L.A. Conservancy, Downtown Business Groups Select Firmto Develop Historic Core Design Guidelines;...

Business Editors

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 30, 2000

The Los Angeles Conservancy and three Downtown Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) have awarded a $65,000 grant from the J. Paul Getty Trust's "Preserve L.A." initiative to an architectural firm to develop

The firm, Architectural Resources Group, will work closely with property owners in the Historic Core BID, the Downtown Center BID and the Fashion District BID to develop guidelines by Spring 2001.

The Historic Core is bounded by Hill Street on the west, Main Street on the east, Third Street on the north and Ninth Street on the south. According to Ken Bernstein, director of preservation issues for the Conservancy, Downtown's Historic Core boasts many of the most important historic resources in Los Angeles, and includes two areas listed in the National Historic Register: the Broadway Historic Theater District and Spring Street Historic Financial District.

"Broadway contains the largest intact collection of historic movie palaces anywhere in the world," said Bernstein, "and its commercial buildings feature many of the city's most important older office buildings and department stores. Spring Street -- once known as the Wall Street of the West -- offers a group of financial and commercial structures with a heritage unmatched anywhere else in the city."

The new guidelines will include storefront appearance, signage, materials conservation and several other design issues. They are intended to help property owners, developers and design professionals in their effort to preserve and rehabilitate the many important buildings in the Historic Core. They will also help shape new construction, providing a clear design structure for development that might otherwise detract from some of the city's most historic architecture.

Carol E. Schatz, president and chief executive officer of the Downtown Center BID, stated, "We believe that the new standards will ensure respect for the architectural significance of these great structures, while enabling the move toward new uses and a bright future. For example, the office buildings in the original financial district will continue to be transformed into a hub for the Internet and telecommunications fields. There will be a true melding of the old with the emerging."

"The Getty Grant is a great way to kick off the revitalization of the Historic Core and help make the Downtown area a vibrant, 24-hour city," said Kenneth Aslan, executive director of the Historic Core BID.

Bernstein said the group selected Architectural Resources Group, located in San Francisco, based upon its excellent proposal and its extensive experience in developing design guidelines for historic California neighborhoods, including One Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, Downtown San Jose, Downtown Redlands, Palo Alto and the Presidio of San Francisco.

The firm will produce a visual document that couples recommended strategies with photos to make it an easy-to-use guide for property owners.

The Los Angeles Conservancy, the largest membership-based local historic preservation organization in the country, is dedicated to the recognition, preservation, and revitalization of the architectural and cultural heritage of greater Los Angeles. For more information, call 213/623-2489, or click on www.laconservancy.org.

The Downtown Center BID is a coalition of property owners united in their commitment to enhance the quality of life in Downtown Los Angeles. The organization aims to help the 65-block central business district -- The Heart of the City -- achieve its full potential. Further information on Downtown events and real estate opportunities is available at www.downtownla.com.

The Fashion District of Los Angeles BID is a nonprofit service organization funded by property owners that is dedicated to the revitalization of the Fashion District business community by providing a clean, safe and friendly place for business to thrive. The Fashion District, which houses the largest concentration of fashion-related businesses in the West, may be reached at 213/488-1153.

Functioning as the voice of the property owners, the goal of the Historic Core BID is to provide and foster a community that offers a clean and safe environment for all Angelenos to live, work, shop, and play. It provides high-quality maintenance and security, as well as positive community and visitor outreach, management, marketing and economic development strategies that complement this historic and distinguished district. For more information, call 213/688-2818 or visit www.historiccore.com.