The Blackburn Apartments built in 1926 and located at the northeast corner
of Yucca and Wilcox, has a long history in the Hollywood Community. Once the
home of actors including silent film star Mae Murray, the 4 story concrete frame
with brick infill building sustained a long decline until it became the locale
for drug related transactions and crimes. In the early 1990’s the building
was shut down by the City’s Slum Housing Task Force and subsequently became
the hangout of various gangs and transients. Through the decline, the building
was neglected: wood windows allowed to rot, the character defining clinker brick
painted, interior dryrot at bathrooms undermining the integrity of the structure.
In the mid nineties
a concerned group of local residents, building owners, and City agencies led
by Councilmember Jackie Goldberg’s office spearheaded an effort to reclaim
the Yucca Corridor from the drug dealers and restore its place as a residential
neighborhood of Hollywood. As part of that effort, the Blackburn Apartments,
now referred to as the Wilcox Apartments, were acquired by the Hollywood Community
Housing Corporation (HCHC), a Hollywood based non-profit developer of low income
family housing.
Upon acquiring the property, HCHC hired the firm of M2A Milofsky and Michali
Architects, to undertake the conversion of the 41 unit structure to 23 affordable
family units. With a mix of unit types ranging from 1 bedroom units to multiple
3 and 4 bedroom units, the building was substantially rehabilitated. Most notably
to the Hollywood Community, the yellow and pink paint applied by a previous
owner was removed, once again revealing the character defining clinker brick
used on the primary facades. (Clinker brick is the uneven and deformed brick
usually discarded in the production process). While it was not economically
feasible to restore the wood windows due to the degree of damage and high lead
content of the paint, the original colors of the wood trim and cast stone elements
were researched and returned to the building. For security reasons the original
corner entrance was converted to a large lobby window and a new handicapped
accessible entrance was provided through the landscaped front courtyard.
On the interior
of the building, the Lobby cast stone walls and terrazzo floors were restored.
The original colors and stenciling of the ceiling were researched and replicated,
and new pendant lighting provided to complete the feel of the original 1926
ambiance of the space. Community Rooms and an after-school learning center are
located at the ground floor along the north side of the building, looking out
onto a landscaped play yard for the children.
The building, fully leased since August of 1998, was formally dedicated on
June 24 of this year. As a result of the efforts of the Hollywood Community
Housing Corporation, the CRA, and the many financial entities which cooperated
on this project, 23 families have found a new home in one of Hollywood’s
historic buildings.
Hollywood Heritage salutes the efforts of Hollywood Community Housing Corporation
in returning many of the community’s deteriorating historic residential
properties to viable use.