May Co Garage Emerges With New Windows
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — It's a little hard to believe that the building on the corner of 9th and Hill is actually a parking garage. It just looks too nice...
The 1927 structure, built by the May Company to serve its massive store across the street, has looked a bit decrepit in recent years. Today it emerged from underneath scaffolding sporting a new set of windows and a shiny exterior.
The city issued a building permit for the garage on December 6, 1926, valuing the project at $500,000. Architects Curlett and Beelman designed the structure.
Scaffolding remains on the garage's ground floor, itself slated for a new look. The interior is also set for a renovation.
Ankur on April 17, 2009, at 03:06PM – #1
So whats going in now?
David on April 17, 2009, at 04:47PM – #2
I walked by it today and stopped in my tracks because it looks so good. It is amazing what a cleaning and some new glass will do.
Question - Are they really new windows or were the windows always there behind the wood and now it is just new glass?
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on April 17, 2009, at 04:57PM – #3
There were windows there, but they looked to be in very poor shape. My understanding is that these are new windows (in the original spaces).
Rich Alossi on April 18, 2009, at 12:59AM – #4
Great to see this restored and cleaned. Now that's a parking garage!
It's super-creepy inside though, especially on the upper levels.
Recommendation: Shekarchi Restaurant on the ground floor is a great affordable lunch.
Jeffrey B. Samudio on April 18, 2009, at 04:18PM – #5
Technically the window frames are the same, only broken and discolored glazing has been replaced fully utilizing every original window frame for this portion of the rehabilitation to repair and clean the structure's original and decorative terra cotta exterior.
Daveed Kapoor on April 20, 2009, at 04:14PM – #6
great to see this place cleaned up!!
S. Davis on April 23, 2009, at 10:47PM – #7
Unfortunately, they've painted over the May Co. Garage sign with some hideous maroonish color paint. They really could've kept that...