That big gray ship cresting over South Park is, of course, part of entertainment center L.A. Live, and specifically, the ESPN Center. As previously covered, the ESPN Center will offer a "regional headquarters and sports entertainment venue in a unique 120,000 square foot broadcast studio that will be the home for a number of live and taped programs," according to a press release on L.A. Live developer AEG's web site. Since one side of the building has plenty of glass windows, will this building be similar to the fish bowl television studios of New York's Times Square? If so, hello Mom! On the southwest-facing side (across from the car wash, and pictured above), it appears there will be no windows, but plenty of colorful advertisements. Additionally, there will be restaurants, sports bars, and retail on this side. [Renderings via LALive.com]
· Construction Watch: Downtown's LA Live [Curbed LA]
· ESPN coming downtown [LAObserved]
"Iron Man" director and Queens native Jon Favreau included his love of 40's era kitsch in Swingers, and now Favreau once again sends a love letter (a hyperactive, blow-shit-up love letter) to Los Angeles in his latest movie. Disney Hall plays a prominent role in one scene, and the now-sold Santa Monica Ferris Wheel makes a cameo in another. Tony Stark's (Robert Downey Jr.'s character) home exterior is in Point Dume overlooking the Pacific. Interiors were shot on a sound stage, but did anyone notice more than a passing resemblance to Lautner's Elrod House in Palm Springs? BuildingLobbySpotter: Cloverfield Destruction Hits LA Lobby [Curbed LA]
As part of its opening hoopla today, the Americana at Brand is leading potential buyers through hard hat tours of its Excelsior condominiums. The 100 units are still under construction, but this is the finished unit they're showing off--it's a 1,700 square foot, 2-bedroom that's listed for $1.024 million. The leader of the tour noted that the windows have sound-proofing to entirely muffle all outside sounds. The tour guide also dropped some more information about that fancy concierge service: Apparently, they will dutifully do such chores as send birthday cards to your family members every year if you give them the dates. (That was the example given.) Overheard #1 on the tour: "Nice, but that's expensive." Overheard #2: "This is like Vegas living." Overheard #3: "The elevator is too small."
· Americana At Brand: Inside the Excelsior Sales Office [Edit]
Well, this would explain the recent layoffs at Gehry Partners. A source tells Curbed that architect Frank Gehry's firm has purchased three buildings in an industrial part of El Segundo. The unconfirmed chatter: Frank Gehry is moving offices! The Golden Boy leaving Los Angeles proper! Architect Gehry, behind Disney Hall and the forthcoming but delayed Grand Avenue project, currently has offices at 12541 Beatrice Street. And as noted last week, the rumor mill is that at least 20 people were laid off from the firm. Background on El Segundo: It's south, near LAX, and was voted a very nice place to live last year by Money magazine.
· CurbedWire: Big Bloodbath at Frank Gehry Partners? [Curbed LA]
· FOGA [Official Site]
We've snagged the latest renderings of Little Tokyo's San Pedro Apartments, designed by Thomas P. Cox Architects and developed by Related Cos. (of recent Grand Avenue Project fame). As part of the larger Block 8 project -- the last remaining large parcel in Little Tokyo -- the 230-unit structure will eventually be joined by three other buildings and a vehicle-and-pedestrian retail promenade. Also included are construction photos, a rendering of the adjacent Matsu development by AvalonBay and a site plan.
Though Related's grand plans up on Bunker Hill may be stalled for another year, the developer is keeping its head down and nose clean: Construction is moving along briskly and is now above ground level. The development schedule calls for a spring 2009 completion.
· Downtown's San Pedro Project Soldiers On [Curbed LA]
· The Dirt Starts Moving in Little Tokyo [Curbed LA]
This home has a few interesting interior details, but some rather disappointing Pottery Barn-inspired furniture, so it's hard to tell what happened here. Can this Spanish remodel be saved? Located at 866 Westbourne Drive, it's a two bedroom, three-bath "Spanish in highly desirable neighborhood on a corner lot that is hedged for complete privacy." Hedged in will cost you $1.2 million.
· 866 Westbourne Drive [Redfin]
· 866 Westbourne [Official Site]
Courtesy of Dodgers web site, the newest look at the forthcoming changes coming to Dodgers stadium. As previously mentioned this morning, the stadium is getting a $500 million upgrade that focuses on the perimeter of the stadium, such as planting 2,000 trees and adding a landscaped grand plaza. Architecture firms Johnson Fain and HKS are behind the three component plan, which notably includes building a "Green Necklace" around the stadium. Green as in sustainable, people. The project is expected to be completed by opening day of the 2012 season. More from this morning's press conference later.
After all the hopeful talk that some interesting items might be found at the bottom of the Silver Lake Reservoir after its cancer-ridding draining, it was disappointing when nothing was discovered. Give us something! Well, this just in: City Council President Eric Garcetti recently climbed into the giant bathtub and found a golf ball. Hoping for more, Curbed asked his press secretary if there was anything else Garcetti found. She emails: "There were some bones, most likely birds eaten by coyotes. There were some coyote and raccoon tracks. Other than that, not much else." [LACityCD13]
The sales office for the prettiest downtown building of them all--The Brockman---will open in June on the building's 11th floor, the sales manager for the project tells Curbed. Located at 530 W. Seventh, the 1921 Beaux Arts building is the latest downtown adaptive re-use project to come to market, offering 80 units ranging from 780-2,100 square feet. Prices will start in the low 400,000s for the units, while one unit will be available in the $300,000s. And prices top out at $1.2 million. There's a gym on the rooftop of the Annex building, the smaller, adjoining building, while there will also be two "spas." The gym's entrance and spas--and details of the building's exterior-- can be seen in the gallery. Those windows are lovely, but may not be for everyone.
· Curbed Wire: Downtown's Brockman Shows Leg, Solair's Planned Retail [Curbed LA]
With a new security detail at 1100 Wilshire, the famous pool party scene (that shot above is from last summer) may be in jeopardy. Via the InBox: "The new security team at 1100 has cracked down. Last night a homeowner hosted a USC "club meeting" and exceeded the pool deck's limit per the HOA rules. About 80 people were there--I hear they reserved the private bbq area, but it has a 40-something limit. Within 30 mins of a homeowner calling the front desk to complain about the noise, the pool deck was cleared, down to every last red cup.
The looks on the students faces were priceless as the homeowner security committee representatives and guards told them "You are in violation of the building rules and must clear the deck within 30 mins or the police would be called". Alcohol can't be served on the deck without an insurance rider. You can drink on the deck, but can't serve from the deck without insurance, and minors can never drink on the deck. So, with all the underage drinking the students made the smart choice and left without incident. They even cleaned up."
· 1100 Wilshire's Poolside Scene [Curbed LA]
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After all the hopeful talk that some interesting items might be found at the 
