Wednesday: Forum on Broadway Development and Streetcar
LA Streetcar Inc
Rendering of the proposed L.A. Streetcar running in front of the Orpheum Theatre, site of Wednesday's forum.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — The Bringing Back Broadway effort will turn four years old in just a few months, and on Wednesday the effort led by Councilman Jose Huizar will hold a community forum to discuss the latest on the project and its most visible byproduct, the L.A. Streetcar.
At the January 2008 unveiling, hopes ran high for public and private investment on the Broadway corridor.
While revitalization of the million square feet of unused upper floor space has moved slowly, planning has pushed forward on the streetcar effort. Huizar made the project a centerpiece of Broadway planning after a 2008 trip to Portland, and environmental work is underway on a planned $100 - $130 million line.
Wednesday's "Future of Your Downtown" discussion will take place at the Orpheum Theatre (842 S. Broadway). An open house will take place from 5:30 to 6:30pm, followed by a presentation and panel discussion scheduled to run until 8pm.
Tony Hoover on November 07, 2011, at 10:55AM – #1
Uggh! Its been 4 years of conversations. Please, just get it done!
rob on November 07, 2011, at 08:02PM – #2
seems like there is too much emphasis on the streetcar (personally i dont care for it) and not enough on other aspects of broadway.
Raymond3000 on November 08, 2011, at 08:29AM – #3
I see the revitalization of Bway happening more organically if anything. You are seeing the slow rebranding of Grand Central Mkt as truly a central market for its hood with the buzz spreading of newbie "MF Gourmet" especially! it could become a "foodie central" over time imo. Thus GCM feels more authentic than the new one in SM place. (I would like to also see the Bway-Spring Arcade eventually become the same kind of type of market with various artisan types of foods & specialties also) the theaters are starting to be used regularly and hopefully the forthcoming AFM will further utilize those and introduce other area theaters eligible for renovations as well. On the southern end, we got two boots and umamicatessen which will further deliver more buzz and bodies to the area, also talk of a boutique hotel (Ace) eyeing the UA Theater bldg, and the bldg on 1st/ bway being eyed for development. Factor in all the new loft bldgs opening up, its just a matter of time & the streetcar like it or not will be a huge asset to compliment what is already taking place on Bway. Now all we need is an indie bookstore and retail then watch and see what happens!!
David Klappholz on November 08, 2011, at 08:38AM – #4
@Raymond3000: Anything looks more authentic than the new market in Santa Monica; they took a very friendly venue, removed all the simple restaurants, and made it so upscale as to resemble the caricature that lots of people around the country believe about LA. Fehhhhhh!!!!!!!!!
Scott Piotrowski on November 09, 2011, at 08:45AM – #5
I'm definitely in favor of improvements to Broadway, but I would love to see some things in particular stressed: 1) Return of forms of evening entertainment which makes Broadway BROADWAY 2) I'm in favor the streetcar as long as there are direct connections to at least the Red Line if not also Union Station 3) There has to be incentives for locally-owned, mom-and-pop businesses and means of discouraging chain stores, because 4) there has to be a direct connection to Broadway's history as the original western terminus of Route 66 (Broadway and 7th).