Dateline Highland Park – Advocates for the iconic Southwest Museum will unveil an ambitious plan tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock to preserve and revitalize the city’s first museum. The intention is to make it the centerpiece of a cultural and economic development district that links numerous cultural attractions in the Arroyo Seco communities of Highland Park, Montecito Heights, Sycamore Terrace and Mt. Washington.
“Our plan is meant to jumpstart a dialogue with the Autry Museum, the city’s elected leaders and those committed to the city’s cultural well-being about how to return the Southwest Museum to its original glory as a fully-functioning museum,” said Nicole Possert, spokesperson for the Friends of the Southwest Museum Coalition.
A Nov. 25 Los Angeles Times editorial challenged the Autry – the Southwest Museum’s managing partner – to reconsider its plan to take the Southwest out the museum business and make it a glorified community center.
The Coalition’s plan, developed by architect Louisa Van Leer of Plum Architects, will be released, with large architectural illustrations, at a location that shows off the Southwest Museum’s iconic beauty.
The plan envisions knitting together a variety of existing cultural and recreational attractions in the Arroyo Seco into a coherent, pedestrian- and bike-friendly cultural district that would stimulate economic development in the affected communities.
Mr. Schwada may be contacted at john.schwada@gmail.com
