Steel beams are rising behind Leimert Park's Vision Theatre, as construction continues on a multi-year renovation of the historic movie palace.
Built in 1931, the Spanish-style Art Deco building has been owned by the City of Los Angeles for approximately 20 years. The Department of Cultural Affairs, which manages the facility, completed an initial $11-million renovation of the property in 2011, and has furthered those improvements by including:
- reconfiguring seating;
- adding a lounge area;
- enlarging the stage; and
- adding a fly loft with office space.
The project, designed by FSY Architects, will reconfigure the Vision Theatre with stadium seating for 750, converting the former movie palace into a performing arts facility.
The Vision Theatre is expected to reopen in 2021.
Leimert Park will serve as the northern terminus of the Destination Crenshaw project, a new open space and public art project which broke ground on February 29. The 1.3-mile corridor will flank an at-grade segment of Metro's Crenshaw/LAX Line, which will have an underground station located at Leimert Park.
