By Daily Press staff

With interest building quickly for the coolest new address in downtown Los Angeles, Standard Pacific Homes has announced that an off-site sales office will open in February for Axis at Union Station, where residents will experience the thrill of urban living with “downtown all around.”

To be among the first to own one of Axis’ contemporary condominiums, designed by GMP Architects, prospective buyers can be pre-qualified now by visiting standardpacifichomes.com. And when sales get underway in March, Axis will be offering hardhat tours as it readies the residential buildings for their first occupants in summer 2006.

With such lifestyle amenities as a rooftop pool and lounge, clubroom, fitness center, screening room, Internet café and secure subterranean parking for one or two cars, living at Axis will be like being a permanent guest at a stylish boutique hotel. The private accommodations offer one- and two-bedroom condominiums measuring approximately 644 to 1,460 square feet. The units will feature granite countertops, sleek contemporary cabinetry and stainless steel appliances, as well as private balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows in select floorplans.

The allure of Axis is augmented by its prime location adjacent to historic Union Station in the heart of the city, where entertainment, excitement and culture blend. From Axis, it’s just a short walk or taxi ride to fine dining at one of downtown’s many new gourmet restaurants, Philharmonic concerts at the Disney Hall, Broadway plays at the Music Center, fast-paced sports action and big-name rock concerts at Staples Center, and a taste of LA’s rich heritage in Chinatown and Olvera Street.

Axis’s location is particularly attractive to employees who work in downtown offices, and they can even leave their cars at home when traveling throughout the greater Los Angeles area, because Metrolink and Amtrak trains, the Metro subway and city transit are all available right next door at Union Station. For those who prefer to drive to their destinations, four major freeways intersect nearby.

When sales begin in March, prices are expected to start in the low $400,000s.

Standard Pacific Homes is one of the nation’s largest homebuilders. During its 39-year history, Standard Pacific has built homes for more than 74,000 families. The company constructs homes within a wide range of prices and sizes targeting a broad range of homebuyers. Standard Pacific operates in major metropolitan areas in California, Florida, Arizona, the Carolinas, Texas, Colorado and Nevada.