Flyaway Bus

The Flyaway Bus, a great way to get to LAX from downtown and back. Costs $4 per person and takes approximately 25 minutes because it uses the carpool and bus only lanes. It stops at Union Station and all the bus islands at LAX with green signs. It runs every 30 minutes. There is longterm parking available for your car at Union Station. Other Flyaway Buses are available for UCLA and Van Nuys. The link above will give you all the details.

We've used the Flyaway Bus a few times now and have been very happy with it, but it is a silly name.
Z.

LA Times, Timothy Rutten writes back...

After writing the post below entitled Broadway Revitalization as compared to Blade Runner, I submitted it to Mr. Rutten of the LA Times.

Kindly, he responded:

Dear Mr. Seirafi:
Thanks for this. I'm certainly not arguing tht Broadway be left as it is or that it would not be wonderful to restore the theaters. I'm simply saying that, as we go about doing whatever is done with the street, the city needs to give equal consideration to those who already use the street and to where their economic activities can continue to occur.
Tim

Broadway Revitalization as compared to Blade Runner

Timothy Rutten of the LA Times, writes an opinion about the revitalization of Broadway. A plan heralded by residents, business owners, stakeholders and just about everyone who lives in LA. His piece is:

"L.A.'s 'Blade Runner' plans"
Will we allow the movie's nightmarish view of downtown to come true?

If you consider his opinion, Broadway would remain the same, because changing it would be a nightmare. He proposes preserving the graffiti, broken windows, flashing strobe lights, bacon wrapped sausage cooking on shopping carts, strip clubs, merchandise spilling out on sidewalks, public urination, trash, a desolate evening scape and dilapidated buildings. In my opinion letting the Historic Core of LA fall into such disrepair is the nightmare. Most cities take care of and receive many benefits from the historic and cultural centers.

No one has proposed changing Olvera street because it truly is a gem and represents Los Angeles well. What is currently on Broadway does not. This kind of resistance to progress has currently put in jeopardy the much anticipated Grand Avenue project. With continued harassment by opponents of the project it has been delayed several times now and we have a giant hole in our civic center to show for that.

I don't disagree about the 14 story light show billboard but to call the collective effort of residents, business, and city leaders to revitalize Broadway "a nightmare" is irresponsible.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot to mention, that the beautiful building where they shot the most memorable scenes in Blade Runner is on Broadway called the Bradbury building. It's a good thing it didn't meet with the wrecking ball like so many other historic buildings along the Broadway corridor. By leaving the status quo we only invite more urban flight and the destruction of our collective history.
Z.

Downtown Recreation and Parks Meeting January 30th

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (RAP) has
embarked on its 2006/2007 Citywide Parks Needs Assessment
(Assessment) that will examine current and future recreational needs
in the City of Los Angeles. This Community Needs Assessment is the
first step in developing a citywide park master plan and a five year
capital improvement plan.

The foundation of the Assessment is to engage community leaders,
stakeholders, users and the general public to gain detailed insight
into current and future needs for the recreation and parks system.
The overall objective for the Needs Assessment includes:

* Address needs for additional recreation facilities and park land
*Identify improvements to facilities to meet current and future
demands
*Prevent future maintenance issues
*Offer positive alternatives to an increasingly dense and urbanized
population

The consulting team of Mia Lehrer + Associates with PROS Consulting,
LLC (MLA/ PROS Team) has been retained to work closely with the
Department to conduct the process. The MLA/PROS Team is also joined
by The Robert Group who will assist in organizing and implementing
the public participation program.

The MLA/PROS Team will utilize existing contacts and relationships of
RAP, City officials and MLA/PROS Team members to identify
stakeholders, gather their input, and disseminate information to help
gain consensus on key strategies and recommendations. This process
is broad, gathering both qualitative and quantitative information
from which these strategies will be developed.

An additional meeting for Downtown Los Angeles stakeholders has been
scheduled for January 30, 2008, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the LADWP
Cafeteria, located at 111 N Hope St, Los Angeles. It is okay if you
can't arrive at 6:30 p.m. - it IS important that you attend. So, if
you arrive late, no worries - just be there.

