonica
View across Grand Avenue of Related Companies' proposed 19-story, 258-unit tower, designed by Arquitectonica.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The economy may have stalled Related Companies' grand plans for Bunker Hill, but the developer is moving forward on a 19-story, 258-unit residential apartment tower designed to complement the under-construction Broad art museum.
Schematic plans for the tower designed by Arquitectonica go to the CRA board on Thursday.
The Broad museum design by Diller Scofidio + Renfro features a precast honeycomb exterior that floats above the gallery space.
The agency's board report describes the new residential structure's similarly-precast facade as "textural and complementary," with "a playful contrast between the animated window openings within the taut edges of the building." The building include 53 studios, 134 one-bedrooms and 71 two-bedroom apartments. 52 of those are required to be low-income units.
On the ground floor, plans include a 7,000-square-foot restaurant and cafe that would open onto the plaza that will connect the tower and the Broad museum at the Grand Avenue elevation.
At the rear of the building, a public stairway will connect to Hope Street and the planned Regional Connector light rail station. For those who still prefer to have a car, plans also include 308 parking spaces in a three-level structure under the tower.
PogueMahone on September 13, 2011, at 09:33AM – #1
This awesome! Yes please!
Bert Green (@bgfa) on September 13, 2011, at 09:40AM – #2
More parking spaces than apartments? Not very urban.
Dion on September 13, 2011, at 10:28AM – #3
Building looks very cool, but i have to agree with Bert regarding parking. Wasn't the parking garage at the Broad Museum expanded to include additional parking for future residents? Now they want to add an additional 308 spaces? how about no new spaces and a 100 more units. They might be shocked how many people will rent even if you don't have parking.
Raymond3000 on September 13, 2011, at 12:33PM – #4
if I have read correctly, I think the parking structure is being built for both shared uses with Broad museum guests & Res Tower tenants. Remember the subterrean parking is gonna be 3 levels on both sides of the street & a deck will be built to connect both sides of the street with a plaza built above connecting the Broad with the Res. Tower.
downtown vibe on September 13, 2011, at 12:47PM – #5
That's interesting.
Is this the same parking the taxpayers are paying for as part of the Museum project?
And I assume the surrounding plaza space is all paid for by the CRA also.
That sure helps out the developer.
And now for my next trick.....
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on September 13, 2011, at 01:31PM – #6
I don't believe they are the same parking.
downtown vibe on September 13, 2011, at 03:39PM – #7
I do like the design though.
downtown vibe on September 13, 2011, at 05:09PM – #8
Why are they using low income housing subsidies to build apartments on one of the most valuable building sites in Los Angeles County?
Unfortunately, this is exactly why the Governor was trying to shut down the CRA.
derblut on September 13, 2011, at 06:49PM – #9
"Why are they using low income housing subsidies to build apartments on one of the most valuable building sites in Los Angeles County?"
Because that's what liberals do. I'm going to quit my job so I can live there.
Tony Hoover on September 13, 2011, at 08:06PM – #10
Low income housing doesn't mean free housing. Low income means teachers, police officers, firemen and secretaries. It means waiters and waitress, bellmen, and receptionists. It means the person who rings you up at the grocery store and the person who serves you coffee in the morning.
Low income in Downtown LA would typically mean households that have a combined income of less than $60,000. This includes households with stay at home moms or dads. Most working class households won't be able to afford the $3,000 to $4,000++ a month that most new apartment buildings on Bunker Hill will be charging very soon.
I'm a business owner and I make well into the six figures annually and I like the fact that my neighbor might also be the person who rings me up at the grocery store rather than just the vice president of the bank where I put my money. I don't want to live in a single class neighborhood. How boring.
Maybe that should help eliminate some of the snarky comments.
derblut on September 13, 2011, at 09:16PM – #11
"Low income housing doesn't mean free housing. Low income means teachers, police officers, firemen and secretaries. It means waiters and waitress, bellmen, and receptionists. It means the person who rings you up at the grocery store and the person who serves you coffee in the morning.
