California Mart Explained

California Mart
Location:Los Angeles, California
Completion Date:1963; 1965; 1979
Building Type:Commercial
Floor Count:13
Architect:Norma Merrick Sklarek
Owner:David Lee

The California Mart, also known as California Market Center, are three high-rise buildings in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Location

The buildings are located in the Fashion District of Downtown Los Angeles.[1] The main entrance is on Olympic Boulevard, between Main Street and Los Angeles Street.[1]

History

The California Mart was built for Harvey and Barney Morse, two brothers from New York City who started a clothing factory in Downtown Los Angeles in the early 1960s.[2] [3] [4]

The three 13-story buildings were designed in the modernist architectural style.

The first building, located at the intersection of 9th Street and South Los Angeles Street, was completed in 1963.[5] It is 13-story high.[5] The second building, located on South Main Street, was completed in 1965.[6] The third building, located on Olympic Boulevard and Main Street, was completed in 1979.[7]

The buildings were owned by the Morse family until 1994, when it was foreclosed and acquired by the Equitable Life Assurance Co.[2] They were listed for sale in 2000,[2] and they were acquired by the Hertz Investment Group, chaired by Judah Hertz.[8] In 2004–2005, the building complex was sold to the Jamison Group, owned by investor David Lee, for US$135 million.[9] [10] Brookfield purchased controlling interest from Jamison in 2017, for $440 million.[11] In November 2018 Brookfield unveiled renderings for a $170 million overhaul of the property.[12] [13]

References

34.0405°N -118.2554°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: California Mart. Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. University of Southern California. May 11, 2016.
  2. News: Sanchez. Jesus. California Mart, L.A.'s Apparel Hub, for Sale. May 11, 2016. The Los Angeles Times. January 15, 2000.
  3. Book: Appelbaum. Richard. Bonacich. Edna. Behind the Label: Inequality in the Los Angeles Apparel Industry. 2000. University of California Press. Berkeley, California. 9780520217690. 42960500. 74.
  4. Book: Bender. Daniel E.. Greenwald. Richard A.. Sweatshop USA: The American Sweatshop in Historical and Global Perspective. 2003. Routledge. New York. 9780415935609. 52166009. 159–160.
  5. Web site: California Market Center A. https://web.archive.org/web/20160610054029/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/232001/california-market-center-a-los-angeles-ca-usa. dead. June 10, 2016. Emporis. May 11, 2016.
  6. Web site: California Market Center B. https://web.archive.org/web/20160610054901/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/232002/california-market-center-b-los-angeles-ca-usa. dead. June 10, 2016. Emporis. May 11, 2016.
  7. Web site: California Market Center C. https://web.archive.org/web/20160610080014/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/232003/california-market-center-c-los-angeles-ca-usa. dead. June 10, 2016. Emporis. May 11, 2016.
  8. News: Nevada Denies L.A. Developer Gaming License. May 2, 2016. The Los Angeles Times. December 21, 2000.
  9. News: Vincent. Roger. Major L.A. Landlord Buying California Market Center. May 11, 2016. The Los Angeles Times. November 12, 2004.
  10. News: Vincent. Roger. California Market Purchase Is Completed. May 11, 2016. The Los Angeles Times. April 30, 2005.
  11. News: New York landlord Brookfield takes over giant L.A. fashion mart. Vincent. Roger. Los Angeles Times. 2017-06-06. 2018-11-15. mdy-all.
  12. News: Brookfield Unveils Plans for $170-Million Overhaul of California Market Center. Urbanize LA. Steven. Sharp. November 9, 2018. 2018-11-15. en. mdy-all.
  13. News: Landlords rip out escalators and walls to attract tenants like Google and Netflix. Vincent. Roger. June 16, 2019. Los Angeles Times. 2019-06-17. mdy-all.