Inside the Fashion District's Fabulous New Apartments in the Garment Capitol Building

It was only a matter of time before this handsome Fashion District edifice got the mixed-use treatment. Finally getting some much-needed rehabbing, the fantastic Garment Capitol Building has now transformed into breezy apartments and ground-floor retail, all inside a remarkable, 1926 Gothic Revival shell. Bel-Air-based developer Capital Foresight (Santa Fe Lofts; Title Insurance building) is pumping $20 million into the overhaul—it will be CF's first finished adaptive reuse project, says the Downtown News.

The Garment Capitol Building was one of very many from the stellar team of "powerhouse" lady-developer Florence C. Casler and architect William Douglas Lee (the Renaissance Building and Textile Center Building are some of their greatest hits together). The 12-story structure, now Garment Lofts, has 77 apartments with open floor plans; the average unit runs 750 square feet. Rents start at $1,850 and go all the way up to $5,000, for the six, two-story penthouses with views of the Downtown skyline. They've already opened for pre-leasing, and are hoping to start move-ins in August.

The building's heavily ornamented exterior is topped off by fire escapes and rooftop finials. Inside, the apartments all feature the structure's original concrete floors and walls, granite counters, penny tile in the bathrooms, and subway-tile backsplashes in the kitchens. Amenities include a gym and a rooftop deck and spa.

At street-level, there are nearly 3,500 square feet of retail space awaiting a tenant or tenants (none are locked down yet). What about parking? There won't be any here; a deal is in the works to have paid parking for tenants at an off-site lot.

This part of the Fashion District is certainly heating up. Capital Foresight is also planning to open another project, the residential Maxfield Lofts, across the street in four months. Just around the corner, mid-block on Los Angeles Street between Seventh and Eighth, the historic Grether & Grether building is being converted into 72 live/work lofts.

· $20 Million Housing Project Coming to the Fashion District [DN]
­ Meet the Powerhouse Female Developer of 1920s Downtown LA [Curbed LA]
· Historic Fashion District Building Getting Mixed-Use Lofts [Curbed LA]