Location: 11th Street and Broadway
Function: Mixed-Use | 587 Units | 40,000 SF Office | 20,000 SF Retail | 10,000 SF Health Club
Developer: Hearst Corporation (http://www.hearstcorp.com/)
Architect: Morphosis (http://www.morphosis.net/) (Thom Mayne)
Completion: N/A

Herald Examiner Building

The mixed-use project at the former home of the Herald Examiner newspaper at 11th Street and Broadway in South Park is still in the approvals stage. Developer Hearst Corp. expects to bring the deal before the City Council in November, said Marty Cepkauskas, director of real estate for Hearst Corp. Plans call for 40,000 square feet of office space, 20,000 square feet of retail and a 10,000-square-foot health club in the lot's historic, Julia Morgan-designed Broadway building. The project would also include two housing towers: a 24-story, 268-unit structure on the former press building site on Hill Street, which has been razed; and a 37-story, 319-unit high-rise at 120 W. 12th St. Architect Brenda Levin is overseeing the rehab of the historic building, while Thom Mayne's Morphosis will design the new towers. - Los Angeles Downtown News

http://urbanpartnersllc.com/images/projects/proj_herold2.jpg

What's the status on this project btw? I saw some demolishing a few weeks back across from BofA but haven't seen nor heard anything else. I just wish the design of these puppies would not be so "Unique" on it's own way.

Those do not look like they could take an earthquake!

Those do not look like they could take an earthquake!

^ More like they survived an earthquake!

^ More like they survived an earthquake!

Yeah...:)

Green Light for Herald Examiner

A Rival's Appeal Is Rejected

By Anna Scott

The City Council's Planning, Land Use and Management Committee last week approved an expansive mixed-use development proposed for Downtown's historic Herald Examiner building. The long-delayed project is expected to come before the full council for final approval in November.

The project at 1111 S. Broadway by property owner Hearst Corp. has been stalled for more than a year, following legal challenges from USC area housing developer Conquest Student Housing; Conquest has contested numerous projects by Hearst's former partner on the effort, Urban Partners.

In approving the project, the PLUM committee rejected two separate appeals filed by Conquest.

"We are pleased with the outcome, and it's what we expected," said Marty Cepkauskas, director of real estate for Hearst Corp. "We're committed to seeing this project through."

Downtown Los Angeles-based Urban Partners dropped out of the deal in May. A federal lawsuit filed by Urban Partners and USC in September alleges that Conquest deliberately stalled the Herald Examiner project - along with several other Urban Partners developments - with frivolous challenges to dissuade the developer from pursuing a proposed student housing development in the USC area.

That project, the $135 million University Gateway, is expected to break ground in summer 2008.

According to the lawsuit, the Hearst Corp. cut ties with Urban Partners on the Herald Examiner project because of Conquest's interference.

Now that Conquest's appeal has been rejected, said Urban Partners principal Matthew Burton, "We would love to get back involved," but added that re-partnering would be Hearst Corp.'s decision.

"We have not had any discussions since we were removed from the project," said Burton. "But we think it's a great project. I'm thrilled that PLUM turned down the appeal."

Cepkauskas declined to comment on the possibility of rejoining with Urban Partners.

Bumpy Road

The former home of William Randolph Hearst's Herald Examiner newspaper, at 11th Street and Broadway, has been vacant since 1989. Plans to redevelop the site, said Cepkauskas, have been on the burner for at least five years.

The project planned for the site would include 40,000 square feet of office space, 20,000 square feet of retail and a 10,000-square-foot health club in the lot's historic, Julia Morgan-designed Broadway building. Architect Brenda Levin would oversee that aspect of the project.

The development would also create a 24-story, 268-unit residential tower on the former press building site on Hill Street, which has been razed, and a 37-story, 319-unit high-rise at 120 W. 12th St. The new structures would be designed by Thom Mayne of Morphosis.

Earlier this year, Conquest appealed zoning changes and other approvals granted to the developer by the city's Planning Department.

According to Urban Partners' September lawsuit, Conquest attorney Greg Yaris told a Hearst Corp. representative that the opposition was aimed at stopping University Gateway. In early 2007, the suit alleges, Yaris told Hearst Corp. that Conquest would drop its appeals for $1 million.

"As a result of the Conquest Defendants' extortion and opposition to the project, Hearst terminated its relationship with Urban on that project," reads the 60-page complaint, in part.

After Hearst Corp. and Urban Partners parted ways, Conquest continued with its appeals. The city Planning Commission unanimously rejected the challenges in May.

During the PLUM committee meeting last Tuesday, Ninth District Councilwoman Jan Perry rebuked Conquest for what she characterized as an attempt to quell competition in the USC student housing market.

