Serene Urban Moment

by Cary Harrison

There is a real estate development company called Urban Moment that seeks to produce smart, creative and environmentally conscious “boutique homes” and condominiums—whose latest project is at 1200 N. Sweetzer Ave. Many WeHo residents are aghast at the unceasing commercial development and denuding of the city’s quieter charms. Plummer Park’s Fiesta Hall (built during the Depression era, employing skilled craftsmen and paid WPA labor) is rumored next on the city’s chopping block, to be replaced by a cinderblock black box theatre.

Nick Hertz, whose Urban Moment, Inc. developments hope not to offend the aesthetic or cityscape, is focused on sustainable design strategies to minimize waste and create environmentally responsible living environments. “If I was going to be living in a condominium, this is how I decided I was going to live,” Hertz says. “I was looking for a niche, a boutique community—just a minimal amount of people, so you get to know who your neighbors are.”

The architect, Aleks Istanbullu, strove to actually make all of this work. “The most important thing you can do is to give the occupants the opportunity for cross-ventilation so they can defer air conditioning. Every one of these units has the possibility of air coming in from about four directions—in other words, four points of light.” So, why is this important? Like a beach house, free-flowing air means no need for huge machines to run up power bills just to make the air breathable. “It was our intent from day one to make these feel like and have the functionality of houses—with two stories like a regular home. If I’m going to give up my house and move into an urban area, I don’t want to have to give up the things that make a house a home.”

Entrances to each unit are private, as in a free-standing house, and are organized around the courtyard. European kitchen appliances are all energy-efficient, surrounded by contemporary custom cabinetry and high-tech electrical wiring. Select units offer roof decks with 360-degree views of the city, along with electrical, gas and water hook-ups for outdoor entertaining.

How much? From $724,000 to $1.3 million for one to three-bedroom lofts. “This is the future of this kind of living,” says Hertz. “West Hollywood is the hub and the center of the big triangle of growth and development.”

More information at 1200sweetzer.com and urbanmoment.com.