Three Suggestions for Grand Park

October 30, 2012 1 Comment

I reviewed the first section of Grand Park back when it opened this summer, but now the whole park is finally open. It’s been a few weeks and I’ve been able to spend some evenings and afternoons at Grand Park — relaxing, reading, or sitting in the shade and talking on the phone. I have also attended some of the programmed events at the park (Dance Downtown, CicLAvia…).

I thought it was about time to review the park again with some of my new thoughts now that it’s completely open.

First of all, I love Grand Park. I think it’s a great civic space, as well as a wonderful amenity for those (like myself) who live nearby. I know that a lack of grass was a common complaint with the first section, but the opening of the third section has effectively assuaged my fears there. I realize the court of flags is mostly concrete, but it’s still a neat area to walk around, and I’ve been able to find my own little shady spot to sit on the grass on multiple occasions. It’s sort of the pass-through area between the other ends of the park (anchored by the large event lawn on one end and fountain on the other), but I think it also serves as a more calm and private section of the park for those wanting to stake out a little spot and relax. The flags are a cool civic monument–something Los Angeles often seems to lack compared to other cities.

Also, I’m just dying to have a huge neighborhood dinner party on the large wooden table (which I think might actually be an exhaust vent for below, but I’m not sure).

I envision enjoying an amazing community meal with all of my friends around this large wooden table.

The three sections of the park make a very effective whole when put together, but they’re still clearly split into three disjointed sections, which brings me to my three suggestions:

• Connect the Sections
• Open the City Hall Spring Street Entrance
• Don’t Overprogram the Space

Read on for explanations of each… Read more of this post

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Union Station: Improving Pedestrian Connections

April 26, 2012 1 Comment

With teams having showcased their broad-view ideas for the Union Station area yesterday, I thought I would share one small change I think would make a huge difference. While the plans can include hotels, offices, restaurants, and more, all will certainly bring more pedestrian traffic to the station. It will end up being more of a destination point, rather than just a transfer point, as it is for many travelers now. Of course, with the Regional Connector, possibly High Speed Rail, pass through tracks, and other transportation connections, it will continue to be the major transfer hub for Los Angeles, but with Olvera Street and El Pueblo across the street (and remember, this is where a future streetcar connection would actually end), the additions to the Union Station Property, and potentially Park 101, we will see many more pedestrians exiting the station’s front doors.

The current view walking out of Union Station, with the entry plaza directly ahead blocked by chain and stanchions.

Currently, there is a small plaza leading directly up to Union Station’s main entrance, with some memorial plaques and other pedestrian oriented designs. The problem is, the crosswalks crossing Alameda don’t lead to this plaza, they cross parallel on both sides of it due to Los Angeles Street splitting in two around this entryway as is comes into and out of the station. When you exit the front of the station, you’re actually blocked from crossing onto what is supposed to be an entry plaza by a chain and stanchions, forcing you to go around it.

To better serve pedestrians, this small entry plaza should directly connect the front doors of the station with the Plaza at el Pueblo.

The best way to do this is by consolidating Los Angeles St. to the south (where the current vehicle entry is) and moving the vehicle exit to the north side of the timed parking lot, next to Mozaic Apartments. The current vehicle exit from Union Station and the northern side of Los Angeles St. will be transformed into a straight pedestrian entry plaza that extends from Union Station’s doors, across Alameda Street, up to the entrance of Olvera Street.

An overview of my proposed changes to the Union Station Entrance. A large pedestrian entry plaza, consolidated Los Angeles St., and new vehicle exit lanes.

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Lessons from Seattle part 3: Retail Development

January 9, 2012 1 Comment

Completing my series based on a trip I took to Seattle a few months ago, I conclude with retail development. (Previous posts looked at Airport Transit and Local Transit in Downtown Seattle.)

Because my time in Seattle was brief, I undoubtedly missed the vast majority that the city had to offer in terms of retail. I’m going to focus on a specific development, Pacific Place, with a few side notes as well.

I first noticed Pacific Place when I was eating dinner across the street one night. I was sitting on the patio and looked across the street, astounded that there was retail above the first floor on nearly every building. It was amazing because I am so used to retail being a ground floor aspect of buildings, with housing or offices above. What I didn’t know was that the “many” buildings I was looking at we’re actually one and that it was Pacific Place.

The shopping mall was designed to look like a number of buildings that had been built over time, and the major shops on the outer edge all had street facing entrances (as well as interior entrances). They acted almost like independent buildings from the street side, each with their own style as well.

From across the street, Pacific Place appears as multiple buildings, with retail and restaurants on all floors.

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Metropolis Development – Guest Blog at BrighamYen.com

August 23, 2011 Leave a comment

Today, Brigham Yen posted a guest entry I wrote on his blog. His blog is a great resource for both Downtown Los Angeles and Pasadena when it comes to development, transit, restaurants, shopping, real estate, and a number of other topics.

Brigham runs a series called “Ideas For Downtown LA” and he asked me to write about my ideas for the recently-announced Metropolis development.

Head over to his site to read my blog entry, here: Ideas for Downtown LA: Giving Pedestrians Priority for the Metropolis Project.

 

Some of my proposed edits to the Metropolis plan.

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