LA City Council OKs Demolition of Historic Jewish and Labor Union Site

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles City Council Friday approved a settlement to allow permits to move forward for the demolition of a historic Jewish and labor union site in Westlake.

Council members voted 12-0 to authorize the city attorney to green light the settlement and instruct the Department of Building and Safety to issue demolition permits for the property located at 846 South Union Ave., known as B'nai B'rith Lodge.

Council members Paul Krekorian, Katy Yaroslavsky and Traci Park were absent during the vote as they are in Paris with Mayor Karen Bass as part of a delegation to learn from Paris officials as they prepare for the Olympic Games later this summer.

The City Attorney's Office declined to comment on the matter citing pending litigation. The office of Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who represents the 1st District, which includes the location of the building, also declined to comment for the same reason.

In 2018, Catholic Charities, a non-profit that serves as the "social service arm" of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, purchased B'nai B'rith Lodge. The nonprofit cared for the property and later described it in a dilapidated condition.

They had sought demolition permits with the city of Los Angeles, but were denied as city officials took steps to designate the property as a historical cultural monument.

L.A. City Planning Department staff previously rejected the application because the property was located within the former Westlake redevelopment zone, as well as due to owner objections.

In 2023, Catholic Charities sued the city in efforts to obtain demolition permits to tear down the building.

According to city planning documents, the property contains two buildings -- the B'nai B'rith Lodge building in 1923-24, and the AFL Teamsters Addition, built in 1946-48.

Planning documents certify the building met criteria to be designated a historic cultural monument.

B'nai B'rith was the home for the Los Angeles Lodge, Independent Order B'nai B'rith. It was built as the prestigious center of Los Angeles Jewish culture, educational and social services.

It was designed by prominent L.A. architect S. Tilden Norton. The structure is an example of a Beaux Arts style social club meeting hall with arched openings, polychrome ornamental brick and Batchelder Terra Cotta tiles.

Additionally, in 1941, the Los Angeles Joint Council of Teamsters purchased the site to use as their headquarters. During this time, it was a period of rapid growth for the union.

By 1939, Teamsters had become the largest trade union in the city. From 1941 to 1978, they were at the center of the Teamsters Union activities in Southern California.

These activities include planning and negotiating contracts, votes and lectures as well as civil rights actions, social actions, boycotts and strikes.

In 2009, the Westlake Recovery Redevelopment Area Intensive Survey identified the lodge as eligible for the California Register of historic landmarks. In the 2016 SurveyLA citywide historic context statement for Jewish history also identified the building as a potential resource for its association with L.A.'s Jewish community.

The L.A. Times reported that the Catholic Charities and the archdiocese "respect the building's history and have been in communication with both the Jewish community and labor leaders throughout this process."

The settlement and the possible demolition of the historic site has sparked frustration among conservationists.

Steven Luftman, a heritage conservation consultant, Father Dylan Littlefield, chaplain at the Cecil Hotel, and Esotouric, a tour company that advocates for historic preservation, have criticized the City Council for not disclosing the settlement sooner. They've also expressed frustration with the lack of public engagement.

"I would like to ask that in the future when this body votes to allow the demolition of an important historic resource for our city that this legal agreement ... is made public before you vote on it," Luftman told Council members during public comment. "This is a very important building to the Jewish community of Los Angeles, to the African American community and important to the history of unionization of a seriously anti-union town that changed this history."

Several residents and organizations submitted statements in support of saving the property.

Nora Wyman and Dale Kendall of Save Beverly Fairfax had urged Council members to vote against the settlement, which was previously approved by the Planning and Land Use Committee in February.

"Please vote no, and put a pause to any proposed demolition," they wrote in a statement. "There are ample opportunities for Catholic Charities of Los Angeles to implement adaptive reuse for their subsequent development, and we believe the public has the right to know and weigh in on any aspects of this settlement that may jeopardize this important historic resource."

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles City Council Friday approved a settlement to allow permits to move forward for the demolition of a historic Jewish and labor union site in Westlake.

Council members voted 12-0 to authorize the city attorney to green light the settlement and instruct the Department of Building and Safety to issue demolition permits for the property located at 846 South Union Ave., known as B'nai B'rith Lodge.

Council members Paul Krekorian, Katy Yaroslavsky and Traci Park were absent during the vote as they are in Paris with Mayor Karen Bass as part of a delegation to learn from Paris officials as they prepare for the Olympic Games later this summer.

The City Attorney's Office declined to comment on the matter citing pending litigation. The office of Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who represents the 1st District, which includes the location of the building, also declined to comment for the same reason.

In 2018, Catholic Charities, a non-profit that serves as the "social service arm" of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, purchased B'nai B'rith Lodge. The nonprofit cared for the property and later described it in a dilapidated condition.

They had sought demolition permits with the city of Los Angeles, but were denied as city officials took steps to designate the property as a historical cultural monument.

L.A. City Planning Department staff previously rejected the application because the property was located within the former Westlake redevelopment zone, as well as due to owner objections.

In 2023, Catholic Charities sued the city in efforts to obtain demolition permits to tear down the building.

According to city planning documents, the property contains two buildings -- the B'nai B'rith Lodge building in 1923-24, and the AFL Teamsters Addition, built in 1946-48.

Planning documents certify the building met criteria to be designated a historic cultural monument.

B'nai B'rith was the home for the Los Angeles Lodge, Independent Order B'nai B'rith. It was built as the prestigious center of Los Angeles Jewish culture, educational and social services.

It was designed by prominent L.A. architect S. Tilden Norton. The structure is an example of a Beaux Arts style social club meeting hall with arched openings, polychrome ornamental brick and Batchelder Terra Cotta tiles.

