4 new towers announced today, 6/16/06 [Archive]

Joey313

June 17th, 2006, 08:58 PM

just wanted to post this

NEW PROJECTS

These projects were either announced or garnered public interest in the last three months.

AT&T CENTER RENOVATION

LBA Realty, which purchased the 32-story high-rise last year for $130 million, has tapped architecture firm Gensler to handle a renovation of the South Park structure long known as the Transamerica Center. The redesign will likely clad the exterior of the edifice - now covered in row upon row of dark tiles - with a metallic, off-white skin. Site preparation has begun and completion of the first phase, including the exterior skin and interior improvements, is expected to be finished next year. A second phase, which would include an enclosed glass crown, may start later the same year, said Chris Egger, a spokesman for Macy + Associates, Inc., the Venice-based public relations firm representing the building.

CENTRAL REGION HIGH SCHOOL NO. 13 (TAYLOR YARD)

The Los Angeles Unified School District in late March began an effort to seize a 23-acre parcel near Taylor Yard by eminent domain. Last year prominent Downtown developer and land owner Richard Meruelo purchased the plot and announced plans to turn it into a mixed-use center with elements including housing and retail; he also said it could hold a school. The LAUSD has argued that the site, on a former train yard north of Downtown Los Angeles, could be better used as a larger, 2,295-seat school, which would relieve overcrowding at area facilities. The eminent domain effort would require court approval. District spokeswoman Shannon Johnson-Haber said HMC Architects are working on plans for the school, which could open as soon as summer 2010.

CHINATOWN GATEWAY

Developer Chinatown, LLC, plans to construct a mixed-use project on a 2.3-acre site at North Broadway and Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard in Chinatown. Initial plans call for 280 residential units, 20,000 square feet of retail facing Broadway and underground parking. Construction could start as soon as next year. It is a joint venture of J.B. Allen Realty, Delia, LLC, and Equity Residential.

CITY HOUSE AND THE OLYMPIC

Los Angeles-based developer Rodmark plans to construct a pair of ground-up condominium towers at Olympic Boulevard and Grand Avenue in South Park. The 60-story City House would house 180 units while the 49-story Olympic, with a domed green roof, would feature 150 units. The towers would be connected by a street-level structure housing restaurants and ground-floor retail. The complex would total 800,000 square feet and feature a Beaux Arts palate of limestone detailing and reliefs. The developer is working to secure funding and permits. Robertson Partners is the architect.

LOS ANGELES THEATRE CENTER

The Latino Theater Company, which last year was awarded a 20-year contract by the city to operate the Los Angeles Theatre Center, hopes to begin a $4 million renovation of the space by September. The LTC has hired the company Pankow as the contractor and Cushman & Wakefield as the project manager, said LTC Interim Manager Lori Zimmerman. John Sergio Fisher is the architect. Plans call for transforming the structure at 514 S. Spring St. into a three-theater complex with new lighting and seats, and creating gallery space for the Latino Museum of History, Art & Culture in the lobby and basement levels. Additionally, a patio would be enclosed and would include a cafe. Zimmerman said a timeline and conversion specifics are being finalized, but the aim is to have a grand opening in February 2007. She added that the American Indian Dance Theater Company, Cedar Grove Productions and the Robey Theatre Company will become permanent residents in the transformed space. Will & Company, which had been a tenant in the building for 13 years, was evicted earlier this year.

METRO DETENTION CENTER

Crews in January broke ground on a 512-bed facility adjacent to Parker Center at Los Angeles and Temple streets, said Eric Long, senior project manager for Bernards Construction. The $73 million project will include four stories above ground and one level below; the building will house inmates and offices. Construction is slated to wrap in November 2008.

STANFORD REGENCY PLAZA

A groundbreaking was recently held for a 400,000-square-foot, four-story development on Stanford Street between 12th and 14th streets. The project by developer KI Group will feature 200 units of for-sale wholesale space ranging from 800 to 1,500 square feet. Three levels of subterranean parking will be included as well, said Sina Kangavari, KI Group managing partner. The architect, MAI, is working to incorporate a rooftop spa in the Plaza's design.

YARD HOUSE

The Irvine-based chain of American-fare pub restaurants signed on in April to be a tenant of the $2 billion L.A. Live project under construction near Staples Center. The eatery will occupy a 13,600-square-foot space facing Figueroa Street when the project opens in spring 2008. It is the first Los Angeles restaurant for the company.

RESIDENTIAL

FOR SALE

717 NINTH

Developer Richard Meruelo of Meruelo Maddux Properties is working on plans for one of the tallest residential buildings in Downtown. The 34-story condominium project dubbed 717 Ninth would feature 214 units adjacent to the future Ralphs supermarket. The $120 million development is expected to break ground this month and take about two years to complete. Mambo Architecture is designing the towering residence as an "aquatic metaphor" for the city. Plans call for a dramatic, watery glass curtain wall along the façade; there will also be a colorful "kelp garden" sculpture. A 6,800-square-foot ground floor seafood eatery is planned. The project had previously been called 717 Flower.

808 N. SPRING ST.

Developer Kor Group is in the early planning stages for a 150,000-square-foot Chinatown building it purchased last year for $9.2 million, said a spokesman for the company. Kor has floated plans for 123 live-work condominiums.

810 S. SPRING ST.

Developer National City Towers plans to spend $17 million to turn the 12-story structure at 810 S. Spring St. in the Historic Core into 93 condominiums. Units in the 135,000-square-foot building would average 950 square feet; the project would include four penthouses, a rooftop garden, a hot tub and a recreation room. The estimated cost is $17 million. Santa Monica-based David Gray is the architect. Construction is expected to finish by September 2007.

1010 WILSHIRE

Developer Amir L, LLC, has announced plans to convert the building at 1010 Wilshire Blvd. into housing. According to the most recent information available, the 17-story office edifice, which had been occupied by SBC, would be turned into 240 for-sale units. Plans by Santa Monica-based Killefer Flammang Architects call for turning 13 stories of the structure into 800- to 1,200-square-foot condominiums; remaining floors would hold parking, a swimming pool, a recreation area and possibly a health club.

1100 WILSHIRE

Construction is scheduled to finish this summer on the transformation of the top half of the wedge-shaped tower at Bixel Street and Wilshire Boulevard. Plans call for a mix of 228 dual-level (660 to 1,980 square feet) and single-level (700 to 1,200 square feet) condominiums ranging from $459,000 to $1.9 million. The 27-story, triangular tower atop a 15-level, nearly windowless parking garage has been largely vacant since it was constructed in 1987. It was originally intended as office space. Forest City Residential, TMG Partners and Hampton Development are collaborating on the $40 million project.

ARTISAN ON SECOND

Crews have been working since January on a 118-unit condominium complex on an L-shaped lot at Second and Hewitt streets. The sales center is already open and the first batch of units went on the market last month, said Kim Paperin, managing director for developer Trammell Crow Residential. One- and two-bedroom units in the four-story Arts District complex will range from 916 square feet to 1,770 square feet. Other amenities include floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, a fitness center and spa. Units will start in the $500,000s and construction should be complete by the end of 2007, Paperin said.

AXIS AT UNION STATION

Construction is scheduled to finish this month on the first phase of the $34 million, 272-unit condo complex at Alameda Street and Cesar E. Chavez Avenue near Union Station. Designed by GMP Architects, the five-story structure includes studio, one- and two-bedroom units between 644 and 1,460 square feet; prices start in the low $400,000s. Amenities include a fitness center, club room, rooftop pool, hot tub, barbecue area and screening room. A second five-story building is expected to open by this summer. The developer is Standard Pacific Homes. The project was previously known as Union Station Village. Move-ins are scheduled to start this summer.

BARKER BROTHERS BUILDING

The Community Redevelopment Agency in March approved the conversion of seven vacant Arts District warehouses into 297 live-work condominiums. The $75 million project by developer Kor Group will feature units ranging from 750 to 3,000 square feet starting in the mid-$300,000s. The project, bounded by Hewitt, Fourth, Molino and Palmetto streets, includes 6,797 square feet of retail.

BISCUIT COMPANY LOFTS

Construction is slated to wrap by December on the conversion of the former National Biscuit Company factory at 673 S. Mateo St. Developer Linear City is turning the nine-story 1925 structure into 105 live-work lofts averaging 1,327 square feet. The 160,000-square-foot project will include one- to four-level units. Other touches include hardwood floors, exposed brick, oversized windows and 13- to 30-foot-high ceilings. The project is designed by Aleks Istanbullu Architects and Don Barany Architects.

BRIDGE LOFTS

Mark Kreisel, who owned the late Arts District haunt Al's Bar, has said he is awaiting financing to develop a site at 120 N. Santa Fe Ave. in the Industrial District. His plans for Bridge Lofts call for turning a small two-story building into eight luxury condominiums. The units would range from 3,408 to 5,147 square feet and each would have a private garage and entrance, 27-foot ceilings, two fireplaces, two bathrooms and a 400-square-foot rooftop deck. Prices would range from $1.2 million to $1.5 million.

BROADWAY EXCHANGE

According to the most recent information available, the opening of a 68-unit residential conversion at 219 W. Seventh St. in the Jewelry District will be this summer. The transformation of the 12-story building has required a seismic upgrade. Plans by West Los Angeles-based architect Lucas Rios-Giordano call for open loft-style studios and one-bedroom units. A swimming pool will be in the basement of the 1911 building that was once the headquarters of the Bank of Italy.

