A demolition permit has been issued for the building at 7424 Santa Monica Blvd., across the street from Plummer Park, to make way for a five-story mixed use tower.
The removal of the existing commercial building of 3,385 square feet will make way for 31 residential units and 2,000 feet of retail space, along with subterranean parking.
When they build it – who will come? Since the dreaded “East Side” has been denigrated in the 33 years I have lived in it’s bosom; it has also largely been ignored and saved from the high rise atrocities that have blighted the rest of the city. Seems as if the developers have run out of West Side to blight and we are the de facto next new victim. I would be delighted to know who is providing the demand for these buildings? From where is the need coming? It seems to me that the ‘chosen for demo’ existing buildings… Read more »
I hope an impact study was conducted with concern to increased pediatrician and vehicle traffic at the intersection of SMB and Plummer Park and Martel.
Do a lot of pediatricians walk that intersection. lol
They will when the new building is completed.
Pedestrian is what you meant to say. I hate those auto corrects too. Pedestrian access is important because people rely on crosswalks from Gardner and Martel to get across the street which is harder to go past the car wash abs a construction site on both sides blocking pedestrian access. Otherwise people would have to go walk up Gardener and around on Norton or further on Poinsettia and Fuller at Trader Joe’s depending on what direction one is walking from in order to avoid the construction area which is a heavily relied upon predestination zone and where bus stops are… Read more »
Pedestrians, urs. I hate auto correct.
Pedestrians, I hate auto correct.
I like pediatricians more!
🙂
Huge upgrade over the existing improvements. We should have more of this all up and down Santa Monica Blvd.
Yup
Unfortunately another Eastern European soulless fortress.
What makes this Eastern European? I don’t find it thrilling but it’s not unlike other buildings being built from Seattle to San Diego
Most regions throughout the US typically have notable architectural distinctions relevant to climate and other demands of their region. Often the classical distinctions of one area can be successfully utilized in another. Southern California is notable in that Spanish Colonial and Spanish Colonial Revival were prevalent prior to export of periods identified on the East coast and numerous countries which became seamlessly integrated with regional design. Likewise periods go Frank Lloyd Wright and his successive disciples through the Modernism era all evolves within a broad aesthetic. Most of these gave great consideration to the natural landscape as well as aesthetic… Read more »
They don’t resemble Stalinist Architecture in any way. Floor the ceiling windows and large balconies that allow air and light to circulate. Hardly Eastern European. Yes they are blocky. I’ll give you that. Nobody will be forced to move there
It is still offensive to the neighborhood even with its floor to ceiling windows and crude perfunctory balconies. It seems questionable that you have a command of architectural values. “Sounds Racist”, what a charming, confrontational way to identify one’s self.
“Unintelligible” what a charming, confrontational way to identify one’s self however I was referring to you not me. As far as the architecture goes, I never said I loved it but it doesn’t look unlike other buildings being built all over the city and most cities in the US and elsewhere. If people like it they will rent it otherwise they will choose something else. I still don’t think it deserves to be called soulless Eastern European Architecture especially since it’s being built in a neighborhood where many residents are Eastern European. It doesn’t matter what I think anyway. It’s… Read more »
‘Unintelligible” was used to describe the structure. Simply because many similar buildings are being built in West Hollywood and Los Angeles does not mean it is aesthetically pleasing. It is opportunistic because it pencils out for the developer who has little or no responsibility to the community, neighborhoods or a sense of place.
As far as folks from Eastern European countries, they fled regime and foreboding architecture. It will only be built if people remain less informed and don’t show up to participate in the process. These things can pop up in any neighborhood unless folks demand better.
They are simply banal and cheesy. Why single out a location and a era and use it as a label. I find “Opportunistic Design” perfect to describe the high-rises being built along the East Side (for the sake of this thread. They are everywhere).
They have “value engineered” the soul out of our architecture. 🙁
Thank you for adding the concise description. Wanted to explain the process to one’s eye as many would not have known or researched value engineering. In the end, a struggle between “value engineering”and “aesthetic engineering” upon which most timeless buildings and cities have endured.
Brilliant. ” Opportunistic Design”. Simply brilliant
Exactly.