AN 'EIFFEL' IDEA FOR DOWNTOWN? REPORT: PUBLIC DEMANDS ICONIC ARCHITECTURE.

Byline: Troy Anderson Staff Writer

If the $1.2 billion transformation of downtown's Grand Avenue goes forward, the public wants to see a ``real urban district'' with an icon like the Eiffel Tower or the Barcelona Fish to attract visitors, a report released Tuesday says.

``People want to have really bold and iconic architecture, even to the point of creating a visual identity for the district - either through a tower or some other thing - so you really signal that you are in the Grand Avenue district,'' said Bill Witte, president of The Related Companies of California, the firm developing the project.

``The recurring themes were heard consistently were to be bold, be urban, be dense. And that is striking because oftentimes, certainly in neighborhood settings, you hear the opposite.

``But this is a stand-alone area. It's not in the heart of a residential district. People seem to be saying, If you are going to do this and be successful, you have to create a real urban district.''

At community meetings held throughout Los Angeles in the past two months, people have suggested that it include an icon like the Eiffel Tower or the Barcelona Fish, an ice rink and a jogging path, according to the new report.

Some people suggested that developers enlarge a proposed park between City Hall and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power headquarters by relocating the earthquake-damaged county Hall of Administration and Stanley Mosk Courthouse buildings.

Chief Administrative Officer David Janssen said the county has been in litigation since the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, attempting to collect $100 million from various insurance companies to repair or replace the badly damaged County Hall.

Replacing the seat of county government by building on a county-owned lot in Chinatown or another downtown parcel co-owned by the state and county would cost about $200 million, Janssen said. It would cost less to repair the Temple Street structure, but officials declined to release an estimate range, citing the pending litigation.

``Part of the Grand Avenue plan is to build or create a mall - a public space between the DWP building and City Hall,'' Janssen said. ``The original thinking was to do it with the existing (county hall) on the hill.

``For whatever reason, if we moved (the county hall) off the hill it would make for a very dramatic park and a statement downtown, if that is what resulted.''

Preliminary proposals call for the creation of a 16-acre park in the Civic Center, surrounded by 2,500 housing units - 1,500 of them rental units, with the remaining to be sold as condominiums. It also would include some 350,000 square feet of commercial and retail development.

Some members of the Grand Avenue Authority have expressed concern about where they would obtain the $300 million needed to develop the park, underground parking structures and street improvements, saying they don't want taxpayers to get stuck with the tab.

At the community meetings, people suggested that the overall vision of the project includes such as making it ``green,'' a world-class destination, pedestrian-friendly and to create a 24-hour environment.

People said they wanted the park to have places to sit, relax and hang out; large trees; public art; and a beautiful garden. They also suggested that it include a sculpture garden, skate park, places for pets and chess tables.

Some of the ideas for special events at the park included New Year's Eve and July 4 celebrations, Mardi Gras festivities, concerts, outdoor theater, jazz festivals, art exhibits, political protests and sports championship celebrations.

People said they wanted the four parcels slated for development to be ``trendy and stylish'' and include active street fronts, affordable parking options, views of City Hall and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, cultural venues and boutiques that feature local fashion designers.

Troy Anderson, [phone]

troy.anderson(at)dailynews.com