BROCKMAN BUILDING

Developers Urban Pacific Builders and West Millennium Homes are continuing their $24 million transformation of the 12-story Beaux Arts office building at 530 W. Seventh St. into an 80-unit condominium complex. Mark Tolley of Urban Pacific said a sales office will open in June and occupancy could begin by the end of the summer. Prices will start in the mid-$400,000s for 850-square-foot units, while 2,300-square-foot penthouses featuring private rooftop decks are expected to fetch more than $1 million. Santa Monica-based Donald Barany Architects is handling the Jewelry District redesign, which will include a fitness center, community rooms and barbecues.

CHAPMAN LOFTS

Demolition should be completed within 30 days and developer All Pacific Financial is seeking building permits for the conversion of the Chapman Building at Eighth Street and Broadway in the Jewelry District. The $16 million project will transform the property into 168 loft-style condominiums with some retail space and room for restaurants, said company representative Fred Afari. The 760-square-foot units will include top-of-the-line cabinetry, modern kitchens and concrete flooring. Prices will start in the low $300,000s and the developer will begin taking reservations by July, said Afari. The 13-story property formerly housed garment businesses and currently leases ground-floor space to retail tenants. Designs call for restoring the historic marble and columns throughout the building and creating dramatic hallways and a grand entrance. A lighting consultant will be hired to illuminate the exterior at night. Architect Wade Killefer is designing the project. Afari said construction is scheduled wrap up by the end of 2007.

CITY FRONT PLACE

The Community Redevelopment Agency in April approved the construction of condominiums atop an existing strip mall at 530 E. Washington Blvd. just south of the Fashion District. Developer Dennis Needleman plans to build three side-by-side five-story buildings above the existing structure with 136 one-, two- and three-bedroom units from 880 to 1,800 square feet. The 200,000-square-foot building would also feature a barbecue area, fitness center, pool and an adjacent eight-level parking garage with 444 spots. Yung Kao of Alhambra-based Architech Group is handling the designs. Construction is scheduled to start this summer and finish in November 2007.

CONCERTO

A groundbreaking is expected this month on a 619-unit condominium complex at Figueroa and Ninth streets in South Park. The first phase in Beverly Hills-based developer Sonny Astani's project is a 30-story tower and a seven-story loft building with a total of 348 units. A second phase, scheduled to start in 2008, would add another 30-story tower. Units in the complex, all market-rate condominiums, will range from 750 to 2,325 square feet. The project also includes 27,500 square feet of retail, a 2,510-square-foot park and 1,000 parking spaces. In 2004 Astani paid $29 million to purchase the property from Equitable Life Assurance Society.

E2 LOFTS

RTI Properties and Landmark Communities are going through entitlement and design plans to convert a two-story brick warehouse at 941 E. Second St. in the Arts District into condominiums. The $13.4 million project will hold 23 industrial lofts, and possibly two retail spaces on the ground floor. The units, averaging 1,108 square feet and $700,000, also would include 15 top-level lofts with access to individual private gardens. Plans call for the 33,654-square-foot building to feature a common rooftop garden and barbecue area, exposed brick and a fitness center. The project is aimed towards the Arts District community. Construction is expected to start this fall and wrap by July 2007.

EASTERN COLUMBIA LOFTS

The $30 million conversion of the 13-story Eastern Columbia Building at 849 S. Broadway is slated to be complete this fall. Kor Group is turning the 75-year-old former office structure and department store into 147 condominiums ranging from 750 to 2,750 square feet with 11- to 14-foot ceilings. Prices will start in the low $300,000s, with penthouses selling for around $1 million. Amenities will include a rooftop fitness area, a leisure terrace, pool deck and a fireplace. The project includes six penthouses ranging from 1,426 to 3,208 square feet, some with outdoor fireplaces and patios. Last June, the developer relit the Art Deco neon clock tower atop the building. The development will have retail space and possibly a restaurant. Kelly Wearstler Interior Design and Killefer Flammang Architects are designing the project.

EL DORADO

Work is moving ahead on developer Downtown Properties' plan to turn a former hotel at 416 S. Spring St. into 65 condominiums. Units in the 12-story building will range from 850 to 1,700 square feet and start at $400,000. Each condo will feature a balcony, while penthouses will have private rooftop gardens. Built in 1913, the 12-story structure was originally named the Hotel Stowell after its builder, N.W. Stowell. The establishment catered to wealthy businessmen in the early years but later became a low-income hotel. It has been vacant for several decades.

FIG CENTRAL

Plans are on hold for the development of a pair of high-rise condominium towers on Figueroa Street between 11th and 12th streets across from Staples Center. KB Home and Lennar Corp. had planned to partner on the project - a 40-story and a 27-story structure with a total of 700 units and retail - but KB backed out and is now helping to develop the Convention Center hotel that will be the centerpiece of the $2 billion L.A. Live project. Michael Roth, a spokesman for Anschutz Entertainment Group, which also owns Staples Center, said the company owns the property and is currently in discussion with potential buyers.

FIGUEROA SOUTH

Construction is scheduled to begin in December on the South Group's two 34-story luxury condominium towers known as Figueroa South. The buildings are the fourth and fifth phases of the company's residential community dubbed South, and together will create 640 condominiums. The new site is across the street from Staples Center and the future L.A. Live entertainment district. Plans include plazas, fountains and gardens. Figueroa South's east tower will rise at 624 W. 12th St., with the west building at 1200 S. Figueroa St. The doors are expected to open in 2009. The 119,000-square-foot site was purchased from Anschutz Entertainment Group, developer of L.A. Live, for $23.5 million.

GLASS TOWER CONDOMINIUMS

Developer Amir Kalantari said a joint venture deal is under discussion and construction crews will begin work on a 25-story glass-clad edifice within six months. The $60 million ground-up residential tower at 1050 S. Grand Ave. in South Park will feature 128 condominiums ranging from 850 to more than 3,000 square feet. Units will start in the $400,000s and go up to $3 million. Construction is expected to last up to 30 months, Kalantari said. Nadel Architects is designing the project.

L.A. LOFTS

Los Angeles-based Venice Development has announced plans for a ground-up condominium tower at Hope Street and Olympic Boulevard in South Park. The project by architect Killefer Flammang will include some retail and company General Manager Sean Marouf has said that construction could start as soon as mid-2007. The project was previously called Hope Towers. Earlier this year, Venice completed the transformation of the 116-apartment Packard Lofts.

LIBRARY COURT

Newport Beach-based Greystone Group changed its plans late last year and now intends to turn the University Club Building at 630 W. Sixth St. into condominiums rather than apartments. Despite the switch, the $20 million conversion will still create 90 one- and two-bedroom units and five townhome-style lofts with private terraces. The building is named for its proximity to the Richard J. Riordan Central Library, and will integrate a glass curtain wall into the existing marble façade. Subway, Juice It Up and coffee shop/teahouse Loose Leaf are open now in the building's 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, while a Wolfgang Puck cafe, Mitaki's Sushi and the Library Bar are expected to open in the summer, said Carlos Perea, the project engineer. Residential sales will commence in June, with an average asking price of $500,000.

MILL STREET LOFTS

Construction is slated to start soon on developer Linear City's 16-story, 118-condominium project at 673 Mateo St. Units will start at 600 square feet and top out at 2,400 square feet. Pricing for the lofts has not yet been determined. The 132,000-square-foot project will include terraced roof gardens, a swimming pool and a landscaped breezeway that cuts through the building's center. The project is expected to open by April 2008. Behnisch, Behnisch & Partner of Stuttgart, Germany, and Marina del Rey-based Cunningham Group are the architects. The project was previously known as Sky Lofts.

MURA

Construction crews continue to work on a five-story ground-up condominium complex at 629 Traction Ave. in the Arts District. Michigan-based Pulte Home Corp. broke ground on the project in September and is now pre-selling units in the Togawa Smith Residential-designed development. The $80 million project calls for 190 one- to three-bedroom residences, including some two-story units, with floor plans ranging from 662 to 1,801 square feet, said Pulte Vice President of Infill Development Miles Huber. The 235,000-square-foot project will include a fitness center, outdoor fireplace, pool and barbecue area. The project is scheduled to open by spring 2007, Huber said. Mura is the Japanese word for "village."

NATIONAL BUILDING

Construction will be completed by late August on the 13-story property at Sixth Street and Grand Avenue in the Jewelry District, said developer Izek Shomof, who is spending $11 million to convert the 130,000-square-foot National Building into 99 loft-style condominiums. Plans by architect Mueller Design call for units ranging from 800 to 1,600 square feet. The former office building at 609 S. Grand Ave. was largely vacant. It marks Shomof's first Downtown project off Spring Street, where his properties include the 120-unit Premiere Towers and the 35-unit City Lofts. The 1926 structure was originally designed by Parkinson Architects and was known as the Edward, Widley & Dixon Building.

OLIVE STREET LOFTS

The project by developers CIM Group and the Lee Group has been sold, according to Lee officials. While the buyer has not been revealed, crews have recently been working on the tower on the southwest corner of 11th and Olive streets. Original plans called for the 17-story edifice to be transformed into 105 for-purchase units, with a construction cost of $35 million.

PAN AMERICAN LOFTS

Construction is slated to wrap in late August on Long Beach-based Urban Pacific Builders' $18 million conversion of the five-story Irvine Byrne Building into 40 lofts. Santa Monica-based Donald Barany Architects is reworking the 1895 Beaux Arts structure originally designed by Sumner Hunt. Plans call for 800- to 1,400-square-foot units starting in the mid $500,000s; the project at 249 S. Broadway will contain 10 penthouses.

ROOSEVELT BUILDING

Demolition work is underway on the $80 million residential conversion of the Roosevelt Building at Flower and Seventh streets. Plans by Killefer Flammang Architects call for 223 condominiums including two-level townhouses and 17 penthouses ranging from 800 to 2,600 square feet; a rooftop lounge, kitchen area and pool; and ground floor retail. Prices will range from $450,000 to more than $1 million. The 16-story building will retain many of its architectural touches, such as the marble staircases and façade. The site will take advantage of access to the Metro Red Line station in its basement. Construction is expected to finish by next spring. The developer is M. Aaron Yashouafar, CEO of Roosevelt Lofts, LLC.

