The rebirth of downtown LA's old historic buildings

[pwright1]

The Adaptive Reuse Ordinance has become one of the most significant incentives related to historic preservation in Los Angeles, facilitating the conversion of dozens of historic and under-utilized structures into new housing units. The Ordinance was originally approved in 1999 for downtown Los Angeles and was extended into other neighborhoods of the city in 2003. It provides for an expedited approval process and ensures that older and historic buildings are not subjected to the same zoning and code requirements that apply to new construction. The result has been the creation of several thousand new housing units, with thousands more in the development pipeline, demonstrating that historic preservation can serve as a powerful engine for economic revitalization and the creation of new housing supply. Here are some beautiful examples of the Ordinance working in DTLA. Many of these buildings shown sat abandoned for decades.
United Artist Theater and Ace Hotel






The Tower Theater under meticulous renovations to become a Flagship Apple store. Next door, apartments above, Vans flagship store on ground level which opens next month. To the right of Vans, the once abandoned Rialto Theater was renovated into an Urban Outfitters store.


Commercial and Exchange Bldg left abandoned for decades is now the Freehand Hotel with rooftop bar and pool. In fact this entire block was left for dead for so long.












This was one of the worst eyesores in DTLA. The former Bank Of Italy Giannini Place bldg sat empty and abandoned for nearly 2 decades. This eyesore sat in the heart of DTLA at 7th and Olive Streets. Now it is the beautiful NoMad Hotel and is probably my favorite restored downtown building.


















and more beauties






The Guarantee and Trust Company Bldg opened in 1930 as an office bldg.
Today it's lofts.


More of DTLA's historic buildings.





























































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