WILL FELIX BECOME ROAD KILL?

The grassroots movement to save the Felix the Cat Showroom and Neon Sign is in the final stages.  I noticed a meeting was scheduled for Thursday July 12 in Room 1060 at City Hall. As reported earlier in the year,the second of three steps toward gaining cultural landmark status is an on-site inspection.  That was held March 15, 2007.

This third of the three steps needed to designate worthy candidates as an official Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument was to be during a May 3 meeting at the 32nd California Preservation Foundation Conference. The scheduled presentation was "bumped off the agenda" according to Jim Childs, who with Charles Fisher, heads the Ad Hoc committee that has worked several years on having the Felix Sign landmarked a monument by the City of LA.

Cat approaches it's 9th life: As the Figueroa Corridor grows, and competition between rival developers heats up, the cat is caught in the middle. It's seen as a speed bump from further developing the site where the sign and showroom is located across the street from the recently completed USC Galen Center.

The sign and showroom at Figueroa and Jefferson was owned by Nickolas Shammas until his death in 2003.  The business was passed on to the Shammas Corporation currently under the direction of son-in-law, Darryl Holter. He's since added
dealerships near Figueroa and Washington. Holter, who also chairs the Figueroa Corridor Partnership, has stated the land where the sign is would be more "beneficial to the community if it were used for student housing."

Since 2000, Holter has been planning University Gateway development where Felix now stands, and has since added Urban Partners to oversee the project.  An added twist is Conquest Student Housing, a "housing provider" for students, have filed appeals and lawsuits against Urban Partners , CRA and the City citing items that range from parking variances or "botched" environmental reports.

Cat Caught in the Middle: The grassroots group hope to have the sign landmarked and protected. Once passed the building itself can be used for almost anything, according to Childs, who adds "Even if the sign and building are moved, it won't lose that cultural status. It keeps it from being demolished." He also notes this may sound like the Save the 76 Ball effort from 2006, except there is only one Felix The Cat sign.

Childs warns public speaking time at the July 12 hearing will be restrictive with the Felix item listed as the final one. "Anyone can help by writing a brief comment letter in support of the designation on behalf of their organization or themselves, or email it to Jan Perry or Lambert Giessinger' says Childs.  "Your letter should be sent before close of business by Tuesday the 10th."  After that, it goes to the Planning Use and Management Committee (PLUM), then City Council.

If it's passed, that is. With the cat in the cross-hairs of a changing downtown, the Felix the Cat Sign and Showroom could be gone before you can say "Righty-0."

Added July 12: LAO and CurbedLA readers may be interested in some of the letters sent to City Hall supporting the cat that I posted this morning.

Save the Cat

Cats and Cars

Comments

[Jean Frost]

This site and sign is so important to the context of University Park. Others would dismember the sign and remove it from its context. The slice and dice version of preservation mitigation.

We at West Adams Heritage Association strongly support this designation and hope it is approved.

[Bryan]

This spring I graduated from USC. I am well to aware of the need for student housing on and near campus. Placing a large housing complex on that corner is good for the students, good for the university, and good for the city. The local economy will benefit by having more students living in the area. Commuters will benefit by not having to share the road with hundreds of USC students who would otherwise commute from the west side of LA. Building a new complex creates jobs for local workers. And perhaps most importantly, a brand new housing complex would help boost the image of what is currently one among many run-down blocks in downtown LA.

[Bryan]

I forgot to say in my above comment, that I do love the Felix sign. However, I don't think it and the unremarkable show room it sits upon should prevent the development of a lot of land that could serve as a model for future improvements to the Figueroa Corridor.
Take down the sign and move it. Don't use it as an excuse to stop progress.

[Proper Sensibilities]

You have got to be kidding me. Do you not see the insanity with this misplaced effort? It's just a sign, a sign that represents a commercial business and is privately owned no less. There is no thought about the cost to the owner of the dealership if this landmark status is approved. What's worse, you come across as arrogant and all-knowing; how do you think its your right to go around tagging marginal (AT BEST) places as "landmarks"? Did you not realize its a sign that consists of a CAT? You people are nuts - let go of your weird cat fetish already! I'm grateful I leave in the OC where some sense of common sense still exists....

[paul morantz]

I went to USC 65-71 (law school). Felix was a Beacon. An old soul first to welcome you home. I have looked at it every year. I am sorry to see dealership go. I am sorry to see Felix go. I hope it finds a new home. USC should buy it and place it somewhere as part of the school heritage.