Although the CHC – as an independent body – is free to disagree with staff reports, the commission gives great weight to the recommendations of the Planning Department.
“We are very pleased with the staff’s recommendation,” said Ken Hixon, Vice President of the Miracle Mile Residential Association, which co-sponsored the HCM nomination with the Los Angeles Conservancy. “The Planning Department eloquently acknowledged just how much preserving Bergin’s means to our community and the city at large.”
The staff recommendation states:
Tom Bergin’s meets one of the Historic-Cultural Monument criteria: it “exemplifies significant contributions to the broad cultural, economic or social history of the nation, state, city or community” as the long-time location of Tom Bergin’s, a business that bears a significant association with the commercial identity of Los Angeles.
In Los Angeles and elsewhere, well-established and long-lived businesses, such as Tom Bergin’s, take on important social qualities and over time, they organically mature into iconic and revered cultural institutions. Their endurance becomes ingrained into a community’s collective memory and plays and integral role in defining a community’s sense of cultural and commercial identity, and fosters a sense of pride for the area or community in which one lives. From 1936 to 2018, Tom Bergin’s remained in near-continuous operation as a restaurant on tavern. Over the course of its eight decades in business, Tom Bergin’s became known for signature traditions that include Irish coffee and Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations. The business’ loyal following through the years is evinced by the thousands of decorative cardboard shamrocks that cover the restaurant’s ceiling and bear names of regular patrons, including many Hollywood celebrities such as Cary Grant and Ronald Reagan. Tom Bergin’s is considered a legacy business and a beloved community institution, earning its reputation as one of Los Angeles’ most iconic bar establishments.
The Cultural Heritage Commission’s approval is required in order to bring the matter to the City Council, which will ultimately decide if Tom Bergin’s will be declared a HCM.
Councilmember David Ryu has offered assurances to the sponsors of Bergin’s HCM application that he will lend his support if the CHC recommends that Bergin’s be designated a Historic-Cultural Monument. Ryu’s endorsement will ensure that Bergin’s HCM nomination will be adopted when brought to vote by the City Council.
“This is why a large turnout of Bergin’s fans is crucial at the March 7th hearing,” said Hixon. “The hearing is a make-or-break moment for the future of Tom Bergin’s.”
A few hours of your time can save Tom Bergin’s for generations to come…
Attend the Cultural Heritage Commission Hearing Thursday, March 7, 2019
10 A.M
City Hall
200 North Spring Street
Room 1010, 10th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90012 [Click here to see CHC Agenda]
Attending City Hall hearings is difficult for most people given their busy schedules – but this is why your attendance is absolutely crucial, because it demonstrates just how much preserving Tom Bergin’s means to you and the community. The number of supporters in attendance has an impact on the commissioners. It also provides you with an opportunity to directly address the commission on why Tom Bergin’s deserves to be a landmark.
If you are planning to attend the meeting shoot us an email so that we can have enough Tom Bergin’s shamrock stickers on hand
Email Campaign Generates Over 900 Messages Supporting Tom Bergin’s!
Send your message today!
To date over 900 messages have been sent to the Cultural Heritage Commission and to Councilmember Ryu supporting landmark status for Bergin’s. We can easily top 1000 messages of support if each of you ask a neighbor, friend, or family member to join our cause. It’s fast and easy, just share the link:
Adrian Scott Fine, director of advocacy of the Los Angeles Conservancy, fondly remembers hoisting a beer or two at Tom Bergin’s, the legendary Irish pub at 840 S. Fairfax Ave.
Before it closed last year, the bar built a long and storied history.
The conservancy and Miracle Mile Residential Association are spearheading an effort to preserve that history by having the 70-year-old building named a historic-cultural monument…
Sadly, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Tom Bergin’s House of Irish Coffee, 840 S. Fairfax Ave., is no longer an option. The historic pub was long a Los Angeles landmark for grabbing a Guinness or an Irish coffee until it was shuttered after last year. See below for where you still can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
In October, the Miracle Mile Residential Association (MMRA), together with the Los Angeles Conservancy co-sponsored the nomination for the building to become an Historical Cultural Monument (HCM)…
We’re constantly updating our contact list and sometimes things get lost in translation. Please contact us if we made a a mistake: newsletter(at)MiracleMileLA(dotted)com
The MMRA will never share, sell, or rent member or subscriber information. Only the officers of the Board of Directors are permitted access to these lists. We take your security and privacy very seriously. In the past you either directly provided your email and contact information to the MMRA or provided it to the MMRA via a petition you endorsed. You will be receiving, on occasion, special announcements on timely issues. If you no longer wish to receive these special announcements please click on the unsubscribe link below.
