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A Peek Inside the New LAPD Headquarters' Landscaping

By Eric Richardson
Published: Monday, June 01, 2009, at 05:42PM

Eric Richardson [Flickr]

Looking north from the corner of 2nd and Spring.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — As work gets closer to completion on LAPD's $437-million headquarters building across the street from City Hall, Downtown residents are getting a clearer view of the landscaping and pedestrian amenities that surround the building.

Designed by Downtown landscape architecture firm Meléndrez, the building's green areas wrap all four sides of the structure. The second street side of the facility features a nearly one-acre lawn, while the Spring street side offers a linear pedestrian design that makes appealing use of the building's 75-foot setback.

LAPD is scheduled to start move-ins in the building later this month.

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Conversation

Guest 1

Ankur on June 01, 2009, at 06:28PM – #1

Im hoping the LAPD headquarters will allow more restaurants to stay open later!

Guest 2

Purple Haze on June 01, 2009, at 09:49PM – #2

Shot one is looking north; shot three is looking south; meanwhile, where's the doughnut shop? I gotta get my bearings here....

Paul Clayton on June 01, 2009, at 11:33PM – #3

Impressive landscape renovations. The design makes a good compliment to the building. Simple and neat urban landscape.

Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on June 02, 2009, at 12:01AM – #4

Purple Haze: Indeed, my bearings were a little off with those captions.

Guest 3

Rich Alossi on June 02, 2009, at 01:53AM – #5

This is good news for local restaurants.

BTW, does anyone know if Ma Petit is open still? They were closed for a couple days then opened up again, then closed. I haven't seen them open. Too bad they couldn't hold on until the LAPD HQ opened.

Guest 4

Boots on June 02, 2009, at 09:46AM – #6

The new auditorium is named after longtime city employee Ron Deaton, why? He was the General Manager of DWP. He was not part of the LAPD or any part of it's history. There have been many who have been part of the LAPD family who deserved and earned by their actions or deeds the recognition of having the auditorium named after them.

Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on June 02, 2009, at 10:00AM – #7

That's a good question. Here's the text of the resolution that named the facility:

WHEREAS, Ron Deaton is one of the greatest Los Angeles public servants of our time; he was a leader, advisor and mentor for numerous City managers, elected officials, employees and community activists involved in the public affairs of our City and our region and

WHEREAS, Ron Deaton was Chief Legislative Analyst for the City Council from 1993 to 2004 and was the General Manager of the Department of Water and Power from 2004 to 2007. He began working for the City in 1965 - his City service spanned five Mayors and over sixty City Council members; and

WHEREAS, Ron Deaton was the key person to go to at City Hall to achieve a goal, to solve a problem or to make a project happen; he had the unique ability to overcome all obstacles in order to move forward the work of the people; and

WHEREAS, Ron Deaton was the central person, the driving force, in the initiation and completion of many of the major public projects and initiatives of our time including the seismic rehabilitation and restoration of the historic Los Angeles City Hall as well as the Van Nuys City Hall, the restoration of the Flint Fountain, the rehabilitation and restoration of the structures at the historic El Pueblo, including Pico House after thirty years of neglect, the restoration of the Griffith Observatory, restoration of the Point Fermin Lighthouse, the new Police Administration Building, the purchase of TransAmerica Building and Figueroa Plaza, the agreements for the Staples Center, the effort to site a new Federal Court House in downtown, the Augustus F. Hawkins Natural Park and Wetland Preserve, the launching of the Los Angeles River improvement and beautification effort, the relocation of the Children's Museum to Hansen Dam, the donation of land for the Manzanar Historic Site, crafting the City's response to such challenging and complex issues as City Charter reform, Secession, Energy Deregulation, Redistricting, the Rampart Police Consent Decree; conceiving and implementing numerous public facility bond measures including Animal Facilities Bond (Prop F), Clean Water Bond (Prop 0), Fire Facilities Bond (Prop F), LA for Kids (Prop K), Library Construction Bond (Prop DD), Public Safety Facilities Bond (Prop Q), and the Zoo Facilities Program (Prop CC), bringing the City Council's information technology from typewriters and index cards into the 21" Century of computers, Ethics legislation and balancing many City annual budgets; and

