Shen Yun Group Continues Bid for Top Billing on Grand Avenue
Ed Fuentes
At a July 29 press conference, Shen Yun spokesman Shizhong Chen made the group’s case that it had been unfairly blocked from developing two Grand Ave parcels that are part of Related Companies’ stalled Grand Avenue Project.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — When the Shen Yun Performing Arts Group reintroduced its proposal for a 3,000-seat theater and training facility last week, it reasserted its claims that the City of Los Angeles has “ignored” the group’s request that other developers get a chance for two prized Bunker Hill parcels.
The group tours internationally and says that it has 400 performances in 30 countries scheduled for this year.
The Downtown parcels that it seeks are not on the market.
One is the site of philanthropist Eli Broad’s proposed art museum, which this week begins the process of City Council approval.
It was during Community Redevelopment Agency discussion of the museum last month that the Chinese performance group first publically unveiled its rival plans, which would include a 30-story tower adjacent to the Disney Concert Hall.
At a press conference held on the sidewalk next to the target site, Shen Yun spokesperson Shizhong Chen stated the Chinese Arts group was being blocked and that it found the city’s suggestion to consider using a parcel in Chinatown inappropriate.
It was after the news conference that the rhetoric got even more interesting.
The L.A. Times reported that a spokesmen for the arts center made the development showdown a human rights issue. Chen and Winston Xia were reported to be suspicious that the Chinese government could “intimidate” city and business officials to prevent the center’s approval.
“This has been taken way out of context,” Chen now says, stating that he is the project’s only authorized spokesperson.
There is still the matter of access to a bidding process that began seven years ago. When the Grand Avenue Joint Powers Authority was formed in 2003, a request for proposals was issued that solicited ideas for the land shared by the County of Los Angeles, the city and the redevelopment agency. The Related Companies were awarded a development agreement fair and square, says Councilwoman Jan Perry, whose district includes Grand Ave.
“The land on which the Broad Foundation proposes to develop an art museum still falls under this development agreement because the site is under ‘contract’ to the Related Companies,” Perry explains. “They are able to assign their assigning rights on the development to the Broad Foundation.”
And the councilwoman confirms that no one from the Chinese government has been in contact about Shen Yun.
The arts group has not detailed its ability to finance the proposed project, but has insisted that it will present the proper backing when it is time.
Despite its protests, the group has not ruled out other sites entirely. “If after reviewing our plan CRA/LA still considers it a China[town] project then I would not think the [suggestion to build there] insensitive, even if I may not agree with that conclusion,” says Chen. Still, it doesn’t sound like he is ready to settle.
“Isn’t that stereotypical, to say the least? An outstanding global phenomenon deserves an outstanding venue. Its appropriate place is the city’s best theatre and cultural district.”
Story appears in August 5 edition of blogdowntown Weekly.
J-M on August 04, 2010, at 09:40AM – #1
Errr, as much as they should have the right to bid on the Grand parcels if they want, how is it inappropriate to suggest Chinatown would be a good fit? Have you seen the renderings in the photo??
Guest on August 04, 2010, at 10:48AM – #2
It IS inappropriate. People can choose to place themselves in ethnic communities, but it is not the role of government to place them there.
Lula Washington, a black dancer, opened her dance school on Crenshaw Blvd. But Debbie Allen, also a black dancer, opened her studio in Culver City. Both are valid choices. Amd neither choice should get a favored nod from government ONLY because of the racial component.
Guest on August 04, 2010, at 11:37AM – #3
@Guest 2: Well, when you have caricaturized "Chinese themed" architecture, what the hell do you expect? This group and this architecture is a joke. They want to place this next to the Disney Hall??
Guest on August 04, 2010, at 11:44AM – #4
^ Yes, the architecture is bad. (I would hate to see it next to Disney Hall.) And I never heard of the group either. Those are legitimate responses, and I agree with you on both points. Further, the city should have brought up those issues. But "put it in Chinatown" is NOT a legitimate response from a government entity.
Tornadoes28 on August 04, 2010, at 12:30PM – #5
It is not the Cities right to determine now if they can build there. The property rights long ago were awarded to Related Cos. It is Related who has the right to decide what they want to develop on that site. Why can't these Shu Yun people get that through their heads. The ship has passed. It is too late. Geto over it and move on already.
Guest on August 04, 2010, at 01:09PM – #6
^ Agree with Tornadoes...
But I do appreciate any cultural group that wants to make downtown its home. If they really have funding (a big if), I hope that they can find another spot downtown.
And if they really see themselves as a "cultural institution", rather than a "Chinese cultural institution", I hope they will come up with some other building design that fits into downtown a bit better. Right now, this building reminds me of what Lucy Ricardo said when she saw Carolyn Applebee's new furniture: "It looks like a bad dream you have after eating too much chinese food." (For those who don't remember, Carolyn had redecorated her apartment in "Chinese Modern".)
Guest on August 04, 2010, at 03:53PM – #7
Even ignoring the issue of the development rights being awarded to Related a LOOOOOOONG time ago, this group is crazy if they think they are helping to further their cause by making outlandish accusations of corruption and collusion with the very political players whose support is needed to ever get a project of theirs off the ground.
Just nuts, and frankly immature/disrespectful enough that I don't know if I trust their corporate ethics to want them building in or around DTLA, period.
