Someone is cleaning out the Giraffe Building.....

Does this mean that it's going to be used? By whom? Is it rented? Has it sold? Will it be a 99 cent store, or can we hope for something better here? After all, the wine bar 1642 is hopping, so whoever puts a business in Giraffe is going to be seen by monied hipsters. Just a hopeful thought.

Belmont and Temple: Giraffe Building Languishes!

Save the Giraffes! OK, I mean save the 'Giraffe Building' of my Welcome Hill Neighborhood. I love this mixed-use building of the 1915 or so...it has Richardsonian Romanesque touches in its decoration and the perfect scale for our neighborhood, a scary local history story, and a long giraffe-neck sign circa 1950, which is uber cool. If only its owner would do something with the structure. I know the neighbors would support a Victorian/craftsman vintage shop here with apartments above, and as soon as the upscale wine bar goes in on the very next block, upscale foot traffic will return to this corner... For more on the historic, vintage, and architecturally significant real estate of Echo Park, visit www.maggiewineland.com.