The Airport
Early History
In the early 1920s, the area that would one day become LAX was owned by a local landowner named Andrew B. Bennett, who used the area to farm wheat, barley and lima beans. The “Bennett Rancho” as it was called began to attract some of southern California’s earliest pioneer aviators, and a small landing strip was set up on a corner of the property. People began to journey “out to the country” to see these new airplanes in action. [1] By 1927 the LA city council recognized the need for the city to build a major airport, and a group of local citizens led by Inglewood Judge Frank D. Parent began pushing for the Bennett Rancho as the best site. By July 1927, a real estate agent named William W. Mines sold 640 acres of the Bennett Rancho to the city, and one year later the city council chose “Mines Field” as it was called for the site of the city’s new airport. [2] |
The airport began a $700 million modernization project in the early 1980s in anticipation for the 1984 Olympics. The terminal roads became two-level, and new terminals and parking structures were added. In 1984 the Bradley International Terminal was completed and named in honor of mayor Tom Bradley. The airport was again updated in 2000 with the installation of glass pillars in the terminal area, signifying a grand arrival to the city. [2] |
Its name was changed to Los Angeles Airport in 1941, and Los Angeles International Airport in 1949 after most airlines switched to serving LAX rather than Burbank. In the early 1950s the runways were extended to serve larger airplanes, and Sepulveda Blvd. was first rerouted west of the airport, and eventually rerouted yet again by 1953 to pass beneath the runways via a tunnel. In 1958 architects Welton Becket and Paul Williams (one of the first highly regarded African-American architects of the time) from the firm Pereira & Luckman were hired to redesign the airport for the “jet age”, and planned a central terminal complex which connected to a central glass dome. The dome idea was subsequently abandoned, and the famous futuristic looking “Theme Building” was built in its place in 1961. [3]
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Unwilling to abandon the airport, the city used federal grant money “for noise mitigation and safety concerns” – and in an unprecedented use of eminent domain – purchased the entire subdivision (for a total purchase price of $60 million, or $125,000 an acre) and relocated over 2000 residents from the community. [11] 820 homes were condemned and bulldozed, leaving behind the original streets, foundations and streetlamps of the neighborhood. Surfridge continues to be fenced off and abandoned to this day, and is now a sanctuary for the endangered El Segundo Blue Butterfly. [4] It is essentially the largest urban ghost town in the middle of any city.
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Surfridge Controversy
Since the 1920s the airport was neighbored to the west by a wealthy beachfront subdivision called Surfridge, in a neighborhood called Palisades Del Rey. However by the 1960s and early 1970s when the airport expanded westward and the airlines began using jet aircraft, tensions between the airport and the community reached a breaking point. The residents complained their houses were being rattled with noise, and soot was raining down on them from each departing airplane. |
Modern Day LAX: Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA)
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), also known as the Los Angeles City Department of Airports, owns and operates three airports near the city of Los Angeles: Los Angeles Int’l (LAX), LA/Ontario Int’l (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY). [5] LAWA is governed by a seven-member Board of Airport Commissioners, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. LAWA employs approximately 3500 people, and maintains a self-supported budget through aircraft landing fees, lease fees, concession fees and parking fees. As the airport operator, LAWA is primarily responsible for maintaining the physical elements of the airport, including:
Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA), also known as the Los Angeles City Department of Airports, owns and operates three airports near the city of Los Angeles: Los Angeles Int’l (LAX), LA/Ontario Int’l (ONT) and Van Nuys (VNY). [5] LAWA is governed by a seven-member Board of Airport Commissioners, appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. LAWA employs approximately 3500 people, and maintains a self-supported budget through aircraft landing fees, lease fees, concession fees and parking fees. As the airport operator, LAWA is primarily responsible for maintaining the physical elements of the airport, including:
-Runways, taxiways and roads
-Fueling facilities -Passenger Terminals -Ground transportation facilities -Public Safety Infrastructure LAWA contributes to the local community by creating jobs on and in the vicinity of the airports, contributing to regional economic growth, attracting new people and businesses to the region and contributing tax revenue to the city. [6] To provide for the safety and security of their passengers and tenants, LAWA also runs the Los Angeles Airport Police Department (APD). The city began providing airport security in 1946 and the service continued over the years under numerous names (including Airport Security Division, Boarding Services Bureau and Airport Security Bureau) before finally being renamed Airport Police Department in 1984. The department has grown substantially since, and now employs over 1100 officers and is the 4th largest police department in Los Angeles County. [7] |
References
1. “LAX: Early History,” Los Angeles World Airports, http://www.lawa.org/welcome_lax.aspx?id=1108 (accessed on July 17, 2013).
