Comments on: Sunset Junction destruction: Are we about to lose the heart of Silver Lake to a developer’s wrecking ball?

By: David Markland

David Markland — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:56:06 +0000

Victoria: “Why is anyone building like that in this economic climate anyhow?”

I would say now is the BEST time to build. For one, we need the freakin’ jobs. Labor and materials can be found cheaper now. And since construction on these projects, from start to end, can take a couple years, building now means that businesses can open when the recession is finally over.

That said, 60 foot tall building in that area could ruin its appeal, but Bert is right about design being a considering factor.

By: waltarrrrr

waltarrrrr — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:11:01 +0000

Oh… Hellllll… No!

By: lucindamichele

lucindamichele — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:42:45 +0000

Bert, thank you for the perspective. and you are right about the design being a big issue.

I just still feel that this is not the place for the sort of change frost/chaddock are proposing. If they were planning something in scale to the surrounding neighborhood this wouldn’t be as much of an issue.

By: Bert Green

Bert Green — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 23:24:05 +0000

Lucinda, I meant no personal offense. Sorry if I hurt your feelings.

But I do have a real issue with the NIMBY tone of the post. In my experience, simply opposing projects is the best way to get bad projects. The developers and the opponents draw battle lines and we get bad urban design from it.

Look across the street from the 2 buildings across Sunset that you cite as examples. There is the Grosch Scenic Rentals building, built in the 1920s. It is the same scale as the new buildings. Built 80 years earlier.

It’s not the size of the project that is bad, it’s the design. Work with the realities and help to get a better design that does NOT produce long blank walls like the Grove, and that works with the community. That’s constructive. Simply opposing any change is not.

By: aldesmadre

aldesmadre — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 22:36:31 +0000

blvdjohnny-Amen, brother!

Bert/phaser- Please forward your home/neighborhood addresses to:
http://www.frostchaddock.com, developers
They’re always looking for new project sites. Sounds like you’d love it.

By: blvdjohnny

blvdjohnny — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 20:38:16 +0000

this should be a red car line museum better yet a station for light rail like the red car again(dreaming) not more friggin housing in over dense hood.
save this building!!!

By: bromike666

bromike666 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:58:19 +0000

Quit complaining, at least LA Live didn’t open up in your neighborhood;-)

By: aldesmadre

aldesmadre — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:39:14 +0000

I love how it’s the people who don’t have to live right next door to these monstrosities who are the ones who have “no problem” with it. Whenever I attend any SL Neighborhood Council meetings I hear a lot this from the residents who live near the reservoir about what those of us south of Sunset should have in our neighborhood. God forbid any of us lowlanders suggest any changes to the reservoir area. OMG! You could hear those reservoirian knickers twisting all the way down to Jiffy Lube! (someone should drop a condo on them!);)
Another thing I’ve noticed is that the new property owners continue to lease out the buildings to unsuspecting tenants (some who are investing $ in fixing up the place up like the recent restoration at the old biofuels site)
I guess the owners have to keep milking that property until they raze it.

By: frazgo

frazgo — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:55:44 +0000

“I don’t have any problem with four stories in that location”. I would disagree. The transportation in the area is pretty maxed, park land is sparse, adding density only makes matters worse.

I don’t think its alarmest. I think it looks out of place for the area, certainly all the arguments re blocked views etc., is a concern.

By: phaser21

phaser21 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 18:22:50 +0000

I don’t have any problem with four stories in that location–it is a very urban area after all–but looking at the Frost Chadwick website is distressing. They seem to be purveyors of buildings only one step above G.H. Palmer. One entrance is also a bad sign.