THE HARLAN RESIDENCES ARE READY FOR THEIR CLOSEUP AT 6533 HOLLYWOOD BOULEVARD
Skylight Residential, Inc. responsible for the leasing and marketing of the historic building
LOS ANGELES, California, April 4, 2022 – At 6533 Hollywood Blvd., old Hollywood glamour meets modern living at the newly redesigned & renovated The Harlan Residences. The historic property was redeveloped by JCI Development, Inc. and True USA and is being marketed and leased by Skylight Residential, Inc. Originally called the Hillview Apartments, the property was built in 1917 by movie moguls Jesse L. Lasky, co-founder of Paramount Pictures, and his brother-in-law Samuel Goldwyn, co-founder of MGM. It was a cultural hotspot from the start as it was one of Hollywood’s only apartment buildings at the time willing to rent to aspiring actors.
Caption: The Harlan Residences 2022, Unit # 400, located at 6533 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. Photo courtesy of Skylight Residential, Inc.
Today, The Harlan Residences is making its own mark in Hollywood by offering a true one-of kind living experience. The building features 54 newly-appointed modern apartments comprised of 27 studios, 13 one-bedroom and 14 two-bedroom units. The Harlan’s design takes cues from Mediterranean Revival architecture and a modern Art Deco feel. The overall design also includes new accent lighting, glass chandeliers, golden fixtures, and beautiful wall moldings that
help elevate the space, surrounded with an interior color palette that celebrates the Golden Age of Hollywood.
“This has been an unprecedented opportunity to redevelop Jesse Lasky and Samuel Goldwyn’s original vision for Hollywood living,” said Jeff Isenstadt, President & CEO of JCI Development, Inc.; Developer and Co-Managing Partner for The Harlan Residences. “Our entire team has done a magnificent job at revitalizing this historical landmark back to the community it serves.”
The Harlan Residences is Hollywood personified. In addition to 54 newly appointed apartments, the basement of The Harlan (which used to be Rudolph Valentino’s private rehearsal space, and later a speakeasy) features a handful of wildly successful venues from Houston Hospitality, making The Harlan Residences the new focal point for modern living for today’s renter.
“This amazing and captivating property reflects the booming energy of today’s Hollywood landscape,” said Kathleen Rawson, CEO of The Hollywood Partnership. “We are proud to see this iconic building reclaim its star power on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.”
Hollywood has recently seen a rebirth as a true design destination (not to mention culinary mecca), thanks to a brand-new neighborhood branded the Vinyl District for its rich musical history. The Vinyl District is home to many crown jewels; Grandmaster Recorders, The Thompson Hollywood Hotel, Mother Wolf, Heimat, Luminary Hotels, Tommie Hollywood and The Godfrey Hotel Hollywood to name a few.
“Residents of The Harlan Residences are at the epicenter of everything LA’s Vinyl District has to offer and bring a new wave of creative talent to Hollywood” said Jason Shenitzer, CEO of Skylight Residential, Inc.; whose company is marketing & leasing The Harlan Residences.
About JCI Development, Inc.
Los Angeles, California based JCI Development, Inc. was founded in 2000, and is engaged in the development and ownership of commercial, multi-family and mixed-use projects. More information about the company is available on their company website at
www.jcidevelopment.com.
About True USA
True USA is a Real Estate Investment Company located in Newport Beach, California.
About Skylight Residential, Inc.
Skylight Residential, Inc. is a marketing and leasing firm focused on maximizing multifamily rents and absorption throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Skylight’s goal is to amplify their client’s vision and intention through a combination of innovative technological solutions and the highest levels of creative marketing.
SNAPSHOT: THE HARLAN RESIDENCES
• Developer: JCI Development, Inc. & True USA
• Branding, Marketing and Leasing: Skylight Residential, Inc.
• Architect/Designer: DLR Group (Los Angeles)
• General Contractor: RMS Project Management
• Entertainment venues from Houston Hospitality
Buyers Plan Luxury Repositioning After Hollywood Apartment Building Buy
October 18, 2021 Bianca Barragan, Bisnow Southern California
The Hollywood Hillview apartments at 6533 Hollywood Blvd.