ROWAN BUILDING

Work is proceeding on developer Downtown Properties' conversion of the 13-story Rowan Building at 460 S. Spring St. into 206 condominiums. Units in the 280,000-square-foot edifice will range from the mid-$200,000s to more than $800,000. Some units on the 12th floor and the penthouse will feature skylights, while a number of condos on the second and ground floors will have private patios or balconies. Six loft-style units will occupy the ground floor. The Beaux Art structure will be restored with its original terra cotta façade and marble-clad lobby, hallways and stairways. Originally designed by John Parkinson, the Rowan was completed in 1911 as a commercial office building. Killefer Flammang Architects is handling the designs for the renovation.

SB LOFTS

Construction is scheduled to wrap this summer on developer Barry Shy's $26 million conversion of the 548 S. Spring St. building into 184 condominiums. Units in the Historic Core property will range from 600 to 1,200 square feet and start at $300,000. The former office building and high-tech hub will feature a pool, spa and gym.

SB MANHATTAN

Developer Barry Shy is turning the 122,000-square-foot office building at 215 W. Sixth St. into 198 condominiums. Units would range from 600 to 1,200 square feet with about 20,000 square feet of retail. It is scheduled to open by the fall.

SB SPRING

Developer Barry Shy plans to turn two Historic Core properties into condominiums. Construction is scheduled to start next month on the conversion of the 650 S. Spring St. and 111 W. Seventh St. buildings into 420 condos in a single project. Shy said units will start at $300,000 and the development will feature a pool, spa and gym. Construction will last about 16 months, he said. They are part of a group of properties that Shy recently purchased for $75 million.

SB TOWER

Developer Barry Shy is turning the building at 600 S. Spring St. into 220 condominiums. Units in the 19-story structure will range from 900 to 2,000 square feet, he said, and cost between $400,000 and $1.5 million. Construction is scheduled to wrap by late next year.

SB TOWER II

Developer Barry Shy is working on final designs and is securing permits for a ground-up residential tower on a vacant lot on Main between Sixth and Seventh streets. Plans are still being worked out, but Shy said the 15-story structure would feature 550 units starting at $650,000. Construction could start as soon as this summer, he said, and last about two years. He purchased the property earlier this year.

SKY

The first residents of the 132-condominium project at 801 S. Grand Ave. in South Park will move in this month. Lee Homes and CIM Group transformed floors 12 through 22 in the Class A office building into one- and two-bedroom live-work units averaging 1,400 square feet. A new residential entrance has been added to the building's west side. The development features a fitness center and theater; the lower floors continue to house office space. Santa Monica-based Van Tilburg, Banvard, and Soderburg was the architect.

SOUTH/LUMA

Construction continues on South Group's $80 million, 475,000-square-foot, 19-story condominium tower in South Park. The building's 236 units will range from 750 to 3,500 square feet, in penthouse, townhouse, one- and two-bedroom layouts. With residents drawn by the building's amenities, ground floor retail and four levels of underground parking, the building is already sold out. Completion is expected in spring 2007.

SOUTH/EVO

A groundbreaking was held earlier this year for South Group's $160 million, 23-story complex at 12th Street and Grand Avenue in South Park. The 311 condominiums in the 720,000-square-foot development will average 1,100 square feet. There will be a handful of two-story townhouses and the building will include five levels of subterranean parking. The project, scheduled for completion by spring 2008, will share almost an entire block with the first two phases of the South development, Elleven and Luma.

TERAMACHI SENIOR HOUSING

With some inspections complete and elevators installed, finishing touches are expected by September on the $35-million, 127-condominium senior living development at Third and San Pedro streets in Little Tokyo, said developer Thomas Wong. Units will range from 775 to 2,100 square feet, and the six-story, 150,000-square-foot development will have three ground-floor retail tenants to help serve its community of seniors. The development will also feature one level of underground parking. Santa Monica-based architecture firm Van Tilburg, Banvard and Soderbergh designed the building.

ZEN

Kawada Company of America is in the entitlement phase for a 50-story, 330-condominium tower at Third and Hill streets, said developer Nat Kawada, who owns a nearby hotel. Plans by architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill call for an Asian-inspired design with units averaging 1,040 square feet and four penthouses topping out at 2,780 square feet. Plans are also in the works for a 704-car garage and a two-story fitness center with an indoor pool and a Zen garden. Retail and a sports-themed restaurant would take up about 10,000 square feet. It is scheduled to open by spring 2009.

RESIDENTIAL

FOR RENT

308 E. NINTH ST.

Architect David Gray has completed plans to turn a five-story, 73,000-square-foot warehouse at Ninth and Santee streets in the Fashion District into 38 apartments. Units would average 1,129 square feet and the project would feature eight rooftop penthouses and a rooftop garden. Building owner South Park Group, however, has not decided whether to go through with the conversion.

711 N. BROADWAY

Bridge Residential Advisors has announced plans to convert the four-story BC Plaza at 711 N. Broadway in Chinatown into housing. The office structure, which is largely vacant on the upper floors, will be turned into 42 loft-style units ranging from 575 square feet to 1,400 square feet. The $12 million project at the northwest corner of Ord Street and Broadway is being designed by Berry/Keller Architects, which will rehabilitate the dated façade, busy ground floor commercial storefronts and central courtyard.

717 OLYMPIC

Crews broke ground in November on a ground-up residential tower at Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street in South Park. Plans by the Houston-based Hanover Company call for a 26-story tower with 156 one- and two-bedroom market-rate apartments averaging 1,061 square feet. RTKL Architects is designing the project. Construction on the development, a short walk from the coming L.A. Live complex, is scheduled to finish in late 2007.

BIXEL STREET LOFTS

According to the most recent information available, developer Brad Gluckstein plans to build a five-story apartment complex with 80 units on a parking lot at Fifth and Bixel streets in City West. Designed by Santa Monica-based Aleks Istanbullu Architects, the 76,000-square-foot building would include five townhouses, nine lofts, 13 studios and 28 one- and 25 two-bedroom units. The apartments would range from 550 to 1,400 square feet. Construction has not started.

BROADSTONE LOS ANGELES

According to the most recent information available, Phoenix-based Broadstone Los Angeles plans to build a 204-unit ground-up luxury apartment complex on a former parking lot at First Street and Beaudry Avenue in City West. The lot has been fenced off. The developer has said that units in the five-story structure would range from 500-square-foot studios to 1,500-square-foot, three-bedroom residences. Rents would range from $1,275 to $4,125. The project would also include 6,000 square feet of ground floor retail. Thomas P. Cox is the architect. The project has yet to break ground.

BROADWAY PLAZA LOFTS

Plans to convert the former Blackstone department store at 901 S. Broadway into 82 loft-style apartments remain stalled, said Wolfgang Kupka, president of developer Vista Affordable Housing Corporation. Designs called for turning the 89-year-old building into 400- to 1,300-square-foot units. Kupka said construction is about 55% complete but was halted after contractor Fassberg Construction Co. declared bankruptcy. However, Larry Hoffman of Encino-based Fassberg said that about 70% of the work is done but the conversion was stopped because of insufficient funds from Kupka, changes in the project and rising costs. Kupka said he is in discussions to sell the property.

CORONITA

West Los Angeles-based Meta Housing is in the pre-construction phase for a multifamily affordable housing complex at 204 Lucas Ave. near Crown Hill in City West. The $7 million, 23,000-square-foot project will include 21 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The four-story building, just north of Meta's Emerald Terrace development, is expected to wrap by fall 2007.

COULTER AND MANDELL BUILDINGS

Developer George Peykar has previously announced plans to convert the 137,000-square-foot Coulter and Mandell Buildings at 500-518 W. Seventh St. into 55 live-work lofts and 28,000 square feet of ground floor retail. Peykar purchased the 88-year-old Jewelry District properties in 2003 for $8 million. The buildings currently stand empty and no construction is apparent.

EMERALD TERRACE

Construction is underway a $22 million, four-story complex at Lucas Avenue and Emerald Street near Crown Hill in City West. The 98,000-square-foot project will feature 85 affordable housing units from 700 to 1,000 square feet. The developers are Meta Housing and Century Housing of Culver City. The project is slated to finish by December.

FOURTH STREET LOFTS

Construction is scheduled to finish by August on a 10-unit, market-rate apartment complex on Fourth Street between Bixel Street and Lucas Avenue in City West. The 8,000-square-foot, $13.8 million building by developer Thomas Safran Associates will feature one-bedroom units from 800 to 1,000 square feet. Rent will top out at $2,000.

GLO

Construction is proceeding on a ground-up apartment complex by Washington- and California-based Wilshire Court Development Partners. The first phase is a five-story structure with 93 units at Bixel and Ingraham streets in City West. The second portion is a 108-unit, five-story structure just north, at Bixel Street and Wilshire Boulevard. The buildings, to be linked via a pedestrian bridge over Ingraham Street, will have studio and one-, two- and three-bedroom units averaging 1,010 square feet. Development Associate Luan Hu said the first phase is slated to open early next year, with the second finishing in May 2007. Birba Group is the architect. The project had been known as Wilshire Court.

HARTFORD PROJECT

Construction is slated to start in July on a $23 million affordable housing complex at 440 Hartford Ave., near San Lucas and Fourth streets in City West, said Dora Leong Gallo, CEO of nonprofit A Community of Friends. Designed by architect Killefer Flammang, the 54-unit project will contain mostly three- and four-bedroom units, as well as a Boys & Girls Club.

