LA Now Volumes 3 and 4, Chapters 2C-2D

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal
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77
Chavez Ravine proposals
Chavez Pass
78
Chavez Pass
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Chavez Pass
Volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal
Chavez Pass
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sections
urban context
conceptual planning
housing
parks
stadium
problem
Downtown Los Angeles, a major pulse of the city, houses the art com-
munity, the cultural corridor, the convention center, the financial center,
the business district, the civic powerhouse, and the manufacturing dis-
trict. Even with such an intense urban fabric, the city lacks the housing
thread that binds a city together. The heavily charged city at day turns into
a desolated ghost town for the homeless and crime. The lack of housing
units in downtown is driving people out into the outskirt of the city to live.
When the entire workforce of a city tries to discharge itself through its
limited infrastructure within a relatively small window of time, it is inevi-
table that traffic congestion would take place. The existing capacity of road
infrastructures is not large enough to handle the extreme volume of cars
without delays.
It is quite evident that within a few years, Los Angeles will have to increase
housing levels to match the projected population growth. Our proposal for
the placement of new housing complexes in Chavez Ravine and the re-
location of Dodger Stadium to downtown Los Angeles will not only solve
the housing crunch but will also help ease traffic congestion; two major
problems that have been placed on the side for too long.
The research proposes new urban housing, Chavez Pass, to both rejuve-
nate downtown Los Angeles and alleviate traffic conditions on the free-
ways.
process 81
Chavez Pass
Continuous change is the only thing constant in contemporary urban cul-
ture. However, current urban planning involves the prescriptive method
of predictability and determinable control, implying the control of space

and time. With ongoing changes and multiple futures, this method seems
inept.
This research takes an alternative look at urban planning. The process

includes the investigation of modes of adaptation and the mediation of
organizational structure that give rise to emergent forms. The emergent
flows provide for a predominance of fluid space over static location. Fur-
thermore, these flows provide the networked urban links and interdepen-
dencies and imply the capability of change over time.
The idea of temporal urbanization networks multiple linkages generating

overlapping. Through the overlapping, it forges new collaborative group-
ings and zones of interrelated modes of adaptation.
proposal
Major components of the proposal include 10,000 units of housing for
35,000 people, a comprehensive school, a retail/commercial center, the
activation of Elysian Park, and the extension of Figueroa Street.
The most influential flows of the site include the Spanish grid of down-
town, the greens of Elysian Park, the topography of the site and the free-
way system. The first emergent flow of line generated was the extension
of Figueroa Street from downtown through the site, linking to the Freeway.
The Figueroa connection provides the urban link and interdependency for
site. The infrastructure grid then fuses with Elysian Park and the Spanish
grid.
On the infrastructure grid are the housing components. The two hous-
ing typologies include a curvilinear ribbon typology [fifteen stories] and a
linear bar typology [one-four stories]. The ribbon typology emerging from
Elysian Park take dominates the north end and slowly dissipates moving
south. The ribbon typology also bridges residential blocks to serve as a
connection mechanism. The bar typology is derived from the Spanish grid
system. While it dominates the downtown edge, it slowly dissolves into
the landscape. The bar typology also projects into the park to serve as a
connection between the residential community and the park. This strata
system of two housing typologies creates overlapping of zones that reveal
pockets of open space.
The park is a gift to the city, as it reactivates Elysian Park by providing an

additional of 3,700,000 square feet of active park. The park is threaded
with zones of activity passage, gathering, focus, tranquility, and learning
and interlaced with zones of game/leisure.
urban context
Chavez Pass concept
Los Angeles Downtown
Figueroa Express
Chavez Pass
82
2004 Los Angeles
3,912,200 people
11.5 persons / acre proposal:

new Dodger Stadium
2002 3,798,981 people
2000 3,694,820 people
1990 3,485,398 people
1980 2,966,850 people
1970 2,816,061 people
1960 2,479,015 people
1950 1,970,358 people
1940 1,504,277 people
1930 1,238,048 people
1920 576,700 people
1900 102,500 people
1850 1,610 people
1800 315 people
population 10,000 case studies Culver City West Hollywood

public housing for
(top 5 North America)
downtwon L.A.
population 38,816 35,716
Los Angeles – Long Beach – Santa Ana
11,789,487 people >> 7,068.3 persons/sq. mi.
land area 3200 acres 1210 acres
population density 12.13 persons/acre 29.51 persons/acre
Toronto park 13 (88 acres) 4(16.97 acres)
366,508 people >> 6,835.2 persons/sq. mi. area/person 98.75 sq. ft./person 20.69 sq. ft./person
San Francisco – Oakland total amenities 212 (100%) 248 (100%)
stores 61 (28.8%) 114 (45.9%)
San Jose eateries 50 (23.6%) 75 (30.3%)
main supermarkets 3 5
New York – Newark
case study city case study
urban context
city case study
Chavez Pass residential Elysian Park

