Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
City Council Votes to Demolish Parker Center
Outside the Parker Center. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
()
In a unanimous vote Friday, City Council approved the plan to demolish the historic Parker Center downtown, according to Curbed. The decision comes after a long-running and controversial discussion around the merits of the building. The LA Conservancy has been fighting for its preservation, citing it as a "significant postwar addition" to the Civic Center, but the building's relationship to former Police Chief William Parker stunted any chances for historic designation and preservation. Chief Parker was the LAPD chief from 1950 to 1966, and under his leadership the police department adopted militarized practices and widened the gap between police and minority communities in L.A. This history, along with the structural dangers of the building itself, led City Council to deny it a monument status. Little Tokyo community leaders also supported the demolition because the construction of the Parker Center involved tearing down a significant number of Little Tokyo businesses in the 1940s and 1950s, according to the LA Times.
The demolition is the the key element of a proposal to replace the Center with a 27-story office tower. The new building will both house city employees and offer retail and restaurants on the ground floor, according to the LA Times. The proposal also includes a request to preserve certain architectural elements of the building, including a Joseph Young mural (the same artist of Triforium fame) and a Bernard J. Rosenthal sculpture. The new office tower is one part of the larger Civic Center Master Plan, which City Council also voted to pass on Friday. The Master Plan will work to consolidate and modernize the area downtown around City Hall. According to Curbed, Councilman Jose Huizar's office said demolition could happen as early as next fiscal year, with the full Civic Center Master Plan occurring in six phases over the next 15 years.
The LA Conservancy expressed dismay at the vote, saying in a statement:
"We strongly believe reuse and rehabilitation of the building are fully capable of meeting the City’s intended goals, and is the more cost-effective approach that can save millions in taxpayer dollars."
Support for LAist comes from
The city's analysis had determined it would cost more to preserve the building than to raze and rebuild. The LA Conservancy considered this an inaccurate and politically-motivated estimation, according to the LA Times.Despite their best efforts, the Parker Center will eventually exist only in memory. The other Welton Becket buildings will still stand, though, so it'll be possible to still get that mid-century architectural fix via the Beverly Hilton or the Capitol Records tower (without perpetuating the legacy of a deeply racist police chief).
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist