From the Newsroom

Everyday

Times Mirror Square for Sale, But Who Would Want It?

By Eric Richardson — June 25, 2008
9 Comments

No More Old State Building

The news this morning is that new Tribune boss Sam Zell is putting out RFPs for the sale of Tribune Tower in Chicago and Times Mirror Square here. LA Observed has the full Zell memo. The real question, though, is just who might be interested in buying Times Mirror Square given its location and restrictions.


Growth

Angels Knoll Park Gets a Planting

By Eric Richardson — June 24, 2008
5 Comments

Angels Knoll Park

Lower Angels Knoll Park got a little more colorful today, as a landscaping team installed plants and flowers throughout the under-construction space. The park abuts the northern 4th street portal for the Pershing Square subway station and connects via stairway to the grassy upper park and California Plaza.


Arts/Culture

In Chinatown, What's Old is New Again

By Ed Fuentes — June 24, 2008
1 Comment

Old Chinatown

It's an original mixed-use development, with ground floor retail, upstairs offices for business and levels of high density residential space. It was built around pedestrians, creating a neighborhood while allowing plenty of vehicular access down a major thoroughfare. It contains public art that responds to cultural ideologies without ignoring the environment...


Etc

Cherry Picker Install at LA Live

By Eric Richardson — June 24, 2008
3 Comments

Glassy

A trio of cherry pickers were kept busy yesterday, as workers installed a glassy facade on the building at the northeast corner of LA Live. That part of the massive development is scheduled to open in December, with grand opening festivities for the Grammy Museum slated for December 3rd. In a rarity for Downtown, yesterday's work didn't even require a sidewalk...


Everyday

Even Grass and a Fountain Can Go Bad

By Eric Richardson — June 23, 2008
14 Comments

Fenced Off Fountain

In our recent discussion of the new median at 9th and Main, several commenters suggested that the city should have stuck with a simple design of fountain and grass rather than the colorful, but controversial, one installed. In the lengthy and ongoing talk about Pershing Square, a few voices mentioned that private developers should build their own green spaces...


Growth

South Group's Streetscape Continues Getting Kudos

By Eric Richardson — June 23, 2008
8 Comments

South Group Streetscape

The streetscape design around the South Group's trio of projects in South Park just keeps getting recognized. Last week the Los Angeles Business Council honored the project in its 38th Los Angeles Architectural Awards. While Luma was awarded for best built green building, the streetscape got its win in the category of Residential Landscape Architecture.


Everyday

Around the Halls: June 23 - 25

By Ed Fuentes — June 23, 2008
5 Comments

city hall chambers

It's Monday, June 23rd. Here's a brief look at happenings in and around City Hall that Downtowners should be interested in over the next 72 hours.


Movement

City Proposes to Pick Up the Tab for Dodger Transit

By Eric Richardson — June 22, 2008
14 Comments

Dodger Parking Lots

The Times today includes a story saying that the city and the Dodgers have reached an agreement for providing transit into Dodger Stadium for the remainder of the 2008 season. Buses would run from Union Station starting on July 25th, the first home game after the All-Star break. The city would pick up the $70,000 cost of running the service, while the Dodgers...


Everyday

South Park Tie Broken With a Coin Flip

By Eric Richardson — June 20, 2008
1 Comment

Looking at the Coin

The Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council held its elections last week and results were released yesterday, but it wasn't until this afternoon that Mary Wentz prevailed in the race to be South Park's Resident Director. After all the votes were counted, there was a tie between Wentz and Scott Bytof. Under DLANC election rules, that meant the two would...


Everyday

Buddy, 12

By Eric Richardson — June 20, 2008
13 Comments

Both Host

Downtown lost one of the pioneers of its revitalization today. Buddy, Hal Bastian's golden retriever, had to be put down this morning after suffering ongoing issues with his hind legs. Downtowners with dogs owe a lot to Buddy for how many new buildings are pet friendly. Hal and Buddy moved Downtown to work for Tom Gilmore when he was in the process of starting...