Skyscraper Ride
Thread started by
tortuga_veloce at 07.6.10 - 8:24 pm
i was thinking of planning a ride a-la-ridearc where we explore the different skyscraper districts around LA and discuss their impacts on local communities. my goal is to provide a history of LA's landmark business districts and then look at the winners and losers in the development process.
the construction of skyscrapers can bring a lot of money into our economy, but it can also put the city's poorest out of low-income housing and onto the street. we will discuss the history of planning as well as their oversights and impacts.
here are a few ideas:
-Century City: perpetual city of the future
-DTLA: skyscrapers and skid row
-Wilshire Blvd: the 15-mile business district
-Macarthur Park: fake IDs and
-LAX
-UCLA
-USC
i'd love to know what you all are curious about and if any of you are interested in contributing. (especially if you have a zeal for architecture!)
thanks,
i.
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YES.
This sounds like a blast. I am most interested in the kind of planning that created Century City. As you put it, its the "perpetual city of the future." I like how Century City neatly ties into the history of LA's freeway network/traffic nightmares.
SkeletonKey07.6.10 - 8:51 pm
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im down for this ... this sounds legit ...
OsnapsonJC07.7.10 - 9:20 am
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yeah, ive just been really busy. so far we have one person doing transportation issues, and possibly someone talking about architecture.
i just have a good amount of research to do this ride justice. trust me, when it happens, it will be amazing.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by SkeletonKey
07.26.10 - 11:15 pm
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Cool, and if you need any help, I would love to...research or something. I love this stuff.
SkeletonKey responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
07.26.10 - 11:26 pm
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I love buildings...this would be effen great
Huey55507.27.10 - 12:02 am
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Bunker Hill!!!!!! Do et!
Foldie07.27.10 - 10:09 am
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nakatomi plaza ftw! who can forget all that history?
supersano07.27.10 - 10:22 am
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Well, it's not like we haven't been through DTLA a million times for a million reasons, but I think *this* reason would be pretty interesting and worthwhile.
Since Bunker Hill is the kind of place that inevitably inspires the question "what the FUCK were they thinking," a discussion of the area today vs. back in Fante's day, and the urban "renewal" scheme that made the change possible, could actually answer that question for some people. Yes?
PC07.27.10 - 3:03 pm
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Foldie,
Man, where did you find that film?
I am a 30+ year fan of old Bunker Hill and have lots of books and documents about the area. I have never seen a finer document about daily life on the hill.
I could kiss you (but I won't)
If the ride organizers want someone to talk about old Bunker Hill, I can do it.
Creative Thing responding to a
comment by Foldie
07.30.10 - 7:51 pm
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Someone linked it on a blog. Forgot which one. Apparently it was on the DVD extras for the film the exiles. I am a big fan of the hill and all things related.
Foldie responding to a
comment by Creative Thing
07.30.10 - 8:05 pm
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wow, that would be wonderful!
im aiming for the second week of august for the first ride. we're doing century city, and anyone who's interested is welcome to contribute.
the second ride is definitely going to be downtown LA. i had an idea of what i wanted to do, but if you all have something more interesting to talk about, i'd really love to open it up for discussion.
if you'd like to be a part of this ride, please email me at iain.mjbanks, care of google's mail service.
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by Creative Thing
07.30.10 - 8:35 pm
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Wow, I snooze I lose, I was going to post that Bunker Hill video once I had internet again and now that I do you beat me to it. haha...
But, I have the Exiles DVD if anyone is interested in seeing that great film and all the awesome extras.
SkeletonKey responding to a
comment by Foldie
07.31.10 - 8:53 am
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Since its on the subject of Bunker Hill, some great photos are attached to this article of buildings lost to the "redevelopment" of Bunker Hill.
LINK LINK LINK
SkeletonKey08.3.10 - 11:43 pm
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I hope nobody considers this a threadjack, but how about a housing bubble ride? That damned thing got its tentacles (yes, bubbles have tentacles...shut up) into every corner of the economy, the built landscape *and* the popular culture...and probably into more of the alternative/underground/"indie" subcultures, including the Bike Kulture, than many would care to admit.
Maybe we should wait until it's done deflating, though?
PC08.4.10 - 3:17 am
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I'm interested in this skyscraper ride. Do I have to RSVP by e-mail or will the ride info be posted up here -->?
Hallucin808.4.10 - 3:54 am
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This is mostly a post for Foldie.
But all fans of old Bunker Hill may dig this.
Copy/paste the link below for some good information on John Fante's Los Angeles and the last foundation still standing of old Bunker Hill:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=401+S+Olive+St,+Los+Angeles,+California+90013&msa=0&msid=113320915353550983257.000482684ec5765a6546b&ll=34.053246,-118.251922&spn=0.008125,0.016372&t=h&z=16&iwloc=0004826add664a83894ae
Creative Thing08.16.10 - 9:57 pm
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so, im going out of town until the 8th, but i'm really excited about doing this ride and soon. i think we're going to do a series and the first three will be as follows:
DATES ARE TENTATIVE! IF YOU THINK THEY SUCK, TELL ME!
1. Bunker Hill (Sept 11th or 25th)
2. Century City (Sept 25th or Oct 9th)
3. Wilshire Blvd (Oct 9th or 23rd)
DATES ARE TENTATIVE! IF YOU THINK THEY SUCK, TELL ME!
Here's how it will go down:
I will post my speaker notes on Google Groups. If you want to contribute something, talk about something that I'm not talking about, PLEASE let me know!
I will be discussing the following subjects:
-Political forces
-Economic forces
-Federal policy
-What sort of business occupy which buildings, why and how they relate
-How corporations and large law firms control the world
-Public vs. Private $$$
-Public vs. Private space
-Zoning requirements, PLVI's, FAR's....(you'll know what this means by the time we're through.)
