evo arrives, paints south park green
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Walking around the South Park’s newest residential building, one really gets the sense that the South Group knows how to build a community. Sure, the real estate market has slowed to a halt, and who knows how many of these condos are truly sold, but the dream of South Park becoming a 24-7 residential hub is getting closer by the day.
Evo, holding its grand opening to the public on October 5, has delivered 311 brand new condos to the market in addition to the other 400 plus units which have all been sold in sister buildings Elleven and Luma. (The opportunity to host season six of Project Runway was missed. Producers for the show are not at liberty to say which alternate Downtown location was chosen.)
Evo is expected to receive a Silver LEED certification or higher by the Green Building Council and completes the South Group’s vision of bringing three new, environmentally-responsible residential buildings to the block bounded by Grand, 11th, Hope and 12th streets.
From the initial walk through, it looks as though most of the units will have spectacular views, at least until the next wave of parking lots gets scraped for even taller towers.
Sale prices range from about $470 per square foot to upwards of $900 per square foot. You can do the math depending on what kind of floor plan and how high of a view you require.
Over the weekend during initial preview tours, four models were available for walk-throughs. (A fully eco-conscious model concept, called “Loft-E by Vernare” [unit 611], will be featured at opening and is set to include a modern “crash pad” theme and be furnished, lit, decorated and painted with all “green” materials.)
All had functional layouts with large windows which largely occupied the entire out-facing walls, some with more than one sliding glass window or door. Generally, I did find the units in Evo had better layouts than Elleven and Luma and the interiors were more finished, less “loft style.”
Washer and dryer hookups come available in every unit, and kitchens are completely finished with every appliance. (Placement of HVAC units inside of some closets is awkward though.)
The sixth-floor pool deck is spacious with a twenty-meter lap pool, jacuzzi, bathrooms, outdoor shower and abundant surrounding couches and lounge chairs — not to mention great views of the Staples center, emerging Ritz-Carlton tower and AT&T Center.
The South Group had all of this calculated from the beginning, and they finished construction on schedule.
But what they had not predicted was the huge financial and economic catastrophe we’ve witnessed recently, along with a very real declining housing market the building is facing.
Rumors of a possible buyout from another developer or converting to rentals never actualized, so the company is taking a risk keeping their product available for sale.
Even still, like most residential projects hitting the market this year, all of Evo’s units will move eventually — bringing in new South Park residents who will help turn this once gritty, desolate part of town into something green!
-‘project runway’ execs eye evo for season 6
-evo toasts signing of new wine bar
-unofficial evo retail report, interior renderings
Evo Two-Forty Lounge (for residents) Rendering
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6 comments
the streetscape on this housing block is the best anywhere in downtown LA. Starbucks at Elleven has become a hub for students and office workers and even businessmen doing their thing. Kudos to South Group for turning this once depressing area into a vibrant upscale neighborhood.
Street parking (so cars have to naturally go a little slower), wide sidewalks, trees, benches, etc… South has really impressed me!
A beautiful building in an ugly real estate market - lets see who wins.
I hate it when people new to urbanism emphasize “views” as being blocked when other towers may be built. Never realizing that the “views” they salivate over are exactly just that, other TOWERS!
You are forced to sequester yourself in your little loft and never come downstairs to the street because the “great views” don’t match the desolate streets below because ugly parking lots are the antithesis to a healthy urban city.
So more and more developers build lone towers, like islands, surrounded by a sea of black asphalt because loser realtors continue to sell on “the views” as being the definition of what urbanism is all about. And for most who aren’t keen to the virtues of places like Manhattan or SF, a simple look outside the window is all it takes to win their poor little hearts.
Then, almost counter intuitively, these very same residents that were sold on “the city,” will be the first to voice their opposition to new towers proposed near their tower for FEAR of their precious views being “blocked.”
These same NIMBYs-in-the-making will continue to drive their cars to and from their suburban towers, never truly understanding WHY Downtown LA is different from, say, a city like Downtown Chicago. In their minds, it seems quite simple: “Downtown LA has tall buildings just like Chicago, so it should feel the same when I walk down the street!”
But it doesn’t feel the same. And they can’t seem to figure out why as they continue to fight for their deeded parking and valuable parking spaces. Never seeing the black asphalt as anything more or less than a mere necessity. All the while, raving about “the views” of other towers from their towers.
Just don’t touch my parking!
My “peanut-gallery” comments on Evo
Love the exterior architecture
I like the lobby
Not fond of common hallways being so narrow
Not much cabinet space in the kitchen
Nice finishes in the bathrooms
Nice flooring choice
Lower ceilings than Elleven and Luma
The pool deck has a great view
Nice, but I would choose Elleven or Luma over Evo.
Just an opinion
I looked at Luma and didn’t care for the layouts or lack of finish. Hopefully that’s improved at Evo. LOVE the common outdoor area. Why can’t some of these new towers offer both unfinished, more industrial lofts along with finished, apartment-style? Best of both worlds in one building. Why not?
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