Hollywood Park Tomorrow Has Awaken

Betfair Hollywood Park Racetrack has scheduled all its last races for December 2013, come January construction will begin on huge “Pop Up” neighborhood.  The proposed neighborhood will demolish the race track renovate the casino, add a Grove-like shopping center, 300-room hotel, office space, parks, 2,995 residences (mostly single-family houses and townhouses), and several lakes (LOL Lake Inglewood).  The project was originally proposed back in 2005 and was approved back 2009 but due to the econmic turn it was put on hold.  Well lets see if we actually break ground this time.

Inglewood Getting Some Major Development

EatSouthLA: Chipotle Now Open In Baldwin Hills

Chipotle has blessed SouthLA with its presences by opening up shop at the Crenshaw Baldwin Hills Mall over the weekend in its new 2,200 square-foot digs located adjacent to the Albertson’s parking lot next to Buffalo Wild Wing.  The new Chipotle will be open daily from 11am to 10pm. On the menu are a variety of Mexican favorites with a healthier spin, including burritos, tacos, salads and more.   As part of the opening celebrations, the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw mall is holding a contest to win free Chipotle burritos for a month. Participants must “Like” BHC on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crenshawplaza by January 31^st to be entered to win.

Round Ups: Inglewood TOD & Slauson Holiday Stroll

SLAUSON: I just cannot commend Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and the Communities of Ladera Heights, View Park, Baldwin Hills and Windsor Hills enough as they strive to create the ultimate shopping dining experience for their neighborhood.  Provided Slauson, between LaBrea and Angeles Vista has served the area but seems just to be  a little dated, explains why not floored that area doesn’t have its own Larchmont Village (commercial village area for Hancock Park).  However this past weekend I attended the ‘Slauson Holiday Stroll‘ and had a great time and can’t wait for the transformation that is to come to the area. Just standing in front of ‘ Wings N Greens’ and looking east down Slauson watching people duck in out of stores, made me  imagine Slauson its-soon-to-be-form, Windsor-Ladera Towne Center.  The event was well put together, offering a    seated area  under a canopy on the side walk in front of Wings N Greens, information on the Windsor-Ladera Towne Center also had posted information on the transformation this is to come as well as allowed citizens and guest cast their vote for the ‘offiical’ name of  shopping strip by writing it on a paper ornament and attaching it to Christmas tree, I think mine is fine  the, Windsor-Ladera Towne Center but that wasn’t one of the options so I think I either went with ‘Winview Crest’ or ‘Overhill Crest’.  Would like to commend all the particpating business and the Office of the Supervisor.

INGLEWOOD: Inglewood hosted their second Transit Oriented Development (TOD) meeting this past weekend and I am so happy I went.  Besides it being awesome, it was nice to see other ideas on how the are the area should be developed.  I got chance to present my group incorporated my Inglewood Promenade idea, suggested we create somewhat of an Exposition Park of Inglewood by creating a “Museum Park,”  and a Metro adjacent Inglewood Visitor Center and Inglewood Landmark park offering sculptures, public art, or Giant Inglewood letters, similar to those of Compton at the Downtown Compton stop on the Blue line.  I was even was asked to be group spokesperson  so I was super excited, even tho I hate public speaking, LOL yea I know.  I was very pleased with the amount of community input being asked as well as the community input and all the great ideas that were presented.  If a lot of what was talked about during the meeting finds its way to being constructed, Downtown Inglewood can easily become the next hot neighborhood of LA.  Sending out a  huge thank you for the City Inglewood in their efforts to seek community involvement in the planning of Downtown Inglewood’s TOD, now if I can start to my peers to understand the importance for the younger generation to not only show up but ask question, I will have truly accomplished something.

Round Up: Slauson Ave Dec. 3rd Scooping Meeting

If you missed the December 3rd scooping meeting, I have some updates for you on the soon to be Windsor-Ladera Towne Center along Slauson Ave.  Check out the posted links.  Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas is making amazing efforts to transform the portion of Slauson Ave. between LaBrea and Angeles Vista into a dining and shopping destination to serve the local neighborhoods.  The project is currently in the “scooping” phase, and asking for a lot of community input.  The scooping phase ends December 15th, so be sure to send in your voice your concerns, questions, and comments.

