One of my favorite little Glendale buildings at 230 S. Orange was torn down about two weeks ago. It was purchased by Americana developer Rick Caruso to make way for Nordstrom, which is moving to the Americana from The Galleria. Here is a picture of the demolition.
I took this picture of 230 S. Orange in 2008.
Prior to the construction of The Americana, it was a recording studio. I know that attempts were made to lease it as a bar/club after the Americana was built, but nothing became of it. Caruso purchased the building for $4 million last year. The LA Weekly has more details about the building purchase.
Although the building itself was demolished, at the urging of The Glendale Historical Society, Caruso Affiliated will be reconstructing the facade back INTO the new Nordstrom project. From TGHS:
The Glendale Historical Society is pleased to announce that it has been working with Caruso Affiliated to relocate the façade of the Mission Revival-style brick commercial building at 230 South Orange Street, recently acquired by Caruso for the expansion of The Americana at Brand. Caruso Affiliated will incorporate the existing building façade into the design of the new Nordstrom building along the new pedestrian passageway to be created on what is now Orange Street between Colorado and Caruso Avenue.
The façade's original steel sash windows will become showcases for The Glendale Historical Society to display photographic images from Glendale's past. Caruso will install display boxes where The Glendale Historical Society can promote special events and install exhibits about the history of the City of Glendale and its architecture.
I believe these are the bricks from the facade, which will be added to the new structure. Orange Street will become a pedestrian passageway, which will hopefully bring foot traffic south onto Colorado, which has been pretty dead despite the success of The Americana. You can see renderings the new structures and the pedestrian walkway at CurbedLA.
