DOWNTOWN WEEKLY LA

All rights reserved. Downtown Weekly is a news, event, LIFESTYLE & Hospitality FREE community resource. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without express written permission from the publisher. DTLA WEEKLY, in support of local residents, businesses, workers and visitors of Downtown Los Angeles, publishes DTLA WEEKLY.

Readers are recommended to make appropriate inquiries before wagering any sum in relation to any ad, article or feature published herein. DTLA WEEKLY will not be liable to any person for loss or damage incurred or suffered as a result of his/her accepting, offering to accept or following any invitation or advice contained in any ad, article or feature published herein.

DTLA REAL ESTATE EMPIRE: Forge at Alloy: A New Kind of Mix-Use Development

Quickly materializing at 530 Mateo Street, near the 4th Street Bridge and Santa Fe Avenue, construction is underway on the creative office building, known as Forge at Alloy, with an expected completion date in the summer of 2024.

This new mixed-use development, totaling approximately 1 million square feet, will offer DTLA a 127,500-square-foot, six-story creative office building, alongside a new 35-story, 475-unit apartment tower.

In addition to the 127,456 square feet of creative office space on five floors, the ground floor will host 18,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.

The building boasts a design inspired by the historic warehouses and factories of the Arts District, featuring high ceilings and ample natural light. The outdoor space between the office and apartment towers offers seating and lounge areas as on-site amenities for tenants.

Office tenants will surely gain exclusive access to a rooftop deck atop the office building.

A key feature of the project is a new pedestrian and retail paseo, formerly a rail spur, connecting Mateo Street and Santa Fe Avenue. This paseo will serve as a year-round gathering place with various programmed activities, including public art installations, outdoor concerts, movies, and special events. Parking, with a desirable 3/1000 ratio, will be available across three levels, two above ground and one subterranean, exclusively for office and retail use.

Carmel Partners has enlisted DTLA real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield in Los Angeles to lead the leasing efforts for Forge at Alloy.

“Forge at Alloy is a first-of-its-kind ground up creative office development that was very thoughtfully designed and strategically located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, a desirable submarket with immense growth potential,” said Mike Condon Jr, Vice Chair.

“This is a luxury development that will bring together upscale residential, office space, and a highly curated mix of retail and event programming, becoming a sanctuary and a hub for creativity, innovation, and connection. Forge at Alloy will offer a tremendous singletenant headquarters opportunity or a multitenant environment that can accommodate a variety of industries.”

“Forge at Alloy is a first-of-its-kind ground up creative office development that was very thoughtfully designed and strategically located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District, a desirable submarket with immense growth potential,” said Cushman & Wakefield’s Vice Chair Mike Condon Jr.

“This is a luxury development that will bring together upscale residential, office space, and a highly curated mix of retail and event programming, becoming a sanctuary and a hub for creativity, innovation, and connection. Forge at Alloy will offer a tremendous singletenant headquarters opportunity or a multitenant environment that can accommodate a variety of industries.”

“We were drawn to the opportunity to develop a mixed-use project in the Arts District, which has been a vital area for commercial and residential growth and demand. Our vision is to create a unique destination which presents a true live-work-play environment while embodying the industrial aesthetic and creative energy of this cultural hub of Los Angeles,” said Will Cipes, Senior Vice President Development with Carmel Partners.

This pioneering development surely promises to transform the once baron Arts District to a thriving urban core, attracting a diverse range of tenants across various industries, including tech, law, music, fashion, gaming, and more.

RENDINGS COURTESY OF CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD

Saying Goodbye: DTLA Remembers the Life & Passion of Visionary developer Wayne Ratkovich

Wa developer. I no longer had interest in factories and warehouses. I realized that my little company could make a positive difference in the city, and it was something I wanted to continue to do.”

In a 2015 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Ratkovich laid out his underlying philosophy on business and life. “We’d like to be an example of capitalism in its most admirable form,” he said. “We function in the private market, not with government subsidies, and we fulfill our mission to profitably produce developments that improve the quality of urban life. That allows us to do well and do good at the same time.”

Among other notable projects Ratkovich steered include the historic Pellissier Building and adjoining Wiltern Theatre on Miracle Mile.

From the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley to the skyscrapers of downtown and from the coastline of Playa Vista to San Pedro, Ratkovich not only help shape our modern-day DTLA, but kick started the trend when it came to developers, seeking to restore historic buildings in Los Angeles over the past 40 years.

