Stairways to Nowhere
Eric Richardson
[Flickr]
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Fort Moore memorial is one of the odder forgotten public spaces of Downtown. The site once had a great waterfall (see the comments), but it's been turned off since 1977. Now the land above the memorial is the construction site for LAUSD's new $200 million Performing Arts school.
On each side of the former waterfall, stairways lead to what once must have been a path running behind the memorial. Today the tops of the stairways are closed off, with the No Trespassing signs pictured. I haven't seen plans for how the school intends to use this side of the site, but is it too much to ask that there again be a public space on top of the site? Given the money getting put into the structures on top of the hill, doesn't it make a bit of sense to also restore the memorial on the side of it?
Juanito on August 17, 2007, at 06:42PM – #1
Quick everybody: check out the new ed. of Downtown News, before they take it down for correction. One article tells us that Tricky Dick Nixon was once governor of the fair state of Kalifornia. Wow, do they ever need a copy desk.
Ken Hall on August 17, 2007, at 08:57PM – #2
Being a downtown resident, I would also love to see this fountain running again...Does anyone know who is in charge of maintaining the Fort Moore Memorial (and fountain)??...what can be done to raise the funds needed?...If someone knows a person or agency to contact...I will volunteer my effort!
Guest on January 12, 2011, at 06:11PM – #3
One amazing nite in the sixties I was led to this spot. The waterfall was magnificent. We were staying in a goovy apt in the last block of slums that still remained after the big cleanup. The place we stayed had a shower in a wine vat. $60 a month and utilities paid. Not bad.