HIKARI

The completion date has been nudged back to August for this six-story ground-up apartment complex at Second Street and Central Avenue in Little Tokyo, said Gino Canori, project manager for developer the Related Cos. The $38.7 million development includes five levels of residential housing over 12,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Studio, one- and two-bedroom units will range from 400 to 1,100 square feet; 26 of them will be priced as low-income housing. The 108,000-square-foot development will include a fitness center, pool and spa. The project, a joint venture between Related and San Francisco-based MacFarlane Partners, will also feature an illuminated public art installation by Venice-based Susan Narduli.

JUDSON C. RIVES BUILDING

Crews are working on seismic retrofitting and framing in the $11.5 million conversion of a century-old office building at 424 S. Broadway. Plans by David Lawrence Grey call for 60 apartments averaging 880 square feet in the 10-story, 74,000-square-foot building. It will also include a rooftop deck and spa. The project is scheduled to open by June 2007.

LORENZO

Construction is expected to start in September on a 600-unit luxury apartment complex on Sixth Street between Bixel and St. Paul streets in City West, said Peter Novak, executive vice president for developer GH Palmer Associates. He said the specifics of the units are still being worked out.

MERCANTILE ARCADE BUILDING

Seismic retrofitting has begun on the $20 million conversion of the Arcade Building at 541 S. Spring St. Developer Fifth Street Funding is transforming the 12-story building into around 140 market-rate lofts. The building's two Beaux Arts towers are separated by a retail arcade that runs from Spring Street to Broadway. The units will be finished with hardwood floors, granite countertops and high-end stainless steel appliances. Completion is expected in August, said property and project manager Peterson Go.

NORTHWEST GATEWAY

Construction is underway on a $55 million mixed-income housing complex on a former train yard at Second Street and Glendale Boulevard. A partnership between Meta Housing and Essex Property Trust, the project will include 276 studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments between 527 and 1,820 square feet. The five-story building will also hold a computer lab, pool, spa, dog park, fitness center and two levels of underground parking. The property contains the Belmont Tunnel, which runs beneath Bunker Hill. Last year, the city's Cultural Heritage Commission designated the tunnel a Historic-Cultural Monument. Meta Housing said it would keep the tunnel intact, although it will not be open to the public. Completion is scheduled for early 2008.

ORSINI II

Crews have begun work on the foundation and a lower-level parking garage on a ground-up apartment complex at 505 N. Figueroa St. Developer GH Palmer Associates' plans call for 566 luxury apartments atop a podium deck, with rents ranging from $1,250 for studios to $1,725 for two-bedroom units. The project is part of the three-phase Orsini at Sunset Boulevard and Figueroa Street. It is scheduled for a May 2007 opening.

PACIFIC EXCHANGE BUILDING

According to the most recent information available, Delson Investment Company is still in the planning stage for a City West project that would include both an adaptive reuse element and the construction of two new towers. Delson head Michael Delijani has said that phase one would involve converting the 10-story Pacific Exchange Building at Third Street and Beaudry Avenue into housing. That would be followed by the construction of a pair of 30-story towers. If the project is completed, it would boast 850 condominiums and apartments. West Los Angeles-based Nadel Architects has been announced as the designer. The Pacific Exchange Building holds eight levels of parking.

ROSSLYN LOFTS

The $12 million renovation of the 1913 Frontier Hotel continues, with the 11th floor now completed, doubling the total of rehabilitated, loft-style apartments to 26. The units feature polished concrete floors and original mahogany moldings, while three art galleries occupy a portion of the building's ground-floor space. Rents on the new rooms run about $1.50 per square foot. Owners Rob Frontiera and his brother Joseph are renovating two floors at a time and eventually hope to fix up the entire building, although the lower levels still hold low-income hotel rooms. The 11th floor opened with its 13 units 80% leased, Frontiera said.

SANTA FE YARDS

According to the most recent information available, developers Polis Builders and McGregor Company are negotiating with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to lease land that houses a train storage and maintenance facility on Santa Fe Avenue and Second Street in the Arts District. The developers previously announced plans to build a $65 million, 400-unit apartment complex on the 2.7-acre site dubbed the Santa Fe Yards. The complex would include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments and lofts, with rents fetching about $2 a square foot; they would be geared to students. About 10,000 to 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail could include a cafe and other neighborhood-serving amenities. Also planned are 700 parking spaces, 200 of which would replace MTA spots. Early designs by Michael Maltzan Architects reveal a long, raised rectangular structure with an underpass that opens the project to pedestrian activity.

SIXTH STREET LOFTS

According to the most recent information available, construction is scheduled to finish by July on a half-ground-up, half-adaptive reuse project in the Industrial District. Developer Howard Klein is creating 63 live-work units and at least two retail spaces by converting a row of warehouses at 1309-1333 E. Sixth St. and building three new structures nearby. Units in the complex will range from 600 to 1,580 square feet. Seattle-based Tony Bell Architecture is handling the designs.

THE UNION

Construction is moving ahead on the $17 million conversion of the building at 760 S. Hill St. in the Jewelry District. Designs by Santa Monica-based Killefer Flammang Architects call for 91 loft-style apartments from 700 to 1,900 square feet. Meruelo Maddux Properties acquired the 12-story structure for $12 million last year from Heisman Co. The brick and terra cotta building was once the headquarters of Union Bank and Trust Company. Construction is scheduled to finish by early 2007.

TITLE GUARANTEE BUILDING

Construction will finish in December for an early 2007 delivery of the $27 million renovation of the 1930 building originally designed by John and David Parkinson. Architecture firm Killefer Flammang is handling the redesign. Crews have completed all the interior demolition and removal of hazardous materials, and are about halfway done with seismic improvements, said developer Daniel Swartz, who purchased the 12-story building - the former home of Spanish language daily newspaper La Opinión - in 1983. Exterior demolition is almost complete, and a subtle change in design will allow a larger light well in the rear of the building, Swartz said. The 74 loft-style units will start at 900 square feet and will feature 10- to 14-foot exposed concrete ceilings.

TUSCANY

Work is about 90% complete on a $40 million, 330,000-square-foot student housing center at 3670 S. Figueroa St. near USC. The five-story complex will house 512 students in 120 one- to four-bedroom apartments averaging 1,066 square feet and renting for $600 per student per month. It will also have 15,000 square feet of retail with tenants including Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Coldstone Creamery and Pick Up Stix, as well as a swimming pool, two spas, a fitness room and a roof deck. Conquest Student Housing is developing the project designed by Clark & Hedrick Architects. It is on track to open in June.

UNION POINT

West Los Angeles-based developer Meta Housing plans to build a $7 million ground-up affordable housing complex at 420 Union Drive between Fourth and Sixth streets in City West. The five-story structure will house two- and three-bedroom units between 800 and 1,050 square feet. It will include on-site laundry, a community room, a computer lab and a barbecue/picnic area. Plans call for construction to wrap by September 2007.

UNIVERSITY GATEWAY

Construction is slated to start this fall on an eight-story, ground-up student housing complex at Figueroa Street and Jefferson Boulevard near USC. Downtown-based Urban Partners is developing the $135 million project with 421 units for 1,600 students, along with 1,200 parking spaces. Pasadena-based Togawa Smith Martin Residential is designing the project that also features 83,000 square feet of ground floor retail; that space will include a bookstore, coffee shop, a fitness center and storage for more than 800 bicycles. The parcel, just east of the Shrine Auditorium, is the site of a car dealership. The project is scheduled to open by fall 2008.

VERMONT SENIOR HOUSING

Century City-based developer Century Housing Corp. has said construction on a four-story senior housing facility at 39th Street and Exposition Boulevard is scheduled to finish by January. Plans call for 140 mostly one-bedroom units. The development, for seniors over 62, will include ground-floor parking and common areas. The project is partly funded by a 2002 Department of Housing and Urban Development grant.

VILLA VERONA

Construction is scheduled to finish by June on a $65 million ground-up loft project at Wilshire Boulevard and Bixel Street in City West. The 250,000-square-foot building will include 234 lofts, 10,000 square feet of retail, 450 parking spots and 35 workforce apartments. Beverly Hills-based Sonny Astani is the developer.

VISCONTI

Construction is proceeding on a $45 million, 297-unit luxury apartment complex at Bixel and Third streets in City West. Developer GH Palmer Associates expects the first occupancies to come as soon as August, and the development will be completely finished by the end of the year. Pre-leasing has begun for the first 100-unit phase, with about 30 contracts signed.

WOOD APARTMENTS

Construction is slated to wrap in about a year on a 61-unit affordable housing project in City West. 1010 Development Corp., the development arm of First United Methodist Church, is building the $20.5 million project on two lots on opposite sides of the street - one at 1322 and the other at 1405 James M. Wood Boulevard. The project, designed by Pasadena-based Ken Kurose Architects, includes 40 two-bedroom units averaging 800 square feet and 21 three-bedroom units averaging 1,259 square feet. The 58,000-square-foot development just west of Downtown also includes 1,340 square feet of office and social service space, a 1,740-square-foot community room and a 3,000-square-foot childcare center for 30-40 preschool students.

YALE TERRACE

Construction is slated to wrap in October 2007 on a 55-unit low-income apartment complex at Yale and Ord streets in Chinatown. Designed by Jubany Architecture and Edwin Mohabir and Partners, the project will feature 37 four-bedroom and 18 three-bedroom units around an interior courtyard. Additionally, 10,000 square feet of space is being set aside for social service, educational and after-school programs. Advanced Development and Investment is the developer.