Throughout his career, Ratkovich had an uncanny ability to identify opportunities that others overlooked. This was especially true when it came to the early days of our paper. In 2017, upon hearing about DTLA Weekly’s devotion to print in a digital age, Ratkovich replied “That’s something!”

Ratkovich just had that quality where He often saw the future in a piece of the past, even if others could not.

Ratkovich is best known as founder and CEO of The Ratkovich Company (TRC), whose mission has been “to profitably produce developments that improve the quality of urban life.”

That was especially true when it came to at least 18 historic buildings throughout the Los Angeles area, starting with his redevelopment of the James Oviatt Building (home to Cicada Restaurant) on Olive Street in downtown Los Angeles – the project that put The Ratkovich Company on the map.

As Ratkovich said in 2020, “the experience with the Oviatt changed forever my role as

The work of preservationists including the Los Angeles Conservancy saved the property from the wrecking ball until Ratkovich could purchase it in 1981.

After a four-year renovation, the Wiltern reopened with a run of shows performed by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, followed by a major Tom Petty concert a few months later. Today, it remains one of L.A.’s most significant performance venues.

“The greatest thing Wayne did is shine a bright light on historic buildings in Downtown and beyond,” said Linda Dishman, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy. “He was a pioneer in transforming underutilized buildings into places people wanted to go, including the Oviatt, Fine Arts and the Wiltern.

He was not only a champion of preservation in Los Angeles but also as a Trustee of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He was a towering figure and will be greatly missed.” Many of TRC’s buildings were honored with top awards by the L.A. Conservancy.

Seeing a blueprint for success and driven by a new passion for transforming core urban developments, TRC would go on to reimagine several landmark projects throughout the Los Angeles area, including The Fine Arts Building, and the Chapman Building.

Another page in the book of Ratkovich’s DTLA restoration legacy is the most notable urban development, The Bloc, a dramatic transformation of the old Macy’s Square, he took on, located at 7th and Flower.

Ratkovich saw a way to truly integrate this formerly closed-off, fortress-like complex into its downtown neighborhood, creating the first direct underground connection of a private community to a subway station. His innovative thinking now allows The Bloc’s tenants and visitors to seamlessly connect to the Bloc by riding METRO.

-Continued on page 11

ayne Ratkovich, a Los Angelesbased real estate developer behind the revitalization of The Bloc, The Chapman and the Fine Arts Building has died. He was 82 years old.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE RATKOVICH COMPANY

US Bank Tower Climb for Los Angeles Celebrates

30 Years at the Top

TThe US Bank Tower in Downtown Los Angeles, standing at an impressive height of 1,005 feet, is hosting the 30th Anniversary

of the Stair Climb for Los Angeles on Friday, September 29, 2023. This iconic event, which features climbers from around the world, involves ascending 1,664 steps, equivalent to scaling 75 stories, using the building’s stairwell.

This historic event is organized to celebrate its 30year legacy, with participants of all backgrounds and abilities joining in. The climb starts at 8-second intervals in 15-minute waves, ensuring safety as climbers make their way to the rooftop. After descending to a resting floor, participants can enjoy breathtaking views of Downtown Los Angeles, along with complimentary snacks and water for recovery.

A rooftop celebration awaits climbers in the garden.

For those interested in combining sightseeing with the climb, a new Urban Hike option is introduced this year, passing by cultural landmarks like MOCA, The Broad, Disney Concert Hall, The Grand LA, and more.

Participants can collect their event packets at the YMCA the day before the climb, which includes essential information and materials.

The event is not just a physical challenge but also a communitydriven endeavor. All climbers receive a finisher’s award from YMCA volunteers upon reaching the finish line, while the top three finishers in each category receive winning medals.

The record for the fastest climb is held by Lucas Matison with a remarkable time of 8 minutes and 46 seconds (2016) for males and Erika Aklufi with an impressive 10 minutes and 15 seconds (2012) for females.

As the event approaches on September 29, 2023, the question remains: Will this year bring a new record to this iconic Los Angeles tradition at the US Bank Tower?

Downtown Los Angeles will eagerly await the answer.

DTLA TRIVIA:

The US BANK BUILDING was first known as the Library Tower, because it was built as part of the $1 billion Los Angeles Central Library redevelopment area, following two disastrous fires at the library in 1986?