Hotel developer and nightlife figure Adolfo Suaya has sold a recognizable Hollywood Boulevard apartment building to True Urban USA and JCI Development for $19.2M, Bisnow has learned.
The Hollywood Hillview apartments had gone on the market in 2019, with the seller hoping to fetch $25M, The Real Deal Reported. In May 2020, the property returned to market with new representation targeting a sale price of $21M. The coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty it brought slowed down the process as many potential buyers sat on the sidelines, said Lee & Associates West LA’s Paul Brehme, who represented Suaya in the deal.
The property is also home to two nightlife businesses operated by Houston Hospitality, including the Dirty Laundry bar that shut down during the lockdown. Once June rolled around and businesses across the city and state began to reopen, the temperature changed and True Urban and JCI moved quickly, Brehme said.
It is True Urban and JCI Development’s first project in LA, but the partnership is in expansion mode and is on the lookout for more, said CityStreet Commercial President and founder Elan Kermani, who represented the buyers in the transaction. The buyers were initially considering converting the property to a hotel, Kermani said, but they decided instead to reposition the apartments into luxury-type units.
“They felt the synergy between what they were going to do upstairs and the ground-floor and basement projects [by Houston Hospitality],” Kermani said.
The property was 75% vacant at the close of escrow, which will make repositioning easier. The property is subject to the city's rent stabilization ordinance.
The Hollywood Hillview apartment building was built in 1917, according to marketing materials. It not only saw the heyday of Hollywood as a motion picture powerhouse but was built because of it. In the early studio days, actors were seen as undesirable tenants and often had difficulty finding housing. The Hillview apartment building was built by movie producer Jesse Lasky as Hollywood’s first apartment building specifically for actors who were the talent at local studios and is on the National Register of Historic Places, the Los Angeles Times report.
New owner sees Suaya’s Hollywood Hillview Apartments in luxe light
Los Angeles
Oct. 19, 2021 01:00 PM
TRD Staff
True Urban USA and JCI Development have purchased the Hollywood Hillview apartment building from restaurateur Adolfo Suaya. The two firms paid $19.2 million for the 53-unit property at 6533 Hollywood Boulevard, according to Bisnow. They first planned to turn the property into a hotel, but are now planning to reposition it as luxury apartments.
Suaya put the property on the market in 2019, looking for $25 million. He relisted it last May for $21 million. The property was fully leased when Suaya first listed it in 2019, and is now 25 percent occupied.
The building dates from 1917 and is subject to the city’s rent stabilization ordinance, which could complicate efforts to reposition it on the high end of the rental market. Remaining tenants cannot be evicted without just cause, and rent hikes are limited.
It was built by movie producer Jesse Lasky and Samnel Goldwyn, and was specifically aimed at up-and-coming actors working at nearby studios. Tenants included stars from Hollywood’s silent-film era, including Mae Busch, Viola Dana and Clara Bow.
The property also has 8,560 square feet of retail space on the ground floor and basement level. Those spaces are rented by Houston Hospitality, although one of the bars shut down during the coronavirus pandemic.
The purchase is True Urban and JCI Development’s first investment in Los Angeles, but they are looking for other projects in the area, said CityStreet Commercial founder Elan Kermani, who represented them in the transaction.
Meanwhile, Suaya is busy developing a whisky-themed boutique hotel about a block to the east. The aptly-named Whisky Hotel is slated to include 134 rooms across seven stories. Each room will have whisky minibars, as well as a rooftop bar and a ground floor restaurant.
Construction was first expected to wrap up by the end of this year, but the completion date has since been pushed to the end of 2022, according to Urbanize.
[Bisnow] — Dennis Lynch
PRESS RELEASE
May 16, 2017
Liliʻuokalani Trust Selects DFJ for the Makalapua Project District in Kona, Hawaiʻi Planning & development for the largest mixed-use center on the Island of Hawaiʻi now underway
KAILUA-KONA, ISLAND OF HAWAIʻI – The Liliʻuokalani Trust (LT) today announced the selection of a developer for the transformation of 69 acres in Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaiʻi into a vibrant hub of activity anchored by retail, entertainment, residential, hospitality uses and open space.
