The Vermont

[LAofAnaheim]

Here's a nice new development proposed and expected to receive approval for Wilshire/Vermont...called "The Vermont".

la.curbed.com/archives/2011/04/jh_snyder_talks_north_hollywoods_valley_plaza_koreatowns_the_vermont.php

Here's the kicker........this development will require 900 parking spaces!!! That's right....900 spaces for 464 apartments and 41,000 square feet of retail!!! What's the point of even taking Metro rail or advocating for Metro rail when you have convenient parking located inside the development? This is the biggest problem LA has...it's overreliance and mandates on parking requirements. With such high parking minimums, the developer has to spend a significant amount of cash dedicated to the private automobile (they're taking a loan from the city for $17.5 million....wonder why), that we cannot get reasonable and affordable housing. This parking will probably be bundled with the price of the unit. So, if somebody doesn't own a car, they'll have to pay for asphalt they don't need.

If you want a good reason why not many people go Metro.........this would be it.

[jdrcrasher]

C'mon, LAofAnaheim, it's not like we have a (skewed) subway station underneath this intersection..........

[jeisenbe]

The city of Los Angeles generally requires 2 parking spaces for every unit, plus some more for any retail or office space, so this may be slightly below the usual minimum. But it is way too high to count as "transit-oriented"

[matthewb]

It looks like the people over at skyscraperpage have discovered Measure R speculation:
forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=142650&page=117
Many inaccurate comments, but I couldn't be bothered to register for that forum and correct them.

That forum has some interesting coverage of multi-storey development in the non-downtown metro LA area, much of which is rail adjacent, or will be when future lines are completed. It's an interesting view of how Metro is influencing the city.