A $450 million studio complex is set to arrive in Hollywood, offering a major bet on the industry’s recovery while potentially helping California stem the financial losses linked to the ongoing exodus.

Echelon Studios Hollywood is designed like a sprawling studio lot—but instead of spreading across acres of land, its stages and facilities will rise inside a vertical industrial complex.

The development packs the equivalent of a 10-acre studio onto a five-acre property, architect Andrew Wright of RIOS told The Los Angeles Times.

“Everything is crammed as tight as it can possibly go,” Wright told the outlet.

Developer and landlord David Simon is moving ahead despite repeated warnings that Hollywood has lost the dominance it once held. Instead, he is making a substantial investment in the industry’s future.

Simon remains convinced that Hollywood retains its creative appeal—and that artists would prefer to work close to home whenever possible.

That belief led him to propose demolishing an aging Sears building on Santa Monica Boulevard and replacing it with a new type of production facility, scheduled to open next year.

The project began taking shape five years ago, when well-funded streaming companies such as Netflix were commissioning new productions at an extraordinary rate.

Although that production boom has cooled, Simon continues to see an opening for Echelon Studios Hollywood. His optimism comes despite feature-film production in California falling 20 percent during the second quarter of this year, according to FilmLA, a nonprofit organization.

Television production declined by 30 percent over the same period, FilmLA reported.

Simon expects California to maintain a reliable flow of film and television projects, while arguing that Echelon’s unconventional design and range of facilities will help it compete with rival studios.

Expanded state tax incentives—and the possibility of a 20 percent federal tax credit for filming—are also helping rekindle interest in Los Angeles as a production hub.

“Everybody I talk to in this industry would like nothing more than to stay home and film in LA,” Jamie Crosbie, a film and television executive who will lead studio operations at Echelon, told The Times.

Echelon Studios will feature five soundstages, production support facilities and a dedicated base camp for trucks and equipment.

The 600,000-square-foot complex will also contain a cafe and screening rooms, The Times reported.

At the top of the building, the project will include traditional-style bungalows that once provided office and dressing areas. Over the years, spaces like these became private retreats for prominent actors, writers and producers.

‘People fell in love with them, and so they became the premier real estate on the lot,’ Wright told The Times. 

‘Every production team wanted to live in one for a year while they filmed their production. We built this neighborhood in the sky based on this extremely Hollywood typology.’ 

Their hardest challenge was soundproofing the stage, especially with their proximity to the parking lot. 

‘Soundstages are acoustically isolated boxes, and any adjacent vibration is a risk to compromise the building,’ Wright told the outlet. 

They landed on creating layers of insulation, drywall and thick concrete to block out the vehicles below. 

And Simon, nor his company Bardas Investment Group, is planning on stopping after Echelon. 

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Simon is currently planning a $600 million renovation and expansion at the Television Center, which will be an expansion of Echelon, he told The Times.

As for now, he already has potential tenants taking tours of his upcoming studios and in talks about leasing space. 

‘Hollywood is the greatest brand in the world. It’s not only a place, it’s an industry,’ he told The Times. 

Simon’s investment comes as California is seeing a mass exodus of residents due to crime.  

A total of 53,934 people left Los Angeles County between July 2024 and July 2025, according to latest population data from the US Census.

Former residents who spoke to the Daily Mail in April blamed high rents and crime-ridden streets for their decision to abandon the Democrat-run city, which is also in the grip of a joblessness crunch.

Sherly Rivera Feher, 30, moved from Koreatown in LA to Overland Park, Kansas, in December. The native Angeleno had finally had enough.

Feher told the Daily Mail that she and her husband were begrudgingly paying $3,800 a month for their two-bedroom apartment near Glendale that was steps away from a number of homeless people and prostitutes.

‘It started to get really pricey, and we also just didn’t feel safe at all,’ Feher said.

‘Paying that much, we were hoping to at least get some safety as well… There are needles on the floor and everything [in Koreatown], and just a lot of the mental illness and drug addiction out there.’ 

Matthew Thomas recently moved to Illinois from LA after spending a decade in the City of Angels and even raising a daughter there.

‘I’m so done with LA, dude! I’m so done!’ Thomas said in a July TikTok video.

The final straw for him was a homeless person trespassing on his property after climbing over the fence and sitting in his yard.

‘It’s bulls**t! They don’t do anything about these people. It’s some transient, drugged-up loser… It scared the living daylights out of my wife and daughter who’s out there.’

Despite former resident upset about crime, Governor Gavin Newsom expanded tax credits to help the film industry in the Golden State in September. 

‘California is the nation’s entertainment capital. It is the home of storytellers, dreamers, artists, entrepreneurs, and creators who define culture for the rest of the world,’ Newsom said in a statement. 