35,000 people
10,000 families
133 persons/acre
proposal:
junction to
5 Freeway
proposal:
Figueroa Bridge
Chavez Pass
83

proposal:
Chinatown Bridge
proposal:
tunnel
Chinatown Echo Park Park La brea Chavez Pass

and Solano Canyon
25,006 30,577 7,722 35,000
215.8 acres 233.9 acres 160 acres48.26 263 acres
115.9 persons/acre 130.7 persons/acre persons/acre 133 persons/acre
1 1 (31 acres) 1 (28.26 acres) New Elysian (705
- 51 sq. ft./person 159.4 sq. ft./person acres)
877 sq. ft./person
255 (100%) 235 (100%) 137 (100%)
160 (26,200 sq.ft)
232 (91%) 131(56%) 130 (94.9%)
29 (18%)
71 (27%) 95 (42%) 48 (35%)
71 (35%)
1 1 2
3
neighbor community residential project site
urban context
figure-ground map
Chavez Pass
84
0 100ft 500ft 1000f
0 1/3mile 1/2mile 1 mile

urban context
zoning connections diagram
Figueroa Street:
the connective spline
Elysian Park
Chavez
Pass
Chavez Pass
F i g u e ro a
Terrace 85

Chinatown
Civic
Cultural Center
Corridor
Arts
District
Financial
Core Jewelry
housing area District
Chavez Ravine
Figueroa Terrace
Solano Canyon Toy
District
Alpine Hill entertainment Flower
district District
active area
Elysian park South Park
West Village Fashion

District Warehouse
East Village District
Chinatown
Civic Center
Cultural Corridor
Financial Core
Sport City
These two maps of downtown give a brief overview

of the larger context of the given problem. The map
on the left is a figure-ground view which shows how
the project transitions from the hills of Elysian Park
into the Chavez Pass development, then continues
to downtown Los Angeles via the proposed Figueroa
Bridge connection. Finally, the scope of the design
terminates at the new Dodger Stadium location in the
Entertainment District, which is within the residential
area of South Park. The map above illustrates the dif-
ferent parts of downtown and adjacent areas of Elysian
Park that the Chavez Pass project has to incorporate
and ultimately connect.
urban context
grid dynamics
5F
ree
wa
y
Sc
ott
W.
Sun
set
City Grids Extension Bend

Chavez Pass
Sola
86 Elysian Park Broadway
no
st
ad
iu
m
wa
y
g
rin
Sp
10 N.
1
Hill
Fr
ee
in
wa
Ma
y W. C
Elysian Park o llege
Alp
new grid ine
Ord
pedestrian grid
Ces
ar C
city grid hav
ez
Figueroa Express Alameda
g
rin
Sp
tunnel Te
m
bridge ple
y 1s
a t
freeway e ew
0 Fr
freeway exit 11
4th
5th
6th
9th
ay
10 Freew Ol
ym
pic
Pi
ow a
co
o
er
e r
gu
Gr pe
Fi
Fl
d
Ho
an
17
dw l l
th
oa Hi
Ma y
a
in
Br
To create the framework for the new

development at Elysian Park, the site
pulls in the existing urban fabric from
adjacent districts. To the east, the site
incorporates Solano Canyon and China-
town, not only by using the existing grid
but also constructing new connections
over the 101 Freeway. To the south, the
most important connection is made with
Figueroa Street, connecting the site di-
rectly to downtown through Alpine Hill.
To the west, connection is made to the
everyday amenities of Echo Park.
conceptual planning
programming and open space
12-15 Stories school 800,000 sq. ft. parking:

activity center 9000 sq. ft. 4,750,000 sq. ft. = 19,000 stalls
business center - 3 residential parking
jogging path 2.1 mile commercial parking
sport grounds park parking
ribbon housing amenities surface parking
5 Stories Residential housing parking:

4 Stories west: 9,000 sq. ft. 4,750,000 sq. ft. = 19,000 stalls
east: 225,000 sq. ft.
3 Stories amenities parking:
2 Stories 450,000 sq. ft. = 1,800 stalls
general public retail
and commercial Center: double bay
3,000 sq. ft. for 3+ stories buildings
park amenities:
25,000 sq. ft. single bay
for 1-2 stories buildings
Chavez Pass
87

bar housing commercial underground parking
active park open space type 1: open space type 2:

3,700,00 sq. ft. open spaces private garden hardscape
open spacetype 3: open space type 4: open space type 5:

public garden landscape area parks and sports fields
The diagrams above show the complexity of the site’s zones and uses. The goal of this
project was not only to create a self-sustaining community, but also to offer the great-
er population the amenity of Elysian Park by making Chavez Pass a destination and
helping to rejuvenate the downtown area by giving residents quick access to nature
and active parks. In addition to the active parks, the site planning also introduces a
series of retail and commercial nodes within Chavez Pass. This is once again to provide
amenities to the residents and daily commuters of Chavez Pass, but also to residents
of nearby downtown Los Angeles with a secondary amenity structure. The diagram
also depicts the use of infrastructure to develop a secondary framework (the first be-
ing the existing city grids) for the design of the project. The first in this series are larger
residential blocks that also house retail and follow the topography to traverse the site.
The second system are medium sized residential buildings the branch out from the
larger buildings helping to create smaller neighborhoods.
housing
housing sections
step1: maximum housing step1: Figueroa Express divides step 3: housing density switches
with city grid the site into three parts from urban to natural
Chavez Pass
88
park
5400 ft
4500 ft
3600 ft
2700 ft
1800 ft
900 ft
0 ft
urban
downtown L.A.
housing
housing process
step 4: topology step 5: hillside high-rise housing step 6: combination
Chavez Pass
89

ribbon housing central park ribbon housing
bar housing school bar housing
Figueroa Bridge Chinatown Complex
West Village Central Park East Village
Chavez Pass residential