WHEREAS, Ron Deaton, like his beloved boss, the late great Council President John Ferraro, is also one of a handful of leaders who shaped and guided this great City over the last quarter of the 20th Century and into the 21" Century; and

WHEREAS, Ron Deaton is a man of great vision, courage, intellect, resourcefulness, wisdom and compassion - all of which talents he used exclusively for the benefit of the City and the people of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, because of all that and much more, those who worked with him in and out of City Hall enjoyed and appreciated, sometimes feared, but mostly loved and respected that greatest public servant, Ron Deaton;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that by the adoption of this Resolution, the Council of the City of Los Angeles hereby commemorates Ron Deaton's great service to the City by naming the auditorium at the New Police Administration Building as the "Ronald F. Deaton Civic Auditorium."

He did quite a lot, including for LAPD.

Guest 5

Kathleen Amos on June 02, 2009, at 11:10AM – #8

The naming of the Police Administrative Building Auditorium to a retired DWP employee is a slap in the face to the police officers at LAPD and shameful.

Guest 6

Thomas Vettraino on June 02, 2009, at 11:38AM – #9

I can not believe this. Has any DWP facility ever been named after any of the numerous police officers that have died in the line of duty?? The political correctness in this city is ridiculous! This is a Police building, I think we have more than enough of our own heros to honor instead of some DWP employee. But in this era of naming buildings, and now rooms after people I suggest naming a restroom after him, that would seem more appropriate, I mean we wouldn't have water without DWP right? What politician though this one up? Way to look out for us Chief!

Guest 3

Rich Alossi on June 02, 2009, at 11:58AM – #10

Okay, ridiculous much, people? When you have no idea about the service of someone who worked for the city longer than many of us have been alive, you're bringing this 'debate' to a level of absurdity.

First off, it's a civic auditorium, not the entire Police Administration Building.

Secondly, saying that the auditorium can't be named after Mr. Deaton simply because he was at DWP is like saying the 134 Freeway in Glendale shouldn't be alternatively named the Charles Lazzaretto Memorial Freeway because, hey, Officer Lazzaretto wasn't a CalTrans employee.

Grow up.

Guest 5

Kathleen Amos on June 02, 2009, at 12:29PM – #11

Dear Rich Alosi, isn't a blog a place for one to express their opinions? I don't recall their being an insult in my one sentenced opinion. If you can't allow one to opine, then maybe you should grow up.

Guest 3

Rich Alossi on June 02, 2009, at 12:41PM – #12

I never said you couldn't express your opinion. I said your position was absurd.

Guest 3

Rich Alossi on June 02, 2009, at 12:47PM – #13

And let me follow up by saying that your comment, dismissing the service of someone who worked tirelessly to improve our city, was a slap in the face to all who serve to make your life better.

Guest 5

Kathleen Amos on June 02, 2009, at 01:49PM – #14

Dismissing the service of the men and women who have to wear a bullet-proof vest to work every day, and those officers that have died in their efforts to "improve our city" is a slap in the face. Sorry you can't see that.

Guest 7

JM on June 02, 2009, at 02:31PM – #15

More on topic: when do we get our sidewalks back? When will they remove the barriers?

Guest 8

wm on June 02, 2009, at 03:04PM – #16

I wonder If Bratton is wanting to have the Police Building named after himself, after all, he does deserve it, just ask him......

Guest 4

Boots on July 21, 2009, at 11:33AM – #17

Mr. Richardson thank you for your account of Mr. Deaton's performance as a public servant. As you indicated Ron Deaton served our city well and achieved much for the betterment of Los Angeles and deserves recognition. Why does his recognition not come from the Departments he managed? Did they not think that he deserved it?

My point is, the auditorium named after DWP Manager Ron Denton is in the Los Angeles Police Departments new Police Administration Building, not the DWP's.

Let the DWP honor Denton and let the LAPD honor one of theirs who have worn the badge, walked the path of danger for those unknown to them and given the ultimate sacrifice. Deaton has done much for the City but he has not walked in the shoes of a LAPD officer or experienced holding the thin blue line.

BE IT RESOLVED that you Mr. Richardson can take your whereas and therefore and put them you know where, so be it.