Debate over Fate of 5th Street's Old Station 23
Los Angeles Times / UCLA Library
A 1967 photo shows the decommissioned Firehouse 23, one year after the Fire Department ceased to use the structure.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Historic Fire Station 23 was decommissioned in 1960, but nearly 50 years later the building's future is still a topic of debate at City Hall.
Prompted by a developer's wish to purchase the building and renovate it, a city council committee today instructed the General Services Department to get an appraisal for the structure and to explore what it would take to sell the nearly century-old fire house.
Before it did so, though, it heard three different visions of what the building should be.
Los Angeles Fire Station 23 opened at 225 E. 5th Street in October of 1910, built at a cost of $53,000. The structure served as the headquarters for the Los Angeles Fire Department between 1910 and 1920.
The third floor of the building even served as a home for Chief Engineer Ralph J. Scott and his wife Addie from 1920 to 1927.
Miles Cotton, a real estate broker who set things in motion by contacting Councilwoman Jan Perry's office, first became interested in the old firehouse eight years ago, and has been making inquiries ever since. He sees a restored structure holding a restaurant on the first two floors of the building, with perhaps a single large residential unit upstairs.
A major restaurant in the middle of Skid Row? "We hope that our project would be a catalyst for activity, for positive change and for making that area more walkable and desirable to be at."
He compares the 5th street site to the corner of 4th and Main a decade ago. "It was one of the worst corners in the world. Things do change," said Cotton. "Had people not developed and installed businesses in that place it would still be exactly the same."
A sale would likely spell an end for Daniel Taylor's plans to see the station turned into a cultural center.
Taylor has lived in the 5th street fire house as caretaker since 1989, and six years ago started the Corporation for History, Art and Culture. He hopes to see the building become a facility that produces and funds cultural, artistic and educational projects exhibits and events.
In recent years, Taylor has opened building to the public for community events, and has hosted his Community Unity Festival on the street outside.
At today's meeting, it was clear that some of Taylor's uses have not had the blessing of the city. Councilwoman Jan Perry questioned the City Attorney's office on whether any money was being collected by the property and if so, where that money was going.
It was during Taylor's time as caretaker that the fire station was the center of a scandal involving fees charged to film companies. The building was featured in productions such as the "Ghostbusters" movies, "Police Academy II," and "The Mask."
On April 18, 1995, an L.A. Times investigative story accused Fire Chief Donald O. Manning and Deputy Chief Gerald L. Johnson of personally collecting over $200,000 in film fees that should have gone to the city. Manning resigned his post eight days later.
Perry also questioned General Services, who took over care of the building from the fire department in the wake of the scandal, on other activity at the fire station, specifically mentioning seeing illegal hot dog carts stored inside the fire house.
General Services reported that it has initiated eviction procedures against Taylor, and that it expects to lock the building up by November 1.
"We've had to go by on several occasions over quite a few years to stop various activities from going on in the facility," said a representative from the department. "And so recently General Services has taken the position that we can totally secure the building with no caretaker."
In the end, though, the property could end up with an entirely different use. The building was specified as a youth arts center in Proposition K, an assessment which Los Angeles voters passed in 1996. $2.3 million was appropriated to the project, and that could prevent the city from taking any other action on the site.
The committee asked General Services and the City Attorney's office to report back in 60 days on what Prop K means for the building, and to begin the process of getting the building's sale value assessed.
Reached by phone before the meeting, Taylor said that while he believes in his efforts, he just wants to see the historic structure put to good use. "I want the community to at least have a fair hearing on the potential of this building," he said. "If the community's ok with it -- be it a restaurant, bar, whatever -- then I'm ok with it."
Rich Alossi on September 01, 2009, at 05:37PM – #1
Wow, coincidentally enough I was passing this building the other day and wondered about its history and whether there were any plans for it and what its current use is. It's a beautiful structure.
The area around 5th and Los Angeles is a total mess right now, and could use some investment. I'd absolutely support a restaurant use here - but I warn the developer that it's a very different neighborhood at night, and not even very good during the day.
I do, however, see events occurring on the rooftop of the fire station from my roof, and have always wondered what it is since I hear music and see the lights.
This could help spur some reinvestment in the neighborhood - and maybe increased security at the hotels on LA Street.
Those stucco/cinderblock swap meet buildings at 6th and Los Angeles and 5th and Los Angeles need to go. They're falling apart and are nuisances. Since a lot of foot traffic is moving over to Los Angeles Street from Broadway (cheaper rents? more parking?), they're in a good position to become upgraded retail/wholesale buildings.
BP on September 01, 2009, at 09:43PM – #2
I remenber seeing this building in the very FIRST Lifetime movie "The Killing Mind" (1991)staring Stephanie Zimbalist.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102212/
This movie was filmed in the Downtown and Echo Lake areas. Rosslyn hotel is worked into one of the movies main storylines. It also showed this fire station's interior it's not on DVD and it's pretty interesting.