‘This legislation protects the extraordinary people who make this industry possible and makes it unmistakably clear: California is still the future of film and television. We have the talent. We have the infrastructure. We have the creative community. And we have an ecosystem that simply cannot be replicated anywhere else.’ 

The Film and Television Tax Credit brings billions of dollars into California’s economy, which supports thousands of jobs. 

The credit started in 2009, and has since generated $34.2 billion in economic activity.  

The Daily Mail has reached out to developers and Newsom for comment.  

A stretch of California highway has been named in honor of Hollywood legend James Dean, 71 years after the actor died in a fiery crash while traveling to a race in Salinas.

Caltrans representatives, local officials and members of Dean’s family gathered Wednesday in Cholame to dedicate part of Highway 46 as the James Dean Memorial Highway. The route links California’s Central Valley with the coast.

The ceremony took place near the location of Dean’s fatal 1955 collision and marked 71 years since his death. Local leaders, the California Highway Patrol and community advocates used the occasion to emphasize a shared message: safer roads can save lives, according to the announcement.

The highway designation serves not only as a lasting tribute to the actor but also as a reminder of the need for continued caution, road-design improvements and public education aimed at preventing future tragedies.

Photos from the ribbon-cutting showed the newly installed James Dean highway sign, with members of his family and local elected officials gathered to mark the occasion.

Dean died on Sept. 30, 1955, near the area where Highways 41 and 46 meet today.

The 24-year-old actor was behind the wheel of his Porsche 550 Spyder, traveling with German Porsche mechanic Rolf Wutherich on their way to a Salinas racing event.

According to the California Highway Patrol, 23-year-old Donald Turnupseed of Tulare was turning left onto Highway 41 when his Ford Tudor entered Dean’s path, NewsNation reported.

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Investigators said Dean tried to swerve around the Ford, but the two vehicles collided almost head-on at about 5:45 p.m.

Dean was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead at age 24.

Wutherich and Turnupseed survived the devastating crash.

A memorial was established near the Cholame crash site in the 1970s, creating a destination where fans and mourners have gathered for decades. Japanese businessman Seita Ohnishi, who admired Dean, was responsible for creating the tribute.

Built from concrete and steel, the James Dean Memorial and Crash Site on Highway 46 features a metal structure surrounding a tree. The monument stands about 900 yards from the location of the fatal collision.

The site also includes a plaque refurbished in 2025 that states, in part, “James Dean’s influence remains indelible, transcending time. He symbolizes rebellion, talent, and the fleeting nature of life.”

Dean’s enduring fame rests largely on three films released before and shortly after his death: “East of Eden” and “Rebel Without a Cause,” both from 1955, and “Giant,” released in 1956.

A South Carolina mother told investigators she could not recall the last time she had given her two young daughters food or anything to drink before deputies found both children dead inside their Ladson home, according to affidavits reviewed by News Media.

Justine Marie May, 31, is charged with two counts of homicide by child abuse in connection with the Sept. 29 deaths of her daughters at the family’s home in Ladson, a community outside Charleston, court records show.

Charleston County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducting a welfare check allegedly found May outside the residence crying and “speaking incoherently,” according to the affidavits.

Deputies went inside to check on the children and discovered that both were dead, the documents state.

May told detectives that the preceding two weeks had passed in a “blur” and that she could not remember when she had last fed her daughters or given them something to drink, according to the affidavits.

She allegedly said she believed the children died because they had not eaten and acknowledged that failing to feed them was neglectful, the documents state. May also told investigators she had been the only person in the home and the girls’ sole caregiver for several weeks.

The affidavits identified the children as approximately 1½ and 2½ years old when they died.

Investigators alleged that May displayed “extreme indifference for human life” by failing to provide the children with basic nourishment and hydration, which they described as a “main contributor to their death.”

Authorities issued a separate arrest warrant for each child, charging May with homicide by child abuse under South Carolina law.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office said deputies had separate contact with May and the children twice in August and three times in September. During those encounters, deputies reported seeing no obvious signs of concern, according to published reports.

The last reported visit before the children’s deaths took place Sept. 20.

The Charleston County Sheriff’s Office of Professional Standards is reviewing the agency’s response. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s Special Victims Unit and the Department of Child Fatalities are also assisting with the investigation, according to published reports.

May was booked into the Charleston County jail on Sept. 29 and was still in custody as of Friday, according to online jail records reviewed by News Media. The records list two charges of homicide by child abuse.

Mabel, the 17-year-old daughter of actor Chad Lowe, has posted a deeply emotional tribute to her sister Fiona, who died by suicide at age 13.

Mabel Lowe, 17, honored her sibling by sharing a carousel of sweet throwback photos to Instagram of the two youngsters growing up and sharing everything together.

“I love you so much, Fiona,” Mabel wrote in the caption of a post shared Saturday. “I wish your short time here was easier, and I hope your mind is at ease now. I will honor you forever and keep your memory alive. I love you. I hope you knew just how much.”

