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'Bringing Back Broadway' Unveiling Offers Energy and Promise of Cooperation

By Ed Fuentes and Eric Richardson
Published: Monday, January 28, 2008, at 06:38PM
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Eric Richardson []
IMGP1412.JPG Ed Fuentes []

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES —

Turnout was high for this morning's unveiling of the Bringing Back Broadway initiative, and the energy in the room gave rise to hope that this might finally be the time that revitalization of the historic street succeeds. The colorful curtain of the Los Angeles Theatre provided a fitting backdrop for a presentation filled with grand ideas for a once-majestic street.

On stage with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Councilman Jose Huizar were the Bringing Back Broadway Trustees, a group of roughly two dozen local stakeholders assembled to guide the new organization. The Mayor and Councilmember expressed their deep love for Broadway and their connection to the street as a child. Huizar recalled watching Bruce Lee films, while Villaraigosa hearkened back to shining shoes outside Broadway department stores.

Early reports on touted the assembled $40 million in public and private money (discussed here this morning). The $20 million in private funding was explained today to count funds already spent along the corridor, including the renovation of the Orpheum Theatre and the street's residential conversions. No solid number was given for funds available to implement the new plan.

Much more fundraising is left to be done if the ambitious effort is to be realized, and of paramount importance is getting all property owners involved in their share of the rehab. Standing outside the Los Angeles after the presentation, Michael Delijani pointed to the $1 million in yearly assessments collected by the Historic Downtown BID as a sign that owners would do their part. He told how improved cleaning and trash collection have already bettered the Broadway streetscape.

The vision document released today and available online includes a heavy dose of pedestrian improvements for Broadway. Included illustrations show a narrowed roadway with widened sidewalks, improved crossings and street trees.

A centerpiece of the plan is the revived streetcar that would connect Broadway to L.A. Live and the Grand Avenue Project. While progress has been slow since the phase one feasibility study was released in September of 2006, CRA has been working to get phase two of the project rolling. This phase would conduct an alternatives analysis and select a preferred routing, allowing the final process of raising funds and gaining approvals to begin. While there's much work left to be done, one trustee pointed out that Seattle's streetcar took just eighteen months from funding plan approval to operation.

While today's announcement certainly didn't answer all the questions, hopes were high that this time plans will indeed pan out and Broadway return to its place as the heart of the city.

Councilman Jose Huizar with Ezat Delijani, owner of the Los Angeles Theatre since the late 1980s.

Michael Delijani and Councilman Jose Huizar examine a map of historic theatres on Broadway.

Media shoots over the crowd during the Mayor's remarks at today's unveiling.

Councilman Jose Huizar addresses the crowd during his opening remarks.

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Conversation

Guest 1

Jon O on January 29, 2008, at 03:12PM – #1

I unfortunately was not able to attend this wonderful event. For many years I produced a number of successful non-profit events at the Orpheum Theatre--including the successful Spook-a-thon Halloween Film Festival--from (BEFORE it was restored) when the general population was terrified of downtown .

What I believe needs to happen is that the other property owner who owns 4 of the other key remaining theatres (L.A., State, Palace & now Tower) need to be strongly encouraged and given both assurances & incentives from the City and the local powers that be--that their sizeable rehab investment of one or more of those theatres (L.A., Palace & Tower) will be justified.

There also needs to be a coherent shared vision between local politicians, property owners and new residents because over the years there have been numerous, ambitious plans to revive Broadway which have ultimately failed. The main difference now is that a sizeable number of upscale loft & apartment residents have since moved in and the areas surrounding Broadway have drastically improved.

Though the L.A. Conservancy deserves to be greatly commended for presenting its annual Last Remaining Seats series at the Orpheum, L.A. and other area theatres for many years and the first major non-profit to produce an event on Broadway. More events need to take place at more of the theatres year round.

The Orpheum's owner Steve Needleman bit the bullet in 2000 and decided to take a calculated risk to invest in a major rehab of that theatre. Though his late father Jack cared about the district & the Orpheum, it was Steve who actually spent the money, but who also benefitted by bringing theatre technical ombudsman Ed Kelsey to oversee the upgrade of the facility then manage it. My only regert is that the Spook-a-thon was not able to continue on a longer term basis.

I personally think the L.A. Theatre should be the next venue to be rehabbed and may benefit from having its main level seats removed and the main floor leveled to be more multifunctional (types of events & uses) and would then not compete directly with the Orpheum as a 2,000 seat sit down theatre--especially when taking into account that another property owner has just rehabbed the Million Dollar at the north end of the district and intends to also use that theatre as a "sit down" mid sized performance venue.

My other thought is that the City of L.A. Cultural Affairs Dept., L.A. County Arts Commission, Downtown Center BID, Historic Downtown BID and others need to create a matching fund pool to be administered by Bringing Back Broadway to go toward non-profit organizations and first time downtown L.A. event promoters for producing their events in the district's theatre venues. I would be happy to be involved in such an effort if it can become organized--Jon Olivan, Historic Theatres Programming & Promotion Consultant (formerly of Friends Of The Orpheum)



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