Location: 9th Street and Flower Street
Function: Mixed-Use | 214 Units | 6,800 SF Retail
Developer: Meruelo Maddux Properties (http://www.meruelomaddux.com/splash.html)
Architect: Mambo Architecture
Completion: 2009

717 Ninth

Developer Meruelo Maddux Properties broke ground earlier this year on a 35-story project and is on schedule and on budget, according to spokesman Michael Bustamante. A glass curtain resembling a wall of water will clothe the high-rise. The first few floors have been framed and much of the parking structure has been completed at the two-thirds-of-an-acre site adjacent to the Ralphs supermarket. Plans call for the tower at Ninth and Flower streets to contain 214 units and a 6,800-square-foot ground-floor seafood eatery. Mambo Architecture is designing the $120 million effort. Completion is slated for mid-2009. - Los Angeles Downtown News

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2676138328_fe6a992f15_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2702142837_a2bebe9466_b.jpg

So they finally broke ground on this project. If so do we have any pix?

This one has been under construction for a while now.

any construction pictures?

February 17, 2007

Meruelo Tower

They've dug down deeper since my last update, But it looks like this is about as deep as they're gonna go. This is looking north from 9th.

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7121/meruelo200702171ct3.jpg

Looking west from Flower. Gives a better scale of the depth.

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/631/meruelo200702172nx5.jpg

Steal piles presumedly driven for the beginning of the foundation.

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/6799/meruelo200702173fy8.jpg

How's the progress on this project?

Foundation work takes ages. It'll be awhile before you see any sort of real progress.

Yeah I figure that for the beginning stages. Then it starts to fly as Hanover Tower. Thanks for the update 300*

The second set back of steel "piles" means its going to go deeper, alot of on site parking. The foundation should be a mat around 10 to 14 feet thick.

Do you have any pix?

the crane is going up! just got back from the Laker game and i saw the first segment up!

OMG you were at that game???? IM DYING OF JEALOUSY MAN

That last fadeaway by Kobe over Bell to seal the win?????? MONEY!

the crane is going up! just got back from the Laker game and i saw the first segment up!

I saw that last night as well (the crane, not the Laker Game). I was a little surprise they had already made it to that point.

Matt, that was a great game! Going on Sunday too!

^^ Can we focus back to Maruelo's Project Gentleman!

Yes, as of today only the base section of the tower crane is in place, and a pettibone lifting rebar into the hole, pouring operations in the next week or so. (foundation mat)

.... moving along nicely!

Richard Meruelo's Water World

The Connected Developer Moves Forward on His $120 Million South Park Condo Tower

by Evan George

A 36-story residential skyscraper is growing quickly at 717 W. Ninth St., eclipsing other South Park projects that remain just holes in the ground.

Richard Meruelo has begun construction on his 36-story condominium tower. He plans to build at least three more high-rises in the area, breaking ground on a new one every six months.

Developer Meruelo Maddux Properties prepared the foundation last week, and a crane began stacking a steel base for the green glass building that architects say will shimmer in three shades, from emerald to sea foam. The intent is to imitate a waterfall.

When it's built, the condominium tower will be the tallest residential project in Downtown Los Angeles and the first in a wave of housing high-rises planned for South Park. But perhaps only Richard Meruelo, who remains the largest landholder in Downtown, could call a $120 million investment "an experiment."

"In our office 717 Ninth was considered a petri dish where we were going to test out a bunch of stuff," Meruelo said. At least three taller South Park structures will follow, he said.

The unusual building is Meruelo Maddux's first foray into new residential construction in Los Angeles (the company is nearing completion on a $17 million apartment conversion of a former bank building in the Jewelry District). The site at Ninth and Flower streets sits three long blocks from the Financial District skyline. Expected to open in mid-2009, it's a would-be early giant in the move toward higher density around Staples Center and the future L.A. Live complex.

The project's sudden lurch forward, after two years of planning, also comes as Meruelo Maddux is embroiled in legal problems stemming from two incidents.

In March, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo filed charges against Meruelo for myriad alleged health code violations at the Seventh Street Market, a wholesale produce center the company owns and operates. In April, the city attorney filed 16 criminal charges against Meruelo Maddux related to the firm's allegedly improper demolition of several Downtown buildings in 2005.

Meruelo said the charges would not affect the plans for 717 Ninth, or require any extra precautions.

"Frankly, I don't think there's been any of what I call 'cross-contamination' of any of those other issues with 717. I think we've had unanimous support from elected officials," he said.


'First Domino'


When Meruelo's mother Belinda bought a small dress shop at 323 S. Broadway in 1972, she planted the seed for what would become a politically influential company that now controls more than 5.2 million square feet and 54 properties in and around Downtown. As Richard Meruelo has amassed holdings in Los Angeles and Miami, he has also become a prominent donor, and drew attention when he gave $193,000 in independent expenditures to Antonio Villaraigosa's 2005 mayoral run.

Traditionally, Meruelo's Downtown properties have been industrial sites and wholesale markets, as well as a number of cold storage facilities and vacant lots.

Meruelo, more often referred to in the press as a landowner than a developer, has not been known for building high-rise projects. He said that is about to change.

When Mereulo purchased the site at 717 W. Ninth St. more than two years ago from the CIM Group, it continued to operate as a parking lot, even as other South Park projects began sprouting around it. Directly across the street sits the nearly completed Market Lofts, which will hold the incoming Ralphs supermarket. On the other side of Ninth Street, developer Sonny Astani has been preparing the Concerto tower. Developer South Group has steamed ahead on three mid-rise condo buildings, the Elleven, Luma and Evo.

"It's kind of strange, you'd think they would have moved ahead more rapidly," said Jack Kyser, senior vice president and chief economist of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation. "But maybe delaying it will prove to be a strategic move. It will probably come on the market at a favorable time, when the housing market overall has stabilized."

Meruelo insists it is perfect timing.

