The Los Angeles City Council continued to review the financial impact of the downtown revitalization project “Bringing Back Broadway” this month. In our current economic climate, the original ten-year completion schedule faces possible delay. However, it’s a spectacular project and deserves our support because it is a great investment in L.A.’s future.
Here is what advocates of the “Bringing Back Broadway” project hope to accomplish and what they still have left to do.
Historic Theatres on Broadway
The largest concentration of historic theaters in the nation once thrived along Broadway in Los Angeles from Second Street to Olympic (once known as Tenth Street). When the revitalization is complete, the hope is that all twelve magnificent theatres will once again become hosts to Los Angeles’ most popular destination.
Four of these amazing theatres were saved from demolition and deterioration by recently deceased philanthropist Ezat Delijani: The Los Angeles Theatre and the Palace between Sixth and Seventh, the old Loew’s State Theatre on the corner of Seventh and Broadway, and the Tower Theatre at Eighth Street. The Million Dollar Theater and the Orpheum are also completely restored. Taking a walk through the past on a photo tour of these theatres reveals the astounding beauty of these almost-lost treasures.
Streetcars are coming back
When the streetcar system is complete, it will connect Historic Broadway at its spine with other entertainment and cultural destinations, such as L.A. Live and Staples Center at one end, and Bunker Hill/Grand Avenue’s Music Center complex at the other end. More important, it will remind one how much fun it is to ride the trolleys downtown!
Wider sidewalks, original streetlamps
Lovers of old L.A. architecture will be thrilled to know that the original engineering drawings of the very first Broadway streetlamps have been uncovered. They will be rebuilt on widened sidewalks all along the boulevard when revitalization is complete, along with new signs, kiosks, and public seating.
Oddly, it was discovered that many of the buildings along Broadway had underground basements that extended under the street. Sidewalk and street reconstruction, necessary to repair the crumbling infrastructure, has been completed from Fourth to Fifth Street, and most of Third to Fourth, with Second to Third Street next. A new x-ray type technology will help it go faster from Fifth to Olympic since it can scan under the street and help to avoid surprises. The Broadway Streetscape portion of the plan is currently in the environmental review phase and should be finished this year.
Clifton’s Cafeteria and other Economic Development
The place where the powers-that-be in old Los Angeles sat next to the regular Joes to eat, Clifton’s Cafeteria at 648 S. Broadway, is being restored. Other public-private partnerships include small business workshops, community cleanup activities, renovation of historic buildings and business recruitment. In addition, Project partners plan to create a Broadway Arts Center along the street that will serve the public and 5,000 artists per year. Other projects include special screenings of early films and tours of downtown Los Angeles.