baker hotel demolition looms; ritz tower getting clad
Following up a preliminary report in early April, pending demolition of the historic Baker Apartments Hotel in South Park has taken another step forward.
Scaffolding erected around the abandoned property indicates plans for razing may be sooner than later. Built in 1913, the four-story building has been used for squad drills by the Los Angeles Fire Department since it was earmarked to come down.
No official plans have been announced for the site, although with its coveted location across from LA Live, it’s no surprise the current owner is moving forward with demolition in hopes of positioning the land (coupled with the adjoining rear surface lot) to a developer.
Meanwhile, the steel frame behemoth across the street is looking more and more like a hotel tower with each passing day. At about 20 floors up, the structure is just over one-third its anticipated height.
Glass panels are now being installed at the base along Olympic, giving us a hint of the elaborate reflective finish to come. According to the project’s architect, the curtain wall system will use numerous glass types — strategically applying color, transparency, reflectivity and frit pattern to meet California’s new Title 24 Energy requirements.
All 54-stories and much of the exterior glass are expected to be in place by the end of the year.
-scheduled demolition near la live raises questions
-two new la live hotel renderings emerge
Scaffolding now surrounds the historic Baker Apartments Hotel
Olympic Boulevard Density
Construction view from Francisco Street
Getting glass
Ritz Carlton/Marriott Hotel Rendering
Ritz Carlton/Marriott Hotel Ballroom & Cinema Structures Under Construction
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9 comments
Any word on the lovely car wash?
It’s about time that old hotel came down. That car wash next door should also be torn down as well.
Hey. I like that car wash! Hands off. ;P
Totally disagree with tornadoes, it’s a beautiful building and very sad. But with L.A. Live across the street and not many historic buildings nearby, except for Hotel Figueroa, it’s pretty much doomed. I’m not starting any petitions for this one. I do agree the car wash is ugly but needed, they should just remodel it. I went there once, they don’t do the best job, especially for the price.
I have to say that I see very little that’s beautiful about this building (maybe I’m missing something). While the structure is certainly old, that in itself does not make it worthy of historic preservation. I wouldn’t even put in the same sentence as the Hotel Figueroa next door, which remains a class act inside and out. Perhaps if the structures were better maintained I would feel differently? however the structure doesn’t seem all that interesting to me architecturally either.
In any case, the building is not the best use of the land considering the plans for area. The car wash is also a waste of space. There is no lack of car washes in Los Angeles and with the hanover tower and Concerto nearby, this will stand out like a sore thumb on a very prime corner in this up and coming district.
What about a dog park on top of the car wash, or condos . Make it unique.
I wonder what the parcel is priced at now.
I’m sure someone has harped on the irony of a massive, new cinema being built about a quarter mile west of a strip that has about 7,000 theatre seats available in settings far more (potentially) superior in experience. I still don’t believe that the Broadway theatres can’t run films. At least one of them could reopen as a movie house and make it, no?
“I still don’t believe that the Broadway theatres can’t run films. At least one of them could reopen as a movie house and make it, no?”
Lets see. Theaters with no accessible parking. Having to brave the slums of Downtown. A one-show house?
Not with the climate in the Downtown of today. The only way any of them would succeed is to either be $5.00 crapholes or to cater to uber-snobby moviegeek clientele with a customer service experience up the wazoo (and that’s not going to break any profit records).
People want huge multiplexes. They want cheap chain tickets. No way this would work.
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