Historic Commonwealth Savings & Loan Building in NoHo Set For Demolition

For 50 years, it has towered over commuters and pedestrians on Lankershim Boulevard in the NoHo Arts District, long before it was even called an arts district.

But now it looks as if it will soon be a pile of rubble, because the owner of the historic Commonwealth Savings & Loan Building in NoHo recently decided to tear down the structure.

The building, located at 5077 Lankershim Boulevard, was built in 1961 and was one of the first high-rise structures in the San Fernando Valley, according to the Los Angeles Conservancy. It currently is home to a Citibank branch location.

In its place will be a contemporary five-story, 136-unit apartment complex with 14,000 square feet of retail on the ground floor, according to plans posted on the Web site of the building's owner, Chandler Partners. Chandler collaborated with the Los Angeles Conservancy on a two-year study of the feasibility of continuing to use the building as office space, but ultimately decided to tear the building down.

"This deeply regrettable outcome underscores the technical challenges of preserving certain 1960s structures," the Los Angeles Conservancy posted on its Web site. "We will use what we’ve learned through this difficult process in our efforts to address these challenges and continue advocating for the preservation of our rich 1960s heritage."

Richard Hilton, who is the director of museum tours and adventures for the Museum of the San Fernando Valley, leads regular

"This North Hollywood building has been on The Museum's tour in the past, but time constraints forced us to pass it by - those who have been on the NoHo Historic Walking Tour when it was included know how fascinating and meaningful this building is," wrote Hilton in an email. "I think we should let our elected officials know how we feel."

Plans for the building's demolition have been in the works since 2007.

The Los Angeles Conservancy submitted the building to the Cultural Heritage Commission for consideration as a historic monument, which would have ceased the demolition. But despite the fact that the Los Angeles Conservancy calls the building "one of the finest mid-twentieth-century office buildings in the San Fernando Valley," the commission denied the application in 2007.

According to its Web site, Chandler Partners owns at least 25 buildings around the Los Angeles area -- six commercial and 19 residential -- including on Cahuenga Boulevard in Toluca Lake and NoHo Gardens, located just around the corner from the Commonwealth building on Otsego Street.

Chandler Partners already has a photo of what the new building will look like on its Web site. Aside from rental units and commercial space, it will also include a swimming pool, jacuzzi spa, courtyard barbeques, fitness center, business center, and a rooftop. The groundbreaking for the new building is planned for this summer.