Posted by John Saunders (12.80.9.105) on July 21, 2001 at 15:20:24:
I live the in historic Wilshire Corridor just 2 blocks from the Ambassador in the "Talmadge Apartments", and look out of my bedroom window everyday and can see directly over to the Ambassador. So many times, I close my eyes and just wonder what it was like to stay at the Ambassador in it's heyday. Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that my area of town holds so much history and yet today it goes almost totally unrecognized.
Yes, I too would love to see it restored, but after living in this area for nearly 8 years I am much more realistic to the politics and to the attitudes of this city. I do think our current mayor has had a more positive outlook on the preservation of LA, but I also agree that he faced major obstacles with the city council and local governing groups. In reality, Wilshire Center is more or less Koreatown. No offense to the Koreans, but I do not think they have an understanding of LA's history, considering most of the landmarks in that area have become Korean night clubs (Brown Derby), Chapman Market (clubs) and I. Magnin's (bowling alley and salon's).
I also think that there is still fear of making a large investment in the area in regards to a restoration of the Ambassador. That is still actually the largest hotel in the LA and it would need A LOT of people to make it operate with a profit. I think right now there is a lot of emphasis on Hollywood and that seems to be where the core of restoration is focused, and I applaud that.
I have often compared LA (Wilshire Center) to the South Beach area of Miami. There was a time when it was glamorous, then fell hard and then amazingly turned itself around. I think the same could happen in the Wilshire area, due to the fact it has a large number of economically efficient apartment and office buildings and could draw in a large number of newer tenants that would normally favor the Westside of LA (where rents have escalated beyond belief). The Ambassador cannot save the area, the people can. I can almost bet that most of the people who favor the restoration, do not live in or near the area of the Ambassador.
Yes, I too would love to be able to check into the Ambassador, dance the night away at the Cocoanut Grove, sit by the enormous swimming pool and just hope to catch a glimpse of the ghost of some of Hollywood's past. I will continue to fight the demolition, attend area chamber of commerce meetings and voice my opinions, but I think the realty is, we need A LOT of money and a large number of farsighted, optimistic people who follow the same dream.
thanks!
Posted by John Saunders (65.203.155.254) on May 29, 2001 at 17:12:15