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CONTENTS 5 A Los Angeles Icon With a Bright Future Pilgrim School Curriculum Embraces Diversity, Art and Technology
6 An Icon of Healthy Food Choices
Downtown L.A. Welcomes Whole Foods Market to Grand Avenue
8 A Commitment to Excellence
Century Housing Marks 20 Years of Investment in Downtown L.A.’s Most Iconic Projects
10 A Tradition of Learning
UCLA Extension Marks 50 Years of Educating the Downtown Community
11 Creativity in the City
Johnson Fain Leads the Enrichment of Los Angeles’ Urban Neighborhoods
12 A Catalyst for Revitalization
The DCBID Means Business When It Comes to Downtown L.A.
12 An Advocate for the City
CCA Continues to Spearhead the Downtown Renaissance
A Momentous Year The Downtown Revival Marches On With the Arrival of Several Exciting New Icons
13 A Trend-Setting Icon
FIDM Takes Center Stage With a Cutting-Edge Program and Accomplished Network of Graduates
14 A Downtown Classic for the Ages
Historic Engine Company No. 28 Stands as a Testament to Imaginative Preservation
15 Changing Lives for More Than 90 Years
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Crafts an Enduring Legacy in Higher Education
16 An Iconic Live-Work Solution
TENTEN Wilshire Offers the Perfect Blend of Amenities, Necessities and Flexibility for the Business-Savvy Tenant
17 A Legacy of Membership
Water and Power Community Credit Union Celebrates 80 Years of Downtown Service
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he September opening of the world-class contemporary art museum The Broad, followed by the November arrival of Downtown Los Angeles’ first Whole Foods Market, has signaled a new era for this now vibrant central city community. Its restaurant and retail sectors seem unstoppable, racking up more intrepid tenants each month. Housing continues at a rapid pace, along with a robust hotel market. So it comes as little surprise that an area once abandoned to the perils of neglect and time, continues to rise from the ashes bigger, brighter and stronger than ever before. But the success of the spectacular
Downtown revival is due in large part to the stalwart businesses, pioneering residents and community organizations that refused to flee the city as did so many others. These individuals and groups kept the heart of the city beating, revitalizing historic buildings one by one, opening restaurants despite naysayers, taking risks in the face of seemingly impossible odds, and lending a helping hand to the area’s most desperate and in need. Icons 2016 highlights several of these iconic institutions that have helped lay the groundwork for Downtown L.A.’s comeback, as well as the newcomers that will cement its future as one of the most dynamic cities in the world.
18 Elegant and Iconic
The Famed Westin Bonaventure Hotel Leaves Its Mark on the Downtown L.A. Skyline
19 A Path to Success
EWDD Creates a Network of WorkSource Centers for Employment in Downtown L.A. and Beyond
20 A Strong Downtown Tradition
United Methodist Churches Help Shape the Spiritual and Political Landscape of the City
21 World-Class Health Care in the Heart of the City
Keck Medicine Expands Its Services and Accessibility in the Flourishing Downtown Core
Editor and Publisher
Sue Laris
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Senior Writer
Accounting
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Circulation
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Kathryn Maese
22 A Park in the Heart of Downtown
Historic Pershing Square Has Gathered Angelenos Since 1866
Address: 1264 W. First St., Los Angeles, CA 90026. Telephone: (213) 481-1448. Fax: (213) 250-4617.
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ICONS OF DOWNTOWN 3
The Los Angeles Downtown News is proud to have covered 44 years of growth in our community. We pay tribute to the icons that stand as pillars of our past and beacons for our future.
4 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
A Los Angeles Icon with a Bright Future Pilgrim School Curriculum Embraces Diversity, Art and Technology
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ilgrim School is unique among independent schools – unique in its Downtown location, unique in its rich diversity which mirrors the complex face of Los Angeles, and unique in its embrace of both art and technology in its traditionally focused academic program. The distinctive Reggio-Emilia approach in Early Education starting at age two places the emphasis on child-centered learning, which continues throughout the student’s academic career at Pilgrim. Small classes, dedicated faculty, and a truly nurturing environment, combined with a rigorous college-prep curriculum in grades K-12, are the hallmarks of a Pilgrim education. Located just four Metro stops west of Downtown L.A. at the corner of Sixth Street and Commonwealth Avenue, Pilgrim School was established in 1958. Pilgrim’s Downtown location makes it possible for students to experience the city of Los Angeles as an extension of their classroom, and the classically beautiful campus offers a city experience in a peaceful setting. With the addition of the Mayflower House dormitory for students in grades 9-12, Pilgrim is now both a day and a boarding school. The Pilgrim School curriculum embraces both art and technology, as well as traditional academics (including a full slate of AP classes). Technology is integrated into and across the curriculum beginning in Early Education, and the Fab Lab is creating a more three-dimensional engineering experience for students, including use of cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing and laser cutting. The beautiful Brown Family Fine Arts Center offers student artists the opportunity to imagine, explore, and create. Pilgrim offers a unique opportunity for all
students to interact with creative individuals through the Visiting Artists and Writers Program, in which working artists share their experience and creative process. Pilgrim is committed to the education of the whole student: traditional academics, state-of-the-art technology, a strong foundation in the arts, and a place in athletics for every student. Pilgrim’s Field of Dreams campaign will add a regulation sports field and underground parking in fall 2016, and will greatly expand Pilgrim’s unique “nocut” athletic program. Future plans are in place to further expand the campus. A Pilgrim education gives students the skills to succeed and thrive in a changing world – facing forward while respecting the past. Small classes, dedicated and innovative faculty, and special programs incorporating hands-on
learning in all disciplines create open-minded learners with a unique perspective and a strong grounding in the 21st century skills of problem-solving, innovation, and collaboration. One hundred percent of Pilgrim graduates go on to the best colleges and universities equipped with the skills they need to create a unique, meaningful life. Recent graduates have been accepted at institutions such as Columbia, Bryn Mawr, UC Berkeley, and Williams College, where they are thriving. To learn more about Pilgrim School or to tour the historic campus, please call (213) 355-5204. Pilgrim School is a division of First Congregational Church of Los Angeles.
