LOS ANGELES—G.H. Palmer's Da Vinci apartment development in Downtown Los Angeles caught fire early yesterday morning. The fire engulfed two-thirds of the construction site, destroying majority of the project. Da Vinci Apartments is a seven-story, 1-million-square-foot multifamily development that took up a city block on Temple Street and Figueroa Street. The cause of the fire is still unknown, however, the fire department is investigating potential criminal causes.

The Los Angeles Fire Department responded quickly to the fire, managing to contain the majority of the flames within the first 90 minutes However, firefighters continued to battle hot spots until late last night. While the flames engulfed two-thirds of the project, heat from the fire melted freeway signs along the 110 Freeway and damaged nearby buildings. The headquarters of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which is adjacent to the development, suffered from damage to 160 10-foot windows, and the Department of Parks and Recreation suffered from fire damage and water damage from the firefighters' hoses.

The project was in the framing stage of development and was set to come online in early 2015. It is unclear exactly now how or when the development will proceed or the financial set back this will cause. Some sources unrelated to the project have estimated the loss of $10 million. We are currently trying to reach the developer, who is also known for building the nearby Orsini and Medici complexes, for additional information, and will update this story as soon as more information becomes available.