Gehl Architect’s Amazing Bird’s Eye View of Parking on the Figeuroa Corridor

Image by ##http://gehlarchitects.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/gehl-architects-in-los-angeles/##Gehl Architects##
Image by ##http://gehlarchitects.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/gehl-architects-in-los-angeles/##Gehl Architects##

Making Cities for People, the official blog of Copenhagen super-architects Gehl Architects, gives us another look at the Figueroa Corridor as it is and as it could be in South Los Angeles. The above image shows how our city’s lifeblood is literally being drained away by the collective demand for car parking. Even Gehl’s team, which has worked on street projects around the world, seems taken aback by the over-abundance of car parking offered in Los Angeles.

Honestly, I don’t think that I need to even say anything about the image above. It speaks for itself and shows many of the problems facing the corridor that connects USC to the Downtown.

The image that accompanied Tuesday’s piece on the Figueroa corridor isn’t the only option for the street. Gehl’s team offers two more at Making Cities for People. One shows a vastly expanded pedestrian plaza and another shows a smaller pedestrian area and a separated bike lane. That these projects are earning the support of the CRA and local business community is a step forward for Los Angeles. Of course, actually building it is a much bigger one.

The images can be found at Making Cities for People and are available after the jump.

An expanded pedestrian plaza...
An expanded pedestrian plaza...
L.A.'s first separated bike lane.
L.A.'s first separated bike lane.

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