ICONS OF DOWNTOWN 5
An Icon of Healthy Food Choices
Downtown L.A. Welcomes Whole Foods Market to Grand Avenue
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he much-anticipated opening of Whole Foods Market Downtown Los Angeles arrived in early November 2015. It marks the first Downtown Los Angeles location for the Austin, Texas-based natural foods grocery chain, likely to become a popular and iconic destination for many years to come. A Whole Foods in Downtown L.A. has been in the works for some time, with management searching for the right location for more than a decade, said Erica Dubreuil, regional vice president of operations for Whole Foods Market. The Downtown L.A. Whole Foods Market store is the community’s “newest and greatest market” designed to become a community landmark and gathering place for health-oriented residents looking for a quality, natural grocery alternative. Located at 788 S. Grand Ave., the market is situated in a prime neighborhood undergoing some exciting changes, including the nearby mixed-use restaurant and shopping center The Bloc at Seventh and Flower streets. Whole Foods adds to the vibrancy of the Seventh Street Corridor and all of Downtown, and joins a handful of Downtown grocers including Ralphs, Smart & Final, City Target at FIGat7th and smaller, local markets all built to meet the needs of Downtown’s growing residential base, which has skyrocketed in the past 10 years. “This site has the best Whole Foods Market has to offer, but beyond great food is our commitment to community,” Dubreuil said. Whole Foods is partnering with a variety of local nonprofits, suppliers, businesses, organizations and residents to help strengthen the community and position Downtown L.A. for further growth and development, Dubreuil added. A sampling of community involvement includes the donation of 5% of a single day’s net sales to benefit the Hope Street Family Cen-
6 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
ter, which provides health-related services to families in need. Whole Foods Market DTLA is actively involved with promoting healthy food choices, and donates garden supplies to area schools through Whole Foods’ Garden Grants Program. The store also initiates a holiday giving program called Feed 4 More, where food donations help local food banks feed families of four (or more). Whole Foods is also helping grow the economy by providing more than 150 jobs at its Downtown L.A. location. The market is conveniently located on the ground floor of a newly built 700-unit apartment complex at Eighth & Grand, which began leasing in late October. The 41,000-square-foot supermarket includes a coffee lounge along with a restaurant and bar with indoor and outdoor seating for 175 guests dubbed 8 Bar. A fast casual pub-restaurant, it features a selection of more than 30 beverages on tap, including local craft beers, wine, kombucha, root beer and other offerings on rotation, as well as daily happy hour specials, a weekend brunch, and locally made “boozy” gelato infused with spirits, a first for
Whole Foods and unique to the Downtown L.A. location. There is also a full organic salad bar with all greens local to Los Angeles. Designed with the needs of residents and businesses in mind, Whole Foods Market Downtown Los Angeles offers a variety of natural and organic products, including seasonal and non-GMO produce, hormone-free and grass-fed beef, cage-free poultry and sustainable seafood. The grocery store is committed to using organic ingredients in its baked goods, prepared foods and salad bar, and offers an assortment of organic cheeses, coffees and teas, bulk items, and wine and beer products, as well as all-natural pet and body care products. Grocery delivery from Whole Foods Market is available to Eighth & Grand residents and surrounding areas through Instacart. The store has 170 parking spaces to accommodate Whole Foods Market guests. Regular store hours are 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily. Whole Foods is at 788 S. Grand Ave., (213) 873-4745 or wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/ downtownlosangeles.
A Commitment to Excellence Century Housing Marks 20 Years of Investment in Downtown L.A.’s Most Iconic Projects
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everal of Downtown L.A.’s most iconic developments have only been feasible due to the help of one icon of Los Angeles’s love affair with the automobile – Century Housing. Born as a state agency out of the controversy surrounding construction of the I-105 “Century Freeway,” and converted into a tax exempt community development financial institution in 1995, Century Housing has invested more than $106 million in developments that house Downtown’s growing workforce and lowest income denizens in more than 3,000 homes. Construction of the Parkside Apartments, which opened in 1998 with on-site childcare and tutoring center next door to the Federal Reserve, was one of Century’s first investments in Downtown housing. Adaptive reuse of classic icons of Downtown’s earlier years have also benefitted from Century’s investments. The historic Barbizon, Rivers and Boyle hotels were renovated to provide housing with financial help from Century. More recently, the conversion of the 1903 Herman M. Hellman Building, remembered as the headquarters of the Banco Popular and later the Community Redevelopment Agency, into 212 apartments, began with Century’s investment. Difficult developments that other financial institutions considered too risky to undertake have also benefitted from Century’s investments. Century provided initial financing when the difficult redevelopment of the ninebuilding Santee Court properties in the Fashion District into loft apartments, shops and eateries began. When the development of the Belmont Station site, which contained the historic entrance to the Belmont Tunnel where street cars entered the underground routes to the Subway Building, was unexpectedly opposed by graffiti artists seeking to have the property converted to a park, Century remained committed to the development throughout the lengthy public hearing process. Award-winning architectural icons have also seen early investments by Century, including the New Carver and Star Apartments. Century has been proud to assist in the development of these, and other, projects, which have not only attracted world-wide recognition for their design, but have also assisted Downtown’s neediest residents. Century’s most recent investment in this area is the New Pershing Apartments, which saved the historic façade of the last remaining example of Victorian era design in Downtown, while constructing an entirely modern and seismically sound apartment building with community and office space to serve residents. The New Pershing is another excellent example of Century’s commitment to addressing the needs of homeless persons, while at the same time improving the environment through good design and sustainable development by preserving and improving upon one of Downtown’s true icons. Elder residents of Downtown have also benefitted from Century’s investment. The Olive Street Senior Apartments were acquired in part through funding provided by Century. One of the first conversions of office space to residences, the property was developed for housing in 1979. Despite soaring rents throughout the Downtown market, this property will remain affordable to the 425 urban pioneers living there, many of them Downtown residents since the 1980s. Downtown L.A. has always been a key market for Century Housing. Since its privatization 20 years ago, Century has invested more than $1 billion in the acquisition, rehabilitation and new development of housing affordable to persons and families ranging from lower paid workers to elders, homeless individuals, veterans, the disabled and others by investing in emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive homes and affordable rental apartments. Since inception, Downtown Los Angeles has always been an important part of Century’s investment strategy. From development of new family apartments like Casa Heiwa in Little Tokyo to historic renovations like the Boyle Hotel on Mariachi Plaza, ranging to the Belmont Station and Skyline Village apartments in City Center West, Century has contributed to some of Downtowns most iconic developments. For more information visit centuryhousing.org.
