la live phase iii sees notable progress, glass preview
It’s difficult to believe that less than three years ago the quarter-mile stretch of Olympic from Figueroa to the 110 Freeway ran alongside one of Downtown’s largest asphalt parking lots.
Of course, today, no one can imagine South Park (or Downtown) without LA Live and its advantages as an infill project, whether you agree with its appeal to the masses or not.
As the steel framing for the hotel ballroom facilities and 14-screen Regal cinemas concludes and the Ritz Carlton tower surpasses 26 stories, the full impact of LA Live’s third phase on the streetscape is now more evident than ever.
Also, enough of the “scattered” glass facade is now visible on the tower’s base to give a clear sample of what’s to come.
-Olympic Boulevard Construction Photo Set
-baker hotel demolition looms; ritz tower getting clad
-la live phase iii: progress on ballrooms, cinemas, marriott details
Club Nokia Building at Figueroa and Olympic
Club Nokia Building along Olympic
Hotel ballrooms structure and Regal Cinemas under construction
Regal Cinemas under construction
Hotel ballrooms structure under construction
Ritz Carlton / JW Marriott Hotel base, north elevation
Ritz Carlton / JW Marriott Hotel base, northwest corner
Hotel glass facade detail
Ritz Carlton / JW Marriott under construction
22 comments
That Club Nokia building looks nice. I wish It was not going to be covered in banner ads, however by the top and bottom lighting on the facade I am pretty sure we will be seeing Will Smith and Jack Black up there soon. Cant wait until its all done and in full swing.
It is absolutely crazy to see the Ritz’ steel frame looming over Nokia theater. A few months ago it wasn’t that tall but now it’s changing the skyline of that area. Totally unrecognizable compared to 7-8 years ago!
Not “the Times Square of LA” by a wide margin. It’ll be LA’s own thing. People will enjoy it.
will there be ground floor retail along Olympic in the Theatre? it would extend the synergy all the way along that stretch. It wouldve been maybe more urban to build a hotel or residential building and have the theatre at the lower levels with g/f retail. just wishful thinking
Love it!
Olympic, Figueroa, that hole area needs to have space for retail and restaurants for the mass of people that will be there on game day or when there is a convention or show. That will make it more vibrant and attract not just tourists but angelenos and the usual street performers as well.
This progess is amazing – but this is only phase 3? How many phases are there??
This is the last phase, but hopefully they can add a few more in the future.
raymond – there is no shopping facilities/retail in la live – it is a sports and entertainment facility – including restaurants.
Seb – there is going to be a 30,000 sf. ESPN restaurant for families and the masses plus a number of upscale restaurants for fine dining. Plus there is Pantry and Liberty Grill within walking distance.
la central is designed to be a retail/shopping development and will bring additional restaurants as well. Its not a matter of if la central will be built – its a matter of when. As soon as the credit cruch eases and financing becomes available – la central will being. Until then we all need to be patient and enjoy what we will have for sure – la live!!
^^^^DTLA, u misread what i was saying, I was asking would there be g/f retail in the Theater building along Olympic the one that is in the photo. I know about the no retail situation already!
No retail in la live including the theater building – that is the plan as it stands right now.
I agree with Raymond it would have been better if they built a condo tower or hotel over the cinemas. Eventually over the years that area is going to need more hotels, and it’s going to be too late then, unless they reinforse the walls to build more floors above. The same for the ESPN zone it’s very nice but like you said raymond it would give it a more urban experience if there is office space or condos or a hotel above that as well.
Responding to DTLA: that is very disapointing that their is not going to be any retail along Olympic, with the Cinemas their and the future Concerto and other planned developments, they should have retail along with more restaurants .
What about Figueroa, are they going to have any street front retail there or is it going to be the side wall of the ESPN zone only? The restaurants that are tucked away inside the development is not good enough, they need street front restaurants like they are doing in restaurant row.
I know DTLA that you don’t like to hear negative things about developments but I’m doing this just to throw my opinion and hopefully their are developers reading this blog, and can respond to the peoples needs, and wants. Besides this is what usually happens when a hotel, restaurant, or development gets built, they want to hear both positive and negative feedbacks, and get suggestions to be able to accomodate everybody and make it a better place.
Flemmings is going to be on the corner of olympic and fig and will have outdoor seating on both sides. Not sure if espn will have outdoor seating on fig. Other than that we will have to wait for the north side of olympic and east side of fig (la central) to develop before we get additional hotel/retail/restaurants – which will be the case indeed when those sides do develop. As for building over the theaters or espn/grammy buildings – it is limited by the what zoning/air rights/density allows for that block. AEG pritty much maxed it out with what they are developing already.
Seb – I appreciate your comment and understanding. I know we all (well most of us anyway =) want the best for downtown – that is why we check these posts. I am all for informed and positive criticism that leads to a better environment for us to live in. It’s just disheartening to read when someone just bags on downtown for just the hell of it – especially when it is easy to tell that they haven’t been to downtown in a very long time and probably never will in the future. As I have said before – there is a place for everyone – and downtown is not for everyone.
I thought they sold air rights or did something of that matter to build higher in that area, or is it only the convention center. What do they have planned over the convenion center? Doesn’t make sense when the Ritz is going up 54 floors, and they can’t go higher then what they did for the ESPN zone, Cinemas, and Grammy museum.
The sale of the convention center air rights was approved after la live was well under construction. I suppose someday someone could go back and buy additional rights to build higher but that would be cost prohibative at this point. I assume there are no plans to build over the convention center since its air right are up for sale.
So your saying when the construction started they maxed out the air rights with the hotel, but now the city approved additional rights and in the future if a developer wants, they can develop something over the cinemas, ESPN, or Grammy Museum??
They would 1st have to buy additional air-rights – so theoratically – yes…..practically – probably no.
Has anyone heard if Trader Vic’s is one of the Restaurants ?
Fidel:
I’m keeping a close eye on that one. You’ll see it here before anywhere else