Comment
Rate
Downtown Living, the Celeb Edition
A Guilty Look at Who Might Be Setting Up House Next Door
by Kathryn Maese
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES - When it comes to celebrity news, I admit I'm as guilty as the next person. When I'm in the Ralphs checkout line, I'll pick up a tabloid or a glossy magazine and read about how Katie Holmes' fashion sense has gone downhill lately, or which Hollywood star has the sexiest beach bod.
Perhaps just as intriguing, at least in the world of local real estate, was the recent news that two big-name actors have snapped up lofts in the Arts District for upwards of $1 million.
First came a report in the Los Angeles Times' Hot Property column that Nicolas Cage has inked a deal to lease the glitzy, 3,500-square-foot penthouse at the Biscuit Company Lofts, with an option to buy the $4.9 million property. (It's the same three-story unit David Beckham and his posh wife Victoria were rumored to have considered last year.)
It's not Cage's first brush with Downtown. The National Treasure star once had the entire 12th floor of the historic Grand Central Apartments, formerly the lavish office suite of California water wizard William Mulholland (though Cage had other abodes, then and now).
Cage isn't the only celebrity to become enamored of the city's rapidly rising forest of sleek residential towers, repurposed warehouses and offices-turned-lofts. In the past year or so, a growing number of A, B and C-listers have turned to Downtown Los Angeles real estate, whether for investment purposes, an occasional getaway or as their primary residence. As a Downtown resident myself, naturally I'm interested in my new neighbors (admit it, you are too).
While many of the high-profile real estate deals tend to be hush hush, a few have come to public attention. Recently Kevin Spacey picked up a $1.2 million gem - also at the hot Biscuit Company Lofts - that he plans to use as an office for his Trigger Street Productions. Incidentally, Spacey got a "deal" on the 2,400-square-foot space, which was originally listed on the Multiple Listing Service for $1,335,000.
A number of other notables have taken a bite out of the Biscuit at 1850 Industrial St., including Seattle Mariners' outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who purchased a condo in March for $2.2 million, according to Berger Properties' Big Time Listings report. Actor and director Vincent Gallo (Buffalo 66), who is quite the real estate investor, picked up two of the units for $508,500 and $1,645,000. Building management says a big name football player lives onsite too.
Competing for the celebrity limelight is the stunning Eastern Columbia, an architectural star with its glam Art Deco style and turquoise faŤade. The 849 S. Broadway property has had several celeb sightings of late, though none more titillating than actor Johnny Depp. The Pirates of the Caribbean star bought at least one penthouse for $2.1 million in July, though a source tells the Resident Advisor that he's amassed quite a swath of space by combining multiple units (to make room for guests). Depp actually sleeps here on occasion, and was rumored to be interested in opening a wine bar in the basement, though little has been heard on that front.
Actor John Stamos, aka Uncle Jessie from "Full House," plopped down $900,000 for a 10th-floor condo at the Eastern in April, though it's unclear whether he resides on the premises. Speaking of a full house, Slade Smiley of TV's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" also picked up a unit in the building.
The Old Bank District has attracted its share of names, including Ryan Gosling of The Notebook and Half Nelson, who until recently lived in a loft on Main Street. Likewise, Dave Foley, an actor and comedian from the troupe Kids in the Hall and the show "NewsRadio," has an apartment in the San Fernando Building.
I've yet to hear confirmation on specific buyers, so I can only imagine who must have purchased a condo at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in the L.A. Live project, where the 216 luxury dwellings start at $1 million-plus and come with VIP access to Staples and Nokia events. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is said to have placed a deposit on one of the swanky abodes, set to open next year. I'm sure you can count a Laker or two in as well.
While it's fun, if frivolous, to speculate about who lives where and even how much they paid, the recent celebrity attention on Downtown real estate has only cast more light on the community and its revitalization. Sure it would be weird to see paparazzi hanging out in front of Pete's or scoping out the lobby of 1100 Wilshire, but it's Downtown. We've seen stranger things. The more buzz the better, right?
But let's put things in perspective. Though Johnny Depp, Nic Cage and Kevin Spacey certainly have A-list status, they don't hold a candle to Downtown's most recent celebrity residents - the goats of Angels Knoll (brought in by the city to eat the overgrown weeds). Yes, those cute, cantankerous, cud-chewing denizens had me majorly star struck. From atop their hilly expanse of real estate overlooking Hill Street, they drew more stares, squeals of delight and photo opps from locals than Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears ever could.
Of course, like so many of the big names, they quickly dropped out of sight, finishing their work in less time than expected and moving back to a farm in Chino.
So not all stars are the same.