8 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
- ds t ng c s e g R g o n u v e n n i A AN Bo tme usi Cor m rien niti usi Leib nat g, I o ity m F mu Ho Al r s in LC y e H e s o n t C l u , L pa Inv ter un C of om ity L o A L H tes t p , a n m m C i e y u t e A u o t l p B i m P ad ro ro u M u c i a t C e l s o r m n e o A G C o en Ch n f G nd d Com ng s G L A o s o st L ri rma ng i A b s s o u s i p e r y M CA & A l o p m n t a i a t a e r s o A e i o s G e E o H ou . c d H Pr v r a t rp e M c e b H Inc A y D po Co p A e a e g s h c e n e in m an i es nd r u i , S r g o s o n fi v r i k f i e A C a l Ir en d A r Al the unit Blo ing nity co G Fran mp o v f o o f s u y r n J C an A ce r vic g Fo omm PEC Hou mm Da ng d a r vi a mp ee i e n A o e C E n s t i h C L Len Se h o G n s u v T i . s a p C o D n L ric Inc RI t a o a H g h m r y h . n g a o , t k e i B ei Inc ble H n l s s a o m e e T u n p i a H e , A str o o ou tle M hae d c ity h J i r H M T v r C ffo u jko it t y n c , C G i t d L i D A n n M l e n tio n e D or I Ze a e e u s & L u g n f inm m ov Ho m ora e n o n i i p n n t m T h o u s ve l o e s l fe o m d a o r a m a a t i o K l e C o o rp n nd H De H Sa t C C g d p y i r r l o e g C Co d Kl Fou Ga lywo sin sin LIN ns hae tion Wes ures a c ra u ou i l i t y c v o o n n a fi a M e . H i H nc e po H e p c D tion rma M V y a O l I e i developer P our TH Cor rCentury We owe it to for preserving , s clients n a e C o r p m o v i A g t D mb Fa rou on s t s P n po Bra most E t e a i r e n i n treasured sites, for creating the new spaces which s i a LA n G n s rp o p m l t a H y J s e a l r u e a u ATon Ho mp & if redevelopment, o eand o for l s Ga nge idefine downtown relying s L M C n e es he ny P on o r yn v A o g t C e i i n C s i a more D nquality t osaffordable it toTfinance si thann 3,000 n ted eve th n M Lo rtun Century u U u es o ea me ñ co ela S Sou i o H m p N i i c homes for downtown’sOmost vulnerable residents. p P eR . s o a l O p C o m u n i t M C O et a o t p h Inc us ve r a L p M . T m O e m F c r Co u L , D n T t t a I o r c KD Com Thank n n s P , n you. g t G ner me sin en me o ies cifi i C t y e l D d a e r t Pa i e s a l t r t lop ou pm lop cib C a a er n t e i P eve w H elo eve so u ro p e s R n t o n u nix io s s n gF i v P o D D e A e n m t R S pa C in e va SS id u D ard & t m o M i r s o r h se V N om R Sk cto nd fran u C P o C e C alm a e H tti a r y t N p c P n s S s S Lev C S fi W s e L P i i l o c L s a i o i g S A n z R m p Pa n c . e n t , r a n o r a t i K r U o n OR o o i m h d i I . t s C p T o n l that’s r financing . u g you r W ra there o h o Inc ities, lopm ChaAward-winning when need it. nc o n o S C i s , I d H rs Y p www.centuryhousing.org. s t (310) 642-2000 oorrvisit e h e i n v u Call n n A mu e De akas pme nazy ng C O Ho pan Tow elan rtne rd k Pa nfo m an i n Pr elo ke R a s o y S t C rb t Du d i W v Asz Hou i n Pa n e n s e n s U s u D a a . o a m y f i c t t a m p h rat OEM art oun y, In tead tes rou nves ym m H o m y of S n C t C M R a W I G a
our downtown icons are the developers
A Tradition of Learning UCLA Extension Marks 50 Years of Educating the Downtown Community
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o you work Downtown and your dream was to shake up the world. Maybe you’ve shifted between what appeared to be long-term careers at the time. First it was as a CPA, moving sideways to HR at a law firm, then finally a move to the marketing department. Or you’d really like to work in entertainment. Maybe you feel like you missed out by never giving the tech industry a shot. Sound familiar? Here’s the good news: Today, increasing your proficiency and remaining flexible in your professional options has never been more crucial and accessible. It wasn’t so long ago that job-hopping was seen as the mark of aimlessness and a poor work ethic. Today, for those looking to remain competitive and employable in an ever-changing corporate environment, moving around and taking advantage of career reboot opportunities is the new normal. A recent study published by the University of Illinois at Chicago established that the continuous acquisition of new skills and staying “professionally nimble” are the career advancement keys to a successful working life. This, at a time when the average occupational path is less likely to involve 40-plus years with a single company than the essential ability to productively pivot through four to seven different mini-careers. Further data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reveals that the average worker today stays at a job a mere 4.4 years. Consequently, you have to be prepared to bounce from profession to profession as well as perpetually enhance and upgrade your skill set to stay ahead of the curve.
10 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
No institution better understands the necessity of lifetime learning, or the constancy of change, than UCLA Extension. Founded in 1917, it offers flexible, focused, affordable professional certificates and courses both online and in the classroom (or as a hybrid of the two) via master classes, intensive short courses, conferences and workshops in countless areas of study – from business and management, to public policy, to the arts and everything in-between. UCLA Extension has had a presence in Downtown since 1965, when it opened at the southeast corner of 11th Street and Grand Avenue in an old auto parts warehouse that the school converted into classrooms. Today, it is conveniently located Downtown at The Park DTLA at Third and Figueroa streets, as well as in Westwood, South Bay or online. “There is a revolution going on in higher education,” says Wayne Smutz, dean of Continuing Education and UCLA Extension. “If you don’t keep learning you are not going to be market-ready in your career. We excel in promoting personalized learning tailored to professional goals, reimagining the learning experience to benefit employers and employees alike in the fluid dynamics of 21st century business.” While you understand the need to continue your education and potentially jump start your career, it isn’t always easy to find the right path to your dream job. That can be remedied by reading the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, which identifies these increasingly hot careers, which UCLA Extension can help you transition to:
n Paralegal – In the current decade, the estimate is for 18% paralegal growth and nearly 47,000 added jobs. You can learn all areas of the profession through the Paralegal Program. n Financial Planning – The BLS predicts that financial planners, analysts and auditors will be increasingly in demand. Check out the Accounting and Finance Programs. n Information Technology – It still fairly sizzles in California, which boasted nearly 1.1 million tech industry workers in 2014. The Extension Technical Management Program features courses serving engineers, programmers, data analysts and other tech pros. n Human Resources – Nearly 100,000 HR expert jobs will make this a major growth sector over the next seven years, and HR Management courses give a comprehensive, practical grounding. n Health Care – With the aging population, careers in health care are expected to increase by 3.1 million jobs in the years ahead. The Extension Health Care Management and Leadership program provides stellar preparation. n Film, TV and Music Production – Technology has revolutionized the entertainment industry. And in the heart of show business, there has never been a better time to pursue professional Entertainment Studies from digital content to creative platforms to business models. Your future is waiting for you at uclaextension.edu. Because it’s time to get there from here. And it’s never been easier, with classes conveniently located Downtown. Winter registration opens on Nov. 2.
CREATIVITY IN THE CITY
Johnson Fain Leads the Enrichment of Los Angeles’ Urban Neighborhoods
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he current growth of the Southern California economy is having a great impact on the next level of enrichment of Los Angeles’ urban neighborhoods, and Downtown L.A. is among the most notable success stories. Led by a need for housing, many new projects represent high-density mixed-use residential and retail urban complexes that bring both increased foot traffic and amenities to historic neighborhoods. The Mayor’s Great Streets program encourages multi-modal transit, biking and walking, while planning for improvements to the Los Angeles River is underway. Paired with a major expansion of Metro’s public transit system, many of these expanding communities are now being connected. All these developments speak to improvements in the livability of the city, Downtown L.A. in particular, at a time when cities are widely acknowledged to be the prime generators of human creativity, sustainability and economic growth. At the center of the action is Johnson Fain, an international practice in architecture, planning and interior design located in Downtown Los Angeles. Founded and comanaged by Scott Johnson FAIA and William H. Fain Jr., FAIA, the firm’s six principals oversee a multi-disciplinary studio and the design of a wide range of project types. Johnson Fain brings a wealth of professional experience and a deep knowledge of the diversity of the region to the design of high-density mixed-use residential projects. The firm has continued its design legacy through the following major urban projects, which capture the spirit of each neighborhood, bring residents into the city, nearer to work, and provide retail, enter-
LA PLAZA VILLAGE El Pueblo Adjacent
COLLEGE STATION
State Historic Park Adjacent
tainment and recreational amenities to both new and existing residents. BLOSSOM PLAZA, a large mixed-use project connecting Chinatown’s Gold Line station and Broadway with 225 residential rental units, 20,000 square feet of specialty retail and public plazas and paseos designed for Forest City Residential West. LA PLAZA VILLAGE, a two-city block mixed-use project adjacent to El Pueblo in Downtown’s historic center, which includes 350 residences and more than 50,000 square feet of specialty retail for Trammell Crow and the Cesar Chavez Foundation. COLLEGE STATION, adjacent to the new 23-acre State Historic Park on Spring Street, is a five-acre mixed-use project with more than 700 residences, street level townhomes, specialty retail and a grocer for Atlas Capital. RUNWAY AT PLAYA VISTA, a 10-acre mixed-use amenity center including 235 residential apartments, over 200,000 square feet of retail, a Whole Foods and Cine Mark Complex for Lincoln Property, Phoenix Development and Paragon. In addition to iconic, urban mixed-use projects, Johnson Fain’s current projects include tall buildings in South Asia as well as major urban master plans in the People’s Republic of China. Domestically, ongoing projects in biotechnology and creative workplace environments continue while specialized projects such as Oklahoma’s American Indian Cultural Center and Museum, Christ Cathedral for the Diocese of Orange, and a major remodel for the Los Angeles Country Club are underway. For more information about Johnson Fain visit johnsonfain.com.
