Crenshaw Mall Goes To…..Not The Highest Bidder

Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall was sold to Harridge Development Group for $111 Million.

For those who believe gentrification still doesn’t exist please explain how a predominantly black South LA community group was able to raise $115 million to buy Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Mall but lost the bid to a non-black, non-local developer who raise less then they did. DWS recently awarded the bid to Harridge Development Group, who appears to specialize in large-scale mixed-use projects throughout Los Angeles. Supposedly Harridge won the bid with financial backing from Russian American billionaire oil tycoon, Leonard Blavatnik but without his backing DCR had the highest bid. Harridge Development Group bought the mall from a Chicago private equity fund for about $111 million. Now they also bought the neighboring Macy’s building, which I guess is considered separate from the mall for an additional $30 Million, so some argue that’s what tilted the scale to Harridge.

The South LA community group known as Downtown Crenshaw Rising stated that DWS favored a non-black, non-local developer, which caused many race question in regards to areas of gentrification. The DCR was able to raise $59.5 million on top of $35 million in philanthropy that was already in their bank account. DCR wanted to build affordable housing, job train programs, a 6 acre park daycare, recording studio, and a production district with theater and a permeant home for us South LA food Co-Op. the proposal also included a hotel, restaurant, office space, and educational space. Even with a solid plan for the space and the highest bid this year, they still lost a bidding war. DCR is strongly worried about the gentrification is more displacing the black on businesses of the area.

Affordable Housing Coming To Vermont And Manchester

The abandon parcel of land located on the northeastern side of Vermont and Manchester will be seized and developed into affordable housing, retail, Metro transit plaza, preparatory boarding academy, and a training center. LA Superior Court Judge Daniel Murphy ruled April 26th, that LA County could use eminent domain to seize the land. Judge Murphy stated that owner Eli Sasson wouldn’t lose any rents and has failed to develop on the land. Los Angeles County will take possession of a four-acre property on May 7th. Owner Eli Sasson has left the land undeveloped since the 1992 Civil Unrest. Back in May of 2015, Former Councilmen Bernard Parks proposed a Vermont Entertainment District and even hosted a ground breaking event for the project, the website, of-course has been removed so I’m assuming those plans fell through. I welcome the affordable housing; I think that’s a much better use of the land.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

LA County Poised to Develop Vermont And Manchester Project

Gentrification**Cough** Excuse Me, I Mean “Cumulus”

 

I originally posted on this back in July of 2016 but since then Carmel Partners, the developers of the project, have released new renderings of the major 11.9 acre development at La Cienaga and Jefferson, dubbed Cumulus. The project is comprised of 30 story high rise, the first/only high rise in the area, a 7 story podium building, not sure exactly what that means, and also a grocery store and 100,00 square feet or retail space. Potential tenant would enjoy:

“1210 apartments offering lofty ceilings, oversized windows, full-sized washers and dryer, wood style flooring and high end appliances. The podium features 24-hour concierge service, 3,600 square feet of co-working space, and a 1-acre public park plaza. 100,000 square feet of landscaped courtyards showcase multiple viewing decks and expansive outdoor social areas featuring a resort style pool and spa. A state-of-the-art fitness center features cardio equipment, fitness machines, flat screen televisions, a spin room and yoga studio with Fitness-on-Demand technology. The tower boasts 24-hour concierge service and a roof top deck with multiple seating areas and sweeping view of Los Angeles. A roof top resort style spa is surrounded by daybeds, chaise lounges, and cabanas. The sixth-floor amenity deck features a pool and spa as well as a large indoor-outdoor amenity space with recreational lounges and private event rooms. ”

I don’t believe this was planned with the current residents of the area in mind.  And believe developers were at first trying to sell the area as Culver City.

#GentrificationAtItsFinest

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

LA Rams And Chargers Stadium Taking Shape

The LA Rams and Chargers Stadium are beginning to take shape.  The 70,240-seat arena will be the first indoor/outdoor stadium to be built, a clear roof above but open on all sides, no walls, so guest will enjoy the feeling of being outside yet protected from the elements.  The $2.6 billion stadium will be the largest stadium ever built at 3.1 million square feet.  The stadium is actually a giant whole in the ground; the base of the stadium is a 100ft in the ground rather than the normal max of 30ft due to the proximity to LAX.  The LA Stadium will have the largest video screen at 120 yards (dubbed Oculus) just about the same size of the football field it will be hovering directly above.  The LA Stadium will be opening in 2020 and is planned to host the Super Bowl LVI, 2023 College Football National Championship, and the 2028 Summer Olympic Games.

