Written by Kelly Weimert on Wednesday, July 31st, 2019 at 11:05am.
Angel City Brewery; Source: atlasobscura.com
The Los Angeles Arts District is located downtown and bounded by the Los Angeles River, Alameda Street, First Street, and Violet Street. The district is among the most creative hubs of LA, largely thanks to a group of artists in the 1970s who were priced out of Venice and Hollywood, establishing homes and studios in the forgotten warehouses of downtown, albeit mostly illegally.
These artists founded several art galleries, such as The Art Dock, a street gallery in a loading dock of then-called Citizens Warehouse (now the Pickle Works Building) and the Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions center on Industrial. There were also a number of artist-fueled hangouts established during that time, including Al’s Bar in the American Hotel, which is attributed to creating the punk-rock music scene in the mid-‘70s, with the likes of Sonic Youth, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Beck developing their sound there. The bar went strong for decades before finally closing in 2001.
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Source: tripsavvy.com via kaytedeioma.com
By 1981, the City of Los Angeles realized the burgeoning and illegal artist community was only getting stronger, so it passed the Artist in Residence (AIR) ordinance, which legally permitted residents to create homes in the formerly commercially-zoned industrial warehouses. With the law on its side, the creative community grew even bigger, with new art galleries, cafes, and performance venues sprouting up all over the district.
Fast forward to today, and you’ll still find a highly creative community, although gentrification has led to rising housing costs and the loss of many affordable live/work lofts and the artists who reside in them. Despite losing its original, gritty and affordable vibe, the district still remains a cultural hub, with many creative industries, like green technology, entertainment, and architecture, establishing businesses in it.
Pickle Works Building; Source: laconservancy.org
Speaking of architecture, the district is home to many historic buildings. And while they’re not necessarily known for their beauty—most of them are industrial warehouses—they played significant roles in the city’s history. For instance, the aforementioned Pickle Works Building is among the last surviving Victorian-era warehouses in LA, dating back to 1888, and was a largely free and illegal residence for many artists. Among the prominent artists it housed was Carlton Davis, who created the above-mentioned Art Dock in his studio space.
Challenge Dairy Building; Source: challengedairy.com
Another historically significant piece of architecture is the Challenge Dairy Building, which was designed by the Charles F. Plummer firm in 1926 and purchased by developer Norm Solomon in 1982 after the establishment of the AIR ordinance. Solomon converted the building into lofts for artists, with expansive units ranging from 1,600 to 5,000 square feet.
Angel City Brewery; Source: atlasobscura.com
The Angel City Brewery also has strong architectural roots. Built in 1913 for an expanding steel manufacturing company, the building included tiles that illustrated the uses for the company’s products, like ships, bridges, and cable spools. The tiles were created by one of the most famous tile artists of the Craftsman period, Ernest Batchelder, and most of them are still intact despite the building’s 2010 conversion to a brewery. Today, Angel City Brewery makes artisan brew in the building in addition to hosting a community gathering space and dedicating many of its walls to rotating displays of local artists' work.
Undiscovered America; Source: cartwheelart.com
Source: The Patch.com
In addition to historically significant architecture, there are equally significant murals on said architecture, such as artist Dustin Shuler’s 1982 installation, Pinned Butterfly, on the wall of the American Hotel and Earth Crew’s (a collection of ‘90s artists) mural, Undiscovered America on East Fourth Street. Another prominent artist who used the Arts District’s streets as a canvas is Shepard Fairey, who created a number of murals throughout the area in addition to Barack Obama’s iconic 2008 campaign poster. The district is so dense with beautiful murals that there are$20 walking tours available to learn more about the historic street art.
Interested in calling this historic, creative hub home? Check out all lofts for sale in the Los Angeles Arts District below.
Large Live/work Loft In The Heart Of The Arts District. Spectacular City Light Views From Extra Large Windows. High Ceilings. South-facing Windows Provide Lots Of Natural Light From Sunrise To Sunset. Modern Kitchen With Stainless Steel Applia...
Church & State, Little Bear Restaurant & Bar, Pour Haus, Joe's Grocery Store, Urban Radish and more are located steps away. Close and Easy Access to 10, 5, 60 and 110 Freeways.
Unit #416 Is A Dramatic Custom Renovated Loft Featuring 11 Foot Ceilings, Large Living Area And Kitchen With Two Separate Fully Enclosed Bedrooms And A Den/office. Each Room Is Uniquely Designed Sliding Doors For Privacy And Custom Built Closets ...
