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Opened in 1915, a
symbol of wealth and pride, the Merritt Building
stands as an edifice of Italian Renaissance and
Greek Architecture. Erected by Hulett C. Merritt
on the northwest corner of Eighth Street and Broadway
the building was magnificent. Classic in purity,
clad in pure white marble and columns five
stories high, it is said the building was designed after the
famous temple of Minerva. The stately pile of
white marble trimmed in bronze is the handsomest
and most modern structures of its kind on the
Pacific Coast. A total of ten stories in height,
it appears to lack nothing in the way of its
brilliance of finish and the finest mechanical
appointments. The ground floor was
outfitted for leasing to first class retail
establishments, the mezzanine and nine upper
floors boast beautiful and luxurious office and
suites for lease.
Elegance Throughout
The
interior of the building is in keeping with the
elegance of its exterior. The eighth street
entrance and lobby of the building with its
floors walls and ceilings finished with
carefully matched squares of white marble as the
exterior finish. The newest of
mechanical lifts give access to the upper floors
by way of a mahogany passenger cage having doors
of glass finished in bronze. White and tan antique marble
adorn the floors throughout the building and corridor walls
are clad floor to ceiling with golden veined
white marble. All 126 offices are bright in
color and finished in marble bases, solid
mahogany trim with entrance doors having frosted
glass, electric lighted ceiling fans, steam
heat, forced fresh air and windows that open.
The entire ninth
floor was used exclusively for Mr. Merritt's
personal use. He had built a living space
finished with a luxury not found in any other
similar structures on the West Coast. It is said
that many of the openings were set off with
marble columns. Tomano wood, a rare south sea
island product, was used for all cabinets, doors,
trim and wall panels. There is two gas fired
fire places and most of the rooms offer
illuminated stained glass ceilings.
Over its first sixty
years life, the Merritt Building acquired a
diverse list of tenants. Below is a short list
of prominent events as chronicled by the Los
Angeles Times History Archives:
September 17, 1916 The Vogue smart ladies store
opens on first, second, mezzanine and basement
of the Merritt Building, December 30, 1926 Pan
American Bank opens, March 29, 1942 Merritt
Galleries opens on ninth floor, December 31, 1941
Coast Federal is open for business, January 13,
1956 Hulett C. Merritt dies at the age 83, April
28, 1957 Merritt Building was sold to Home
Savings Loan, and the first three floors get a complete
facelift.
End
Of An Era
In 1973, Home
Savings Loan vacates the building and the last
three tenants are given notice to move. Left
intact, the lights were turned out, elevators
were shut down and the building was closed to
the public. For thirty
five years pigeons roosted, bared young and
made this stately establishment their home. The
Merritt Building, once the splendor of luxury
had fallen into wonder and dismay. This
monumental edifice of neglect at the corner of
Eighth and Broadway had become some kind of
a mystery.
A
New Beginning
Curtis A Newman, a
visionary, hopes to redevelop one of the most
unique buildings on the block. His goal is to
make it the new home of the Charitable
Foundation that bares his name. He is working to
turn the lights on and breathe new life into this
beautiful piece of Historic American Cultural
Architecture. The structural design of Merritt
Building is a symbol of purity, hope, wealth and
trust. It's a historical treasure, a gem in the
rough, the cornerstone of the block it
represents and deserves to shine as the day it
was built.
Historical Treasure
Stepping through a
nondescript door and down a very dusty marble
stair case was like stepping into a time
capsule. A tour of this ninety-four year old
building found it just as it was when it was
closed in 1973. Locked in time, most of the
fifty five thousand square feet of offices and
historic fabric were still intact. But time has
taken its toll on this once luxurious and well
built office complex of peeling paint and the
stench of stale dead air. Broken skylights and
open windows has been an invitation for pigeons
and the elements causing extensive damage to the
upper floors. Vandals have caused some minor
damage including removal of the original bronze
hardware on several floors.
A
Real Gem
The Foundation acquires the Merritt Building
under a twenty year lease through the generous
donation of the buildings owners with a promise
the foundation will redevelop the basement and
nine upper floors. The foundation needs to raise
necessary funding through charitable
contributions, fundraising, grants and short
term loans for the buildings redevelopment and
make ready for the foundations general offices,
scientific research and environmental education
center including: twenty thousand square feet of
low cost office and suites for lease, five
thousand square foot auditorium, four thousand
square foot safety deposit, personal banking and
postal center. The estimated cost to redevelop
the entire building inside and out has been
caped at Three Million Dollars. Project to
commence sometime in 2009 and having a completion
and move in date projected for the summer of
2011.
Opportunity
Take
part and help in lighting up a piece of Historic
Los Angeles. Your tax deductable contribution
will give life in many ways. For your generous
gift of giving you will receive a beautiful
numbered certificate with your name imprinted on
it and your name will be entered on a bronze
plaque in honor of your contribution and
participation in the redevelopment and
preservation of the Historic Merritt Building.
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