Madison Fashion Show to Highlight Santee Court Opening
Specialty retailer Madison will host a fashion show on May 21 to highlight the opening of Los Angeles loft development Santee Court. The grand opening party will take place from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at the complex, located at 714 S. Los Angeles St. in the Los Angeles Fashion District.
Madison will present Fall collections from Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, Marni and Diane Von Furstenberg, among other labels, during a 7 p.m. fashion show.
A slate of city officials and dignitaries are scheduled to attend, including Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, City Council members Jan Perry and Antonio Villaraigosa, and U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard.
“Santee” martinis will be served, and DJs, sponsored by Lady Enyce, will spin music. A sculpture exhibition by artist Victor Hugo Zayas will also be on display.
Santee Court is a $130 million residential/retail development owned by Los Angeles–based MJW Investments. It is the first major residential development in the Fashion District and reflects a growing movement to bring urban living back to the city.
The project consists of nine interconnecting downtown historic buildings that are being converted into loft apartments and condominiums with first-floor retail space. The complex is just north of The Intersection, where the California Market Center, The New Mart, the Cooper Design Space and the Gerry Building meet.
About 50 leases have been signed for the project’s first phase, which consists of 165 apartments. Work will begin in June on 64 for-sale condominiums, said Mark J. Weinstein, chief executive officer for MJW. In addition, construction will start this fall on 299 apartments. When complete, Santee Court will house 550 units.
The development features a rooftop swimming pool, a basketball court, onsite parking, 24-hour security and Category 5 wiring, which provides extra bandwidth for digital television signals and high-speed Internet and fax connections. The units feature granite countertops, concrete floors and stainless-steel appliances. Rents start at $1,400.
The leasing activity has exceeded initial projections, Weinstein said. “We haven’t even really begun to market this,” he said.
Weinstein has seen interest come from city workers, students and “reverse commuters” who work outside of downtown.
Among the commercial tenants to sign leases are the Rite Aid Corp., Subway and an independent small-market owner. To R.S.V.P. for the May 21 event, call (310) 395-3430, Ext. 18. —Robert McAllister