Following a thorough process that started in late 2016, Liliʻuokalani Trust has selected the partnership of DiGeronimo Companies, Fairmount Properties and Los Angeles-based JCI Development, Inc. (DFJ) to develop the Makalapua Project District. “We sought an organization that will help us create a long-term revenue stream to fulfill our commitment to improving the lives of Hawaiian children. In DFJ, we have not only found a highly capable developer but also an organization that shares our values,” said Robert H. Ozaki, President and CEO of the Trust.
“It is a tremendous honor to be selected by Liliʻuokalani Trust in its efforts to develop, enhance and refine such a strategic property. We understand the gravity and importance of the faith placed in us and are fully prepared to bring the Trust’s vision to reality” said Emerick Corsi, Principal at Fairmount Properties. Kevin DiGeronimo, Principal at the DiGeronimo Companies, added, “We are committed to creating a plan with the Trust that puts the land first, provides jobs, and honors the cultural legacy of Kona.”
The Makalapua Project District, bordering the Kona Commons Shopping Center and Kailua Park (Old Airport Park), is in alignment with the Kona Community Development Plan and encourages safe and smart growth in the area. The mixed-use project includes 300 residential units, 220 hotel rooms split between two hotels, 470,000 square feet of commercial space and 50,000 square feet of civic uses.
Entitlements for the project providing flexibility in uses in order to match market needs and demands are expected to be completed this year. “The land of Keahuolū unites the Trust and Kona. Our futures are tied together. The revenue generated by this project will contribute to growth of the local economy and provide a long-term stable source of income for our charitable programs,” said LeeAnn Crabbe, Vice President of Liliʻuokalani Trust.
Liliʻuokalani Trust and DFJ have started working together to refine the site plan, create the look and feel of the project, and identify key anchor tenants. “We applaud Liliʻuokalani Trust for their vision on this unprecedented development opportunity. We look forward to executing that vision and creating a world-class project celebrating Kona and the greater Hawaiian marketplace,” said Jeff Isenstadt, President of JCI Development, Inc.
Lili‘uokalani Trust owns approximately 6,400 acres of Hawai‘i real estate, the vast majority of it located on the Island of Hawai‘i. On Hawai‘i Island, properties include the nearly-intact 3,400-acre ahupua‘a of Keahuolū in Kona, and the 2,800-acre agricultural and conservation lands of Honohina on the windward side.
The Trust’s 700-acres of Kona commercial properties include the Kona Industrial Park and five shopping centers. The Kona Industrial Park consists of 77 acres and includes the leased-fee interests in 45 industrial lots and the fee-simple interests in the Kuakini Center and B&K Commercial Park. Lili‘uokalani Trust also owns the leased-fee interest in five shopping centers – Makalapua Shopping Center (202,902 s/f Gross Leasable Area), Kona Commons Shopping Center (144,116 s/f GLA), Kona Coast Shopping Center (84,111 s/f GLA), Ilima Court (38,700 s/f GLA), and Kona International Marketplace (34,551 s/f GLA).
About Liliʻuokalani Trust
Lili‘uokalani Trust was established by Hawaiʻi’s last ruling monarch, the beloved Queen Lili‘uokalani. Her Deed of Trust, executed in 1909, directs that the Queen’s lands be utilized to serve and provide for orphan and destitute children in perpetuity. The core Trust assets include some 6,400 acres of land.
The vision of Liliʻuokalani Trust is e nā kamalei lupalupa, “Thriving Hawaiian Children.” Its mission: “We believe in the resiliency of our Hawaiian children; we advocate and work towards systemic change for their wellbeing and build them pathways to thriving lives.” More information on the Trust and its activities can be found at onipaa.org.
About DFJ
DFJ is a formalized partnership building upon decades of business and personal relationships between the three organizations: DiGeronimo Companies, Fairmount Properties, and Los Angeles based JCI Development, Inc. Our partner companies are well-respected industry leaders in mixed-use real estate development as well as the construction industry throughout the U.S. More information on our companies is available at our websites – digeronimocompanies.com; fairmountproperties.com; jcidevelopment.com.