Posts WELCOME HOME

Imagining the Future of Parker Center

A report from the Bureau of Engineering has shed new light on the city’s proposal to build a new municipal office building on the site of Parker Center, the one time headquarters of the Los Angeles Police Department. The city has been exploring the possibility of demolishing the mid-1950s building since 2006, when the LAPD was on the verge of relocating to the new Police Administration Building on Spring Street. The process culminated in 2014, when staff recommended that the city demolish eight-story structure and replace it with a high-rise office building.

New Details and an Updated Look for Crossroads Hollywood

A proposed high-rise hotel and condominium complex in Hollywood could be one of the first beneficiaries of a new California law intended to speed the construction of large developments. Crossroads Hollywood, a $1-billion proposal from Harridge Development Group, has been submitted to the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research as a potential “Environmental Leadership Development Project.“ This designation, limited to proposals budgeted at $100 million or more, requires the project to pay prevailing wages to construction workers and meet targets for renewable energy use and carbon emissions.

Talking About the Civic Center's FAB Park

Nearly six months after our look at four competing visions for Downtown’s First and Broadway Park, the City of Los Angeles officially declared the design team of Mia Lehrer + Associates, the Office of Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and IDEO as the winner. The two-acre FAB Park, budgeted at $28 million, will rise from a vacant lot in the heart of the Civic Center. The property was previously home to a state office building, which was demolished due to earthquake damage in 1976.

Two More Towers for Koreatown

Local real estate firm Jamison Services is continuing its multifamily residential building spree, with yet another mixed-use development planned in Koreatown. Yesterday, the company filed plans with the City of Los Angeles to construct two high-rise buildings adjacent to the Wilshire Financial Tower, an early 1960s office complex at 3600 Wilshire Boulevard. The proposed development would start with the demolition of the building’s parking garage, followed by the construction of two 23-story towers featuring a combined 760 dwelling units above roughly 6,400 square feet of street-level commercial space.

Webcam Tracks Contruction of Banc of California Stadium

Last month, Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club officially broke ground on its new stadium in Exposition Park. Now, the team wants Angelenos to watch its $350-million home take form. A live camera perched in Exposition Park is currently capturing the demolition of the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the historic but dilapidated structure which must make way for the LAFC project. After crews have finished tearing down the mid-20th century building, construction will officially commence for the 22,000-seat replacement venue, which will be known as the Banc of California Stadium.

Luxe Hotel Redevelopment Takes Another Step Forward

A new environmental report offers up additional details on Shenzhen Hazens Real Estate Group’s proposed redevelopment of the Luxe Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. The L-shaped property at 1020 S. Figueroa Street, currently developed with a mid-rise hotel and associated parking lot, is located directly across the street from Staples Center and the L.A. Live complex. Under plans from the Chinese developer, the existing structures would be demolished for a trio of high-rise towers featuring hotel rooms and condominiums above approximately 80,000 square feet of commercial space.

Apartments Wrapping Up in North Hollywood

In North Hollywood, construction is nearing completion for a mixed-use development just west of Lankershim Boulevard. The project, located at 11424 W. Burbank Boulevard, consists of a five-story structure offering 124 apartments, 750 square feet of ground-floor retail space and parking accommodations for 138 vehicles and 136 bicycles. According to architectural drawings by Alan Boivin indicate that the building will feature a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as a business center and a swimming pool.

Revised Plan Emerges for Arts District Project

Real estate firm Bolour Associates is revising its proposal for a mixed-use development in the Arts District. Yesterday, the Beverly Hills-based firm filed updated plans with the City of Los Angeles for a 1.34-acre property at 527 S. Colyston Street. According to a case filing from the Department of City Planning (LADCP), the project would consist would feature 310 residential condominiums, 11,375 square feet of retail space, 11,700 square feet of production space and a 394-car garage.

Cladding Goes up at Hollywood's Kimpton Hotel

After nearly one year of construction, exterior work is in full swing for Hollywood’s Argyle Hotel. Located at 1800 N. Argyle Avenue, the project consists of a 16-story hotel featuring 220 guest rooms, restaurant space, and ancillary features such as meeting rooms, a swimming pool and a parking garage. The 184-foot tall building is being designed by San Diego-based ACRM Architects and developed by the Robert Green Co. City records indicate that San Francisco-based Kimpton Hotels has signed on to operate the hotel.

Residential-Retail Complex Slated for Sherman Way

Later this week, the Los Angeles City Planning Commission is scheduled to review plans for a mixed-use complex in Reseda. The proposed development, slated for the southeast corner of Sherman Way and Etiwanda Avenue, would consist of two four-story buildings featuring 115 residential units, approximately 10,500 square feet of retail space and a 228-car garage. Floor plan diagrams on file with the Department of City Planning (LADCP) indicate that the project would offer a mixture of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, as well as swimming pools and rooftop decks.