MIXED USE

BLOCK 8/LITTLE TOKYO

Developer Related Cos. plans to break ground by late fall on the first phase of a $250 million market-rate housing community on land known as Block 8, a parking lot at Second, Third, Los Angeles and San Pedro streets in Little Tokyo. The four-structure project will ultimately include 750 condominiums and apartments, retail and a 600-space public parking garage. The first phase will include two of the four structures and will create 155 condominiums and 231 apartments. There will be two additional six-story buildings: one will house 95 condos on the southeast corner of Second and Los Angeles streets, across from the Little Tokyo Library; the other will be sited mid-block along Los Angeles Street between Second and Third streets, with 240 condos. That could begin by early next year. On the southern half of the site, a 12,672-square-foot park will include landscaping, fountains, public art and pathways. Thomas P. Cox Architects is designing the project.

BLOSSOM PLAZA

No groundbreaking has been announced, but according to the most recent information available, Blossom Plaza could connect with another mixed-use development at the Capitol Milling Co. building. The project, on the site of the former Little Joe's restaurant (it closed in 1998), is comprised of six contiguous lots at 900-924 N. Broadway, 215-219 College St. and 901 N. Spring St. Developer Larry Bond, who heads Bond Companies, has said the housing element will be compatible with Chinatown's design; the plan is based on design principles found both in historic Chinese city planning and the 1938 plan for New Chinatown of Los Angeles. Once it begins, construction is expected to last about two years.

CAPITOL MILLING BUILDING

Steve Riboli of S&R Partners has announced plans to create a mixed-use development in the Capitol Milling Co. building, a 60,000-square-foot structure at 1231 N. Spring St. The project would include 40 apartments with 25,000 square feet of retail. Riboli is working with Larry Bond, who is developing the nearby mixed-use Blossom Plaza, on creating a public space to fuse the two sites. The structure is a former grain mill and silo. The plans are part of the large-scale Riverview Project at the Cornfield, a mixed-use development on a triangular piece of land stretching from College Street to the Los Angeles River. The four-phase project would use the Capitol Milling Co. building as a southern anchor and include up to 300 residential units in four four-story, ground-up structures. John Deenihan, a principal with Downtown-based Rothenberg Sawasy Architects, has been tapped to handle designs. The Riboli family also owns the San Antonio Winery north of Chinatown.

GRAND AVENUE PLAN

Officials from the Grand Avenue Committee, developer The Related Cos. and architect Frank Gehry last month unveiled proposals for the first phase of the Grand Avenue plan, an effort to turn a portion of Bunker Hill into a $1.8-billion mixed-use complex. The first phase, a $750 million plan bounded by Grand Avenue and First, Second and Olive streets, includes 1.2 million square feet of housing, retail, restaurants and lodging. The project would be anchored by a 50- and a 25-story tower designed by Gehry. The plan also includes a Civic Park that would link the Music Center and City Hall, and two additional development phases that would add 400,000 square feet of retail, 2,600 residential units and a 275-room hotel. Construction on the first portion could start as soon as next year. A series of public meetings are scheduled through the summer.

HERALD EXAMINER

Construction is scheduled to start in December on developer Urban Partners' transformation of the former home of the Herald Examiner afternoon newspaper into 29,000 square feet of office space and 39,725 square feet of retail. The first phase would construct a 24-story, 260-unit building at 1108 S. Hill St. and finish in 30 months. A 33-story, 330-unit tower would also be built at 120 W. 12th St. Architect Brenda Levin will oversee the rehab of the historic building; the ground-up elements will be designed by Thom Mayne.

MEDALLION

Although the Community Redevelopment Agency and other city entities have approved plans for a 320,000-square-foot complex at Fourth and Main streets, increasing construction costs have caused the development to be put on hold and reassessed, said Saeed Farkhondehpour, a developer with Morad Neman on the project. Original plans called for the $125 million Medallion to include 360 condominiums and 200,000 square feet of retail in two 11-story towers, along with three commercial structures. However, Farkhondehpour said those plans may need to be scaled back, and redesigns could result in low-rise towers. Altogether, Farkhondehpour said, rising material and construction costs have made the project about twice as expensive as originally planned. M2A Architects and Leo A Daly are handling the designs.

METROPOLIS

L.A.-based IDS Real Estate Group expects to break ground this fall on a 6.3-acre, four-phase project totaling 836 condominiums, 480 hotel rooms and retail and office space on a series of parking lots bounded by the 110 Freeway, James M. Wood Boulevard and Eighth and Francisco streets in South Park. The first phase includes a 30-story tower with 360 condominiums and 17,867 square feet of retail. It could open as soon as 2008. Additional phases include a 46-story tower with 388 condominiums and 17,133 square feet of retail; a 55-story tower with 480 hotel rooms and condominiums; and a 42-story office tower with 11,000 square feet of retail. The entire project is budgeted at $1 billion. Gruen Associates and Arquitectonica are the architects.

SANTEE VILLAGE

Construction is moving forward on the latest phase in the conversion of nine former garment buildings on the block bounded by Los Angeles, Seventh and Eighth streets and Maple Avenue in the Fashion District into a 780,000-square-foot development with 445 residential units. The next phase, scheduled to open early next year, includes: the 11-story, 95-loft Cornell; the seven-story, 48-unit Eckardt; and the 11-story, 73-unit The Santee. In March, move-ins began for the Textile Building at 315 E. Eighth St., which includes 64 live-work units from 650 to 1,575 square feet with prices starting in the low $300,000s. The building also includes 5,000 square feet of ground floor retail. A 165-apartment first phase opened in May 2004. Santa Monica-based MJW Investments is the developer. Phoenix Realty Group has joined MJW as a partner in the $92 million second phase of the project.

SOUTH VILLAGE/RALPHS

The sales office has opened at 801 S. Grand Ave. for Market Lofts, the condominium component of South Village, a $220 million, 7.2-acre mixed-use development bounded by Eighth, Ninth, Hope and Flower streets. The six-story project will include one of Downtown's most anticipated elements, a 50,000-square-foot Ralphs supermarket. Housing developer Lee Homes has slightly increased the size of the 267 condominiums, which will now range from 695 to 1,588 square feet. The project will feature an outdoor courtyard, pool, spa, screening room and gym. The condominiums are expected to open in early 2007, with the Ralphs debuting some time the following year. The first phase of South Village, the 251-unit Gas Company Lofts at 800-820 S. Flower St., opened in 2004. Plans call for additional phases - both housing and retail - on adjacent sites. CIM Group is overseeing the financing and development of the supermarket and 10,000 square feet of retail along the development's Ninth Street boundary.

CIVIC

CIVIC CENTER FIRE STATION NO. 4

Construction is scheduled to finish by next fall on a two-story fire and paramedic station at First and Alameda streets. The 40,000-square-foot station will include two bays and a hose tower. It will replace an aged 11,000-square-foot facility at 800 N. Main St. and will be staffed by 14 firefighters serving Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Olvera Street. It will be connected to an emergency operations center at 500 E. Temple St., which is also under construction. That 82,000-square-foot structure, which will house police operations and fire dispatch centers, will replace emergency communication facilities in City Hall East. GKK Dommer and Fluor/HOK are the architects.

CORNFIELD/LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK

California State Parks officials organized a design competition in March and April for a new park on the Cornfield site, a 32-acre torpedo-shaped former train yard just east of Chinatown. No results have been announced and funding is unsecured. No timeline has been set. The parks department acquired the land for $30 million in 2001. Last year, the Annenberg Foundation funded a $2 million installation by artist Lauren Bon that transformed the site into a massive cornfield with rows of planted stalks. The parks department has discussed building an interim park on part of the land.

EXPOSITION LIGHT RAIL

MTA officials still expect a summer groundbreaking for the $640 million light rail line that will connect the existing Metro Blue Line to Culver City along the median of Exposition Boulevard. The line will share stations with the Blue Line, and will add another eight stops along the route. The Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority's board of directors recently approved a $420 million design/build contract - funded by the subsequent commitment of state transportation funds - that paved the way for the summer construction start. The project is a joint venture of Vista-based FCI Construction, Inc., Aliso Viejo-based Fluor Corp. and Pasadena-based Parsons Corp. Completion is expected by 2010, and a second phase may continue the line to Santa Monica.

FEDERAL BUILDING

A contract for the first phase of construction on the upgrade of the Federal Building has been awarded to Stronghold Engineers, Inc., said Mary Filippini, a spokeswoman for the General Services Administration. The $16.3 million bid will fund seismic work in the basement and on the first floor. The entire project is a $90 million renovation that will be conducted in three phases at 300 N. Los Angeles St. in the Civic Center. It will include new fire safety systems, ceilings, energy-efficient lighting, signage, security systems, elevators and the removal of hazardous materials. All of the work will be completed while the building is occupied, so the more than 8,000 employees of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Bankruptcy Court will not have to leave. Construction will take up to four years.

FEDERAL COURTHOUSE

Bidding for the second phase of a 1 million-square-foot courthouse at First Street and Broadway in the Civic Center has been cancelled. Plans had called for the structure to contain 41 courtrooms, 40 judges' chambers and office space for federal agencies. The 3.6-acre site was purchased from the state of California for $2.5 million. The project next to City Hall was budgeted at $314 million. Plans could restart by this summer, though if it moves forward, changes are expected.

GOLD LINE EASTSIDE EXTENSION

Two massive boring machines are being used to dig tunnels that will stretch from Union Station to Pomona/Atlantic in East L.A. The six-mile, $899 million extension of the Metro Gold Line will include eight stations. The project also involves replacing on- and off-ramps at Hewitt and Vignes streets and the construction of a bridge over the 101 Freeway to carry the light rail. Officials have said that the line will be complete in December 2009. Transit officials estimate it could carry as many as 23,000 daily riders.