"Residential in Downtown is still in the first or second inning of that game," he said. "We didn't want to be a pioneer on a nearly 40-story building."

Having seen smaller projects succeed in South Park, the company has acquired a number of other parcels. Meruelo Maddux said a succession of high-rise buildings will break ground, with a new one every six months.

Still in the planning stage are three nearby towers at 11th and Olive streets, including an unnamed 62-story skyscraper, according to a Meruelo spokesman.

"This is the first domino in a long domino chain," Meruelo said.

Making Waves

In daylight, 717 Ninth will glitter in shades of green. It will turn black opal at night, much like a large body of water.

The slim tower will hold 214 one- and two-bedroom units - just eight on each floor - with four rooftop penthouses capping the 267,339-square-foot structure. Five levels of parking will be enrobed in steel netting and a light installation. Prices for the condominiums have not yet been announced, though other new South Park high-rises have residences beginning in the $400,000s.

The green glass curtain drawn up by Meruelo's in-house architects, Mambo Architecture, will involve three kinds of panels. The watery illusion will continue on the seventh floor pool deck, with a garden of kelp-like ice plants around an infinity pool. The pool's water will flow into a glass-encased installation that falls to the 16,800-square-foot ground-floor retail space, where Meruelo hopes to lure a high-end seafood eatery.

"It's difficult to design a building around a metaphor, because you're always going to run into something that could possibly change the concept," said Mark Moreno, the project manager.

One element that Moreno and the lead architect, Manuel Funes, seized on immediately was a curved spine that runs the height of the building. The design is a conscious attempt to alter the South Park side of Downtown's skyline, both said.

"We have taken a design philosophy to build towers, and every building we're doing is a tower. We believe it contributes more to the skyline," Funes said.

The design team had intended to go higher, in fact, Funes said, but when the company purchased the land, height limits were in place.

"There was a decision to move this forward very fast so going to amend those entitlements would have taken too long," he said.

As is, 717 Ninth would be Downtown's tallest pure residential tower, surpassing 1100 Wilshire (where the 37 stories contain 17 levels of parking) and 717 Olympic, Hanover Company's under-construction 26-story apartment complex at Olympic Boulevard and Figueroa Street. But it may hold that title for less than a year.

As Funes points out, "The Chrysler building was the tallest building in the world. For two weeks."

Contact Evan George at evan@downtownnews.com.

I love it.

I love it too, sounds awesome

... an unknown 62 floor tower??? This is better than a X~Mas gift, can't wait.

^^ I know, I was amazed too, like how come I had never heard of it???

I was thinking about where a 62 story tower would rise.

First, I thought it would rise on the large parking lot across the street from Evo but that's the site of the Grand Towers.

Then I thought of the area around Metropolis and I figured out the possible site. There is a nice sized parking lot right next to the 801 Tower that just might be the site. I couldn't think of anywhere else a 62 story building to rise in South Park. I'll try to find a pic of the site...ahhh...a perfect pic. For those who don't know, the 801 Tower is the cool little tower across the street of 777. You can clearly see the parking lot where a tower could rise.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v600/rpulido/untitled4.jpg

^ The 62 story tower is one of the three towers planned for 11th and Olive.

Still in the planning stage are three nearby towers at 11th and Olive streets, including an unnamed 62-story skyscraper, according to a Meruelo spokesman.

Bollocks.

"We have taken a design philosophy to build towers, and every building we're doing is a tower. We believe it contributes more to the skyline," Funes said.
This is by far, the most well said statement by anyone building in downtown.

yippy!!!

oo nice...cant wait for this to be done

From SSP:

717 Ninth

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1315/825006825_abda759ecb_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/825008069_dffa7a3836_b.jpg

I updated the front page with the most recent photo update as well as the complete rendering of the project.

July 28, 2007

717 Ninth

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1118/934089128_163191e5cc_b.jpg

I love the design concept and how they've worked around the helipad restriction. We need much more creativity like this and get away from the standard bland boxes. Excellent!

We drove right pass it on the Commuter Express and it's rising quickly. This building is moving awfully fast, I'll snap some pix on Monday or so.

You still riding?!/!? "Ferney" have you finally come to your senses and joined us in becoming "car-lite":banana: ?

You still riding?!/!? "Ferney" have you finally come to your senses and joined us in becoming "car-lite":banana: ?


I'm pulling on the last string with my bus days. So I'm making it the best and hopefully I can capture some pix of the activities along my route. One's I'm on my car I would not cruise thru those streets anymore...

Getting back to 9th & Flower the construction is moving quite rapidly. I guess since I sat on the right hand I was able to get a great view. If only ASTANI would just catch up...

August 4, 2007

717 Ninth - Scaffolding has been erected over the sidewalk
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1027/1022694948_72fac3c42f_b.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1251/1021827653_4f96803962_b.jpg

Pic by LABeauty from SSP:

http://img01.picoodle.com/img/img01/9/8/16/f_IMG8797m_4a6145b.jpg

^^ Awesome. That thing is going up quickly. The posts above show that on 7/28 the second story was just getting started, and already they are starting on the third. I am so excited for this thing to rise; it is, from my viewpoint, the first tower in the downtown area to actually make a dent in the the skyline. Hanover and the South Group trio is barely noticeable from afar (Baldwin Hills, Hollywood, etc...), but considering how this thing is almost 400 feet tall it will change the skyline a bit.

Yeah but the balconies don't look too good in the rendering.

September 12, 2007

While I was out 717 Flower:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1424/1367633455_7bc2f39799_b.jpg

September 22, 2007

717 Ninth:
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/laofanaheim/LosAngeles003.jpg

September 23, 2007

717 Flower
Working on the 5th floor. It's already starting to make it's presence known from Figueroa.

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/7818/meruelo200709231zk5.jpg

October 5, 2007

717 Ninth: now working on the 6th floor.
http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g189/FROMLOSANGELES/2daIdaaMexicalienagosto010.jpg

This building is incredible! I think the balconies look great. This would definitly help with add some more density.