park
new Elysian park
active Zone
active zone
active zone
Chavez Pass
90
central park
activezone
active zone
activity center
active zone
school
Cornfield Art Project

park+landscape
active zone: open space for activity
softscape: landscape
hardscape: playgrounds, yards, courses and parking
buildings: schools & activity center
new Elysian Park current Elysian Park

new Elysian
active zone 214.3 acres
area 705 acres area 705 acres
active zone 214.3 acres active zone 73.2 acres
families 10,000 =2.9 jogging path 0
people 35,000 bike trail 0
area/person 877 sq. ft./person families 288
bike trail 2.7 miles
jogging way 2.2 miles current Elysian
active zone 73.2 acres
parking 1,800
park
Chavez Pass central park
pedestrian promenade
yards pedestrian pathways
parks pedestrian pathways
bike path
jogging path
pedestrian bridges
vehicular access and parking

Local entrance
Freeway connections
Chavez Pass
Vehicular paths
Public parking
Vehicular bridges
91

current Elysian Park
softscape
active zone
public park parking
stadium
Cornfield Art Project
central park zoning

zone of game/leisure: play, compete, and entertain
zone of passage: course movement
zone of gathering: meeting, crossing and intersection
zone of focus: gathering
zone of tranquility: serenity, peace, and silence
zone of learning: educational centers

stadium
new Dodger Stadium
110 Freeway
F Dash route F collects passengers from

Chavez Pass, Exposition, and USC.
F 1 The grey represents large existing
surface lots within walking distance
C Dash route C collects passengers of the stadium or Dash lines to the
from adjacent surface lots. area.
D Dash route D collects passengers from 2 The new public park becomes inte-
Union Station, which serves Pasadena grated with the ballpark, retail, and
(Gold Line), San Fernando Valley
(Red Line), and MetroLink lines running residential buildings to serve the
from Simi Valley to Orange County. immediate downtown area.
3 Downtown Dodger Stadium Transit

Hub would combine the Blue Line’s
1 C Pico Station with multiple bus
routes at street level.
1
Chavez Pass
2 4 Long Beach passengersarrive on

1
the Blue Line & South Bay/Ingle-
6 wood residents via the Green Line.
92 8
2
7 5 Grand Avenue Station
1 1
1
2 1 6 existing Grand Hope Park
9 3
1
D downtown Dodger Stadium:
capacity 35,000
Staples Center
capacity: 20,000/18,500
9 Los Angeles Convention Center

4
720,000 sq. ft. of exhibition space
5
10 Freeway
0 100ft 500ft 1000f
0 1/3mile 1/2mile 1 mile
The placement of the stadium in the South Park area of downtown was chosen for sev-
eral reasons: Accessibility by multiple modes of transit, adjacency to similar functions
for shared use, and placement with minor disruption to existing infrastructure.
As the diagram shows above, the stadium can now be accessed from a greater dis-
tance through multiple modes of transportation. The Metro Rail system will now bring
people from Long Beach and the South Bay via the Blue and Green lines as well as
from Montclair and Pasadena via the Gold Line. Additionally, the MetroLink system,
which serves from Simi Valley and Ventura County to Orange County, can be utilized
though Union Station connections.
On a more local scale, the location of the new stadium takes advantage of the down-
town Dash shuttle system, connecting the stadium to nearby surface lots, Union Sta-
tion for long–distance connections, and the new Chavez Pass development at Elysian
Park.
110 Freeway Stadium
new stadium programming
10 Freeway
Transit Park
Offices
Eat/Drink
Retail
Offices
Retail Parking
Eat/Drink
P
Living Eat/Drink
Park Retail
Park
Eat/Drink Living
Living Parking
P
Living Offices
Eat/Drink
Chavez Pass
93

D
3
2
7
6 8
C
110 Freeway
F
As the ballpark investigates the Entertainment

District of downtown Los Angeles, the stadium is
also able to share uses with the adjacent Staples
Center and Convention Center by providing park-
ing structures and a transit hub which organizes
the transit routes to and from the new district.
The end location of the ballpark was refined by
the proximity of different downtown infrastruc-
ture such as gas stations, DASH routes, traffic
patterns, and the rail line. Institutional buildings
in South Park, such as the Methodist Church or
the Museum of Neon Art, were also considered
when making the decision.
leave the game. You don’t have to fight traffic to get home. This isn’t just your home team. It’s your home town. Welcome to a redefined Los Angeles. Welcome
The lights come up on the outfield as the sun sets behind the silhouette of Los Angeles. The crowd cheers for the home team. Friends and neighbors sur-
round you. You take your kids here. This is the place where they grew up. You can look down to the fields past the outfield and remember their soccer games
on Saturday mornings. You’re a moment’s commute via light rail to the place where you work. You can walk to buy groceries. You don’t have to wait in line to
94
Stadium City
to Stadium City.
As Los Angeles continues to evolve, ready spectacular views from the of Los Angeles’ density in the last ering the entire site with a mat, or
the need to provide adequate hous- site and alleviate difficult access to hundred years and its historically blanket, of housing. This blanket
ing is even more essential. With an the site, this proposal regrades the additive nature. This trajectory responds to the topography of the
opportunity to explore new hous- terraced parking lots closer to the of increasing population density site by thinning and thickening,
ing solutions for Chavez Ravine, site’s original (pre-1960s) topogra- throughout Los Angeles points to a thus producing different densities
this proposal looks to the site’s phy. Because the site is already a more radical solution to low-lying of housing. The types of housing
controversial past. Previous re- regional destination with an iconic urbanity—one found in successful are generated by open space, which
search suggested that the most sense of place, Stadium City capi- city centers from around the globe varies based on the slope and den-
appropriate solution to the desert- talizes on this strong identity by of- at the same latitude (thirty four de- sity of the site. These open spaces,
ed hilltop would be a mixed-use fering a rejuvenating urbanity that grees north and south) and climatic along with other program such as
community that is self-sufficient could define a new community. zone—cities with a similar iconic schools and commercial and re-
but with strong connections to its This housing proposal takes center and density. tail spaces, took the form of voids,
surroundings. To augment the al- into consideration the evolution This proposal begins by cov- which cut into the housing mat.
Stadium City

