LOS ANGELES — Waterbridge Capital LLC has been selected to purchase the historic Broadway Trade Center, a 1.1-million-square-foot building in Downtown Los Angeles. Though the sales price was not disclosed, local outlets are reporting the sale is expected to fetch between $115 million and $130 million.
The building is located at 830 S. Hill Street in the city’s Broadway District. It was originally built in 1908 as a Hamburger department store before it became the May Company Department Store in 1923. Waterbridge plans to convert the building into a mixed-use development that may include creative office, hotel, retail and multifamily housing.
The property encompasses most of the western side of the block from Broadway to Hill Street, between 8th and 9th streets. Broadway Trade Center is situated near the brand-new Ace Hotel and the recently revitalized Rialto Theatre, which is now an Urban Outfitters.
This area is the focus of Bringing Back Broadway, a revitalization effort led by Los Angeles City Councilmember José Huizar. The initiative was created in 2008 to increase economic development and job creation through an enhanced pedestrian experience, more transit options and further historic preservation efforts.
Waterbridge Capital was represented by Jeremiah Curry and Frank Lahijani of Global Commercial Real Estate. Phillip Sample, Michael Shustak and Chris Caras of CBRE’s Urban Investment Group represented the seller, a private family ownership from Beverly Hills.