That's what you think it means. Those of us who live downtown know better. Go outside of the Huntington, the Alexandria or any of the dozen crack houses on Main street and see how many teachers, police or firefighters live in those buildings. Open your eyes.
derblut on September 13, 2011, at 09:27PM – #12
Sorry, I try not to get overly political, that's just how I see it. I'm excited that they're developing that parcel finally.
FLEA on September 14, 2011, at 10:51AM – #13
Derblut is so right. Even at the Hayward. The only low income that doesn't seem to reflect this is the Rowan. I've met some working class people who do live there. Now back to the design of the building. I love it.
Mario Teran on September 14, 2011, at 01:34PM – #14
The average pay for LA Police officers is $83,000. The average pay for teachers is $58,000 for 9 months of work and amazing benefits. I can't imagine how they get by month to month. Hopefully they're eligible for food stamps and government subsides.
Speaking of government susbsides, Obamacare is working well downtown. One can get all sorts of affordable behind the counter drugs on the north side of the Alexandria. That's where alot of the low income residents get their medications.
Dion on September 14, 2011, at 02:03PM – #15
Re;Mario. right, cause the drug trade was non existent in downtown before obama's health care plan.
Raymond3000 on September 14, 2011, at 03:32PM – #16
the design is growing on me more, is it possible that Bunker Hill/ Grand Ave can become a mid-high density residential area where luxury apts or rentals line Grand, Hope, Flower Sts moreso Grand becoming a prime residential address?
AliveInLA on September 14, 2011, at 04:53PM – #17
Disappointing. This looks like a cheap knock-off of Jean Nouvel's 100 11th Ave in New York. This belongs on Canal Street.
Raymond3000 on September 14, 2011, at 06:49PM – #18
^^No it looks like the big brother of Museum tower ( california plaza ), btw that bldg 100 11th Ave would look perfect here! I always wished the JW.marriott/ Ritz would've been cladded in a style like that instead of what we ended up with.
Tony Hoover on September 14, 2011, at 07:30PM – #19
@derblut -
Impoverished most likely describes the persons you are talking about. There is a distinction between low-income housing for persons "at-risk" (like the Alexandria or any of the Skid Row Housing Trust buildings) and affordable housing for persons with lower incomes.
Most SRO housing is for persons transitioning out of homeless situations, or women escaping abusive situations. This is like most Skid Row Housing Trust buildings.
Low income housing is for persons who are not homeless but do require goverment assistance in order to survive like seniors and persons on disability. Low-income housing is usually operated by a non-profit like Hollywood Community Housing buildings, or RHF (Angelus Plaza).
Affordable housing is for persons who cannot afford market rate housing and the building is usually owned and operated by a for profit company. Most affordable units in buildings like this are for households in the MEDIAN income range.
The average LAPD officer ABSOLUTELY does not make $83k. I know several police officers and most of them make about $55k. A few of them make slightly more but they have been on the force for a few years. Some detectives do make $70k but they had to get criminal justice degrees and be promoted to detective to get to that pay scale.
LAofAnaheim on September 15, 2011, at 05:06PM – #20
@Tony Hoover No point arguing with Tea Party people. They hear these inconsistent lies from Fox News that they take it for truth.
Obamacare hasn't even started. It kicks in 2013. The only part that started was contraceptions. Do the research Mario Teran.
Wait....why the heck are we discussing Obamacare related to this project?
derblut on September 17, 2011, at 01:39AM – #21
Who said anything about Tea Party or Fox News?
Most "Obamacare" provisions start in 2014. Do your own research.
Maternity/contraception coverage starts in August 2012. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/08/20110801b.html
Free preventive care started September 23, 2010 along with the removal of lifetime limits, and children pre-existing conditions. http://www.healthcare.gov/law/timeline/index.html