blogdowntown: Latest Content

Everyday

A Different Image of LAPD Motorpool

By Eric Richardson — August 26, 2005
2 Comments

Responding to architect’s renderings of the new LAPD motorpool that had Gallery Row signage and presented a streetscape with a few pedestrians and Mercedes, Nic and Kjell presented this image at the meeting last night. I had to leave before they did so, but got a copy of the image to post here. As usual the truth lies somewhere in the middle, but it’...

Everyday

Fancy Parking Garage Still Parking Garage

By Eric Richardson — August 26, 2005
2 Comments

I had a class to go to tonight, so I couldn’t stay for the whole thing, but I stopped by City Hall this evening for the first 45 minutes or so of a community meeting to discuss the motorpool and parking garage component of the new Police headquarters project. The meeting was put on by CD9, and Jan Perry got things started, but then most of the presentation...

Everyday

The Spring Street River

By Eric Richardson — August 26, 2005
1 Comment

I think a water main must have burst this afternoon around this building on the west side of Spring, just south of 4th. I was biking from City Hall to USC for class around 6:40pm and stopped to gawk at this water shooting out of the sidewalk and across three lanes of traffic. I don’t know that you really get a sense from the photo just how much water was...

Everyday

Filming and Traffic Closures: Do the Building Managers Sign Off?

By Eric Richardson — August 25, 2005

There’s another filming notice outside my building today that mentions lane closures. If you recall I last week asked how we can believe the Mayor’s talk of fixing traffic while at the same time the city allows filming to block traffic lanes during peak hours. This notice says that the eastside curb lane and two adjacent lanes could be closed any...

Everyday

City Beat Updates on LATC

By Eric Richardson — August 25, 2005
1 Comment

LA City Beat runs a piece on the LA Theatre Center this week. There’s nothing particularly new inside, but it’s good to see the issue staying alive, since even the Council has a tough time getting news. Interesting to note that in the CityBeat piece they claim that the Latino Theatre Company was promised an $8 million grant by the state. I have to...

Everyday

Downtown Farmers' Market Gets Good Reports

By Eric Richardson — August 24, 2005

The midday Wednesday timing has made it something I’ve been unable to attend, but I keep hearing good things about the Downtown Farmers’ Market that’s happening on Flower this fall. eecue writes that The market was packed with people from both the neighborhood and the local businesses. The stands sold everything from clothing to the usual...

Everyday

Making Use of Empty Space

By Eric Richardson — August 24, 2005
1 Comment

Last night was the DLANC Transportation & Public Works commitee meeting. One of the items on the agenda – and one that was on last month’s as well – is street furniture. One of the main focuses of this furniture (at least on our committee) is placing more services (vending, automated public toilets, etc) around Metro stations Downtown. That...

Everyday

Biking USC and Downtown

By Eric Richardson — August 23, 2005

If you’re someone who ever has to make the trip from Downtown to USC, I have to say that the way to do it is via a bicycle. Today I needed to go buy books on campus, so I hopped on my bike and 16 minutes later I was in the heart of USC. Even if you have an on-campus parking spot, I don’t think you could beat that once you add up the time it takes...

Everyday

Atlanta Passes Law Against Panhandling

By Eric Richardson — August 23, 2005

Atlanta’s mayor has now signed into law the panhandling bill that was being discussed last week. He signed it Friday, but apparently the LA Times or the AP were just as lazy about following the issue as I was, since this wire report didn’t run until today.

Everyday

Wayfinding Signage Needs a Tune-Up

By Eric Richardson — August 21, 2005
5 Comments

I’ve mentioned plenty of times how much I like the new wayfinding signage that’s been going up around Downtown. It really looks nice, and hopefully it’s helping a few people find their way. I’ve also mentioned before that some of the chosen abbreviations are ridiculous. Another to add to that list is the great “Spring St Hist/Fin...