The LA River To Be a Park!
The Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan is turning the River into a pedestrian friendly park. Finally! One of LA's forgotten resources can once again welcome its residents and visitors to the beauty that is a the River. Currently, the four and a half miles of the River are inaccessible because of the railroad tracks that line both sides of it. The Plan will move both tracks to the west bank of the River and dropped underground, allowing the creation of parks along the water through the heart of the Central City. Visionaries believe that this this 120-acre project between San Fernando Road and the River has the potential to become the next great urban park. Green space is coming to LA at last!
Date: Saturday, February, 9th 2008 @ 06:06:03 PMViews: 1239
This blog entry currently has 8 comments posted.
Rache
I'll believe it when I see it. Downtown leadership is known for "big dreams" and little results. How often have we heard promises of parks and we get terrible things like Pershing Square? Although I must admit there are more trees now along Hope than there were 7 years ago, the bureaucracy is keeping LA from being "the next great city." Also, prices for downtown condos/lofts are still too high for the most families.
Quinn
The good news is that there are plans to "redo" Pershing Square and make it more lush with shaded canopies, similar to what it was like back in the '50s. There really is way too much cement and hard concrete there right now, but the City Council appears to be on the same page here. Pershing Square has been a great disappointment to everybody it seems. I'm hopeful we'll have a more usable green space there two years from now.
As far as affordability, the lofts in the Arts District is a bit more accessible for families starting off and looking for something under $500,000. I honestly expect houses to be more afffordable once the new ceiling for jumbo rates kick in next month. It should make for an interesting housing market - a mini-bubble?
Surge
IT'S ABOUT TIME! I love walking through Historic Downtown but always wished there would be some green eye candy here and there. More shade more shade along Figueroa too! There's so much promise in Downtown, but lots of aesthetic improvements before it can be competitive with Chicago and NYC.
Maria
YAY!!! I would love to go to the river and have a picnic. I'm seriously looking at buying a loft in the Artist's District and if this park runs through there as well, I'm hooked
Quinn
Hallelujah!! The most beautiful natural resource in downtown LA is about to be rediscovered. It may not be the Seine in Paris, but water features are a beautiful natural element that must always be promoted and cherished. I'm going to look more closely at the conversions around the river (which look pretty dumpy right now) and imagine what things will be like 9 years from now.
Ermby
Hmmm, this is good timing. I've been waiting to see if the prices at the Toy Lofts and Biscuit Lofts would be dropping any time soon. If the river comes to fruition, that Arts district is going to be hot. Anybody know the status of the Barker Blocks nearby?
Quinn
I like the execution of the Barker Blocks. Kor is the same developer that refurbished the Eastern Columbia building. However, personally, I'd buy a unit at the Biscuit Co. Lofts, I believe you get bigger units which are not available at Barker.
Quinn
This is EXACTLY what Downtown needs - more green space. As they add more and more trees and shade to make walking more pedestrian friendly, I can't help but envision LA to be a wonderful place to leave your car in the garage.