If you are unable to attend, you can still provide input by
completing the online survey, which is located at:

http://losangeles.prosconsulting.com/Online%20Survey.htm

This could be a great next step in bringing more recreational space
to downtown! Whether it be saving Gladys Park, bringing a dog park
to downtown, a community garden to a pocket park - don't assume that
someone will bring up your idea.

Hope to see you there,

Ginny-Marie Case
DLANC Boardmember, Historic Core Resident
VP, Outreach and Communications
213.248.0698 or ginny@ginnycase.com

Bringing Back Broadway

Hi!

Several EC homeowners attended this morning's function which launched
the Bringing Back Broadway initiative. It was a great event held at the
Los Angeles theater. Most of the movers and shakers were present
including the Mayor.

Bringing Back Broadway will create a plan for a vibrant Broadway
district that provides entertainment, eclectic cultural amenities and
diverse retail options for Downtown residents and visitors to one of
Los Angeles' most remarkable historic areas, while serving as a central
focus for revived downtown streetcar transportation.

Many details can be found on www.bringingbackbroadway.com

The items that are of most interest to our building are, naturally, the
cleaning up of Broadway - all the way down to Olympic,
removal/replacement of signage and they intend on bringing back the
streetcars.

Best regards,

Bill

Bill Cooper
The Loft Expert!
www.TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Bring Back Broadway Kick-Off / Press Conference

Schultheis, Herman
SPNB Collection, Los Angeles Public Library

cjanebuy's photos



Please read this invitation from Tara:

Hi there,
Most who know me know that I have been involved with the Broadway
Theatre District revitalization efforts for sometime. I am very
excited to announce that the initiative is now being taken to the
next level by Councilmen Jose Huizar and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
I hope you can join us for this very exciting event to announce the
City's involvement in Broadway's revitalization and what their plans
are to move it forward. The event is open to anyone who is interested
so bring your friends!

Please RSVP with the names and number of people in your party to
Trisha.Fleming@lacity.org or 213-978-3020

Best Regards,
Tara Jones Hamacher


BRINGING BACK BROADWAY KICK-OFF / PRESS CONFERENCE
Monday, January 28
arrival 9:30am
press conference at 10am (reception to follow)
Los Angeles Theatre 615 S. Broadway

Please share this with interested downtowners. All are welcome -- we
appreciate RSVPs so we can plan accordingly for the reception.

Hope to see you there!

Bill

Bill Cooper
The Loft Expert!
www.TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Flexcar is Car Sharing - with a Green Option

I just got a disappointing email from Zip car saying that they are no longer offering car sharing in Los Angeles except on college campuses. So after they bought out Flexcar (merged as they called it) they got rid of all the cars without any warning at all.

Screw you Zipcar and the shared car you drove in on!

We had gotten rid of our second car and since November we were happy monthly members of Flexcar. There was an announcement of a happy merger in January. We got our new Zipcards from Zipcar and were shocked to find out that fees had tripled. We begrudgingly joined because it was still better than owning a second car, barely. Then a few days later we got this email canceling the service in LA except for colleges. You haven't made any friends in LA Zipcar.
-In loving memory of Flexcar
Z.


11/30/07, 11:29 AM
I wanted to share a very cool service that has started around the country for vehicle sharing. You can rent a car from Flexcar by the hour. It works great if you work from home and don't drive much but once or twice a week you need a car to run an errand because public transpo in LA is a joke.

The best deal I found was to get a membership which costs $30 a month and the cars cost $3 per hour. So a typical run to the grocery store and a friends house for 4 hours would cost $12. That includes gas, insurance and maintenance!

If you think you'll use a car less than twice a week you might go with no membership. The cars will range from $6 to $10 per hour. So for the occasional user that might work best.

GOING GREEN with Flexcar or Without

So that's cool but you also want to be environmentally responsible for the emissions you are pouring into our atmosphere. Flexcar has teamed up with TerraPass to offer a CO2 offset. On their website you can enter your car model and estimated driving range which will give you an estimated pounds of C02 you are putting out. You can pay them to help fund an offset to those emissions and you can sleep soundly at night knowing that you've helped future generations with a serious climate challenge.
Z.

