LABeauty, who works at a downtown Bid (I think) just said that LA Live will break ground on Sept 15th!!

LABeauty, who works at a downtown Bid (I think) just said that LA Live will break ground on Sept 15th!!

with new Hilton Hotel? :|

yup!

yup!

WOW!!! :eek2: :eek2:

How much ft. on height for Hilton Hotel?

can't wait.

This will be weird seeing construction.

This will be weird seeing construction.
Yea man, especially since you can see it from the 110 rising way up in a year or so!

Whooo!!

:dance:

here is the article just posted on LAdowntownnews.com. exciting stuff.

LA Live to Break Ground Sept. 15

Officials Also Clear Way for Hundreds of Housing Units to Rise Near Staples

by Kathryn Maese

The $1 billion sports and entertainment district known as LA Live will break ground Sept. 15, development and city officials told Los Angeles Downtown News last week. At the high-profile event, some key retail tenants and operators will be revealed.
The long-awaited LA Live sports and entertainment district next to Staples Center will break ground next month, with project officials announcing new tenants and details on the $1 billion plan. Rendering courtesy of AEG.

Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), which owns Staples Center and is spearheading the adjacent LA Live, would not comment on the details of next month's groundbreaking. However, project officials have long said the first phase of the development would include the 7,100-seat Nokia Theatre, as well as the Nokia Plaza and some underground parking. Observers also hope it will mark the beginning of construction for the 1,200-room Convention Center hotel.

"They are going to start construction on the entire LA Live development, which means starting with the underground parking and service entries," said Lillian Burkenheim, a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) project manager. "Over the next few months we will see a whole variety of actions taking place to move LA Live forward."

One of those steps occurred last Thursday when the CRA and the city Planning Department cleared the way for developers within the entertainment district master plan to begin construction of hundreds of housing units. Among the projects is a group of units being developed by AEG between Figueroa, Flower, 12th and Pico. The Hanover Company has been waiting on the city approvals to close escrow on a purchase, and will now move ahead with a 156-unit apartment tower at 1717 W. Olympic Blvd.

City requirements dictate that AEG include a 20% affordable housing component in the project. To meet that, AEG has given $8 million to the YWCA to develop a new campus for their Job Corps facilities and 200 two-bedroom apartments for very low-income program participants. The seven-story, $43 million structure will rise on the block bounded by 12th, Pico, Figueroa and Flower. An additional $2 million CRA grant helped acquire the land.

Separately, Williams and Dame, part of the South Group that is developing 1,700 units in the area, has purchased land from AEG to build housing, as did the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, which is constructing a nearby student residential complex.

"This [decision] clears the way for them to proceed," said Michael Roth, an AEG spokesman. "Nothing is minor in this project. It's another important step in the process."

The CRA board is expected to vote on the Convention Center hotel plan Sept. 1, and if approved, the measure will head to City Council. The $350 million Hilton hotel would be topped by 100 luxury condos on floors 45 to 55. The structure being developed by New York-based Wolff Urban Development could take three years to complete.

Funding for the hotel had been a sticking point until last year, when developer Lew Wolff stepped in to build the facility. Now, the final details of a city incentives package are being hammered out including a $20 million loan, infrastructure improvements, fee waivers and a proposal to exempt the hotel owners from a 14% bed tax that other hotels pay. The exemption could be worth up to $100 million over 20 years.

"I've been preoccupied with the funding process for the hotel," said Michael Collins, executive vice president of LA Inc, the city's convention and visitors bureau. "If it's not completely done by Sept. 15, then it will be close to it. There has been enormous pressure placed on getting this hotel up and running."

Other notable elements include the Nokia Theatre, a $90 million venue that will host more than 100 events a year such as concerts, award shows and short-run productions. A 15-screen movie theater complex to be run by the Regal Entertainment Group will rise on Olympic Boulevard next to the 110 Freeway; the largest theater will seat 700 people. In all, 4,000 underground parking spaces will be built.

While construction is underway on LA Live, a new parking garage on the southwest corner of Georgia and 11th streets will be built to accommodate Staples Center visitors, Burkenheim said.

AEG has been exploring plans to create the 4 million-square-foot development since even before the arena opened in 1999. City and tourism officials say the addition of a Convention Center hotel will help attract larger conventions and bolster the flagging industry. While the linchpin in the project will be the hotel, Collins said the surrounding entertainment and retail venues are linked to that structure's success.

"In order to prosper, the hotel has to draw all kinds of business," he said. "The Convention Center will supply a large portion of that volume, but by no means all of it.... LA Live provides the context in which a major new hotel could prosper. The connection is inextricable."

Contact Kathryn Maese at kathryn@downtownnews.com.

page 1, 8/22/2005

more good news, it'd rock if they built that Nokia building

A parking garage for Staples Center? Wow, traffic is going to be even worse before and after the games. All the more reason to take the blue line to get there.

lol... who remembers that stupid riot that happened after Lakers won?

lol... who remembers that stupid riot that happened after Lakers won?

I do But i dont think its funny
A few idiots representing L.A. in the worst way....
and destroying public property!

NApoleon Dinamyte..... Gosh... Idiots :)

Imagen what would happen if the LAkers lost..

Well one things for sure, i've seen Smith & Emory at the site, this week, (these are the guy's that drill soil samples, for foundation engeering and sismic.) so as they say it's all the way "live".
Buy the way, who is the architect? on this


And a footnote: PCL construction has a tower crane up next to the International tower, (9th and Flower) i assume this to be the 36 story residental tower with the skygarden's on three levels,

Thats three cranes up ...................and counting!!!!!!!! (in the words of Klingon captain, Kor "it will be glorious!!!".)

Well one things for sure, i've seen Smith & Emory at the site, this week, (these are the guy's that drill soil samples, for foundation engeering and sismic.) so as they say it's all the way "live".
Buy the way, who is the architect? on this


And a footnote: PCL construction has a tower crane up next to the International tower, (9th and Flower) i assume this to be the 36 story residental tower with the skygarden's on three levels,

Thats three cranes up ...................and counting!!!!!!!! (in the words of Klingon captain, Kor "it will be glorious!!!".)
Yeah I remember walking around there back when the X-Games was going on. I hope they really do build some fast food joints under these projects, because DTLA is SERIOUSLY lacking in good places that people know. I mean, I had to walk all the way down to Grand Ave. just to find a Subway resturant. C'mon, at least some walk up places. What DTLA needs are a few places where you can walk in, grab a cinnamon bun, catch up on the news, and leave. I mean, Manhattan has resturants at every corner form what I've seen. Downtown LA needs to have a more open feeling.

That's great, any pics or renderings?

Don't worry, when that part of town is built out, anemitys of any kind will be found.

http://www.downtownnews.com/content/articles/2005/09/05/front/photo3.jpg
Check out whats on d0wntown news

Thursday, September 8, 2005

CRA Approves Convention Center Hotel

LA Live's $412 Million Tower To Break Ground by October 2006

by Kathryn Maese

The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) board last Thursday approved a $16 million loan to develop the 1,100-room Convention Center hotel. The green light is the final step before a City Council vote later this month.


