Thread by @esotouric

Happening now, Boyle Heights Neighborhood Council is starting meeting that will include status report on Peabody-Werden House. See for more.

Our Richard Schave asks NC ask CD14 for a report back on 2528 East 1st Street bungalow court demo/eviction threat. esotouric.com/peabody/

Monica Mejia from ELACC is asking the community for help with Peabody-Werden House. It's "very very old." Needs a lot of work. Does not want to see the house landmarked. Hey, c'mon!

Okay, Monica seems to believe a landmark cannot be accessible to people who use wheelchairs. Not true. We have been trying since 2015 to advise them on reality. Thinks house is worth $1.

Land belongs to Metro. The foundation the moved house was placed on was city permitted, it's permanent. That's news to everyone, thought Metro was giving temp access only. "Maybe that's the only thing of value."

Does not have to be housing again. Can be office, community space. It will be the pretty blue, she likes the blue. (Is the color original? A proper historic survey will answer this question.)

Monica thinks the house needs to be waterproofed.

ELACC builds new, mostly, though Cummings Block was expanded. Monica is new to ELACC and does not have adaptive reuse experience. Needs a preservation architect.

If you visit our dedicated page you'll see a chronicle of our many attempts to help with this house. You gotta ask the right people for this specialized problem.esotouric.com/peabody

ELACC is very willing to walk away from Peabody-Werden House to a nonprofit that's got the funds, or to stay involved.

So finally after 8 years, an RFP is sought.

Clarifying the relationship with the landlord, Metro: will have to go to the Metro Board with an application to restore and reactivate the house.

This is encouraging that they are finally trying, but an RFP to ELACC doesn't meet Metro needs.

The walkthrough for interested operators will be May 28, and you have to wear boots because it's a construction zone.

Will pick an operator BEFORE September 30.

Monica will answer any questions about the Peabody-Werden house and RFP now.

The tenants were relocated. Monica heard that there was a request from the community to save this building because it's cool.

Yes, guilty! We did that and we are grateful that ELACC listened.

Board Q: is it historic?
Monica: no, just eligible

Q: have you nominated it?
Monica: no.

Q: Why have you waited 8 years to do anything? It's neglect. It's tagged. The gates are open and people go in. Why no care for so long? Where was ELACC all these years?

ELACC: We don't have the money--

Board Q: You're a nonprofit, you have a thousand buildings. It's an eyesore.

ELACC: we don't have 3.2 million to restore it

Board Q: I've seen your budget. You don't have the interest.

ELACC: Last year and this year we are losing money.

Board Q: Are you going bankrupt? Why are you acquiring new properties?

Board Q: I'm at Otomisan with a group who wants to know if you don't find a buyer this year for Peabody-Werden, how much longer does the community have to see this eyesore? We have trespassers, homeless, gangs. This might be their next target.

Also we don't believe you have a security system based on condition of the property.

ELACC: we need help, we can't find the money

Hey, ELACC, you have had meetings with us, meetings we called, and you didn't follow up. Do you only want political friends to pay for everything?

If nobody wants to take over this property, we can go back to Metro or the County or CD14 to save it.

ELACC wants the Boyle Heights community to make some noise.

ELACC doesn't think the plan was to demolish Peabody-Werden House.

That was the plan. We rallied the community to tell them no. ELACC didn't care about the house, but blinked. Since then: no plan or collaboration.

No vote because this is just a presentation, but can make a recommendation to have a vote in the future.

Let's take some public comment next.

If anyone reading this thread has a few million bucks and a dream, let's restore and reactivate Peabody-Werden House for the Boyle Heights community and everyone.

Library! Garden! Music venue! Art gallery! Clinic! Cafe!

Photo lab! Performance art hub! Pickling kitchen!

Call in now if you have opinions about Peabody-Werden House, a Boyle Heights landmark that needs new ideas.

Caller Shmuel doesn't want to see Peabody-Werden house become a case of demolition by neglect. There's no electricity, so how is it service.

Why aren't you seeking National Register status? This could bring Mills Act $ and resources.

Monica from ELACC: I hoped we'd find the money to remodel it to LOOK just like an historic building, but government needs accessibility.

She does not understand this type of construction. Eight years of no action. Sigh.

We regularly bring preservation professionals to meet with people who own historic properties but don't understand their options or limitations. But ELACC doesn't call us back.

Caller Jasmine says Monica has nerve asking for help when ELACC evicts tenants with small kids, and they tow cars and raise rent every year. Why are they talking about a worthless landmark and not caring for tenants?

Our Richard Schave tells BHNC for seven years we have worked with three ELACC presidents but they won't schedule meetings. They fundamentally don't understand the historic building codes. It's all possible. Please listen to people who know!

I will be at the walk whatever date you schedule it. I'm here to help you, but you really need to lean on the historic status of the property to solve all your problems.

Caller Carlos says this is a great opportunity to move forward, find positive solutions and make this building a home for a nonprofit. Don't bicker--listen--let's get Metro and the County to put the money together.

Amen to that. There's no joy in being mad at ELACC for not listening to experienced people and squandering good will.

Caller Alex doesn't agree that Peabody-Werden is worth $1.

That's it. More to come!

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