B'nai B'rith Lodge is at imminent risk of demolition. Catholic Charities wants to level this historic building and replace it with nothing. Even worse, the City of Los Angeles is complicit in allowing this to occur.

Despite ongoing efforts by the L.A. Conservancy to delay or stop this demolition (at least until there has been a public process to assess the feasibility of preservation), we anticipate substantial work to begin soon. 

To break it down, through the enabling of the City of Los Angeles, Catholic Charities will demolish a historic building, significant in part for its Jewish history, during Jewish American Heritage Month. 

The Conservancy has filed three appeals. One was rejected immediately. The second appeal was also denied, with no explanation provided by the City.  

The Conservancy successfully submitted another appeal arguing that the City of L.A. did not follow the public environmental review process required for this historic building. Our appeal does not halt demolition, so it's important to keep up the public pressure. We are also still awaiting a response on our public information requests to receive the settlement agreement; also repeatedly denied by the City. 

The Conservancy works hard to find "win-win" outcomes, but we all need to be following the same public processes and rules, and this applies to both the City of Los Angeles and Catholic Charities.

Voice your concern about the imminent demolition of B'nai B'rith Lodge by contacting Planning Director Helen Campbell and COUNCILMEMBER EUNISSES HERNANDEZ who serves Council District 1 and voted in support of the settlement agreement. 

Ask her why a historic building that could otherwise be reused for housing or another community-serving use in an under-served area is being leveled for -- nothing? 

Why the City is enabling this to happen, when there is a public environmental review process that requires the consideration of preservation alternatives?

Thank you to all who wrote Councilmember Hernandez in support of the B'nai B'rith. If you haven't yet, please voice your concern using the button below.

To learn more about B'nai B'rith, please visit our website