Old lawsuit backs theory that demolition crew found old L.A. Times

There was some excitement in recent days among history buffs whenearthmovers uncovered what could be the basement of the former Los Angeles Times Building at the northeast corner of Broadway and 1st Street.

Crews are demolishing structures at the site to extend Grand Park.

Some disappointment then ensued -- at least in the L.A. Times newsroom -- when partial demolition revealed a multilevel structure. Could this just be another old underground parking garage? One such structure already had been pulverized for the park extension.

But a find by Jaye Steinbrick, senior director of information services for the L.A. Law Library, which is across the street from the site, gives new life to the original theory.

It turns out the old Times building extended for three floors underground. Thus, the structure still could be part of the old newspaper headquarters.

The floorplan details come via a 1933 appeals court ruling in City of Los Angeles vs. Klinker. (Klinkers identity is not made clear in the ruling). The case concerns the citys successful effort to seize the property through eminent domain. The city intended to pay The Times about $1 million, but The Times wanted more and sued to get it.

A lower court sided with the city; the higher court with The Times.

As background, the ruling includes a description.

The building consists of three stories underground and five stories above ground and is designed to carry two extra stories, a panel of judges wrote. There also was a northerly annex thereto constructed in 1921, and four so-called secondary buildings located on the north side of First Street.

The Times wanted more money because of its improvements to the property, which included built-in printing presses.

Excerpt from:
Old lawsuit backs theory that demolition crew found old L.A. Times