2. Wikipedia contributors, "Los Angeles International Airport: History," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_International_Airport#History (accessed on July 31, 2013).
3. Fentress Architects, “The Unlikely History of Pereira’s Theme Building.” Pulse, Fentress Architects, February 8, 2013, http://fentresspulse.com/2013/02/08/the-unlikely-history-of-pereiras-theme-building/ (accessed on July 17, 2013).
4. Lauren Robinson, “Los Angeles Ghost Town: At the Hands of LAX,” Hidden L.A.,December 13, 2010, http://www.ascjweb.org/309/21111/laurenar/Surfridge/mainstory.html (accessed on July 17, 2013).
5. “About Los Angeles World Airports,” Los Angeles World Airports, http://www.lawa.org/welcome_LAWA.aspx?id=326 (accessed on July 17, 2013).
6. “About Los Angeles World Airports (Cont.),” Los Angeles World Airports, http://www.lawa.org/welcome_LAWA.aspx?id=684 (accessed on July 17, 2013).
7. “APD History,” About LAWA Police Department, http://www.lawa.org/AirportPolice/AboutUs.aspx?id=4617 (accessed on July 17, 2013).
8. Nathan Masters, "From Mines Field to LAX: The Early History of L.A. International Airport," KCET, July 25, 2012, http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/from-mines-field-to-lax-the-early-history-of-la-international-airport.html (accessed on July 31, 2013).
9. Shashank Bengali, "Williams the Conqueror," USC: Trojan Family Magazine, Spring 2004, http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/spring04/williams1.html (accessed on July 31, 2013).
10. Gary Wayne, "In Time Filming Locations (Part 7)," Seeing Stars, http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/InTime7.shtml (accessed on July 31, 2013).
11. Duke Dukesherer, "LAX Ghost Town: Surfridge, Playa Del Rey, California," examiner.com, February 24, 2009, http://www.examiner.com/article/lax-ghost-town-surfridge-playa-del-rey-california (accessed on July 31, 2013).
12. "Surfridge, a ghost town within Los Angeles," Deserted Places: Abandoned Places and Urban Decay, September 21, 2012, http://desertedplaces.blogspot.com/2012/09/surfridge-ghost-town-within-los-angeles.html (accessed on July 31, 2013).
13. Zoe Alexander, "Paradise Lost: The Rise and Fall of Surfridge," Our South Bay, April 2013, http://oursouthbay.com/April-2013/PARADISE-LOST-THE-RISE-FALL-OF-SURFRIDGE/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2 (accessed on July 31, 2013).
14. Sandi Hemmerlein, "Photo Essay: Surfridge, LAX's Beachside Ghost Town, Part 3," Avoiding Regret, September 26, 2012, http://www.avoidingregret.com/2012/09/photo-essay-surfridge-laxs-beachside_26.html (accessed on July 31, 2013).
15. Mac, "Right at the Heart of LAX Lies the Abandoned City of Surfridge," the Chive, August 28, 2012, http://thechive.com/2012/08/28/right-at-the-heart-of-lax-lies-the-abandoned-city-of-surfridge-15-hq-photos/ (accessed on July 31, 2013).
