With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
Morning Briefing: Echo Park’s Taix Could Soon Look Very Different
(Elina Shatkin/LAist)
()
Never miss a morning briefing. Subscribe today to get our A.M. newsletter delivered to your inbox.
Plans for the development of the space formerly occupied by Echo Park’s Taix restaurant have been revealed. The proposal features a six-story mixed-use space with 13,000 square feet for retail, 170 apartments and a 220-car basement garage.
It’s outsized, it’s grey, and as Elina Shatkin writes:
It's a massive change from the current French Revival-style structure which has been home to Taix since 1962. Visually, the bland, boxy development is so aggressively charmless, it's hard to believe it was designed by an architecture firm. It was.
Support for LAist comes from
Sure, all things change. Tastes, culture, real estate, neighborhoods. And Los Angeles needs all the residential units it can get. But do these developments have to be so uniformly ugly?
It’s been clear for a while that the L.A. in which we currently reside will look completely different in 20 years. To an extent, that’s to be expected; the unstoppable passage of time, the inevitable growth of cities, and so forth. But watching it happen one cookie-cutter building at a time from behind our window panes induces a very particular type of existential malaise.
Still, for those who won’t give up on Taix so easily, the good news is that a version of the restaurant will still be open on the ground floor of the new development… we might just have to close our eyes when we go in.
Keep reading for more on what’s happening in L.A. today, and stay safe out there.
Coming Up Today, May 20
Support for LAist comes from
Terminal Island in San Pedro has among the highest number of COVID-19 cases of any federal prison. Emily Elena Dugdale talks to some concerned relatives of inmates.
Coronavirus cases have been found at many meat processing plants across the country. Jacob Margolis asks how things are going at Farmer John in Vernon, one of the few in California.
Unemployment recipients who've exhausted their benefits should be eligible for a 13 week extension under new federal legislation. But they haven't gotten it yet, reports David Wagner. That’s leaving some people without income for months during this pandemic.
Libby Denkmann is following today’s presentation to the L.A. City Council about the mayor's proposed budget, which will likely suggest cuts to all manner of non-essential programs due to the COVID-19 crisis.
More than 1,000 psychologists have answered the call from their professional association to provide pro-bono services to frontline workers during the pandemic, reports Robert Garrova.
Never miss an LAist story. Sign up for our daily newsletters.
Support for LAist comes from
The Past 24 Hours In LA
L.A., California, The World: There are now 39,573 coronavirus cases and 1,913 deaths in L.A. County, plus at least 81,827 cases and 3,287 deaths in California. Worldwide, there are more than 4.8 million cases and over 322,000 deaths.
Reopening L.A.: L.A. County's rate of positive COVID-19 tests is still too high to move further into stage 2 of reopening, but officials say July 4 is a good target date. In the meantime, Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that all car washes, pet grooming and training businesses can reopen.
SoCal Schools: Bucking the trend of public universities staying online for the fall semester, Chapman, Pepperdine and Cal Lutheran say they will resume in-person classes. The LAUSD board held its first open meeting in more than two months. The biggest recipient by far of LAUSD emergency spending has largely flown under the radar: Apple.
Superintendent Under Investigation: The Covina Police Department confirmed that it is investigating allegations against their local superintendent for misconduct, involving three potential victims who are former and current students.
Food And Restaurants: It's the holy month of Ramadan and this year, everything is different, especially iftar — the meal Muslims use to break their daily fast. The new plans for Taix have us wondering: does this iteration even deserve the legendary restaurant’s name? City council will consider capping food app delivery fees at 15%.
Support for LAist comes from
Your Moment Of Zen
Someone took the time to bake this adorable little cake and leave it outside the TCL Chinese Theater over the weekend, when the L.A. institution celebrated its 93rd anniversary. *heart eyes emoji*
(AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
()
Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now.
Help Us Cover Your Community
- Got something you’ve always wanted to know about Southern California and the people who call it home? Is there an issue you want us to cover? Ask us anything.
- Have a tip about news on which we should dig deeper? Let us know.
The news cycle moves fast. Some stories don't pan out. Others get added. Consider this today's first draft, and check LAist.com for updates on these stories and more. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS
Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines.
Terms of Use and Privacy Policy
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
What do stairs have to do with California’s housing crisis? More than you might think, says this Culver City councilmember. -
Yes, it's controversial, but let me explain. -
Doctors say administrator directives allow immigration agents to interfere in medical decisions and compromise medical care. -
The Palisades Fire erupted on Jan. 7 and went on to kill 12 people and destroy more than 6,800 homes and buildings. -
People moving to Los Angeles are regularly baffled by the region’s refrigerator-less apartments. They’ll soon be a thing of the past. -
Experts say students shouldn't readily forgo federal aid. But a California-only program may be a good alternative in some cases.
Best of LAist