In fact, the space is mostly surrounded by warehouses, car parks and a rail yard.
But it does have that sly, cool, industrial vibe that makes most downtown residents feel right at home.
It is also adjacent to the trendy artist community known as the Brewery, which is a pillar of the downtown Los Angeles art scene.
Built in 1922 as an Edison substation in the Lincoln Heights area, the building was completely updated and renovated by RoTo Architects in the 1990s. Since then, it has been used as a residence, an art gallery and even a doghouse for performances (and occasionally both), according to the Los Angeles Times.
Prior to its gorgeous renovation, the cinema was a movie location - mainly for horror and action films.
The building can be seen in the zombie film Return of the Living Dead as well as Hell's Gate and Nowhere to Hide, starring Kris Kristofferson and Drew Barrymore.
Known as the Carlson Regis House, named after the couple who hired renowned architect Michael Rotondi to redesign it, the house sits on nearly half an acre.
It includes a main floor with an art studio, a gallery, a first floor great room with a very modern kitchen and a penthouse suite.
The 9,180 square foot house has three bedrooms and four bathrooms.
The main floor has distinctive features including 35ft high loft ceilings, exposed ductwork and strong steel beams.
Surfaces are made of industrial quality iron, concrete and glass. The interior is illuminated by a series of multi-storey steel framed windows.
The living spaces are sleek and contemporary, particularly the master suite, which has a downward facing wardrobe and dressing area; an office; and a covered gym deck, all with views of the Los Angeles skyline and the San Gabriel Mountains.
Guest rooms are distributed throughout the main structure, each with a unique shape, angle and view.
The site includes an adjoining studio and a raised deck which showcases a swimming pool constructed from a used oil storage tank.
The property also has a tropical courtyard, koi pond and desert garden.
The building has been on the market since 2018, with prices ranging from $6.86 million to $7.35 million.
This most recent listing has been active for approximately five months - unusual for an AIA award-winning landmark.
The listing notes that this unique property "has the potential to be expanded by 48,000 square feet for commercial use or end-user development", which would make it ideal as a live-work space.
