We're one month into construction on the $2 billion Crenshaw/LAX Line, and the view from Exposition Boulevard has already changed significantly. With Earlez Grille safely relocated two blocks south, the low-rise commercial structures which previously stood next to Expo/Crenshaw Station are no more. By 2020, this now vacant lot will sit above the northern terminus of Metro's newest light rail line. Set to add 8.5 miles of track and seven new stations to the Metro Rail network, long term plans call for extensions of the Crenshaw Line to Wilshire Boulevard and even as far north as Hollywood. But that kind of talk is putting the cart way before the horse.
In the background of the above picture, green construction fencing is visible surrounding the future site of District Square. The 300,000 square foot shopping center, designed by the Irvine-based KTGY Group, will bring a variety of large chain retailers to the Crenshaw neighborhood. While perhaps not the ideal development for a parcel near the intersection of two rail lines, District Square is certainly an improvement upon the strip mall that it replaces. Pedestrian friendly, street fronting buildings beat acres of surface parking any day of the week.
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| Route of the future Crenshaw/LAX Line. Image from The Source. |
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| Rendering of District Square. Image from KTGY Group. |
- Crenshaw/LAX Transit Project (Metro)
- District Square (KTGY Group)
Great post, but I was thinking this type of development is great around transit stations cause shopping centers generate a lot of traffic and they're everyday destinations. If a big shopping center is built in the middle of LA, I would hope it has a great transit location like this!
ReplyDeleteIt's not the location that I'm disappointed in, but the fact that it's only a shopping center. If you really want to reduce car trips, why not put some apartments on top of all that retail? Create some natural foot traffic.
DeleteMARKET RATE apartments would be a good addition.
DeleteMany are thinking that Crenshaw won't have high ridership, but I predict that it will have the third highest ridership per mile of the light rail lines. Behind Expo/Blue, but ahead of Green/Gold. And I live in Inglewood so the development is appreciated. I only wish that Los Angeles hadn't designated all of the shaded area of LA in the Crenshaw rail map to be low and medium density. With LA continuing to densify I'm afraid that this is the one area with a rail line that will be left behind.
ReplyDeleteHopefully the current effort to rewrite LA's outdated zoning code accounts for the coming rail line. Crenshaw Boulevard is already rich in cultural amenities, and it still has a lot of room for growth.
DeleteRidership projections are usually low balled, so I'd expect Crenshaw to beat them. Especially when the LAX connection is finally figured out. Things will really take off if and when the line is extended north.
The Crenshaw Specific Plan will guide the building along Crenshaw Blvd. Had District Square been designed recently, it would have probably included housing. As the plans have been stalled for nearly half a decade, they reflect the attitude of what was going on at the time. (It is similar in feel to the West Hollywood gateway project at La Brea/Sta Monica) The Community worked on the new West Adams/Baldwin/Leimert Community plan with the future of the boulevard in mind and what that means in terms of housing and business. However, one block east or west of Crenshaw are lovely homes with manicured lawns. There is a fine line between growth and progress and trying to avoid the current multi-unit building explosion along La Brea in the Mid Cities. Still, we are anxious for the day Crenshaw comes out of this blighted building phase it's in now.
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