October 9, 2007

717 Flower is abuzzin..

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/7932/meruelo200710091kz4.jpg

I wonder why there doesn't seem to be a webpage for this so-called "Mambo Architecture" firm that's working with Meruelo. Must me inhouse architects or something.

^ I'm pretty sure they're in-house architects.

October 21, 2007

717 Ninth, on the 6th floor:
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/laofanaheim/10-20-07/LosAngeles017-1.jpg

October 21, 2007
^^:hm: Will this tower be taller than the one behind it? Curious.

^^ Yes.

^^:hm: Will this tower be taller than the one behind it? Curious.


^^ Frenzy, come on with this question..... you definitely need to get more familir with these projects Downtown. Where did you say you love again, Idaho? Come now Dude! Wey!!!!

^^ Frenzy, come on with this question..... you definitely need to get more familir with these projects Downtown. Where did you say you love again, Idaho? Come now Dude! Wey!!!!

Awww Fern :pet:, well I guess you can say I live in Idaho. I live in Palmdale, ca. :lol::lol: No man's land! I try to get out there as much as I can but I have to many dang kids- I can't go anywhere. Besides, you would be surprised how many retarded people like me benefited from that question!:shifty:

In addition, I have never even seen that building in the back! Where the hell did it come from?:shocked:

Awww Fern :pet:, well I guess you can say I live in Idaho. I live in Palmdale, ca. :lol::lol: No man's land! I try to get out there as much as I can but I have to many dang kids- I can't go anywhere. Besides, you would be surprised how many retarded people like me benefited from that question!:shifty:

In addition, I have never even seen that building in the back! Where the hell did it come from?:shocked:


OK Mr Daddy... as far as the back building it's definitely been there as far as I can remember. btw that building has 21 floors last I checked. 9th & Flower will be over 30 stories.....

You seriously need to come down to the city more often!!!

Yes but thats a commercial building and Ninth and Flower is residential. The height of the building behind it is around 340 ft. and this tower will nbe 395 ft. so it will be around 4 stories taller than its neighbor.

November 3, 2007

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2187/1848952471_825bec23af_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

November 18, 2007

717, working on the main lobby:
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/laofanaheim/11-17-07/LosAngeles002.jpg

717 Ninth:
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/laofanaheim/11-17-07/LosAngeles008.jpg

717 Ninth Crane, with skyline in the background:
http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee6/laofanaheim/11-17-07/LosAngeles015.jpg

this will be a wonderful addition to downtown

It seems like this project is taking forever for some reason...

^ Some of the forumers at SSP said that the reason why progress has slowed down so much is because they're prepping for the construction of the actual tower itself. But the provided rendering on the front page shows that the tower starts to rise from the 9th floor on up. They're only on the 7th floor, working on the 8th floor.

November 24, 2007

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2060342761_596707e4eb_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

So yeah, it looks as if they're working on the actual tower itself. The provided rendering on the first page must be wrong. It makes much more sense for the parking podium to line up with the adjacent parking structure.

December 8, 2007

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2387/2096022071_7db845334c_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

4 floors in 3 months doesn't sound too good. :/

4 floors in Vegas would have been done in a week.:cheers:

They are probably transistioning from the parking garage to the main tower. If that's the case, it takes a very long time.

4 floors in Vegas would have been done in a week.:cheers:

Dude, i feel bad for the construction workers there. They work pretty much all day long during the summer and it's like 110* there. While I was there, it was also humid and 100*.

They do work hella fast though. I mean, seriously, half of your residents must be construction workers. Things go up unbelievably fast. Two summers ago, was the Wynn Encore even up yet? This year, it's rising isn't it? Maybe I'm just imagining it though. Also, Trump Tower was only like half done two years ago, but last summer they were just finishing the roof and I'm sure they had started on the inside.

4 floors in Vegas would have been done in a week.:cheers:

I think this may be a slight overstatement, maybe 2 floors at most, the floorplates of the buildings in Las Vegas are huge, like anywhere from 35 to 100 thousand sq. ft.

There is not a contractor anywhere in the world that would pour 4, 100,000 sq. ft. floors in a week and concider that building safe....!!

Maybe in dubai lol. nah but is that really 4 floors? it looks like 5 or 6?

On November 7th webcast earnings conference discusses the progress on this project:
http://web.servicebureau.net/conf/meta?i=1112967215&c=2343&m=was&u=/w_ccbn.xsl&date_ticker=MMPI

Relevant audio: 52:54 - 53:23

It looks like as of early November the project was on budget and ahead of schedule. All this despite the fact that their stock price got slammed since their IPO.

There is not a contractor anywhere in the world that would pour 4, 100,000 sq. ft. floors in a week and concider that building safe....!!

Yeah, about two. I work close to the Flamingo intersection and could actually see two floors going up from Monday to Friday. On HUGE projects with a lot of acreage per. Safety, this is Vegas! We got construction workers dropping off of these projects like Fall leaves. I don't think anyone's consulting the California seismic handbook on these buildings anyway, they go up way too quickly.:)

December 21, 2007

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2326/2127087681_50c27bde77_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2407/2127088533_0ba04474bb_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

Now we can expect to see things move along more quickly.

"Thats hot"
Seriously, this made my day!

This is an interesting part of downtown. I 'm intersted to see how the sidewalks pan out in this area because you will have a (soon to be) heavy concentration of resedential units in this immediate area. Market Lofts, 717, and concerto together will add pedestrian activity. The location of the market lofts, and Ralphs especially, looks more and more genius from a business standpoint as we move forward.

