Broadway Streetcar in Downtown Los Angeles – Nice Attraction or $600 Million Nightmare?

One thing that everyone agrees on is that the pricey, planned and approved downtown streetcar will not significantly improve the transportation infrastructure of Los Angeles with its 4-mile run. #dtla #streetcar #broadway

Downtown LosDowntown Los Angeles Streetcars Coming Soon Angeles Streetcar
Downtown Los Angeles Streetcars Coming Soon

In fact, the Los Angeles Times has declared that the streetcar is simply not wanted.  Let’s take a look to see if the expensive idea has sufficient merit and value that justifies its staggering price tag.

Cutting greenhouse emissions – Here is one thing that public transportation is beneficial for.  The problems is that it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the pollution that is beyond our control. It’s not going to take the 5 million cars and trucks off of the nearby streets and freeways.

Downtown real estate benefits – DTLA businesses largely favor the streetcar because Downtown commercial interests stand to benefit the most while the whole of Los Angeles and California help pay for it.

Make Broadway Great Again

The planned route is pretty good: Broadway, Eastern Columbia Lofts, new Apple Store at the Tower Theater, L.A. LIVE, Luma, Disney Music Center, Grand Park, SB Grand Lofts and Grand Central Market. But, so far, everyone has failed to mention the inevitable urine, feces, public masturbation and other mobile-ghetto encounters that are destined to plague the streetcar as they currently affect the Metro system. What’s the plan to prevent unruly urban unpleasantness from taking over while gliding through streets adjacent to Skid Row?

Vintage color photos of Los Angeles: Hollywood, Wilshire and Downtown:

The streetcar is an important piece of the Bringing Back Broadway plan to restore the liveliness, historic cultural integrity and value of the Broadway entertainment district. Check out the city’s detailed Broadway design plan:

Broadway Theater and Entertainment District Design Guide (pdf)

Voters approved $200 million for the streetcar project, but the L.A. Times argues that the streetcar will end up costing three times that much for a traffic-bound, four-mile loop around town that is a novelty, not a necessity.  The L.A. Loft Blog agrees with the Times because the 3-car train will not have its own lane.  The behemoth will hog what little is left of the overcrowded streets, impeding traffic flow, getting stuck in traffic and blocking entire intersections for multiple light cycles, causing mind-blowing frustration and danger for drivers and pedestrians.

What do you think about the coming street car?  Make a comment.

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Broadway street car plan by Chapman Building and new Apple Store at the Tower Theater
Broadway street car planned and approved for Downtown LA.

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Historic Broadway Building to Become Four-Star Boutique Hotel

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When Los Angeles preserves the historical buildings it insures it’s prosperity!

By Jon Regardie of DOWNTOWN LOW ANGELES NEWS – In one new project, Downtowners will see the continuation of two trends: the growth of the hotel industry and increased activity on Broadway.

A joint venture between developers Frank Stork, Channing Henry and longtime Downtown player the Kor Group has purchased the Case Hotel, a 1924 building at 1106 S. Broadway. They plan to turn the 107,000-square-foot edifice into a four-star boutique hotel.

The 13-story building, which is vacant now but recently housed facilities for the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles, sold for the asking price of $13.5 million. The acquisition was funded with private capital and a loan from Karlin Real Estate Lending.

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A hotel operator and building transformation details have not been revealed, though the acquisition team said it intends to redesign the red brick and stone masonry property and target “Downtown’s growing population of creative professionals and leisure travelers.”

It is the latest move in the Central City for Kor Group, which was one of the first on the housing scene when it opened the Pegasus Lofts in the Financial District in 2003. The developer has also worked on the Eastern Columbia Lofts, Santa Fe Lofts and the Barker Block.

“We are thrilled to continue to participate in the re-emergence of Downtown Los Angeles,” the Kor Group’s Brad Korzen said in a prepared statement.

Stork and Henry are real estate veterans who have worked on numerous hotel projects in the United States and Mexico.

The project would continue a rush of development on the southern portion of Broadway in Downtown. An Urban Outfitters will open in the former Rialto Theatre at 812 S. Broadway next week and a boutique Ace Hotel, with 180 rooms, is scheduled to debut at 929 S. Broadway on Jan. 15.

Housing developers Barry Shy and Geoff Palmer also have plans to build residential complexes in the vicinity of Ninth Street and Olympic Boulevard on Broadway.

A timeline and budget for the new hotel project have not been announced.

Mike Condon and Ben Stapleton of Jones Lang Lasalle represented the purchasers in the transaction, while seller Jade Enterprises was represented by CBRE.

Corey Chambers L.A. Loft Blog
Corey Chambers L.A. Loft Blog

Corey Chambers, REALTOR®
(213) 478-0499 Mobile
coreychambers@yahoo.com
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