They Have Designs on Little Tokyo : Development: Builders have proposed four projects at 1st and Alameda, where hotels, office towers and apartments would create a self-contained community.

The first of four development projects planned at Alameda and 1st streets in Little Tokyo--a spot developers envision as a self-contained community where people will live, work and play--may begin construction soon after the holidays.

The First Street North project, developed by Barker-Patrinely, now needs only City Council approval before construction can begin. City planners hope to present the project to the council early in 1993, said city budget analyst Karen Kalfayan.

Three other developers also have plans to build at Alameda and 1st. They envision a community of high-rise office towers, luxury hotels and apartment buildings augmented with museums, art galleries, upscale shops and even a martial arts center.

Despite some community skepticism over whether people will really live in the Downtown area because of a dearth of recreational offerings, the developers enthusiastically insist their projects will bring so much vitality to the area that the idea of living in the suburbs will soon be a turnoff.

Plans include more than half a dozen apartment buildings that will provide everything from affordable senior and family housing to upscale apartments with hotel-like amenities. Several office buildings and an upscale hotel or two, all with boutiques, shops and restaurants on the ground floors, will be linked by “pedestrian-friendly” walkways and plazas.

Museum space and a health-club facility with a martial arts center are also part of the concept. The construction of a sports arena and a magnet school have been mentioned as far-off but strong possibilities.

All this would be served by an improved public transit system that has already begun operation with the Blue Line and Metrolink commuter trains.

Three of the four development proposals are still in the concept stage, with a long series of environmental and governmental reviews ahead. But the developers remain committed to their projects, said one.

“We’re actively pursuing our dreams,” local developer Al Taira said.

Taira and his partners are working on environmental-impact reports for their proposed Mangrove Estates and First Street South Plaza projects. Another firm, Catellus Development Corp., has not gotten beyond drafting a master plan for its hopes to develop nearly 70 acres near Union Station.

But First Street North, to be located on 7.8 acres bounded by 1st, San Pedro, Temple and Alameda streets, is likely to begin taking shape next year. The project will provide two office towers, more than 115,000 square feet of retail space, about 300 apartments, 425 hotel rooms, a child-care facility, a geriatric center and expansion of the Japanese American National Museum.

One of the towers will house the city’s Bureau of Engineering and Department of Planning offices. This city building and its accompanying parking structure, estimated to cost $100 million, will be the first buildings constructed after the council approves the project.

Construction of the retail spaces and the hotel will follow, Kalfayan said. A hotel operator has not been named, but negotiations are under way with one hotelier, Kalfayan said.

Meanwhile, Taira has a commitment from Taiwan’s EVA Airlines to run the 600-room, 24-story Evergreen Laurel Hotel in the Mangrove Estates project. The Mangrove developers hope to begin building this luxury hotel before the end of 1993.

The hotel will be a catalyst for construction of the other parts of Mangrove Estates, which include an office building at Alameda and Temple streets and five residential towers providing 1,200 condominiums and apartments. At least one of the residential towers will be an upscale, full-service complex with amenities such as housekeeping and food service for residents, Taira said.

Across 1st Street from Mangrove Estates will be First Street South Plaza, with two office buildings, three residential towers that will provide a total of 626 units, a separate senior citizens apartment building with 528 affordable units and a health club-martial arts center linked to the homes by a pedestrian bridge over 2nd Street.

Taira’s two projects will cost more than $500 million.

Taira, who developed Yaohan Plaza in Little Tokyo, envisions a self-contained community where residents of Mangrove and First Street South would walk to work, restaurants, art galleries and the gym. Furthermore, shopping and entertainment in Little Tokyo, Chinatown and Olvera Street are just a short walk or bus ride away, Taira said.

The proximity of these colorful neighborhoods and the convenience of Union Station are the main selling point of the fourth proposed project: Catellus’ plans to build a regional transportation center, government and commercial buildings, and a hotel on land next to the train station and stretching to Little Tokyo. This Alameda District has even been mentioned as a possible site for a new sports arena.

Although these development proposals have met with little opposition, Little Tokyo community members have expressed concerns about the potential increase in traffic and whether the area offers enough entertainment opportunities to attract and keep residents.

“So it’s 10 minutes away from my work--so I go home, eat . . . then what do I do?” Satoru Uyeda, local businessman and community leader, asked rhetorically. “Downtown Los Angeles is not conducive to living here 24 hours, in comparison to San Francisco.”

Taira said developers have made plans for entertainment venues, possibly movie theaters and a bowling alley, to keep residents in the area.