The Empty Skyscraper at Hollywood and Highland
There’s an elegant 13-story building at Hollywood and Highland that has been sitting empty since 2008. When it opened in 1928, it was the First National Bank, but had upstairs office spaces for doctors, realtors, stenographers, bookkeepers, and even a beautician.
According to Kathleen (in part):
Six decades later in 1993, businessman Kayvan Setarah purchased First National Bank for $1.2 million. By 2008, the 130-room building was completely vacant — and has been ever since.
In 2010, Setareh was arrested for a wrapping the building in an illegal supergraphic advertising the film How to Train Your Dragon (slide 15). His bail: $1 million, a sky-high amount because he had been warned not to hang an unpermitted sign. “Somebody decided the money was worth it,” remarked Eric Garcetti, then-City Council president.
When the supergraphic was removed, it was revealed that hundreds of bolts had been drilled into the historic building.
To this day, vacant First National Bank darkens one-fourth of the famous Hollywood & Highland intersection. I called the number on the faded “for lease” sign in the window and got no answer.
According to public records, the building’s 2025 tax status is delinquent. What could that mean for First National Bank?
(Serious question: why don’t we go back to arresting lawbreaking property owners? It would likely deter at least SOME of the bad behavior.)
So…no one answering leasing inquiries and a delinquent tax bill. I can’t tell you what’s next for this building, but I’m not optimistic about it becoming any less empty anytime soon.