Housing has been a crucial issue in Los Angeles. Finding a comfortable place to stay is no exception.
Located in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, the Cecil Hotel is a historic hotel and hostel for individuals to reside. AOL’s Grace Toohey mentions how the building is available on the market. Toohey says, “A new owner wouldn’t technically acquire the property at 640 S. Main Street but would instead take over the 99-year ground lease, which allows its long-term use and development. The new listing did not include a selling price, but the property’s land and improvements were assessed at a total value of $31 million in 2023.” (Toohey, 2024). This means the person or company leasing owns the property and is held accountable for all expenses on that leased piece of land. Aside from this, she mentions that Cecil has gone through renovations in recent years throughout the land. She states, “…. 15-floor building, which reopened in 2021. Since then, the owners have reserved most rooms for tenants in the bottom 30% of the area’s median income, accepting unhoused Angelenos with government-funded housing vouchers.” (Toohey, 2024). There would have to be many significant improvements made if this was to reopen again.
Maintenance is a considerable issue in wanting to upkeep the place. Jaime Dung from the LA Times describes this in further detail. She interviewed one of the tenants, Richard Silva. Dung describes Richard’s room as almost rundown or in total disrepair. She says, “There are spots of mold by his sink and toilet, as well as on the ceiling. He points out how a bubble under the paint on his ceiling dribbles water once in a while, but says that’s better than the steady stream that flowed during last winter’s rainstorms.” The building is over 90 years old, and with that comes very few resources. He tells Jaimie that he was promised a voucher for clothes but never received it. Dung says, “At 48, Silva has been homeless nearly half his life. Right before moving into the Cecil, he stayed in a house through Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission, a nonprofit that runs shelters and tiny-home villages. When asked about a case manager, he shrugs.” (Ding, 2023). Richard is just one of the many individuals who are suffering from homelessness, and this is a struggle considering his unfortunate situation.
Another article by Jaime Ding from the Los Angeles Times discusses future problems of Cecil prior. As well as how many people are still suffering from homelessness in Los Angeles. She interviewed Matthew Baron, the President of Baron Property Group, to get his thoughts. Baron says, “Clearly Los Angeles, as other major dense, expensive urban areas, has a huge affordability problem and a huge homeless problem.” (Ding, 2022). There is still a lot of work to be done. Currently, you can contact the realtors who are selling the building by calling (213) 532-3268 if you’re interested in finding out if space is still available for rent temporarily.
References:
Ding, J. (2022, December 13). A year after opening 600 rooms to L.A.’s unhoused, the Cecil Hotel is still mostly empty. Here’s why. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-12-13/cecil-hotel-homeless-housing-struggles
Ding, J. (2023, August 24). It takes a village to house the homeless. Residents say the Cecil Hotel is failing to provide.Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2023-08-24/cecil-hotel-housing-homeless-tenants-problems
LoopNet. (2024, March 21). 640 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90014. https://www.loopnet.com/Listing/640-S-Main-St-Los-Angeles-CA/31084696/
Toohey, G. (2024, March 9). L.A.’s infamous Cecil Hotel up for sale after transformation to house homeless people. AOL. https://www.aol.com/news/l-infamous-cecil-hotel-sale-130058688.html