ARROYO SECO NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL

ASNC Continues to Support of the Goals of the
Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition

Re: ASNC Continues to Support of the Goals of the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition

From: Scott Rubel

To: Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council

June 26, 2007

At the request of Soctt Rubel, the ASNC voted at the June meeting in favor of these three points:

1) [A letter] restating ASNC support of the Coalition's continued work; to provide a viable museum destination for the public at the original historic site.

2) Specific support for the conceptual plan, dubbed the “Alternative Plan” or win-win vision, that illustrate the community's vision for an enhanced museum combined with the stated needs of Autry (education and cultural center). The main points are revitalizing the historic museum for museum display of the SW Collection (via the sound plans of Brenda Levin) and adding new exhibition space that addresses the space deficiencies stated by Autry, the parking deficiencies as stated by Autry, and adding economic and attendance generators like the restaurant.

3) Opposition to the Autry expansion proposal in Griffith Park because it removes the Southwest Museum collection from the Arroyo Seco and unnecessarily negatively impacts public parkland and increases commercial activity in public parkland.

Here was his documentation and argument:  

The Southwest Coalition has worked for four years to keep the Mount Washington structure a museum while allowing for additions or improvements that would make it a viable destination. The Coalition formed around this view. To advocate anything else is to undo the work of the only large group committed to this. There is a legal definition for “museum” that can encompass a lot of activities (education, research, community uses, etc.), but there is not a legal definition for cultural center or education center that would guarantee anything about the exhibitions or even the name of the place to continue; in fact Autry's proposed plans would change the name and use.

Despite the positive gestures of the Autry to stabilize the campus, we still have no written agreement that their long-term vision includes preservation of our heritage of the first museum in our city. This is what the Coalition continues to work for.

Any change of use is a crack in the armor exposing the future to worse possibilities. We need to remain determined that the best long-term use for our local treasure is as a museum. Professional evidence concludes this is possible and feasible. The Coalition's decisions were informed by professional evidence, performed by Autry's consultants, that concludes this is possible, feasible and viable.

Remember that we traditionally support the Friends of the Southwest. Should requests or arguments come up regarding approving change of use, I urge the ASNC to remain committed to the position of the Coalition, which is that the Southwest continue to function under the original intent of Charles Lummis – as a museum of and for the Southwest. This does not preclude any number of changes and improvements. If Autry wants space for a cultural center, it can be built on site and complement the museum – as our community has always embraced enhancement that protects a museum future.

--Scott Rubel

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Q: Is it true that FSWMC has changed its goals or position in the past year?

A: No. After Autry refused to provide a plan supporting a vibrant museum use, the Coalition created a plan that showed, with modest investment, the site can accommodate a museum and uses Autry desired. By accommodating Autry's stated needs of an education and cultural center, the Coalition has not radically changed its position. They have simply visually articulated a possible win-win and captured those things that we, as a community, have talked about for the last 4 years. You can go to the web site http://www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com and see the plan as it is currently presented. The goals of the Coalition remain the same as they were at its inception, and this plan is the result of years of hard work determining what the facilities as well as the business plan would look like for these goals to be achieved.

Q: There is concern that negotiations could come to a halt and that the Autry could be further alienated if the Coalition initiates litigation.

A: The Coalition is not litigating anything. This rumor comes from the Autry propaganda to deflect a positive negotiated outcome. At the last Coalition meeting, there was initial discussion that, as a last resort, the Coalition may need some mechanism in the future, IF elected officials or Autry won't find a solution that is acceptable. But, is that now? Absolutely not, we are working with Councilmember Jose Huizar to find a museum compromise.

Q: How is the Autry promoting the centennial anniversary of the Southwest Museum?

A: They are planning a four-hour Sunday open house between 12-4 in October - one event. By the way, if you want to celebrate the centennial of Gene Autry's birth, you have six months. There is an extravaganza going on over at Autry between June 22 and January 13, with a museum exhibition and related activities.

Q: Autry keeps citing lack of exhibition space as a deficiency of the current historic building. What is their plan for increasing the building's capacity?

A: Actually, they proposed to reduce the exhibition space to 3,200 square feet (25% of what Brenda Levin indicated would be feasible in the historic structure  - 12,500). This space isn't large enough for both rotating and the permanent exhibitions for school children… many art galleries are bigger than that.

Q: But the Autry is putting forth a lot of effort to preserve the historic building.

A: Work being done now is funded primarily by our tax dollars and is only to stabilize the structure and system's immediate needs. Still unfunded is the rehabilitation of the building for ANY future use. They have raised no money to implement the Levin Rehabilitation study.

Q: How much do we expect the Autry to invest?

A: The cost estimate from the Coalition's preservation architect who created this conceptual plan is estimated at $40-45… that includes the $23 million needed to fully rehab the SWM (Brenda Levin's estimate). All the Coalition is asking Autry for is to spend part of their $150 million expansion money in NELA too, as they originally promised at the time of the merger. Since they are expanding, they must have the money to undertake this, so why not in NELA first and foremost? Phase II, as they now call for, could be for expansion of non-storage uses at Griffith Park.