Last week, we visited 8500, which will bring 88 high-end apartments and a Trader Joe's to an island just south of the Beverly Center and just north of the SLS Hotel. The project was developed by Caruso Affiliated (the people behind the Americana at Brand and The Grove), which gave money to TJ's to upgrade their normal store look--this one will have higher ceilings and better lighting than most. Caruso is also in talks with local cafe operators to move into a space on the north side of the building, adjacent to both the tenant lobby and the grocery store (it'll be in the vein of Third Street neighbors like Toast and Joan's). TJ's shoppers will enter 8500's parking garage on the south, via Colgate Ave.; tenants will have their own entrance (with a valet option) on the west, at Le Doux Rd.
"Luxury" is the watchword for the apartments. Interior design work is being done by San Francisco-based BAMO, usually known for its hotel work, and tenants will have a doting full-service concierge and Trader Joe's grocery delivery (they'll even stock the fridge while you're out). The apartments are one-, two-, and three-bedrooms, all with balconies, glass walls, and fancy finishes like Caesarstone, golden oak flooring, and Kohler appliances.
The eight-story 8500 used to look much boxier--plans were actually changed after the foundation had already been poured, so it took a little architectural kung fu to totally alter the design while keeping the weight the same. The building is now ship-inspired (the site's odd shape makes the northern end seem a bit prow-ish), but still focused around a fourth floor podium, which will have a shared, landscaped area for tenants (units surrounding the podium will have larger balconies than the others).
Up on the roof, the building will have a pool with a deck, next to an enclosed fitness center and great room. The depth of the pool is split between the elevated roof deck and the ceiling of the room in the unit below. Since the building is on an island and surrounded by mostly low-rise buildings, there are pretty killer views from even the lowest apartment floor.
Caruso COO Paul Kurzawa tells us that rents will be higher at 8500 than they are at the Americana, and that interest is already strong. Leasing is set to begin this summer.
· New Look for Caruso's 8500 Burton Way Project [Curbed LA]
· 8500 [Official Site]
Loading comments...