Growth & Development

Planners Tour Downtown

By Eric Richardson — September 23, 2008

Planners Tour Downtown

The California Chapter of the American Planning Association is holding its annual conference in Hollywood this week, and yesterday a group of nearly sixty planners made their way Downtown via the Red Line to come see all that’s taking place in the neighborhood.


The Nickel Makes LAT Column One

By Ed Fuentes — September 20, 2008
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For 40 years to the month, LAT’s “Column One” has sat on the front page, a staple that features local, national, and international stories of interest. Today, Monica May and Kristen Trattner make the front page with Cara Mia DiMassa’s “The Nickel dishes up a big helping of downtown L.A.”. It’s a great account of the...


Event Planner Discover Downtown's Unique Venues

By Jeannine Denholm — September 18, 2008
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A few weeks ago I wrote about the Pamper Me Fabulous event held at the Kim Sing Theatre in Chinatown. The event was wonderful and I couldn’t help but notice how many people were shocked this type of venue existed Downtown. Event planners are always looking for something new and different. Lately they’ve latched on to Downtown’s unique high...


With Hayward Wrapping, Premiere Towers Next for Work

By Eric Richardson — September 10, 2008

Premiere Scaffolds Up

Paint removal on the Hayward Hotel is now complete, and this morning a crew dismantled the scaffolding that had shielded the pedestrians from the work above. They didn’t go far, though, setting the sidewalk covering right back up next door in front of Premiere Towers. The 120-unit apartment building will be getting a cleaned up exterior and a paint job...


New Rampart Station is a City-Minded Step

By Ed Fuentes — September 09, 2008
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Last week saw the opening of a new $37 million station for LAPD’s Rampart Division, located just west of Downtown. Chief William Bratton introduced the station by speaking of its design as a symbol of LAPD openness. Current events have long played a heavy role in shaping the civic architecture of Los Angeles. On a slight hill with grass and plenty of glass...


Images The Nickel Diner Opens on Main Street

By Ed Fuentes — August 27, 2008
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Well-wishers and stakeholders welcomed the Nickel Diner to Downtown today, and the steady breakfast and lunch crowd made the pace just right for today’s soft opening. Nestled on a block of Main Street that is still softening its rough edges, the Nickel Diner is a throwback to the days when small diners dotted downtown and served no-nonsense food in comfortable...


Images An Up Close Look at Hayward Details

By Eric Richardson — August 27, 2008
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Hayward Details

Yesterday I wrote about the Hayward paint removal wrapping up. Today I ran into Eric Shomof, and he gave me an up close view of the marble medallions that line the top of the Spring street addition’s street face.


Images Hayward Paint Removal Rounds the Home Stretch

By Eric Richardson — August 26, 2008
3 Comments

Hayward Paint Removal

Work to remove paint from the Hayward Hotel’s 1918 addition on Spring Street is nearing completion. Just a few spots retain the old brown color, with the rest of the building’s face now sporting its historic creamy glazed brick. The difference is striking. Intricate detail work that had been uniformly covered in a dreary brown now pops out, making...


Attempting to Poach Downtown Tenants: Cool or Not?

By Eric Richardson — August 25, 2008
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Chapman Flyer

Last week while checking the mail I was a little surprised to see it include a glossy flyer advertising rentals at the Chapman Flats, just two blocks or so away from my current residence. The flyer, addressed to “Current Resident,” asked me to “Rent Now” and offered a move-in special. With all work going into bringing those who don’...


Images Trip to San Diego Shows the Value of Planning

By Eric Richardson — August 25, 2008
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Bringing Back Broadway SD Field Trip Group Shot

What can the redevelopment of San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter teach us about how to foster Broadway redevelopment? That was the question that a group of more than fifty stakeholders from Downtown Los Angeles set out to answer last week, taking part in a two-day trip organized by the Bringing Back Broadway effort. While there were plenty of options for good...