THE BUILDING

Loft living with touches of glam at the Broadway Hollywood

The lofts in this 1927 tower started out largely the same, but each owner's personality made them way different places.
By Audrey Davidow, Special to The Times
September 27, 2008
IT'S HARDLY the vision of classic loft living. No funky freight elevators, no heroic climbs. No industrial neighbors and no industrial-strength rodents. The Broadway Hollywood, a 1927 department store tower revamped into 96 loft-style condominiums, has taken the concept and given it some L.A. sparkle.

Call it loft-living lite: fitness center, valet, even cabanas for lounging by the rooftop pool. The black-and-white checkerboard floor in the lobby seems primed for Fred and Ginger. The views are cinematic too -- the Capital Records building, the Hollywood sign and, oh, yes, that 15-story W Hotel and condominium complex being built next door (a bit of the new Hollywood).

 
For most residents, the location -- on the landmark corner of Hollywood and Vine -- is a big part of the appeal. You can stumble home from Geisha House without having to call a cab, and the packed sushi joint Katsuya is downstairs. The prospect of daily toro binges can pose a hazard to the waistline.

"You know you're in trouble when all of the waiters know you by name," says voice-over actor Jonathan Cooke, who lives in the building.

Trouble can come in less appetizing forms. In July, some Broadway owners filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court accusing the nearby nightclub S Bar of operating in an "unreasonably and unacceptably disruptive manner."

But others who want loft-lite living seem willing to endure the nuisances and pay handsomely. One of the two-story, 2,000-square-foot penthouses was recently listed at nearly $1.8 million. Actors Danny Masterson and Charlize Theron own units in the building. The Broadway also has become home to Hollywood hopefuls, young residents banking on this building to play a role in the comeback of the neighborhood. It's an interesting mix of people. Here's a peek into a few of their sets.

You'll also find more than a dozen additional photos at latimes.com/home.







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