Urban Architects Join Artists in Loft District

The East Alameda area, bordering on Little Tokyo, and in recent years inhabited mostly by artists, is becoming the trendy work environment for a variety of professionals seeking to avoid urban congestion and higher rents.

The most dramatic move there by a major firm in recent months is Archiplan Inc.’s relocation from its Westside headquarters to a refurbished former factory at 923 E. 3rd St., where the downtown skyline shifts from high-rises to massive brick-faced industrial and warehouse structures.

“We are concerned with the changing urban scene and always intent on understanding its dynamics and being a part of it. The move is a reflection of our intent to practice what we preach,” said Mark Hall, a partner of the firm, along with Richard W. Thompson and Elizabeth G. Thompson.

“We had previously worked on several client projects in this area and, early on, became convinced of its enormous potential as a location for our own firm,” Hall said . “It’s a great area, centrally located, close to the freeways and far less congested than other downtown locations.”

The architecture and urban design collaborative that includes James Bonar, principal in charge of projects and marketing director, six urban planners and 14 architects, is gathered in one spacious office with an upper-level balcony overlooking a central interior conference structure.

Lower Rents

“In our own space we have retained the industrial elements of the original structure that provide a feeling of openness, and we have exposed the brick walls, allowing the vent systems to provide a sculptural interest. We’ve also introduced high-tech modular office systems that function as separate units while interacting with the large open spaces,” Richard Thompson said.

The renovation of older industrial buildings is making larger work spaces available at considerably lower rents--under $1 a square foot, about half the cost in other areas.

Lois Gervais, her husband Scott Blanchard--artists in their mid-30s--and their cat Priscilla moved to the East Alameda warehouse district five months ago from their loft in San Pedro. Gervais is a photographer working out of her home studio, while Blanchard, a sculptor, works at several other locations.

“With 2,000 square feet in our space, we’ve had a chance to do some exciting things, setting up a separate living area with angled wall dividers to about half the height of the ceiling,” Gervais said.

“I especially like to live and work in the same environment because one definitely influences the other.”

‘Light and Shadows”

The rent for their loft space is comparable to what they paid in San Pedro, Gervais said, “but what I especially like about this area is the play of light and shadows of the industrial landscape and the camaraderie we have developed with other artists in the neighborhood.”

Richard H. Koshalek, director of MOCA and its Temporary Contemporary Museum of Art which has been in existence since November of 1983 in the adjacent Little Tokyo area, finds it exciting to be there.

“It is one of the few strong areas of pedestrian activity in the city, with people also living in the neighborhood who are interested in visiting public places,” he said.

Koshalek’s concerns and hope for the expanding area just east of Temporary Contemporary centers on extending the quality of life that has developed in the Little Tokyo community in the past few years, mostly through the support and encouragement of the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center.

“One of the important things we hope to see is more 24-hour activity generated by artists who are working and living in lofts in increasing numbers. We also find more professionals moving in, some of whom also live in the area,” Koshalek said.

‘A Nice Little Street’

Lili Lakich, founder and director of the Museum of Neon Art, established her group in that area in 1981, because “Traction Avenue was a nice little street, quiet and pleasant and there were other (since gone) galleries which provided a feeling of the arts to the neighborhood.

“We are always a little fearful of an eminent domain takeover and we are a little sad that many of our artists will have to move because they cannot afford the higher rents of the upgraded structures.”

Virginia Tanzmann, principal in the architectural firm of the Tanzmann Associates, moved to the area last August after 9 1/2 years in the landmark Bradbury Building on Broadway at 3rd Street.

“We like to think of ourselves as downtown architects,” she said. “Basically we are general practitioners but doing a lot of work in the public sector.”

Feels Safer There

Her firm is on the team of architects for expansion of the Los Angeles Convention Center, is doing work at UCLA and on 13 projects for the Department of Water and Power.

“Our new location on Traction Avenue is lower key than at the Bradbury Building. We park at the curb and it’s free and, quite frankly, I feel safer working late here because I am on the ground floor of a four-story building where there are artists in residence,” Tanzmann said.

“Another bonus is being right across from an elementary school where we can hear children playing. It’s nice. It makes me feel like we’re part of a real friendly neighborhood.” Maryknoll School was established at 213 S. Garvey Street in 1921. The adjoining parish of St. Xavier Church was founded in 1912.

Tanzmann expressed concern on behalf of artist friends about the gentrification of the area. While they welcome the influx of newcomers, the artists fear that they will be driven away by the higher rents.

Norm Solomon and his investment partner, Gary Osheroff, have lived in the area for several years. Solomon is an attorney/developer, Osheroff is an accountant.

‘Great Deal of Upgrading’

“Some of these buildings date back to the 1920s and are basically sturdy structures, having been built to withstand enormous weights. We’ve done a great deal of upgrading to current seismic codes and that has been a tedious process, but it’s been a challenge,” Solomon said.

“In our own way, through the adaptive reuse of these buildings, we feel we are part of the revitalization process in the downtown area.”

Osheroff said, “The area we’re in now was the original industrial sector of downtown Los Angeles that later became known as the East Alameda Warehouse District, with distribution centers for breweries and other industries. Artists have been living and working here since the mid-1960s.”

Industrial distribution facilities and warehouses relocated as new areas developed and industries needed to expand their warehouse facilities.

The offices of Stewart & Stephens Realty, of which Solomon is president, and the accounting firm of Gary S. Osheroff, as well as the spacious residential lofts of both partners, are housed on East 2nd Street in a building that was once a part of the Challenge Creamery. Its 16 units range from 1,000 to 5,000 square feet.

The partners also own the building across the street which houses the Archiplan offices, designed by the architectural firm, and adjoining artists’ lofts, some with marble fireplaces.