January 16, 2006
Barlow Hospital for Sale
Another treasured Los Angeles historic landmark may again be threatened with demolition sometime soon. The following is an email I recently received from Scott Fajack, President of the Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park
and Board Member and past President Echo Park Historical Society, concerning proposed plans for the historic Barlow Respiratory Hospital campus in Elysian Park.
Several years ago, the hospital organization considered demolishing some of the historic structures on the site to make way for a new facility. A downscaled project was arrived at through the environmental review process, but was never built. It appears we now have reason to be concerned about the future of this Los Angeles historic landmark once again.
Barlow Hospital is for sale and the bidding is closed.I first found out on Tuesday night when a business reporter from the LA Times called. He said the hospital's plan is to sell the majority of the site while retaining one corner of the site where Barlow would then build a new hospital building funded by the proceeds of the sale. Earthquake codes for brick structures (the main hospital building is from the 1920?s) require the building to be vacant by 2013.
The site is 24 acres, 10 acres on the east side of Stadium Way and 14 acres on the steep west side. The entire site is in Councilmember Reyes' district while the western property line is against Councilmember Garcetti's district. The site also abuts Elysian Park to the north and west. The site is currently zoned Agricultural (A1-1VL) and the majority of the structures on the site are Los Angeles Historic Cultural Landmarks (HCM 504). The Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park has an upcoming meeting scheduled with Councilmember Reyes and is scheduling a meeting with Councilmember Garcetti where we?ll be discussing the sale.
Margaret Crane, Administer of Barlow told the Times reporter that several bidders are interested in purchasing the site to build a dense residential development and are proposing to demolish most of the structures on the site. Barlow would not discuss price. The article should be in the paper on Sunday or Monday. According to Margaret Crane, Administer of Barlow, the LA Times contacted here 3-months ago and it appears that they sat on the story until after all of the bids were in before calling the community for comments.
Ms. Crane also told me that they require $60 million for a new building and that this is the only way Barlow could fund construction.
After I spoke to the reporter on Tuesday I was informed that LAUSD is also interested in the site.
Ken Bernstein of the LA Conservancy has told me that they consider Barlow a very significant historic site and that this will be a major preservation battle if significant demolition is proposed.
Any developer would also have major hurtles to clear before being able to develop the site, including the historical nomination and the zoning which would require the developer to do an Environmental Impact Report in an attempt to build there.
Ms. Crane will be in attendance to discuss the sale at the next Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park meeting on Wednesday, February 1 at 7PM, Williams Hall, Barlow Hospital.
Let me know if you have any questions or you can follow events at www.echopark.net
Thanks,
Scott Fajack
President Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park
Board Member and past President Echo Park Historical Society
The emerging constroversy was also covered in a recent Los Angeles Times article:
Barlow Hospital's Bidding Battle
"Barlow Respiratory Hospital has a storied past. One of Los Angeles' oldest hospitals, with a charitable legacy of serving low-income patients, the 103-year-old facility on the western edge of Dodger Stadium also is designated by the city as a historic landmark..."
And from the L.A. Downtown News:
Barlow Campus On the Market
"The board of the Barlow Respiratory Hospital & Research Center has started accepting bids for the 25-acre campus near Dodger Stadium it has called home since 1902. A new state law requires hospitals to meet stricter earthquake standards by 2013. But Barlow's main building dates to 1927 and would cost $60 million to rebuild, far out of reach for the nonprofit, hospital officials said. Barlow's board has decided to put the main campus in Elysian Park up for sale to test the market and see whether enough funds could be generated to build a new structure. Another option is for the hospital to occupy a small portion of the parcel and sell off the rest."
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