Frank Gehry's Grand Plans For Los Angeles

A few weeks ago when I was on Grand Avenue in Los Angeles with a friend attending an exhibit at the MOCA, we got to talking about Frank Gehry's plans for the blocks around Disney Hall. Gehry's designs for Grand Avenue are supposed to help this part of downtown Los Angeles complete its transition into the land of the luxe. The plan just got another boost. Related has announced that the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will manage the hotel that will occupy the first 20 floors of Gehry's 48-story tower. The upper floors will be luxury residences. The 275-room hotel is expected to open in 2010. Perhaps by then people will be more willing to stay downtown.