Skip to Content
Architecture

Blade Runner Obsessed Developer Plans Giant Moving Billboards ~ DTLA

nyt_blade02
nyt_concerto

According to developer Sonny Astanti's website, what downtown needs is a more futuristic look:

That is the world of “Blade Runner,” Ridley Scott’s 1982 film set in a futuristic dystopia. It is also an obsession of a real estate developer, Sonny Astani, who hopes to evoke those atmospherics by affixing rows of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, to the facades of his two newest condominium towers in downtown Los Angeles.

“That movie really hit a chord with me,” Mr. Astani, 55, said with a broad smile. “It was beautiful.”

On a recent afternoon in his Beverly Hills office, he held up digital renderings of the two buildings, the geisha’s face from “Blade Runner” superimposed on their facade

People are lining up to condemn the idea, citing light pollution, too m any advertisements as it is, driver distraction etc. Others, however, love the idea and think it would bring LA into the future where it belongs. The article quoted above is from July of last year, does anyone out there know the fate of the development and the signs?

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

Six New Taco Spots to Try In L.A.

From smoked brisket 'super' tacos to Thai pork leg tacos and even some 'chickpea carnitas' tacos for our vegan appetites, today we're sticking to tacos.

March 21, 2025

Catch L.A. TACO Reporter Lexis-Olivier Ray’s First Solo Art Show in Chinatown This Saturday

On Saturday, March 22 at 5 PM, after months of planning and curation, Ray will debut I Dream of Dreams, his first ever solo photo exhibition, at Gallery 8Eighteen in Chinatown.

March 20, 2025

English-Only? Even the Founding Fathers of the U.S. Said No

The only thing that would have been odd to the Founding Fathers, many of who were multilingual, was an English-only country.

Meet The L.A. Taqueros Competing In This Year’s TACO MADNESS!!

Choose your taco fighter! The original and world's most thrilling taco tournament is back. Voting opens on March 26th! And pre-sale tickets are now available for our live taco festival on May 3rd in DTLA.

March 19, 2025

‘Our Families Are Hungry:’ MacArthur Park Vendors Plea to Mayor Bass to Remove Fence

The vendors displayed a white tarp on 7th Street, carrying a message to the Mayor expressing their fears that if the situation down Alvarado Street isn't solved soon, many will be on the verge of living on the streets.

March 19, 2025
See all posts