Face to Face with the police New SafeStop App Aims to Take the Stress Out

of Routine Traffic stops

For many drivers, being pulled over for a traffic violation by law enforcement is a very stressful situation. That’s why engineers Tyler Hochman and Jackson Lallas decided to create SafeStop, a mobile app seeking to transform traffic stops by enhancing communication between motorists and police officers.

The West Hollywood Police Department this month became the first department in the nation to launch the pilot program in partnership with SafeStop. Captain William Moulder of the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station emphasized the program’s modern approach, calling it an “innovative tool for our deputies to use in appropriate situations during traffic stops.”

After being pulled over, a driver can immediately begin a video call with the police officer who stopped them.

This gives the officer an opportunity to explain standard procedure for the traffic stop before approaching the vehicle.

During this preliminary video call, officers can better assess the situation and determine whether any potential threats exist before approaching the vehicle. For the motorist, the app provides real-time, detailed instructions on what to expect when interacting with the officer.

“We are proud to partner with local police in West Hollywood to find creative solutions” said co-founders Hochman and Lallas. “Our goal is to make motorist-police interactions safer and more transparent.”

Both the Sheriff’s Department and the app’s co-founders believe that shifting the initial point of contact between motorists and police officers to the digital space can help deescalate tense situations, create greater transparency and facilitate smoother interactions on the road.

No private information is shared with the officer. The deputy will only be told the car’s make and model to ensure that it is the correct vehicle.

West Hollywood locals said they’re excited about the potential for this new app.

“It takes a lot of pressure out from both parties from feeling like any altercations

might happen,” said Lauren Doblas, a West Hollywood resident, in an interview with KTLA.

Richard Jones, an apartment manager in West Hollywood, recently experienced a very aggressive interaction with law enforcement during a traffic stop. He sees SafeStop as a great way to prevent similarly tense interactions from happening in the future.

“This is exciting. We definitely need something like this with the crimes going on,” Jones told KCAL News.

To encourage West Hollywood residents to download the app, SafeStop has pledged to pay a portion of a driver’s ticket if they are using the app during routine traffic stops.

The pilot program is set to run for six months to a year. Hochman and Lallas are hopeful that their app will gain traction with police officers, as they stand to benefit from engaging motorists from a safe distance. If successful, SafeStop’s partnership with the West Hollywood Police Department could lead to future collaborations in California and other states.

“Bottom line, we want to help police and communities come together,” Lallas said. “The launch of this pilot program in West Hollywood is the first important step in reaching that goal.” @safestoptraffic

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRODEN & MICKELSEN, LLP

Robo-Taxies Are Coming TO DTLA What Could Go Wrong?

Waymo and Cruise, two the trailblazing pioneers of autonomous vehicles, will be bringing their cutting-edge technology to Downtown in late fall. This means the robot cars will soon be making their way down Main Street, taking passengers to and fro—a great peek into the future of transportation with robotic cars leading the way. What could possibly go wrong?

What could possibly go wrong? Plenty.

Although, it’s true the arrival has been a game-changer, with one local observer telling reporters at Dt Weekly, “They’re currently mapping the city along with traffic and pedestrian data before the official roll-out. The LiDAR sensors are on the car for a reason. Then all that data gets computed through computer vision and machine learning.”

Considering all of Downtown’s one way streets, freeway off ramps, hidden alleyways, and daily traffic jams, hopefully these new robo-taxis are able to learn quickly.

Road rage is a real thing here in the BIG city.

“Remember Arnold Schwarzenegger’s memorable taxi experience from “Total Recall,” where he ripped off the upper torso of the plastic robotic driver out of frustration?” In Downtown, one wrong turn can leave a passenger stuck in a sea of tail lights for 20 minutes. If that happens more often than not, those cyber-mobiles are going to need another layer of thick, protective skin.

Did these vehicles leave their heart in San Francisco?

Only days after their debut in San Francisco this past August, social media began honking, showing multiple posts of cars malfunctioning, crashing and causing traffic jams. Since then, local news has been keeping tally with article headlines that read, “Autonomous Vehicle Incidents On the Rise” and “Which Crash More – Waymo or Cruise?”…

San Francisco’s DMV held back the autonomous tide, allowing only half the cars allowed on the roads due to concerns over traffic accidents and other mishaps.”

