Palisades taps architects to redevelop former MWD site in Echo Park

Much to the chagrin of William Pereira-enthusiasts, Palisades Capital Partners is moving forward with its plan to redevelop the former Los Angeles Metropolitan Water District headquarters in Echo Park.

The developer tapped the architecture firm SOM and the landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations to redesign the 5.5-acre property at 1111 West Sunset Boulevard for its large mixed-use project, Urbanize reported.

Two William Pereira-designed buildings will be torn down to make room for the new complex, which is likely to include housing. The buildings, most recently used to house the Holy Hill Community Church, failed to receive landmark status last year.

But local developer Yuval Bar-Zemer of Linear City, which primarily develops in the Arts District, was hoping the firm would take a different course – one that resembled its own in 2014. He circulated a petition to get the building protected from demolition.

Linear City, led by Bar-Zemer and Leonard Hill, resurrected an adjacent, William Pereira-designed building three years ago into what is now known as the Elysian tower. As an homage to the notable architect, the developers retained the original structure’s characteristics and design as they repurposed the worn-down property into apartments.

SOM designed several prominent projects in the region, including the Pen Factory in Santa Monica and Desmond in South Park. James Corner Field Operations, along with Frederick Fisher and Partners, is designing Pershing Square Renew.

Palisades has been keeping busy on other parts of the county, as well. The firm is also working on the 19-unit AIRE condos in Santa Monica, the 56-unit Liddel at 10777 Wilshire Boulevard and a mixed-use structure at 631 Wilshire Boulevard. [Urbanize] – Natalie Hoberman