Additionally, in 1941, the Los Angeles Joint Council of Teamsters purchased the site to use as their headquarters. During this time, it was a period of rapid growth for the union.

By 1939, Teamsters had become the largest trade union in the city. From 1941 to 1978, they were at the center of the Teamsters Union activities in Southern California.

These activities include planning and negotiating contracts, votes and lectures as well as civil rights actions, social actions, boycotts and strikes.

In 2009, the Westlake Recovery Redevelopment Area Intensive Survey identified the lodge as eligible for the California Register of historic landmarks. In the 2016 SurveyLA citywide historic context statement for Jewish history also identified the building as a potential resource for its association with L.A.'s Jewish community.

The L.A. Times reported that the Catholic Charities and the archdiocese "respect the building's history and have been in communication with both the Jewish community and labor leaders throughout this process."

The settlement and the possible demolition of the historic site has sparked frustration among conservationists.

Steven Luftman, a heritage conservation consultant, Father Dylan Littlefield, chaplain at the Cecil Hotel, and Esotouric, a tour company that advocates for historic preservation, have criticized the City Council for not disclosing the settlement sooner. They've also expressed frustration with the lack of public engagement.

"I would like to ask that in the future when this body votes to allow the demolition of an important historic resource for our city that this legal agreement ... is made public before you vote on it," Luftman told Council members during public comment. "This is a very important building to the Jewish community of Los Angeles, to the African American community and important to the history of unionization of a seriously anti-union town that changed this history."

Several residents and organizations submitted statements in support of saving the property.

Nora Wyman and Dale Kendall of Save Beverly Fairfax had urged Council members to vote against the settlement, which was previously approved by the Planning and Land Use Committee in February.

"Please vote no, and put a pause to any proposed demolition," they wrote in a statement. "There are ample opportunities for Catholic Charities of Los Angeles to implement adaptive reuse for their subsequent development, and we believe the public has the right to know and weigh in on any aspects of this settlement that may jeopardize this important historic resource."

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Los Angeles City Council Friday approved a settlement to allow permits to move forward for the demolition of a historic Jewish and labor union site in Westlake.

Council members voted 12-0 to authorize the city attorney to green light the settlement and instruct the Department of Building and Safety to issue demolition permits for the property located at 846 South Union Ave., known as B'nai B'rith Lodge.

Council members Paul Krekorian, Katy Yaroslavsky and Traci Park were absent during the vote as they are in Paris with Mayor Karen Bass as part of a delegation to learn from Paris officials as they prepare for the Olympic Games later this summer.

The City Attorney's Office declined to comment on the matter citing pending litigation. The office of Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez, who represents the 1st District, which includes the location of the building, also declined to comment for the same reason.

In 2018, Catholic Charities, a non-profit that serves as the "social service arm" of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, purchased B'nai B'rith Lodge. The nonprofit cared for the property and later described it in a dilapidated condition.

They had sought demolition permits with the city of Los Angeles, but were denied as city officials took steps to designate the property as a historical cultural monument.

L.A. City Planning Department staff previously rejected the application because the property was located within the former Westlake redevelopment zone, as well as due to owner objections.

In 2023, Catholic Charities sued the city in efforts to obtain demolition permits to tear down the building.

According to city planning documents, the property contains two buildings -- the B'nai B'rith Lodge building in 1923-24, and the AFL Teamsters Addition, built in 1946-48.

Planning documents certify the building met criteria to be designated a historic cultural monument.

B'nai B'rith was the home for the Los Angeles Lodge, Independent Order B'nai B'rith. It was built as the prestigious center of Los Angeles Jewish culture, educational and social services.

It was designed by prominent L.A. architect S. Tilden Norton. The structure is an example of a Beaux Arts style social club meeting hall with arched openings, polychrome ornamental brick and Batchelder Terra Cotta tiles.

Additionally, in 1941, the Los Angeles Joint Council of Teamsters purchased the site to use as their headquarters. During this time, it was a period of rapid growth for the union.

By 1939, Teamsters had become the largest trade union in the city. From 1941 to 1978, they were at the center of the Teamsters Union activities in Southern California.

These activities include planning and negotiating contracts, votes and lectures as well as civil rights actions, social actions, boycotts and strikes.

In 2009, the Westlake Recovery Redevelopment Area Intensive Survey identified the lodge as eligible for the California Register of historic landmarks. In the 2016 SurveyLA citywide historic context statement for Jewish history also identified the building as a potential resource for its association with L.A.'s Jewish community.

The L.A. Times reported that the Catholic Charities and the archdiocese "respect the building's history and have been in communication with both the Jewish community and labor leaders throughout this process."

The settlement and the possible demolition of the historic site has sparked frustration among conservationists.

Steven Luftman, a heritage conservation consultant, Father Dylan Littlefield, chaplain at the Cecil Hotel, and Esotouric, a tour company that advocates for historic preservation, have criticized the City Council for not disclosing the settlement sooner. They've also expressed frustration with the lack of public engagement.

"I would like to ask that in the future when this body votes to allow the demolition of an important historic resource for our city that this legal agreement ... is made public before you vote on it," Luftman told Council members during public comment. "This is a very important building to the Jewish community of Los Angeles, to the African American community and important to the history of unionization of a seriously anti-union town that changed this history."

Several residents and organizations submitted statements in support of saving the property.

Nora Wyman and Dale Kendall of Save Beverly Fairfax had urged Council members to vote against the settlement, which was previously approved by the Planning and Land Use Committee in February.

"Please vote no, and put a pause to any proposed demolition," they wrote in a statement. "There are ample opportunities for Catholic Charities of Los Angeles to implement adaptive reuse for their subsequent development, and we believe the public has the right to know and weigh in on any aspects of this settlement that may jeopardize this important historic resource."