Coolest pool in DTLA attracts Victoria's Secret models and superheroes
Emily Chu
The rooftop pool at The Eastern looks out over Downtown.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — As all of Los Angeles sits in the middle of a heat wave, Blogdowntown is curating a list of the best pools in DTLA.
First up, the iconic Eastern Columbia building's pool.
At the intersection of Broadway and 9th, the Eastern building is one of Downtown's most recognizable locations. The building opened in 1930 as the flagship department store for the Eastern Columbia Outfitting Company, a retail location selling furniture and clothing.
It is now praised as a distinct example of one of L.A.'s most intricate Art Deco buildings. The interwoven geometric shapes and turquoise terra cotta on the facade were designed by American architect Claude Beelman.
After the company closed in 1957, the building was rented out to various offices throughout the 1960s. It sat empty until developers bought the space and converted it into condominiums in 2006.
Renee Hambley, a site representative and filming liaison for The Eastern, lived in the building for about five years. She bought her apartment while it was still under renovation, after seeing just a floor plan -- as did the other original owners. She said she was pleasantly surprised when she finally got to see her apartment.
The pool-- the real focus of this story-- didn't exist until the building became a residential space. Developers put the 4-foot deep pool in as an amenity when the building opened.
The rooftop lounge area also includes a small jacuzzi and fireplace and is set up with speakers for music -- but most residents like the quiet, Hambley said.
It also boasts an incredible view of Downtown LA.
The building isn't open to the public much besides a once-a-year fundraiser, but countless movies and commercials have featured the Eastern's recognizable rooftop.
Hambley said Michael Bay directed a Victoria's Secret ad there, featuring a model wearing angel wings and clinging to the clock tower that overlooks the pool. Most recently, the building can be spotted in a Spiderman commerical which also includes portions of Broadway and the exterior of the Orpheum Theater.
Can you top this pool? Tell us about the best places to take a dip Downtown.
mjhankins (@mjhankins) on July 11, 2012, at 08:30AM – #1
Are there any rooftop pools downtown that allow public access? As someone in a building without a pool, would love to know if any of the hotels have day passes (something similar to the Ace in Palm Springs, where you can buy pool access without staying at the hotel). If they don't, could be a great new idea for a DTLA resident perk. Good for the hotels too, you know people would spend $$ on cocktails/food by the pool. Are you listening JW Marriott or Hilton Checkers?
Hayley Fox on July 11, 2012, at 11:25AM – #2
Thanks @mjhankins! We are looking into pools that allow public access and will be posting more information on that this week.
Downtowner on July 11, 2012, at 06:39PM – #3
I know this is just supposed to be a fun story about pools in DTLA, but to open with "...all of Los Angeles sits in the middle of a heat wave..." is simply inaccurate – and a bit too "bloggy" for my liking.
Sure, it's hot as heck up in the Valley and out in the IE, but it's been mid- to upper 80s in Downtown, which is pretty much the average in July.
And to my mind, the weather's actually been quite lovely here the past few days, with an occasional light breeze, and things have been cooling pretty quickly in the evening.
When we have near hundred-degree temps for several days, and it stays hot well into the night, then talk to me about a heat wave.