Old Fire Station Gets New Life : 1912 Building to Be Converted for Offices, Restaurant

Conversion and restoration of a 74-year-old fire station that was saved from demolition by conservationists in 1979, will be launched officially Monday at 11:15 a.m.

The structure that once housed Engine Company No. 28 has been designated a historical landmark. One of the first reinforced-concrete fire stations in the downtown central Los Angeles redevelopment area, it is located at 644 S. Figueroa St., adjacent to the proposed Metro Rail station at 7th and Figueroa streets.

Through the partnership of Peter Mullin, Linda Griego, Hugh Biele and David Bradley, the fire station is being converted into an office building and restaurant at a cost of $4.4 million.

Primary Tenant

Built in 1912 and vacant for 15 years, the renovated building is scheduled to open later this year. Peter Mullin’s firm, Management Compensation Group, specializing in executive compensation, planning and employee benefits, will be the primary tenant. The building also will house the Los Angeles Theatre Alliance.

The existing three-story-plus-basement structure contains 17,000 square feet. Construction includes addition of a fourth story and a new three-story structure above a parking area in the rear of the property, increasing the total space to 27,000 square feet.

The facade facing Figueroa originally was designed in the Renaissance Revival style and will be restored with no architectural or structural alteration.

Architectural elements include twin parapet towers with inset arches capped by flagpoles and windows framed by two-story arched bays with pilaster and entablature; the lower level of the structure is banded brick.

Altoon & Porter is the architect and Weston Constructors the general contractor. The architectural revision transforms the former firemen’s apparatus room into a ground floor restaurant and will retain original 16-foot high decorative ceiling, brick floors, Italian tile and other historical architectural elements.

A proposed Art Bar with complete banquet facilities is being considered for the basement area.

James M. Wood, president of the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency Board will officiate at Monday’s ceremony and Councilman Gilbert Lindsay and Donald Manning, chief of Los Angeles city Fire Department, will be among the guests.