Eastern Columbia Building
The Eastern Columbia Building is the finest example of the Zigzag Moderne architectural style in downtown Los Angeles. Designed by prominent Los Angeles architect Claud Beelman as the flagship store and headquarters of the Eastern Columbia Outfitting Company, this striking building has enjoyed a prominent place in the Los Angeles skyline since 1930. A contributing building to the National Register-listed Broadway Theater and Commercial Historic District and a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, the Eastern Columbia building was underutilized and had fallen into disrepair by the late 20th century.
Historic Resources Group prepared a financial incentives package, including a Mills Act application, to help finance adaptive reuse of the building into condominium lofts. HRG served as design consultant and construction monitor during implementation of the project to ensure that all design decisions were compatible with the historic building and consistent with historic preservation requirements.
Sale of the condominium units opened in the autumn of 2006 to great success. The building’s rehabilitation established a new residential community in Downtown Los Angeles, contributing to its revitalization.
Above: Photo courtesy of Glamamor.com.
Side: Photo courtesy of Downtownlofts.la.