HALL OF JUSTICE

Debris has been cleared and interior drawings have been completed, but restoration work is still at least three years away on the earthquake-damaged Hall of Justice at Temple and Spring streets in the Civic Center. Plans call for spending more than $125 million on fixes and safety upgrades. John Edmisten, a division chief in the county's Chief Administrative Office, estimated planning would take about a year and construction would last at least another year. The Board of Supervisors decided to break up the approval and construction process over a three-year period. Supervisors must approve each phase of construction separately.

LOS ANGELES RIVER

U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard in late April introduced legislation in Washington, D.C., to restore the Los Angeles River, which borders Downtown. If passed by Congress and signed by President Bush, the $79 million Los Angeles River Revitalization Act would require the Army Corps of Engineers to develop a plan to restore water flows, improve flood control and create recreational and economic opportunities along the riverbanks. The legislation also provides funding for graffiti removal and habitat restoration. The city, along with help from community groups such as Friends of the Los Angeles River, are also creating a master plan to clean up the waterway over the next 20 years.

POLICE HEADQUARTERS

Work is slated to begin this summer on the 11-story, $303 million new headquarters of the Los Angeles Police Department at First and Spring streets near the Civic Center. The 500,000-square-foot structure will include police administration and investigative operations, large assembly areas including a Police Commission hearing room, a conference center, a Compstat Command Center, a 200-seat cafe and a 450-seat auditorium on Main Street. A six-story (four above ground, two below), 500-space parking garage and a police carwash and gas station for about 1,200 vehicles is also part of the complex. After protests from the community, the Police Commission last year voted to include a 130-by-200-foot stretch of grass and trees fronting Second Street, as well as an expanded outdoor plaza on First Street. The new building will replace the earthquake-damaged Parker Center a block north. DMJM is the architect. Construction is scheduled to finish by June 2008.

TAYLOR YARD

Work continues on turning the Union Pacific Rail Yard (known to many as Taylor Yard) on the banks of the Los Angeles River north of Downtown into a state recreational facility. The $34 million project, to be known as the Rio de Los Angeles State Recreational Facility, will include green spaces, hiking trails and wildlife habitats, along with recreation fields and sports facilities. The 240-acre site in Cypress Park runs from San Fernando Road to the Los Angeles River. The state acquired the property in 2001. Construction is slated to finish by this summer.

SCHOOLS

AMBASSADOR HOTEL

Demolition finished in March on the former Ambassador Hotel, clearing the way for a multi-school campus west of Downtown, said Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Shannon Johnson-Haber. Plans call for building an 825-seat school for kindergarten through third grade students; a 1,400-seat facility for fourth through eighth grade students; and a 2,150-seat high school. The 24-acre Wilshire Boulevard site will also have a small park. An agreement was reached earlier between the school district and preservationist organization the Los Angeles Conservancy to allow the structure to be torn down in exchange for the creation of a $5 million Historic Resources Investment Fund. Artifacts from the pantry in which Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated have been preserved at an offsite LAUSD location, Johnson-Haber said. The $55 million elementary school is expected to break ground this fall, with completion slated for summer 2008. The $150 million middle/high school is scheduled to begin construction in summer 2007 and finish in summer 2009.

CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL

According to the most recent information available, Cathedral High School is in the midst of a $12 million effort to build a 48,000-square-foot gym and science building for the campus' 600 students. Brother John Montgomery, the school's principal, has said the project will wrap in spring 2007. Long Beach-based Kluger Architects is designing the two-story structure, which will allow students of the all-boys Catholic school to participate in 11 sports. The facility will use split-face concrete blocks and a red tile roof to match the other structures on campus, and will feature several labs, including one for computer design, and a gym with weight facilities, team rooms, lockers and a film room. A 1940s gym was torn down to make way for the current project.

CENTRAL LOS ANGELES AREA NEW HIGH SCHOOL NO. 9

Construction started in March on a 238,000-square-foot facility at 450 N. Grand Ave., the 10-acre site of the old Fort Moore and the previous LAUSD headquarters. The school will house 1,728 students in 64 classrooms arranged in four academies: music, dance, visual arts and performing arts. HMC is the architect of record and Coop Himmelblau is the design architect. LAUSD spokeswoman Shannon Johnson-Haber said completion is scheduled by summer 2008. Published reports have put the price of the school at $208 million.

CENTRAL LOS ANGELES AREA HIGH SCHOOL NO. 10

The $138 million, 258,000-square-foot facility on both sides of Third Street in City West is scheduled for completion this summer and classes will start in the fall. The 1,713-student school features 14 acres of athletic facilities including two gymnasiums and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The academic campus on the plot south of Third Street will feature 72 classrooms in a U-shaped plan surrounding a large courtyard, with a main entrance at Lucas Avenue. A pedestrian bridge will connect the two sites. Johnson Fain is the architect of the project, which has been named after late labor leader Miguel Contreras.

CENTRAL LOS ANGELES AREA NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL NO. 4

Work is nearly complete on the $94 million, 155,000-square-foot facility at 3500 S. Hill St. near Exposition Park. Culver City-based Steven Ehrlich Architects' design will create 63 classrooms, offices, a food service area, a library, a courtyard and a multipurpose room on the nine-acre site. Construction is scheduled to finish this summer.

COLBURN SCHOOL

Construction is scheduled to wrap by summer 2007 on a $120 million expansion of the Colburn School at 200 S. Grand Ave. Crews are working on the ninth floor of the project's 12-story tower, which will house up to 145 students, said school spokeswoman Barbara Vyden. The 326,000-square-foot expansion will also hold Colburn's new college-level Conservatory of Music and the expanded community program, and will feature a 200-seat performance venue along with classrooms, a 7,000-square-foot rehearsal hall, 50 practice rooms, a cafeteria and offices. Downtown-based Pfeiffer Partners is the architect.

LOS ANGELES TRADE-TECHNICAL COLLEGE

Crews broke ground in late April on a new parking garage, the latest element in a $240 million revamp of the community college district's aging campus at Washington Boulevard and Grand Avenue. Eight buildings on the 29-acre campus are receiving a major overhaul worth $75 million. Last year crews finished the renovation of the building that houses the automotive technology and arts and humanities centers, and the machine shop. Plans for twin five-story edifices are awaiting state approval. Those structures, each 128,000 square feet, would include student services facilities, classrooms, lecture halls and administrative offices. There are also plans for a new campus gymnasium. Additionally, officials last year announced a $3 million proposal to turn a Blue Line station near the school into a bus and rail plaza. The entire Trade-Tech project is scheduled for completion in 2008.

SCI-ARC BUILDING

Developer Richard Meruelo is still considering plans for a property he owns in the Arts District. A superior court judge ruled last spring that the Southern California Institute of Architecture does not have the right to purchase the former train depot where it has leased space since 2000. The decision allows Meruelo, who owns numerous Downtown properties, to acquire the building. Meruelo also owns plots adjacent to the school and has discussed building on those sites. In the wake of the judge's ruling, Meruelo and SCI-Arc officials have pledged to work together to find a solution that benefits both parties.

USC HEALTH SCIENCES CAMPUS

Construction continues on the 10-story, 172,000-square-foot Harlyne Norris Cancer Research Tower adjacent to the Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, said USC spokesman John Weiner. When it is completed sometime in 2007, the structure will await another neighbor, the recently announced 200,000-square-foot Broad Institute for Integrative Biology and Stem Cell Research, which is still in the design phase. Groundbreaking is expected later this year on the facility seeded by $25 million from philanthropist Eli Broad. Together, the three buildings will house more than 100 new researchers focusing on neuroscience, cancer, stem cell and regenerative medicine, as well as diabetes and other diseases.

USC UNIVERSITY PARK CAMPUS

Several major projects are underway on the USC campus near Downtown Los Angeles. Construction is expected to finish by August on the $23 million facelift of Webb Tower, which includes seismic and electrical upgrades. Additionally, work is expected to finish by summer 2007 on the second phase of Parkside Residential College, a 143,000-square-foot housing center for 440 students. The school is also building 1,100- and 1,200-car parking garages. The Thornton School of Music, a $70 million structure, is scheduled to rise by 2010. Overall, USC has committed nearly $300 million to construction projects on its University Park campus.

VISTA HERMOSA

Construction has begun and heavy machinery is on site at Central Los Angeles High School No. 11, a campus for 2,600 students on what was formerly known as the Belmont Learning Center, at First and Beaudry streets in City West. Three existing academy buildings will be converted into a 2,100-seat school. A separate 500-seat academy, cafeteria, library, student union and parents' center will also be developed on the 24-acre plot. The project will total 102 classrooms with 2,600 seats. Additionally, plans call for the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to develop a park on the land that would feature a soccer field, picnic area, fishing pond and outdoor amphitheater. Though concerns over dangerous gases and an earthquake fault below the campus have delayed the school for years and caused the razing of two buildings, officials said the problems can be mitigated. The LAUSD estimates the cost of the entire project at $175 million, on top of the $172 million already spent. Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Shannon Johnson-Haber said the campus is scheduled to open in fall 2008.

CULTURAL/ENTERTAINMENT

ANGELS FLIGHT RECONSTRUCTION

John Welborne, president of the nonprofit Angels Flight Railway Foundation, said three bidders are up for the contract to restore a modern drive system for the storied funicular that links Bunker Hill and the Historic Core. The train, often called "the shortest railway in the world," is expected to return to service by the end of 2006, said Welborne. The two cars, the Sinai and the Olivet, have been repaired, and the two stations have been repainted. The $3.3 million restoration has been funded by a campaign that began in 2003. The railway closed following a 2001 accident that left one person dead and seven injured.

CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER

The World of Ecology, the latest phase in the expansion of the Exposition Park facility, is on track to open in 2009. The structure will house live habitats and a series of interactive exhibits. It is the second of three expansion projects the Center has undertaken. The first included the main building, the parking facility and an elementary school; the third will house the air and space collection. The estimated cost of the expansion is nearly $140 million. The entire project is scheduled to finish by 2018.

