A corner on urban living

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.