95
Stadium City
This approach is not only his- one another, creating a pedestrian tion autonomously but are also in- rounding communities with infra-
torically radical in its subtractive network that can function indepen- extricably linked. That is, a housing structure and schools. The mixed
versus additive nature, but formally dently of roads and traffic. system with its own infrastructure use of the stadium outfield and its
radical as well, in that the result is Adding tens-of-thousands of and services (retail and public) and overlap with school fields creates
a reversal of the traditional figure/ additional people to a difficult site a stadium with its own amenities an entity that will serve as the city
ground. By building out to the edg- requires series of accessiblity so- and a road and rail network. The center. The combination of Los An-
es and bringing the open space into lutions that would ease traffic in housing community would benefit geles’ urban density with the sta-
the center of the city block in the and out of the site, satisfy parking from the site’s views and proxim- dium in a community that is linked
form of courtyards, this proposal needs, and stitch the previously ity to Elysian Park and downtown by pedestrian green spaces gets us
captures under utilized open space disenfranchised site back to its without being burdened by stadium what we call Stadium City.
from the periphery of a block and surrounding communities. The traffic and game-goers.
makes it usable once again. The proposal is to create two separate These two systems are linked
resulting courtyards are linked to but concurrent systems that func- to each other as well as to sur-
Stadium City
96
Stadium City
MAT
VOIDS
CASE STUDIES

97
Stadium City
PROGRAM
HOUSING
AMENITIES
MOVEMENT
After bringing back topography similar to that of pre-stadium Chavez Ravine, this
proposal begins by testing how much of the site would be covered if it housed 30,000
MAT
people. This housing blanket over the site (targeting an urban, 33-unit-per-acre
density) is gridded to half the size of downtown’s grid, and aligned with Figueroa
Street and Dodger Stadium. Large programmatic elements—the stadium, retail
promenade, and schools—carve tabulated voids into this gridded mat and are later
incorporated in the form of the figure/ground. A study of connections and an “opti-
mal” neighborhood walking distance leads to the distribution of neighborhoods.
CHAVEZ RAVINE SITE WORK THROUGHOUT TIME
1928 SURVEY CUT 1969 SURVEY CUT PROPOSED

FILL FILL (2006)
THICKENED MAT APPROPRIATED GRID 93 BLOCKS ON SITE HOUSING MAT

CL
98
Stadium City
1
2
5
10 3
6
11 4
16 7
12
17 8
23 13
18 9
24 14
32 19
25 15
33 20
41 26
34 21
42 27
50 35 22
43 28
51 36
59 44 29
52 37
60 45 30
68 53 38
61 46 31
69 54 39
77 62 47
70 55 40
78 63 48
71 56
79 64 49
85 72 57
80 65
86 73 58
81 66
87 74
92 82 67
88 75
83
89 76
84
90
91
93
CL 100 UNITS
600 SQ. FT. OPEN SPACE / IN-
FOOTPRINT FRASTRUCTURE
DOWNTOWN GRID 50% 400’
+ =
300’
120,000
SQ. FT.
50%
60,000 SQ. FT. 60,000 SQ. FT.
68 ACRES 166 ACRES

VILLAGE GREEN 629 UNITS
PARK LA BREA 4,200 UNITS
9.25 UNITS / ACRE 25 UNITS / ACRE
PHOTOS BY N. CHIAPPA
HOUSING MAT SMALL VOIDS MEDIUM VOIDS
HOUSING MAT 25 x 20 FT. VOIDS 50 x 50 FT. VOIDS

(312.5 ACRES) (50 FT. O.C.) (125 FT. O.C.)
MAJOR VOIDS SITE ACCESS FORMATION OF

NEIGHBORHOODS
99
Stadium City
DODGER STADIUM (15 ACRES): PRIMARY ACCESS
SECONDARY ACCESS
HIGH SCHOOL (15 ACRES): 1/8 MILE RADIUS
1/4 MILE RADIUS
MIDDLE SCHOOL (9 ACRES):
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (3 ACRES):
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (3 ACRES):
258 ACRES 77 ACRES

STADIUM CITY 8,500 UNITS
NORMANDIE / VERMONT / THIRD ST. / FIFTH ST. 4,100 UNITS
(LOS ANGELES’S DENSEST CENSUS TRACT)
33 UNITS / ACRE 53 UNITS / ACRE
LARGE VOIDS SLOPES HOUSING DENSITY
VOIDS
95 x 100 FT. VOIDS 0 - 8.5 DEGREES 2 STORIES

