The 18,000-square-foot property is walking distance from the EXPO line.

LOS ANGELES—Developer New Urban West is converting a former and obsolete industrial facility in Santa Monica into a creative office space. The developer purchased the site in early 2015, and has gotten approval from the city to move forward on the development. Located at 1301 Colorado, the site is walking distance from the new EXPO line, and is part of the City's push to build infrastructure near public transit.

“The building is a short walk from the metro line, which is opening next Friday, so we thought that it was an interesting opportunity to create a standalone jewel box building in Santa Monica,” Adam Browning, a principal at New Urban West, tells GlobeSt.com. “Hopefully it will ride the wave of both what is happening in Silicon Beach and what is happening with the rail line, which is really exciting. It is the first time that you will be able to hop on a train and go to Downtown L.A. or vice versa and not have to fight it out on the 10 Freeway.”

Santa Monica is a notoriously difficult place to develop; however, Browning says that they had a positive experience working with the City and obtaining approvals. He credits that in part to the vision of the property, which fit the City's updated master plan, but also to Santa Monica's vision of creating development and activity around the new transit line. “This is consistent with the city trying to redevelop and put some activity around rail, which I think is really smart,” he says. “I think it is important to know the rules and the regulations and to also hire a good design team and to do a good job. In a lot of places that we do business we have good success, but it takes a lot of hard work and due diligence.”

Ehrlich Architects is designing the project and several artists are creating artwork for the property. The property will be LEED certified and indoor/outdoor terraces, western-facing glass rollup doors, 17-foot ceilings and polished concrete floors as well as dark fiber capabilities and subterranean parking. The floor plan will be column free and include dedicated space to park bikes and surfboards.

The developer is targeting a single user for the 17,000-square-foot project, and no surprise, the property is already attracting interest from potential tenants. “I would imagine that we are leased before the project is complete,” adds Browning. We are negotiating with a number of people right now, and hopefully we can get something done and complete the renovation and any tenant specific improvements concurrently.”

This is the developer's first creative office project. It is known for more residential work, and has been in business since the 1950s. The demand in the creative office market and this particular opportunity prompted the firm to enter the creative office market. “We have been watching what has been happening in Santa Monica and we have decided to capitalize on it,” says Browning.

Instant Insights /

Santa Monica Pushes Transit-Proximate Development

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