I could definitely use an architect (Mike Kwan?) and a person to talk about transportation and pedestrian issues. If not, I'll just have to do a little more research.
We'll start with a lecture, visit several buildings and public spaces and have a lecture a la RideARC. Afterwards, we will lead a nice little discussion over beers while enjoying the public spaces we just discussed.
also, check out this cool site
tortuga_veloce responding to a
comment by Hallucin8
08.21.10 - 9:01 pm
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HERE are some photos of today's Bunker Hill overlay-ed with yesterday's street grid.
SkeletonKey08.24.10 - 10:23 am
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SUPER! APPEALING!
Saturday sounds great!
^olsko*jr708.24.10 - 11:09 am
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Can the ride start off on September 25th? It make sure us, "Ballers on Budgets", are ready for this ride.
^olsko*jr708.24.10 - 11:11 am
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Hey Tortuga any more details on the ride for 9/25???????
Foldie09.22.10 - 9:59 am
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the ride is going to be postponed until October 2. i'm still working on my notes.
tortuga_veloce09.22.10 - 11:09 am
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What time does this ride start?
Can I talk a little about old Bunker Hill?
Creative Thing responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
09.26.10 - 9:28 pm
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Bump.....tv you got any details about start time and location... Doo eet
Foldie responding to a
comment by Creative Thing
09.30.10 - 12:00 am
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Start location is across the street from Grand Central Market where you can get sundries and supplies up until 6:00pm.
Foldie09.30.10 - 10:14 am
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I'm getting a lot of mixed signals here.
Is this still happening or not?
If it's still going on, what's the time and meet up place?
ericduville09.30.10 - 10:21 am
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From the updated ride posting over there ---------------->
a three part lecture series and discussion on public space, economics and freedom -
Meet at 6pm at Angels' Flight Railway station. 350 S. Hill Street (between
3rd and 4th) bring 25 cents!
The ride will consist of a discussion of the history of Bunker Hill, its current residents and their impact on society.
Please bring your thinking hats for the discussion afterwards.
Foldie responding to a
comment by ericduville
09.30.10 - 10:53 am
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I apologize, seems like I need to start taking drugs to think, read and type clearly from now on.
Thanks.
ericduville responding to a
comment by Foldie
09.30.10 - 11:19 am
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Sounds like fun, except for the thinking part...;)
alicestrong responding to a
comment by Foldie
09.30.10 - 11:36 am
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Thinking optional, drinking fun!
after all Bunker hill has a sordid history of drunks....
Foldie responding to a
comment by alicestrong
09.30.10 - 11:40 am
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A ride that tries to teach something besides drinking and running red lights.... Great!!!!
This tortuga_veloce read my mind on this but since he or she suggested it first, then he or she should do the ride, and post how it goes. I would be able to spend hours on Wilshire alone. I used to ride the bus every morning down Wilshire for years to go to work and I started to look up all the great buildings there on my own. Very interesting history everywhere you go. I have a nice load portable guitar amp that works great with a mike. This can start a bunch of great educational rides. Lately I been jaded by all this dumb rides, especially last Critical Mass. People should ride safe and efficiently. But they don't!
Try explaining the concept of drafting to a moron.
Anyhow, great job on this. Go on a few rides and let us know. I don't ride MIdnight Ridazz as much anymore. I like to ride with friends. Its harder to convince them to ride long and hard but MR don't have to be converted. Thats why I choose to spread the word on bikes on my own. Too busy!
Hippy Sippy09.30.10 - 11:50 am
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Somebody needs to give an impromtu reading from one of Fantes books...
alicestrong09.30.10 - 2:31 pm
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Los Angeles, give me some of you! Los Angeles come to me the way I came to you, my feet over your streets, you pretty town I loved you so much, you sad flower in the sand, you pretty town!"
Foldie responding to a
comment by alicestrong
09.30.10 - 2:46 pm
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Ride looks awesome. Twittered.
And thanks for this link: http://onbunkerhill.org/ Those pix of DTLA are amazing! If you stare at them long enough you can almost picture yourself being there . . . almost.
dudeonabike09.30.10 - 4:10 pm
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well, im glad to see so many people are so interested in coming. ive done a little research on the area and ive found some really fascinating insights. i dont want to give too much away, but im sure that everyone will learn something.
after the lecture, if anyone wants to stay late, i was hoping to have a discussion about how we as a community can/should address some of the challenges that we discussed.
tortuga_veloce09.30.10 - 6:31 pm
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You just haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad to do this when I'm sick and my primary bike is in a box somewhere between Brooklyn and here.
I may show up anyway. If I do, please don't make out with me.
PC responding to a
comment by tortuga_veloce
10.1.10 - 3:00 pm
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Great ride.
Thanks for the ride and info. I liked the route and it was a nice group of ridazz.......
Foldie10.2.10 - 9:28 pm
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Very enjoyable and informative ride.
We lost you on Bunker Hill when Alice flatted and I stopped to help her.
Creative Thing responding to a
comment by Foldie
10.2.10 - 11:55 pm
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hey, im sorry that we lost you guys. i'll be sure to exchange phone numbers at the top of the next ride.
thank you all for coming out. it was a lot of fun and i'm glad you all enjoyed yourselves. i'll be posting info on the next ride soon.
tortuga_veloce10.3.10 - 7:23 pm
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Props to PC for showing up sick and with his his primary bike somewhere between Brooklyn and here. Time to out him, he actually rode a bike with gears!
mk4524 responding to a
comment by PC
10.3.10 - 9:37 pm
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Ridazz Roulette!
