Sony Pictures Animation on the move, Echo Park fence going bye-bye, and more

After 25 years in Culver City, Sony Pictures Animation is on the move.

In an e-mail to staff, Sony Pictures executive vice president of global real estate Craig Schwartz announced that in April 2024, Sony Pictures Animation, Imageworks, and Crunchyroll will relocate to a 225,000-square-foot space at the Wilshire Courtyard complex on the Miracle Mile. The Sony organizations will occupy four floors of the property, with a space that includes a central dining area, a coffee bar, a theater, and outdoor areas.

Rios has been tapped to design the new office, while LPC West will manage the project.

The move follows Sony Pictures Entertainment's acquisition of Crunchyroll, which was relocated into Sony Pictures Animation's current offices within the Culver Studios complex at 9050 Washington Boulevard.

Onni Group, the new landlord for the three SPE firms, is currently pursuing entitlements to redevelop the Wilshire Courtyard with a pair of high-rise buildings which would add more than 1.8 million square feet of offices to the property.

Hackman Capital, the current landlord, has also invested heavily in an expansion of the Culver Studios campus, which is now home to Amazon Studios and associated entities.

In Century City, Anderson Real Estate announced last month that Ares Management has signed a 12-year lease for 206,000 square feet of office space at 1800 Avenue of the Stars. The tower, part of a larger complex which includes a second building at 1900 Avenue of the Stars, is currently in the midst of a $100 million renovation.

Montalba Architects and OJB Landscape Architecture are designing the new space, according to a news release.

Ares Management, based in Los Angeles since launching in 1997, currently occupies space in another Century City property at 2000 Avenue of the Stars.

Here's what we're reading this week:

Metro hosts community event to identify walking and biking improvements near G Line’s Sepulveda Station "Recommendations are focused on nearby streets such as Sepulveda Boulevard, Victory Blvd., Oxnard Street and more. Proposed upgrades include adding street lights and trees, as well as possible street design changes — such as bike lanes, crosswalk and sidewalk improvements" (The Source)

Free Rides on Metro System Feb. 4 Mark Transit Equity Day "Metro is offering free rides on their bus, rail and bike system on Saturday, Feb. 4, to honor Transit Equity Day and the birthday of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, who in 1955 refused to give up her seat on the bus when told a white passenger wanted one." (Pasadena Now)

Echo Park Lake fence will be taken down, Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez announces "The fence was installed following the removal of around 200 people living in encampments in the park in March 2021. Parts of it have since been knocked down several times, including earlier this week." (Eastsider)

City Council seeks strategies to revitalize 3rd Street Promenade "The strategy, requested by Mayor Pro Tempore Lana Negrete, Councilmember Christine Parra and Councilmember Oscar de la Torre, should include, but not be limited to, establishing an arts and entertainment district in the 1200 block of the 3rd Street Promenade, expanding outdoor dining opportunities, promoting available space and development opportunities, zoning code amendments to expand allowable uses, and opportunities to partner with DTSM on street performers." (SMDP)

L.A. could see nearly 100 new digital signs. Anti-billboard groups plan to fight back "The program has been billed as a way to make traffic move more smoothly by giving drivers public safety alerts and information on bottlenecks. It has the potential to generate $300 million to $500 million in advertising income over a 20-year span, Metro officials said." (LA Times)