Grand Avenue Project
{{Short description|Urban revitalization in Los Angeles, CA}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2023}}
{{use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox skyscraper
| name = The Grand LA
| image = The Grand and Conrad DTLA.jpg
| start_date = 2019
| completion_date = 2022
| architect = Frank Gehry
| floor_count = 43
| architectural_style = Deconstructivism
| height = 511 ft (156 m)
}}
The Grand Avenue Project was a government lead revitalization effort for the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles on Grand Avenue and centered around Grand Park, its surrounding county government buildings and its parking lots. It was administered by the Grand Avenue Authority, a joint powers authority consisting of Los Angeles County and City. The first task was to improve the streetscape of Grand Avenue. The second element was to upgrade the {{cvt|12|acre|ha|adj=mid}} Grand Park in 2012 with a refurbished fountains, lawn furniture, walkways and the planting of native gardens.{{Cite web |title=The Park for Everyone |url=https://grandparkla.org/ |access-date=2020-09-01 |website=Grand Park |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Grand Avenue |url=https://www.seifel.com/index.php/our-work/our-projects-list2/los-angeles-grand-avenue |website=Seifel Consulting}} The final phase of the project, The Grand LA, consisted of several residential buildings, including a two-tower complex on the southeast corner of Grand Avenue and 1st Street, designed by Frank Gehry.{{Cite news |last=Sharp |first=Steven |date=2022-05-03 |title=Urbanize goes inside The Grand |url=https://la.urbanize.city/post/urbanize-goes-inside-grand |access-date=2022-05-04 |work=Urbanize LA |language=en}}
History
On February 14, 2007, both the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved the project, and officials originally hoped to break ground in December 2007. The project has been developed in stages due to the recession between 2007 and 2009. On July 26, 2012, Grand Park opened to the public as the initial phase of the project,{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/local/la-xpm-2012-jul-27-la-me-grand-park-20120727-story.html|title=Grand Park downtown opens with a flourish — and hopes of growing|first=Sam|last=Allen|date=27 July 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ladowntownnews.com/development/the-development-boom-updates-on-downtown-projects/article_bb7a82f0-9da6-11e3-9de8-0019bb2963f4.html|title=The Development Boom: Updates on 97 Downtown Projects|first=Donna Evans, Eddie Kim and Jon|last=Regardie|work=Los Angeles Downtown News}} In October 2014, The Related Companies completed The Emerson, a 19-story tower marketed to older adults that includes an affordable housing component.{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/business/realestate/la-fi-property-report-emerson-20141002-story.html | title=Developer of new Bunker Hill apartment high-rise woos older residents | first=Roger | last=Vincent | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=October 1, 2014|access-date=September 2, 2020}} The Broad, a contemporary art museum, opened between the Disney Concert Hall and the condo tower in 2015.{{cite press release |url=http://www.thebroad.org/pressdocs/2014.02.10_Plaza_and_restaurant_press_release.pdf |title=The Broad Unveils Design for New Public Plaza, Announces Museum Restaurant Partner |publisher=The Broad|accessdate=2014-03-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304193724/http://www.thebroad.org/pressdocs/2014.02.10_Plaza_and_restaurant_press_release.pdf |archivedate=2014-03-04 }} The final phase of the project, on a lot directly east of the Disney Concert Hall, has two skyscrapers, a 45-story residential tower and a 25-story tower featuring apartments and the Conrad Hotel.{{Cite news |last=Pener |first=Degen |date=2022-07-01 |title=Frank Gehry's The Grand LA Opens in Downtown L.A. With Apartments Overlooking Walt Disney Concert Hall |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/real-estate/frank-gehrys-grand-la-downtown-los-angeles-1235174816/ |access-date=2022-07-07 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} The development was designed by Frank Gehry. Construction began in December 2018 and completed in 2022.{{Cite news|last=Sharp|first=Steven|date=2017-08-11|title=Surprise: Grand Avenue Project Files for Construction Permits|url=https://urbanize.la/post/surprise-grand-avenue-project-files-construction-permits|access-date=2020-09-01|work=Urbanize LA|language=en}}
Design
Grand Park is {{convert|16|acre|adj=on}}, stretching between the development's two boundaries: City Hall and the Department of Water and Power building. The park was designed to be pedestrian friendly and connects Bunker Hill to the Civic Center. The park includes tree-shaded sidewalks, fountains, plenty of street lights, benches, and kiosks to encourage walking and exploration of the area, which was designed to encourage residents and visitors to enjoy a family-friendly green space in downtown Los Angeles with musical events and other park activities. The project also included a redevelopment of the Music Center Plaza, the Broad Museum designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro, and a redevelopment and refurbishment of the Los Angeles Music Center plaza. Two towers were built across from the Disney Concert Hall, designed by architect Frank Gehry as part of the Grand LA.Vincent, Roger (13 February 2014) [https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-property-report-20140213-story.html "With sale of Two California Plaza, Bunker Hill is poised for comeback"] Los Angeles Times The towers have since been named The Grand by Gehry residences and the Conrad Los Angeles hotel.{{cite web |title=Residences |url=https://www.thegrandla.com/residences |website=The Grand LA}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Official website|https://www.thegrandla.com/}}
{{Frank Gehry}}
{{Downtown Los Angeles}}
Category:Bunker Hill, Los Angeles
Category:Frank Gehry buildings
Category:Proposed buildings and structures in California
Category:Buildings and structures in Downtown Los Angeles
Category:Civic Center, Los Angeles
Category:21st century in Los Angeles
Category:Proposed skyscrapers in the United States
Category:Residential condominiums in the United States
Category:Residential skyscrapers in Los Angeles
Category:Buildings and structures under construction in the United States