From the Newsroom

Growth

Trip to San Diego Shows the Value of Planning

By Eric Richardson — Monday
14 Comments

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...


Etc

Downtown Lens: Beautiful People

By Dave Bullock — Sunday
6 Comments

Man With Pipe Walking Bunny

Every day of year the streets of Downtown Los Angeles are packed with people of all types, shapes and sizes. Each one of them has their own unique beauty. Most would love to have their picture taken. There are two options for taking photos in public. You can either take the picture without asking or ask and then shoot. Both of these methods can give good results...


Everyday

Using Construction to Tell the Story of a Site

By Eric Richardson — August 22, 2008
1 Comment

Construction Wall History

When L.A. Live’s construction fencing went up, it made a visual mark by featuring art from local youth organizations. It was a big step forward from the plain barriers that surround the typical construction job, but what if these barriers were used to go the next step and tell the story of a site’s history?


Growth

Interesting Angles Taking Shape on Concerto

By Eric Richardson — August 22, 2008

Angles

No matter how many renders one sees of the construction projects proposed and under development here in Downtown, the details of the execution are always a bit of a surprise. Facade work on Astani’s Concerto project, rising on the former parking lot at 9th and Figueroa, offers a look at some interesting angles that should spice up the building’s...


Everyday

Downtown Delegation Heads to San Diego

By Eric Richardson — August 21, 2008

Moving Trolley

A large group from Downtown is headed south today, taking part in a Bringing Back Broadway field trip to San Diego’s Gaslamp District. Councilman Jose Huizar and Councilwoman Jan Perry headline a list of fifty-two folks taking the short trip down the coast, looking to learn lessons that can help in the revitalization of Broadway.


Growth

New Face of Charlie O's Unveiled

By Eric Richardson — August 21, 2008
18 Comments

New Face for Charlie O's

Within the last few days the sidewalk tent came off the corner of the Alexandria, revealing the rebuilt face of Charlie O’s. The Spring street side gets some sizable window space, while the 5th street face remains mostly enclosed.


Everyday

A Sad Farewell

By Eric Richardson — August 21, 2008
32 Comments

Ed Fuentes and Jan Perry

This is a story that I really didn’t want to write. For personal reasons, Ed Fuentes is leaving Downtown and will no longer be writing for blogdowntown. UPDATE: The script has a new page. Check out Ed’s post, Not Quite “Letting Go” Yet. Since joining the site on May 26, 2007, Ed’s written 270 stories for blogdowntown, and has been...


Everyday

Today in Downtown History: Library Declared Work of Art

By Eric Richardson — August 20, 2008

Torch of Learning

Thirty-nine years ago today, on August 20, 1969, the city’s Municipal Arts Commission declared the Central Library building and grounds a work of art. The building was forty-seven years old, and the designation was part of an ultimately unsuccessful fight to keep the library from building an employee parking lot on the site now occupied by Maguire Gardens...


Growth

SB Spring Gets a Cleaning

By Eric Richardson — August 20, 2008
4 Comments

Spring Cleaning

Regardless of how many times one sees it happen, the drastic change in a historic buildings appearance when it gets a little cleaning is still eye-catching. This week’s makeover target is SB Spring, Barry Shy’s residential conversion of 650 S. Spring. The building’s been getting the power-washer treatment, and the two halves of the building...


Movement

Just What Makes a Widening?

By Eric Richardson — August 19, 2008
3 Comments

Curb Cut

Via the tip form, Jason sends in this question on the work currently taking place next to the Caltrans building: they are definitely widening 2nd street between main and los angeles streets. they are creating right turn lanes onto Main– just as me and other city workers feared when passing that intersection every day! what gives? do traffic engineers...