Progress
January 2012
January 2012
The California Supreme Court ruling leaves many issues to be resolved, including the Park’s EIR funding. FHCP Board members are working with Council Member Garcetti and the Bureau of Engineering to resolve. Planning is underway for the FHCP 2012 DC Advocacy trip. Meetings have been scheduled with the Administration, Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, Congressman Adam Schiff and others. Contact Alfredo Hernandez at alfredo.hernandez@hfcp.org if you are interested in participating.
December 2011
Environmental Impact Report – CEQA/NEPA
On December 15, 2011 the CRA/LA Board of Commissioners approved $2 million dollars to initiate the Park’s EIR. The City Council approved the expenditure on December 16 and it was signed by the Mayor. However, on December 29th, the California Supreme Court upheld the legislature’s right to abolish redevelopment agencies, effective February 1, 2012 (California Redevelopment Agencies, et al v. Ana Matosantos). Click here to read the Court’s opinion.
March 2011
Washington, D.C. Advocacy Trip
A FHCP delegation, numbering 16, traveled to DC at their own expense, to advocate on behalf of the park. The delegation spent three days of intensive meetings with members of the House and Senate, Department of Transportation and City Parks Alliance which yielded excellent results.
June 2010
USC School of Architecture, Master Landscape Studio
Under the direction of Professor Gerdo Aquino, 20 gifted master students studied and re-created the park for their term project. The results were imaginative and well received by the Hollywood community. Many of their ideas will be incorporated into the soon to be designed Park.
March 2010
Beacon Economics
In anticipation of an essential advocacy trip to Washington D.C., FHCP commissioned Beacon Economics, a leader in the field of economic forecasting, to conduct a study of the park’s return on investment.
February 2010
First Appropriations Request
Working with Congress Member Xavier Becerra, FHCP submitted an appropriations request for FY 2011. Although the request moved out of the Transpiration Sub Committee, it did not make it to Appropriations. FHCP intends to submit another appropriations request for FY 2013.
December 2009
Los Angeles City Planning Commission
With Planning Staff, FHCP president Laurie Goldman presented the park project to the Commission. The 3-D model of the Park was instrumental in describing the immeasurable benefits of the park.
May 2009
IRS Determination Letter
In record time, 2 ½ weeks from the date of filing, the IRS granted FHCP their tax exempt status. FHCP became a 501c3 nonprofit organization and donations are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.
March 2009
Caltrans
Meeting with then District 7 Director, Doug Failing, the FHCP technical committee presented the Park project to Caltrans. As a result, Caltrans provided their enthusiastic support for the Hollywood Central Park and remain unqualified partners of FHCP
December 2008
Friends of the Hollywood Central Park
Having incubated the park project, the Chamber stepped aside following the release of the Feasibility Study. On December 8, 2008 a group of 13 Hollywood stakeholders came together to form a nonprofit organization, Friends of the Hollywood Central Park to raise funds to build the Park. Founding FHCP board members included many members of the original Chamber park committee.