BLOSSOM PLAZA Chinatown
RUNWAY Playa Vista
ICONS OF DOWNTOWN 11
A Catalyst for Revitalization The DCBID Means Business When It Comes to Downtown L.A.
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he Downtown Center Business Improvement District (DCBID) has been the catalyst in Downtown Los Angeles’ transformation into a vibrant 24/7 neighborhood. A coalition of nearly 1,700 property owners in the central business district, the DCBID members are united in their commitment to enhance the quality of life in Downtown Los Angeles. Since its inception in 1998, the DCBID has continued its mission as the most valuable resource to Downtown property and business owners by providing safety, maintenance, economic development programs, and marketing initiatives. Through strong economic development programs, the DCBID has become a one stop resource for all things Downtown L.A. From recruiting retail and office tenants to providing research and development data to hosting monthly housing bus tours, the DCBID offers an extensive list of services to live and do business in Downtown. The DCBID operates a large safety and maintenance crew, also known as the Purple Patrol, which keeps the area safe and clean, and provides much needed services that the city is unable to provide. Over the
IT ALL
STARTS
HERE Discover the new Downtown LA
past 14 years, the DCBID has also connected nearly 2,500 homeless individuals to needed services through its BID A.C.T.I.O.N program. The DCBID’s marketing efforts have repositioned Downtown L.A. as a destination for vibrant nightlife, dining, and arts and entertainment. The DCBID’s website, downtownla.com, has become the go-to resource for everything that is happening in Downtown Los Angeles, while the group’s Ambassador Team provides maps and valuable information to area visitors. For more information visit downtownla. com.
An Advocate for the City CCA Continues to Spearhead the Downtown Renaissance
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Downtown Center Business Improvement District
Your EXPERT resource to work, live, play, and get connected in DTLA
LA’s PREMIER business advocacy organization focused on the revitalization of DTLA
DowntownLA.com
CCALA.org
12 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
ounded in 1924, the Central City Association of Los Angeles (CCA) has forged a pioneering path for the region’s business community and is considered the city’s premier advocacy organization. With more than 450 members, CCA has shaped public policy on critical economic issues and spearheaded the renaissance of Downtown Los Angeles. The 91-year-old group lobbies local and state government and advances policies aimed at improving the economic vitality of Los Angeles and the quality of life in Downtown. CCA’s advocacy creates bottom-line benefits for its members and has been a leader in real estate and land use policy, retail and hospitality. Led by President and Chief Executive Offi-
cer Carol Schatz, CCA has cultivated a diverse and influential roster of dynamic members employing more than 350,000 people in Los Angeles County. Among the cross-section of industries are design and architecture firms, real estate developers, entertainment studios, law firms, major utilities, technology companies, a major sports franchise, property managers, building owners, retailers and restaurateurs, financial institutions, construction companies, non-profits, hospitals, educational institutions, trade associations and hospitality establishments. As the Central City Association carries on its mission, this landmark organization will continue to set the bar for business advocacy in Los Angeles. For more information visit ccala.org.
A Trend-Setting Icon FIDM Takes Center Stage With a Cutting-Edge Program And Accomplished Network of Graduates
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he internationally recognized FIDM/ Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising was founded in Downtown Los Angeles and is located at 919 S. Grand Ave., near L.A. Live. It is the largest college of its kind in the nation and specializes in careeroriented higher education. Accredited by two prestigious organizations, the National Association of Schools of Art & Design (NASAD) and Western Association of Schools & Colleges (WASC) Senior College and University Commission, FIDM is a private college, preparing students for careers in design, business, digital media and entertainment. The college offers Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees. Advanced study programs in industry specific majors are also granted. The college established a San Francisco campus in the 1970s and opened Orange County and San Diego locations the following decade. FIDM has an international network of more than 60,000 graduates. The FIDM LA campus features the FIDM Museum, which presents three to four freeto-the-public, fashion themed exhibitions each year. In 2016, the FIDM Museum will celebrate the 24th anniversary of its “Art of Motion Picture Costume Design” exhibition.
Exquisite costumes from more than 20 feature films from 2015 will be on display, including Oscar-nominated costumes. The exhibit opens Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2016 and closes Saturday, April 23, 2016; it is open TuesdaySaturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Each summer, the museum presents the “Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design,” co-presented with The Television Academy. Home to the largest fashion library (a resource and research center) in the Western United States, the FIDM Museum boasts one of the nation’s finest historical fashion collections. It contains more than 15,000 pieces starting in the early 1800s, including significant ethnic and international designs. Each year, FIDM presents its annual Debut show, a fundraiser benefiting the FIDM Scholarship Foundation. More than 100 garments and other design projects are presented in a four-part runway show. The gala illustrates the work of FIDM students graduating in the Advanced Fashion, Theatre Costume, Interior and Textile Design programs. After nine months of preparation, 10 advanced fashion design graduating students present their first fashion collections. Throughout the apparel world, FIDM alumni are in top positions in their fields.
Notable graduates include fashion designers Monique Lhuillier, Lubov Azria (Chief Creative Officer, BCBG Max Azria Group), Nick Verreos, Kevan Hall, Karen Kane, Pamela-Skaist Levy (co-founder of Juicy Couture) and more. FIDM graduate costume designers for film and television include: Trish Summerville (The Hunger Games: Catching
Fire, Gone Girl), Mona May (Clueless, Whitney, Enchanted), Marlene Stewart (The Divergent Series: Allegiant, Ali, True Lies), Mandi Line (“Pretty Little Liars,”“Shameless”), and Jill Ohanneson (“Revenge,”“Six Feet Under”). FIDM is the West Coast home of Lifetime Television’s “Project Runway Junior” (the new competition series for teenage fashion designers), “Project Runway” and “Project Runway: Under the Gunn” starring Tim Gunn. Other television shows featuring the college include “Design School,” an original series on HGTV featuring FIDM Interior Design students, and MTV’s “The Hills,” starring FIDM student, Lauren Conrad. The Architecture and Art of FIDM Architect Jon Jerde, and the Jerde Partnership, designed the FIDM Los Angeles campus building at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue. It was completed in 1990 and is crowned with the first ceramic dome to be built in Downtown in 50 years. The muchlauded landscape architect Laurence Halprin created Grand Hope Park, which fronts FIDM’s artistic structure. Many sculptures and works of art enhance the building’s exterior and interior. At the FIDM Grand Avenue entrance, visitors are greeted by a masked angel sculpture called “Transforming Yourself Into Fashion,” designed by Gywnn Murrill. The angel pays homage to its birthplace, the City of Angels, and leads guests to the building’s open rotunda, which is graced with the work of noted artist Tony Berlant. FIDM is at 919 S. Grand Ave. For more information call (800) 624-1200 or visit fidm.edu.