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g189/FROMLOSANGELES/downtown025.jpg

December 27, 2007

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2337/2141317405_68a28b18a9_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

January 12, 2008

717 Flower

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2392/2188101563_e9523264b3_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2188890832_b40cc7d281_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2203/2188893526_7cd2de5ca1_b.jpg

What is that up in the sky? a bird? a plane?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2030/2188111355_3a61b02994_b.jpg

No! It's flying sh*#! Run Away....

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2382/2188108969_ee20f2c304_b.jpg

January 15, 2008

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2119/2196344464_c86369ae44_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2249/2195581639_625cdcba7d_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

It's like watching sap drip up :)

January 26, 2008

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2223669795_73ebd529af_b.jpg
From Flickr, by ericrichardson

February 1, 2008

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2101/2235714862_f4d434a6e9_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/2242654536_943c033b25_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

It's oozing upward realllllll ssslllllllooowwwwwww! Impressive corner though! :)

This is going to be such a great intersection!

It's oozing upward realllllll ssslllllllooowwwwwww! Impressive corner though! :)

It's picking up as the days go by.

February 2, 2008

717 NINTH

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2080/2238163380_28509ec233_b.jpg

It's oozing upward realllllll ssslllllllooowwwwwww! Impressive corner though! :)

It's actually moving along rather swiftly. It looks like it's about 1/3 of the way through the construction phase.

February 8, 2008

About one floor per week going up now.

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/2006/img1495szl6.jpg
By k3d at 2008-02-08

Westsidelife, did k3d take those from the sky condo's...?

^ Yes, he did.

February 10, 2008

717 Flower
They're starting to frame the 12th floor. So another 2/3 left to go.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/7007/meruelo200802102qf1.jpg

The view west down 9th Street. There's a kind of an interesting step down effect between TCW, ProAmerica and Market Lofts that's almost symmetrical. 717 Flower - which you can see starting to peek through - will interrupt that, but it will add a whole different dimension of color with it's green glass.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/3164/meruelo200802101tm1.jpg

IT should be interesting once all the towers in that area pass like the 15th floor

yea you can see they are already framing the 1st full floorplate of the building. @ 395' this will barely mark the skyline buy it will be nice. Whats the status on Park Tower, Hope Street lofts and Ihope?

I think this tower will look pretty good when it's completed, and provide a nice contrast to the area, that has a composition of mainly concrete, and marble/stone cladding.
although it's not a dominating tower, at almost 400', (which is over half as high as anything else) it's not a slouch..

All i know, is that this developer, claimed to the Downtown news, that he would start a new residential highrise every 6 months, in the downtown area, and his time is almost up for an announcement, i hope he was not talking out of the side of his neck, and set on blaming the housing crisis for putting these projects on hold.

February 16, 2008

717 Flower
Looks like one floor per week.

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/1699/meruelo200802161ho0.jpg

February 22, 2008

717 Flower
Starting to make a it's presence known. With Concerto on the right, almost ready to peek out from behind the trees.

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/1196/meruelo200802221aw9.jpg

February 23, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3155/2290179416_7bb7830a5f_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

February 26, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3245/2294273311_4331285681_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

the parking structure portion looks like it is a couple floors higher in the concept pic on the first page. i think it looks more impressive in that little pic then it is actually turning out to look, but I am withholding judgment until it is more completed.

EDIT: nevermind, i compared it to the floors of the building next to it, and it is about the same as the initial plan. I guess I suck at trying to tell how a building under construction will look :P

Pop quiz: See if you can spot the differences between the February 23rd pic and the February 26th pic....:)

^ More progress has been made on the 14th floor.

edit

edit

http://easyfreesmileys.com/smileys/free-mad-smileys-286.gif (http://easyfreesmileys.com/Free-Mad-Smileys/)

not one of my favorite developments from a design standpoint..maybe it will grow on me. im just going off that one render maybe theres another better render i havent seen...

meruelo’s 717 ninth tower hits its stride (http://www.angelenic.com/meruelos-717-ninth-tower-hits-its-stride/)

by Stephen Friday (http://www.angelenic.com/about/#fridayinla) on February 28, 2008

Back in early December, we took a scrutinizing look (http://www.angelenic.com/whats-the-hold-up-meruelo/) at the progress of the 35-story 717 Ninth (http://www.angelenic.com/images/ccrendering_717_ninth.jpg) project when construction sat visually stagnant over six weeks at the peak of the 7-story podium parking base.

Shortly thereafter Michael Bustamante, a media spokesman for Meruelo Maddux, fired back that the tower was on schedule and under budget. We’ve been paying close, eager attention ever since.

In the last two months, the structure’s height has nearly doubled as workers begin preparing the thirteenth floor of the slender upper section. Five full floors have been stacked up in nine weeks, averaging a respectable pace for concrete construction typical with residential towers.
By my calculations, it should be structurally topped out at year’s end, around the same time LA Live’s convention center hotel is projected to reach 54 stories (http://www.angelenic.com/as-hotel-tower-comes-into-view-new-renderings-released/).

When finished in mid/late 2009, 717 Ninth will become the tallest purely residential structure in Downtown containing 214 units, a ground-level restaurant and a dramatic glass curtain resembling a flowing wall of water.
:)
From http://www.angelenic.com/

February 26, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/2299654910_fd147fc446_b.jpg
From Flickr, by Surfacetowater

In a word, prrrettty! And there's Astani's project right up front. What an area :)

March 2, 2008

March 2, 2008

14 floors down, 21 to go...

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/6674/meruelo200803021hr1.jpg

March 8, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3071/2320782794_8f7a94859f_b.jpg
717 9th

March 11, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2329687404_ea6a0d6174_b.jpg
From Flickr, by ericrichardson

March 14, 2008

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/2333165861_d6c3179a36_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

I can't get over how fast this tower is rising, and now the scaffolds and forms are coming off the "V" brace feature, I like this tower very much, at 400' it's going to do alot for this section of downtown, now they just need to get the money settled/approved on "the Grand" and start that project...!

