Let me just make a correction to the address posted up top. The real address is 1111 S. Grand Ave., two blocks east of the Staples Center. Ok, now disclosures. I am not a member of the development, marketing, or architectural team. I just happen to live in one of the loft units in Elleven, and I thought as an insider, I might have something relevant to say. So here goes....
I've been living in Elleven (A modern 13 story loft building in Downtown LA) since August 2006, and overall, it's been a great experience. The building itself is top notch construction, and the lobby staff are extremely competent. Most of the finishes in the building are pretty good, but there are the occasional ???? regarding light switch placement, cabinet design, etc. Overall, the build quality is satisfactory to excellent. Sure, I'm surrounded by construction, and my HOA fees are over $800, but in the well placed words of Molly Shannon's character on SNL, "I love it I love it I luvvv It!" You get what you pay for in Los Angeles, and contrary to the news articles, I don't think housing prices in Downtown LA are going down any time soon. Currently, high end loft spaces in Downtown will cost anywhere between $600-$1200 per sq ft., and in comparison to other high density urban areas around the globe, this is cheap. Even with a significant real estate correction in the next few years, residential real estate in Downtown will stay buoyed by supply and demand.
Every week, life gets a little bit easier. Whether it be a new Starbucks in the building, new sidewalks, new local bar openings, or the new Fresh Fare Ralph's which is opening up later this month down the street, times are exciting in the urban wasteland of Downtown. All of my neighbors are really cool and interesting people, and I've been invited to all sorts of parties just through associating with people in my building. Loft living downtown isn't for everybody though. If you need well groomed streets, a quite sleep environment, delicately manicured lawns, and hate intermixing with anyone slightly dissimilar to yourself, stay far, far away. As for me, I can't imagine living anywhere else in LA right now. In the next five to ten years, all the excitement will be centered on the once barren streets of Downtown Los Angeles.
UPDATE: Elleven has become the FIRST residential condo high rise in ALL of California to gain the LEED Gold certification for Green Buildings. That is impressive. It's sister building Luma has also been certified LEED Gold! read more