Word out of last night's Culver City city council meeting is that the council unanimously picked developers Combined Properties and Hudson Pacific Properties to build on the city's Parcel B in downtown. Four developers had proposed projects for the site (see them all here), which is already entitled for a three-story, 115,000 square foot retail and office development with 84 underground parking spaces. Ehrlich Architects is in charge of design for Combined/Hudson's project. The Grand Stair is meant to take advantage of the site's views and was inspired by New York's High Line park, the Spanish Steps in Rome, and DC's Lincoln Memorial steps, according to the group's proposal. Their plan includes perimeter-circling retail and that stairway leading up to 15,000 square feet of open space on an elevated plaza. The plaza will have "free Wi-Fi, outdoor dining, water features, and landscaped areas where people will be able to congregate, relax, and take in the views of Culver Studios, the Culver Hotel and Downtown."

According to the proposal, the Washington Blvd. side of the project will complement the adjacent Trader Joe's--the developers hope to draw a gourmet marketplace, an arts/crafts/paper products store, and an exercise studio. On Culver Blvd., they imagine a "primary retail district" with apparel, shoes, accessories, coffee, a blowdry bar or nail salon, and a focus on "'unique' nationals, locals, and independent brands." On the Culver Studios side, they propose outdoor dining with "the feel of San Francisco's Belden Alley." They're hoping to draw a gelato shop, a bakery, a sandwich place, and a lounge.

· 4 Options For Culver City's Parcel B Retail Project [Curbed LA]