Est4te Four wins go-ahead for offices and studios in DTLA

Est4te Four Capital has won a green light to redevelop a historic butter-and-cream plant in Downtown Los Angeles into offices and artist studios.

The Beverly Hills-based developer was approved by the L.A. City Council for a zone change and environmental clearance to construct the eight-story complex at 929 East 2nd Street, Urbanize Los Angeles reported. It would expand a century-old, former Challenge creamery.

Plans call for a six-floor addition atop the two-story, 44,500-square-foot industrial building at 2nd and Vignes streets.

The expansion would include 70,300 square feet of offices, 17,200 square feet of artist studios and screening rooms, and 21,000 square feet for events. An automated garage for 270 cars would be in the basement. Earlier plans had called for the building to total 120,000 square feet.

The 143-foot-tall project, designed by New York-based Morali Architects, would feature the historic Challenge Cream and Butter building topped by floor-to-ceiling glass offices, with each floor divided by cantilever balconies, some of them landscaped.

Decks would be built onto the historic base and roof, which would include a swimming pool.

Construction is expected to take 18 months, according to a 2017 environmental study, though no groundbreaking has been set.

The approved project differs significantly from what was once planned for the site, when Es4te Four wanted to build a private club with offices, a screening room, a gym and event space, as well as restaurants and bars at street level. An earlier plan called for a five-story addition.

In December 2021, the developer tossed out plans for the private club, citing changing market conditions from the pandemic.

Est4te Four Capital, led by Alessandro Cajrati Crivelli, has transformed historic buildings in former industrial areas with modern designs from Milan to New York, London and Los Angeles according to its LinkedIn page.

While the market for office space has faced challenges in recent years, large developers are moving forward with similar projects, including Onni Group, Jade Enterprises, Skanska, Tishman Speyer and Hines, according to Urbanize.