The city last week approved a $16 million loan for the Convention Center hotel, a key element of the LA Live entertainment district. Rendering by Gensler.
The $412 million hotel is expected to rise on the west side of the Staples Center parking lot as part of the $1 billion LA Live entertainment district being developed by Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). The hotel has long been cited as key to reviving the city's flagging convention industry, which has plummeted from more than 30 major bookings annually to 14 this year.

The CRA approval caps a nearly 20-year planning process for the hotel that involved litigation from other hoteliers, disputes over the use of city funding and several stops and starts.

"The hotel has always been the focal point of our master plan," said Ted Tanner, AEG senior vice president of real estate. "Having important city action taken in moving this hotel forward is important for us to have comfort that our investment will be supported."

Pending Council approval, AEG plans to break ground on LA Live Sept. 15, and announce a number of major tenants for the 400,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.

The first element of LA Live slated for completion is the 7,100-seat Nokia Theater. Construction of the headquarters hotel would start no later than October 2006, with completion in four years, according to CRA documents.


Designs by Santa Monica-based architecture firm Gensler show a sleek 55-story tower fronting Olympic Boulevard and Georgia Street. The crown of the edifice would act as a beacon to attract visitors, and would light up with different colors depending on the season. The Downtown hotel would provide easy access via a bridge to meeting space and ballrooms, as well as a link to the entertainment district plaza.

The architect is borrowing concepts from its recent design of the Hilton Americas Houston hotel, which serves that city's convention center, said Gensler Managing Principal Andrew Cohen. "This becomes the architectural icon of the project, especially from a long distance away."

The LA Live complex would surround the hotel with ballrooms for up to 4,000 people and 15 state-of-the-art movie theaters with thousands of seats. The biggest single theater will hold 700 seats, and Tanner said he wants to see a return of red carpet film premieres and events to Downtown.

Wolff Urban Management and Apollo Real Estate Advisors, who are developing the Hilton-operated hotel, will place about 110 high-end condominiums atop the structure. They will invest sale proceeds from the condos back into the building; construction of each room is estimated to cost $375,000.




The $16 million city loan approved last week will help improve infrastructure around the hotel, such as streets, sidewalks and freeway access ramps. The city has also agreed to waive $4 million in development and permit fees. In total, the city will give the developer $82 million in public subsidies to help finance LA Live, including allowing the company to keep an estimated $62 million in bed taxes over the next two decades.

According to AEG, the project would generate 1,753 jobs, another 3,077 indirect jobs related to construction, and $151 million in wages.

But not everyone supports the project. Christopher Sutton, an attorney for the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, said the subsidy violates rules regulating the use of tax increment money in a redevelopment area - in this case the Bunker Hill Project Area.

"The Bonaventure opposes this subsidy and supports the investment in Downtown by private parties," Sutton said. "This subsidy is unnecessary, and has no rational connection to Bunker Hill or housing. It is simply money being given away."

Tourism officials said that having a major hotel within walking distance of the Convention Center would enable them to attract more trade shows. Councilwoman Jan Perry and a number of community groups also expressed support.

"The single biggest go or no-go for conventions are the number of hotels and their proximity to a convention center" said Michael Collins, executive vice president of LA Inc, the convention and visitors bureau. "L.A. ranks at the bottom of the list. The [Convention Center] hotel is being surrounded by a context and that will make it prosper."

oct '06 is too late, oh well

Not as negative as i would exect from the daily News...



Entertainment complex pictured as downtown hub
By Beth Barrett, Staff Writer

In a bold bid to brand Los Angeles as a world-class live entertainment center, the owner of Staples Center detailed plans Tuesday for a $1 billion, 5.5 million-square-foot sports-entertainment-residential complex that would be one of the largest developments in downtown history.

The LA Live development by the Anschutz Entertainment Group - scheduled to make the formal announcement Thursday at the project's groundbreaking with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other city leaders in attendance - would include retail, live theater, premiere movies, restaurants and housing.

It is envisioned as becoming "Times Square West" and the permanent home for a variety of award shows with a Grammy museum that could include an annual "induction" ceremony, in addition to facilities for a major sports/entertainment broadcasting company yet to be disclosed.

"We think L.A. should be the event capital of the world," Timothy Leiweke, president of the company owned by Denver billionaire Philip Anschutz, said in an interview with Daily News editors and reporters.

"Award shows, tourism and content are going to be the most important industries we have. We're not going to be the steel city, we're not going to be the chip city, we're unfortunately not going to be the new technology city, because we missed that boat."

Leiweke said LA Live - a complex with the square footage of downtown Long Beach - is envisioned to dovetail with a proposed 1,100-room, 56-story Hilton hotel adjacent to the ailing Convention Center.

The hotel has become controversial since developers Apollo Real Estate and Wolff Urban Development entered into a proposed deal with the city that includes a $16 million loan from the Community Redevelopment Agency, $4 million in fee waivers and the forfeiting of nearly a quarter-billion dollars in room taxes the hotel is projected to generate over 25 years.

Leiweke said while LA Live doesn't hinge on the hotel's development - most of the complex would be completed within the next two to three years - it would be a "crime" if the city passes on the private capital committed to the hotel.

The Convention Center costs the city more than $30 million a year in debt service and net operating losses, and trails even Des Moines, Iowa, in convention business.

"(The center) will never come back. This is our last, great shot at getting a private entity to put up what is going to be $400 million-plus in cash to build a hotel," he said, adding that the center ultimately should be privatized to reduce the burden on taxpayers.

Plans for the hotel and the massive complex - which AEG hopes to use as a model for its international ventures, including London's Millennium Dome - have renewed debate over downtown development, as well as Villaraigosa's promise to bring similar economic energy to the San Fernando Valley and other underserved areas of the city.

Robert "Bud" Ovrom, deputy mayor of housing and economic development, said while LA Live is being focused on, 50 to 75 projects throughout the city, including the Valley, are getting just as much attention.

"We're pushing major projects throughout all the areas of Los Angeles," Ovrom said. "Yes, LA Live is one of them, and they're very big, but we're equally pushing all projects in South L.A., East L.A., the Valley, Hollywood and the Westside."

He said projects such as Valley Plaza, NoHo Commons and the Panorama Mall in the Valley, a biomedical campus at USC, and several major retail outlets in East and South Los Angeles are among the projects being pursued aggressively.

"We're putting equal if not greater effort in other areas ... it takes more to get it done. LA Live is basically doing their own thing."

Leiweke said city leaders historically have "failed us miserably" in luring developments to various areas of the city and that regions such as the Valley need "to fight back and help find these private-public partnerships."

