HOLLYWOOD-Apollo Real Estate Advisors and Las Vegas-based Molasky Pacific have unveiled plans for a mixed use project comprising more than 400,000 sf of office and retail space, 400 multifamily units and a 125-room hotel at Columbia Square, the historic CBS Radio complex at 6121 Sunset Blvd. The joint venture, which acquired the property in August for $66 million, plans 288,890 sf of new office, plus 91,100 sf of office in the renovated facility, along with 20,000 sf of new retail and 14,400 sf of renovated retail.
The development site measures 4.69 acres and is bounded by Sunset Boulevard, Gower Street, Selma Avenue and El Centro Avenue. The project application filed with the City of Los Angeles also calls for a 1,896-stall parking garage and landscaped open space covering 39% of the site. Dean Pentikis, principal of Apollo and Mark Cassidy, president of Molasky Pacific, note that landscaped courtyards will connect and integrate all elements of the project and provide a mix of public and private open space.
The development will add live-work lofts, a high-rise residential community and new creative office space to the northern part of the site. Two proposed high-rise structures will be oriented to step back and away from Columbia Square and adjacent residences to preserve sight lines to the Hollywood Hills, along with plans to bring back street-level retail and restaurant space to Sunset and Gower, providing pedestrian amenities with sidewalk access.
The new construction at Columbia Square is being designed by architect Scott Johnson of Johnson Fain, with Roschen Van Cleve Architects designing the renovations for the building, which was originally designed by William Lescaze. "This building has very good bones," says Bill Roschen of Roschen Van Cleve. "And although the years have taken their toll through wear and tear, Columbia Square will be restored to its original luster when this project is complete."
Columbia Square, which was built in 1938 as a CBS radio studio, was considered cutting-edge when it was built. During the decades that followed, television shows that were broadcast from Columbia Square included the Jack Benny Show, the George Burns & Gracie Allen Show and the pilot episode for I Love Lucy.
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