The slideshow featured memories of the sisters together, including beach outings, car rides with birthday balloons, cuddles in a pet bed, wagon rides and a childhood embrace beside Fiona’s crib. Other images showed the girls enjoying a picnic, while Fiona danced in a studio.

Mabel’s tribute comes as family, friends and members of Fiona’s community continue to share messages honoring the teenager after her death.

Lowe’s eldest daughter, Mabel, took to her Instagram Stories on Friday to repost touching video tributes from Fiona’s former dance teacher and the youth club and camp Fiona attended prior to her passing.

Fiona was the daughter of Lowe and his wife, Kim Painter. She was also the older sister of the couple’s youngest child, 10-year-old Nixie. The family said Fiona died by suicide on Tuesday.

The first video in one tribute was originally shared by Kendra Andrews, a teacher and choreographer at the Los Angeles dance studio Fiona attended.

In a lengthy caption, Andrews began by recalling the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which destroyed the Lowe family’s home.

“This first video was taken only a month after you lost your home in the fire,” Andrews wrote. “You came into the studio like you always did for all the years I’ve known you — excited, with a beaming, bright smile and a big, warm hug for me.”

Andrews also posted footage of Fiona practicing the same routine after spending weeks learning and refining the choreography.

“The next video is our second rehearsal a few weeks later,” Andrews recalled. “You had clearly spent so much time outside of the studio working hard to fine-tune and finesse. Your passion and determination were incredibly beautiful to witness.”

“I didn’t film when you performed it on stage a couple days later, as I wanted to be fully present and soak it in. I just watched from the wings, my heart swelling with pride and my eyes filling with tears of joy.”

“FiFi, I love you more than words can convey. It was an honor to teach you, laugh with you and watch you grow. Our hearts are shattered. We will never be the same without you here. I will miss you and love you forever,” Andrews continued.

Andrews also addressed Fiona’s parents and sisters in her message of remembrance.

“Chad, Kim, Mabel and Nixie — I love you, and I’m thinking of you nonstop,” she wrote.

Widget Works, a youth group and camp offering beach days, ocean activities and outdoor adventures in Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades, Southern California, also shared a moving tribute to the teenager.

Mabel reposted their video of Fiona hanging out on the beach with friends and chatting about her stuffed pumpkin pillow which she had named ‘Mr Pumpkin.’

‘He’s a lopsided pumpkin,’ Fiona told the woman behind the camera with a jovial smile.

‘Thank you, Fiona. Thank you for all the beautiful years we were able to frolic, dance, laugh and love each other,’ Widget Works wrote.

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‘Thank you for being such an important part of our Widget Works family and for sharing your love, creativity and sweet sassiness with us.

‘We will miss you, and we will look for you in every wave, every seagull squawk, and we will chant your name amongst the “we are proud of yous.”‘

The youth organization added: ‘We love and adore you, and our hearts ache to be without you. But you will forever be part of our summers, and we will honor you and remember all the beautiful days we were blessed with you. We love you, Fiona.’

In the comments, Fiona’s mom wrote: ‘Love you so much.’

Others who paid loving tribute to the late teen included the Lowe’s father and Fiona’s grandfather, Chuck Lowe; Lowe’s former Bones co-star David Boreanaz; and actor Cary Elwes.

Lowe’s elder brother, Rob Lowe, had been present for the family since the tragedy.

In a statement to People, Lowe and his casting director wife remembered Fiona as ‘a loving young girl who was smart, creative, and loved to dance.’

‘We are deeply heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Fiona.

‘She was adored by her sisters and she was deeply loved by her parents. In fact, she was the light of our lives.

‘Her passing is devastating for our entire family and we ask for prayers and privacy at this time.’

They directed anyone struggling with mental health to reach out to the suicide prevention helpline: ‘If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to the 988 Suicide + Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.’

Last year, the Life Goes On actor took to social media to celebrate Fiona turning 13 years old.

He posted a picture of his daughter on Instagram, writing in the caption: ‘Celebrating Fiona officially becoming a teen today!! Keep dancing through life FiBear! Love you soooo much!! (sic)’

Nine months earlier, Lowe shared a snap of his daughters returning to the remains of their family home, which they were forced to evacuate during the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025.

‘Almost a month after we evacuated our girls finally got to go back to see what’s left of their home,’ he shared in the caption.

‘The way they’ve handled this whole devastating experience is nothing short of remarkable. I am in awe of their spirit and resilience.’

Lowe, who was previously married to Oscar-winning actress Hilary Swank between 1997 and 2007, also insisted it was his ‘greatest joy and privilege’ being a father to the trio.

He added: ‘Helping them navigate these tough times is my sole purpose. Being their dad is my life’s greatest joy and privilege.’

If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org