They better cover up that parking podium with something.:gaah:

March 17, 2008

Concerto and Meurelo Tower

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4376/img1595sbx1.jpg
By k3d

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/9795/img1596sqr5.jpg
By k3d

when are they going to do something with that ferocious lol building behind TCW with the broken and boarded up windows and weed forest?

March 23, 2008

Here is the Meurelo building with a simular diagonal support:
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/5546/img0224sme5.jpg
By k3d

March 24, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2359850820_c70be76160_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g189/FROMLOSANGELES/117.jpg

^ Nice progress. This one's going at a pace of one floor per week. :cheers:

April 6, 2008

April 6, 2008

I count 19 floors, so just over halfway up.

http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/3645/meruelo200804063wp2.jpg

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/8639/meruelo200804061if8.jpg

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/3307/meruelo200804062rz7.jpg

In context with Concerto and Hanover Tower

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/9026/concerto200804061ux0.jpg

April 11, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/2407047634_b4f6a78b7b_b.jpg
From Flickr, by LA311

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/2407048056_3338038b03_b.jpg
From Flickr, by LA311

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/2406216761_526b053594_b.jpg
From Flickr, by LA311

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2407049224_78c5a461bb_b.jpg
From Flickr, by LA311

I like how those balconies on the 9th Street facade give the building depth and texture. 15 more floors to go!! this thing is gonna be massive. I hope somehow in this market we will also get 8th/hope and Park Tower as well.

Takin' pictures during the golden hour, beautiful! All those conspiracy theorists that say "How can two giant towers fall to the ground and all you have is dust, and no large debris?" Well, look at how paper thin those concrete floors are in relation to the overall size of this building. Now imagine the scale of the Trade Center. Nice shape to this one :)

South Park is gonna look so cool in a few years!

It's almost taller then neighbour building...:)

April 16, 2008

717 Ninth
http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/3820/img1757suc5.jpg

easily seen from the 10 freeway now.

That is one great, big picture :)

and looks like 717 is prepping for another crane jump as well as Concerto's crane which got one already.

Glass
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2197/2432058113_328a0ac057_b.jpg
vodila

^^ a little hard to see what it will look like overall.

--you should credit this picture--

The glass looks bluish. I hope it'll turn out looking something like 301 Mission Street in San Francisco.

sometimes I feel like the only person around who is underwhelmed by glass boxes.

April 24, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2438819827_8af4f96873_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2254/2438720139_560f01e608_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2439538194_e87b72c58f_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2439540230_cd65196ef2_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2146/2439542006_c8dd724865_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

man that went up quick! about 12 13 stories left.

April 28, 2008

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2191/2451298575_68d2e85843_b.jpg
From Flickr, by Wildbell

May 4, 2008

May 4, 2008

I count 23 floors, so still 12 more to go.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5087/meruelo200805043ky4.jpg

A couple shots of the glass on the alley side...

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/5108/meruelo200805041sf8.jpg

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9233/meruelo200805042lb7.jpg

^^ when did they put up that DOWNTOWN sign? (1st pic) I wonder if they're going to be putting more of those up somewhere else.

yea those signs have been around for a minute like a few years, they are mostly located throughout the South Park Area. btw nice update that glass looks like it will really shimmer in the sunlight and be dark @ night just like Meruelo said it would.

^^ when did they put up that DOWNTOWN sign? (1st pic) I wonder if they're going to be putting more of those up somewhere else.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm mistaken but weren't those signs installed at the time of the Staples Center opening to help direct traffic into the arena area?

May 12, 2008
http://i29.tinypic.com/35iqbk2.jpg
http://i25.tinypic.com/2ih1qpz.jpg

...

^ I'm liking the glass so far. :cool:

That building next to it is just so,...I don't know...Phoenix! Know what I'm saying?

May 11, 2008

http://la.curbed.com/uploads/2008.05.glass.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

This from Curbed LA


Like selling your prized record collection on eBay to help pay your mortgage, Downtown landowner Meruelo Maddux is getting rid of a number of its 50 properties--at 35 cents on the dollar. No word on whether that includes the recently opened Union Lofts or 717 West Ninth in South Park, but completion of the latter is "threatened," according to Bloomberg. More: "'It sure looks like a cheap way to play the downtown L.A. market,' said Mike McGarr, a portfolio manager at $2.4 billion Becker Capital Management in Portland, Oregon..." Last year the company's co-founder and CEO Richard Meruelo said he plans to break ground on a new residential tower every six months.

WOw the glass went up fast
Update
May 14 2008
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g280/Joey313_photos/35iqbk2.jpg
:nuts:

Wow!!! That was fast. Great pace on this one.

How the hell? All of that in only 4 days?

Thats not real! it was photoshoped. :) :bash: :lol:

it doesnt look authentic to be real.

Yeah its was^^ I thought you guys would notice LOL I guess not... Just made it si we can have an idea of what it might look like...

hahahaha this building is gonna look really good :)

Oh wow, lol. If you go past it pretty quickly you really don't notice it. That's pretty good.

add a slight bit more perspective, and you can get a job doing matte painting or set extension for movies :)

Wow!!! That was fast. Great pace on this one.


My bad, I've been out of the country... I fell for it

May 14, 2008

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2069/2495432584_9d292bcdfd_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

Interesting how the glass at the very top of the building is not even reaching the ceiling on the far right side :\

:)

May 18, 2008

717 Ninth
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/2025/img1806seb8.jpg

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8156/img1807sfq7.jpg

May 18, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2504814656_974121d312_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lacurbed

Thats an amazing view... To bad Concerto is going to block views ...... At least they get a big electric billboard for a view LOL..j/k That area is going to be crawling with pedestrians... I love infill projects...

About 2 more floors then it'll be taller than Promerica.