(225 FT. O.C.)
8.5 -14 DEGREES 3 STORIES
14 - 25 DEGREES 4 STORIES
Stadium City
100
The complex shape of the fig- voids were determined by in-

ure/ ground is a result of a sys- tended program—small voids
tematic subtractive approach. serving private functions and
Green spaces are formed by larger voids for public use and
three systems of voids over- circulation. The medium-sized
laid on the mat and subtracted voids serve the denser areas
based on various factors. The where the mat was thickened (in
sizes and distribution of the the newly excavated valleys); the
COMBINED TEMPLATE EXTRACTED FIGURES FIGURE / GROUND

Stadium City
101
HIGH DENSITY—MODERATE SLOPE LARGE VOIDS—MEDIUM VOIDS
HIGH SLOPE —LOW DENSITY SMALL VOIDS—MEDIUM VOIDS
LIGHT DENSITY—HIGH SLOPE SMALL VOIDS
smaller voids are arrayed on with direct access to the park.

the sloped surfaces to accom- Idiosyncrasies formed in the
modate terrace housing and system, as arterial streets cut
larger homes. As the housing through the site to connect to
approaches Elysian Park the existing traffic flows and as
solid form begins to fray, in- hillside streets disappear or
creasing the surface area and curve to accommodate the ex-
therefore the number of homes cessive slope.
LOS ANGELES, USA SANTIAGO, CHILE CÓRDOBA, SPAIN ISFAHAN, IRAN
STADIUM CITY PLAZA DE ARMAS LA MEZQUITA MAIDAN-I-SHAN
CASE STUDIES
FIGURE / GROUND
HOUSING
RESIDENTIAL COMUNES ALTERNATE BUILDING TYPE HOUSING MAT

RETAIL
Stadium City
102
SHOPPING PASAJES PLAZA CRACKS SOUK
MOVEMENT
CARTESIAN GRID ALLEYS HAUSSMANNIAN CUTS

ANCHOR
MONUMENTAL VOID FOUND OBJECT MONUMENTAL VOID
34° N
Other cities of similar latitude and climate, pedestrian-oriented planning—the ultimate goal ements in planning Stadium City: housing,
suggest powerful precedents for a particular of Stadium City. For this study we chose Santiago retail, vehicular/pedestrian access, green
type of housing that aggregates within cities (Chile), Córdoba (Spain), and Isfahan (Iran) and spaces, and iconographic objects/monu-
as over time. With similar weather patterns attempted to seek what makes these cities suc- mental voids. The study shows how each
and geographical environments, these cities cessful and apply that logic to Stadium City. of these elements is incorporated into our
serve as important examples of outdoor and These precedent studies emphasize key el- city in a same-scale comparison.
34° S
LEGEND: CHAPARRAL CLIMATIC ZONE TEN-DEGREE LATITUDINAL BAND
Stadium City
103
1900s 1920s 1960s 1990s STADIUM CITY
The notion of a housing mat that is then Los Angeles. A suburban/urban trend tive “courtyard housing” model, which
cut, or carved out, by programmatic of an increasing built-to-lot-size ratio allows construction to go to the perim-
voids is not a new one. Rather it follows has pushed the remaining minimal eter, and in turn brings open spaces
the examples of European and Middle open space to the perimeter, making into the interior of the lot.
Eastern city models represented here. its use less practical. This proposal
They are a fitting models for a city like suggests a move toward a more effec-
PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACE REGIONAL PROGRAMING
• Elysian Park: 551 acres • Includes private outdoor
(127 acres active open retail promenade, stadium,
PROGRAM
space) parking garages, and light-

• 14.5 acre city park rail station
• 2.9 acre promenade • See later pages for more
• 65 commercial plazas information
NEIGHBORHOOD SQUARES LOCAL PROGRAMING

• 160 pedestrian oriented • Includes private local
public squares (approx. retail properties and public
10,000 sq. ft. each) school facilities
• 13 acres of public school • See later pages for more
open space information
SHARED COURTYARDS APARTMENTS

• 140 semi-private • Three and four stories
courtyards (approx. 2,500 • 2,100 units (800 sq. ft., 1
sq. ft. each) bedroom)
• 2,300 units (1,000 sq. ft.,
2 bedrooms)
• 1,900 units (1,200 sq. ft.,

3 bedrooms)
Stadium City
104
PRIVATE GARDENS CONDOMINIUM (TYPE A)

•1,557 private gardens • Two stories
(500 sq. ft. each) • 440 units (1,200 sq. ft.,
2 bedrooms)
• 440 units (1,800 sq. ft.,
3 bedrooms)
• 320 units (2,000 sq. ft.,
4 bedrooms)
PRIVATE TERRACES CONDOMINIUM (TYPE B)

• 521 private terraces • Two stories
(approx. 750 sq. ft. each) • 360 units (1,200 sq. ft.,
2 bedrooms)
• 360 units (1,800 sq. ft.,
3 bedrooms)
• 280 units (2,000 sq. ft.,
4 bedrooms)
TOTAL GREEN SPACE TOTAL PROGRAM

ENTERTAINMENT/RECREATION
COMMUNITY SPACE
COURTYARD HOUSING
• 6,300 total rental units
• 74% of total proposed
units