Guest on August 04, 2010, at 08:41PM – #8
The city government does have an interest in not making grand ave and eyesore, and this style building makes no sense outside of chinatown. It can also be said that it has a small interest in trying to give chinatown more chinese cred, for tourists sake.
J-M on August 04, 2010, at 08:47PM – #9
OK, a clarification is in order: I wasn't suggesting they be relegated to their ethnic community in Chinatown. I meant from an architectural point of view. Based on the renderings, the building would be a great fit in Chinatown, but terrible on Bunker Hill. Stupid me, I didn't see any racial connotations...
Guest on August 04, 2010, at 10:38PM – #10
It would be a great fit at Universal CityWalk
Jasmijn on August 04, 2010, at 10:42PM – #11
Uh, this is their argument for wanting the spot: "An outstanding global phenomenon deserves an outstanding venue. Its appropriate place is the city’s best theatre and cultural district”?! That space is not available -- end of discussion, regardless of perceived artistic or cultural merit.
You're too late, Mr. Chen: someone else (Related) got it ages ago, you don't get to claim your idea is better than the one they're considering so it should be given to you instead just because you want it.
Oh, and the financial information disclosure is "it will present the proper backing when it is time". . . ohhhhkayyyy.
Does not sound like a sane business proposal.
Guest on August 05, 2010, at 01:34AM – #12
Maybe the Shen Yun project is just catching up to this decade since China is halfway around the world? I am sure they have print media and communication there.
For over 10 years, the Grand Avenue Project was shepherded through by Eli Broad. There was a nationwide search to find the team who had the best track record to get the project done- The Related Group. Then there was an international design competition that selected Frank Gehry and partners for an integrated complex of buildings.
They also paid $50 MILLION in fees to build a park that is now breaking ground, although zero profit from the project has been generated. All of this in a worldwide commercial financing meltdown more severe than every other event other than the Great Depression.
Then a group that few have ever heard of, which seems to have no presence even in the Chinatown community 2 blocks away, DEMANDS that all contracts, master plans, community outreach and decision making be thrown out so they can build a theater and high rise that barely would looks appropriate on the Las Vegas strip. Not even Epcot Center in Disney World has architecture this frightening.
When CRA, who is trying to revitalize Chinatown (failed Blossom Plaza/ Little Joe's site) suggests that a Chinese cultural theater could work 2 blocks away in Chinatown, the developer says that is racist and insensitive? With friends like this, no wonder no one has heard of them before.
But now they think they should cut to the front of the line ahead of The Grand project patron and philanthropist Eli Broad. He helped build MOCA, Disney Concert Hall, the Performing Arts High School, Broad LACMA annex, saved MOCA from default and bankruptcy and was instrumental in the design of the master planned complex and the $60 million Civic Center Park.
Did we forget that he is spending over $100 million on the Broad Collection Museum and $200 endowment and all the art and maintenance?
So who seems out of touch and insensitive here? Someone who appears this week with Imperial Palace Los Angeles and cries racism and has no financing or someone who has really put his time, effort and money where is words are.
Guest on August 05, 2010, at 07:18AM – #13
I doubt this group could garner real financing of the project, even if given the chance. And further, I doubt this group could really fill its seats with performances 365 days a year. All the other venues are multi-cultural and have a large variety of performances, it would be a waste of resources to use this for just Shen Yun performances.
This performing arts group is associated with the Falun Gong Movement, which was banned in China in 1999. I think its very reasonable to say it could get political with the Chinese government. Per wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shen_Yun_Performing_Arts
Founded in 2006, the Shen Yun troupe is often associated with the Falun Gong spiritual practice, and performances around the world are hosted by local Falun Dafa Associations. The show has been praised by Broadway critic Richard Connema, and criticised in The Guardian and other newspapers as promoting Falun Gong without saying so explicitly enough.
Guest on August 05, 2010, at 07:42AM – #14
^^^ "When CRA, who is trying to revitalize Chinatown suggests that a Chinese cultural theater could work 2 blocks away in Chinatown, the developer says that is racist and insensitive?"
Correct. Why? They have insisted that they are NOT a "Chinese cultural institution", but simply a "Cultural institution" that has much broader appeal.
Their response should have been expected. If you suggest to ANY minority that they should locate in a minority neighborhood, that will be offended. You can argue it until the cows come home...but that will be ANY minority's response. Don't go there.
Attack the Disneyland-style architecture. Attack the lack of funding. Attack the lack of coming forward years ago. There is many things wrong with this project that the CRA could have pointed out. But suggesting they place it in their own ethnic community only serves to muddy up the issue. If the intention is to move the dialogue forward, leave race and ethnicity alone.
And for those who keep saying, "yes but the building looks like it belongs in Chinatown"...it does. It also looks like it should have a theme park ride inside, instead of a dance troup. And you and I can sit around and say that and laugh. But the CRA should have been smarter than that when they released an official response.
Guest on August 05, 2010, at 08:28AM – #15
Shen yun/falun gong is just trying te get publicity with their demands. They don't have the resources to build anyway, but now they have gotten press coverage. I am sure Li hongzhi skims a lot of money from followers as any cult leader would do, but not enough to build anything. If they don't get what they want they just blame China. It is their hope to overthrow the Chinese government anyway. I don't agree with many things China does, but given this group's actions I agree with the ban.
Julie Trevino on January 17, 2011, at 04:54PM – #16
The design is indeed terrible. But government officials saying "You're chinese. Go to chinatown" is not the smartest thing to say, especially in LA and in 2011.