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California Today: An Arts District Redesign, Down by the River California Today: An Arts District Redesign, Down by the River
(3 days later)
Good morning.Good morning.
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Let’s turn it over to Jennifer Medina, a national correspondent based in Los Angeles, for today’s introduction
Few neighborhoods have transformed as quickly or drastically as the Los Angeles Arts District, just east of downtown. Once the city’s center of manufacturing, the neighborhood is now home to an expanding arts scene, with galleries galore alongside high-end boutiques and trendy restaurants.Few neighborhoods have transformed as quickly or drastically as the Los Angeles Arts District, just east of downtown. Once the city’s center of manufacturing, the neighborhood is now home to an expanding arts scene, with galleries galore alongside high-end boutiques and trendy restaurants.
The district is already home to a handful of gleaming apartment and condo buildings, but it may soon get its most fanciful project yet.The district is already home to a handful of gleaming apartment and condo buildings, but it may soon get its most fanciful project yet.
The Danish architect Bjarke Ingels unveiled a proposal to build two connected glass and steel buildings last week that would reach up to 30 stories high and stretch nearly to the Los Angeles River. The project, called 670 Mesquit, would house 800,000 square feet of office space, 250 apartments and two hotels as well as retails shops and restaurants on the ground floor. The design includes a large deck that would extend over the rail yards that divide the area from the river and include some kind of museum or public sculpture park.The Danish architect Bjarke Ingels unveiled a proposal to build two connected glass and steel buildings last week that would reach up to 30 stories high and stretch nearly to the Los Angeles River. The project, called 670 Mesquit, would house 800,000 square feet of office space, 250 apartments and two hotels as well as retails shops and restaurants on the ground floor. The design includes a large deck that would extend over the rail yards that divide the area from the river and include some kind of museum or public sculpture park.
The project comes as city officials have vowed to radically transform the river, much of which has been sheathed in concrete for nearly a century.The project comes as city officials have vowed to radically transform the river, much of which has been sheathed in concrete for nearly a century.
“The L.A. River was really the heart of Los Angeles, it’s why downtown is located where it is,” said Vince Bertoni, the director of planning for the city. “We turned our back to the river, we’re trying to reverse that and really embrace it,” he said.“The L.A. River was really the heart of Los Angeles, it’s why downtown is located where it is,” said Vince Bertoni, the director of planning for the city. “We turned our back to the river, we’re trying to reverse that and really embrace it,” he said.
Mr. Ingels, considered a rising-star in the architecture world, said he sees the city “embarking on a new kind of renaissance.”Mr. Ingels, considered a rising-star in the architecture world, said he sees the city “embarking on a new kind of renaissance.”
“The Arts District is becoming a place that could become a walkable neighborhood and an enclave of urbanity in L.A.,” he said.“The Arts District is becoming a place that could become a walkable neighborhood and an enclave of urbanity in L.A.,” he said.
The project faces considerable hurdles before it can move forward. Because of its height and density, it would need several variances from the city’s planning department, including permission to build residential units. And the variances may need to come before March, when voters will be asked to approve a measure that would impose a moratorium on new developments that require significant variances.The project faces considerable hurdles before it can move forward. Because of its height and density, it would need several variances from the city’s planning department, including permission to build residential units. And the variances may need to come before March, when voters will be asked to approve a measure that would impose a moratorium on new developments that require significant variances.
Mr. Ingels bristled at the notion that the development would further gentrify the neighborhood.Mr. Ingels bristled at the notion that the development would further gentrify the neighborhood.
“We wanted to embrace and enhance the kind of architecture that is there, to build something with flexibility and the raw quality of manufacturing buildings,” he said.“We wanted to embrace and enhance the kind of architecture that is there, to build something with flexibility and the raw quality of manufacturing buildings,” he said.
Mr. Bertoni said the plans offered a “very good start” to work with the existing fabric of the area.Mr. Bertoni said the plans offered a “very good start” to work with the existing fabric of the area.
“The real key for us is not that there are too many shiny buildings,” he said. “But how do we design them in a way that keep the existing buildings that are distinct and offer the history to the neighborhood.”“The real key for us is not that there are too many shiny buildings,” he said. “But how do we design them in a way that keep the existing buildings that are distinct and offer the history to the neighborhood.”