"Why can't we find these big projects and spread them out a little bit?" said Leiweke, who suggested that Villaraigosa set up a panel of the city's top leaders to develop "a master vision" for how private-public partnerships can be used "to get things done all over the city."

Bruce Ackerman, president and CEO of the Economic Alliance

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of the San Fernando Valley, said he agrees the Valley hasn't pursued projects on a "grand scale," but cited incremental gains such as the Children's Museum at Hansen Dam, a project AEG contributed $250,000 toward and that is set to break ground next month.

Ackerman blamed NIMBYism and the absence of a central business hub for some of the Valley's difficulties.

"Where is the downtown in the Valley?" he said. "There isn't a single area ... you can focus attention to generate the attention downtown gets."

Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., said the Valley and other regions need a "godfather" to push projects aggressively.

Kyser said that after LA Live, the envisioned but yet unfunded $1 billion Grand Avenue development, and a project along First Street into East L.A., "you start to run pretty thin on ideas."

"You need leaders in the San Fernando Valley to say, 'OK, this has a lot of currency for the Valley,' and then you have to get community buy-in," Kyser said.

But critics including Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, continue to question the need for government help in financing the hotel.

"People make these kinds of predictions about revitalization, and sometimes they work and sometimes they don't," Coupal said. "Why can't (AEG) make the pitch to the hotel developers, 'I'm dropping $1 billion - why not find venture capitalists to build the hotel?"'

Acknowledging the risk in the sports/entertainment complex, Leiweke said the city stands to make $25 million to $50 million more annually in property and sales tax.

At the heart of LA Live, Leiweke said, is a "dream" to create an immediate impact on the image of L.A. and Southern California by interlocking a number of venues, events and attractions in the complex around Staples, including:

The 7,100-seat Nokia Theatre Los Angeles, aimed at capturing award shows ranging from the Emmys, Latin Grammys and ESPYs to the MTV Music and BET awards, as well as concerts, comedy shows and other events. AEG plans to spend more than $100 million on the theater.

The Grammys Museum, which has been agreed to "in principle" with the Grammy organization, to honor not only winners, but also to try to secure L.A. as the permanent home of the Grammys, possibly by adding a second "induction" ceremony. AEG hopes the museum will attract 1 million tourists a year.

A 3,700-seat cinema complex with 15 screens, including a 750-seat theater for movie premieres and screenings.

Nine high-end restaurants and bars, and a smaller Club Nokia, as well as 400,000 square feet of retail space to serve tourists, USC students and downtown residents.

Offices for AEG's headquarters, as well as some companies it does business with, including attorneys and architectural and design firms.

Housing, including lofts and condos accounting for about half the project.

Leiweke said LA Live only works downtown because of the synergy with Staples Center and the Convention Center, but that private-public partnerships that don't put taxpayers at risk are needed throughout the region.

"Our project should be the rally cry to answer the need everywhere."

This is from SSP forum: They'll actually have an entire new "interactive" model for the press to see as well as a video. The press conference actually starts at 2:30PM(15th of Sept), so for anyone who's going, it might be wise to show up around 2PM (parking and stuff).

This is from SSP forum: They'll actually have an entire new "interactive" model for the press to see as well as a video. The press conference actually starts at 2:30PM(15th of Sept), so for anyone who's going, it might be wise to show up around 2PM (parking and stuff).

They'll be blocking off the area around the Staples Center today in preparation. There will also be a luncheon before the press conference with a panel of Downtown movers and shakers. hehe

I'm very eager to see the entire scope of media that will be present to cover this story.

Are you goin? please give us an update if you are... that'd be grreeeaaatt!!

I'm excited for you guys ! Have a Mimosa on me at the groundbreaking. :)

Press Release Source: AEG

AEG Breaks Ground on $1 Billion Sports and Entertainment District
Thursday September 15, 3:21 pm ET
Announces Addition of New Business Partners, Including: ESPN, Regal Entertainment Group, The Conga Room, GRAMMY(R) Museum and Hilton Hotels

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- AEG President and CEO Timothy J. Leiweke was joined by elected officials, business leaders, and new business partners for the official groundbreaking of l.a. live, a more than $1 billion, 4 million square-foot Downtown Los Angeles sports and entertainment district. Located adjacent to STAPLES Center, the l.a. live project, considered the largest development in Los Angeles' history, will be host to an exciting mix of venues and facilities.
"On behalf of AEG and all of our partners, we are here today to break ground for the largest and most important development in the history of Downtown Los Angeles, l.a. live," said Timothy J. Leiweke, President & CEO, AEG. "This project is real, this project is happening and this project is important. l.a. live will give Los Angeles the ability to attract the best and most important events for our city."

"Most importantly, our company's investment of nearly $1 billion coupled with an additional $3.5 billion commitment from the other private investors in l.a. live and the surrounding downtown residential district has brought this city a fully privatized, fully financed and fully entitled development. A $4.2 billion development that does not require any public subsidy," Leiweke added.

At the groundbreaking, Leiweke announced several new, major l.a. live business partners:


* ESPN will create a regional headquarters and sports entertainment venue
in a unique 120,000 sq. ft. broadcast studio that will be the home for
a number of live and taped programs. Included in this building will be
the ESPN Zone -- a multi-level restaurant, sports bar, and game area.
An approximately 10,000 sq. ft. radio broadcast center is also planned
for live radio in an adjacent building.

* Regal Entertainment Group will develop a 90,000 sq. ft. cinema complex
with 3,700 seats and featuring digital sound, stadium seating, and
state-of-the-art projection systems. This flagship theater will serve
as a new venue for movie premieres and special screenings.

* The GRAMMY® Museum will be housed in a 28,000 sq. ft. space designed
for a permanent display of music genres and the science of recorded
music as well as new interactive presentations recognizing past and
president GRAMMY® winning artists.

* The Conga Room will bring to l.a. live the club's world-renowned Latin
music and culture. Over the years, The Conga Room has showcased many
top Latin entertainers, including Celia Cruz, the Buena Vista All
Stars, Andy Garcia presenting Cachao, and Carlos Santana. The new
facility at l.a. live will be two stories, featuring a 6,500 sq. ft.
ground floor restaurant and radio broadcast facilities and a 9,200 sq.
ft. live entertainment and nightclub space upstairs.

* Gladstone's 4 Fish, Junior's Deli Boys, Il Moro, Katsuya, and New
Zealand Natural will provide a variety of established dining
opportunities for l.a. live visitors. Agreements with P.F. Chang's and
French 75 are in the final stages of negotiations.

* Hilton Hotels will operate the Los Angeles Convention Center
Headquarters Hotel, a four-star facility with 1,100 guest rooms,
approximately 160,000 sq. ft. of meeting, ballroom and amenity spaces,
parking, retail, and other guest services. The signature beacon of the
district at approximately 50 stories in height, the hotel's main lobby
will open onto Olympic Boulevard and facing the Central Business
District.

