May 8, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Historic Venice Post Office Building to Become a New Hub for Creatives

“The Lighthouse” will offer workspace, production facilities, career development, and artist studios in Venice’s iconic Windward Circle

By Zach Armstrong

The Venice Post Office Building at 1601 Main St., an 85-year-old historic art deco property at Venice Beach’s iconic Windward Circle, is transforming into a new “creative playground”.

Dubbed The Lighthouse, the shared workspace campus concept aims to be a place where artists of various kinds can foster their productions and support one another. Complete with a 50-person theater, production facilities, event space, artist studios, a coffee shop, and an outdoor garden, the campus will also offer career development courses, business coaching and workshops.

“We believe creativity is sparked by the coming together of original minds and bold spirits. Your muses, competitors and co-conspirators; those who challenge you to learn more and imagine bigger.” as the company’s ‘manifesto’ states on its website. “Inspired by those rare, hidden coffee shops, pioneering art schools, silicon valley garages and magical recording studios that were the fertile ground for the great cultural movements and tech revolutions. We built a campus where all the tools, support, and inspiration exist under one roof.”

The Venice campus is set to open in December and is accepting applications. A second Lighthouse location in Brooklyn, New York, situated one block from the East River in the heart of Greenpoint, is slated for opening by April of next year, per the company’s website.

This isn’t the first attempt to turn the two-story, 23,690 square ft. structure into a hub for artistic ventures. In 2012, Hollywood producer Joel Silver purchased the property with plans to convert it into a new headquarters for his film production company Silver Pictures. But those plans never came to fruition. 

Just before Silver exited Silver Pictures, and after years of minimum construction activity as the building sat covered in graffiti, London-based real estate investment firm Allied Commercial Exporters purchased the building in 2019 for $22 million (3x what Silver doled out for it, according to Hollywood Reporter). Plans were filed with the city that year to convert the building into an office, according to The Real Deal. 

The Louis Simon-designed post office was one of many built as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Completed in 1939, the Mediterranean Revival-style property was also one of about 800 USPS buildings adorned with an interior mural; a federally funded arts initiative which counteracted the Great Depression with bolstered morale and job creation, according to the L.A. Conservancy. 

Situated within the lobby is the “Story of Venice” mural by modernist artist Edward Biberman that pays homage to the early days of the beachside community. At the center is city founder Abbot Kinney, surrounded by the canals, a wooden roller coaster, oil rigs, and a bustle of jovial activity once regularly drawn by the Venice Pier. 

City Councilwoman Traci Park stated in an announcement that the building’s original 1930s lobby will be preserved as part of the revitalization, while photos posted by the local official showed Biberman’s mural in the background.

One-to-three person office spaces are available for $5K-$7.5K/month, while individuals can reserve flexible access for $5,750/year. More information can be found at https://www.thelighthouse.com/.

in Hard, News
<>Related Posts

Camp Integem: Step into the Future

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

Explore, Create, and Launch Beyond! This summer, kids are invited to make magic as they journey into the fun-filled, hands-on...

County Approves Emergency Support for Stranded Marine Mammals Amid Algal Bloom Crisis

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

The motion comes in response to an ongoing outbreak of domoic acid poisoning—a neurotoxin produced by a harmful algal bloom...

Whistleblower Claims Accuse LAHSA Chief of Misconduct, Data Suppression

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

Inside Safe Data Allegedly Withheld to Protect Mayor’s Image  Los Angeles’ top homeless services official is facing serious allegations of...

Tahitian Terrace Residents Cleared for Federal Debris Removal

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

FEMA Regional Administrator Robert J. Fenton wrote: “Tahitian Terrace is a rare and exceptional case eligible for inclusion in the...

Santa Monica Kids Get $60K in Crayola Art Supplies to Inspire Healing and Creativity

May 7, 2025

May 7, 2025

EPIC Delivers Art Supplies to Wildfire-Affected Kids in Santa Monica 600 children at Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica...

Arrest Made After $56K in Jewelry Robbed from Santa Monica Home

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

The investigation remains ongoing as detectives review evidence and explore the possibility of additional suspects A man was arrested in...

Loyola High School Senior Athlete Killed in Suspected DUI Crash in Manhattan Beach

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

Former Palisades Resident Moved to the South Bay After Losing Home in Fire Braun Levi, a senior at Loyola High...

(PHOTOS) Stevie Nicks’ Former Marina del Rey Condo Hits Market at $3.9M

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

The 2,091-square-foot condo occupies the second floor of a 1972-built structure and features sweeping ocean views A beachfront condominium in...

Marathon From Altadena to Palisades to Raise Funds For Recovery Efforts

May 6, 2025

May 6, 2025

The course will pass through checkpoints, including stops in Eagle Rock, Silver Lake, Hollywood, and Santa Monica Runners will traverse...

‘A Wonderful Place for the Community’: Urban Jungle Celebrates One Year Anniversary

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

From soil to sanctuary, Urban Jungle, an indoor and tropical plants nursery, is celebrating one year of business this spring....

Los Angeles County Declares Hepatitis A Outbreak as Case Numbers Triple Over Previous Year

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

Health Officials Urge Residents to Get Vaccinated Amid Rising Infections  The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has declared...

Vending Kiosks Pop Up Around Santa Monica to Expand Access to Health Supplies

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

Each station offers access to COVID-19 antigen test kits, naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and more In an effort  to combat...

Santa Monica Could Require Large Buildings to Cut Emissions

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

A public meeting to discuss the proposal and gather community feedback is scheduled for May 8 Santa Monica is preparing...

Dolphin and Sea Lion Deaths on Venice and Santa Monica Beaches Linked to Harmful Algae Bloom

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

While algal blooms and domoic acid outbreaks have occurred, this particular bloom has reportedly impacted more animals than in recent...

Palisades Real Estate Market Faces Mounting Inventory, Falling Land Values Amid Rebuild

May 5, 2025

May 5, 2025

Price reductions are becoming more common, with weekly drops steadily increasing. Still, well-priced lots in desirable locations are finding buyers ...