AMP Lofts to Rise Within the Warehouses

By Ed Fuentes
Published: Tuesday, December 04, 2007, at 06:30AM

Ed Fuentes

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The live/work spaces in, and near, the Arts District change an industrial landscape to a softer, elegant interpretation of grit. You might say it's edge served with a martini.

AMP Lofts is a new and slightly more practical development by David Seewack, owner of American Moving Parts and project designer Koning Eizenberg Architecture. The plan is to replace a clump of old warehouses, too small and scattered to renovate, into a “green” industrial themed mixed-used development sitting on the block between 7th, Santa Fe, 6th and Imperial. Many of the units feature the Los Angeles River as vista.

The proposed main five-story unit will have 342 parking spaces on the first three levels, and the top two stories will have residential space offering views of either Downtown or the river. With the second residential/retail building proposed, the total amount of work/live space will total 180 units, and will include a courtyard, 2,000 sq. ft of retail space at 7th and Imperial, and 3,000 sq. ft for 7th and Santa Fe.

AMP Lofts will have a hearing December 13 in front of the Planning Commission.

This project highlights the questionable boundary given the Arts District. The city considers 6th street as the district's southern border, while developments that reach the edge of 7th St are still marketed and planned with “artists” in mind.

Like most architecture websites, the site for Koning Eizenberg is almost unnavigable. If you dig, though, you'll find a few more photos and drawings.

More Recently: Council Looks to Set Course for AMP Lofts Approval (01/7/2008)

Comments

michael #1 writes:

Just how many "artists" do all these developers figure live in Los Angeles?

# on Dec.04.2007 AT 03:12 PM

Tim Quinn writes:

It's funny, when you ask a developer that question they use a very broad definition of 'artist,' saying, "Oh, you know, photographers, web designers, even architects." At that point the architect, who is usually standing right next to him, laughs.

It is clear they haven't really given it a lot of thought. It is the language they feel they must use to gain approval in the arts district, or even nearby. It really means a certain kind of high ceilinged undivided space with pretty good natural light. An appeal to the romantic side of all urban real estate buyers.

# on Dec.04.2007 AT 08:49 PM

Metro Local writes:

It will be interesting to see how far this gets going given the nearby 2121 project has stalled in its initial phases.

# on Dec.04.2007 AT 11:14 PM

brian writes:

^ I thought 2121 has been completed; they're just not selling anything, despite price slashes.

# on Dec.05.2007 AT 12:24 PM

Juanito writes:

Is that 2121 E. Seventh??? or what?

# on Dec.05.2007 AT 03:10 PM

bp writes:

Has any one heard when The Roosevelt will be completed?