We knew that whole LAUSD attempt to preserve the Cocoanut Grove at the former Ambassador Hotel site had to be a big boondoggle. The original plans for the school to be built on the site included the preservation of the Cocoanut Grove, but as we read over at Franklin Avenue, that was just a bunch of lipservice that LAUSD paid to preservationists. Unfortunately, the last remnants of the Ambassador will go the way of RFK before it and will be demolished. A Franklin Avenue reader found a letter outside of the site that states the following:
The 2004 FEIR included mitigation measures for the adaptive reuse of the Cocoanut Grove as an auditorium subject to structural materials testing. Based upon extensive testing and evaluation by the District's structural engineer, consultants and staff, the District determined that it is technically infeasible to retain and reuse all of the features that were described in the 2004 FEIR due to their age and degraded and unstable condition. In view of the potential changes in the retention and reuse of the Cocoanut Grove, LAUSD is preparing a Supplement to the 2004 FEIR to document these changes. Written comments and responses are being accepted through Dec. 15, via fax (213-893-7412), email (ceqa-comments@laschools.org), or regular mail (Barbara Wu, LAUSD Office of Environmental Health and Safety, 1055 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, 90017).
At least we have Bobby to reminisce.
· Ambassador Update: The Cocoanut Grove to be Demolished As Well
[Franklin Avenue]