CRA Adopts Plan to Ease Concerns Over Cathedral

In its final vote on the proposed Roman Catholic cathedral downtown, the Los Angeles Community Redevelopment Agency adopted a number of measures Wednesday aimed at easing environmental concerns over the $50-million project.

The CRA board’s actions clear the way for the City Council to review and vote on construction of the proposed Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on a parking lot next to the Hollywood Freeway on Grand Avenue. A council committee is expected to review the project in two weeks followed by a full council vote a week later.

In an attempt to ease concerns raised by Native Americans who say that the property was once an ancient burial ground, the CRA board agreed to hire a Native American archeologist to monitor construction. And the board approved a series of plans to handle the possible excavation of remains or artifacts that might be uncovered.

If human remains are found on the site, the board will require the developers to halt all work until it can be determined whether the remains are those of Native Americans. If so, Native representatives will be contacted for their advice on handling of the remains.

The CRA acted on those measures even though the agency’s deputy administrator said there is no proof that the land was ever an ancient burial site. “There is no evidence of that,” said Don Spivack, the deputy administrator.

Also, he said the property has been excavated, graded and filled many times over more than 100 years and that it is unlikely any artifacts or graves are still on the property.