Conservancy Donation

Your Sept. 28 article (“Stand on Theater Altered After $100,000 Gift,” Metro) questioned whether the Los Angeles Conservancy changed its position on the demolition of the historic California Theater because of a donation from the father of the theater’s owners. The Conservancy did not change its position as alleged, and there was no connection between the donation and our campaign to save the theater.

In October, 1988, under pressure from the Conservancy to prevent the theater’s demolition, the Community Redevelopment Agency agreed to require a full environmental impact report and reuse study from the property’s developer. The study would determine if any economically feasible use could be made of the building.

This was a substantial victory for preservation, because until then the city did not require such studies for buildings in the theater’s category. Unfortunately, despite a year of intense efforts by both the consultants and the Conservancy no feasible uses were identified. The EIR was certified on March 1, 1990.

The incident referred to in your article occurred nearly three months later, when a clerk at the Cultural Heritage Commission drew our attention to the existence of a nomination of the theater for landmark designation that had been in the commission’s file since 1985. We declined to reactivate the nomination at that time.

Our 1988 agreement with the CRA had already achieved the key benefits that would have resulted from formal designation. Demolition had been delayed by 19 months, and a full reuse study and EIR had been completed without finding any practical use for the building. This did not constitute a change in the Conservancy’s position.

The article did not explain the actual reason for the donation. The donor owns more than a dozen historic buildings in downtown and has been working with the Conservancy for some two years on positive programs to preserve and restore those buildings. His donation served both historic preservation and the financial viability of his properties. It also reflects his recognized position as one of the city’s most generous and public-spirited philanthropists.

It is the Conservancy’s policy not to accept donations that might compromise our advocacy for preservation. We did not do so in this case, and the donor did not make his gift with any intention of altering Conservancy policy.

JORGE SANCHEZ, President, Los Angeles Conservancy