### Awards 2025 Los Angeles Conservancy Project Award <br> 2025 California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Award <br> 2025 Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) Award <br> Located in between Downtown San Pedro and the Main Harbor Channel, the historic Harbor House has panoramic, water-front views of the Port of Los Angeles. This five-story Mediterranean Revival building was constructed in 1925, originally as an Army and Navy YMCA. Omgivning was tasked with the adaptive reuse of the 107,000 square-foot structure — comprising five stories and a basement — into a mixed-use building with residential units, a restaurant, lobby/lounge, basketball court, and a new pool. Work also included a seismic retrofit of the non-ductile concrete structure, as well as the installation of all new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. <br><br> ### History Built to support the nearby Naval Base San Pedro, the original YMCA building was designed by Jay, Rogers & Stevenson Architects, who were responsible for popular structures across Los Angeles and San Diego in the early decades of the 20th century. It originally housed a gym, pool, coffee shop, cafeteria, dormitory with 410 beds, and open-air handball courts, which were enclosed in 1944. In the 1940s, the building was converted from military to civilian use as a nursing home. The YMCA’s pool was filled in and a large portion of the ground floor became administration and back-of-house. Harbor House was designated as a historic landmark in 1982 and even with this significant change of use, Omgivning met the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation and the Owner was able to obtain National historic tax credits. Throughout the building, the team preserved many of the original features, including painted beams in the grand lobby, tilework, artistic trim painting, and the existing basketball court with a running track above.

Harbor View House

Client / Hillcrest Company

Area / San Pedro

Status / In Progress

Type / Mixed Use, Housing, Restaurant/Bar

Awards

2025 Los Angeles Conservancy Project Award
2025 California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Award
2025 Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) Award

Located in between Downtown San Pedro and the Main Harbor Channel, the historic Harbor House has panoramic, water-front views of the Port of Los Angeles. This five-story Mediterranean Revival building was constructed in 1925, originally as an Army and Navy YMCA.

Omgivning was tasked with the adaptive reuse of the 107,000 square-foot structure — comprising five stories and a basement — into a mixed-use building with residential units, a restaurant, lobby/lounge, basketball court, and a new pool. Work also included a seismic retrofit of the non-ductile concrete structure, as well as the installation of all new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

History

Built to support the nearby Naval Base San Pedro, the original YMCA building was designed by Jay, Rogers & Stevenson Architects, who were responsible for popular structures across Los Angeles and San Diego in the early decades of the 20th century. It originally housed a gym, pool, coffee shop, cafeteria, dormitory with 410 beds, and open-air handball courts, which were enclosed in 1944. In the 1940s, the building was converted from military to civilian use as a nursing home. The YMCA’s pool was filled in and a large portion of the ground floor became administration and back-of-house.

Harbor House was designated as a historic landmark in 1982 and even with this significant change of use, Omgivning met the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation and the Owner was able to obtain National historic tax credits. Throughout the building, the team preserved many of the original features, including painted beams in the grand lobby, tilework, artistic trim painting, and the existing basketball court with a running track above.

Harbor View House

### Awards 2025 Los Angeles Conservancy Project Award <br> 2025 California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Award <br> 2025 Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) Award <br> Located in between Downtown San Pedro and the Main Harbor Channel, the historic Harbor House has panoramic, water-front views of the Port of Los Angeles. This five-story Mediterranean Revival building was constructed in 1925, originally as an Army and Navy YMCA. Omgivning was tasked with the adaptive reuse of the 107,000 square-foot structure — comprising five stories and a basement — into a mixed-use building with residential units, a restaurant, lobby/lounge, basketball court, and a new pool. Work also included a seismic retrofit of the non-ductile concrete structure, as well as the installation of all new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. <br><br> ### History Built to support the nearby Naval Base San Pedro, the original YMCA building was designed by Jay, Rogers & Stevenson Architects, who were responsible for popular structures across Los Angeles and San Diego in the early decades of the 20th century. It originally housed a gym, pool, coffee shop, cafeteria, dormitory with 410 beds, and open-air handball courts, which were enclosed in 1944. In the 1940s, the building was converted from military to civilian use as a nursing home. The YMCA’s pool was filled in and a large portion of the ground floor became administration and back-of-house. Harbor House was designated as a historic landmark in 1982 and even with this significant change of use, Omgivning met the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation and the Owner was able to obtain National historic tax credits. Throughout the building, the team preserved many of the original features, including painted beams in the grand lobby, tilework, artistic trim painting, and the existing basketball court with a running track above.