May 26, 2008

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2009/2525709345_708e5dcd79_b.jpg
From Flickr, by ericrichardson

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3047/2526530178_9e4bb088f5_b.jpg
From Flickr, by ericrichardson

May 30, 2008

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2177/2538384920_73c05450b4_b.jpg
From Flickr, by LA311

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2537566127_c01962557f_b.jpg
From Flickr, by LA311

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2378/2537563191_1be1077d64_b.jpg
From Flickr, by LA311

May 26, 2008

717 9th

From Grand Hope Park.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/4521/meruelo200805261xz6.jpg

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/9456/meruelo200805262kt8.jpg

Flower street side.

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/1413/meruelo200805263xq9.jpg

http://img338.imageshack.us/img338/2038/meruelo200805264yu3.jpg

June 5, 2008

717 Ninth
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/5677/img1936sst8.jpg

June 8, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2563873538_600cc9e49b_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

FiLA always takes some very nice pictures with great angles

June 11, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2572567372_62c88da766_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/2571739505_b45812d611_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3017/2571695099_cca393c756_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2571707559_99512c5f66_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/2572452992_f9a29c6bb6_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

Looks to be exactly even with its neighbor now!

May 26, 2008

Is it my imagination or do those windows not open? Isn't that the same thing the office building conversion on 7th and Hope is having a hard time overcoming?

WOW! Amazing update!

Oh fuck me!!!! that bitch has risen since last I've checked. :applause:

June 14th, 2008
http://i26.tinypic.com/ezn7ll.jpg
http://i31.tinypic.com/33u8uwi.jpg

717 Ninth fits-in quite nicely with the rest of Dowtown! I'm interested to see the finished product.

Nice photos of this work-in-progress.

does anyone know how there gonna cover the parking structure something like hanover?
or are they just gonna leave it open?

Why is it that there is only one lousy rendering for this project? I would like to see bigger, more detailed renderings from different angles.

June 22, 2008

June 22, 2008

On a hot and schweaty Sunday. They're moving pretty quickly with the glass.

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/1222/meruelo200806224ln2.jpg

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/4627/meruelo200806223sw9.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/9881/meruelo200806222jc7.jpg

http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/612/meruelo200806221uu3.jpg

^^^^ sweet :)

Very sweet. I was a little hesitant about the stripes on the glass..but I'm really liking the overall look.

whats the height limit for that area does anyone know??

Someone is welcome to add, subtract, correct but here is my understanding:

The background rules in the specific land use plans for downtown allow for a Floor to Area Ratio ("FAR") of 6:1. This is based on the square footage of the plot minus setbacks (which can be varied with various variances - v for vendetta). This wouldn't allow for a very tall building, which would lead many developers to build medallions, muras and hikaris.

That being said, obviously there are other things at play. Approvals seem to be more forthcoming for megaprojects despite the default 6:1 Ratio. In "keeping up with the joneses" and justifying the high prices of vacant lots, approvals are more likely especially when concessions are given to the community (although some are possibly challenged as unconstitutional state excises).

Last Year, LA opened up air space transfer sales of the 9 million square feet of space available about the not-soon-to-be replaced convention center (notice how we have a HUGE plot of land with relatively low height, and therefore mucho square footage up for sale). This will allow for greater heights (and I don't know specifically, but it seems the number going around is a 35% increase in building heights).

Also, please correct me if I'm wrong, but downtown is not subject to blanket height restrictions like single family homes zoned in R-1, i.e. 30' in most areas; so potentially, with the support of city officials, there is no real limitation and it comes down to the economic concerns of individual developers and their risk averse financial panthers.

so you're sayin' there's no height limit! :)

eek! I've boiled down the most complicated of height limiting algorithms for new downtown construction into a simple easy to use heuristic:

A.S. = Years since the First Skyscraper
E = last major earthquake richter scale number seismic zone
Y = years since last major earthquake in your seismic zone
N = Average Number of NIMBYs per adjacent parcels
B = Kilometers to the U.S. Bank Tower
R = Months since Recession

Basically, I call it the "Asian Beer" formula.
( ( A.S. - (E + Y + N) ) / B ) - R = Maximum Building Height for New Construction Downtown.

Now apply everything you learned in 8th Grade. The first skyscraper was built in Chicago in 1885 (123), Northridge quake (6.7) was fourteen years ago (14) let's assume a nice low amount of NIMBYs in the buildings next door (4) and 3/4 of a kilometer away (.75) and we'll use a recession base of 7/1/07 (~12). Plug away: ((123 - (6.7+14+4))/(.75)) - 12 = 119 Meters or appx 390 feet.

One wrinkle in the formula: It assumes that the Library Tower/U.S. Bank Tower are never torn down and built upon again, otherwise we would have an infinitely high tower a la calculus due to the zero in the denominator.

Also note, that a lot of NIMBY action can drive the project into the ground (deep into the ground).

June 26, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2614577071_059e7df573_b.jpg
From Flickr, by ericrichardson

Looks nice
very nice



:)

June 28, 2008

Saturday, June 28

Does a good job of extending the Flower St. canyon. Not bad for an "auto-centric city", no?

http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/6895/meruelo200806281tl0.jpg

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6268/meruelo200806282hh8.jpg

Glass is now visible all the way from Olive.

http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/6664/meruelo200806283we5.jpg

Not bad at all.:cheers:

I always forget how cool looking of a street Flower is.:nuts:

How many floors is still to go?

June 29, 2008

June 29th, 2008

Peeking over Promerica Tower. Five more floors, should reach about the height of the crane boom.

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8907/meruelo200806291nd8.jpg

Ahhh, ... glorious parking structures in the foreground :)

July 1, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3175/2628923923_6b29ae5ea6_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2628889497_31c66aa9eb_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

How many floors is still to go?

i think about 8 floors

no there pouring the 29th floor right now so 35-29= 6 floors to go. and the core floors are at 31, so 4 more to go.

July 6, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2643739357_8c0e7cc3db.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2644566846_f402bb290f.jpg?v=0

Great perspective- a new eye!

