Comments on: ‘park 101′ vision downtown’s next big thing

By: Everyman

Everyman — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:09:29 +0000

Why does their need to be a mixed-use component to this project at all? The private development community has more projects on the books in downtown than there is market demand for already and downtown deperatetly needs open space and a large public gathering place. While the costs of the park can be off-set by selling off development rights, there could be other ways of monitizing the property. The City could tranfer the development rights created by the airspace to other parts of the Downtown, just as was down with the central Library. The City also has millions in Quimby fees collected from Downtown projects looking for a home.

By: tornadoes28

tornadoes28 — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:30:15 +0000

You don’t think that exhaust and ventilation would be thoroughly thought of and designed? Come on people. That is a basic engineering and construction topic that is not even worth discussing. Think of all the tunnels around the world including New York thattravel long distances under the rivers.

I am interested in the proposal of the towers.

By: ortho-fraancis

ortho-fraancis — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:23:25 +0000

I know that much longer tunnels have been built, but after having lived in NYC and other places, none of them have
the horrendous traffic that L.A. has + the heat+ the air pollution problem.
That’s just for traffic issues - the dang will also have to be engineered for a 8-8.5 earthquake too. This will be $$$$, and in a recession = not going to happen for a long time.

The 101 on that section ALWAYS has a back up, seven days a week.

Anyway - what will happen to the streets that now cross the 101 - how do they fit inthe park, or will they be covered too?

Having said all that, I would certainly like to be ON TOP in the park though - just count me out of traveling thru that “little hell” in the future.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:38:52 +0000

Benjamin has some valid points and they need to be included in any discussion of this project. As much as we’d love a park atop the freeway, there are serious issues regarding exhaust, fire safety, lighting, emergency evacuation, and terrorism.

Traffic mitigation measures must be included, as well, because this project is not just about covering a freeway but also about creating a destination (read: more traffic).

I remain in support of the concept but I think its cost and complexity will grow as we begin to tackle the details.

By: David

David — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 08:13:53 +0000

im all for it. i just want to know how tall the skyscraper will be. it looks like it will be between the Cathderal and Mark Taper Auditourium. So does that mean the proposed 10 story storage building for the music center is canceled?

By: Benjamin Pezzillo

Benjamin Pezzillo — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:48:07 +0000

Both the Holland Tunnel and the Chunnel control the flow of inbound traffic — wanna try that on the 101 near the 4-level? Neither the Holland Tunnel or Chunnel would likely survive an 8.0 — another anticipatable event. Of the two, only the Chunnel was ever designed with counterterrorism issues in mind.

I’m not opposed to the park..I’m actually interested in seeing how it would be engineered — the next step from design to reality. Mine isn’t a perspective of can it be built, but questions about how to actually build it.

By: Faramond

Faramond — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:03:46 +0000

Ben: if France and England can build a 30-mile rail tunnel under the English channel, if the Norway can build a 15-mile car tunnel, then L.A. can surely cover a one-mile trench. We’ve had the technology to do this for decades. New York City completed the far more challenging Holland tunnel in 1927!

By: In Venice

In Venice — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:59:50 +0000

A HUGE undertaking - yes. There are many variables and obstacles to overcome. But If Boston engineers can bury their freeways in the “Big Dig” we can surely cover ours.

By: Benjamin Pezzillo

Benjamin Pezzillo — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 02:48:29 +0000

The proposed 101 park is nearly twice the length of Hance Park in Phoenix and would create about three times the acreage.

By: Dennis Smith

Dennis Smith — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 01:20:29 +0000

A similar tunnel, completed in 1990 and functioning well since then is the Papago Freeway Tunnel in downtown Phoenix. It is a half mile long twin tube tunnel through which ten lanes of Interstate 10 travel underneath a large municipal park that was built on the roof that covers the freeway.

Hint to the mayor: The park is named Margaret Taylor Hance Park after the Phoenix mayor that championed the funding and construction of the tunnel. Kinda like that Tom Bradley Terminal at LAX you’ve been walking through so often lately.