Upper floors will house luxury suites to accommodate visiting sports
teams, headline performers, and upscale guests. The hotel will also
include up to 111 fully serviced luxury condominium units on the top
floors offering 24-hour valet and concierge staff, food and room
services, and other amenities. The 1.1 million sq. ft. hotel will be
developed by Wolff-Apollo and designed by Gensler.

The hotel is expected to significantly boost efforts to attract key
conferences, exhibitions, conventions and corporate meetings to the
convention center, strengthening the entire Los Angeles region's
tourism and new business opportunities. City general funds will not be
used to finance the hotel's development.
"Sports and entertainment often converge in the diverse city of Los Angeles and establishing a major presence there is a very positive step in the long-term growth of our company," said George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports and Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks. "Originating more programming and extending our brand with an ESPN Zone will create a stronger ESPN. Given the success of our past collaborations with AEG and the scope and promise of l.a. live, we are eager to expand our L.A.-based operations."

"Regal Entertainment Group is excited to be part of such a major development that will certainly transform and energize downtown Los Angeles. The new Regal Cinemas l.a. live Stadium 15 will be a flagship theatre for our company that will benefit from being part of this new entertainment community. Regal looks forward to working with our studio partners to host world premieres and special events at this dynamic new location," said Mike Campbell, CEO, Regal Entertainment Group.

"Diversity is the lifeblood of our vibrant city. The Conga Room is proud to partner with l.a. live to showcase its unique brand of Latin American culture and music," said Jimmy Smits, co-owner, The Conga Room.

"Hilton is pleased that we have been selected to manage this new hotel, particularly since it is located in our corporate back yard. Hilton's reputation for excellence in managing convention center hotels throughout the country is unmatched and we look forward to working with AEG, Wolff-Apollo and the City of Los Angeles as this exciting project progresses," said Ernest Wooden, Jr., Senior Vice President - Hilton/Doubletree Operations West, Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, and Mexico, Hilton Hotels Corporation.

"Great cities attract great conventions and visitors. This Hilton hotel and l.a. live will establish Downtown Los Angeles as a world class destination. Our team is absolutely committed to bringing this hotel to life and transforming Los Angeles into one of the most attractive destinations for conventions in the nation," said Lew Wolff, Chairman and CEO, Wolff Urban Management, which is co-developing the Los Angeles Convention Center Headquarters Hotel.

"As one of the most recognizable brands in the entertainment business, the GRAMMY Award is the premier symbol of musical excellence for consumers around the globe," said Neil Portnow, President, The Recording Academy. "We are thrilled to extend our long-standing partnership with our friends at AEG and look forward to being a part of expanding L.A. as the entertainment capital of the world!"


Other key components of the entertainment district include:

* NOKIA Theatre, a 7,000-seat live performance venue that in addition to
being a stunning new concert facility will also become the permanent
home of numerous awards shows and special events;

* A 40,000 sq. ft. open-air plaza designed to accommodate broadcast
events, large celebrations, outdoor concerts, and festivals. The plaza
also will serve as the primary limo drop off and red carpet zone for
major events;

* An interactive museum that will include permanent displays as well as
regularly updated interactive exhibits featuring nominees from the
awards shows held at the surrounding facilities;

* 5,300 new parking spaces will be added to supplement the existing
parking supply servicing STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Convention
Center;

* Numerous high-end fine dining, casual and ethnic restaurants as well as
nightclubs, coffee shops, and bistros which will provide a rich mixture
of high quality food and settings, providing visitors with a true
"Taste of L.A.;"

* Building space earmarked to host a major food brand. The four-level
building will include restaurants, a unique marketplace, cooking
classes with celebrity chefs, culinary retail, food channel
broadcasting, thematic/educational attractions, research and
development kitchens, corporate offices, and garden terraces; and

* 4,000 residential apartments and loft condominiums within three blocks
of the sports and entertainment district are under construction or in
the planning stages.
"We are grateful for the leadership of Jan Perry first and foremost, along with City Council President Alex Padilla, the entire City Council, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and so many more of our City's officials who have remained committed to making l.a. live a reality," said Leiweke.

"Today Los Angeles is reaffirming its position as the entertainment capital of the world. l.a. live will bring a vibrant sports and entertainment district to Downtown Los Angeles with exciting new places for families to dine and watch a movie, concert or game. The entire City of Los Angeles will benefit from the thousands of jobs it will create and billions of dollars it will pump into our local economy," said Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

"The l.a. live sports and entertainment district is a boom for our local economy and the world-class facility will continue downtown's unprecedented revitalization efforts," said State Senator Gil Cedillo, who represents the area where the project will be developed.

"l.a. live's restaurants, theaters, landscaped courtyard, and media headquarters are certain to continue our efforts to reinvigorate our city center and make it an even more attractive destination for tourists and local families alike. Additionally, the project brings a wealth of quality job opportunities and profound economic development to the South Park neighborhood, surrounding areas, and the city as a whole," said Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry, who represents the 9th Council District where the project will be located.

"There is no more defining influence on the future of Downtown L.A. than the l.a. live development by AEG," said Mark Liberman, president & CEO of LA INC. The Convention and Visitors Bureau. "It presents LA with the promise of a wholly new and exciting visitor destination in the center of the second largest city in the country. Our industry is eager to work closely with AEG, its partners and the City to make the vision presented today a reality. There's no hiding the fact that what we've seen today can be a convention sales organization's dream come true."

The sports and entertainment district will be developed over an eight- to 10-year timeframe.

Thanks for posting that!! I went, but they said it was invitation only. Lots of News media, people in suits and other dignitaries. i cant wait for this!

From the Los Angeles Times:
http://www.latimes.com/media/graphic/2005-09/19474080.gif
A very large devlopment area that'll really be cool to watch grow.

Here are two pictures of exactly how large the LA Live complex will be in relation to the area. In fewer words, what's there now:

Directly in front of the Staples Center looking north:
http://www.notsorry.com/photos/lactr03.jpg

A shot clearly showing where the Nokia Theatere and the hotel/condo tower will be (Large parking lot in front of Staples)
http://www.u2achtung.com/00/u2005/imagesstades/staples03.jpg

^^ good presentation thingy, haha helps a lot , ty

From SSP:

First pics as I waited to get in. View down 11th Street:

http://static.flickr.com/33/43682464_82dd6e5296_o.jpg

Met Lofts:

http://static.flickr.com/32/43682465_e60e6e96a3_o.jpg

Holiday Inn:

http://static.flickr.com/32/43682466_8a8558a248_o.jpg

A couple shots of Staples:

http://static.flickr.com/28/43682467_221b9edd74_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/24/43682468_72be6aef6b_o.jpg

Some shots of the fantastic model they had of the area after LA Live and other things get built:

http://static.flickr.com/31/43682469_77df6f5e89_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/26/43682689_adea6bf797_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/33/43682690_8d28845e0d_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/28/43682691_436109af29_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/24/43682692_59034a5b6a_o.jpg

