Thank you for your emails and comments. Readers are welcome to submit new questions for next week at this time to la@curbed.com. We will post them on Tuesday.
1) West Hollywood: A clash of armchair architectural critics arrived at multiple conclusions as to the type of architecture shown above. Most guesses included the word Monterey, i.e. Monterey Revival, Monterey Colonial, Monterey Contrival,etc. Readers were/are/is encouraged to buy A Field Guide to American Houses (available for purchase on Amazon for $19.96) in order to better understand their confusing surroundings.
2) Silver Lake: A few comments and emails later and we have identified the mystery of Dangerbird Records on Sunset, located in the former Bungalow storefront. "It will NOT be a record store but Dangerbird headquarters: Dangerbird Records, Dangerbird Management and Dangerbird Publishing."
3) Inglewood: The consensus on the big construction/action in the Hollywood Park parking lot indicates that this is a movie set. A commenter clarifies even further: "the set is for ANGELS AND DEMONS, the prequel to THE DA VINCI CODE movie."
We've received urgent questions from fidgety readers who need to know what's happening in their hood. We're relying on you, the casual reader to provide an answer. Please leave a response in the comments or you may email us at la@curbed.com. We'll do our best to post an answer on Thursday.
1) West Hollywood: A reader needs help identifying the architectural style for the above pictured apartments. "What's up with those odd/appealing buildings on Vista St. in West Hollywood, right next to Plummer Park? There are about five in the same style, but I don't know what the style is. English? Southern Gothic? Maybe they're homes and not apartment buildings?"
2) Silver Lake: Oh. We drove by this but forgot to snap a picture. Good question. "...is there going to be a record store opening in Silver Lake? On the corner of Sunset and Lucile, an out of business furniture store is covered with a banner for Dangerbird Records, are they opening up a record store?"
3) Inglewood: Anybody been to Inglewood lately? "what's that thing they built in the parking lot of Hollywood Park?"
What a migraine this thing is: Back in May, a judge ruled that the EIR (environmental impact report) for the mixed-use, 554-unit development at 4201 Via Marina in Marina del Rey was flawed, and now the whole project has been stripped of its approvals, reports The Argonaut's Gary Walker. The project, which'll rise on the site of a 202-unit apartment building called the Del Rey Shores Apartments (that structure will be demolished), also faced opposition aka a lawsuit from a group of homeowners from the Marina Strand Colony Homeowners Association over numerous concerns, including traffic. Still, some people want this thing to go forward, just revised. And "if the Department of Regional Planning fully complies with all of the Board of Supervisors' instructions, there will be another hearing before the board for possible recertification of the EIR and possible restoration of the land use entitlements."
Fox Interactive employees, you will now pay for the political sins of Fox executive Roger Ailes by having to commute to Playa Vista. It was announced today that all of Fox Interactive's operations (which include MySpace, Fox Sports Interactive and Rotten Tomatoes) will be be moving to the Horizon commercial office at Playa Vista. All 2,000 interactive employees will work in a two-story building being designed by local architecture firm Johnson Fain. According to the press release, the firm will strive for gold LEED certification with this building.
Time to check in with the Westside super development that is Playa Vista. Construction started about five years ago; it's now 90 percent finished. 3,200 units have been built, KB Homes (one of the many developers building at Playa Vista) has completely stopped construction on its planned Runway Lofts (photo of construction site in gallery) and local architect Michael Maltzan is planning a park for the commercial area. Never been to Playa Vista? Two quotes from people to give you a sense of it: "Great place to live if you're a mom with little kids." "Like an old people's home, but for young people." This is one of three posts that'll run today. Yes, it's Playa Vista day. Brace.