Two local events to support

YOU'RE INVITED
Open House at Loft Appeal
Meet & Greet
Senior Lead Officer Mike Fernandez L.A.P.D.

You are invited to meet Senior Lead Officer Mike Fernandez, L.A.P.D.
One of the Police Officers in Downtown who is making a difference in
our area.
Come enjoy food and drink, and learn what's going on in Downtown,
and learn how to channel any concerns you have through the Los
Angeles Police Department.
Mix & Mingle with other residents and business owners, and city
officials.
"Together we can make Downtown a better place to live"

When: January 29, 2008 6 P.M.
Where: LOFT APPEAL
903 S. Hill St .
Downtown Los Angeles , CA . 90015
Corner of 9th & Hill, 3 blocks East of Ralph's
RSVP to 213 629 9105
Or via email to loftappeal@sbcglobal.net

Food will be Compliments of COLORI KITCHEN
Located at 429 W. 8th St. at Olive,
Just 4 doors West of Golden Gopher
213 622-5950


Downtown Flea Market
Beginning Sunday January 20, 2008, the brand-new South Park Flea
Market will transform a parking lot at 8th and Grand into a weekly
open-air bazaar.

Phillip Dane, the organizer behind the Fairfax Flea Market (also known
as the Melrose Trading Post), has organized the Downtown venture.
Assuming the South Park market finds the success of its more
established Fairfax counterpart, the flea market will be a draw not
only from the local community but from Eastside, Central and South LA
neighborhoods as well.

visit www.southparkfleamarket.com for details.

From Robert Armstrong

Giant Village? Saturday Sept. 29th 8:00pm

I hear that the evening news reported, a bunch of people over-dosed and went to the hospital -- fun, fun!
Z. 10/1/07

There's a big rave going on right now. near 9th and Figueroa.

Grand Avenue Festival Sunday Sept. 30th

This Sunday!
Z.

Grand Avenue Festival

Sunday, September 30, 2007
11am to 5pm
Grand Avenue (between Temple and 5th Street)
Downtown Los Angeles
FREE Admission

Discover Downtown Los Angeles for the best in arts & culture!

Experience the sights, sounds, and tastes of the cultural heart of Downtown LA as theaters, concert halls, museums, and other attractions along Grand Avenue join together and offer a free and unbeatable day of entertainment.

Fuller Lofts Sales Office Now Open

http://www.fullerlofts.com/

Downtown LA Housing Tour Saturday Sept. 29th

SATURDAY HOUSING BUS TOUR

Dear Potential Downtowner,

Our next Housing tour is on Saturday, September 29th and we will be seeing the following projects and welcome you (and guests) to join us!

1. Roosevelt Lofts—For Sale—We will see the gallery
2. Santee Village—For Sale—We will see a model unit
3. Luma—For Sale—We will see a model unit
4. South Park Lofts—For Lease—We will see a model unit
5. Biscuit Company Lofts—For Sale—We will see a model unit
6. 2121 Lofts—For Sale—We will see a model unit

Please sign-up now at www.downtownla.com. On the home page, just look for “Saturday Downtown Housing Tours” and simply RSVP.

Fashion District Farmers Market at Santee Village - First Ever!

Hope you can make the first ever Fashion District Farmers Market at Santee Village. The opening reception is Wednesday, October 3rd from 4 – 7pm. There will be an official “breaking of bread” with city officials starting at 5:30pm. The Farmers Market will take place from 4 – 7pm every following Wednesday.

Hope to see you there!

Katherine Schmidt

www.fashiondistrict.org

More about the Farmers Market...
Los Angeles, CA- Been searching for organic lettuce and farm fresh fruit to fill out that designer handbag? The farm comes to the Fashion District of downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, October 3 from 4-7pm. This inaugural opening of the Fashion District Farmers Market at Santee Village Courtyard will welcome over thirty local vendors selling organic produce, baked goods, and homemade items, among other fresh fare.

