El Pueblo Plaza de Cultura y Arte: Los Angeles, California

SERVICES USED ON THIS PROJECT INCLUDE:
	Environmental Compliance		Resource Management

The Plaza de Cultura y Arte (Cultural and Performing Arts Complex) is located within the Antique Block of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles State Historic Park in Los Angeles, California. Sapphos Environmental, Inc. has been providing environmental and cultural resources management services to the County of Los Angeles Chief Executive Office in support of this project since 2000. This complex, high-profile, and controversial project demonstrates the ability of the firm to provide an integrated process of planning and environmental compliance to produce the required documentation pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The primary issue on this project was the rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings identified as contributing elements to the El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic District and related feasibility analysis. In their decision-making process, the County Board of Supervisors determined rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of two of the three historic buildings to be feasible. For this project, the firm successfully managed a multidisciplinary team consisting of architects, cultural historians, conceptual programmers, budgetary analysts, structural engineers, construction phase planners, transportation and parking analysts, construction cost planners, and hazardous material specialists.

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared for the project identified alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize impacts to the on-site historic resources and to ensure aesthetic compatibility between the project and other nearby historic structures. Due to the controversial and high-profile nature of the project, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. coordinated several public scoping meetings focused on cultural resources to solicit input from interested parties, including the Office of Historic Preservation, Los Angeles Conservancy, City of Los Angeles, and several community-based organizations.

Subsequently, Sapphos Environmental, Inc. has assisted the County with monitoring compliance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, identification of funding sources and preparation of grant applications, and completion of Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation in fulfillment of the specified mitigation measures.