July 6, 2008

July 6, 2008

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/612/meruelo200807062ju7.jpg

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/2832/meruelo200807064iv7.jpg

http://img386.imageshack.us/img386/6291/meruelo200807065qj5.jpg

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/6996/meruelo200807063ll9.jpg

Ucland, of SSP, says this project is in the middle of a two week lull in construction. Deciding on any furthur progress, perhaps?

dont know what he is talking about, you can obviously see tons of progress, like more glass being installed, even look at the crane view from 7/1 it is lifting something and you can see a construction member with an orange shirt on. Maybe its more like they took a break for 4th of July week. this building should be topped out in September.

Lot's of progress, not much height gain. Maybe they're deciding whether or not to give her a height increase? Yeah?

No? Wishful thinking.

It's too late for any design changes the building will stay at 395 ft/ 35 fl.

From SSP:

Speaking of Meruelo Maddox, here's a better render of the base of 717 Ninth. It's still hard to tell exactly what materials they'll use, but it'll definitely have something interesting to look at.

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/3047/717flowerbasesd6.jpg
(Photo credit: www.meruelomaddux.com (http://www.meruelomaddux.com))

Can't really tell what that is

July 13, 2008

717 Ninth

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/5853/concerto200807131hg6.jpg

July 13, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2666535725_99a02e7227_b.jpg
From Flickr, by DowntownCharlieBrown

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3250/2667347028_225f10905f_b.jpg
From Flickr, by DowntownCharlieBrown

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/2667344622_5c0c912411_b.jpg
From Flickr, by DowntownCharlieBrown

July 14, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2668822815_45e17b7bdc_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2669659926_531be17f28_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/2669654270_689572072c_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

looking great! thanks for the pics! i wish this was 20 stories taller, then it would be really impressive.

Will this be the tallest all residential downtown?

^^ YES IT IS!!! :)
even better news is that once park fifth gets under way, that will hold the title of tallest residential building on the west coast!!!!:banana::lock::cucumber::banana2::master:

that is until the next housing boom and a new proposal
angel tower anyone???:angel1:

July 15, 2008

This one is looking really good!
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3175/img0806le9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

717 looks like it's just a tad bit taller than 888 Fig.
http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/1185/img0827qu1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Looks like they were doing a crane jump today (19 July).

is that why they stopped adding floors? its been at floor 29 for the last 2 weeks.

July 19, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2687449298_c81897e5e6_b.jpg
From Flickr, by danparker276

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/2687453846_b5fc1a6549_b.jpg
From Flickr, by danparker276

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3095/2702142837_a2bebe9466_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3258/2702264204_6878b327a8_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2701451513_cc1c0002a1_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2702264072_e49278cf79_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/2702264032_a9d5c1cf08_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2702263850_7119392d30_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3114/2702263954_cdffa734cd_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3035/2701451359_25d72d5052_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

Finally, a clear rendering...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/2676138328_fe6a992f15_b.jpg
From Flickr, by angelenic

very interesting. i love the last one, and if comes out like that i will be very happy. i hope Concerto plays off this and the retail feeds each other. it will be an awesome corner.Now we need the parking garage behind this to be turned into a 45 story building!

^^ and we also need the Park Tower and 8th/hope to start ASAP as well. Is the corner waterfall feature still gonna be included because in those renderings it doesnt show? thats a nice seathing they used in the renderings to cover the garage and the one used in the last rendering just WOW finally someone gets it right when it comes to concealing a parking garage!!

August 3, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3203/2733991234_bf73e294a7_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

Meruelo Maddux Gets $84 Million Loan

Funds Allow Company to Pick Up Pace on 717 Ninth, Which Would Be Downtown's Tallest Residential Tower
Construction on the 717 Ninth apartment complex is expected to pick up, following the announcement that developer Meruelo Maddux Properties has secured an $84 million construction loan. Photo by Gary Leonard.

by Ryan Vaillancourt

Downtown landowner and developer Meruelo Maddux Properties has secured an $84 million loan to pay for the remaining construction of its 35-story residential trophy tower in South Park, 717 Ninth.

The deal comes as the project, which in the first half of the year was speedily growing upwards, had slowed to a crawl in recent months.

The building, which would be Downtown's tallest residential skyscraper when finished, was originally backed by a construction loan that fell apart early this year as the result of difficulties in the credit markets, said Andrew Murray, the company's chief financial officer. Since then, Meruelo Maddux has paid for construction of 717 Ninth out of pocket while scrambling to secure financing to complete it.

"The company was fighting a Herculean battle to overcome the difficulties in the debt capital markets and they had a few false starts along the way," Murray said.

An affiliate of Century City-based investment firm Canyon Capital Realty Advisors, LLC provided the loan, which has a 12% fixed interest rate, Murray said. The $84 million deal has an initial 18-month term with five six-month extension periods.

Though 12% is considered a high interest rate on such a loan, Murray said the cost is worth the flexibility afforded by the structure of the deal.

"At this point, let's just say 18 months from now, the first term is up and the capital markets are a lot better, we'll get another construction loan to get it to the point where it's stabilized and then we'll get a permanent loan," he said.

Terms of the deal aside, many market watchers feel that securing a loan in excess of $50 million is an unlikely feat at all these days.

"There's no question in any of our minds that securing a construction loan of that magnitude in today's market is a tough task, if not impossible," said Hamid Behdad, president of the Central City Development Group and an expert in Downtown real estate.

The Meruelo Maddux deal, which closed Friday, comes as construction on 717 Ninth had noticeably slowed in recent months, with a skeleton crew pouring only three floors - the 29th through 31st - since June 2. Between January and April, by contrast, cement crews poured four to five floors per month.

Originally slated for completion in May 2009, the project is now on pace for a September 2009 finish, said John Maddux, the company's president and chief operating officer.

