Zocalo Public Square at LA's Grand Park

"Will Downtown Ever Work?" panel discussion led by Christopher Hawthorne, LA Times architecture critic. Answer: Downtown is already working.

The panel members were Alice Kimm, urban planner with John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects, urban planner Melani Smith of Melendrez Design Partners, Xefirotarch architect Hernan Diaz Alonso, and Rios Clementi Hale studios, Tony Paradowski, a landscape architech and one of the lead designers of Grand Park.

Several people commented that that downtown works, but needs good schools for the children growing up there.  The comments about Grand Avenue were that it is taking a long time to develop (the rector set like parking structure across from Disney was built as a temporary parking ramp in the 1960s') the buildings are so massive with long walls, some with interior courtyards, that it makes it unfriendly for pedestrians walking on the sidewalks.  The street is so wide that it is a barrier. 

Melodi Smith said that we must design street plans with more connectivity but it has been a challenge to coordinate with D.O.T.  However, there is hope there under new leadership.  There is also tension between public and private land owners.  A street car is under review that would go on Broadway between 11th and 2nd.  A covering of the 101 Fwy is being discussed between City Hall and the Cathedral.

Heran Diaz Alonso said that his favorite thing about L.A. is that there is no favorite thing.  There are many desirable areas and elements of the city.  He said density is a good thing that makes cities more diverse and tolerant.  He encouraged more building and increasing the density of the downtown population.  The district structure in the cities is sometimes a barrier.  There is a need for more centralization of design.

Christopher Hawthorne made the point that L.A. will never be like New York, Paris, Chicago and other cities, but that is a good thing.  The multiple cities structure of L.A. is an asset.  L.A. is looking to city designs in Asia and South America for ideas for developing "complete streets". 

Beer and wine were provided by Silver Lake Wines at 2395 Glendale Blvd. with one of the owners pouring the tasty beverges.  He said they are also operating the store on Raymond in Old Town Pasadena.