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| The Village at USC |
Last month, the LA City Planning Commission unanimously approved the new design guidelines for the massive Village at USC. The $1.1 billion development seeks to reinvent the dilapidated University Village shopping center as a thriving mixed-use complex, reminiscent of Glendale's Americana at Brand. Elkus Manfredi Architects, the Boston-based firm which designed the Americana, has taken the lead on the project, with additional work from Michigan-based Harley Ellis Devereaux. Updated renderings show a series of brick clad structures, centered around a large plaza and bisected with wide, retail laden paseos. These five initial buildings will house 2,470 students above 140,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space. The Village's full build out would contain over 2 million square feet of student housing, academic facilities and neighborhood serving retail. The project will fund streetscape improvements around the USC campus' perimeter, including a road diet for Jefferson Boulevard. As the result of contentious negotiations with the city during the approval process in 2012, USC will also provide $20 million for affordable housing in the surrounding area. The Village at USC will provide a pedestrian friendly town square for the University Park neighborhood, serving students, staff and permanent residents alike. The nearby Metro Expo Line will give Trojans and Angelenos the ability to visit while leaving their personal automobiles behind. Gentrification is always a touchy subject, but its tough to argue against it when it looks and feels this good. The Village could start work in mid-2014 at the earliest.
- City Planning Commission Approves Design Guidelines (USC Village)
- The Village at USC (Harley Ellis Devereaux)
- Case Information Summary Sheet (LA City Planning)
- $1-Billion Village at USC Approved by LA Council Panel (Los Angeles Times)
Piazza San Marco it won't be. It will probably end up looking more like Joan Rivers than Jennifer Lawrence, but I don't think it's horrible considering the location. Faux is fun here in SoCal (land of Main St. Disneyland) and a charming,under-appreciated part of our architectural landscape.
ReplyDeleteHaha. Shouldn't the Joan Rivers comparison be reserved for something that has been remodeled so many times that it barely resembles a building?
DeleteThe renderings look a lot better than University Gateway, but I suppose the proof is in the pudding.
The design is not so bad. It's consistent with the rest of the university if not a little bland. As far as gentrification goes, it is better for the university to construct more of it's own housing closer to campus. Otherwise, students will continue to spread out and displace residents in the surrounding neighborhoods. The people most likely to be against this project would be landlords in those communities who would be losing out on renting to students for high prices.
ReplyDeleteSeems like most of the push-back has been from affordable housing advocates.
DeleteMore repetition of the traditional red brick style is boring. Needs something fresh.
ReplyDeleteI like it, it fits with architectural theme of USC. Plus, I prefer brick and mortar over endless amounts of glass and steel.
ReplyDeleteHi! Thanks for following the Village development -- I think its hugely important for the area. If you have the time could you seek out an update from the principals on this? Looks like some changes were required in the construction documents; just curious if we can get someone from USC especially to give an updated groundbreaking / demolition date.
ReplyDelete