Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-02
BY GEORGE b. HARRISON,
Municipal Expert

Park Commissioner Charles H. Ran
dali has been studying the city hall
site problem, and suggests an entirely
new solution-that of building the city
building in a commanding position
above the Broadway tunnel-which he
believes will be both inexpensive and
advantageous.
Bids for the new city hall site are
prohibitive-half a million dollars
each'-says MIR. Randall, why not
build the city hall at the north end of
Broadway, practically on top of the
entrance to the Broadway tunnel?
1.-THE land is already owned by the
city-or practically all that is neces-
sary. The building, which may be
ten-story castle perched on a lofty
site, will be a magnificent spectacle,
looking down the full length of Broad
way and in view from every part OF
the city, and yet convenient to and
easily reached from the business sec
ton The tunnel entrance should re-
main as it is, though to be embel-
lshed as a counterpart of the doorway
of the transportation building at the
Chicago worlds fair.
III llllo bu4lh4llS ullHIl EtA's'Nt NlAANo
can be provided so far as light and
ventilation are concerned. The public
library could be housed here. The site
costs practically nothing. so that the
whole amount derived from the sale
of the present site and building may
be expended on the new structure.
Would Widen Broadway
"I think drawing made by an
able artist showing q view up Broad
way to this building as it would look
would help make & better general ap-
probation of this.
Broadway should be widened on
the west side from Temple to the tun-
mel to straighten the street and give
a clear view of the new city hail all
the way down Broadway. The land in
addition to the street which would be
needed on the top Of the tunnel is va
cant and certainly cannot be eXpen-
sive. An area Of an acre or two
should be condemned about the new
site for a small city hall park.
"TO summarize, the artistic possi-
bilities of this scheme are unlimited,
and the land is cheap"
In connection with Mr.. RandalFs
suggestion the plan proposed by
Charles Mulford Robinson in the City
Beautiful report to provide needed
park room at the northern end of the
business section is of special interest.
Mr.. Robinson planned this not alone as
Complementary to the proper improve
ment of Central park opportunities, but
also ito dignity and emphasize the
historical old Plaza and to give better
protection for the old church. Mr..
Robinson reported his plan as follows:
Cliff Dwelling Effect
"Buena Vista street, running from
L.
house, climbs a steep hill and then on
the north side drops very abruptly
down the bluff to the level of Sunset
boulevard. As a route for through
travel, this portion OF it is practically
useless. 1t happens that in climbing the
face of the hill to its brow before
dropping down the street so cuts into
houses are high above il, on a Drecip-
itous terrace, and on the other, or east
side, even before the big retaining
wall has been passed, are below it, be-
coming at last like cliff dwellings tc
be reached only by descending flights
of steps From Temple street to the
hill top where this part of the street
practically ends, is two blocks; and
the steep bank which separates Buena
Vista street from New High, though If
is only block from Main street, is sc
little occupied by dwellings that it is
still enough covered with verdure tC
make wall of inviting green. Bu,
Buena Vista street. rising to this
summit, justifies its name in offerini
an interesting view over the older por-
tion of the city, and away to the hills
that lie beyond the many miles Of
roofs.
"At the beginning of what may bC
termed the other end of the business
district of Los Angeles is Central ol
THE Sixth Street park, for the fur
ther development OF which / shall sug
gest some plans. At this north ent
there is nothing except the quaint lit
tie Plaza, with it's radius of about 10'
feet. This is overcrowded all the time