Growth & Development

Colori Kitchen Gets Westways Writeup

By Eric Richardson — February 25, 2008
9 Comments

Colori Kitchen in Westways

Colori Kitchen gets a very favorable write-up in the March/April 2008 issue of Westways magazine, the print publication of the Automobile Club of Southern California. The piece looks at "Bargain Bites" -- spots where two can eat for under $25. Past a fairly grim-looking doorway in this transitional block (over here, rehabbed $750,000 lofts; over there...


Grand Ave Gets a New Backer

By Eric Richardson — February 22, 2008
3 Comments

The Grand Avenue Project has new financial backing, according to a story posted today by the Downtown News. Related will seek approvals from city, county and redevelopment officials over the next six weeks for the new investor in its proposed Bunker Hill mega-development. The company secured the new partnership with Istithmar, a sovereign fund controlled...


Broadway Plaza Nears Restart

By Eric Richardson — February 22, 2008
1 Comment

Blackstone -- 901-909 S. Broadway

After a contractor change and some developer shuffling, work on the conversion of the Blackstone department store to 82-units of mixed income housing could be set to get a restart. Work on the building at 901 S. Broadway has been paused at 50% complete since 2005, when contractor Fassberg Construction Company filed for bankruptcy. 17 of the units will be affordable...


Extra Quimby Funds? Build Batting Cages

By Eric Richardson — February 21, 2008
28 Comments

Bunting in the Cage

City Controller Laura Chick released her audit of Rec and Parks' Quimby Fee usage today (available as a 31 page PDF). Her office finds that the program has an unspent balance of $112 million, and that there's little plan for how to use those monies. I've got a suggestion for how to spend just a little bit of that balance: build some batting cages in Elysian...


Chinatown Lofts Adds Interest to Industrial Debate

By Eric Richardson — February 20, 2008
8 Comments

This week's Downtown News writes about 1101 N. Main, a 318-unit development proposed to rise near Chinatown. As the article notes, the project has gotten all thumbs up from the city. Planning changed the site's zoning from Industrial to Mixed Use, ruling that the site was better served with a residential development. City Council just overruled an appeal...


Seven Showroom Opening on "The Intersection"

By Eric Richardson — February 15, 2008
9 Comments

New Showroom Space

For those not in the industrial, it's easy to miss the activity happening in the Fashion District. Apparel News reports this week that Seven Licensing / Tarrant are opening an 8,000 sq. ft. showroom on the corner of 9th and Los Angeles. Brands under the Seven Licensing Co. banner include Chevignon, Indian Rock Culture, ReRock, Seven7 and KitsonLA, which...


And It's Official: No Widening of 2nd Next to Caltrans

By Eric Richardson — February 14, 2008
2 Comments

Second Street Sidewalk

I wrote last week that CD9 had killed widening of 2nd by Caltrans. Brady rightly stepped in to say that just because Councilwoman Jan Perry is now in the neighborhood's corner on the widening, nothing was set until the deal was actually signed. A press release from Perry's office this evening confirms that the widening has indeed been officially halted. The...


Since You Keep Asking; Shots of the Chapman's Roof

By Eric Richardson — February 13, 2008
1 Comment

Chapman Rooftop

Not too long ago I posted a shot of the Chapman lobby, remarking on its marbleyness. Tyler chimed in that he had some rooftop shots and from there the chase was on, with commenters keeping after him to get them up online so they could see the amenities getting put in. Not only did Tyler send in the shots, but it turns out he took them on a day when L.A. had...


7th Street Construction Work Reveals Historic Details

By Eric Richardson — February 12, 2008

Broadway Exchange Building Lofts, Previously The Haas Building

Very cool news over at Angelenic, where they're talking about the uncovering of historic facade work on the Broadway Exchange building at 7th and Broadway. The head-scratching facade makeovers given to Broadway buildings were given conversation here way back in 2005, but it was thought that all traces of the Exchange building's facade had been lost. Turns out...


LAPD Glares at Higgins

By Ed Fuentes — February 12, 2008
11 Comments

Glare from LAPD

There have been no end to the eyes watching as the new LAPD headquarters has quickly risen south of City Hall, but residents of the Higgins building might be preparing to see the structure in a whole new light. As glass has been added to the building's south face one can observe the reflection of the late afternoon sun climbing the northern side of the Higgins...