LAUSD Ambassador Property Project
January 26, 2002 Community Meeting
Questions & Answers

Why not reuse the Ambassador Hotel?
A: There has been no decision made regarding the feasibility of reuse/preservation of the
Ambassador Hotel. Any future decision will be based upon the Hotel’s ability to
accommodate student needs for seating in the area, the costs to deliver a school facility
with the highest level of quality and educational standards and the timeline for opening a
school facility. With these factors in mind, LAUSD is currently reviewing the Hotel
Reuse/Preservation options presented by the LA Conservancy’s Hotel reuse plan,
including the LA Conservancy’s proposal for converting the Hotel into an educational
facility.
This review entails a review of applicable Education Code provisions and other
governmental and environmental requirements, the Hotel’s ability to satisfy the
needs/potential student seating capacity for the site, and the cost to reuse/preserve the
Hotel vs. the cost for new construction and a review of the timeline for opening a school
facility. Many significant issues require detailed evaluation, including those related to
structural integrity, access and circulation (eg: elevators, stairways, corridors, height of
building, time to go from class to class, etc), fire/life/safety and security. Specific codes
and legal requirements govern each of these issues. Various Governmental Agencies will
oversee LAUSD in the planning and construction of a new school facility to insure that
LAUSD complies with all applicable codes and requirements.
For example, the Division of the State Architect (DSA) verifies that Structural, Fire Life
Safety and Access codes and requirements are met while the California Department of
Education (CDE) verifies that educational standards are met and equality in the
educational environment is provided.

What are the physical needs for a school (or schools) for the Ambassador site?
A: Until a specific School Facility has been defined the physical needs cannot be
determined.

What are the estimated costs?
A: See answer to Question 1. At this time LAUSD has not determined a cost per square
foot to reuse/preserve the Ambassador Hotel. In general, the type and size of school
facility determines how much money is spent to build a school. On average, the cost of
new construction – i.e. building a school from the ground up is about $46,000 per High
School Student, $37,000 per Middle School Student and $34,000 per Elementary School
Student.

When and how would the LAUSD have a final determination regarding the Hotel
use?
A: LAUSD anticipates having defined a “proposed project” for the Ambassador site by
June/July 2002. The term “proposed project” means that LAUSD will have an idea to
submit for public review and comment and environmental analysis under the California
Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). A “proposed project” is NOT a final
determination by LAUSD for a specific school facility. It simply means that LAUSD has
defined what it believes to be an optimal use of the property. During the CEQA review
process, the “proposed project” can change in response to environmental analysis and
public comments. In addition, a final determination does not occur until the School
Board gives its formal approval. LAUSD will provide notice of the public review and
comment opportunities during the CEQA process.

Can we communicate by e-mail?
A: Yes. If you have an question or comments you can e-mail:
Ambassador@laschools.org

Can next meeting be conducted at the Ambassador Hotel and have a tour of the
site?
A: Unfortunately, due to safety concerns, the Ambassador Hotel and Site are not
available for general public access. Due primarily to the presence of asbestos and
possibly lead based paint used in the Hotel’s construction and multiple renovations that
have occurred since it was first built, the Ambassador site is not considered a public safe
area. In addition, in 1986 the Ambassador Hotel was shut down in lieu of installing fire
sprinklers as ordered by the Los Angeles City Fire Inspectors. LAUSD is also currently
conducting a Lead and Asbestos assessment of the structures, and an environmental
assessment of the site itself.

Need status of Belmont site. (Cost)
A: http://www.lausd.k12.ca.us/rfp/belmont/

Has there been a suitability study performed to address keeping the structural
system of the hotel and delivering the needed seats?
A: Reuse/Preservation of the Ambassador Hotel will be determined by its ability to
accommodate student needs for seating in the area, costs to deliver a school facility with
the highest level of quality and educational standards and the timeline for opening a
school facility. With this in mind, LAUSD is currently reviewing the
Reuse/Preservation options presented by the LA Conservancy’s Hotel Reuse Plan.
This review entails a review of applicable Education Code provisions and other
governmental and environmental requirements, the Hotel’s ability to satisfy the
needs/potential student seating capacity for the site, and the cost to reuse/preserve the
Hotel vs. the cost for new construction and a review of the timeline for opening a school
facility. Many significant issues require detailed evaluation, including those related to
structural integrity, access and circulation (eg: elevators, stairways, corridors, height of
building, time to go from class to class, etc), fire/life/safety and security. Specific codes
and legal requirements govern each of these issues. Various Governmental Agencies will
oversee LAUSD in the planning and construction of a new school facility to insure that
LAUSD complies with all applicable codes and requirements.
For example, the Division of the State Architect (DSA) verifies that Structural, Fire Life
Safety and Access codes and requirements are met while the California Department of
Education (CDE) verifies that educational standards are met and equality in the
educational environment is provided.