It’s more than a college, it’s FIDM. Offering Bachelor’s and Associate’s Degrees, FIDM is an internationally known college, educating students in design, business, digital media and entertainment. FIDM is also known to its neighbors as a downtown landmark, home to the FIDM Museum, FIDM Scholarship Store and FIDM Museum Shop. The college connects not only students, but the entire community, to the industries it serves.
Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising
800.624.1200 or fidm.edu
ICONS OF DOWNTOWN 13
A Downtown Classic for the Ages Historic Engine Company No. 28 Stands as a Testament to Imaginative Preservation
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ngine Company No. 28’s renovation has been widely acclaimed. The developers have received two coveted “Rose” awards from the Downtown Breakfast Club (1988 and 1989), a Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Award in 1988 for “adaptive reuse entirely consistent with historic preservation standards,” and the Los Angeles Business Council’s Beautification Award in 1989. Today, the building stands as a testament to the benefits of imaginative preservation. Although more than 75 years have passed since it was born, Engine Company No. 28 is as alive today as it has ever been, and now houses offices and a classic American restaurant serving firehouse cuisine. In 1912, Downtown Los Angeles’ Figueroa Street boasted a magnificent new fire station whose up-to-date construction and $60,000 cost reflected the elegance of the expensive residences in the nearby neighborhoods. The Engine Company No. 28 building, designed by architects John Kremple and Walter Erekes, was one of the first reinforced concrete fire stations in the country. It featured a dramatic brick facade with twinarched Renaissance Revival-style window bays spanning two of its three stories. Horse-driven vehicles were in use when the fire station’s construction began, but by
the time it was completed, the LAFD was motorized. A private elevator provided access to the third floor apartment of the fire chief and his family. When duty called, however, the apartment’s original inhabitant, Captain McDowell, opted no doubt for quick egress via his personal firepole, which led to the second story. Firemen lived in dormitories on the second level, reached from the apparatus room by a stairway with slate steps and elaborate nickel-plated grillwork. When Engine Company No. 28 was built in 1912, it was Los Angeles’ most expensive fire station, an architectural gem befitting the wealthy residential neighborhood which surrounded it. Among the intricate architectural details highlighting the 20,000-square-foot interior were pressedtin ceilings, green Italian tile, wainscoting, polished oak floors, brass, vaulted skylights, and, of course, several shiny firepoles. Two fire trucks, a Gorham-Seagrave motor-driven pumping engine and a motordriven Seagrave combination chemical and hose wagon, entered and exited the building through massive metal doors which led to the ground-floor apparatus room. Engine Company No. 28 answered its initial call on July 23, 1913, the first of many times during the next half century that it would “come to the rescue” in service to the
LOS ANGELES Great American Food & Drink Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner Weekend Brunch Special Events 644 S. Figueroa St., DTLA 213.624.6996 Engineco.com Twitter @EngineCO28
14 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
city. By the early 1960s, Los Angeles had changed dramatically and so had its Fire Department. As part of a facilities replacement program, Engine Company No. 28 was closed, its personnel and equipment moved to another location. Parts of the building had already been converted from living quarters to office space, and with the station’s closing, the conversion was complete. Engine Company No. 28 was of service only as a home for LAFD administrative offices and storage. Over time, the gem had lost its luster. By 1971, it stood vacant, abandoned and up for sale. It was full of dirt, cobwebs and refuse; the tin ceilings were rusted, the wood floors and skylights badly damaged, and the roof nearly ruined. High-rise offices had sprung up around it; the fire station would probably be replaced with another. Thanks to a group of intrepid developers, the building was lovingly restored in the late 1980s and the first floor was converted into a restaurant. It contains the original brick floor and the slate-step stairway that now leads to a new mezzanine-level dining area. Remaining on the walls is the original
green Italian tile, covered mostly by removable wood paneling to which the dining booths are attached. The white pressed tin ceiling has been fully restored. Toward the restaurant’s rear one firepole remains. Antique firefighting equipment and enlarged fire-station related vintage photos decorate the room. Noted attorneys Mark Geragos and Mark Kabateck, whose offices reside in the building, purchased the structure in 2007 and continue to act as stewards of the historic Downtown icon. For more information about the Engine Co. No. 28 restaurant, visit engineco.com.
Changing Lives for More Than 90 Years Los Angeles Trade-Technical College Crafts an Enduring Legacy in Higher Education
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he graduates of Los Angeles TradeTechnical College built this city. For 90 years, Trade Tech has provided the kind of career-technical training that changes lives and communities. The college has an unmatched reputation for delivering a unique and industry-driven brand of vocational education, placing graduates in careers throughout the city of Los Angeles. In addition, this college transfers students to institutions all over the country, including the Ivy League, in a variety of majors. There is no doubt that Trade Tech is a global leader in higher education and certainly an educational icon in this city. For 90 years, its programs have been among the best in the country. Fashion, culinary arts, professional baking, welding, plumbing, carpentry, visual communications, sign graphics, HVAC, nursing, cosmetology, electronics, solar, chemical and process technology, computer applications and all of the transfer education courses can be found at LATTC. There is no community college west of the Mississippi
that offers the breadth of programs that Trade Tech does. Partnerships with industry and labor are strong, and make for a pipeline to real careers. For 90 years, there has been a commitment to the surrounding communities of Downtown Los Angeles. A great many students live and work near the campus, and know that the training they receive at Trade Tech can change their lives. Trade Tech is a college of new opportunities, accessible to students who may have faced challenges in the past, but are now ready
to pursue their dreams. For 90 years, Trade Tech has celebrated its role of moving students from collegeto-career. Now the campus has taken on greater urgency by developing a pathways framework and strategy to improve student success. The campus has assessed the delivery of training and education and has created a new system designed to remove the traditional impediments students face in securing a degree or certificate or transfer. In addition, a new campus WorkSource center provides
important guidance for students and the community, in order to secure real careers in a real world. For 90 years, no community college has done this work better than Trade Tech. The college’s history parallels the growth of this city, an enduring legacy that makes it a true icon. College to career. It’s all here. LA Trade Tech College. For more information contact Los Angeles Trade-Technical College at (213) 763-7000 or visit lattc.edu.
