Fifth Street Store Building

The Fifth Street Store building, also know as Shybary Grand Lofts,[2] is a historic eleven-story highrise located at 501-515 S. Broadway and 302-312 W. 5th Street in the Broadway Theater District in the historic core of downtown Los Angeles.

Fifth Street Store
The building in 2014
Fifth Street Store Building is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Fifth Street Store Building
Location of building in Los Angeles County
Location501-515 S. Broadway and 302-312 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles, California
Coordinates34°02′53″N 118°15′03″W / 34.0481°N 118.2509°W / 34.0481; -118.2509
Built1927
ArchitectAlexander Curlett
Part ofBroadway Theater and Commercial District (ID79000484)
Designated CPMay 9, 1979[1]

History

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Downtown Los Angeles's Fifth Street Store Building was designed by Alexander Curlett and built by Milliron's in 1927. In the building's early years, it was home to a department store that repeatedly changed its name, including Walker's, Fifth Street Store, Walker's Fifth Street Store, and in 1946 it changed to Milliron's. A $300,000 ($4.69 million in 2023) renovation was done in 1946 as well.[1][3][4]

In 1952, Ohrbach bought Milliron's, after which they performed a $1 million ($11.5 million in 2023) Welton Beckett-designed modernization on this building. Ohrbach's moved into the building the following year[5] and in 1959, the company sold the building to Starrett Corp. for $2.8 million ($29.3 million in 2023).[3]

In 1979, the Broadway Theater and Commercial District was added to the National Register of Historic Places, with Fifth Street Store listed as a contributing property in the district.[1]

The building was converted to residential in 2006.[2]

Architecture and design

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The Fifth Street Store building was built on a steel frame with brick filler walls and concrete floors, and also features a brick and terra cotta facade.[6] It was built to the height limit in place in Los Angeles at the time it was constructed.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - California SP Broadway Theater and Commercial District". United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. May 9, 1979.
  2. ^ a b "At Home in the Shybary Grand Lofts". Los Angeles Downtown News. September 18, 2006.
  3. ^ a b c "Ohrbach's Downtown Store Building Sold". Los Angeles Times. April 29, 1959. p. 28.
  4. ^ "Store's Name Now Milliron's". Los Angeles Times. May 2, 1946. p. 11.
  5. ^ "Thousands at Opening of New Ohrbach Store". Los Angeles Times. December 1, 1953. p. 18.
  6. ^ Sitton, Tom (2008). "GC 1323 - Historic Sites Surveys" (PDF). Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.