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News today on two major Downtown Los Angeles projects: Medallion breaks ground and the Zen Tower lives! Where would I be without the forums? News of the project updates today comes from petescafe and steve2726.

The Medallion project has broken ground (click for tractor/dirt photos!), just a couple days off the Downtown News’s July 15 “official date.” I was down there on Sunday hoping for any sign of LA City Councilperson, news crew, developer, or Villaraigosa in a hardhat and golden shovel, but alas, I was disappointed.

Way back in June the Building Trades News gave us a little more info on the Zen project. The only real rendering I’ve seen to date and it’s in black-and-white. How dreary. Pfft. Groundbreaking expected in January 2008. Designs by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.

About 10,000 square feet of retail is planned including a high-end convenience store. A slender, Asian-inspired glass-tower structure will feature condos with an outdoor garden or sunroom. A large roof garden or balcony will overlook downtown. When completed, the project will be one of the tallest residential building (sic) in downtown. The outdoor garden, pool, and health club will be open to the public.

“High-end convenience store”? One word: Famima!!

At 330 residential units and 50 stories, Zen will no longer be the tallest residential building in Downtown Los Angeles, as Park Fifth will be taller.