A LOS ANGELES ICON FOR OVER 90 YEARS
COLLEGE TO CAREER. IT’S ALL HERE. L.A. TRADE TECH COLLEGE
lattc.edu ICONS OF DOWNTOWN 15
Join Our Professional Live/Work Community of Startups and Entrepreneurs in the High-Tech, Entertainment, Fashion, Legal, Finance, Consulting, Real Estate, Advertising Industries and More
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Live/Work Up to 67% Tax Deductible
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1010wilshire.com
stay@1010wilshire.com
1010 Wilshire Blvd.,
Los Angeles, CA 90017
For Filming & Events: filmingandevents @ 1010wilshire.com Also visit our Oceanside property at 1010oceanside.com
16 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
An Iconic Live-Work Solution TENTEN Wilshire Offers the Perfect Blend of Amenities, Necessities and Flexibility for the Business-Savvy Tenant
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ocated on Los Angeles’ world-famous Wilshire Boulevard, TENTEN Wilshire offers 227 fully-furnished and all-inclusive luxury apartment suites in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. At TENTEN Wilshire, all suites are designated live/work, which allows professionals to conduct business from home with all the amenities and panache of a traditional office space – and then some. Unlike anything else in Downtown, TEN TEN Wilshire is perfectly suited for entrepreneurs, professionals and startups in the high-tech, entertainment, fashion, legal, finance, consulting, real estate, advertising and service industries. The building provides the perfect blend of amenities, necessities and flexibility for business-minded individuals; allowing them to live, work and play under one roof. TENTEN Wilshire’s special zoning and tax benefits provides business owners and independent contractors the ability to write off up to 67% of the rent on live/work suites, and up to 100% on office-only units. All suites are equipped with every imaginable amenity including 24/7 valet parking, local drop-off car service, free basic utilities including wired and wireless high speed Internet, premium cable TV, and local phone calls. Units feature iPod ready sound systems, high definition LCD TVs, in-unit washer/dryer, full kitchens with stainless steel appliances and extensive kitchenware sets, and individual thermostats for optimum cooling and heating. Inspired by luxury resorts, the awardwinning rooftop features a full gym, pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms, locker rooms, a movie/screening room, lounge, fire pits, barbecue areas, sundecks, and custom outdoor billiard and foosball tables, all while being surrounded by pan-
oramic views. A great venue for the complimentary happy hour five days a week, and ideal for meeting people and networking, it is easy to see why TENTEN Wilshire is the complete lifestyle solution for business professionals. Additional indoor amenities feature five multi-media conference rooms, ample workstations, two recreation centers, a private indoor lounge, and a vast game room complete with flat-screen displays, foosball, shuffleboard, ping pong, billiards and card tables. A secluded theater with an oversized high-definition projection screen and professional sound system provide a luxurious option for personal or business use. Centrally located, TENTEN Wilshire is surrounded by the most extensive freeway system in the world, including the 110, 10, 101 and 5 freeways. The Downtown area is also home to major legal, financial and telecommunications companies, as well as the entertainment, textile, jewelry and fashion industries. Just two blocks from TEN TEN Wilshire is the 7th Street/Metro Center subway station, offering connections to Long Beach, Hollywood, Pasadena, LAX and more. Union Station, the access point to the Metrolink rail system, is also nearby. With neighbors like the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Exposition Park and Staples Center, additional entertainment and recreational activities are available, year round. L.A. Live, a 4 million-square-foot sports and entertainment district, offers many exciting venues and restaurants as well. With flexible lease terms, TENTEN Wilshire is the perfect lifestyle solution for professionals who want to live, work and play in Downtown Los Angeles, no matter how long or short the stay. For more information visit 1010wilshire. com or call (877) 338-1010.
A Legacy of Membership Water and Power Community Credit Union Celebrates 80 Years of Downtown Service
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ike the strong legacy of Downtown Los Angeles, Water and Power Community Credit Union (WPCCU) was built on the foundation of people helping people. The credit union was formed in 1936, as a collaborative effort of 10 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power employees whose aim was to help fellow employees pay for essential commodities. Almost 80 years later, the vision still holds true – provide Downtowners and Angelenos alike a simple yet valuable alternative to banking and managing finances. From the high traffic area of Downtown Los Angeles, to the bustling streets in the Westchester area, and deep
into the San Fernando Valley, WPCCU serves individuals and families from all walks of life. The magic of membership with a credit union rests in the plethora of available benefits over the “customer” approach of big banks. Unlike banks, credit unions are member-owned and have volunteer board members, whose focus is to make members’ financial lives better and not to simply improve the company’s stock. WPCCU is not-for-profit, meaning the revenue earned is returned to members in the form of higher savings rates, lower loan rates and reduced or eliminated service fees. WPCCU is also linked to the CO-OP network of ATMs and shared branches, providing fee-
free withdrawals at more than 30,000 ATMs and access to thousands of credit union branches nationwide. Today, WPCCU has five branches, with more than 33,000 members. There are more than 100 CO-OP ATMS in Downtown L.A. In 2016, WPCCU will commemorate 80 years of serving Los Angeles with a series of member-centric promotions and giveaways. Without the support of faithful members, the credit union’s legacy would not be as strong. Therefore, WPCCU will celebrate the magic of membership with special highlights on giving back in various ways to support and uplift current and new members in the areas of home ownership, auto buying, financial planning, and much more. Becoming a member of WPCCU and joining the upcoming celebratory year is simple. You must live, work, worship or attend a post-secondary school in the greater Los Angeles area. Discover the credit union difference and cash in on the valuable benefits. For more information about joining the credit union, call (800) 300-9728 or visit wpcu.org.
ICONS OF DOWNTOWN 17
DOWNTOWN AND DOWNTIME Whether you desire world-class cultural attractions, top-notch dining or a blissful night of sleep in our Heavenly® Bed, you’ll find it all here at The Westin Bonavenure Hotel and Suites. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION, VISIT WESTIN.COM/ BONAVENTURE OR CALL 213-624-1000
©2011–2013 Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Preferred Guest, SPG, Westin and their logos are the trademarks of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., or its affiliates. For full terms & conditions visit westin.com/bonaventure
18 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
Elegant and Iconic The Famed Westin Bonaventure Hotel Leaves Its Mark on the Downtown L.A. Skyline
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legantly presiding over the City of Angels, The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites provides the ultimate urban oasis in the heart of the business district. An international symbol that has come to represent the beauty and sophistication of the city itself, the famous Westin Los Angeles hotel is one of the most photographed destinations in the world. Stroll through the atrium lobby and you’ll immediately see why. Whether you are visiting for a leisurely weekend getaway, a business meeting or a special event, the hotel’s deluxe accommodations define the essence of modern luxury. Enjoy spectacular skyline views, access to more than 40 specialty boutiques and restaurants, and unparalleled meeting facilities. Discover L.A.’s largest convention hotel – widely regarded as a “city within a city” – which is sure to surpass all expectations. An iconic attraction in its own right, this unique name in Downtown Los Angeles hotels beckons with an exceptional setting. Stunning Accommodations Within moments of arrival, guests can rest assured that their stay will be nothing short of remarkable. Enjoy an endless array of amenities, including the largest hotel spa in L.A., 19 distinct restaurants and lounges, and a beautifully landscaped outdoor pool deck. For business travelers and corporate event planners, the Bonaventure is proud to offer the largest ballroom in the city, fully complemented by first-class service. Expertly achieving the delicate balance between business and pleasure, each of the hotel rooms connects guests with an extraordinary host of features. The hotel features a six-story atrium with myriad specialty boutiques and
international restaurants, 1,358 guest rooms and suites with spectacular city views, and more than 110,000 square feet of meeting space. The Bonaventure has consistently gone to great lengths to provide the ultimate urban oasis. Giving Back and Staying Green The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites is proud to be L.A.’s first hotel to reach the environmental standards set by Green Seal, as it works to make Los Angeles a greener and healthier city. Guests can witness firsthand how the hotel is helping to ensure a better environment by reducing its carbon footprint through recycling programs, energy conservation and management, water conservation and more. The Westin Bonaventure continuously seeks to achieve a clean, healthy, safe and sustainable environment for guests, the community and future generations. The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites is at 404 S. Figueroa St. For more information call (213) 624-1000 or visit thebonaventure.com.