Construction

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Renderings

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Live Construction Cam

Stadium Construction

Oculus 

LA Rams Stadium Beginning To Take Shape 

Inglewood Stadium Video 

 

 

Removing Dead Horses At Hollywood Park Racetrack

Guess this is a sign that the huge mixed-use development planned for the racetrack is moving forward.  The racetrack actually closed last year and they’re digging up dead racehorses over at Inglewood’s Hollywood Park Racetrack.  The racetrack is going to be bulldozed and replaced with Hollywood Park Tomorrow. There are apparently a few great racehorses buried at the track; Native Diver was a black colt who won 34 stakes and still co-holds the record most Hollywood Gold Cup wins, according to the LA Times. He died in 1967, at the age of eight, from colic, and was buried at Hollywood Park beneath an enormous monument by prolific/fantastic Southern California artist/designer Millard Sheets. Richard Shapiro, whose grandfather owned Native Diver, says “You couldn’t leave a horse like this beneath a real estate development,” so he called in some USC archaeologists (and their students) and yesterday they got to digging. The remains and the monument will be moved to Del Mar racetrack in San Diego.

Beating a Dead Horse @ Hollywood Park

‘Round Up’ Black College Reunion

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Fun music, fun people, fun times, If you missed the Black College Reunion you missed out.  It was so very awesome seeing everyone sporting their HBCU nalia and seeing greeks stroll again (LOL I miss it, you don’t just BGLO stroll out here like you do on the East or in the South).  I want to commend the California HBCU Alliance for putting on an awesome event.  And to be honest I didn’t even mind the drive, coming all the way from the South Bay up to Altadena was worth drive.  I ask that next event maybe down in Long Beach or maybe somewhere east, ohhhh what about Rancho, are there a lot HBCU Alum in Rancho Cucamonga?  I encourage all HBCU fam to attend the events such as this, Hell!, I encourage anyone with goals to attend events like this, the networking opportunities are impeccable.  I met so many people, some of which have the same desires  and goals as myself.  Good Job HBCU Alliance keep up the good work, I look forward to the next event!

Historical African American Hotel Convert To Apartments

Historic Dunbar Hotel on Central has recently wrapped up a $30 million dollar renovation actually restoring most of its historical design.  Now known as the Dunbar Village  just pened Dunbar Village, the new center offers 83 apartments for low-income families and seniors with on-site amenities like management and maintenance, laundry rooms, outdoor barbecues, a health and fitness center, and a media room, and group programing like movie nights and monthly birthday parties. Rents range from $437 to $875 per month.

Dunbar Village, Historic African American Hotel now Apartments

Skyscraper Rising All Over LA

Skyscrapers are rising all over town, Hollywood skyline is dramatically changing  and DTLA’s is getting major additions.  Not including LA’s soon to be new tallest, LA skyline is changing all over town.  Hollywood is getting several new towers, DTLA is getting a huge new mixed-use mini high rise development consiting of 5 towers along Franciso St, hopingto create a pesdestrian only street connecting South Park to the Financial District.  DTLA is getting and four residential towers.

Compton Lives!!

Now nearing the completion of The North Downtown Master Plan, Compton is truly emerging as a Live, Work, Play city.   Compton has completed work on an awesome new Martin Luther King Transit Center (with a huge C-O-M-P-T-O-N sign that I kinda wanna take a picture inf front, like I’m not a local), the first phase of the Gateway Towne Center, and slew of housing development; and with a newly appointed  mayor, one can say Compton is truly on the rise.  Completion of the North Downtown Master Plan consist of the already almost finish portion of, what was told to me by a Compton City Hall employee, office and more retail face.  The entire project is designed to facilitate a safe, vibrant, efficient, and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. The master plan incorporates approximately new residential units, a Compton Senior Activity Center, Community Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Transit Center, transit plaza, office and retail space, and more.  The North Downtown Master Plan promotes a sustainable land use while improving the overall quality of life for Compton’s residents.

 North Downtown Compton

Crenshaw Line Is Really Coming!

Not sure how much you have been following along but the Crenshaw District IS getting its own Light Rail/Subway. Last week the planned light rail received a boost from the  Metropolitan Transportation Authority staff recommending a $1.27 billion contract to build the line.   The Line will begin at The Aviation Station along the Green Line, travel north along La Cienaga( meet a soon to be people mover at Century Blvd that will  that take travelers directly into the soon-but-not-too-soon Grand Terminal at LAX), touch the eastern tip of Westchester with a station at Hindry to serve the Westchester community.  The Light Rail will hit a slight right along Florence, cutting through Downtown Inglewood and finally hitting Crenshaw Blvd in Hyde Park at Crenshaw and Florence.  The train will continue north along Crenshaw all the way to expo, submerging underground after Slauson Ave. with a subway stop at Leimert Park at or around Vernon  amd another subway stop at MLK Blvd with a underground entrance to the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.  Bravo!

On June 27, the full Metro board is scheduled to vote on the contract and whether to approve Walsh/Shea Corridor Constructors as the contractor.

Crenshaw on the Move

Leimert Park Celebrates