The subject property is ideally located within walking distance to Urban Radish market, Church & State, Little Bear, Silverlake Wine, Everson Royce, and a host of other entertainment and dining ve...
Architecturally Stunning And Rich With Textures, Is This Two-level Town-home Style Live/work Loft, Located In The Sought-after Arts District Of Downtown La. You Are Greeted With High Ceilings, Concrete Floors, Exposed Wood Beams And Posts, Window...
Striking industrial staircase escalates you to the upper level, with two open style bedrooms, a full bath, vaulted ceilings, your very own balcony, and it is light-filled from multiple windows
Every Now And Then The Perfect Loft Comes Along With The Ultimate Downtown Lifestyle In The Ever Growing And Changing Arts District. The Best Views Of Dtla Are Enjoyed By This North Facing Unit Towards The City Lights And Create The Perfect Enviro...
The Toy Factory Lofts are an excellent building with great management and central location to major nearby developments such as: Sixth Street Viaduct, SOHO Warehouse, Row DTLA, Violet Street Projec...
Located In The Heart Of The Art's District, This Building Captures La City Living At Its Finest. Originally A Sugar Beet Factory And Updated By Architect John Packinson (grand Central Market, City Hall) In The 1920s, This Residence Was Brought To...
This stunning architectural loft showcases its beautiful lines, soaring ceilings and abundant light against original details of exposed brick and industrial beams
** New Reduction ** Become Awestruck At First Glance Of This Astounding Warehouse Conversion In The Historic Biscuit Company Lofts. This Beautifully Revamped Home Features 13-foot High Ceilings, Original Hardwood Maple Floors, And Original Factory...
This building is a part of the Mills Act approval granting homeowners a reduction of up to 70 percent off their property taxes. Building amenities include a lap pool, BBQ, fire pit, dog walk, multi...
Exquisite And Unique, This Corner Unit Is A Single Level, Light-filled, Live/work Industrial Loft, Available Now At The Barker Block Warehouse Building. Floor To Ceiling Wall Of Windows Framing The Serene Courtyard View, Looking Out From An Inter...
Exquisite and unique, this corner unit is a single level, light-filled, live/work industrial loft, available now at the Barker Block warehouse building
Amazing West-facing Penthouse Unit With Unobstructed Downtown Views In Highly Sought-after Barker Block. Ideal And Versatile Layout For This 1300sft Unit With Soaring 17' Ceilings And Beautiful Exposed Trusses, Beams And Cement Walls, Preserved Fr...
Amazing West-facing Penthouse unit with unobstructed Downtown views in highly sought-after Barker Block. Ideal and versatile layout for this 1300sft unit with soaring 17' ceilings and beautiful exp...
Welcome To Metropolis Living At The Barker Block. True Industrial Live/work Loft, West Facing With Downtown La Skyline Views. High Ceilings, Exposed Pipes, And Concrete Floors Throughout. Stunning Sunsets Framed By Floor To Ceiling, Wall Of Doub...
Welcome to metropolis living at the Barker Block. True Industrial live/work loft, west facing with downtown LA skyline views
West Facing With Views Of The Dtla Skyline, Is This Swanky Industrial Loft, Now Available At The Barker Block, Located At The Highly Sought After Arts District Neighborhood. Floor To Ceiling, Wall Of Double Pane Windows, Framing The Gorgeous View...
West facing with views of the DTLA skyline, is this swanky industrial loft, now available at the Barker Block, located at the highly sought after Arts District neighborhood
Unique 2-level Loft In Barker Block The Premier Live/work Loft Residence In Dtla's Arts District. Step Into A High-tech Industrial Aesthetic Contrasted With Century Old Wood Rafters Which Tower 19' Over Hardwood Floors. A Wall Of West-facing Wind...
UNIQUE 2-LEVEL LOFT in Barker Block the premier live/work loft residence in DTLA's Arts District. Step into a high-tech industrial aesthetic contrasted with century old wood rafters which tower 19...
Absolutely 1-of-a-kind, Chic & Bright Two-story, 2 Bed + 2 Bath Townhouse In The Arts District's Premier Property, The Biscuit Company Lofts. Over $100k Invested In Thoughtful Upgrades, Unit 107 Is The Only Loft In The Building W/42 Feet Of Telesc...
Easily the most unique & modular creative office space in the Arts District, this is the first time it has been offered for sale since being purchased from the developer over 10 years ago! This is ...
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