nikkei center plan selected for little tokyo’s mangrove parcel
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Earlier this year a request for proposal (RFP) meeting was held for a development team to secure the right to develop the city-owned ten-acre Mangrove parcel. The long-vacant site sits at the northeast corner of First and Alameda streets in Little Tokyo.
Three teams presented distinct ideas for the property: The Nikkei Center, a mid-rise, mixed-use development with a “friendship garden”; an unnamed model by Niemann Properties focusing on residents of the Arts District; and the Tokyo Artpark Crossing, a massive project led by Portland-based Williams & Dame.
Out of the three teams, the Nikkei Center was recommended for approval by the Office of the Chief Legislative Analyst, according to Little Tokyo UnBlogged, and the project now heads to the City Council for approval. Information on a development timeline and funding are unavailable at this time.
Nikkei Center would provide 390 apartment units (20% affordable), 80,000 square feet of Japanese-themed retail, 166,500 square feet of office space and 1,286 parking slots. Design work is being handled by the Jerde Partnership, and past experience includes much in Japan: Tokyo’s Roppongi Hills development, Riverwalk Kitakyushu and Canal City Hakata in Fukuoka. (Click links for images)
The Mangrove parcel is located in the center of a changing area of Downtown: the Eastside extension of the Gold Line sits on the edge of the site and should open for service next year; the city’s new fire station and Emergency Operations Center are nearly complete; and a residential renaissance has occurred on surrounding blocks. Nikkei Center would be a vital part of the ongoing evolution of the neighborhood.
While the submissions led by three teams all had merit and individual qualities, it was the team that performed the most outreach beforehand that won the day, highlighting the importance of working together with the community in key development areas.
Nikkei Center is a partnership between the Little Tokyo Service Center, Kaji & Associates, the Jerde Partnership and Urban Partners.
-mangrove parcel infill proposals would redefine little tokyo
-Nikkei Center Team Wins City Competition (Little Tokyo Unblogged)
12 comments
I’m not sure what to be happier about — the Nikkei Center team getting selected or knowing that someone’s reading Little Tokyo UnBlogged!
Roppongi Hills is amazing. It’s very very cool to think the same team that created RH is now going to be working in Little Tokyo.
Jerde is a little hit and miss. Sometimes their stuff is over the top. I hope this one works out well.
is it even possible for a tokyo themed project to be over the top?
Hmm, over the top sounds intriguing. Homage to Godzilla? Life-size replica. Little boys can only dream.
Jerde Over the top: Universal City Walk
Jerde Boring: Horton Plaza in San Diego
Jerde OK: West Hollywood Gateway
Take a look at their projects at http://www.jerde.com/projects/
If City Walk can get a King Kong, I want a Godzilla! A friend of mine has been advocating for a two-story-tall Godzilla in Little Tokyo. Think big, realllly big =)
Let’s hope it is Japanese over the top. None of the projects Bert reference do anything for me. I vaguely recall Jerde did 7th & Fig. Oh boy. Well, if theis project can attract City Walk or Horton Plaza crowds, I might not care too much. Let’s hope for the best.
One this Godzilla tangent, I wonder why the JANM doesn’t do an exhibit on Godzilla or host an annual film festival? That would be fun and, I suspect, wildly popular. Might be a good way to test out the life-size replica idea. Yes, there needs to be a Godzilla wing to the JANM.
Godzilla topiary at Alameda and 1st to greet the MTA’s regional connector trains emerging from the subway.
Godzilla is so obvious a choice. How about Gamera instead?!!
I prefer Mothra. But that’s just me.
King Gheeeedora!