Sequels of ’95 : Making Some Landmark Decisions

Almost a year later, progress has been made with some of the Los Angeles landmark sites we visited (“A Date With Fate,” Jan. 27):

* The Spanish Kitchen: This 4,000-square-foot restaurant on Beverly Boulevard between La Brea and Fairfax avenues is now up for sale. It is in need of renovation and seismic retrofitting. Although several people have expressed interest, there are no takers. Amy Forbes, the attorney for the building’s owner, says she hopes to find a buyer soon.

* The Pacific Stock Exchange: Night life could return to downtown L.A. if a lease deal goes through for this 66-year-old Spring Street landmark that housed a nightclub in the late ‘80s. A year ago, owner Robert Massi had hoped someone would turn it into a club; it now looks possible. “We are in the middle of negotiations with someone,” said Massi, declining to name that someone.

* The Golden Gate Theater: Earlier this year the fate of this East L.A. site was in limbo, with the State Historical Resources Commission about to rule on its historic landmark status. At the time, the owners of the nearly 70-year-old, 11,000-square-foot building wanted to have its landmark designation removed.

Demolition was a last resort, but they believed that the site’s integrity had been lost since an adjacent building and courtyard had been demolished. Last February the commission voted to keep the theater’s historic status.

“Possible development opportunities are being looked into both with the county as well as private development,” said Jerold B. Neuman, the owners’ attorney.