Another commercial (real estate) Christmas

You know how it is. You want to get that certain someone a special holiday gift, but you would prefer to find it on sale at a big markdown -- something like, say, 40% off.

If your loved one has always wanted an income-producing property, how about surprising him or her with a nice parking lot?

An enterprising real estate broker at CB Richard Ellis is promoting one of his listings as a “holiday special,” with the price reduced from $1.5 million to just $899,000.

For that you get 7,144 square feet of asphalt on Witmer Street, just a few blocks west of downtown Los Angeles near Good Samaritan Hospital.

It might be a lovely spot to build condominiums or apartments. Someday.

-- Roger Vincent