Broadway Project Announces Charrette, New Director

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Last week, Councilman José Huizar led a panel discussion on “Bringing Back Broadway” that served as primer, but made a clear connection with the role the return of street cars will have in successfully revitalizing the Broadway corridor.

The panel, held at the Orpheum, was sponsored by The Heritage Committee of City Club on Bunker Hill. While many in the audience were aware of the two initiatives, they were new to the details and were quietly enthusiastic to see the depth of planning, the field trips to other cities made by locals, and the progress made in earmarking grants.

Questions after the discussion were focused on transportation, including inquiries on local taxi service and pedicabs. During the panel, it was announced was that a streetcar charrette will be held at the New LATC on August 14th, from 10am - 2pm.

After the panel, CD14’s Jessica Wethington McLean stated “It will be a very interactive hands-on community design workshop about integrating the streetcar into the Broadway streetscape, connecting the streetcar to other forms of transit on and near Broadway.”

The charrette is designed to finds ways to make the most of the pedestrian walkway opportunities along Broadway. With new residents wanting an urban experience for Downtown that goes beyond working hours, it brings to the table a group of stakeholders that did not exist in previous incarnations of Broadway plans: residents.

Also announced at the panel was the news that Wethington McLean will be appointed Executive Director for “Bringing Back Broadway”. To date she has headed the Broadway efforts from her post as Planning & Economic Development Director in Huizar’s office.