How can you successfully convert a former hospital/ hotel to a High School ?
A: There has been no decision made regarding the feasibility of reuse/preservation of the
Ambassador Hotel. Any future decision will be based upon the Hotel’s ability to
accommodate student needs for seating in the area, the costs to deliver a school facility
with the highest level of quality and educational standards and the timeline for opening a
school facility. With these factors in mind, LAUSD is currently reviewing the Hotel
Reuse/Preservation options presented by the LA Conservancy’s Hotel reuse plan,
including the LA Conservancy’s proposal for converting the Hotel into an educational
facility.
This review entails a review of applicable Education Code provisions and other
governmental and environmental requirements, the Hotel’s ability to satisfy the
needs/potential student seating capacity for the site, and the cost to reuse/preserve the
Hotel vs. the cost for new construction and a review of the timeline for opening a school
facility. Many significant issues require detailed evaluation, including those related to
structural integrity, access and circulation (eg: elevators, stairways, corridors, height of
building, time to go from class to class, etc), fire/life/safety and security. Specific codes
and legal requirements govern each of these issues. Various Governmental Agencies will
oversee LAUSD in the planning and construction of a new school facility to insure that
LAUSD complies with all applicable codes and requirements.
For example, the Division of the State Architect (DSA) verifies that Structural, Fire Life
Safety and Access codes and requirements are met while the California Department of
Education (CDE) verifies that educational standards are met and equality in the
educational environment is provided.

What are the costs?
A: LAUSD is currently analyzing the Ambassador Hotel for Reuse/Preservation as a
School Facility. At this time LAUSD has not determined a cost per SF for
reuse/preservation options for the Ambassador Hotel. However, the type and size of
school facility determines how much money is spent to build a school. On average, the
cost of building a school from the ground up is about $46,000 per High School Student,
$37,000 per Middle School Student and $34,000 per Elementary School Student.

It’s my understanding that by using the existing structural system and other site
amenities the construction cost estimates per the conservancy is $55.00 per square
foot, compared to LAUSD’s cost of $82.00 per square foot for new school buildings.
A: The basis for and accuracy of the LA Conservancy’s figures has not been determined.
However, LAUSD is currently analyzing the Ambassador Hotel for reuse/preservation as
a school facility. At this time LAUSD has not determined a cost per SF for
reuse/preservation options for the Ambassador Hotel, including those options presented
by the LA Conservancy’s plan. However, the type and size of school facility determines
how much money is spent to build a school. On average, the cost of building a school
from the ground up is about $46,000 per High School Student, $37,000 per Middle
School Student and $34,000 per Elementary School Student. As evidenced by the cost of
restoring other historical buildings or adapting them for reuse, these numbers can
substantially increase when expensive restorative work is required.

Can a school project on the Ambassador site obtain financial assistance/funding
from the City of Los Angeles?
A: It's possible that the City of Los Angeles, the Community Redevelopment
Agency, or a variety of other groups could provide funding for various joint
use opportunities, or other programmatic options (like before and after
school programs) at the Ambassador site. The City has contributed funds to a number of
different projects around the District. The LAUSD is actively working with
the City and other entities on this issue. However, funding and joint use opportunities for
the Ambassador site cannot be fully pursued until a specific project is proposed for the
site.

Will building a school at this site increase the safety and security of the existing
neighbors?
A: LAUSD schools strive to be a clean, safe and secure environment for students. Every
school is assigned school police officers, security officers and has its own maintenance
personnel.

Also, there is an on-going problem with trash being dumped in the streets. Will a
school result in more trash dumping in the neighborhood?
A: A new campus typically encourages the students to take pride in their school, which
usually means they work at keeping it and the neighborhood surrounding it clean. We
would hope that this would be true for students attending a school on the Ambassador
site.

Will building a new school on the Ambassador site impact private schools?
A: In general, the construction of new schools should not take students away from private
schools. The School District is building new schools because in many areas of the
District, hundreds of campuses are severely overcrowded. The attendance area of the
Ambassador site is particularly impacted. Today, there are numerous portable
classrooms on overcrowded campuses and every day, thousands of students from densely
populated areas are bussed out of their neighborhoods to attend schools located far away.
Therefore, all new schools are addressing the existing and future need for classroom
space in the most overcrowded areas of the District.

How will parking be accommodated?
A: Underground parking is a likely option as it would not reduce the limited amount of
field acreage.

Can the school district transfer development rights?
A: The transfer of development rights allows future development potential of
one piece of property to be transferred to another site. Transfer of development rights
typically are used when the originating site will not be developed to its full potential.
Given the severe needs for seats in the attendance area, it is unlikely that
there would be any basis for the LAUSD to transfer development rights from
the Ambassador site to another parcel.