Research, economic base analysis, local economic development considerations, and consultation in connection with the prospective repositioning and redevelopment of a Hollywood revitalization plan. An interesting conclusion of the work effort was the determination that while runway productions and relocation of most of the major U.S. film production studios to the San Fernando Valley, the Hollywood community was still home to most of the craftsmen, technical designers, equipment rental, post production, and other film industry service businesses. The perception that Hollywood had evolved to simply being a notion, and a bit of history, was belied by the fact that "working Hollywood" was very much - alive and well.

The need for redevelopment and revitalization of Hollywood is a curious thing - Hollywood's media and entertainment enjoys a worldwide audience, but the birthplace of this unique American media product does not necessarily benefit from this popularity. The digital revolution, runway production, and even government-backed competing film industries, have lessened the need for maintenance of this historical home.

Over a short period, this home to Native Americans living in the canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, was resettled by Spanish explorers who established Rancho La Brea and Rancho Los Feliz. This quickly yielded to an agricultural community that flourished in the 1870's, to an area of Rancho La Brea subdivided and named by the wife of H.H. Wilcox - as "Hollywood." Wealthy Midwesterners flocked to the area looking to build homes so they could "winter in California." In 1911, the Nestor Company opened Hollywood's first film studio in an old tavern on the corner of Sunset and Gower. Not long thereafter Cecil B. DeMille and D. W. Griffith began making movies in the Hollywood area drawn by its open space and moderate climate.

Client(s): Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, California