August 31, 2005
Ambassador Lawsuit Settled
[UPDATED]
In the news today is word that the Los Angeles Conservancy and LAUSD officials have reached a tentative agreement effectively ending local preservation efforts to save the Ambassador Hotel. The 'deal' allows the school district to move forward with their plans to demolish the historic structure without further litigation. In return, LAUSD has agreed to make a $4.9-million contribution to a non-profit organization whose mission will be to conserve historic school buildings in the district.
Read the Los Angeles Conservancy Press Release, or listen to an interview with Ken Bernstein on 89.3 KPCC's Air Talk.
89.3 KPCC's Air Talk:
The LAUSD And The L.A. Conservancy Reach An Agreement Over The Ambassador Hotel
"The Los Angeles Conservancy and the LAUSD have reached an agreement to allow the school district to tear down the building and replace it with a multi-school complex. The district, in return, will make a $4.9 million contribution to the Conservancy to preserve historic school buildings in the district. Larry talks with Ken Berstein, Director of Preservation Issues for Los Angeles Conservancy, and Glenn Gritzner, special assistant to Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Roy Romer.
Read the accounts in the local news:
Deal Struck to Raze Ambassador Hotel
"Los Angeles school district officials and the L.A. Conservancy have reached a tentative deal to end the conservancy's long battle to save the Ambassador Hotel — allowing the district to tear down the building and replace it with a multi-school complex..."
L.A. Unified Seals Deal to Raze Ambassador Hotel
"In a 6-1 vote in closed session, the seven-member board agreed to make a $4.9-million contribution to a nonprofit organization that will oversee preservation efforts at 50 historic school buildings in the district..."
An unseemly deal: LAUSD fails public in Ambassador settlement
"In an effort to fend off endless litigation, construction delays and cost overruns, Los Angeles Unified School District officials agreed to a $4.9 million settlement with the Los Angeles Conservancy and other preservationists trying to thwart the construction of a high school on the site of the old Ambassador Hotel..."
I haven't read all the details of the agreement, but I too am a little disappointed in the settling of this matter and the agreed upon terms. To begin with, $4.9 million is a very small amount of money, especially when considering the size and scope of restoring buildings like the Ambassador Hotel. Compared with the $318 million the school district expects to spend on the construction of a new campus, $4.9 million is a small price to pay to make the opposition go away.
The formation of a non-profit devoted to the preservation of schools is a great idea. Examples of similar organizations exist around the country, and they do good work. However, I question how effective such an entity will be, if LAUSD has already managed to demolish one of the most historically significant properties in the city. Advanced planning has its benefits for sure, but I suspect that changes in the administration and politics of LAUSD ultimately will be the deciding factor in its stance towards historic preservation in the future.
It will be interesting to see just how the proposed non-profit is setup. Will it be a new organization, or part of an existing entity like the Conservancy? The answer to this question likely will determine just how influential the proposed non-profit turns out to be, and how successful it is at integrating local history and historic preservation into the curriculumn of our schools.
Despite my cynicism, I can't help but applaud the Los Angeles Conservancy and the other coalitions partners for all the effort they have put forward trying to save the Ambassador from destruction. I think we can all agree that without such an organization to advocate for historic preservation, a great many more historic landmarks in the Los Angeles would be lost to the wrecking ball.
Have comments or an opinion on this matter? Send an email and let me know, or continue the conversation at the PreserveLA Forum.
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