Los Angeles-based 1100 Wilshire, which sat vacant as an office tower since it was completed nearly 20 years ago, is being turned into a 37-story high-rise for luxury condominium homes. Forest City Residential West is undertaking the redevelopment of 1100 Wilshire, which is the only skyscraper office-to-housing conversion under way in Southern California.

1100 Wilshire will offer more than 40 floor plans, including ultra-luxury penthouses on the top floors. Condo prices are expected to range from approximately $350,000 to $1.7 million. Floor plans will range from 550 sq. ft. for the studios up to 12,000 sq. ft. for a full-floor penthouse, as well as one- and two-bedroom units and two-story lofts.

Kevin Ratner, senior vice president of Forest City Residential West, says the views were one of the main reasons Forest City was so interested in acquiring the building, which it purchased for $37 million. 1100 Wilshire represents the first for-sale project that Forest City has built on the West Coast in more than 10 years. “When we first went to the top floor of the building and looked out, we were stunned,” recalls Ratner. “We knew we had a jewel.”

Part of the redevelopment plan calls for approximately 10,000 sq. ft. of retail. Forest City wants to ensure the retail component is “an amenity to the community” and might include something along the lines of a spa, market, bistro or coffee shop.