A presentation scheduled for the November 8 meeting of the Central Los Angeles Area Planning Commission offers a first look at updated plans for a mixed-use project at the intersection of 2nd and Vignes Streets in the Arts District.

Since 2017, British developer Est4te Four Capital has sought entitlements for a project at 929-939 E. 2nd Street which would retain the shell of the 1920s Challenge Cream & Butter Building while adding a mid-rise tower above. Originally, plans had called for the construction of a seven-story edifice featuring a private club with offices, a screening room, a gym, and event space, as well as food and beverage venues at street level.

View looking northwest from 2nd and VignesGoogle Street View

That changed in December 2021, when the developer discarded plans for a private club, citing changing market conditions resulting from the pandemic.

"Due to changing economic conditions amid global pandemic occurring post-entitlement of the Approved Project as well as advancements in automated parking design technology, some aspects of the Approved Project are proposed to be reconfigured to adequately address market demand, or lack thereof, for certain uses like a private club space, gym, spa and retail and to add to the neighborhood aesthetic by fully undergrounding parking for the development at the Site," read finding included with an entitlement filing.

The updated design for 2nd & Vignes by New York-based Morali Architects retains the same 131-foot height and building envelope from the original concept by wHY. But unlike the original project, a fourth floor once planned as parking is instead split into two levels containing 19,900 square feet of additional office space.

929 E 2nd StreetGoogle Maps

The resulting 124,000-square-foot development would include just over 70,000 square feet of offices, 17,200 square feet of artist studios and screening rooms, and approximately 21,000 square feet of event space. Additionally, all of the 270 parking spaces proposed with the project are to be located within an automated structure in an existing basement below the Challenge Cream & Butter Building.

According to an environmental report adopted by the City of Los Angeles in 2017, construction of 2nd & Vignes is expected to occur over an 18-month period. However, a precise timeline for delivery has not been announced.

The project continues to take step forwards as numerous developers - including Onni Group, Jade Enterprises, Skanska, Tishman Speyer, and Hines - are all planning offices for the Arts District, even in the face of a real estate market that has been upended by the pandemic.