CENTRAL AVENUE ART PARK

A three-acre public art park on the block bounded by First, Judge John Aiso, Temple and Alameda streets in Little Tokyo is still several years away. There is currently a parking lot on the site, and the project must wait until the new police headquarters parking garage is completed several blocks away. A groundbreaking for the new parking facility should be held by July, said city Chief Legislative Analyst Gerry Miller. He added that formal designs for the art park will not be ready for at least a year.

CONVENTION CENTER HOTEL

Developers of a 56-story hotel set to rise as part of the L.A. Live entertainment complex have said an operator of the facility will be named soon. Earlier this year, officials announced that KB Home is partnering with Anschutz Entertainment Group. Former developers Wolff Urban Management and Apollo Real Estate Advisors backed out over rising costs, now pegged at $625 million. The Convention Center headquarters hotel has been redesigned to include an L-shaped structure at the base of the property that will hold 900 rooms, while 200 luxury rooms will be in the tower. The biggest change comes in the number of condominiums planned for the tower's upper floors; instead of the original 100, the project will now feature 250 high-end units. AEG Senior Vice President Ted Tanner said the earliest the hotel would open is 2010.

ECHO PARK POOL

Construction is about one-third completed on a $4.8 million renovation of the Department of Recreation and Parks facility at 1410 Colton St. just west of Downtown. When finished, the heated indoor pool will feature a new roof, electrical system, locker rooms, bathrooms and showers. Designed by West L.A.-based Frank R. Webb Architects, the upgrades are projected to be complete by January 2007.

FOOTBALL STADIUM

Representatives of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum this week will be in Denver, where they hope that the NFL's 32 owners will select their venue to be the future home of professional football in Southern California. Anaheim and Pasadena are also competing. The current Coliseum plans call for an $800 million reinvention of the 1923 structure. The peristyle and other historic elements would be preserved, while the interior of the stadium would be gutted and transformed. Seating capacity would decrease from today's 92,000 to 67,000 (with much of the seating on the sidelines, rather than above the end zones), though events such as the Super Bowl could hold up to 80,000 people. The new Coliseum would also include about 200 revenue generating luxury suites and 15,000 club seats. Under the current plan, the NFL would pay for the entire renovation, and an owner and team would be named in the future. Area officials hope to have the first game in the stadium in 2010.

GALEN CENTER

The $89 million USC arena at Figueroa Street and Jefferson Boulevard in the Figueroa Corridor is on track and scheduled to be complete this summer. Designed by HNTB, the 225,000-square-foot structure sits on nearly seven acres just west of the 110 Freeway and features 10,258 seats. The complex will include the 55,000-square-foot Athletic Pavilion, which will house three practice gymnasiums and Athletic Department offices. The project will also hold a 1,200-car parking garage. It will host 130 events a year and serve as the home of the Trojan men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams.

GANSEVOORT WEST

Construction is moving ahead on the conversion of the former Embassy Hotel and Theater at 851 S. Grand Ave. WSA Management and Chetrit Group are turning the nine-story structure into a 175-room boutique hotel. Crews are also restoring the building's 1,800-seat theater. The 1914 edifice designed by Thornton Fitzhugh has served at various points as a church, hotel and a facility for USC. As the Trinity Theater, it was home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1919. Stephen B. Jacobs Group is the architect of the conversion. Kristen Hammer, a spokeswoman for the project, said it is scheduled to open in summer 2007. New York-based WSA is behind the Hotel Gansevoort in Manhattan and is also developing a hotel in Miami.

LA FASHION CENTER

Construction continues on the 560,000-square-foot garment industry center at 1444 S. San Pedro St. and an opening is slated for next spring. More than 70% of the 196 for-purchase retail spaces and showrooms for wholesalers and manufacturers have been sold at an average price of $700,000, said Alex Chang, a spokesman for developer Los Angeles Fashion Center, LLP. The units average 1,200 square feet. FedEx and UPS facilities, a food court and a bank will round out the development, also known as LA FACE.

L.A. LIVE

Construction is moving forward on the $1.8 billion entertainment complex at Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street just north of Staples Center. The project broke ground Sept. 15, and is on schedule to open its first phase in spring 2008. More than 400,000 cubic yards of earth have been removed from the site so far. Elements in the initial phase include the 7,100-seat Nokia Theatre and the 2,400-seat Club Nokia, as well as restaurants, clubs (including the Conga Room), a 15-screen Regal cineplex, a Grammy museum, retail and other entertainment venues. The next phase will include a 70,000-square-foot, five-story ESPN broadcast studio, along with an ESPN Zone with retail, a two-level restaurant and an arcade. That structure is expected to be completed in 2009 at the corner of Figueroa and 11th streets. It will be the West Coast headquarters for ESPN.

LINDA LEA THEATER

Costa Mesa-based Cinema Properties Group is managing the renovation of the Linda Lea Theater at 251 S. Main St. and has hired Culver City-based Hodgetts + Fung Design and Architecture to redesign the space. Cinema Properties has partnered with ImaginAsian Entertainment, a New York City-based media company that will provide the content and management for the theater. Pre-construction activities are underway for the $2.5 million renovation. Completion is expected by early 2007.

MAPLE UNION

Developers KI Group and Bridge Capital Development are 80% finished with this 100,000-square-foot, 122-unit retail development on the northeast corner of Maple Avenue and Olympic Boulevard. Construction will be finished by mid-July, said KI Group Managing Partner Sina Kangavari. The development will feature a retail promenade cutting through the block toward Maple Alley to create a space away from traffic noise. Two levels of parking, with 160 spaces, will cap the development. Almost three quarters of the units - ranging from 250 to 1,200 square feet, at $3,000 to $6,000 per month - have been pre-leased, Kangavari said. Studio City-based KGA is the architect.

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

Moves to update and expand the Natural History Museum are still on hold, said museum spokeswoman Jennifer Westfall. The Exposition Park facility is planning to begin a fundraising campaign for the expansion, which has been pegged at about $300 million. Architect Stephen Holl completed a master plan several years ago.

VARIETY ARTS CENTER

Anschutz Entertainment Group is currently in negotiations to redevelop the Variety Arts Center at 940 S. Figueroa St., said AEG spokesman Michael Roth. The 1924 property sits a few blocks from AEG's $1.8 billion L.A. Live entertainment complex, which broke ground last September. The five-story Italian Renaissance-inspired building - a registered Historic-Cultural Monument - contains a 1,000-seat theater, a smaller entertainment venue, a nightclub space, a lounge, a library and offices. It was built as the headquarters for the Los Angeles Friday Morning Club in the late 19th century.

WILSHIRE GRAND HOTEL

The $40 million renovation of the hotel at 930 Wilshire Blvd. began May 15. The Grand Ballroom will be upgraded and open in August, with the Los Angeles and Golden State ballrooms and 50,000 square feet of meeting spaces opening by 2007. Guest rooms will be remodeled starting in the fall. The four-year overhaul is being designed by Long Beach-based architect Concepts Four, and will include some structural changes. The renovation was spurred by the development of the L.A. Live project a few blocks south.

RESTAURANTS AND BARS

CROCKER CLUB

Hollywood-based Five Five Endeavors is turning a basement portion of the Spring Arts Tower at 453 S. Spring St. into a bar and lounge. The speakeasy-themed nightspot (patrons will enter through a hidden door) will also make use of a basement vault. The 6,000-square-foot space will be a casual upscale bar and lounge with a 1920s feel and may include a private members club. It is named after a former tenant of the 1914 building, the Crocker Citizens National Bank. The project could open by late July.

DIETRICHS

Construction is scheduled to finish early next year on a $1.5 million 1920s-style speakeasy on the ground floor of the Hellman Building at Fourth and Main streets. The 1,300-square-foot project by Hollywood-based Sweet Freedom Development will feature live music and a cigar bar. George Kelly is the architect. The bar is named after the 1920s film star Marlene Dietrich.

LIBERTY GRILL

Construction is progressing rapidly and an early June opening is planned for the Liberty Grill at 1037 S. Flower St. near Staples Center in South Park. The menu has already been put together and will feature American-style comfort food. The restaurant, with indoor and outdoor seating areas, will utilize the front portion of an existing one-story Mission-style building, behind which crews are constructing an 8,000-square-foot addition that will house a 200-seat dining room. The project is being developed by restaurateur Fred Eric, Downtown-based Camacho's and Bernadette Leiweke, wife of Anschutz Entertainment Group President Tim Leiweke. Abramson Teiger is the architect.

MERCURY LIQUORS

Andrew Meieran intends to bring a bit of classic Hollywood nightlife to Downtown with his transformation of a former bank vault in the basement of the Los Angeles Trust and Savings Bank Building at 215 W. Sixth St. The 8,000-square-foot basement space will feature white marble floors, walnut wood paneling, polished stainless steel walls and much of the original architecture, including the vault's 38-ton circular door. An opening is scheduled for late summer.

ROYAL CLAYTONS

Work is scheduled to finish this month on a restaurant and lounge on the ground floor of the Toy Factory Lofts at 1855 E. Industrial St. Hollywood-based Sweet Freedom Development turned the 2,916-square-foot space into an eatery specializing in American fare and spirits. George Kelly is the architect.

SEVEN GRAND

This nightlife offering from Cedd Moses' 213 Ventures suffered a two-month delay but is expected to start construction by the end of the month. The $1 million facility is expected to be ready by October. The 4,500-square-foot whiskey bar on the second floor of 515 W. Seventh St. - the building that once served as headquarters for Clifton's Cafeteria and now houses Moses' office - will overlook a restaurant on the ground floor. Two restaurant tenants are currently in the running for the downstairs spot, said Project Manager Leann Rupprecht.