A Path to Success
EWDD Creates a Network of WorkSource Centers for Employment in Downtown L.A. and Beyond
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here’s little dispute that the path to a vibrant and economically diverse Los Angeles begins with a population of well-trained workers. Under the leadership of Mayor Eric Garcetti, the City of Los Angeles has recalibrated its workforce-readiness programs to reflect the jobs of today. The new system ties job readiness more closely to educational attainment and industry-specific training. Garcetti worked closely with Jan Perry, general manager of the Economic & Workforce Development Department, and Charlie Woo, chairman of the Workforce Development Board, to get it just right. The result is a network of WorkSource centers that function as a job-mentoring hub right in the neighborhood. Today, Los Angeles residents can go to one of 18 WorkSource centers spread across the region and find friendly
staff ready to help chart their individual path to success. Participants can get help finishing their high school education or taking the GED, the high school equivalency exam. They can enroll in skills training needed to land a position in the high-demand industries of healthcare, technology, hospitality and advanced manufacturing, to name a few. Each WorkSource center focuses on two high-growth industries (see adjacent list). Other services include jobs counseling, help preparing a resume, interviewing skills, financial literacy classes and online access to JobsLA.org, a searchable database of close to 50,000 L.A.-based openings. JobsLA.org is updated daily. EWDD is also partnering with socially-involved employers such as Homeboy Enterprises, Goodwill Industries and Chrysalis to lead a new and innovative effort to train some
of the city’s hardest-to-place individuals. Under the LA:RISE program, job seekers who didn’t finish high school or who have a history of incarceration or homelessness will get supportive services and a job with a social enterprise employer. With time, they will be ready to apply for positions in the open job market. From a business standpoint, the WorkSource centers provide a pool of trained workers and a place to recruit workers with specific skills. WorkSource center staff can help organize a job fair, too. If you’re looking for a job and don’t know where to start, visit one of the 18 WorkSource centers. Don’t hold back on creating the life you want. For more information on these and other services provided by EWDD, visit ewddlacity.com.
CITY OF LOS ANGELES
WORKSOURCE CENTERS jobsla.org
BY REGION
CENTRAL & EAST LA Equal opportunity program/employer. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request.
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY
Boyle Heights / East WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Green Tech. & Security 1505 E. 1st Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033 TEL: (323) 267-5930 TTY: (323) 267-5937
Downtown / Pico Union WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Green Tech. & Financial Services 1055 Wilshire Blvd. #900 A, Los Angeles, CA 90017 TEL: (213) 353-1677 TTY: (213) 353-1685
Canoga Park / South Valley WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Healthcare & Adv. Manufacturing 21010 Vanowen St., Canoga Park, CA 91303
Hollywood WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Healthcare & Security 4311 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90029
Pacoima / North Valley WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Healthcare & Financial Services 11623 Glenoaks Blvd., Pacoima, CA 91331
Northeast Los Angeles WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Hospitality, Entertainment & Security 342 N. San Fernando Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90031
Sun Valley WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Logistics & Healthcare 9024 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Sun Valley, CA 91352
Wilshire Metro WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Logistics & Adv. Manufacturing 3550 Wilshire Blvd., #500, Los Angeles, CA 90010
West Valley WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Healthcare & Logistics 9207 Eton Ave., Chatsworth, CA 91311
Los Angeles Public Library WorkSource Portal
TEL: (818) 596-4448 TTY: (818) 596-4155
TEL: (818) 492-4065 TTY: (818) 897-9791
TEL: (818) 504-0334 TTY: (818) 504-1974
TEL: (818) 701-9800 TTY: (818) 701-9850
TEL: (323) 454-6100 TTY: (323) 454-6196
TEL: (323) 539-2000 TTY: (323) 539-2057
TEL: (213) 365-9829 TTY: (213) 368-0047
(Located within the Business & Economics Department)
630 W. 5th St., Lower Level 1, Los Angeles, CA 90071 TEL: (213) 228-7113 TTY: (213) 228-7096
WEST, SOUTH LA & HARBOR Crenshaw WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Healthcare & Hospitality 5401 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90043 TEL: (323) 596-2700 TTY: (323) 596-2800
Harbor Gateway WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Healthcare & Logistics 1851 N. Gaffey St., Suite F, San Pedro, CA 90731 TEL: (310) 732-5700 TTY: (562) 570-4712
South Los Angeles WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Construction & Adv. Manufacturing 3965 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90037 TEL: (323) 730-7900 TTY: (323) 730-7937
Southeast Los Angeles WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Healthcare & Construction 10950 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90059 TEL: (323) 563-4702 TTY: (323) 563-5684
Vernon Central / LATTC WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Construction & Hospitality 400 W. Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90015 TEL: (213) 763-5951 TTY: (213) 763-5986
Watts / Los Angeles WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Construction & Healthcare Imperial Courts 2220 E. 114th St., Los Angeles, CA 90059 TEL: (323) 249-7751 TTY: (323) 567-8977
West Adams WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Security & Healthcare 2900 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 TEL: (323) 293-6284 TTY: (323) 639-4501
West Los Angeles WorkSource Center Industry Focus: Financial Services & Security 13160 Mindanao Way, #240, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 TEL: (310) 309-6000 TTY: (310) 309-6018
ICONS OF DOWNTOWN 19
A Strong Downtown Tradition United Methodist Churches Help Shape the Spiritual and Political Landscape of the City
LITTLE TOKYO
Centenary United Methodist Church 300 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013 9:30am Sundays (Japanese) 10:45am Sundays (English)
CHINATOWN
Chinese United Methodist Church 825 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 10:00am Sundays (English) 11:30am Sundays (Chinese) Chinatown Children’s Choir
SOUTH PARK
First United Methodist Church Reboot 1020 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90015 (community room of Villa Flores apartments) 10:30am Sundays (English) #SpiritPubLA Theology Pub Kid City Youth Leadership & College Access Los Angeles Urban Foundation
EL PUEBLO
La Plaza United Methodist Church 115 Paseo De La Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90012 10:30am Sundays (Español) God is in the Graffiti Museum of Social Justice
EAST L.A.
