Best Lofts in Downtown Long Beach: Building Guide

The Best Loft Buildings in Downtown Long Beach (Guide)

The Quick Answer

Downtown Long Beach has nine main loft buildings. The best historic lofts are the Walker Building (largest units, live/work zoning), Temple Lofts (quietest, most amenities), Kress Lofts (true brick and timber), and Ebell Lofts (11 units in a 1924 theater). For newer construction, Promenade Lofts and City Place Lofts offer modern systems and more floor plans. The right building depends on whether you want historic character, live/work zoning, amenities, or privacy.

Downtown Long Beach has one of the best collections of loft homes in Southern California outside Downtown LA, much of it 1920s department stores, theaters, and office buildings converted into homes. One Long Beach firm, Interstices, converted many of them. Here’s how all nine compare, and who each one is best for.

Historic Loft Conversions

1. The Walker Building – 115 W 4th St

Best for: live/work buyers who want the biggest units

Built in 1929 as the Walker Department Store and converted in 2005, the Walker is downtown’s flagship loft building. Units run about 1,200 to 2,800+ sq ft with ceilings up to 20 feet and concrete mushroom columns, plus a shared rooftop deck with city and ocean views. It’s zoned live/work, and it’s right on Pine Avenue.

2. Temple Lofts – 835 Locust Ave

Best for: buyers who want quiet and amenities

This former Masonic Temple was converted into lofts in 2005. It’s strictly residential, with no retail or restaurants below, so it’s noticeably quieter than the lofts on Pine Avenue. It also has the most amenities of the historic buildings: a fitness center, community lounge, and courtyard with a spa and BBQ area.

3. Kress Lofts – 100 W 5th St

Best for: loft purists who want brick and timber

Built in 1925 as an S.H. Kress & Co. store, Kress is one of the only downtown Long Beach lofts with real brick-and-timber construction: heavy wood beams, raw brick walls, and an open atrium. Units start around 800 sq ft, making it one of the more affordable ways into a historic loft.

4. Ebell Lofts – 1100 E 3rd St

Best for: buyers who want something truly one of a kind

Just 11 lofts carved out of the 1924 Ebell Theatre, a Spanish Renaissance building and designated Long Beach Historical Landmark built alongside the Ebell Club. Because the units came out of a theater, ceilings and windows are huge, and no two of the 11 floor plans are alike. Sizes run about 1,200 to 2,200 sq ft.

5. Insurance Exchange Lofts – 207 E Broadway

Best for: privacy and landmark architecture

A 1925 building on the National Register of Historic Places, known for its terra cotta facade with griffins and sea serpents. With only 14 live/work units, it’s one of the most private buildings downtown, right at the corner of the Promenade.

6. Newberry Lofts – 433 Pine Ave

Best for: loft style with modern systems

The former J.J. Newberry five-and-dime, open from 1951 to 1994, was converted into 28 lofts and penthouses above ground-floor retail, completed in 2016. As downtown’s newest conversion, it has features most historic lofts lack, like central air conditioning.

7. Courtyard Lofts – 849 Pine Ave

Best for: outdoor space and a small-community feel

Sixteen live/work lofts built from two commercial buildings around a shared garden courtyard. The design won a 2009 AIA Housing Award, one of only three multifamily projects honored nationally that year.

Newer Loft Buildings (Soft Lofts)

8. Promenade Lofts – 133 The Promenade N

Best for: the most choice, and live/work storefronts

Built in 2006, this 97-unit community has 20+ floor plans, including lofts, flats with up to 3 bedrooms, and live/work shopkeeper units with street-level workspace, right on the pedestrian Promenade.

9. City Place Lofts – 395 E 4th St

Best for: practical buyers who want newer construction

Built in 2006 inside the East Village Arts District, City Place has brownstone-style architecture, two-level units that live like small townhouses, central air, and guest parking, at a lower price per square foot than downtown’s high-rises.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best loft building in Long Beach?

It depends on what you value. The Walker Building is the top pick for space and live/work zoning, Temple Lofts for quiet and amenities, and Kress Lofts for raw brick-and-timber character. For newer construction, Promenade Lofts offers the most choice.

Which Long Beach lofts are zoned for live/work?

The Walker Building, Insurance Exchange Lofts, Courtyard Lofts, and the shopkeeper units at Promenade Lofts are zoned live/work. Always confirm what’s allowed for a specific unit with the city and the HOA.

Which Long Beach lofts have Mills Act tax savings?

Some of the historic buildings have Mills Act contracts, which can lower property taxes, but status can vary by building and even by unit. Ask for a unit’s current tax bill before making an offer, and see each building’s guide for details.

What’s the difference between a hard loft and a soft loft?

A hard loft is a converted older building, like the Walker or Kress. A soft loft is new construction designed with loft features, like Promenade Lofts or City Place.

Looking for a Loft in Downtown Long Beach?

Inventory in buildings like the Walker, Ebell, and Insurance Exchange is very limited, and good units often sell fast. I track every loft building downtown, including coming-soon listings, and can help you compare buildings, HOAs, and recent sales before you buy. Call or text David Hernandez at (213) 808-4324.