Investor MWest Holdings has revitalized the historic Wilshire Royale apartment building in Koreatown. Inspired by an original photo of the 1920s property, the investor restored the Moroccan-style architecture and design in the building. Interior units have also been renovated and will continue to be renovated as they turn. The renovation has helped drive value at the property and occupancy rates. It is currently 100% occupied.

“We had some historical photos from its initial use as a residential hotel,” Karl Slovin, president of MWest Holdings, tells GlobeSt.com. “It was built by a local prohibitionist builder, and she was part of an organization that was serving its own customers. You could stay there on a long term or short-term basis. We love to bring back the original history of the building as much as we can. We sat down with the architect and said lets run with the details from the photo. It was a lot of fun being able to run down that line. We try to find a thread of the existing history and pull on it and make it exciting for today's customer.”

To add a unique touch, Slovin purchased pieces from the former Figueroa Hotel. It is under renovation, and the décor—which was collected over decades—was auctioned off. Slovin was able to purchase pieces during a preview session. “That was really urban archeology,” he says. “We've got a little bit of 1920s mixed up with a different part of 1920s from a different part of Los Angeles.”

Slovin is thrilled with the result of the renovation, as are the tenants in the building. His favorite element: the outdoor pool area. A previous owner demolished the grand entrance to the original building and put in a swimming pool “That area was pretty bleak,” says Slovin. “We put in a glass wall, put in some plants and re-did the tile work out there. Every time that I go to the building now, there are 20 people sitting out there on their phones and playing chess. It is a great communal space, and it is exactly what we hoped it had become.”

The surrounding community has grown tremendously since MWest purchased the Wilshire Royale. The investor also owns the Park Wilshire across the street, which is also a 1920s property. “For us to have two poured-in-place concrete buildings right across from each other that had giant neon signs is really fun,” adds Slovin. “We get to have those bookend and see how they perform against each other.”

Take a look at the pictures below to see the property before and after the renovation.

Take a look at the pictures below to see the property before and after the renovation.

Instant Insights /

MWest Brings Historic Wilshire Royale to Life

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