16. Jeffrey R. Hapeman, "Take-off from LAX #2," flickr, March 10, 2011, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhapeman/5542252066/sizes/l/in/photostream/ (accessed on July 31, 2013).
17. "Los Angeles International Airport," Worldviator, http://www.worldviator.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Los-Angeles-International-Airport.jpg (accessed on July 31, 2013).
2. Wikipedia contributors, "Los Angeles International Airport: History," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles_International_Airport#History (accessed on July 31, 2013).
3. Fentress Architects, “The Unlikely History of Pereira’s Theme Building.” Pulse, Fentress Architects, February 8, 2013, http://fentresspulse.com/2013/02/08/the-unlikely-history-of-pereiras-theme-building/ (accessed on July 17, 2013).
4. Lauren Robinson, “Los Angeles Ghost Town: At the Hands of LAX,” Hidden L.A.,December 13, 2010, http://www.ascjweb.org/309/21111/laurenar/Surfridge/mainstory.html (accessed on July 17, 2013).
5. “About Los Angeles World Airports,” Los Angeles World Airports, http://www.lawa.org/welcome_LAWA.aspx?id=326 (accessed on July 17, 2013).
6. “About Los Angeles World Airports (Cont.),” Los Angeles World Airports, http://www.lawa.org/welcome_LAWA.aspx?id=684 (accessed on July 17, 2013).
7. “APD History,” About LAWA Police Department, http://www.lawa.org/AirportPolice/AboutUs.aspx?id=4617 (accessed on July 17, 2013).
8. Nathan Masters, "From Mines Field to LAX: The Early History of L.A. International Airport," KCET, July 25, 2012, http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/from-mines-field-to-lax-the-early-history-of-la-international-airport.html (accessed on July 31, 2013).
9. Shashank Bengali, "Williams the Conqueror," USC: Trojan Family Magazine, Spring 2004, http://www.usc.edu/dept/pubrel/trojan_family/spring04/williams1.html (accessed on July 31, 2013).
10. Gary Wayne, "In Time Filming Locations (Part 7)," Seeing Stars, http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/InTime7.shtml (accessed on July 31, 2013).
11. Duke Dukesherer, "LAX Ghost Town: Surfridge, Playa Del Rey, California," examiner.com, February 24, 2009, http://www.examiner.com/article/lax-ghost-town-surfridge-playa-del-rey-california (accessed on July 31, 2013).
12. "Surfridge, a ghost town within Los Angeles," Deserted Places: Abandoned Places and Urban Decay, September 21, 2012, http://desertedplaces.blogspot.com/2012/09/surfridge-ghost-town-within-los-angeles.html (accessed on July 31, 2013).
13. Zoe Alexander, "Paradise Lost: The Rise and Fall of Surfridge," Our South Bay, April 2013, http://oursouthbay.com/April-2013/PARADISE-LOST-THE-RISE-FALL-OF-SURFRIDGE/index.php?cparticle=3&siarticle=2 (accessed on July 31, 2013).
14. Sandi Hemmerlein, "Photo Essay: Surfridge, LAX's Beachside Ghost Town, Part 3," Avoiding Regret, September 26, 2012, http://www.avoidingregret.com/2012/09/photo-essay-surfridge-laxs-beachside_26.html (accessed on July 31, 2013).
15. Mac, "Right at the Heart of LAX Lies the Abandoned City of Surfridge," the Chive, August 28, 2012, http://thechive.com/2012/08/28/right-at-the-heart-of-lax-lies-the-abandoned-city-of-surfridge-15-hq-photos/ (accessed on July 31, 2013).
16. Jeffrey R. Hapeman, "Take-off from LAX #2," flickr, March 10, 2011, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhapeman/5542252066/sizes/l/in/photostream/ (accessed on July 31, 2013).
17. "Los Angeles International Airport," Worldviator, http://www.worldviator.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Los-Angeles-International-Airport.jpg (accessed on July 31, 2013).