Old Bank District, Los Angeles facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Old Bank District
Neighborhood of Los Angeles
Old Bank District in Downtown Los Angeles
Old Bank District Location in Downtown Los Angeles
Country	United States
State	California
County	County of Los Angeles
City	Los Angeles
Area code(s)	213

The Old Bank District is a cool area in Downtown Los Angeles. It's full of old buildings from the early 1900s that used to be offices or banks. Now, many of them have been turned into modern homes called lofts! This district is part of the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles.

It's surrounded by other interesting areas like the Jewelry District, the Fashion District, and the Toy District. The main part of the Old Bank District is between Main and Spring streets, from 4th to 5th Street.

How the Old Bank District Started

Even though it sounds like a natural part of the city, the 'Old Bank District' was actually a special project. A developer named Tom Gilmore came up with the idea in 1998. He wanted to change old, empty buildings into new places for people to live.

The city helped by passing a rule in 1999 called an 'adaptive reuse' law. This law made it easier to change old buildings into new things, like homes. Because of this, the first building in the Old Bank District opened in the fall of 2000.

Since then, Tom Gilmore has used the 'Old Bank District' name for more of his projects. These include fancy restaurants and shops. On January 8, 2004, the Old Bank District officially became a city-recognized area. Its borders are 3rd Street to the north, 6th Street to the south, Los Angeles Street to the east, and Spring Street to the west.

The Old Bank District also shares some space with the Spring Street Financial District.

Famous Buildings in the District

Many important buildings are part of the Old Bank District. Some of these old buildings have been given new life as homes or businesses.

Buildings Owned by Gilmore Associates

These buildings are part of the original project by Tom Gilmore:

• The Continental Building: A tall, historic building that was one of the first to be converted.
• The Hellman Building: Another beautiful old building that has been repurposed.
• The San Fernando Building: Known for its unique architecture and new loft apartments.
• Farmers and Merchants Bank Building: A grand old bank building that shows off the district's history.

Nearby Buildings

These buildings are right next to the Old Bank District and also offer modern living spaces:

• The El Dorado Lofts
• The Rowan Building
• Rosslyn Lofts