Ceremonies:

http://static.flickr.com/32/43682693_8cda324301_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/26/43682695_6529ffec30_o.jpg

More pics from SSP:
More ceremonies, the actual groundbreaking, lots of confetti:

http://static.flickr.com/31/43682923_fbaf1c145d_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/24/43682924_39a946ed33_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/29/43682925_7e2ba9bc0b_o.jpg

FIDM Tower rendering:

http://static.flickr.com/33/43682926_f3d8617e4d_o.jpg

Hilton rendering:

http://static.flickr.com/24/43682927_401500efd5_o.jpg

Olympic/Figueroa rendering:

http://static.flickr.com/26/43682929_d915a2f12b_o.jpg

Some close-up shots of the model:

http://static.flickr.com/25/43683178_d4ff1d0335_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/29/43683179_4acbd4a241_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/27/43683180_74cf88de3c_o.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/26/43683181_c9ddc3e2e9_o.jpg

Drawing:

http://static.flickr.com/32/43683182_9d8668f592_o.jpg

VR/Multimedia presentation (sorry 'bout the blurriness!):

http://static.flickr.com/32/43683183_48c2f3092b_o.jpg

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

It's A-Live!

AEG Breaks Ground on $1.5 Billion Entertainment District

by Kathryn Maese

Amidst a throng of civic and business dignitaries, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) last Thursday broke ground on a long-anticipated, $1.5 billion entertainment district next to Staples Center.
At the Thursday groundbreaking of L.A. Live, Anschutz Entertainment Group officials revealed that future inhabitants of the complex will include a Grammy museum, eight restaurants and a bowling alley. Photo by Gary Leonard.

At the event marking the beginning of construction for L.A. Live, AEG revealed details about some of the cultural attractions and restaurants that will fill the sprawling 4 million-square-foot venture. The project has been likened to a Times Square for the West Coast.

A performance by musician Poncho Sanchez, a regular at the Conga Room, hinted at the announcement of one new tenant. AEG officials said they negotiated a deal with the upscale salsa club to relocate from its Miracle Mile digs.

The plan also calls for eight new restaurants to activate the streets along Figueroa, Olympic and 11th. The arrivals will include Gladstone's, P.F. Chang's and Chaya Brasserie.

"It's like taking downtown Long Beach and putting it next to Staples Center and building it all in one shot," said Tim Leiweke, AEG president and chief executive. He predicted that the project will become "a long-term economic juggernaut" for Downtown.

The development will fill existing surface parking lots with flashy lighting, sidewalk dining, red carpet events and advertisements projected onto the side of the 55-story Convention Center Hotel. According to L.A. Live backers, the project will serve not only the growing numbers of tourists and convention goers, but will fill the void of amenities in the burgeoning Downtown Los Angeles residential community.

Surrounding the project will be at least half a dozen high-rise condominium and apartment towers with more than 4,000 units. In total, more than 19,500 units are under construction or in the planning stage, with 29,000 people expected to move in over the next four years. Downtown leaders said the commitment of marquee tenants will promote retail growth in other parts of the Central City, which has struggled to draw business to the thousands of square feet of vacant ground floor retail.

"Business follows people and people are flocking to Downtown," said Carol Schatz, president of business advocacy group the Central City Association.

The first element to open in the flashy district will be the 7,100-seat Nokia Theater Los Angeles and the 2,400-seat Club Nokia, which will feature live music, bands and cultural shows. A museum of Grammy history will also rise; Leiweke predicted that it will draw more than 1 million people annually.

Construction of the 1,200-room Convention Center hotel would start no later than October 2006, with completion in four years. Last month the Community Redevelopment Agency approved the $412 million Hilton-run high-rise, which the City Council is expected to green light in the coming weeks.

Tourism officials said the hotel will boost the city's paltry convention business, and bring business meetings to other hotels.

"We're only one of two major cities in the United States without a convention center hotel," said Lew Wolff, who is co-developing the hotel. "That's been the missing link with our Convention Center."

Officials announced that, after two years of negotiations, ESPN has signed a deal to create a 70,000-square-foot, five-story television and radio studio, along with an ESPN Zone with retail, a two-level restaurant and an arcade. The structure is expected to be complete in 2009 at the corner of Figueroa and 11th streets. The deal will allow the cable network to produce live sports programming and broadcasts with Downtown as the backdrop. It will be the West Coast headquarters for the company that has 4,000 employees.

Also planned is a Lucky Strikes bowling alley, as well as a venue to be developed by the owners of the Sunset Strip clubs Prey and Shelter, and a 15-screen movie theater complex to be run by the Regal Entertainment Group on Olympic Boulevard next to the 110 Freeway. AEG officials hope it will draw star-laden red carpet premieres to Downtown.

L.A. Live, which will anchor the southern portion of Downtown, will join another mega project - the $1.8 billion Grand Avenue development to the north that will include shopping, hotels and residential. Leiweke said the two projects would not compete but complement each other.

"This is going to be one key part of Downtown, and Grand Avenue will be the other," he said. "If we were to invest in the area along Broadway we could create a link to L.A. Live."

Contact Kathryn Maese at kathryn@downtownnews.com.

page 1, 9/19/2005

OMG this is amazing! How cool! I hope everything is done when I get back from Houston after 3 years (school). Speaking of which, Why not use lite rail as a connection from Grand Ave. to L.A. Live? Houston's is pretty cool:

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/hrail2.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/hrail3.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/hrail4.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/hrail5.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/houstonrail.jpg

with shooting water and all! that'd be soo freakin' cool!!

oh.. and what ever happened to this rendering and model for Grand Avenue?

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/grandavenue5.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/grandavenue4.jpg

Thats the dumbest thing ever to have shooting water under a rail line. Rust,visibility, etc.

rust? i'm sure they thought of that. visibility? ummmm, you can't see through the water (it's not a constant splash, it's done every 10 min. or so)? and the idea isn't dumb...I thought it was really cool, because it served as a gathering place for many people in Houston. there where many restaurants along the rail path...I was surprised that there seemed to be more people walking in downtown Houston than there are in downtown L.A. (except broadway & the Alleys)

rust? i'm sure they thought of that. visibility? ummmm, you can't see through the water (it's not a constant splash, it's done every 10 min. or so)? and the idea isn't dumb...I thought it was really cool, because it served as a gathering place for many people in Houston. there where many restaurants along the rail path...I was surprised that there seemed to be more people walking in downtown Houston than there are in downtown L.A. (except broadway & the Alleys)
That's because it's Downtown Houston, the only place around to walk. You can walk in all different parts of LA, in Houston.....no.

OMG this is amazing! How cool! I hope everything is done when I get back from Houston after 3 years (school). Speaking of which, Why not use lite rail as a connection from Grand Ave. to L.A. Live? Houston's is pretty cool:

Hey latennisguy, downtown Houston will have a similar development to LA Live, on a smaller scale, on Main Street that is suppose to start construction this year. Just without the huge Nokia Theater. PM me if you want more news on the project. LA Live looks great. Can't wait to see the outcome. Looks like it will take about two years to build. Just estimating.

