In 1995 I moved from the small town of Fillmore into the city of Los Angeles; Hollywood area. After living in houses for the first couple of years (a house a year) it was decided that it was time to find a more creative unconventional live/work space. That is what led to 5453 Virginia Ave, a storefront (former sweat shop) in a very questionable part of East Hollywood. But regardless of the questionable neighborhood, the place had 15+ ft. high ceilings and a very low lease. Perfect. It was two storefronts side by side with a small bathroom and one sink with no real lighting. Heaven? Well, heaven is what you make heaven to be and that's what we did, we made this dusty shell of a space into a creative and eventual comfortable place to live. Through the course of 18 years it went from crazy-idea unconventional live space to a loft that has seen everything from film crews, to rehearsal space, photography studio, to underground party sanctuary. Through each incarnation it has evolved into a living adaptable entity. challenging us in the craft of construction.
5453 Virginia avenue - April 1, 2000
