South Park WELCOME HOME

You wouldn’t think of development hungry Downtown LA as a bedlam for NIMBY activity, but there’s a first time for everything. Investment group BIMHF, LLC announced plans to convert a derelict structure at 1130 Hope Street into a 44-room boutique hotel back in 2012, but a group of neighbors have recently started fighting against the project. Homeowners in the adjacent Luma and Evo condominium towers have asked the Central Area Planning Commission to overturn the entitlements granted to the 10-story hotel project last year, included allowances for an open air pool deck and zero off-street parking.

The Greenland Group raised more than a few eyebrows when they boldly proclaimed that they’d break ground on the long awaited Metropolis development before the end of 2013. Turns out that they might not have been that far off. According to a document from the city’s Chief Legislative Analyst, the Chinese developer plans to start shoring and grading work for phase one of Metropolis on February 14. Phase one will emerge at the intersection of Francisco Street and James M Wood Boulevard, consisting of two high-rise structures above a pedestrian plaza.

Chalk up another win for the development crazy South Park neighborhood. Late last year, plans were filed for a mixed-use development at the northwest corner of Pico Boulevard and Grand Avenue. 1249 Grand Avenue’s vague case filing provided little in the way of details, betraying only the fact that it would sit above a two-level subterranean parking garage. However, a permit application submitted to LADBS in late December has since shed some light on what’s to come.

The Hanover Company already has two mixed-use developments in the works along Olympic Boulevard, but three makes a party. According to a presentation given to the DLANC, the Texas-based developer intends to build another seven-story apartment building adjacent to their under-construction Olympic and Hill development. Dubbed Olympic & Olive, Hanover’s newest project would create 263 apartments and 14,500 square feet of ground floor retail space. The building would sit above a two-and-a-half level underground parking garage, with room for just 250 vehicles.

Last week, the Downtown News reported that newly formed developer Mack Urban plans to construct hotel and residential towers on surface parking lots surrounding the AT&T Center. According to a recent case filing with the Department of City Planning, the $750 million mixed-use project’s first buildings will be two high-rise structures at the northeast corner of 12th Street and Grand Avenue. The first tower, containing 461 residential units and 8,700 square feet of ground level retail space, would rise 41 stories at 1120 Grand Avenue.

Lately, the talk of the town has been the recent influx of Chinese investment into the South Park neighborhood. How about some foreign money from closer to home? This Tuesday, the DLANC’s Planning and Land Use Committee is scheduled to take a look at multiple high-rise projects proposed by two Canadian-based developers. The Amacon Group, which has stayed north of the border until recently, is revamping its pre-recession proposal for a mixed-use high-rise development at 1133 Hope Street.

Courtesy of Thomas Cox Architects, feast your eyes on an updated rendering of South Park’s upcoming Onyx mixed-user. Planned by Fashion District landlord Jade Enterprises (Topaz), Onyx will rise on two surface parking lots near the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Flower Street. The two colorful buildings will stand seven stories, combining to create 410 apartment units and over 30,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space. Located across the street from Metro’s Pico Station, the transit oriented development will contain less than half the amount of the residential and commercial parking normally required by code.

With Danny’s Tacos safely relocated to the opposite side of the street, it’s time to bid farewell to the beloved surface parking lot at Olympic Boulevard and Grand Avenue. The arrival of construction fencing signals the start of work on the Hanover Company’s latest South Park development. Set to rise seven stories, 1000 Grand Avenue will create 274 apartment units above 12,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space. Designed by TCA Architects, the facade of the low-rise building will feature bricks salvaged from Myron’s Ballroom, an early 20th century structure which was demolished to make way for the new development.

With the first half of the bike-friendly G12 development scheduled to begin construction later this year, it’s time to take a look at 12th & Olive, the second phase of the $245 million project. Replacing the current surface parking lot at 1243 Olive Street, the new building will rise seven stories, containing 293 apartment units above 17,300 square feet of ground floor retail and restaurant space. Phase two includes 7,000 square feet of residential amenities, with the added bonus of 24⁄7 on-site concierge and valet service.

It must be a nice time to own a business that rents temporary construction fencing. Last week, a couple of Downtown parking lots were closed off, making way for new mixed-use projects on 9th Street and Olympic Boulevard. We can now add a third surface lot to that tally, as the phase one site of South Park’s G12 development is now fenced off in preparation for construction. Designed by locally-based TCA Architects, phase one will rise seven stories at the southeast corner of 12th Street and Grand Avenue.