I'm not trying to be negative, but is 1 million visitors a year for the grammy museum a bit of a huge estimate? I hope they are not setting their hopes too high with this. The fear is that they do set hopes high, those hopes are not met, and then development stops. I think LA Live will be great once it is all complete and people get to know about it, but it could take a few years before it is that popular. I must admit, though, it does look like it could be great. My only complaint would be that it could probably use more cheap restaurants.

I think the number is fine
La Live is looking better than ever. :)

Looking at this development, hotel/condo tower, two other residential tower's, retail, Nokia theater, broadcasting facilitys,. Just the scope of the project spells risk.
But in order for all this to bear fruit, at least 75% of the project must be completed, and on line. Lets hope needed funding is in place, and construction stay's on schedule.

(don't want to see what happened with California Plaza)

what happended to California Plaza anyway

Back in the early 90's, LA's economay was shit. There was a proposal of a third Cal Plaza tower..called Cal Plaza 3 =P..that would've been the second tallest building in LA. But it was cancelled for whatever reason. I guess for lack of funds.

If you can go to Cal Plaza and to the water courts towards the back, you can see the large grassy area that Cal Plaza 3 would've risen.

I'm not trying to be negative, but is 1 million visitors a year for the grammy museum a bit of a huge estimate? I hope they are not setting their hopes too high with this. The fear is that they do set hopes high, those hopes are not met, and then development stops. I think LA Live will be great once it is all complete and people get to know about it, but it could take a few years before it is that popular. I must admit, though, it does look like it could be great. My only complaint would be that it could probably use more cheap restaurants.

I doubt it would be 1 million on its own, but I bet most visitors will probably be the ones with nothing to do while waiting to get into Staples Center for a concert or game. So the number is possible if you consider spill-over. But as much as I live music, a grammy museum? What could they possibly included in a grammy museum other than grammys? It seems very one-note.

LA metroguy from skyscraperpage made this which is the new developments that are being built near LA live. It's a freakin development explosion around that area.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/img4004sm8ae.jpg

Back in the early 90's, LA's economay was shit. There was a proposal of a third Cal Plaza tower..called Cal Plaza 3 =P..that would've been the second tallest building in LA. But it was cancelled for whatever reason. I guess for lack of funds.

If you can go to Cal Plaza and to the water courts towards the back, you can see the large grassy area that Cal Plaza 3 would've risen.


Yes, thats pretty much the story. I remember the first concept, or the original project guidelines, which went public around 1978. It encompassed, 3 office towers, two of them 42 storys, with about 900.000 sq.ft., and the third, 62 storys, with about 1.1 million sq.ft., three residential towers, at 22 storys, (one was built, the Metropolitan) and a hotel, (also built, 16 storys). The museum of contemperary art, (MOCA) was also part of the development.

The original developer was, Olympia and York, (the one that developed the World Financial Center in NYC) out of Toronto, Canada. the architect, Arthur Erickson, also from Canada.

What i liked most about the plan, was that the office towers where to be cladded for the first 12 floors with stone/masonry, including a cornice line, paying homage to the original height limit in the historic core, also, all the towers had only two elevation elements, (tower 2, obviously went through a design revision, with three elements, and the chrome strip.)

What happened, the developer went under, bad economy,(tower 1, 1983. tower 2, 1993, tower 3, ?????) ...........................Pretty much the same thing happened with the three tower Citicorp Plaza, as well.

Tower three's site, (north corner of 4th and Olive) will certainly see development, especially if the Zen project is approved, (as we all know, it will be) and also that the site is a Metro rail station portal. (as far as i know the permit is still open, and a trade off of the residential zoning from the sites near the MOCA complex could put a residential tower on that site.)

Cal Plaza 3 IMO would've seriously made an impression on the downtown skyline. I mean if you look at Cal Plaza now, the towers look so regal and proud. One thing I like doing..espically on a warm day, is sit on the stairs near the dancing fountains and look straight up at the X that the Cal Plaza and Wells Fargo Plaza make.

Hey TICONLA1..was the LA Megastructure and the 9th and Figueroa Towers pipe dreams or were they actually going to get built?

What i liked most about the plan, was that the office towers where to be cladded for the first 12 floors with stone/masonry, including a cornice line, paying homage to the original height limit in the historic core.

I really hope we get something like this with Zen Tower. It could extend the classic street wall along 3rd AND give us a nice, glassy tall tower. If they execute this well and it's received by the public, we could see some larger projects along Broadway or Hill just to the north. There are some great sites on that block that are just screaming for redevelopment.

City OKs Subsidies for Downtown Hotel
Council agrees to a $290-million package for the planned project next to the Convention Center. Opponents vow lawsuit and ballot fight.

By Patrick McGreevy, Times Staff Writer


The City Council agreed Friday to provide up to $290 million in subsidies and loans for construction of a 55-story hotel next to the Los Angeles Convention Center despite the vow of a competing hotelier to take the issue to the ballot.

Eight years in the making, the deal was approved unanimously, with backers saying it was critical to attracting enough business to the Convention Center to end a flow of red ink at the city-owned venue.

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"When we talk about this kind of investment by the developers and the city, it's kind of a leap of faith," said Councilwoman Janice Hahn. But "I think it will absolutely revitalize downtown."

Consultants hired by the city said the loans and subsidies were necessary to allow the new 1,100-room hotel to succeed. It will also increase the demand for downtown hotel bookings as more conventions come to Los Angeles, consultants said. The building will also include 110 luxury condominiums.

But the general manager of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel said the subsidy would allow the new hotel to charge lower rates and attract guests from existing establishments.

"We raise the alarm of the impending collapse of the entire downtown hotel market if the consultants are wrong again," Brian Fitzgerald told the council. "The proposed tax subsidy is a gamble we cannot afford to make."

The Bonaventure's owners plan to pursue an existing lawsuit against the city challenging the deal as well as take the matter to the ballot, said Christopher Sutton, an attorney for the hotel.

"There is going to be a referendum or an initiative on this, one way or the other," Sutton said. "The voters aren't going to approve this."

A referendum to overturn the council's action would give opponents 30 days from when the ordinance is published to collect about 49,300 signatures. The subsidy deal would be put on hold during that time, and longer if the referendum qualified for the ballot.

Because an initiative seeks to create a law rather than repeal one, opponents could start collecting signatures anytime and then would have 120 days to collect 73,900 signatures.

A fierce fight would be waged against any ballot measure, said Tim Leiweke, president of AEG, a development firm that is providing land for the hotel project and building a massive entertainment district nearby.

Leiweke said any campaign would not hesitate to take on Peter Zen, an executive with the Bonaventure who has led the opposition.