It's not exactly clear when she sold it, but actress Mena Suvari listed her 2,442-square-foot three-bedroom Glyndon Avenue home in Venice for $1.795 million. And it was snatched up--purchased less than 45 days after being put on the market--despite the not entirely great photo job of the place. [Real Estalker]
"American Pie" actor Jason Biggs has sold his 1,930-square-foot house in the Hollywood Hills for $1.443 million. [Big Time Listings]
Who doesn't love themselves some good P-Diddy gossip. The latest: He is renting a $30,000/month home in the hills above West Hollywood. Notably, the home has two pools. Commenters, one of you must know this double pool home; cough up the info! [Real Estalker]
The hammering and pounding taking place on the Loyola Marymount campus is deafening, with work continuing on the $55 million, LEED Certified, William H. Hannon Library. Scheduled for completion in Summer 2009, the new facility promises 88,000 sq. ft. of learning space for the kids at LMU over three floors. The library is designed by DMJM, the architecture team behind downtown's new LAPD Headquarters. The web site for the library features a virtual fly-through set to a pumping techno beat. Vertically mounted louvers will filter light into the structure, making learning both sexy and environmentally friendly. In addition, a big Jesus cross will be placed over the circulation desk. One of the interior shots also seems to indicate the presence of a virtual fire place.
· Coming Soon: The William H. Hannon Library [Loyola Marymount]
· William H. Hannon Library [DMJM]
Thank you for your responses. Please feel free to email us at la@curbed.com if you have a question for next week. We'll also graciously accept your digital photos.
1) Westchester: The 5-story green building at 5901 Center Drive designed by Gensler appears to be moving forward. We checked the property activity report at Building & Safety and the project is clearing conditions of approval at the moment (i.e. approvals for fire hydrant placement, driveway locations, drainage, grading, etc). Out of 31 items to be cleared, they have 12 left before construction begins in full.
2) Boyle Heights: The last we had heard, the developers of the Buena Vista Lofts were fighting bankruptcy way back in 2006. The project received approvals that year, but since then not a blip or bleep. The development's web site is still up, sort of, but is password protected beyond the first screen. However, through the magic of Google we were able to locate floor plans for the project, last updated in March 2007 [download as PDF]. More fascinating is an amazing photo set on flickr from user d rod, offering a look inside the Linda Vista Hospital from January 2008. He also writes this: "The lofts were to have been on the market as of April 2007. I initially went to this location to inquire about them. At the time, there was an office with marketing information. Since then, the office has long been dismantled and the architect’s plans were left in the building."
Thank you for giving us at least one question this week. Please feel free to email us at la@curbed.com or leave a comment if you have an answer to this question submitted by an actual reader. More questions welcome for next week.
[rendering of 5901 Center Drive, Howard Hughes Center by Gensler]
1) Westchester: This is your only question of the week, LA: "Any idea on the status of the 5901 Center Drive development in Howard Hughes Center. The developer announced it was moving forward in November, and you posted the Gensler renderings on Curbed."
UPDATE: 2) Boyle Heights: Very well, then. We have a last minute question from the comments. "I Have a question- what's going on with the Buena Vista Lofts project Downtown [actually in Boyle Heights - ed.] that was profiled by Curbed a while ago? A victim of finances, or another over-extended, under-qualified developer?"
(Pictured: Lincoln Boulevard in Venice as it looks now)
The City Council has moved ahead with "community-friendly" (read: awesome) design standards for new buildings in Venice and Westchester, councilman Bill Rosendahl announced today. Expect more pedestrian-friendly, urban visages along Lincoln Boulevard from the Santa Monica border to Maxella Avenue, and on Manchester Avenue in Westchester. The Community Design Overlay districts (CDOs) will set new guidelines for future developments, like enforcing new buildings to be constructed closer to sidewalks, forcing parking lots to be underground or hidden in the back, putting ground-floor retail in parking lot structures, and making sure 60% of new storefront space consists of windows. There's also a lot of tree planting and a designation that upper floors of buildings should have design features like columns and balconies; sculptures and landscaping are also encouraged. Drive-thru businesses will be banned, except for gas stations and car washes. Whoa—can we get this citywide?
About Curbed LA
From the studio lots to the downtown lofts. From the beachfront bungalows to the canyon views. From the south bay to the valley, from the westside to the eastside—Curbed LA covers our sense of place, and the neighborhoods we call home. Read more about Curbed LA...
Comments