"I have some direct experience with the activities of Mr. Smolinisky's company," said Perry, referring to Conquest principal Alan Smolinisky, "in attempting to derail projects" near USC.

"He engaged in behavior which some might argue is at least harassment, possibly more than that, against Urban Partners," she said.

Conquest representatives did not attend last week's hearing. Phone calls to Conquest attorneys John Henning and Greg Yaris, and to Conquest principals Smolinisky and Brian Chen were not returned.

Veronica Perez of the Central City Association hailed the Herald Examiner project as one that "will mark a new era for the South Park area and benefit the entire Downtown region.

"It is truly unfortunate that such a landmark project for Downtown, which has substantial community support, has met significant procedural delays due to a merit-less appeal," she added.

PLUM committee members seemed somewhat baffled by the appeals.

"I can't think of a case with an appellant," said PLUM committee member Jack Weiss, "that totally lacked standing."

He went on to ask Perry, "Have you seen anything like this in your career?"

Conquest is expected to file a written response to the September lawsuit with the U.S. District Court on Nov. 7. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 10, according to Urban Partners attorney Karl Tilleman, and the case is expected to go to trial late next year.

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Source: Los Angeles Downtown News (http://www.downtownnews.com/articles/2007/10/29/news/news04.txt)

Eye SORE

^^ Those are old renderings, I think.

^^ Those are old renderings, I think.

Yes, but it looks as if Thom, is still the tower architect, .........or am i wrong.??

^^ I sure hope so. Thom Mayne is one of the best architects alive today. IMO this is far from an eyesore. This looks like something that L.A. should definitely embrace. After all, L.A. is one of the most forward thinking cities in the world regarding architecture.

Forward thinking does not automatically mean good.

yes it does. especially thom mayne's forward thinking. he got the pritzker prize becuase of it

Well I still say it looks ugly. Most of Frank Gehry's work is ugly, except for the Concert Hall of course. This building just looks so ugly.

well from that pic it looks ugly but myabe it looks better in other renders. Any body have other pics on this project.

it's sooo ugly. there is nothing pleasing to the eye. it's not symetrical or even asymetrical. places like concert hall or the ghetty center aren't symetrical, but they at least have a sense of balance at any angle.

with this, it looks like someone got too close to their work and let the pencil go in any direction for no particular reason. it looks like some parts of this building are inaccessible or you have to crawl on your knees through certain floors

there has to be new renders for this thing. if it's built like this, our city will be the worldwide laughing stock in art, architecture, and society.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1303/539878553_8ec6b03430_b.jpg

City Council Approves Herald Examiner Redevelopment

Posted by Rico
November 6, 2007

Today the City Council certified the Herald Examiner redevelopment project’s Environmental Impact Report and denied appeals (http://lacity.org/clk/councilagendas/clkcouncilagendas348718_11062007.pdf) by Conquest Student Housing (http://www.conquesthousing.com/indexsc.html), a USC-area residential developer opposing the project. This move is considered an approval of the mixed-use highrise redevelopment project in the works by Hearst Corporation who owns the landmark property.

Conquest’s appeal came as a surprise to many since the Herald Examiner project is outside of the USC area. Furthermore, the company doesn’t hold other interest in the project. It appears that Conquest may have filed the appeal in retaliation to an earlier dispute (http://la.curbed.com/archives/2006/06/our_favorite_an_1.php) over the University Gateway project (http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/11753.html) with Urban Partners (http://www.urbanpartnersllc.com/about.php) — the company originally hired by Hearst Corporation to develop the project.

Last year, Hearst dropped Urban Partners and proceeded to redevelop the property on its own. Urban Partners has filed a lawsuit (http://www.usc.edu/uscnews/stories/14194.html) against Conquest seeking damages related to being dropped by Hearst Corp.

http://www.angelenic.com/images/heraldexaminer.jpg

An Anchor Development for a Changing Neighborhood

At 11th and Broadway, the dual adaptive reuse/new construction development will be the largest in the area, at the confluence of the Historic Core, South Park, and the Fashion District.

The City Council’s project approval is for two new mixed-use towers with 587 condominium units and associated amenities with improved open space and pedestrian connections to adjacent properties.

The new towers would rise on the site of the former press building immediately west of the historic Herald Examiner structure (pictured below). Demolition (http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=press+building&w=63922723%40N00&s=rec) of the old press building occurred early this year.

Preliminary plans released by the developer called for 40,000 square feet of office space and 20,000 square feet of retail in the historic Herald Examiner building, which will be renovated.

No timeline has been released for the commencement of construction.

Early renderings of the Herald Examiner redevelopment project by Thom Mayne of Morphosis (http://morphosis.net/) pictured above.

Thanks to reader Michael for letting us know about the approvals.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2013/1797159019_ddfdea825d_b.jpg

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Source: angelenic (http://www.angelenic.com/downtown-general/city-council-approves-herald-examiner-redevelopment/)

I hope that this grows on me like the new Metro Rail cars.

Its a shame we most likely lose this historic building. I wish the Hearst family could have figured a way to keep the exterior of the building.

^^ Erm, the historic building is staying.

I hope that this grows on me like the new Metro Rail cars.


^ THANK YOU!!!!! them some ugly ass trains....

Getting back on topic:
These towers of there to remain and get built they will definitely grow on you. We will have to wait and see what is to come...

^^Fern, I meant that the trains did grow on me, I like them now, lol.

So I don't like the area of this lot, isn't it around a lot of warehouses?

^^ The location is still very much in the heart of the South Park district.

Hmm, I must be thinking of something else then, but I was almost completely sure it was this.

I see what it is now, I'm thinking of Mill Street Lofts.

^^ Erm, the historic building is staying.

Oh..i didn't know that.

Herald Examiner Project Gets Final Approval

News Brief

The long-delayed mixed-use development planned for the former home of the Herald Examiner newspaper has received full entitlement. Last Tuesday, the City Council upheld the recent decision by the council's Planning, Land Use and Management Committee to reject two appeals from USC area developer Conquest Student Housing, opposing the project by developer the Hearst Corporation. Conquest is currently facing a lawsuit from Hearst's former partner on the project, Downtown-based Urban Partners. The suit alleges, in part, that Conquest's legal challenges - aimed at dissuading Urban Partners from proceeding with a planned $135 million USC student housing complex - led the Hearst Corp. to cut ties with the company. The more than $350 million Herald Examiner project is expected to include 40,000 square feet of office space, 20,000 square feet of retail and a 10,000-square-foot health club in the lot's historic, Julia Morgan-designed Broadway building; it will also feature a new 24-story, 268-unit residential tower on the former press building site on Hill Street, plus a 37-story, 319-unit high rise at 120 W. 12th St. No groundbreaking date has been set. Architect Brenda Levin is handling the restoration of the historic building, while Thom Mayne's Morphosis will design the new towers. "We're very pleased to be completed with the entitlement process," said Marty Cepkauskas, director of real estate for Hearst Corp. "I appreciate the continuing support from the city during this process."

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Source: Los Angeles Downtown News (http://www.downtownnews.com/articles/2007/11/12/news/news_briefs/at04.txt)

Great news, maybe the restoration and a tower in 2 years..............

November 24, 2007

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2369/2061144162_dd4bfc06e2_b.jpg
From Flickr, by fridayinla

Herald Examiner Project on Hold Pending Market Turnaround

Despite some recent progress (http://www.angelenic.com/city-council-approves-herald-examiner-redevelopment/) on the legal and planning fronts, Hearst Corporation has decided to place the 600-unit Herald Examiner project on hold until the shaky residential real estate market turns around.

With short- and mid-term outlooks generally poor, it may be several years before we see the dual residential tower project rise. In what has become the new buzzword of 2008, Marty Cepkauskas, Hearst’s director of real estate, says the company is taking a “wait-and-see approach.”

If and when the market does recover, a new development partner and architectural team will be selected for construction and final designs. Original renderings (http://angelenic.com/images/heraldexaminer-mayne.jpg) by Morphosis Architects presented two towers that would rise at 11th and Hill, and 12th and Broadway. Those preliminary images were created for the entitlements phase only and are expected to change dramatically when the project moves forward with construction.

A smaller phase of the project includes an adaptive reuse of the historic Herald Examiner Building stretching along Broadway. The building will be refurbished and turned into office space with retail. Those plans could easily take a leap forward if a potential anchor tenant is identified for the 40,000 square-foot space, a strong possibility in Downtown’s improving office environment.

Regarding the residential portion, Hearst Corporation is taking the long view.

“We’ve owned the property for 100 years,” explains Cepkauskas. “We’re just waiting for the market and the right partners.”

-Herald Examiner Project Site Plan (http://cityplanning.lacity.org/eir/HeraldExaminer/DEIR/II-5.pdf)
-City Council Approves Herald Examiner Redevelopment (http://www.angelenic.com/city-council-approves-herald-examiner-redevelopment/)
-Ripple Effect: Eastern South Park Receiving a Wave of Investment (http://www.angelenic.com/ripple-effect-eastern-south-park-seeing-a-wave-of-investment/)

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Source: angelenic (http://www.angelenic.com/herald-examiner-project-on-hold-pending-market-turnaround/)

Another victim of the slowdown... I'm curious to see how many of these come back to life when the market swings back up.