The Region - News from April 8, 1987

The Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency announced the settlement of a lengthy legal battle blocking construction of Pershing Square Centre, a planned $300-million office and hotel complex at 5th and Olive streets downtown. In 1985, the Los Angeles Conservancy sued the CRA over the project, arguing that the CRA relied on an illegal variance to permit the development, which would be the largest commercial complex south of Bunker Hill and twice the size of what is normally permitted for the area around Pershing Square. Under terms of the settlement, the size of the development will not be reduced but, in the future, similar downtown projects will be subject to review by a design advisory committee to be appointed by the mayor. Also, as part of the settlement, the CRA has agreed to endorse a pending city ordinance that will give the City Planning Commission authority to take part in decisions concerning the size and shape of downtown developments.