After a recent rain, a constituent sent West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tem John D’Amico a photo of Plummer Park’s Great Hall/Long Hall, which had plastic on the roof in an effort to minimalize any potential damage to the historic building.

Plummer Park’s Great Hall/Long Hall could have some roof and drywall work in its future if a proposal is approved. (photo by Aaron Blevins)

“I found that concerning, and it occurred to me that our city unfortunately has a history of letting our own historic buildings sit unattended while we decide what to do. And we don’t need to do that,” he said.

Therefore, D’Amico has proposed the immediate repair, re-opening and re-programming of the building. He will present the initiative to the city council during its Dec. 2 meeting.

The mayor pro tem said he is unsure how much the work would cost if the proposal is approved. However, he believes that the initial work could be done in-house without the use of additional funding.

D’Amico hopes that the city votes to fix Great Hall/Long Hall’s roof and replace drywall, if necessary. He would like to see enough work done to allow the community to utilize the space for rehearsals and other entertainment uses. D’Amico said he is of the understanding that the structure is only being utilized for a couple of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings currently.

“It can take some wear and tear,” he said of the building. “It’s already established and it doesn’t require us to take much action for it to be in full use.”

D’Amico said the beauty of the idea is that the city could use the building until it decides on its “ultimate fate,” which could involve the demolition of Great Hall/Long Hall, as had been proposed in the city’s Plummer Park project plans.

“To let it sit vacant, to me, is unacceptable,” he added.

Additionally, D’Amico has proposed that city staff study and report on the condition of all the buildings in Plummer Park. He would like the city to come up with a community engagement plan so that it is in place when the city decides what to do with Great Hall/Long Hall. D’Amico envisions the city hiring a consultant, hosting community meetings, arranging focus groups, conducting one-on-one interviews and more.

He stressed that the proposal would not preclude any final decisions from being made. The mayor pro tem said Great Hall/Long Hall could still be razed, despite its listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

“This will not affect any final decision about the park plans,” D’Amico said, adding that it is unlikely that the city will utilize the plans and “set of ideas” that were approved for Plummer Park more than a decade ago. He said the newer version of the plan was based on the 1994 proposal.

D’Amico said that for the first time in West Hollywood’s history, 85 percent of its population is under the age of retirement. When the city was founded, approximately 50 percent of the population was comprised of retirees, but that figure has since dwindled to 15 percent, he said. D’Amico said the new park plans should accommodate that change in demographics.

“I think planning our park around our future instead of our past is a much more interesting idea to me,” he added.

D’Amico said did not know when the city planned to revisit the Plummer Park project, but he assumed that his proposal would spur plenty of discussion about the short- and long-term future of the park.

“It’s pretty clear we’re not going to get redevelopment funds back, and it’s pretty clear something needs to happen in that park,” he said.

D’Amico said he has received a lot of feedback about his proposal since it was announced earlier this week.

“Many, many people have expressed their optimism and their happiness, even people who in the past have thought that getting rid of that building was the right thing to do in the end,” he said.

Cathy Blaivas, a member of Protect Plummer Park, which has opposed various elements of the park project, was pleased with the councilman’s proposal.

“I’m ecstatic that Mayor Pro Tem D’Amico is bringing this before the council,” she said. “I hope that the other council members … will agree that it’s time to honor our Great Hall/Long Hall, especially since its been designated as a historic landmark. …I am very happy that he is bringing it before the council.”