"We will aggressively defend the honor of this project and its developers with a strong campaign," Leiweke said. "We invite them to have a public debate about the character and claims of Peter Zen."

Leiweke noted that when the Bonaventure was built it received city subsidies in the form of discounts on land purchased by the Community Redevelopment Agency and then sold to developers.

Zen, former president of the city's Convention Center Commission, was fined $7,600 last year by the city Ethics Commission for violating campaign finance rules while raising money for then-Mayor James K. Hahn.

Sutton said opponents of the deal may focus on Philip Anschutz, the Denver billionaire who owns Staples Center and heads AEG.

"If it's such a great deal, why doesn't Mr. Anschutz build it on his own?" Sutton asked. "Why do the taxpayers have to spend millions to help a billionaire?"

Leiweke told the council that AEG was only selling the land for the hotel, at cost, to developers Wolff Urban Management and Apollo Real Estate Advisors, who will build the $400-million project for Hilton Hotels.

"We don't get one dime in subsidies. This isn't about underwriting billionaires," Leiweke told the council Friday.

The deal calls for the hotel to receive a rebate of at least $246 million in the hotel bed taxes it is expected to generate during the first 25 years.

If the hotel is more successful than expected and the $246 million is reached before 25 years, the hotel and the city will evenly split any hotel bed tax until the hotel receives $270 million.

In addition, the project is being given a below-market-rate loan of $16 million from the city redevelopment agency and a rebate of $4 million in building permit fees.

Some council members say the city investment is warranted to help make the Convention Center more competitive with those in other cities. The number of major conventions in Los Angeles dropped from 35 in 2001 to 15 last year.

Michael Collins, an executive of the city convention bureau, said the biggest problem cited by convention organizers who declined to come to Los Angeles was the dearth of hotel rooms within walking distance of the venue.

Without sufficient business, the city's general fund has been tapped to subsidize the debt payment on the expanded Convention Center for up to $20 million per year.

Councilman Eric Garcetti noted that subsidized hotels have had problems in other cities but said this project was different because it was part of a planned $1.7-billion entertainment district called L.A. Live that AEG is building.

It will have restaurants, theaters and other attractions to make the hotel more viable, Garcetti said.

The project was also backed by the Hotel Assn. of Los Angeles, union leaders who have been promised good pay and benefits for the hotel jobs and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, which sees the development as key to revitalizing downtown.

"The Chamber of Commerce rarely supports government subsidies, but what we do support is smart investment in our city's economic future," said Sam Garrison, a chamber spokesman.

I'm sure I'll be seeing progress over the months, years around the Staples Center as I pass through with the Blue Line...:D

i was at theKings home opener yesterday and it seems as though they will start digging soon, as all the Lights had been taken down around the lot and a fence was put up.

^^ how exciting

I went to the clippers game and took these pics, of LA Live.
My friend said he saw a lot of orange survey paint.

http://loftla.com/Const/sm_live10-1.jpg

http://loftla.com/Const/sm_live10-2.jpg

if you want a blown up view, click on the pics here
http://loftla.com/Const/

Hey TICONLA1..was the LA Megastructure and the 9th and Figueroa Towers pipe dreams or were they actually going to get built?[/QUOTE]

Well, yes and no, the LA megastructure, (proposed for the Ambassador Hotel site,) Went though many stages and designs, Donald Trump, at the beginning, proposed the "Trump Tower West" for the site.( 90 to 100 storys) then the Richard Keating vesion as we know it now.Somewhere around 130 stories and the best part (visible from the San Fernando Valley).
The 9th and Figeuroa tower was more serious a proposal.This one went through at least 3 design revisions, the tallest 90 stories. This wouldve put at 9th and Figeuroa a 2.5 million plus square ft office tower similar in scale to Chicago's AON tower.

I don't mean to sound like a dumbass, but I don't get it? The tower is dead isn't?, is the preposition alive?, could it possible that CRA aproves something like this?, would it be right in front of the 777 Tower?, is it in the same place where the old preposition for the postmodern tower at that same site, but that is dead now? Please someone explain this to me. TY in advanced.

Smebody explain it more clearly

I don't know what you're talking about....but anyway, did anyone else notice this reflection on the Hilton Hotel? Looks like an Angel on top of a mountain. Is there a proposal for something like this? anyone know?

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b43/samceb/lalive1.jpg

What kind of Traffic Impact is anticipated for the surrounding areas?

I strongly believe you have missinterpreted a US Bank reflection. LOL

OMG!!!! It's a miracle!!!! Gooooooooooooooooooooooood!!! We love you, Gooooooooooooooooooood!!!

I mean, if you really think about it, it means that the proyect is blessed. :tongue3:

I strongly believe you have missinterpreted a US Bank reflection. LOL

I doubt that. The Hilton's facade with the reflection is facing East-West, and the US Bank Tower is to the north of it. Since this IS a rendering I'm almost positive they included that on purpose. What I want to know is why?

I don't mean to sound like a dumbass, but I don't get it? The tower is dead isn't?, is the preposition alive?, could it possible that CRA aproves something like this?, would it be right in front of the 777 Tower?, is it in the same place where the old preposition for the postmodern tower at that same site, but that is dead now? Please someone explain this to me. TY in advanced.

What are you talking about?

Read the posts before, then you'll get it. It was about some supertall tower.

If you are wondering about the LAMegastructure and the 9th and Fig Tower..

The LAMegaStructure was to be built on the Ambassador Hotel site..which is being turned down to make a school. And Sanwa sits where the 9th and Fig Tower would've been. I wouldn't doubt seeing either building built someplace in 10 years.

In case you are wondering..

This is the MegaStructure (150 floors)
http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/data/577/4fig__01.jpg

And this is the 9th and Fig Tower..
http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=10571

so so ugly, reminds me of the Houston's tallest. 5/10, only good thing about it is it's height.

http://california.construction.com/2005/11/01/CL_11_01_2005_final-17.asp

Developer Unveils Specifics for L.A. Live! Project in Downtown Los Angeles



The first building to be constructed in the retail/entertainment/hospitality district across from Staples Center will be the $90-million Nokia Theatre.
(11/01/2005)
By Paul Napolitano

The newest mixed-use development in downtown Los Angeles has drawn a crowd even before it opens.

About 500 guests of developer Anschutz Entertainment Group descended upon Staples Center on Sept. 15 to see a multimedia presentation of L.A. Live!--the $4.2 billion mixed-use center to be constructed in the next several years adjacent to the 20,000-seat arena in the city's South Park district.
Tim Leiweke, president and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group, said a mix of residential, retail and hospitality projects in South Park "is a $4.2 billion project--cold, hard cash, all built in one shot." (photo by Lee Manning)

While a good share of L.A.'s political and corporate power players dined at tables on the Staples Center floor, L.A. Live! stakeholders, city leaders and developers described the benefits of adding such a project to "the entertainment capital of the world."

