Lillian Disney’s Gift for Concert Hall Accepted

A $50-million gift from Lillian Disney to help build a new concert hall addition to the Music Center was formally accepted Thursday by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.

The new facility, to be named the Walt and Lily Disney Hall, will be built on a 3.6-acre, county-owned lot, now used for parking, just south of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. In addition to accepting the gift, the supervisors also agreed that Mrs. Disney, widow of the film cartoon pioneer, would have veto power over any other commercial development that the county might wish to build on the remaining portion of the lot.

Once completed, the concert hall will become the new home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the orchestra’s home since 1964, will be modified for other types of performing arts entertainment.

Music Center leaders have expressed hope that ground-breaking for the new hall will occur within two years after an architect is chosen and plans are developed. As yet, there is no targeted completion date.