La Trinidad United Methodist Church 3565 E First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90063 11:00am Sundays (Español)
USC
United University Church 817 W. 34th Street Los Angeles, CA 90089 (USC Campus at Hoover and Jefferson) 10:30am Sundays (English & Español) Campus Engagement Peace Camp for Kids Oportunidad MacArthur Park Homeless Services Find more about our communities and outreach at:
dtla4good.org
20 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
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istory informs us. Yet the needs and hopes of humanity are what continue to guide us. Horse trader and Methodist Pastor Adam Bland came to Los Angeles in 1850 and preached the first Protestant sermon to the people he would later describe as “the worst I had ever met.” He and his wife would soon lease the El Dorado saloon and use it as a chapel and school for girls. From the humble and dusty beginnings in the rough-and-tumble L.A., the Methodists would grow the Downtown church into the largest in their denomination while helping to shape the spiritual and political landscape of the city and its outlying communities. The Methodist churches in Los Angeles have long been strong advocates of people at the margins, having provided leadership in the Abolitionist Movement, hosting the post WWII United Service Organization, establishing the Chinese and Japanese Missions, and being instrumental partners in the creation of the University of Southern California, Goodwill Industries, the Methodist Hospital, and Asian Americans for Advancing Justice. Today, the church is one of the few mainline Protestant denominations in Downtown to say, “We never left.” United Methodist Churches in Little Tokyo, South Park, El Pueblo, USC and Boyle Heights continue to serve the local community.
They have built affordable housing for seniors and families, marched with Black and Brown Lives Matter, given spiritual support to the Occupy Movement and hotel workers, provided college assistance programs for at-risk youth, hosted undocumented immigrant children, hosted conversations around God and graffiti, provided unconditional support to its lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning neighbors, and supported the creation of four Downtown Girl Scouts troops. Church should not be something static, it should be alive and adaptive, and the United Methodist Churches in Downtown L.A. are ready to create such a church for the future with the people who live and work Downtown. Have you left church? Or felt that the church left you? Help cast a vision for a new kind of church, where bringing people together to heal the world is spiritual practice. Visit w and join the Re-Claim Church conversation at dtla4good on Instagram.
World-Class Health Care In the Heart of the City
Keck Medicine Expands Its Services and Accessibility in the Flourishing Downtown Core
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owntown Los Angeles has so much to offer – world-class restaurants, vintage, luxury and bargain shopping, historical, cultural and sporting activities, and numerous business opportunities. And now, the city offers the best in health care, conveniently located in the heart of this dynamic urban center. For patients seeking high-quality primary care, preventative medicine and other medical specialties, Keck Medicine – Downtown Los Angeles is a one-stop-shop. Patients will find primary care, internal medicine, executive physicals, dermatology,
women’s health, neurology, urology, stress testing and medical imaging. Due to the increased demand and projected growth in the area, the practice has added endocrinology, rheumatology, hepatology, nutrition, and expanded dermatology services to ensure that patients have access to multi-disciplinary services and, more importantly, the flexibility to be seen at times most convenient to them. Patient care begins in an Art Deco building that exudes comfort and relaxation. The 8,000-square-foot facility includes nine exam rooms and a pharmacy.
Keck Medicine – Downtown Los Angeles offers extraordinary medical care, calming ambiance and convenient accessibility. Good health is often taken for granted. And while most people know that prevention and early detection are the best strategies for avoiding a devastating event like a stroke or heart attack, making time for a health exam often takes a back seat to the business of the day. At Keck Medicine of USC – Downtown Los Angeles, the flourishing population of the Downtown core of Los Angeles can easily access excellent health care in a convenient
location. Keck Medicine – Downtown Los Angeles values your time and health and wants to make health care an easy, positive experience. Your time is valuable. Keck Medicine of USC can help you make the most of it. Keck Medicine of USC – Downtown Los Angeles is at 830 S. Flower St., Suite A-100. Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. To schedule a tour, please call (213) 486-8630. To schedule an appointment, please call (800) USC-CARE. Visit keckmedicine.org for more information.
Where expertise meets convenience Whether you work, live or play in Downtown LA, you have access to cutting-edge therapies and treatments through Keck Medicine of USC. Open Monday through Friday from 8 am - 5 pm, our downtown clinic serves as a convenient resource for your primary and specialty healthcare needs. That’s the Keck Effect and it means you get the exceptional care you deserve, without the commute.
THE KECK EFFECT: MORE EXPERTS CLOSE BY
Services include: • 3-D mammography • Cardio stress testing • Dermatology • Endocrinology
• Geriatrics • Hepatology • Internal Medicine • Neurology
• Nutrition • OB/Gyn • Rheumatology • Urology
Keck Medicine of USC – Downtown Los Angeles 830 S. Flower St., Los Angeles, CA 90017
(800) USC-CARE KeckMedicine.org Beverly Hills • La Cañada-Flintridge • Los Angeles • Pasadena © 2015 Keck Medicine of USC
USC-15132_DowntownConcepts_151013.indd 1
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ICONS OF DOWNTOWN 21
A Park in the Heart of Downtown
Historic Pershing Square Has Gathered Angelenos Since 1866
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ocated in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles at 532 S. Olive St., the historic Pershing Square is operated by the Department of Recreation and Parks. Dedicated in 1866 and originally named La Plaza Abaja (the Lower Plaza), the “Square” underwent its first renovation in 1911 to reflect the social and economic growth of the city. During World War I the park was used for receptions for the militia and provided a public forum much like London’s Hyde Park Corner. In 1918 the park’s name was formally changed to Pershing Square in honor of the World War I general. The Department of Recreation and Parks, the Pershing Square Property Association and the Community Redevelopment Agency joined to renovate the park once again in 1989. Pershing Square features an open and elevated Mayan-
22 ICONS OF DOWNTOWN
style amphitheater, a grove of orange trees that pays tribute to Los Angeles’ agricultural roots, and at the south end a large river rock-lined circular fountain with a timereleased water flow creating a tidal action. Artists Ricardo Legorreta, Laurie Olin and Barbara McCarren helped design Pershing Square. Pershing Square hosts a variety of community events. The Pershing Square Downtown Stage is a six-week summer concert series with free music, films and events four days a week. Artists who have performed on the Downtown Stage include The Fixx, The Bangles, The Psychedelic Furs, The Electric Light Orchestra and 10,000 Maniacs. Friday Night Movies, Salsa Sunset Dances and Lunchtime Concerts are all part of the summer lineup. An outdoor ice skating rink is hosted by Pershing Square November through January including a two-day Winter
Holiday Festival. Free Zumba and yoga classes are held in the new community room, while a new chess area is available for chess clubs, tournaments and casual players. Also new are the children’s play areas, pet area and hanging wall garden. Pershing Square runs a Mobile Youth Program that provides free arts and crafts, sports, games, and summer and winter day camps for hundreds of children. A children’s play area opened in early 2015. A farmers market and Food Truck Friday lunch event are held weekly. Annual events include art shows by the Art Squared City Scape Outdoor Gallery; the St. Patrick’s Day free lunchtime concert celebration; the Spring Extravaganza; and the Pershing Square Downtown Discover Bike Ride. The venue also serves as a major location for television shows, films and private parties. For more information about Department of Recreation and Parks events at Pershing Square, Outdoor Concert and Event Center, activities, services, programs and facilities, visit laparks.org/pershingsquare or call (213) 847 4970.
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