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The Flat – Minimalist Chic in the Heart of the 213

Cash for your car

I?ll admit it ? going downtown always gives me a bit of a thrill. I like the gritty edginess of it: the dated edifices, the one-way streets, the faded signage on the walls. I like the hustle: the buzz of commerce, the steady hum of traffic reverberating from the alleys, the clack of heels on the pavement. I like the way the shimmering sky-high windows of the high-rises bounce sunlight off of their faces like a million pairs of Ray-Bans.

I love Olvera Street ? the taquitos, the helados, the heinas. I?ve lost my sense of direction trolling for clothes in the Garment District. I?ve attended art shows hosted in lofts and posed for my headshot in a photographer?s studio. I?ve taken the Red Line from North Hollywood down to 7th Street station and changed over to the Blue Line for the one stop ride to Staples just to Go Metro. (I even paid my fare.) I?ve buried myself deep within the stacks at the Central Library, mingled with Basquiat at MOCA, found myself in Altered States at the Geffen, Clashed Cultures at the Taper, and have been part of many a rousing yet well-mannered standing ovation at the Ahmanson. I?ve marched peacefully among thousands up Broadway to the steps of City Hall. And in perhaps my finest moment, I hooked up bottle service at the rooftop bar at The Standard. On New Year?s Eve. 1999.

?I think you get the point. I dig downtown. I mean, I really get it. There?s something about the vibe down there; a concentrated, palpable urban energy that I automatically connect to even when I?m just cruising through, like a full-bar wi-fi signal that moves at the speed of thought.

But live down there? You can call me Donnie Brasco: fuggheddaboudit.

Sound familiar? Well, listen up, hipster – Bret Mosher wants to show you something. He?s the developer behind the Flat, the latest in urban concept living. It?s also the newest in a steadily lengthening line of downtown revitalization projects such as New York-style lofts, mixed-use properties, elite restaurants, and radiant new high-rises. The vision behind each of these ventures is the same; an exquisitely designed postmodern utopia etched from the very core of the city, sitting high atop its nexus and emanating its stylishly chill vibrations outward. Not buying it? Maybe the Flat will change your mind.

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The Flat is right in the heart of downtown, one quick right turn off the 8th street exit if you?re heading south on the 110. They say it used to be a Holiday Inn, but you wouldn?t know it now. From the very moment I walk through the sliding glass doors and step onto the bamboo floor of the minimalist chic lobby, the attention paid to every trend-setting detail is highly apparent. The place definitely looks the part. But by the time I?ve sipped through my second glass of champagne (brought over chilled from on-site restaurant Blue Velvet) while waiting for the tour to begin, I?m already looking for the catch. There are 205 studio units in the building – 167 of which are occupied – ranging in price from $975 to $1350, utilities included. I don?t know if you?ve got your pulse on the rental market nowadays, but in case you don?t, let me tell you – that won?t get you much in most parts of the city. So I?m thinking the units have got to be tiny, right?

There are three model units. The first is empty. There are six of us on the tour and as we step into the room I get an instant jolt of claustrophobia. Looks pretty tiny. But it?s sparkling clean, the polished concrete floors are a nice touch, and I?m told that on a clear day you can see the Hollywood sign out the window. (Today is smoggy.) There?s no closet to speak of but a set of curtains cordons off a closet-sized space just inside the door. I glance around at the faces of my fellow tour members and see their pinched expressions of mild disappointment.

Back in the hallway, we?re told that we?ll see two furnished models. One was professionally arranged by an interior designer with a generous (and unspecified) budget. The other was the end result of an $800 Ikea shopping spree. The limited space in each unit (ranging from 350 square feet in the lowest-priced models to over 650 feet in the priciest units) is intended to foster a ?less is more? approach, and encourages residents to explore creative ways to expand their space. There?s actually a bulletin board in the lobby that showcases the results of a recent contest for the most innovative design. Prizes were awarded. I?m still skeptical when we enter the Ikea room.

What a difference design makes! I?m taken aback by how much larger this room seems. It?s the same square footage as the cramped set of corners down the hall, and although logic dictates that putting anything into a small room would make the room smaller, this room is surprisingly open and airy. There?s not much in the way of furniture, to be sure, but the bed and long vertical entertainment center frame the living area nicely. A dining counter protrudes discreetly from the wall, supported by a single shiny leg. Even the decorative touch in the corner – a tall bouquet of dark brown reeds in a large clear vase on the floor – helps to create the illusion of height. This floor plan works so well that several residents have used the exact same layout for their own studio.

Incredibly, the professionally designed model defies expectations even further. There is a lot more going on in this unit, both visually and physically. The walls are adorned with framed vintage posters and there are many decorative pieces neatly arranged on shelves, a small wall table, and a corner frame. It seems like all of this would just further eat away at the space, but I find the exact opposite to be the case. Also of note is the full-sized L-shaped sofa at the center of the room, which segments the studio into two distinct areas while still allowing a naturally flowing transition and drawing guests in. Glancing around the room, I can see that a claim I?d heard earlier (and dismissed as completely ludicrous) is in fact true ? you could comfortably entertain twelve people in here.

As we head down to the pool for snacks, we pass the gym. In keeping with the ?less is more? ethos, it too makes excellent use of a small space. But function hardly takes a back seat to form here, as the state-of-the-art facilities include both machines and free weights. The view out over the city is also quite impressive. A young professional on the treadmill looks up and smiles. He certainly seems happy to live here. They?re also building a sundeck and Jacuzzi on the gym level, as well as a 5,000 square foot rooftop garden deck, boasting dramatic 360-degree views of the city. Other amenities include premium cable, air conditioning, wireless high-speed internet access, laundry facilities (on every floor), and 24-hour security.

The tour comes to a close back at the pool, where a couple of bikini-clad residents are sprawled lazily in the sun following a dip. Blue Velvet?s lounge menu is available poolside, and it?s not unusual to come across a resident perched in a deck chair, poking around on their laptop while munching on the Blue Cheese Beignets or a Short Rib Dip. As I bite into a tasty crab appetizer, I wonder if I?m cool enough to hang out here. Just then I make eye contact across the pool. She smiles, and I start to think I just might be cool enough to live here.

The Flat, 750 Garland Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 623-3528

About the author

T.L. Lopez