Random DTLA (downtown LA)

My introduction to downtown was in the early 90s’.  We had recently moved to LA from Israel, for Joel it was moving back, for me it was a whole new world.  Our first year here I started taking classes at LA Valley college, a wonderful local community college. I then enrolled at FIDM and set out studying textile design. That is a subject for  a different post.

FIDM had just completed their lovely new building, so I found myself going downtown a few days a week. I stayed very close to the campus. I would venture to the Fashion District and even got a part time job there.  But in those days, downtown was still very sketchy. So I never ventured far.

How things have changed, today I am a downtown docent with The LA Conservancy and I love exploring on my own, which is what I did the other day. I’m sharing some pictures without much information. I know I should get better at both taking the pictures and gathering information.  Meanwhile, just enjoy some wonderful architectural details,  Los Angeles can boast as much as NY or Chicago – we have real beauty here which I am happy to share.Interior of Hayward Hotel LobbyThe exterior of this building is on my Downtown Renaissance tour,  since I am doing all the talking I don’t take pictures. I had the opportunity today to enter the lobby.  Today this is a low income building, but as you can see, the owner Izek Shomof takes very good care of his buildings regardless of how much rent is being paid.

P1020160I love the detail on the railing. Hotel Hayward was originally a hotel for traveling salesmen, very close to the PE Trolly station. Even then the cost for rooms was reasonable, but the lobby was very well appointed.
P1020166 This building is further south on Spring st, someone was filming there. I just love the details.P1020167 How about these wonderful eagles?P1020169 I think the address of this building is 801 Spring st. Spring st and Main st. meet  just beyond this location.  I was capturing the exterior when a young man with a camera exited and he just let me in.Straddling two streetsAs you can see, the building straddles two streets. Today this is a residential building, the lobby is beautiful and well cared for.P1020173 The details on the ceiling are lovely, someone cleaned and possibly repainted them.P1020174There are three elevators, only one still has the original doors, I don’t know if the car was replaced.  As you can it, it used to have one of those dials that let you know what floor the elevator was on.  I did see that the other two are modern doors, no I didn’t take pictures of them.

That is it for today,  I promise many more in the future.

Leah

4 thoughts on “Random DTLA (downtown LA)”

    1. You should! There is so much to see here, and I should come up and get an in depth tour of San Louis and the environs. The central coast is lovely and under appreciated, maybe because of the fog.

      1. Come to SLO and let me know when you do! We can grab lunch. It’s honestly not all that foggy!

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