Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
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.
The Wilshire Grand Hotel Is Officially On Its Way Down
Photo by LA Wad via the LAist Featured Photos pool
Ladies and gentlemen, the Wilshire Grand is officially coming down. Today demolition got underway at the longstanding hotel that is being torn down to make way for a massive new development.On hand today to slice a ceremonial beam out of the hotel were Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Councilmember José Huizar, Councilmember Jan Perry and other project officials.
The hotel first opened in 1952 as the Hotel Statler, and had been at the time of its planning, the recipient of the largest single building permit the city had ever issued, at $15 million. After the last guest checked out, the Wilshire Grand Hotel held a massive sale to clear out all of the property's furniture, appliances, dishes, linens and more.
In its place, a new hotel will go up, alongside an office building. The project, developed by Korean Air, is being touted as "like nothing that this city has ever seen," by Christopher Martin, president of Martin Project Management and CEO of AC Martin, the architecture firm that designed the building.
One unique feature of the new hotel will be the lobby located way up on the 70th floor.
It's going to be some time, though, before you'll be able to take that long elevator ride up to check in and check out the project. Demolition is expected to take a year, and construction years after; the new project is expected to open in 2017.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
