Jared on January 25, 2010, at 01:23PM – #1

Wow, this is great news. Does this mean it is a done deal for the museum to locate there? Or the city has approved and Related still has to approve and Brand has to confirm that location?

How Grand on January 25, 2010, at 01:34PM – #2

Wow. Seemingly out of nowhere, it looks like this could really happen. Sounds like there's still a few hurdles, but if those are cleared, sounds optimistic.

Downtown Cowboy on January 25, 2010, at 03:42PM – #4

From what I've gathered, it is an agreement to discuss the possibility. However, it sure makes the most sense to locate it downtown!

D on January 25, 2010, at 04:36PM – #6

Couldnt agree more #5.

m street on January 25, 2010, at 04:42PM – #7

it is a start

Allan on January 25, 2010, at 04:48PM – #8

From what I recall that plot of land was originally slated for both high rise residential and retail uses, and according to the Downtown News article the Broad Museum would take the place of some of that retail.

LangorB on January 25, 2010, at 08:39PM – #10

The big question is "what took you so long?!" I'm referring to city leaders who, assuming they didn't raise a finger after first learning that Eli Broad was talking to Beverly Hills and Santa Monica, may not have hustled until the last minute to get a deal going between Mr Broad and Los Angeles.

However, if those city officials are like me, I can't blame them. That's because I suddenly -- and regrettably -- realize that when I first heard about Eli Broad negotiating with Beverly Hills, I pretty much thought it was a done deal. And when the proposal was extended to Santa Monica, I concluded Eli was one of those local residents who, when push comes to shove, actually shudders at the idea of treading east of La Cienega Blvd.

Even though Eli Broad has stated the importance of reviving the center of LA, I thought reports of his pitching his museum to a westside neighborhood meant he, in reality, was more talk than substance. Or that it was easy for him to promote the idea of fixing up downtown, but only as viewed from the safe and comfortable distance of his home in Western Los Angeles.

I now realize that it will be a major failure, all away around, for all the players -- including Jan Perry, the Central City Association, Mayor Villarigosa, the new director of MOCA and its trustees, and Eli himself -- if the Broad Foundation's museum isn't developed in downtown Los Angeles. In some ways, just the notion of creating the museum in Beverly Hills or Santa Monica instead of central LA has been a symbolic failing on the part of everyone.

So the Broad Museum ending up far beyond downtown, and instead in a cutesy place like Santa Monica or Beverly Hills, now more than ever truly will be another chapter in Los Angeles's reputation as an overly soggy, decentralized and insular (or segregated) city.

Mike Palecki on January 25, 2010, at 10:50PM – #11

With offers from the Beverly Hills and Santa Monica in his pocket, Eli Broad approaches the negotiating table of the Grand Avenue Authority - in perfect stride. He certainly has something to fall back on if the situation becomes contentious. That's what happened in his relationship with LACMA. Broad paid for the museum building that bears his name, but retained ownership of the artwork on display. That was a disappointment for LACMA, but in the end-the venture has been successful for each.

Although Broad is now regarded well for his contribution to Disney Concert Hall, there were some dark moments-when he wasn't. After Eli Broad attempted to remove Frank Gehry from the project and outsource the working drawings away from Gehry, the Disney Family surprised everyone.

In commissioning Frank Gehry to design the hall and contributing the initial funds, Lillian Disney was the legal owner of the design. Without Gehry and Disney, the L.A. County Music Center could only cap off the parking garage and give up. After Disney reassured the L.A. Philharmonic and they successfully convinced Eli Broad and the County Board of Supervisors to accept a paid-in-full-in-advance fundraising schedule, everyone was happy.

How valuable can Parcel L be when it has been sitting there vacant for 50 years and the Grand Avenue Project across the street-is years away from ground breaking? I think Related Companies would be happy to get another extension on their project and Broad would be happy to build his museum.

Forget about a high rise over the museum and consider what Eli Broad can accomplish in his lifetime. Think of the Music Center, Disney Hall, Broad Museum, Colburn School and MOCA as the cultural entry way to a neighborhood of adjacent high rise housing, hotels and street level retail. With that kind of synergy-we may see the Grand Avenue Project topped off, in our lifetime.

Whitman Lam on January 26, 2010, at 09:33AM – #12

I want to see the Getty Center Museum relocated to Downtown L.A. A museum needs to have reputation to attract visitors. All in favor, say AYE !!

JDRCRASHER on January 26, 2010, at 12:12PM – #13

AYE!

Norbie 7 on January 27, 2010, at 01:15AM – #14

Sixty million bucks doesn't get you very much, in the way of museums these days. With parking, utility systems, restrooms, elevators/escalators, secure/climate controlled storage, foundation office space, galleries and circulation/atrium entry areas, I'd say the cost would be far more.

With Disney Hall, Mrs. Disney's initial $50M gift may have covered the design/engineering/administration expenses after all was said and done.

Downtown Cowboy on January 27, 2010, at 04:59AM – #15

@ Norbie 7: you're right. The original Lillian Disney gift of $50 million sat in the bank during the contentious years of infighting and became $90 million by the time construction actually started in time to beat the deadline. The finished project was over $300 million. So the Disney family's contribution was a significant chunk.

I love the idea of mixed use structure, however, I don't believe it's feasible at this time. There is currently a glut of unleased space so it doesn't make sense to add to that base now.

Hopefully, this process (unlike Disney Hall) will be swift and construction can start within our lifetime.

Juanito on January 27, 2010, at 01:38PM – #16

In his final selection, his decision as to where his foundation and museum will be built, Broad will very much be telling us if he feels that he's already done enough for Downtown and his glorious Grand cum Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Yes, give him credit for all of the millions which he has contributed, to the concert hall, to MOCA and to the Performing Arts High School. But will he really put his money where his mouth is, given the significantly higher costs entailed with the Grand Avenue plot vis-a-vis city supplied land in Santa Monica, with not having to build parking beneath his new structure thereat. In this regard, Beverly Hills has no leg up over Downtown L.A.

Moreover, wherever he proceeds to build, has he the mindset that the architecture should be obsequious and in no way compete with the artistic holdings (on display or not)? Is he a Max Palevsky on this? One should hope not. A plain and inexpensive cereal box at the Grand Avenue site would be a HUGE disappointment. Instead of that my hope is that he is willing to really cough up with his wealth, create an object as dynamic and beautiful as Disney Hall and make a monument for both himself and for Downtown on Grand Avenue, either with Morphosis or french partners Herzog & de Demeuron.

Come on, Eli - Just Do It!

Urban Trojan on January 29, 2010, at 08:39PM – #17

My vote is for Morphosis.

Norbie 7 on January 29, 2010, at 08:49PM – #18

Another Caltrans??? No way! French bird-nesters, all the way. They could dream up something to inspire awe. Consider this: highrise residential above the museum, if inspired enough, be highly sought-after, could easily underwrite the museum's operations.

Now that would be quite a (permanent) highrise endowment.

Juanito on January 30, 2010, at 09:57PM – #19

Norbie: check out the Morphosis design for a highrise tower west of Paris at La Défense. They have it shown on their website. It is called the Phare Tower and has similarities to a condo/hotel/museum tower which Jean Nouvel has designed adjacent to MOMA in NYC.

Guest on March 18, 2010, at 08:37AM – #20

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfaPibWGw90