Comments on: a ‘hole’ lot of nothing: civic center project’s price tag rises

By: Nico

Nico — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:06:39 +0000

Yeah! I know it’s being way naive, but it just seems ridiculous that it is so hard to just flatten the grade, plant some grass with some sprinklers, and put a fence around it and close it down at dusk. I mean, just a big flat grassy area..?? Maybe a couple of trees? Is that so crazy and/or difficult?

And Rich—re: the Times layoffs, I’m laughing, but ouch, that hurt..haha.

By: skidrowdude

skidrowdude — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:28:44 +0000

I really wish they’d open that space up as a park- nothing fancy, but we all know it will be years before anything is done now. Look at the nearby space north of 1st, between Spring and Broadway; that would be a perfect, simple dog park with a little fencing. Right now it’s just a skateboarder’s paradise, and nothing is getting done there either. Come on you government hacks- do something with these large unused spaces, if even on a temporary basis.

By: Vero Queero

Vero Queero — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:57:01 +0000

I like the temporary park idea, especially with the unused Quimby fees. So what if it’s dug up in 5 years and the money is “lost”, it will be enjoyed in the meantime and the money’s going to be lost anyway. I also like Ken H.’s suggestion, bid it for less & downsize it.

By: milquetoast

milquetoast — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 08:03:55 +0000

The one here in Vegas is similar, and slightly smaller. L. A.’s should actually be bigger than the rendering.

By: Ken H

Ken H — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:59:32 +0000

Why can’t the federal government put out a bid for architects to redesign a building within the $314 million figure…(since that dollar amount has already been appropriated)….and then build it?…If it has to be smaller than originally envisioned, then so be it…that way we could live within our budget AND get the facility built. Why does it have be the largest the country??…I would think that even a medium sized courthouse that actually gets built and used would be much more of a benefit to the court system and the public than an unrealistic “pie in the sky” proposal that never gets built. The existing courthouse could also be renovated as well to add capacity.
Am I being too simplistic about this??

By: Rich Alossi

Rich Alossi — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:50:10 +0000

^ Though to be fair, the Grand Avenue park already has a parking garage underneath it.

And with all the layoffs over at the Times, I’m sure they can afford to open their garage up to the public =)

By: LAofAnaheim

LAofAnaheim — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:48:31 +0000

Scott - I’ll ask you the develish question every Angeleno loves to ask “but, where do people park?”.

Don’t truly answer that, it’s a rhetorical question. Just a question that bugs the heck out of me. Heck, Grand Avenue park will have a parking garage underneath as well.

By: Scott Mercer

Scott Mercer — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:43:46 +0000

Yeah, a temporary delay in building. Like that “temporary” parking structure across from Disney Hall that was built in 1969, when I was 4. I am middle aged now. Temporary, my foot.

Build a park there. (And don’t put parking underneath it, like Pershing Square did, huh?)

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:28:00 +0000

What to do with the hole? How about they line it with all the old, unused parking meters they’re replacing around town? Then name it “Not a Parking Lot” (as with the “Not a Cornfield” park).

By: Rich Alossi

Rich Alossi — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:02:02 +0000

Quimby as a program is pretty impractical. I don’t know of any candidate sites that the city can afford with the funds they have available to them. Maybe in 20 years the Downtown-area fund will have enough to purchase a small plot somewhere in the Industrial District.

And still, this courthouse project is probably not going to happen for a long, long time, so what do we do in the meantime?