And now, the conclusion of the 2013 Curbed Cup, our annual award to the Los Angeles neighborhood of the year. Because this is the most important decision of all time, the polls will be left open until noon on Thursday, January 2, at which point we will declare the winner of the coveted golden jpeg. Let the final battle begin!
It's a year that started with a prediction that the Arts District would become LA's version of New York's Meatpacking District and ended with news that a park is on the way to Hewitt Street, and in between, the Urban Radish grocery store opened: The AD is without a doubt the neighborhood to beat this year. Work on the sinewy One Santa Fe--a signature project for the neighborhood--is well underway, the huge Megatoys project returned with very pedestrian-friendly plans, as did another huge mixed-user, Barker Block is getting ready to deliver its last phase of development with lofts and townhouses, and the city announced an "iconic" new Sixth Street Viaduct (that will also include plenty of public spaces for the AD). Signature AD celebrity Vincent Gallo opened the door for button-down types when he sold his fabulous penthouse unit at the Biscuit Lofts to a Fox executive, and there are even rumors of a Soho House. Meanwhile, Bestia was the hottest restaurant of the year, beloved Stumptown and Umami both opened, and the adorable boutiques have begun to move in. On the downside, the Business Improvement District--which was responsible for trash collection, security, and PR efforts--was shut down courtesy of a lawsuit.
Ok, here's Glendale in the finals with an asterisk, having roundly defeated all opponents with the help of a little paid PR. Still, the city had a booming year: There are at least a couple thousand new apartments on the way, and a few hundred (very fancy ones) came online in 2013. The city's expanding its bike infrastructure and considering capping the 134 Freeway with a park, Disney is renovating the historic Grand Central Air Terminal, and both the Glendale Galleria and Americana at Brand have gotten big upgrades this year.
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