"L.A. Live! will drive the downtown renaissance to a new level," said Carol E. Schatz, president and CEO of the Downtown Center Business Improvement District.

During her presentation at the luncheon, Schatz said property and sales tax, business permit revenue and the impact on additional investment in downtown L.A. will be "extraordinary." She added that "anything is possible," regarding future development downtown. "Business follows people."

Since 2000, a year after Staples Center was completed, $3.385 billion of mixed-use and $4.319 billion of residential developments have taken root in downtown Los Angeles, according to the Central City Association of Los Angeles.

Timothy J. Leiweke, president and CEO of AEG, the owner of the Staples Center and Home Depot Center in Carson, said the L.A. Live! project would kick off with construction of the 7,000-seat Nokia Theatre that would annually host the Grammy awards and other performances.

The $90-million theater is expected to open by the end of 2007. Clark Construction is the general contractor.

Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes South Park, said L.A. Live! will create 5,000 construction jobs in the next few years.

Leiweke said a mix of residential, retail and hospitality development projects in South Park "is a $4.2 billion project--cold, hard cash, all built in one shot."

A 54-story, $350-million Hilton hotel on Olympic Boulevard is scheduled to be built next to the Los Angeles Convention Center and several hundred thousand square feet of residential and retail space is earmarked for the streets surrounding Staples Center. Wolff-Apollo is the developer of the 1.1-million-sq.-ft. hotel, which will be topped by about 10 floors of high-end condominiums. Gensler is the architect for the hotel, which is expected to be completed by 2009.

CIM Group, Forest City West, South Group and Lee Group are among the most active residential developers in South Park.

Staples Center, which hosts an average of 250 events a year, has spawned a frenzy of residential development in South Park--a district bordered by the 110 Freeway to the west, financial district to the north, garment district to the east and 10 Freeway to the south.

"We're beyond potential; Elleven is fully sold out next spring," said speaker Jim Atkins, project manager for South Group, the Portland, Ore-based developer of the 13-story, $100-million Elleven and two other high-rise condominium projects two blocks east of L.A. Live! Elleven's first tower on 11th and Grand is expected to open in March.

A museum for the Grammy awards, several large restaurants, a couple of nightclubs and the West Coast broadcast center for ESPN also are scheduled to be built on what is now a parking lot between 11th Street and Olympic Boulevard and Georgia and Figueroa streets. A parking garage with about 5,300 spaces will be built below L.A. Live! The museum and ESPN's facilities are expected to be completed by 2009.

The museum is expected to draw 1 million visits a year, said speaker Neil Portnow, president of the Recording Academy, which is responsible for the Grammy Awards.

The Los Angeles office of Baltimore-based RTKL is the master-plan architect for L.A. Live! and the Nokia Theatre.

http://www.labusinessjournal.com/article.asp?aID=366089202.3049785.1228383.6931387.2263511.971

Posted date: 11/21/2005
Negotiations Fail for Downtown Hotel

Negotiations broke down for a 56-story downtown hotel touted as a linchpin in the success of the $4.2 billion L.A. Live sports-and-entertainment complex, despite a $250-million public financing package, the Daily News of Los Angeles reported.

Century City-based Apollo Real Estate Advisors, which was expected to provide about $60 million for the 1,100-room Hilton hotel, pulled out of the talks, according to City Councilwoman Jan Perry, the paper said.

The deal involving Apollo and co-developer Wolff Urban Development appeared strained for months as hotel construction costs soared to more than $500 million, and the city offered no further concessions. Apollo Real Estate Advisors was said to be floating changes to the hotel’s design in an effort to bring down costs. Some speculated that AEG may have resisted and the breach in negotiations was an attempt by one, or both, parties to force more favorable terms, the Daily News said.

Billionaire Philip Anschutz – owner of AEG, which owns the Staples Center and is investing $1 billion in the complex under development – and company president Timothy Leiweke now are reported to be looking for new equity partners.

In addition to agreeing to forgo as much as $270 million in room-tax revenues from the hotel over 25 years, the Community Redevelopment Agency agreed to a $16 million below-market loan, and the city has authorized $4 million in fee waivers.

Critics question whether such a public investment in a hotel is warranted.

Why was it so important to have a hotel there again? I mean, when other ones have such low vacancy that theyre trying to convert into condos....

the article also points out that there will be no problem finding a new investor. this will be a minor setback, not affecting the timeline at all.


Also, a hotel is needed because we need the rooms to accomodate larger conventions. in other cities, people attending the convention dont have to stay 20 miles away. this will spur development (it already ahs, duh) and willb e a great great boom to DTLA. that hotel willb e full allt he time, as will the other hotels in the area that will fill the overflow. Already, a few hotels in the area are announcing plans for renovations and even with this hotel we will need even more rooms. there isnt a negative to having this hotel.

Where do the basketball players stay during series against the Lakers? It will be cool if they stayed in the hotel. Has that been discussed? I think they should make the top most floor of the hotel a watchroom to watch the city at night. This thing better not effect the timeline of the project or I'll pissed of, as I guess many of you will feel too.

in other cities, people attending the convention dont have to stay 20 miles away

Ok...you know there is quite the overflow of hotel space downtown, both times i have stayed at the bonventure it has been near completely empty.

I believe the Bonaventure is technically considered far from the Convention Center. Convention goers want a hotel that is within a 5 minute walk from the Convention Center.

Do they stay at the Figueroa Hotel and Holiday-Inn?

Those are probably the closest hotels to the convention center, and there isn't nearly enough room in them for large conventions to come to Los Angeles. Anything farther than the Figueroa is probably considered too far. Convention goers are lazy ;)

I have a friend who used to work for the Chicago Bulls and traveled with the team. When they were here in L.A. they would stay at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey. This was several years ago when Michael Jordan was on the team so it could have changed by now.

^Also keep in mind that during Michael Jordan's era the Staples Center didn't exist yet. That hotel is a lot closer to the Great Western Forum than it is to the Staples Center.

the article also points out that there will be no problem finding a new investor. this will be a minor setback, not affecting the timeline at all.


Also, a hotel is needed because we need the rooms to accomodate larger conventions. in other cities, people attending the convention dont have to stay 20 miles away. this will spur development (it already ahs, duh) and willb e a great great boom to DTLA. that hotel willb e full allt he time, as will the other hotels in the area that will fill the overflow. Already, a few hotels in the area are announcing plans for renovations and even with this hotel we will need even more rooms. there isnt a negative to having this hotel.

Thers's far to much money involved with this project. Hopefully The owner of staples and everyone involved, does stand with their hands cross waiting for a miracle. They need to get ball rolling "pronto". I wonder if the other small hotel would be or has been affected at all.

Where did the Lakers play before Staples was built? The sports arena maybe.

No, the lakers were in the Great Western Forum in Inglewood. The Clippers played in the dismal Sports Arena :)

The Forum in Inglewood.

Thanks