Located at the vibrant corner of Olive and Eighth Streets in downtown Los Angeles, Freehand Los Angeles is more than just a boutique hotel; it’s a landmark steeped in history. This unique destination, easily found on West 8th Street in Los Angeles, CA, invites guests to experience the echoes of the city’s past within its beautifully restored walls. The story of Freehand Los Angeles begins with the Commercial Exchange Building, a testament to early 20th-century ambition and architectural ingenuity.
A Visionary Building in Downtown LA
Constructed in 1924, the Commercial Exchange Building was a bold statement of progress in a burgeoning Los Angeles. Designed in the Renaissance Revival style by the esteemed architects Walker & Eisen, this edifice was quickly lauded for its grandeur and functionality. The Los Angeles Times itself praised it as “substantial, utile, and handsome,” recognizing it as a pinnacle of architectural achievement. This sought-after office space was the first in the district to reach the maximum height permitted at the time, boasting modern conveniences like three high-speed elevators and the then-coveted amenity of two-hour street parking in the bustling area around West 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA. It became home to prominent businesses, including the headquarters of the Owl Drug Company, and even housed the office of Edgar Rice Burroughs, the celebrated author of Tarzan.
The Incredible Building Move on Olive Street
In a remarkable turn of events, just three years after its grand opening, the Commercial Exchange Building faced an unexpected threat. A city ordinance proposed widening Olive Street to combat growing traffic congestion, putting the newly built structure directly in the path of demolition. Faced with this challenge, self-taught contractor George Kress devised an audacious and unprecedented solution. His plan was to surgically remove a five-foot section from the very center of the building and then skillfully push the two remaining halves back together.
In 1935, an astonishing feat of engineering unfolded as seventy-five workers meticulously executed Kress’s plan. Over a mere nine hours, at a cost of $60,000, they successfully closed the gap, effectively moving a substantial portion of the Commercial Exchange Building. Incredibly, this complex operation caused minimal disruption; tenants remained undisturbed, and not a single window was broken. Today, the only visible trace of this extraordinary relocation is a subtle single-window bay on the Eighth Street façade, a quiet reminder of the building’s incredible journey at the corner of West 8th Street and Olive Street in Los Angeles, CA.
Decline and Revival on 8th Street
The Commercial Exchange Building enjoyed prosperity through the 1950s, but the following decades brought less sympathetic changes. Over time, incompatible renovations obscured its original grandeur. Terra cotta details surrounding the main entrance were removed and replaced with red granite. Marble walls were hidden behind laminate paneling, vinyl flooring covered original surfaces, and acoustic tiles concealed the building’s ornate vaulted coffered ceiling. Eventually, the once-prestigious building fell into disrepair, becoming largely vacant and succumbing to neglect, attracting squatters and vandals. By the time the current owners acquired the property in 2014, it was in a state of significant disarray. Bullet holes marked the windows, graffiti marred the walls, and the interior was filled with debris and waste.
Restoration and Rebirth as Freehand Los Angeles
The subsequent restoration project was a labor of love, focused on breathing new life into the neglected landmark on West 8th Street, Los Angeles, CA. The project team embarked on a meticulous process of uncovering and restoring the building’s hidden treasures. They revealed original wooden transoms and at least one storefront dating back to the 1930s. Decades of accumulated paint and inappropriate flooring were carefully removed, unveiling an original Owl Drug Company tile mosaic, now a focal point in the hotel’s dining room. Missing architectural elements were painstakingly reconstructed based on fragments and historical photographs. Even the original neon blade sign was restored to its former glory, once again illuminating the corner of West 8th Street in Los Angeles, CA.
Facing a lack of original structural drawings, the redesign phase presented considerable challenges. The building’s inherently narrow footprint, further compounded by the five-foot reduction in the 1930s, made structural upgrades particularly complex. Despite these hurdles, the building was transformed and reborn as Freehand Los Angeles, welcoming a new chapter in its history. Paying homage to the building’s past, the owners incorporated an owl motif throughout the hotel, a subtle nod to the Owl Drug Company, evident in details from room keys to stationery, enhancing the unique character of this hotel on West 8th Street in Los Angeles, CA.
Landmark Status and Legacy
Recognizing its cultural and architectural importance, the owner successfully initiated the building’s designation as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Landmark in 2017. This preservation effort was further supported by Federal Historic Tax Credits, which played a crucial role in financing the extensive restoration. Freehand Los Angeles stands as a powerful example of how historic buildings can be revitalized and repurposed for contemporary use. It demonstrates the potential for these structures to not only endure but also to connect people to their city’s heritage and to each other, creating a vibrant intersection of past and present right on West 8th Street in Los Angeles, CA. This exemplary project was recognized with a Conservancy Preservation Award in 2018, further solidifying its significance in architectural preservation and the ongoing story of Los Angeles.
Conclusion:
From its ambitious beginnings as the Commercial Exchange Building to its modern incarnation as Freehand Los Angeles, this landmark on West 8th Street in Los Angeles, CA, has journeyed through decades of transformation and revival. Today, Freehand Los Angeles offers a unique experience, blending historical grandeur with contemporary hospitality. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Los Angeles, inviting visitors to become part of its ongoing narrative, right at the heart of the city on West 8th Street.
