Our latest listing takes us to Downtown Los Angeles’ Arts District. This four-story corner loft is located in a former sugar beet storage facility now housing live/work spaces. Measuring 2,340 square feet, the space features exposed brick, soaring ceilings, and oversized industrial windows, complemented by modern amenities. Located in the heart of the Arts District, the loft is near renowned art museums, restaurant favorites, and iconic architecture.
The Building
Claus Spreckels, the “Sugar King” of California, founded the Spreckels Sugar Company. It was the largest beet sugar producer in the western United States. After his death, his sons, John and Adolph Spreckels, took over the business.
The Spreckels brothers built 940 East 2nd Street in 1906 to store sugar beets. Notable renovations include one in the 1920s by Los Angeles’ preeminent architects, John B. Parkinson, who designed Los Angeles City Hall, Union Station, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Pershing Square.
A century later, the structure was carefully reimagined by Rockefeller Partners Architects. Preserving the historical facade and warehouse aesthetic, the building today offers 38 live/work townhome lofts.
The House Tour
The layout unfolds in a manner that feels both expansive and grounded. Soaring ceilings and oversized factory windows draw light across spaces that flow naturally into one another, underscored by custom millwork, exposed brick walls, and personal and collected art. The interior color story, created by Reath Design, adds a layer of warmth and intention. Muted yet expressive, the palette deepens the architecture, allowing color to act as structure, mood, and connective tissue throughout the home.
Anchoring the main living level, the kitchen balances function and intention, fitted with Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Miele appliances. Marble countertops, deeply saturated cabinetry, and a stainless-steel pull-out storage wall lend the space a sense of permanence.
Above, the primary suite occupies the top floor, offering a calm retreat with an ensuite bath finished in Belgian floor tile, a large shower clad in zellige tile and illuminated by an oversized skylight, a gentleman’s walk-in closet fitted with a bar, dedicated laundry space, and a private balcony.
On the ground level, a bedroom with a full bath provides a rare degree of autonomy, with a separate entrance. From here, the stairs lead to an open-air, dedicated workspace framed by a wall of bookshelves. The arrangement lends itself naturally to work, guests, or a quiet retreat, while remaining seamlessly connected to the home as a whole.
The Neighborhood
Once filled with citrus groves and vineyards, the Arts District is now a thriving, creative community. Today, the pedestrian-friendly neighborhood unfolds at an unhurried pace, with everyday rituals carried out at Manuela and Hauser & Wirth. Nearby is SCI-Arc, a private architecture school founded by architect Ray Kappe. Alums include local architects Barbara Bestor and Beth Holden.
Speaking of architecture, Downtown LA is home to iconic structures such as the Walt Disney Concert Hall by the late Frank Gehry, the Bradbury Building, and the futuristic Bonaventure Hotel.