Stadium City
105
GARDEN HOUSING
• 1,200 units for sale
• 500 sq. ft. private, en-
closed garden each unit
TERRACE HOUSING
• 1,000 units for sale
• 750 sq. ft. private
terrace
• City or park views
The subtractive quality of desired rail station. Neighborhood squares

URBAN COMPLEXITY green spaces leaves a built foot- tie together the four neighboring
print of approximately 50% of the schools and communities. This
site. The voids created become creates a completely pedestrian
the programmatic drivers and dic- network devoid of vehicular traffic.
tate what type of program is as- Looking back at the housing den-
sociated with them. Green spaces sity diagram, one can see how the
are broken down into five types densest apartment housing falls
(public spaces/parks, neighbor- within the areas of shared court-
hood squares, shared courtyards, yards, which congregate along
private terraces, and private gar- main local roads and flat areas. Fi-
dens). The matrix above shows the nally, private gardens and terraces
associated program and housing are the result of the smallest voids
that are paired up with each type perforating the mat or the space
of green space and the resultant remaining between voids that are
product of these. sitting on top of the mat—creat-
Public spaces include the ing terrace housing in the steepest
stadium outfield and fields as- sloped areas.
sociated with schools. The public
shopping promenade will link the
stadium with parking and the light
HOUSING
TERRACE HOUSING
Private terraces take advantage of the
highest sloped areas. These are created
where the voids can’t cut into the mat due to ’
slope and dense housing areas.
Stadium City
106
COURTYARD HOUSING
These semi-private courtyards are shared
by a group of apartments and typically occur
in the densest housing areas. These are
near local retail streets and are located on
the flattest areas of our site.
Stadium City
107
GARDEN HOUSING
These private gardens are based on the
smallest voids cutting the housing mat. They
take place throughout the site, particularly
on the edges toward Elysian Park and away
from the main pedestrian circulation.
AMENITIES
NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

• 900 seats for the newly established north
neighborhood
• Approximately 70,000 sq. ft.
ES
ES
NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL

• 1,300 seats for Stadium City and sur-
rounding neighborhoods
MONTECITO DEL
LIO POLITTI REC.
CENTER
NEW HIGH SCHOOL POLICE ACADEMY

• 1,400 seats for Stadium City and sur-
rounding neighborhoods
ELYSIAN PARK REC
CENTER
ES
ES
CITY PARK / ATHLETIC FIELDS
• Full size soccer pitch, 8-lane running BARLOW SANA-
track, football field, and amphitheater TORIUM
• 14.5 acres
HS
CHAVEZ RAVINE ES
ARBORETUM
NEW DODGER STADIUM MS

• Reduced seating capacity (56,000 to
45,000) via removed bleacher seating and
improved amenities
• Outfield bleachers replaced with sloping
amphitheater / picnic area
Stadium City
ES
NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
• 900 seats for the newly established south DECOMMISIONED US
108neighborhood NAVAL RESERVE RS THE CORNFIELDS

LEGEND
ES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RESIDENTIAL (LOW DENSITY) ES
ES
RESIDENTIAL (MEDIUM DENSITY)
MS MIDDLE SCHOOL HS
COMMERCIAL ALPINE REC.
CENTER
HS HIGH SCHOOL INDUSTRIAL RS
EVANS ADULT
LA COUNTY JAIL
SCHOOL
PUBLIC
RS RELIGIOUS SCHOOL
OPEN SPACE CHINATOWN
BRANCH LIBRARY
RECREATIONAL
HILLSIDE LAUSD HEADQUARTERS MAIN POST OFFICE
SPORTS / ENTERTAINMENT WATER

LA ?
DWP DOROTHY
CHANDLER
? CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS PAVILION
? CITY, COUNTY,
STATE, & FEDERAL
LIBRARIES OFFICES
UNION STATION
DISNEY CON-
CERT HALL
? FEDERAL COURTS
METROPOLITAN
CHURCHES COLBURN SCHOOL
WATER
OF PERFORMING
ARTS
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS ? MOCA
LA CITY HALL
PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS
YMCA
LA CITY LA CENTRAL
COLLEGE LIBRARY
GOLDEN GATE
UNIVERSITY
A new community of this size re- light rail stations, and buses, but
quires infrastructure and ameni- it is an integral part of the LA ur-
ties to make it function. The zoning ban fabric. Dodger Stadium and
diagram places Stadium City within the retail promenade serve as
its context and shows how much- destination points within the city,
needed amenities are proposed but Stadium City as a community
for the site and aid its surrounding is stitched tightly with its neigh-
neighborhoods. Stadium City is not boring communities, attempting
only connected to the larger L.A. in- to blur the lines between neigh-
frastructure by way of a new bridge, borhoods.
LA CONVENTION
CENTER
NEW GLENDALE STATION GLENDALE
STATION
• Connects to Gateway Station and
downtown
MOVEMENT
NEW NORTH PARKING GARAGE
• Overflow parking for sporting events and
retail promenade
• Park n’ Ride facility for downtown com-
muters
NEW PURPLE LIGHT RAIL LINE

• Connects new Glendale Station and
Elysian Park to downtown
NEW PURPLE DASH ROUTE

• Connects Silver Lake to Union Station via
Gateway Station
NEW METRO BUS ROUTES

• Connects to existing Sunset Boulevard
and 110 Freeway routes TO PASADENA
STADIUM
CITY
NEW GATEWAY STATION
• Connects to new Glendale Station and
downtown via light rail

