Steven Sharp WELCOME HOME

I was surprised to find that signs are still up for the Entrada, a 13 story Gensler designed office tower intended for a Culver City parking lot near Playa Vista. The 220 foot tall/340,000 square foot proposal from Centinela Development Partners first emerged in 2008, but has yet to show any physical signs of progress. The development was met by stiff opposition from neighbors in Culver City and Westchester, citing concerns about blocked views and increased traffic congestion.

While Jean Nouvel’s erstwhile “Green Blade,” proposal packed more architectural star power, I have grown to appreciate Handel Architects’ version of 10000 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles’ rooftop helipad ordinance is often blamed for giving the city a “bland,” skyline. However, Handel’s design for 10000 Santa Monica shows that it is possible to work around the ordinance to create dynamic shapes. The tower’s slanted rooftop and sharp angles will be unique elements in Century City’s modernist skyline.

A mixed-use development is on the way to Westwood Blvd, on a site just north of Santa Monica Blvd. Here are the details from the Department of City Planning: 1777 S WESTWOOD BLVD 90024 DEMOLITION OF A (E) RETAIL CENTER AND CONSTRUCTION OF A (N) MIXED-USE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT CONSISTING OF 71 RESIDENTIAL UNITS, A CHILDCARE FACILITY AND 6,237 SQ FT OF GROUND FLOOR COMMERCIAL I’m sure a lot of drivers will decry adding more density to traffic congested Westwood Blvd, especially with the full Purple Line extension still on the distant horizon.

While picking up some dinner at the Wood Cafe in Culver City, I noticed a forklift and a backhoe hanging out on the dirt lot across the street. Earlier this year, LA Business Journal reported (via Curbed LA) that Canadian based Bastion Development Corporation had plans for a 30 unit mixed-use building on this corner. It appears that Bastion has started prepping the site for construction of the development, now named “Olive.” I like the wood paneling, but that is one extremely loud shade of green.

A few weeks ago, Transit Coalition Forumer Gokhan linked to a Santa Monica website featuring a live construction camera for the Expo Line’s future Downtown Santa Monica Station. This location will soon become an epicenter for pedestrian activity in Santa Monica, with the Expo Line expected to carry 64,000 passengers per day by 2030. Downtown Santa Monica Station will be in close proximity to the Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Place.

Yesterday, Curbed LA broke the news that the Army Corps of Engineers had finally released their much anticipated Los Angeles River Restoration study. The report indicates that “Alternative 13,” otherwise known as the Arbor Corridor Extension (ACE), is the tentative recommendation for the project. So now that the Corps of Engineers has established a path forward, let’s see what $453 million gets us. First, some specifics on Alternative 13. ACE restores a grand total of 588 acres of land from Griffith Park through Downtown Los Angeles.

While the LA City Council just began considering legislation to entice developers to build taller in Downtown, the Vancouver based Onni Group jumped on the high-rise bandwagon months ago. Construction of their 33-story residential tower at 888 S Olive has now progressed to the third floor above ground. When complete, the 375 foot tall building will contain 283 residential units and 11,000 square feet of ground level retail. 888 Olive was designed by San Diego based Martinez + Cutri Corporation, the firm that was recently commissioned by developer Joseph Hellen to design a 40-story tower destined for Spring Street.

With all of the pieces to Little Tokyo’s Block 8 puzzle now falling into place, I decided to have a look at Avalon Bay’s contribution at the corner of 2nd and Los Angeles. Their six-story development, dubbed AVA Little Tokyo, will open in two phases. Phase 1 is scheduled for completion by late 2014, providing 104 rental apartments above 13,500 square feet of street level retail. Phase 2 will bring 176 apartments and townhouses by early 2015.

After months of speculation, the LA Downtown News reported in January that Frank Gehry’s $2 billion design for the Grand Avenue Project would not be moving forward. Now, another architectural giant will try his luck with the long stalled development. According to a document from the LA County Board of Supervisors, Robert A. M. Stern Architects (RAMSA) will be the new design architect for Phase 1A of the Grand Avenue Project.

Yesterday, the Downtown LA Neighborhood Council’s Planning and Land Use Committee posted a presentation from the developers of the Grand Metropolitan, a mixed-use project intended for a parking lot near the Blue Line’s Grand Station. Let’s check out the details: 233 W Washington Blvd The proposed Grand Metropolitan project calls for the demolition of an existing surface parking lot…to construct a 7-story, 95’9” (maximum) high mixed-use building consisting of 160 residential units (136,603 sq.