Can you imagine a 30-story high-rise residential tower sticking up out of the low-lying landscape of La Cienega Boulevard and Jefferson Boulevard (in the former KABC/KLOS radio site)? Well, that's what we're in for. 

According to a recent LA Observed article, the "megadevelopment" and sky-scraper and have been approved by the LA city council and are slated to begin construction in 2018.

The story observes that, since the lot is La Cienega/Jefferson Expo Station adjacent, it "makes civic sense" and that "new stores and restaurants would be welcome by many in the neighborhood," but also points out:

What makes this different from the ordinary politics of growth, density and traffic is that this is creating a permanent new high-rise center in a part of the city that never was one before.  

The article also quotes the Los Angeles Times, saying,

In a lawsuit filed last month, the Crenshaw Subway Coalition and Friends of the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative say city officials violated state and local laws when it approved the project. The City Council amended zoning and height restrictions to permit the high-rise.

I don't mean to make this blog all about protesting/mourning new developing, but this project -- and the five-story budiling planned for the corner of Sawtelle and ... -- just seem to be out of balance with the rest of the landscape. Both buildings will be a real sore thumbs.