Downtown's Thinnest Building? Today, 125 W. 7th is Just an Annex
Los Angeles Examiner / USC Digital Archives
[digarc.usc.edu]
The Los Angeles Examiner called the 1929 structure at 115 W. 7th "Downtown's Needle," illustrating that idea by adding needles and thread to a photo of the structure.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Passersby on 7th street likely don't give a second look to this funny-looking little annex on 7th street, a small piece of the Board of Trades building, now SB Main. Just twenty-five feet wide, the little structure was originally a building all its own.
The five-story 115 W. 7th was a Class A office building at its opening in June of 1929. Designed by architect Harold Johnson and built on a lot only twenty-feet by fifty feet, it featured a floor area of 6,250 square feet.
In April of 1930, the entire building was leased by Earle K. Fleming.
The building was subsumed by the Board of Trade structure in 1961, when Bank of America bought both of them to expand its headquarters at 650 S. Spring. Combined, the three structures gave the bank 500,000 square feet.
The remodel that accompanied the bank's purchase left 125 W. 7th's street face windowless, giving it a distinctly annex'y look. Today the Bank of America complex is owned by developer Barry Shy, and 125 W. 7th is part of his SB Main residential building.
Dave Bullock (@eecue) on May 08, 2009, at 12:42PM – #1
I wonder if the original facade is hiding under there somewhere.
Jennifer M Cunningham on May 08, 2009, at 12:45PM – #2
I love that story of The Los Angeles Examiner called "Downtown's Needle,". The photos of then and now are great. Thanks for the scoop.
David on May 08, 2009, at 03:44PM – #3
Really interesting story. I bet the original fascade is gone but it would be so great if it could be restored. That is one cool little building.
Caryn Ho on May 09, 2009, at 09:33AM – #4
I live in this building and I never would have guessed that was a seperate structure. I've been doing a little research on the building but this was really a surprise. I don't think anything original is left. I've expolored most of the building and the only item remaining that I can see is a huge vault in the downstairs parking garage.