Church Omitted
Evelyn De Wolfe’s article, “At Last, a Park Coming to South Park” (March 15) quotes Dollie Chapman, the Community Redevelopment Agency commissioner:
“By the end of the century, we expect South Park to have a total investment of $1.5 billion . . . with 6,000 residential units, five museums and more than 10 million square feet of commercial space, 2,000 hotel rooms and theaters, as well as the tree-lined Hope Street Promenade with retail shops and restaurants.”
Ms. Chapman could have added, “and, at least, one church!” The First United Methodist Church of Los Angeles, founded in 1853, gave up its beautiful former home at 8th and Hope streets four years ago. It is now at Olympic Boulevard and Flower Street, in the heart of South Park, and it intends to stay, as a full participant in the civic, cultural, social, and religious life of downtown residents and workers.
I just wish that Dollie Chapman and the CRA recognized the church as a tremendous asset to the community, meeting real human needs that no other body is addressing.
REV. HERBERT M. FINK
Los Angeles
Fink is pastor of First United Methodist Church of Los Angeles.
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