THE EDISON

Construction crews have cleared out and decorators have moved into the revamped boiler room of the Higgins Building at 108 W. Second St., said Andrew Meieran, who is partnering with Marc Smith on this nightlife venture. Formerly called Harlem Place, the cocktail lounge was renamed after Thomas Edison, given its location in what was once the power plant of the building erected in 1910. It will feature a suspended, made-to-look-old industrial-style elevator and a free-floating staircase. The bar is expected to open in early summer, Meieran said.

NONPROFIT/COMMUNITY

FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Church leaders have prepared a draft proposal and are meeting with potential partners about their coming facility at Olympic Boulevard and Flower Street in South Park. The plan calls for a large multipurpose structure that could be used by the 151-year-old congregation for services and as a community-gathering place, said Rev. Sandie Richards. There is also a proposal to include some kind of residential element with market rate and affordable housing units as well as office space for nonprofits. Permitting and financing could be finalized by the end of the year, but a groundbreaking has not yet been announced.

HOMEBOY INDUSTRIES

Crews broke ground in March on the new headquarters of Homeboy Industries, the gang prevention program founded by Father Gregory Boyle. The 20,000-square-foot building at Alameda and Bruno streets in Chinatown will house the nonprofit's bakery and the 3,000-square-foot Homegirl Café and Catering. Homeboy is currently based in Boyle Heights. The project is scheduled to finish this fall.

HOUSE EAR INSTITUTE

Construction began in late February on the $40 million expansion of the House Ear Institute at Alvarado and Third streets west of Downtown, said spokeswoman Christa Spieth Nuber. The project, originally slated to break ground last summer, will add a three-story, 30,000-square-foot structure to house offices and the institute's research division. Construction is slated to wrap in about 18 months. Perkins + Will is the architect. The Annenberg Foundation donated $10 million for the project.

INNER-CITY ARTS

Fundraising is underway for a $5 million expansion of the campus of Inner-City Arts in the Industrial District. Plans by architect Michael Maltzan call for a new theater, ceramics complex, library resource center, children's community garden and administrative offices. About $2.5 million has been raised. A groundbreaking is scheduled for early 2007. A previous expansion added a 10,000-square-foot space for visual arts and animation. The nonprofit annually provides arts education to 8,000 low-income students from 27 local schools.

JACCC EXPANSION

Officials from the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center in Little Tokyo have put plans for a $15 million expansion on hold. Instead, staffers last year said, they are focusing on interior renovations and mechanical improvements. These could include a digital education and learning center, a lecture and reception hall and a 3,000-square-foot community gallery. There is no timetable for the project.

LAC+USC MEDICAL CENTER

Completion is expected in spring 2007 on the $820 million hospital at Marengo and Chicago streets northeast of Downtown, said USC spokesman John Weiner. Intended to replace a nearby facility damaged in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and financed by Federal Emergency Management Agency, Office of Emergency Management and county bond money, the 750-bed Medical Center Replacement Facility is expected to admit its first patients in fall 2007. Nearby, construction continues on the 200,000-square-foot Inpatient Tower at USC University Hospital, which may be up and running by the end of 2006.

LITTLE TOKYO RECREATION CENTER

Officials from the Little Tokyo Service Center still hope to construct a recreation center on a city-owned parking lot south of the former St. Vibiana's Cathedral, said LTSC Executive Director Bill Watanabe. Plans call for a 60,000-square-foot facility with numerous athletic courts that could also host martial arts tournaments, he said. The LTSC is raising funds for the project and working on details with the city, he said.

YWCA JOB CORPS CAMPUS

Crews broke ground April 18 on the $52 million YWCA Los Angeles Job Corps Urban Campus. Plans by Pasadena-based Onyx Architects call for a 154,000-square-foot, seven-story steel and glass structure that will include an intake center, cafeteria, library, medical and dental centers, housing for 400 and administrative offices. The project at Olympic Boulevard and Olive Street will also hold an interior courtyard with an amphitheater for community events. Completion is set for December 2007.

OPENED IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS

726 LOFTS

Tenants began moving into the converted four-story warehouse at 726 S. Santa Fe Ave. earlier this year. Downtown-based Western Imperial 2000 turned the 1904 Arts District structure into 22 live-work lofts and six commercial spaces from 700 to 1,700 square feet. Rents run from $1,200 to $2,900.

1500 SOUTH GRAND

Construction finished in November on a 62-apartment affordable housing complex at Venice Boulevard and Grand Avenue. The development by Mercy Housing California includes two-, three- and four-bedroom units above a parking garage, office space and a childcare facility operated by California Hospital Medical Center. The complex houses 233 people.

AUTO ROW

Construction wrapped in February on a 75,000-square-foot auto dealership on the southeast corner of Figueroa Street and Washington Boulevard in the Figueroa Corridor. Designed by Whitfield Associates, the three identical two-story buildings house Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche dealerships, all of which have opened. The $16.5 million project is the first part of a plan by developer the Shammas Group to create a suburban-style auto mall along Figueroa Street.

CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT

A grand opening took place last month for the $80 million headquarters of the nonprofit healthcare foundation on a 6.5-acre campus at Main and Alameda streets near Union Station. The four-story, 201,140-square-foot building also houses the Center for Healthy Communities and includes research facilities, meeting spaces, a courtyard and myriad offices. The nonprofit had been based in the western San Fernando Valley. Rios Clementi Hale Studios was the architect.

GRAND LOFTS

Construction finished earlier this year on the conversion of the building at 330 W. 11th St. into 66 for-purchase units. Lee Homes and CIM Group spent $15 million turning the 81-year-old South Park edifice into two-bedroom lofts ranging from 1,151 to 2,325 square feet. Three additional floors were added to the four-story structure, which once housed the UCLA Extension program. Santa Monica-based architecture firm Killefer Flammang handled the designs.

LOFTS AT THE SECURITY BUILDING

Construction finished in February on the $28 million conversion of the Security Building at 510 S. Spring St. into 154 apartments, said Bernie Sandalow, a spokesman for developer Simpson Housing Solutions. The 12-story project features eight floor plans from 611 to 1,160 square feet; rents are $1,300-$4,200, and 20% of the units are priced as affordable housing. An art gallery, eatery and 6,000-square-foot retail space are on the ground floor.

MET LOFTS

Forest City Residential has opened its eight-story ground-up development at Flower and 11th streets in South Park. The 264 one- and two-bedroom units range from 700 to 1,400 square feet and market-rate apartments fetch $1,400 to $2,800; rents in 52 affordable units begin at $500. The $50 million, F-shaped structure also has 11,500 square feet of retail space. Johnson Fain Partners was the architect.

MOLINO STREET LOFTS

Construction finished earlier this year on developer Kor Group's artist-in-residence structure at 500-530 Molino St. in the Arts District. All 91 units, which average 1,700 square feet, have been sold in the 1920s warehouse building.

PACKARD LOFTS

Tenants began moving into units in a converted Packard car dealership in March. Developer Venice Investments spent $50 million transforming the 1914 building at Hope Street and Olympic Boulevard into 116 apartments ranging from 750 to 2,000 square feet. The project includes a 25,000-square-foot retail space. Venice Investments also is developing the nearby 18-story ground-up L.A. Lofts.

RESERVE

In April developer 409 LLC, run by Maz and Michael Gilardian, obtained an occupancy permit for 78 apartments in the former Federal Reserve Building at 409 W. Olympic Blvd. in South Park. The developer spent $13 million transforming the 1930 fortress-like structure. Units have 17-foot ceilings, range from 1,000 to 5,000 square feet and average $2,000.

SAVOY

Move-ins have begun in the 303-condominium Savoy (formerly known as Alexan Savoy) at First and Alameda streets in the Arts District. The property, which was purchased earlier this year by Intracorp Los Angeles for $114 million (it was originally developed as apartments by Trammell Crow Residential), features units surrounding three courtyards and a pool. Amenities include a sports cafe, library, screening room, fitness center and a business center. Prices start in the $400,000s with two-level units beginning in the $500,000s.

SOUTH/ELLEVEN

Residents have begun moving in to this sold out, $65 million condominium tower at 11th Street and Grand Avenue. The 13-story, 400,000-square-foot project includes 176 units ranging from 850 to 2,800 square feet. Elleven is the first of three condominium towers Portland, Ore.-based developer South Group is building on a single block in South Park.

THE FLATS LA

Restaurant and bar Blue Velvet has signed on to fill the 6,000-square-foot ground floor space in this former Holiday Inn at 750 Garland Ave. in City West, said Stephen Shapleigh of developer MKT Community Development. Its conversion of 205 former hotel rooms is targeted at the mid-level market and corporate tenants, with rents beginning at $1,200, though some run up to $2,000. Leasing currently stands at 20%, Shapleigh said, and MKT is still looking at such hotel-style amenities as room service and an in-building salon.

VIBIANA PLACE

The $8 million conversion of Saint Vibiana's into an event space wrapped in November. The former cathedral at Second and Main streets underwent seismic upgrading and crews removed pews, statues and religious emblems. The 129-year-old former headquarters of the Los Angeles Archdiocese had been mostly empty for nearly a decade after suffering extensive damage in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Since construction finished, the building has hosted concerts, benefits and art shows. Developers Tom Gilmore and Richard Weintraub have additional plans to turn the former rectory, which faces Second Street, into housing and develop an eatery on its ground floor. The building is next to the also recently opened Little Tokyo Branch Library.

WHITE MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER

Construction wrapped in April on a new $134 million Patient Care Tower for the Boyle Heights facility. The complex includes 167 beds, 10 labor and delivery rooms, specialized surgical suites and upgraded patient rooms. It is part of a long-term overhaul of the entire medical facility, which sees more than 165,000 patients a year.