Barker Block - Urban Desert Flower

The arts district on the outskirts of downtown LA is 10 years behind the booming Flower Street / Sixth Street epicenter of downtown. Within this semi-industrial, mostly forgotten concrete sprawl, the Barker Block is a vibrant, cross-cultural living palette created by visionary developers and urban pioneers.

Kor Group chose to renovate the historic Barker Block site instead of tearing it down, so each of the buildings displays architectural style of the times. The last was built in the 1960s, and has polished concrete floors and walled out spaces reminiscent of New York. In others, the original exposed brick walls have been carefully, beautifully restored.

The units are individually outfitted and surfaced by the owners-and creativity is much encouraged. With Cleveland Art Gallery nearby and the Arte Calidad teaching gallery onsite, creative spirit pervades and rules. The residents-an eclectic mishmash of clothing designers, photographers, attorneys, realtors and entrepreneurs-have created a small community, all for themselves. They drink coffee at Urth Caffe in the morning, gather at the rooftop pool some weekends, and spend quiet moments in the newly unveiled garden. It's an unlikely slice of paradise...but it works.

Lofts starting in the high $300K.