Some DTLA residents are skeptical as well, with one recalling his experience in Vegas: ‘A ‘driverless ride-share car’ in Vegas had a rather stark observation: “It was banged up. It clearly had been in a few crashes.”

Not exactly the polished and pristine future we might have envisioned. Safety concerns aside, there’s the looming question of accessibility.

Because the taxis don’t always park close to the pick-up spot, some are concerned for the elderly, and disabled getting to and into the cars.

Where are they going to charge?

The electric car revolution is upon us, but somehow they managed to leave the electric car chargers in the past. The more and more electric cars the more and more electric vehicle charging stations DTLA will have to fight over. And not just any charger, prominent 50W chargers can take up to six hours to fully charge a vehicle, with a newer lesser seen 75W to 350W chargers can still only be found in a handful of places in downtown Los Angeles. Good thing these turbo charged Jaguars will have their own charging ports.

The

Future

Came Too Soon…?

Another concern is the loss of jobs. Critics argue that Waymo’s arrival will displace human drivers in Downtown LA who rely on these jobs to make ends meet. It’s a valid concern in a world where technology often drives forward without looking back.

Seems like only yesterday the world was introduced to drones, followed soon by robo-dogs and androids, and now autonomous vehicles could be adding to the realization, the future is now.

Regardless, Downtown will have a chance to ride Waymo’s autonomous vehicles this fall as the company is inviting all to their popup and waiting list.

As for cost…

With Waymo, in competition with human ride-hailing apps, Lyft, UBER, Yellow etc, a ride around the city still averages in the $1114 range, but there’s no driver to tip.

Whether DTLA is excited about the convenience of autonomous transportation or skeptical about the road ahead, one thing is for certain—we’re in for an interesting ride in Downtown. @waymo

PHOTO COURTESY: LA TIMES FOOD BOWL

PHOTO COURTESY OF WAYMO

saying goodbye: wayne ratkovich cont...

“Wayne Ratkovich was a true visionary in urban development, city building, and place making and exemplified everything that a real estate developer should be,” said Clare De Briere, Americas Chair and member of the Global Board of Directors of the Urban Land Institute.

“His focus on creating places for people –thoughtful, beautiful, wondrous, peaceful, playful places – made everyday life better for everyone who experienced them. He not only embodied the values of the Urban Land Institute but drove those values over his half century of membership and leadership in the organization. Wayne was truly dedicated to improving the built environment for the benefit of all and devoted his time to foster and mentor the next generation of leaders in real estate. I was a recipient of his mentorship and friendship for over thirty years. It was a joy to have had the privilege to spend so many years at Wayne’s side, learning how to build a better world. I am grateful to Wayne for my deep understanding of the responsibility that we as developers have to our communities. His passing is a deep loss to the development community worldwide, to the City of Los Angeles and to all of us who had the privilege to know him.”

Ratkovich was formerly a member of the Urban Land Institute’s Global Board of Directors, as well as a Trustee Emeritus of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Ratkovich received the Distinguished Businessperson Award from the USC Architectural Guild and the Design Advocate Develop Award from the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. In addition, Ratkovich was presented last year with the Rotary Club of Los Angeles’ Distinguished Citizen Award, recognizing an Angeleno who embodies Rotary’s motto of “service above self.”

“Wayne Ratkovich was known for big real estate developments, but his heart and passion for the people of Los Angeles was even bigger,” said Father Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of Homeboy Industries. “He was more than a supporter – Wayne was a guiding light and a true role model for what a civic leader should be, and we were lucky to have him as a board member who rolled up his sleeves and helped us implement the physical expansion of Homeboy across Los Angeles. He was one of a kind, and he will be truly missed.”

An Army Reserve Veteran, Ratkovich was a past president of the Jonathan Club, where he instituted a series of programs aimed at addressing Los Angeles’ homeless crisis. He was a founding board member of the Downtown Women’s Center and the founding board chair of Wende Museum in Culver City.

Ratkovich also gave the American Contemporary Ballet its start in Los Angeles, and he was a co-chair of California Hospital Medical Center’s capital campaign.

There’s no doubt, DTLA could not have grown into the hospitality mecca we see

today if not for the life and times of Wayne Ratkovich. Not bad for a La Puente High School, and UCLA grad. Not bad at all.