The Way They Were
Two years ago, Subud Los Angeles was struggling to pay its expenses and the maintenance of its landmark building. In fact, most months Subud LA was losing money. The ground floor was rented for minimal return, primarily to Alcoholics Anonymous groups.
Paint was peeling away from the outside walls of the building. The windows showed serious rusting. Whenever it rained, the roof leaked profusely.
The building, situated opposite the La Brea Tar Pits and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), is in a prestigious location, Although thousands of people pass by daily along "Museum Row,” there was nothing to identify the building as a Subud center.
|
|
|
|
The new tenants moved walls, refinished floors and painted surfaces to create a stylish and welcoming first- floor space.
|
|
No More Leaks
To keep the interior dry, the committee invited bids for a new roof. Through this process, a contract for $16,000 was awarded, funds were raised and a new white heat-reflecting roof is now in place. See photos.
|
|
Being Visible to the World
Sometimes people who hear or see the word Subud just know they have to find out more about it. Yet, this building had no identification visible to passersby.
Some years ago, the family of Lorenzo Music allocated donations made in his memory toward installation of sign to identify the Wilshire Subud Center. To supplement this core funding, the LA committee sent appeals to individuals and groups around the country. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, the money to supplement the Music family's gift was raised.
In early 2016, several designs by Aswan Karapetian were put to the group for comment. They selected a lit blade sign attached to the side of the building and a 25 foot long, back-lit parapet sign that runs along the top of the building.
The impact has been immediate - just days after the signs were installed in June 2016, a couple, who had seen the signs and live only blocks away, walked in off the street and inquired about Subud.
|
|
Just $3,700 is needed to complete painting the whole exterior.
Donate Here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
BEFORE: The three-story building looked shabby. The wooden frames of the art-deco style windows across the entire front of the building were corroded and peeling.
|
|
The Right Tenant
When Luqman Katz was elected Chair, he and a small committee made it a top priority to find a new tenant. Before long, they found a startup company that wanted to rent the whole ground floor.
The startup, a smartphone apps developer, was then in a fund-raising mode. Luqman worked with them over a one-year period, patiently negotiating a lease. He had help from a lawyer specializing in community real estate law who generously provided her services without charge. The Regional Property Management Committee was an enormous help, too.
The tenant moved in and, over the course of the past year, has spent $45,000 to upgrade the ground-floor space. It looks fabulous. And the rental income makes the center sustainable.
|
|
|
|
AFTER: The commanding parapet sign, seen by visitors to the museums across the street.
|
|
And Now - New Paint!
The building front has been painted in colors to set off the new signage. Painting the side and rear is almost ready to go. With $12,800 raised just $3,700is needed
.
The projects already completed have been transformative, generating renewed confidence and self-image among the membership. Next year will see stable finances and a flourishing group. Future projects will contribute to the restoration of our fine building and continued opportunities to increase revenues for Subud LA and the Region as a whole.
The group is immensely thankful to all whose contributions in time, money and expertise have made it possible.
|
|
|
|