• Connects to Silver Lake and Union Station
via Dash GATEWAY
STATION
Stadium City
NEW SOUTH PARKING GARAGE
• Connects to new Glendale Station and
Downtown via light rail 109
• Connects to Silver Lake and Union Station
via Dash
EXISTING DASH ROUTE
EXISTING METRO GOLD LINE
CHINATOWN
STATION
EXISTING METRO BUS ROUTES

CHINATOWN
EXISTING DASH ROUTE
UNION
EXISTING DASH ROUTE STATION
CIVIC
CENTER
TO NORTH
HOLLYWOOD
EXISTING METRO RED LINE

7TH ST PERSHING
EXISTING DASH ROUTE STATION SQUARE
This proposal provides two large park-

EXISTING METRO BLUE LINE
ing facilities (accommodating 7,500
HISTORIC cars each), on the periphery and near
DOWNTOWN our site, which would keep stadium-re-
lated vehicular traffic completely off-
site. These patrons would then arrive
at the stadium by foot or light rail. The
proposed Purple Line would link the
Blue Line in downtown and a proposed
PICO/LA
Gateway Station.
CONVENTION
CENTER
TO USC
• Reduced seats (56,000 to 45,000)
• Improved amenities associated with new promenade
• Over three million yearly visitors
AMENITIES
STADIUM • Estimated $118m yearly revenue
AMPHITHEATER
Removed outfield bleachers open
the stadium to the new city park be-
yond and the newly mounded earth
creates a sloped picnic area to watch
games.
Stadium City
GATEWAY
110 The new light rail station and grand
staircase serve as the new site gate-
way. All non-local visitors coming
from the parking garages and light
rail must pass through this point to
enter the retail promenade and sta-
dium.
• 1.25 million sq. ft. retail space

RETAIL PROMENADE • 125 stores
PROMONTORY • Estimated 15+ million visitors
The two arms of the promontory fea- • Estimated $45 million yearly lease income
ture spectacular downtown views.
Bars, cafes, and restaurants line
the walk to offset the heavy pre- and
post-game traffic and promote on-
site nightlife. COST
LAND AND STADIUM
Frank McCourt’s purchase of Dodgers franchise and property 430 million
Purchase of new land 4 million
Improvements to Dodger Stadium 35 million
INFRASTRUCTURE
Above ground parking structures (15,000 spaces total) 338 million
22 lane miles of new road construction ($600,000/lane miles) 14 million
Figueroa Street Bridge 40 million
Earth moving ($2.42/cu. yd. x 2 million cubic yards) 5 million
SHOPPING
1.25 million sq. ft. regional shopping center (construction cost) 415 million
PUBLIC AMENITIES
Schools (construction cost: 1 high school, 1 middle school, 2 elementary schools) 158 million
HOUSING
Condominiums (construction cost: 2,200 units @ $200/SF) 665 million
Apartments (construction cost: 6,300 units @ $180/SF) 1,126 million
TOTAL EXPENDITURES 3,193 million
1,400-seat high school •
1,300-seat middle school •
Two 900-seat elementary schools • SCHOOLS
DESTINATION AMENITIES
The highest-capacity stadium in
Major League Baseball, Dodger
Stadium should be brought up to
speed with the type of stadium
model that has been profitable
in the last decade—a smaller
capacity stadium, with plenty of
amenities for before and after
games. This activity-centric sta-
dium aids in dispersing the large
numbers of people that attend
a game throughout a longer pe-
riod of time, therefore alleviating
parking and traffic congestion.
The stadium is renovated to ac-
commodate 46,000 people (about
10,000 less than it does now). It is
enhanced with skyboxes and oth-
er key amenities. Linking it to the
parking structure is a shopping
promenade filled with restau-
rants and cafes. The promenade
culminates with the new Gateway
Station and will link the parking
with the stadium.

LOCAL AMENITIES
Schools are strategically placed to
Stadium City
take full advantage of open space
behind the stadium. This space
becomes a community amenity
where activities and gatherings
can happen. The schools are also
located so that they are within an 111
optimal walking distance of five to
ten minutes from most surround-
ing areas and are accessible from
the pedestrian network. Local
retail includes approximately 200
stores (restaurants, pharmacies,
bars, supermarkets, bookstores,
dry cleaners, entertainment
stores). This total was gathered
from studying similarly sized
communities and their percent-
age breakdown of types of stores
(based on an estimated seven
stores per 1,000 people).
1.4 million sq. ft. retail space •

200 stores • LOCAL RETAIL
REVENUE
INFRASTRUCTURE
Corporate parking revenue ($2/car x 3,000 cars/weekday) 2 million
SHOPPING
Yearly net operating income:
(1.06 million leasable sq. ft. x $50/sq. ft. per year) x .85 operating expenses 45 million
HOUSING
Condominium sales 1,520 million
Apartment rentals 106 million
TOTAL REVENUE 5 years 2,285 million
10 years 3,050 million
15 years 3,815 million
* estimated costs and revenues based on similar studies at the time of the project (2004)
BACKGROUND PHOTO BY N. CHIAPPA

MOVEMENT
VEHICULAR CIRCULATION
NEW FREEWAY ACCESS

This new high-speed ramp to the 110
Freeway sits on the hillside above So-
lano Canyon and connects the site’s
arterial roads to the larger downtown
network.
FIGUEROA BRIDGE
This new bridge extends Figueroa
Street directly on to the site, enhancing
the connection between the site and
downtown.
Stadium City
112
ELYSIAN PARK ACCESS