Councilwoman Jan Perry, who represents the Ninth District communities of Los Angeles, will be there to kick off the festivities as well as Mark Weinstein of MJW Investments. Kent Smith, executive director of the LA Fashion District Business Improvement District, notes, “We’re excited to have a Farmers Market in the Fashion District for our workforce and residential population. The Farmers Market is a valuable resource for our growing neighborhood that, by 2009, will have 2,913 residential lofts and apartments for lease and sale.”

Avenue Q Limited Run at the Ahmanson Theater Sept. 6th to Oct. 14th

My wife and I ditched the car and hopped on a bus last night to get across downtown to the Ahmanson Theater. I really enjoyed the performances! A special thanks to my friends Greg and Gary who got us great tickets for my 40th. We had a pleasant walk home down Grand Avenue taking in the beautiful architecture and nightlife.
Z.

http://www.ahmanson-theater.com/

Avenue Q Website

Life on the 'Avenue' Downtown LA News
In Ahmanson Production, It's About Jobless College Grads and Irresponsible Drinking
It took four years, but Los Angeles audiences are finally able to get dressed up and pay healthy ticket prices to experience puppets cursing and having acrobatic sex.
More of this story

Downtown LA Art Walk Sept. 13 Phantom Galleries

Phantom Galleries Downtown LA
Santa Fe Lofts, 131 East 6th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013

"Occupied"
Daniel Brodo and Bill Wheelock
September 13 through October 31, 2007

Phantom Galleries is proud to present

Occupied: works by Daniel Brodo
and Bill Wheelock, curated by Daniel Brodo. Located in Phantom
Galleries' Downtown Los Angeles space the show opens on September
13th, the evening of the Downtown Artwalk and remains on display
throughout October.

The word "Occupied," declares that a space has been claimed, a strategy
that Phantom Galleries deploys to the benefit of both the empty
storefronts that host artwork and the public who sees it. Occupations
in terms of our jobs, have taken over our identities; while the term
Occupation in reference to foreign lands is a euphemism for aggressive
seizure. From a sign on a train seat, to the sign on the bathroom
door, "Occupied" designates ownership like a flag: this space is
currently being used, even in the tenant's absence.

The works in this exhibition are by two artists who are preoccupied
with the political, emotional, and psychological issues of presence,
and the aesthetics and politics of its display. To what degree does
squatting equal ownership or ownership equal power?

Brodo occupies his time producing labor-intensive site and time
specific works, which, while they approach classicist themes of
sculpture, drawing, and architecture with a child-like enthusiasm,
lack a child's naivet. One Hundred loosely modeled terracotta figure
studies perch on ramshackle stands cobbled together out of scrap wood.
Upon closer inspection, the figures are revealed to be both heavily
armed and naked.

Bill Wheelock's long-exposure photographs spell out words written in
fire, created by waving a candle in the dark. Trails of flame cast an
eerie glow back on the writer who appears as a ghost image behind each
letter. The words depicted in a hellish fire font, reveal the fear of
terror latent in the refrains of children's stories.

Phantom Galleries LA is a Los Angeles County-based organization that
transforms unoccupied storefronts and spaces into temporary art
galleries. Exhibits are curated by local arts organizations, Los
Angeles-based galleries, independent curators, and Los Angeles-based
artists. The project gives artists an opportunity to exhibit their
work, while promoting the creative community to a broader audience and
keeping the area looking vital and culturally exciting.

For more information about Phantom Galleries LA, please contact:
Liza Simone at 213.626.2854
www.phantomgalleriesla.com

Downtown LA Art Walk Thursday Sept. 13

Bert Green Fine Art
http://www.bgfa.us
presents
3 solo shows:

David Meanix, Common Sense New Photosculpture
Yun Bai, Elegant Nasty
Arthur Tress, Paintball Nation New Photographs

September 13 - October 27, 2007

Opening Reception, Thursday, September 13, 2007 from 6 - 9 pm.

On Display in the Project Windows: Ryan Ross: Numeric Identities (in association with the Museum of Neon Art)
Vicki Barkley: Diffusion Focus
Devon Paulson: Open 24

*********************************

Come join us at City Center Gallery
Tonight, September 13th Opening Reception from 6pm to 9pm
On Exhibit "Historic Living LA - The Loft Revolution in the Heart of Angel City"
Tom Zimmerman's photo essay on historic building loft conversions in
downtown LA.

