First Look at Downtown's Upcoming Wave of Canadian Skyscrapers

Lately, the talk of the town has been the recent influx of Chinese investment into the South Park neighborhood.  How about some foreign money from closer to home?  This Tuesday, the DLANC's Planning and Land Use Committee is scheduled to take a look at multiple high-rise projects proposed by two Canadian-based developers.  The Amacon Group, which has stayed north of the border until recently, is revamping its pre-recession proposal for a mixed-use high-rise development at 1133 Hope Street.  The Onni Group, already hard at work on a 32-story tower at 888 Olive Street, has plans for two substantially more ambitious projects nearby.  The three developments would combine to create over 1,500 residential units in glassy towers that would look right at home in Vancouver or Toronto.  Of course, that's no coincidence, since all three projects were designed by Vancouver-based Chris Dikeakos Architects.  Check out the specs and some additional renderings below.

Canadian Skyscraper Invasion in Downtown LA

Talk about ending 2013 with a bang.  The Vancouver-based Onni Group has been bullish about Downtown for quite some time, but recent events indicate that their vision for neighborhood's future is literally sky-high.  Earlier this month, the Canadian developer submitted plans to the city for four mixed-use towers, one of which would be Los Angeles' tallest residential building.  On the parking lot of the 1212 Flower office building, Onni would construct two high-rise towers containing 730 condo dwellings and over 7,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space.  Just up the block, they plan a 28-story tower at 1133 Hope Street, containing 208 units and 5,000 square feet of ground floor retail.  Both project sites sit adjacent to Metro's Pico Station, just a short walk from the flashing lights and bustling activity of Staples Center and LA Live.  Next-door to their project at 888 Olive Street, Onni plans the most ambitious of its South Park buildings: a skyline altering 50-story tower.  Located at 820 Olive Street, the building would contain 589 residential units with 4,500 square feet of ground floor retail, helping to reinvigorate what is now a pedestrian dead zone.  San Francisco-based Carmel Partners also has big plans for this stretch of Olive, with a 700-unit development currently under construction and a 27-story tower planned across the street.  Altogether, Onni's newest projects would add nearly 1,500 residential units to Downtown Los Angeles.  It seems that the uproar over Downtown's low-rise building spree has once again proven to be much ado about nothing.  On the other hand, we'll have to wait and see if market conditions support Onni's projects by the time they're ready to break ground.