The pedestrian circulation grid con-
nects to Elysian Park and its recre-
ational amenities at various points.
AMENITIES ACCESS
The pedestrian circulation grid con-
nects to the various site amenities—
stadium, promenade, park, schools,
and retail—at many points, promoting
pedestrian interaction.
SEPARATE SYSTEMS
The pedestrian and vehicular circula-
tion systems have been separated as
much as possible to enhance the walk-
ing experience throughout the site.
CHINATOWN ACCESS
The pedestrian circulation system con-
nects to an existing bridge over the 110
Freeway to Yale Street and Chinatown.
PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION
LOCAL PARKING PROGRAMMATIC STACKING
HOUSING
PARKING
RETAIL
PARKING
NORTH / SOUTH SECTION

MIDDLE SCHOOL
SOLANO CANYON
PUBLIC TRANSIT ACCESS
NORTH GARAGE
This massive ten-story, 7,500-car park-
ing garage serves as overflow parking
for the stadium and retail promenade
and with easy access to both the 5 and
2 Freeways, as a Park n’ Ride facility for
downtown commuters.
GARAGE LINK
This new light rail connects the North
Garage (via the new Glendale Station) to
the South Garage and the new Gateway
Station.
SOUTH GARAGE
This massive ten-story, 7,500-car garage
serves as primary parking for the sta-
dium and promenade. It (like the North
Garage) tucks into a natural indentation
of the hillside.
GATEWAY STATION
This new light-rail station serves as the
primary entry point to the site and as a
circulation nexus for public transit, ve-
hicular, and pedestrian traffic.
DOWNTOWN LINK
This new light-rail line connects to
downtown, terminating at the Seventh
Street Station.

SEPARATE SYSTEMS
Stadium City
Vehicular circulation and pedestrian
circulation are purposely kept sepa-
rate to alleviate the complexity of a
community engaging a main enter-
tainment destination. After study-
ing scenarios of numbers of people 113
on the site at different times of the
day, it was necessary to create a sys-
tem that would keep game-goers on
foot and non-residential traffic off-
site. This is achieved by new access
points and parking garages, as well
as by an efficient light-rail connec-
tor. A closer study of the vehicular
hierarchy of and around our site
and an estimated pedestrian use/
density of our site further supports
the potential success of separating
both of these systems.
VEHICULAR HIERARCHY
FREEWAYS
ARTERIAL
COLLECTOR
LOCAL
PEDESTRIAN DENSITY
HEAVY
MEDIUM
LIGHT
MOVEMENT HIERARCHY
ACCESS SEPARATION UTILIZATION OF SLOPE
PROMENADE
FIGUEROA TUNNEL TERRACE HOUSING
AMPHITHEATER STADIUM SHOPPING PROMENADE STATION FIGUEROA BRIDGE

LA Now Volumes 3 and 4, Chapters 2C-2D

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LA Now Volumes 3 and 4, Chapters 2C-2D

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volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

This research takes an alternative look at urban planning. The process

The idea of temporal urbanization networks multiple linkages generating

The park is a gift to the city, as it reactivates Elysian Park by providing an

Los Angeles Downtown

2004 Los Angeles

11.5 persons / acre proposal:

population 10,000 case studies Culver City West Hollywood

Chavez Pass residential Elysian Park

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

Chinatown Echo Park Park La brea Chavez Pass

0 100ft 500ft 1000f

0 1/3mile 1/2mile 1 mile

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

West Village Fashion

These two maps of downtown give a brief overview

City Grids Extension Bend

To create the framework for the new

12-15 Stories school 800,000 sq. ft. parking:

ribbon housing amenities surface parking

5 Stories Residential housing parking:

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

active park open space type 1: open space type 2:

open spacetype 3: open space type 4: open space type 5:

step 4: topology step 5: hillside high-rise housing step 6: combination

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

bar housing school bar housing

Figueroa Bridge Chinatown Complex

West Village Central Park East Village

Chavez Pass residential

Cornfield Art Project

new Elysian Park current Elysian Park

vehicular access and parking

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

public park parking

Cornfield Art Project

central park zoning

zone of passage: course movement

zone of gathering: meeting, crossing and intersection

zone of focus: gathering

zone of tranquility: serenity, peace, and silence

zone of learning: educational centers

F Dash route F collects passengers from

3 Downtown Dodger Stadium Transit

2 4 Long Beach passengersarrive on

9 Los Angeles Convention Center

0 100ft 500ft 1000f

0 1/3mile 1/2mile 1 mile

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

As the ballpark investigates the Entertainment

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

CHAVEZ RAVINE SITE WORK THROUGHOUT TIME

1928 SURVEY CUT 1969 SURVEY CUT PROPOSED

THICKENED MAT APPROPRIATED GRID 93 BLOCKS ON SITE HOUSING MAT

DOWNTOWN GRID 50% 400’

68 ACRES 166 ACRES

9.25 UNITS / ACRE 25 UNITS / ACRE

HOUSING MAT 25 x 20 FT. VOIDS 50 x 50 FT. VOIDS

MAJOR VOIDS SITE ACCESS FORMATION OF

volume 4 : Chavez Ravine proposal

258 ACRES 77 ACRES