I will be holding a special Loft Open House in the Tomahawk building

Location:
City Center Gallery
Tomahawk Building
812 S. Spring Street

Exhibit September 13th to Nov. 9th, 2007

Bill
Bill Cooper
The Loft Expert!
www.TheLoftExpertGroup.com
310.721.2455 Cell
213.598.7555 Office
Bill @ TheLoftExpertGroup.com

Oh by the way, if you know anyone who would appreciate the high
quality service I provide in real estate, I am never too busy for
your referrals. Thank you!!!

Kings Play for Downtown - Free Pre-Game Party

Downtown residents will get a special treat this Tuesday, Sept. 18, when the Los Angeles Kings host a free pre-game party at Staples Center. Beginning at 6:30 p.m., locals will receive
an introduction to the 2007-2008 team and an update on the latest developments at L.A. Live. Anschutz Entertainment Group President Tim Leiweke and former Kings star and current team President of Business Operations Luc Robitaille will be on hand. Following the event, residents will receive a free ticket to the evening’s game (a pre-season contest) against the San Jose Sharks, which begins at 7:30 p.m. Space and game tickets are limited, and the offer is good only for Downtown residents (who must provide proof of residency when calling to redeem offer). For reservations call (888) Kings-LA. The regular season begins Sept. 29.

Shocking! LA Zoning Wants Skid Row to Remain the Same

Blogdowntown reported that the LA zoning commission has refused to give major developers permits to operate restaurants and nightlife -- the reason, "Permitting the sale of alcoholic beverages on the scale requested by the applicant will contribute to the incremental upgrading of the subject building and the image and character of Main Street while also contributing to the incremental dislocation of the Skid Row community. Because of the lack of balance, the Finding defaults to the negative."

So basically they don't want Main street and areas as far away as the Metlofts near Staples center to get nice because that may improve the neighborhood and push out Skid Row. They should give developers their permits and require them to contribute to the betterment of Skid Row rather than advocating to keep the blight that currently exists.

This kind of negative action can have big consequences for all the new loft buildings coming on-line with hopes of filling their retail space. The decision was appealed and looks like the developers will get their permits but that won't be decided for sure until the October 9th meeting.

Read all about it in blogdowntown
Z.

Stair Climb to the Top of the US Bank Tower 2007 Oct. 5th and 6th

Hosted by the Downtown Ketchum YMCA

Climb the 1500 steps of the US Bank Tower – the tallest office building west of the Mississippi -- to promote healthy lifestyles and raise funds that help the YMCA build strong kids, strong families and strong communities.

Preventable lifestyle-related diseases like obesity, diabetes and heart disease have risen to epidemic levels in the United States. The Stuart M. Ketchum Downtown YMCA works to promote healthy habits and lifestyles for all. By training for and participating in Stair Climb to the Top, you will inspire others to embrace healthy habits that improve and extend their lives!

Saturday Housing Tour September 8th

September 8th, 2007

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES

SATURDAY HOUSING BUS TOUR

Dear Potential Downtowner,

Our next Housing tour is on Saturday, September 8th and we will be visiting the following projects and welcome you (and guests) to join us!

1. Mandel Lofts--For Lease--We will see a model unit
2. Main Mercantile Building --For Sale--We will see a model unit
3. Chapman Lofts--For Sale--We will see the Sales Center
4. Little Tokyo Lofts--For Sale--We will see model unit
5. 1100 Wilshire--For Sale--We will see model unit
6. Market Lofts--For sale--We will see model unit

Please sign-up now at www.downtownla.com. On the home page, just look for “Saturday Downtown Housing Tours” and simply RSVP. Please feel free to forward this email to a friend.

Hurry, this tour will fill up! If it is closed when you go to register, please sign-up for one of our other scheduled tours.

Should you have questions or need particular assistance with registering, you may contact our office at 213.624.2146 and ask for Reggie Carter.