Contact Kathryn Maese at kathryn@downtownnews.com.
page 5, 9/22/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
Perhaps just as intriguing, at least in the world of local real estate, was the recent news that two big-name actors have snapped up lofts in the Arts District for upwards of $1 million.
First came a report in the Los Angeles Times' Hot Property column that Nicolas Cage has inked a deal to lease the glitzy, 3,500-square-foot penthouse at the Biscuit Company Lofts, with an option to buy the $4.9 million property. (It's the same three-story unit David Beckham and his posh wife Victoria were rumored to have considered last year.)
It's not Cage's first brush with Downtown. The National Treasure star once had the entire 12th floor of the historic Grand Central Apartments, formerly the lavish office suite of California water wizard William Mulholland (though Cage had other abodes, then and now).
Cage isn't the only celebrity to become enamored of the city's rapidly rising forest of sleek residential towers, repurposed warehouses and offices-turned-lofts. In the past year or so, a growing number of A, B and C-listers have turned to Downtown Los Angeles real estate, whether for investment purposes, an occasional getaway or as their primary residence. As a Downtown resident myself, naturally I'm interested in my new neighbors (admit it, you are too).
While many of the high-profile real estate deals tend to be hush hush, a few have come to public attention. Recently Kevin Spacey picked up a $1.2 million gem - also at the hot Biscuit Company Lofts - that he plans to use as an office for his Trigger Street Productions. Incidentally, Spacey got a "deal" on the 2,400-square-foot space, which was originally listed on the Multiple Listing Service for $1,335,000.
A number of other notables have taken a bite out of the Biscuit at 1850 Industrial St., including Seattle Mariners' outfielder Ichiro Suzuki, who purchased a condo in March for $2.2 million, according to Berger Properties' Big Time Listings report. Actor and director Vincent Gallo (Buffalo 66), who is quite the real estate investor, picked up two of the units for $508,500 and $1,645,000. Building management says a big name football player lives onsite too.
Competing for the celebrity limelight is the stunning Eastern Columbia, an architectural star with its glam Art Deco style and turquoise faŤade. The 849 S. Broadway property has had several celeb sightings of late, though none more titillating than actor Johnny Depp. The Pirates of the Caribbean star bought at least one penthouse for $2.1 million in July, though a source tells the Resident Advisor that he's amassed quite a swath of space by combining multiple units (to make room for guests). Depp actually sleeps here on occasion, and was rumored to be interested in opening a wine bar in the basement, though little has been heard on that front.
Actor John Stamos, aka Uncle Jessie from "Full House," plopped down $900,000 for a 10th-floor condo at the Eastern in April, though it's unclear whether he resides on the premises. Speaking of a full house, Slade Smiley of TV's "The Real Housewives of Orange County" also picked up a unit in the building.
The Old Bank District has attracted its share of names, including Ryan Gosling of The Notebook and Half Nelson, who until recently lived in a loft on Main Street. Likewise, Dave Foley, an actor and comedian from the troupe Kids in the Hall and the show "NewsRadio," has an apartment in the San Fernando Building.
I've yet to hear confirmation on specific buyers, so I can only imagine who must have purchased a condo at the Ritz-Carlton Residences in the L.A. Live project, where the 216 luxury dwellings start at $1 million-plus and come with VIP access to Staples and Nokia events. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is said to have placed a deposit on one of the swanky abodes, set to open next year. I'm sure you can count a Laker or two in as well.
While it's fun, if frivolous, to speculate about who lives where and even how much they paid, the recent celebrity attention on Downtown real estate has only cast more light on the community and its revitalization. Sure it would be weird to see paparazzi hanging out in front of Pete's or scoping out the lobby of 1100 Wilshire, but it's Downtown. We've seen stranger things. The more buzz the better, right?
But let's put things in perspective. Though Johnny Depp, Nic Cage and Kevin Spacey certainly have A-list status, they don't hold a candle to Downtown's most recent celebrity residents - the goats of Angels Knoll (brought in by the city to eat the overgrown weeds). Yes, those cute, cantankerous, cud-chewing denizens had me majorly star struck. From atop their hilly expanse of real estate overlooking Hill Street, they drew more stares, squeals of delight and photo opps from locals than Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears ever could.
Of course, like so many of the big names, they quickly dropped out of sight, finishing their work in less time than expected and moving back to a farm in Chino.
So not all stars are the same.
Contact Kathryn Maese at kathryn@downtownnews.com.
page 5, 9/22/2008
© Los Angeles Downtown News. Reprinting items retrieved from the archives are for personal use only. They may not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission of the Los Angeles Downtown News. If you would like to re-distribute anything from the Los Angeles Downtown News Archives, please call our permissions department at (213) 481-1448.
 |
||
| Editorial |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of ladowntownnews.com.
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
Popular Searches