Slauson Ave. Scooping Meeting Slideshow

Notice of Preparation and Public Meeting

Tom Bradley International……Mall

Fancy dining and shopping coming soon to the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX.  As part of $1.5 Billion redevelopment project and partnership between Westfield Shopping, Los Angeles World Airports, and the office of the Mayor, Tom Bradley International Terminal is being transformed into the ultimate shopping and dinning destination.   What I am now dubbing the TBIMall, is to host such premier retailers as Gucci, Hermes, Fred Segal, Kitson, and Burberry just to name a few.  Within the project, 25,000 square feet is being allocated to fine dining.  Westfield and its tenant partners are investing $80 million to develop the new dining and retail program and its looking like the TBITerminal will be completely done with its transformation in 2014.

Tom Bradley International Mall

Experience the New Tom Bradley International Terminal

 

Note From LA: AEG Why Are You Playing With Our Hearts?

AEG Whats Up?  After much much talk about bringing a (I’m Sorry), two (2) NFL Team to Los Angeles, your up for sale? Whats the Deal?  AEG, owner of the Staple Center, LA Live and several of LA’s sports teams and who seemed to be working very diligently on bringing several NFL football teams to the Southland is now randomly selling their entertainment portion of the company.   Is this out of failure on not being able to accomplish your set out goal or this some type of ploy in order to sale to an actual football team owner.  It really seemed like the City of Los Angeles was working with you guys to make the project move along.   We want some answers because you guys vowed to make to Los Angeles the Official Entertainment Capitol of the World, now your dropping out.  Not a cool move man, not a cool move.

AEG Selling Entertainment Portion of Company

Long Beach Airport To Have A Resort Feel

Long Beach Airport is wrapping up development on their new outdoor passenger concourse, which freaking awesome, cause Long Beach is the best Airport to fly out LA, I’m just saying though.  Work is more than halfway done on two terminal buildings and 4,200 square feet of outdoor seating with patios, fire pits, cabanas, suspended lights, and space for outdoor performances. The new concourse will also include more than 10,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, including “Polly’s Coffee, Sweet Jill’s Bakery, 4th Street Vine, George’s Greek Cafe and second locations for Long Beach Clothing Co., which will be called 562 Experience, and McKenna’s on the Bay, whose second restaurant will be named McKenna’s on the Fly.

Long Beach Airport Status Report

Press Telegram on LB Airport

Ports O’ Call’s Call For Redeveolpment

San Pedro’s Waterfront Community is undergoing a major transformation.  Rendering have been surfacing since 2007 but I think its finally SP’s time.  San Pedro is getting a lot of attention lately with the arrival of the USS Iowa, not to mention the chunk of land that being removed to create way for Port Plaza, well now comes the redevelopment of good ole Ports O’ Call Village.  According to City Councilmember Joe Buscanio,  The Port of LA are requesting redevelopment proposals for the 30-acre Port O’ Call Village.  Councilmember Buscanio calls for a master developer to implement a design to go along side the current aesthetic of the San Pedro Waterfront.  Originally conceived as a seaside entertainment venue  somewhat 50 years ago, many are hoping to see it return to it’s old flair.

Port O’ Call Rebirth

Carson Building Their Downtown

Said to be the Ladera Heights of the South Bay, Carson is slowly waking up.  with the Outlet Mall coming in the form of the Boulevards At South Bay, under construction across from the South Bay Pavillion, Carson is now focusing on (a) Downtown.  Phase I (known as The Gateway) was completed in April 2011 and consists of International House of Pancakes restaurant on the ground floor with 85 units of affordable senior housing (all one-bedrooms).  It seems as if their goal is to create an urban living experience near their civic area. Dubbed The Gateway,  the project is located on the northeast corner of Avalon Boulevard and Carson Street.  The city is hoping the development will serve as a catalyst for the future development of the City’s downtown district as a livable, pedestrian friendly area with a vibrant, “main street” character. The project totaled at a mere $70 million and will consist of senior housing, market-rate apartments, 30K square feet of retail space and surface and underground parking.

Phase II, The Renaissance at City Center began construction in Fall 2010 and includes: 150 market-rate rental housing units (1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom units), a 25,000 square feet of lifestyle-oriented shops, and subterranean parking.  Phase II construction is slated for completion in Summer 2012. This mixed-use project is expected to generate over $300,000 annually in revenues, 522 construction jobs and 72 permanent jobs.

Introducing Downtown Carson

What $35 Million Renovation Looks Like: The New Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall

If somehow you’ve missed the transformation of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall, it looks great! Capri Partners, Black owned Real Estate Investment Company and Owners of the Mall have done a great job with transforming the old out of date Mall into  a soon to be   Class A Mall.  With new additions such as Post and Beam and Southern Girls Desserts, the Mall is really looking good.  If Capri Partners hold true their word, the whole area surround the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall will see a $700 Million renovation……Only time will tell.

CBS Video on New BHCP