Owner / Hillcrest Company

Location / San Pedro

Status / In Progress

Type / Mixed Use, Housing, Restaurant/Bar

Awards

2025 Los Angeles Conservancy Project Award
2025 California Preservation Foundation (CPF) Award
2025 Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEAOSC) Award

Located in between Downtown San Pedro and the Main Harbor Channel, the historic Harbor House has panoramic, water-front views of the Port of Los Angeles. This five-story Mediterranean Revival building was constructed in 1925, originally as an Army and Navy YMCA.

Omgivning was tasked with the adaptive reuse of the 107,000 square-foot structure — comprising five stories and a basement — into a mixed-use building with residential units, a restaurant, lobby/lounge, basketball court, and a new pool. Work also included a seismic retrofit of the non-ductile concrete structure, as well as the installation of all new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems.

History

Built to support the nearby Naval Base San Pedro, the original YMCA building was designed by Jay, Rogers & Stevenson Architects, who were responsible for popular structures across Los Angeles and San Diego in the early decades of the 20th century. It originally housed a gym, pool, coffee shop, cafeteria, dormitory with 410 beds, and open-air handball courts, which were enclosed in 1944. In the 1940s, the building was converted from military to civilian use as a nursing home. The YMCA’s pool was filled in and a large portion of the ground floor became administration and back-of-house.

Harbor House was designated as a historic landmark in 1982 and even with this significant change of use, Omgivning met the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation and the Owner was able to obtain National historic tax credits. Throughout the building, the team preserved many of the original features, including painted beams in the grand lobby, tilework, artistic trim painting, and the existing basketball court with a running track above.

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Historic House Relocation Efforts

Across Los Angeles, dozens of historic homes face demolition each year, often to make way for new development. Meanwhile, families in fire-affected areas like Altadena are left with empty lots, underinsured, and facing long, costly rebuilding timelines.

Omgivning’s Historic House Relocation Efforts aim to bridge that gap.

Led by Creative Director Morgan Sykes Jaybush, this initiative rescues homes slated for demolition across greater Los Angeles and relocates them to families who lost their houses in recent wildfires. It’s a mission rooted in sustainability, community resilience, and honoring the architectural heritage of Southern California.

The first houses making this journey include a 1911 Craftsman-style home from Hollywood and a 1910 Craftsman from Los Feliz—each rich in history, character, and craftsmanship. Once threatened with demolition, they are now set for new lives in Altadena, bringing shelter and historic beauty to families displaced by fire.

With deep expertise in adaptive reuse, complex permitting, and historic preservation, Morgan and the Omgivning team manage every step: from coordinating house movers, engineers, and preservation advocates, to navigating city codes and local ordinances, ensuring each home is reassembled safely and sensitively.

“This is the most sustainable way to rebuild,” says Morgan. “It keeps entire homes out of the landfill, reduces costs, and brings historic character back into communities that have suffered profound loss.”

So far, 70 homes have been identified for relocation, with nearly a dozen families ready to receive them. Omgivning hopes to grow this program into a scalable model for preservation-based rebuilding.

Get Involved

Are you a homeowner interested in receiving a relocated home?
Do you know of a historic house at risk of demolition?
Want to donate or support this effort?

Contact

Morgan Sykes Jaybush
houserelocation@omgivning.com
(213)596-5602

We welcome inquiries, donations, and collaborations to help preserve homes and help families rebuild.

About Omgivning

Founded in 2009, Omgivning has worked on over 700 buildings, shaping Los Angeles through adaptive reuse, revitalization, and community-centered design. From boutique hotels to housing, workplaces to cultural spaces, Omgivning’s work strengthens communities by honoring the past and designing for the future.

The Alice Blackburn Residence, Historic Home Relocating to Altadena, CA for fire rebuild efforts

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Historic and Pre-construction

The building's historic images with what the building looked like pre-construction.

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