Other buildings and sites featured: herald examiner building (as a police station)in and out skid row silver lake various buildings on Spring st. Union station
Jasmijn on September 02, 2009, at 10:31AM – #3
I'm all for this building being restored and brought back to life. It's a beautiful thing that shouldn't be allowed to fall apart. I've wondered about its history and future on the few occasions I've passed by.
Question, though: it was classified as a youth center under a measure that passed in 1996 and they're only just considering "what Prop K means for the building"? What has been done with the $2.3 million that was appropriated to the building 13 years ago, and why has it been empty all this time?
Eric Richardson (@blogdowntown) on September 02, 2009, at 11:13AM – #4
Jasmijn: Government can move pretty slow, can't it? Prop K is a 30-year assessment, though, so it wasn't like it passed and all the money was available right away. The money accumulates over the life of the assessment and different projects would happen on different timetables.
Dawna Nolan on September 02, 2009, at 12:27PM – #5
I hope to see this building restored and utilized for a purpose that enhances and benefits the community it resides in--Skid Row--as a youth arts center or cultural center would--particularly given the 1996 Prop K measure. Another restaurant? I don't see that development as offering as much potential benefit to the Skid Row neighborhood, nor to Downtown at large. We have the ability and opportunity (and responsibility, as far as I am concerned) to guide development in a considered, thoughtful way downtown, rather than simply supporting gentrification for its own sake. We ought to be aware that it will be far more difficult to raise funds and develop community centers and public service organizations and spaces as downtown becomes more developed and gentrified.
Jamie DeFrisco on September 02, 2009, at 03:55PM – #6
I was at an event held at the fire station less than two weeks ago. It looks like they were sort of doing work on the place, but it still looks like a mess. The building itself is gorgeous, despite looking worn.
Here's a site for the renovations: http://www.thechac.net/thechac_restore.htm
I'm surprised that it took Taylor so long to decide to start renovations. I would like to assume that more people in the community would be interested in helping out, if they knew about it or if there were more widely released events. I would love to see this place renovated. I think it would serve best as a cultural center/event space. It's a great place to have events or have art galleries.
Been There on September 02, 2009, at 06:50PM – #7
Say, why not put Haven in the old firehouse? Haven's cheerleaders claim that it is "the only way" to clean up a bad block, so why not put it to the big test down on 5th St.?
Rich, you would (surprise!) personally support a restaurant there. Why not Haven?
Rich Alossi on September 03, 2009, at 12:00AM – #8
Been There, I'm done arguing with you.
Yeah, surprise! I write about restaurants!
Daniel Taylor on September 03, 2009, at 01:49PM – #9
The Prop K funds of $2.3mil. Corporation for History Art and Culture (CHAC) http://www.thechac.net The Firehouse Cultural Center Project works very well within the parameters of Prop K.
Text of Proposition K
(a) Include an at-risk youth component, either by including training and employment of at-risk youth to implement the project or by providing facilities to serve at-risk youth;
(b) Serve an area without similar services or facilities;
(c) Permit expansion of an established, successful program to serve a larger population or to provide an increase in services;
(d) Demonstrate community support;
(e) Demonstrate high cost-effectiveness;
(f) Demonstrate readiness of project;
(g) Demonstrate sustainability of project;
(h) Meet such other criteria as may be established by the City Council.
For the last 5 years CHAC has been working in the community to develop the model of a Community Cultural Center, consisting of a broadcast quality video, audio, production facility and exhibition /event venue for the Downtown Community. We are now ready to have the community learn about the Cultural Center Project, help us to finalize our proposal and then if the City gives the OK begin to raise money and support.
This facility will develop culture and commerce. It out-pictures a realistic community service model that addresses the needs of a full service recovery, sustainability and self sufficiency development community (Skidrow), as well as the Historic Core Loft area and beyond. CHAC believes the public deserves a full discussion of the incredible potential of this one of a kind edifice. We hope that everyone will see our video of the Firehouse Cultural Center Project at http://www.thechac.net/thechac_culproj.html
Thank You
Oscar on September 04, 2009, at 01:27AM – #10
$0.25 for parking!
Peter James on September 04, 2009, at 04:55PM – #11
If a capable developer who will invest the necessary money to bring this building back to life wants to invest in this area, it should be done immediately. It will undoubtedly take $3+ million to reverse the last 100 years of wear and tear on the building, and that kind of money cannot be efficiently raised by a “community center” and would continue to be a burden for an over-burdened government. This building can be a great asset to the neighborhood, through job creation, increased tax revenue, etc.
Dawn on September 05, 2009, at 01:21PM – #12
The article mentions said that the restaurant would be two levels and then there would be a third level left for residential, could the third level be used for something befitting the community instead? Perhaps it's an either/or situation, but I'd like to see a space that did both. If the property is bought by developers, hopefully they'll keep this purpose in mind and find a way to implement some part of it.
You certainly would get the support of Gen X clientele if you play up the Ghostbusters angle. I think anyone who hangs out Downtown realizes that you're sharing the area with homeless folks. As long as the area is well lit and has security (and you know how to walk with purpose), it shouldn't be a problem.