• Zsa Zsa Gabor, the actress who married eight times and was famous for being famous, died in Los Angeles. She was thought to be 99. [The New York Times]• Zsa Zsa Gabor, the actress who married eight times and was famous for being famous, died in Los Angeles. She was thought to be 99. [The New York Times]
• In San Francisco, there are tents on sidewalks above which people pay $4,500 a month for one-bedroom apartments. [Opinion | The New York Times]• In San Francisco, there are tents on sidewalks above which people pay $4,500 a month for one-bedroom apartments. [Opinion | The New York Times]
• New federal legislation is expected to worsen the water wars among farmers, fishing industries and environmentalists. [The Associated Press]• New federal legislation is expected to worsen the water wars among farmers, fishing industries and environmentalists. [The Associated Press]
• “She worshiped Satan”: The role religion played at a group home for sex-trafficking victims near Sacramento. [Sacramento Bee]• “She worshiped Satan”: The role religion played at a group home for sex-trafficking victims near Sacramento. [Sacramento Bee]
• “I’ve had to sell out once,” said the founder of Odwalla. “That was enough.” Now he’s back with a nut milk business. [The New York Times]• “I’ve had to sell out once,” said the founder of Odwalla. “That was enough.” Now he’s back with a nut milk business. [The New York Times]
• While most social networking services elevate celebrities, Snapchat treats them like everyday users. [The New York Times]• While most social networking services elevate celebrities, Snapchat treats them like everyday users. [The New York Times]
• The sharing economy isn’t really about sharing. So what do we call it? [Opinion | The New York Times]• The sharing economy isn’t really about sharing. So what do we call it? [Opinion | The New York Times]
• With a victory over the Chargers, the Raiders clinched their first playoff berth since the 2002 season. [East Bay Times]• With a victory over the Chargers, the Raiders clinched their first playoff berth since the 2002 season. [East Bay Times]
• Discussing anxiety, pet grief and Oprah over coffee with the woman behind the #NotOkay social media movement. [The New York Times]• Discussing anxiety, pet grief and Oprah over coffee with the woman behind the #NotOkay social media movement. [The New York Times]
• Book Review: “Brave New Weed” is a loving rethink of the care and consumption of marijuana. [The New York Times]• Book Review: “Brave New Weed” is a loving rethink of the care and consumption of marijuana. [The New York Times]
• With its appealing boutiques and quick access to the city, Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood has seen housing prices skyrocket. [The New York Times]• With its appealing boutiques and quick access to the city, Oakland’s Temescal neighborhood has seen housing prices skyrocket. [The New York Times]
• Photographs: A Palm Springs house that has remained untouched since it was built in 1969 is on the market. [SFGate.com]• Photographs: A Palm Springs house that has remained untouched since it was built in 1969 is on the market. [SFGate.com]
• On Monday, members of the Electoral College will cast their presidential votes. While Donald J. Trump’s triumph will be officially sealed, Hillary Clinton will be the candidate of choice for California’s 55 electors. Watch live video of the Sacramento event at 2 p.m.• On Monday, members of the Electoral College will cast their presidential votes. While Donald J. Trump’s triumph will be officially sealed, Hillary Clinton will be the candidate of choice for California’s 55 electors. Watch live video of the Sacramento event at 2 p.m.
• On Tuesday, directors of California’s state pension fund will discuss whether to lower their investment targets, a move that could set off more costs for taxpayers and cities.• On Tuesday, directors of California’s state pension fund will discuss whether to lower their investment targets, a move that could set off more costs for taxpayers and cities.
• On Wednesday, more than 180 homeless people who have died in Orange County in 2016 will be honored at a memorial service.• On Wednesday, more than 180 homeless people who have died in Orange County in 2016 will be honored at a memorial service.
• Sunday is Christmas. But not everything will be closed. Sea World in San Diego, Legoland in Carlsbad, Disneyland in Anaheim and Madame Tussauds in San Francisco are among the places open for business.• Sunday is Christmas. But not everything will be closed. Sea World in San Diego, Legoland in Carlsbad, Disneyland in Anaheim and Madame Tussauds in San Francisco are among the places open for business.
A reader photo shows San Diego’s seaside community of La Jolla.A reader photo shows San Diego’s seaside community of La Jolla.
Andrew Oh, 26, said he captured the scenic piece of coastline during a helicopter tour of the San Diego area a few weeks ago.Andrew Oh, 26, said he captured the scenic piece of coastline during a helicopter tour of the San Diego area a few weeks ago.
The image shows the Village of La Jolla, a commercial area about 10 miles up the coast from downtown San Diego that is known for its beauty as well as its affluent restaurants and galleries.The image shows the Village of La Jolla, a commercial area about 10 miles up the coast from downtown San Diego that is known for its beauty as well as its affluent restaurants and galleries.
The sandy stretch of beach in the foreground is the popular La Jolla Cove. At the bottom right of the photo, Point La Jolla juts into the ocean.The sandy stretch of beach in the foreground is the popular La Jolla Cove. At the bottom right of the photo, Point La Jolla juts into the ocean.
Mr. Oh, a software engineer, said he was getting ready to move to San Francisco from San Diego for a new job and went up in the helicopter with a few friends as a last hurrah.Mr. Oh, a software engineer, said he was getting ready to move to San Francisco from San Diego for a new job and went up in the helicopter with a few friends as a last hurrah.
“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “San Diego’s a beautiful place. I’m going to miss it.”“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “San Diego’s a beautiful place. I’m going to miss it.”
California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.California Today goes live at 6 a.m. Pacific time weekdays. Tell us what you want to see: CAtoday@nytimes.com.
The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.The California Today columnist, Mike McPhate, is a third-generation Californian — born outside Sacramento and raised in San Juan Capistrano. He lives in Davis. Follow him on Twitter.
California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.California Today is edited by Julie Bloom, who grew up in Los Angeles and attended U.C. Berkeley.