The Tuna Boat

Downtown Los Angeles

It has been a few days since I blogged on. First of all, I'd like to say congratulations to Alexander Payne for his Oscar win for Adapted Screenplay for Sideways. It was well-deserved. I understand that the reservations for wine country tours since the beginning of the year and through the summer are at record highs. And the USA is becoming the world leader in wine consumption - go figure.

On an unrelated note, I have my California Real Estate license and have been learning a bit about commercial real estate (on top of everything else I'm doing - see first blog). One of the most exciting opportunities for real estate at this time is happening in Downtown Los Angeles. You read that right. Not only is there the Staples Center and some great hotels (the Standard just opened up and it is gorgeous!), but there are new condos and artist-style lofts, a new grocery store, great public transportation, a real nightlife and a cleaner environment than one expects of a world-class downtown area. Here is an excerpt from the DowntownLA website:

Downtown Los Angeles is in the midst of a remarkable housing boom! Since 1999, over 3,500 units have been added to the market. Another 2,800 are under construction with approximately 5,700 in the pipeline. There are now more than 7,800 market rate apartments and lofts in the central business district, representing an increase of 53% just since 1998!

Downtown LA is made up of many unique and interesting neighborhoods – Financial District, Bunker Hill, Historic Downtown, Fashion District, Artist District and South Park. Each has its own characteristics and amenities for residents.

Ralphs will be opening a 50,000 square foot grocery store in late 2005. The store will be located on 9th Street between Hope and Flower streets, along with several other retailers.

If you are thinking about living Downtown but are not sure where to begin looking, then click here to sign up for our FREE Saturday housing bus tour Downtown LA Living.
You’ll visit 4 to 5 different properties from loft-style apartments to luxury digs!

Take it from me, there is something really exciting happening in downtown Los Angeles. My real estate firm, Ramsey-Shilling, has the listing on the Los Angeles Center Studios, an incredible 400,000 square feet of office space with sound stages smack dab in the middle of downtown - it is an incredible location. If you look closely, you will see the LACS in many film and TV projects and commercials, including In Good Company and the new ABC show, Numb3rs. Check out the LACS website: http://www.lacenterstudios.com/

Let me know if you'd like to check out downtown LA for yourself, I can direct you to many sources of information and even lead you on a tour of the best restaurants, among other things.

-Brian

posted by Brian Altounian @ 6:36 PM