On the Market


Maddux's partner in the company is Richard Meruelo, a longtime landowner in Downtown with strong political connections, including a friendship with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. In 2006, he told Los Angeles Downtown News that he envisioned the 214-apartment project near the Ralphs supermarket to be an "aquatic metaphor" for the city, with a watery glass curtain wall along the fa�ade. The project cost at that time was estimated at $120 million.

Meruelo Maddux officials declined to say how much they have spent so far on the project, but as the tower has grown, the company's cash reserves have worn increasingly thin.

At the end of the first quarter - when the company estimated the project would require an additional $76 million to complete - the company had only $12 million in unrestricted cash and $19 million in unpaid bills, most of which were tied to 717 Ninth, company officials told Wall Street analysts in May.

During the same three-month period, the company's expenses outweighed revenues by about $3 million. (Second quarter earnings are scheduled to be released this week.)

Real estate investors and analysts who have been watching the company have been paying close attention to its quest for a construction loan for 717 Ninth. Alex Goldfarb, who covers Meruelo Maddux for UBS Securities, said that getting a loan for the project is a "top priority" for the company.

"It's something that we and investors are clearly focused on," Goldfarb said. "It's a big deal."

In recent months, Meruelo Maddux has been shopping some of its properties in Downtown and surrounding areas - including a 119,000-square-foot warehouse on San Fernando Road occupied by FedEx Corp. - as an alternative means to generate cash.

Even with the loan, however, the company may still have to get creative in terms of generating more cash, given a laundry list of upcoming expenses, Goldfarb said.

"There are loans that are maturing that need to be refinanced. There are loans that have matured and are on a multi-month extension that really need to be termed out or repaid or something," Goldfarb said. "So there are a number of capital stepping stones that they still need to clear."

Securing the loan, in addition to vastly improving the company's cash outlook, could also indirectly give Meruelo Maddux an edge in marketing some of its properties, said Murray, who added that the company is only considering offers on properties they consider "non-core assets."

"By having this event occur, which is good for us, we're in a more advantageous position to negotiate other deals for ourselves," he said. "When someone thinks you're running around scrambling for money, they're going to try to take advantage of you."

Now construction at 717 Ninth will pick up, said Murray. During the past couple months, the company focused only on pouring concrete and covering the building with windows, intentionally lagging on electrical, plumbing and HVAC infrastructure.

"We were a little out of phase, but that all becomes academic now," Murray said. "Everything is going back to full steam ahead."

Paying out of pocket? Way ta go, Meruelo!

i never knew that they were having finacing problems :ohno:

Taken 2 days ago...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2737414471_4b2cd8f166_b.jpg

From Flickr, h077314 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/h077314/)

August 10, 2008

717 Ninth

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/8627/concerto200808102ge5.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/7749/meruelo200808101ef3.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/5576/meruelo200808102cf8.jpg

^^ Very Urban. Love it.

August 20, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3263/2781213549_4860af6518_b.jpg
From Flickr, by ericrichardson

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/2781215361_f424ba85bd_b.jpg
From Flickr, by ericrichardson

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3196/2781216767_c64efd7926_b.jpgFrom Flickr, by ericrichardson

^ Two more floors to go...

August 22, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3023/2787004193_f19661bc9e_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3234/2788014534_5110d813b0_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3184/2788012350_6d5e723a28_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/2787151799_d05b3d1091_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/2723737569_4c088085e2.jpg?v=0
flickr aniconic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2723727771_d66e7c0807.jpg?v=0
flickr aniconic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/2723725539_51804a7ec7.jpg?v=0
flickr aniconic

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2724556514_2ef857396e_b.jpg
flickr aniconic

impressive

Loves it :)

I would like it much more if the parking was subterranean. South Park will become suburbia on steroids if more and more developments have 5 to 10 levels of above ground parking. :ohno:

^ I agree. I don't like how the building doesn't come all the way down to the street. You would never see something like this built in NYC.

But in L.A its something that you do see all THE TIME !!!!!! But by the renders it seems like it will be covered up well..?!>!?

Another technique that could be implemented is if they were to build using the "wrap-around" style like Concerto and Metropolis, where the parking is placed in the interior and residences come all the way down to ground level wrapping around the parking levels, that would be one of the most feasible ways to conceal parking and also cut construction costs for digging below ground.

There just might be a need for individual transportation far into the future and even though I like auto-pods as much as I like New York, this just may be an attractive selling point for a residential tower. These people want to get in their car and hit the streets. If they want to walk, they have that option as well. For me, if they have street level retail and then their elevated parking (residential buildings only) over that, then that's ok by me. I will say that I wish that the parking was sub-terranean, but then the tower wouldn't be as tall. More subterranean parking :banana:

August 26, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2800292507_b330a386aa_b.jpg
From Flickr, by ericrichardson

^ One more floor to go!

August 30, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/2812658220_66f7cb28f6_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lofty construction

August 31, 2008

I count 34 floors, so one more to go. If you look closely, you can see the first balcony windows and doors going in.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8533/meruelo200808311xf3.jpg

http://img295.imageshack.us/img295/1214/meruelo200808312fc1.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/7969/concerto200808312tk7.jpg

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3816/concerto200808314qd6.jpg

September 4, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3126/2829216748_4f84503bf1_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lofty construction

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3041/2828378283_e1c227e16c_b.jpg
From Flickr, by lofty construction

So are we topped out now?

^ No, but it should be in another week or so.

September 9, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2844417372_8ff75545d2_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/2844499582_24a2556d31_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

whats with the plywood over some of the windows??
did they break? or do they serve another purpose?

September 18, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/2868959200_8a4b22126e_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

Yawnneth

Sunday, September 21, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/2878362310_1c3af528a3_b.jpg

The windows seems to be of different colours...
What's the explanation?!

Wow, nice shot...:)

October 1, 2008

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/2908368916_26af6532f8_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3197/2905007867_7b451e9def_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla