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NEW DESTINATION: Anschutz Entertainment Group plans to break ground today on the $1.7-billion L.A. Live Âsports-entertainment complex in downtown. |
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Downtown Los Angeles will soon be flanked by two massive developments — the Grand Avenue project, centered around Disney Hall on the north, and the L.A. Live project, centered around Staples Center on the south. Each promises to create a "heart" for downtown — but with different ways of beating.
Billionaire Eli Broad, who co-chairs the Grand Avenue Committee, envisions the Champs-Elysees, while mogul Tim Leiweke, who backs L.A. Live, sees a version of Times Square.
FOR THE RECORD:
L.A. Live —An article in Thursday's California section about the groundbreaking for the downtown L.A. Live project referred to Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris as the chairwoman of USC's urban planning department. She holds that position with UCLA. Also, the article said three former mayors were in attendance when a plan for downtown's Grand Avenue was unveiled earlier this year. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former mayors James K. Hahn and Richard Riordan were present.
When Grand Avenue was unveiled earlier this year, it had the feel of a coronation. Three former mayors and other prominent city leaders spoke of how the $1.8-billion project, with upscale shopping and high-rise condos, as well as a 16-acre public park, would give downtown its center.
Anschutz Entertainment Group will break ground Thursday on L.A. Live, a $1.7-billion tourist-oriented "sports-entertainment" hub featuring a 55-story convention center and hotel, 7,100-seat theater, broadcast facilities, 14-screen movie theater and nearly a dozen restaurants and clubs.
L.A. Live, however, has become a lightning rod for criticism.
Downtown hotel operators say that the proposed Hilton Hotel might hurt business by flooding downtown with too many beds. And some of the new loft and condo dwellers cringe at L.A. Live's resemblance to Universal CityWalk — saying downtown doesn't need a "Disney-style" tourist draw.
The two developments raise larger questions about downtown's future: Should the area be a dense urban mix of housing, social services and the businesses to support them? Or should it serve as a tourist destination, catering to out-of-town guests with hotels and other venues?
"They're trying to capitalize on two different markets," said Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, chairwoman of USC's urban planning department. "But they don't want to lower the bar too much."
Downtown boosters say there is room for both, with Grand Avenue serving downtown's upscale urban dwellers, and L.A. Live the thousands of students who live in the area, as well as visitors to Staples and the struggling Convention Center.
The project, they said, would solidify two distinct vibes for north and south downtown.
Grand Avenue would rise near the loft district, in the midst some of the city's leading arts and cultural institutions, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Music Center. L.A. Live is rising in the shadow of the Lakers and Kings — in an area that hosted the X Games this summer and will soon be home to several new residential developments.
Pictures of the plan provided by AEG show a venue alive with light, people and advertisements. In addition to the project's main performance space, already named the Nokia Theatre Los Angeles, L.A. Live will include a Club Nokia, which could hold 2,200 people, and a 120,000-square-foot broadcast studio, which developers expect would serve as West Coast headquarters for a national television network.
AEG Executive Vice President Ted Tanner said he envisioned a pedestrian-friendly space. All of the restaurants on the site — which will include Gladstone's, Chaya Brasserie and P.F. Chang's — are being required to have outdoor dining.
But backers are also hoping to create a vibrant nightlife for the area. They say they have persuaded the Conga Room to relocate to L.A. Live from the Miracle Mile, and have signed on the founders of the clubs Prey and Shelter to develop a small club on the site.
In addition, a 30,000-square-foot-space — which is being called a "museum experience" — is planned to showcase the history of the Grammys. Leiweke said the museum would draw 1 million visitors a year to L.A. Live.
In addition, he said the site would be used for awards shows, live broadcasts, expositions and fan fests.
"Ultimately, we believe downtown Los Angeles can become a point of destination for the region," Leiweke said. "More importantly, L.A. can be the event capital of the world."
Still, some downtown residents complained that the project was not unique and reminded them of other big-scale complexes in the region, including the Grove and the Block at Orange.
Billionaire Eli Broad, who co-chairs the Grand Avenue Committee, envisions the Champs-Elysees, while mogul Tim Leiweke, who backs L.A. Live, sees a version of Times Square.
FOR THE RECORD:
L.A. Live —An article in Thursday's California section about the groundbreaking for the downtown L.A. Live project referred to Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris as the chairwoman of USC's urban planning department. She holds that position with UCLA. Also, the article said three former mayors were in attendance when a plan for downtown's Grand Avenue was unveiled earlier this year. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former mayors James K. Hahn and Richard Riordan were present.
When Grand Avenue was unveiled earlier this year, it had the feel of a coronation. Three former mayors and other prominent city leaders spoke of how the $1.8-billion project, with upscale shopping and high-rise condos, as well as a 16-acre public park, would give downtown its center.
Anschutz Entertainment Group will break ground Thursday on L.A. Live, a $1.7-billion tourist-oriented "sports-entertainment" hub featuring a 55-story convention center and hotel, 7,100-seat theater, broadcast facilities, 14-screen movie theater and nearly a dozen restaurants and clubs.
L.A. Live, however, has become a lightning rod for criticism.
Downtown hotel operators say that the proposed Hilton Hotel might hurt business by flooding downtown with too many beds. And some of the new loft and condo dwellers cringe at L.A. Live's resemblance to Universal CityWalk — saying downtown doesn't need a "Disney-style" tourist draw.
The two developments raise larger questions about downtown's future: Should the area be a dense urban mix of housing, social services and the businesses to support them? Or should it serve as a tourist destination, catering to out-of-town guests with hotels and other venues?
"They're trying to capitalize on two different markets," said Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris, chairwoman of USC's urban planning department. "But they don't want to lower the bar too much."
Downtown boosters say there is room for both, with Grand Avenue serving downtown's upscale urban dwellers, and L.A. Live the thousands of students who live in the area, as well as visitors to Staples and the struggling Convention Center.
The project, they said, would solidify two distinct vibes for north and south downtown.
Grand Avenue would rise near the loft district, in the midst some of the city's leading arts and cultural institutions, including the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Music Center. L.A. Live is rising in the shadow of the Lakers and Kings — in an area that hosted the X Games this summer and will soon be home to several new residential developments.
Pictures of the plan provided by AEG show a venue alive with light, people and advertisements. In addition to the project's main performance space, already named the Nokia Theatre Los Angeles, L.A. Live will include a Club Nokia, which could hold 2,200 people, and a 120,000-square-foot broadcast studio, which developers expect would serve as West Coast headquarters for a national television network.
AEG Executive Vice President Ted Tanner said he envisioned a pedestrian-friendly space. All of the restaurants on the site — which will include Gladstone's, Chaya Brasserie and P.F. Chang's — are being required to have outdoor dining.
But backers are also hoping to create a vibrant nightlife for the area. They say they have persuaded the Conga Room to relocate to L.A. Live from the Miracle Mile, and have signed on the founders of the clubs Prey and Shelter to develop a small club on the site.
In addition, a 30,000-square-foot-space — which is being called a "museum experience" — is planned to showcase the history of the Grammys. Leiweke said the museum would draw 1 million visitors a year to L.A. Live.
In addition, he said the site would be used for awards shows, live broadcasts, expositions and fan fests.
"Ultimately, we believe downtown Los Angeles can become a point of destination for the region," Leiweke said. "More importantly, L.A. can be the event capital of the world."
Still, some downtown residents complained that the project was not unique and reminded them of other big-scale complexes in the region, including the Grove and the Block at Orange.
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