Tom Gilmore (property developer)

Mr.
Tom Gilmore
Born 1953
Known for American property developer

Tom Gilmore is a Los Angeles-based developer of residential and commercial properties. Gilmore’s residential projects were in the historic core of downtown Los Angeles and has since led to the city’s largest resurgence of real estate investment in more than 50 years and sparked the largest in-flow of residents and commercial businesses in the history of Los Angeles.

In 1992, Gilmore relocated to Los Angeles and in 1998, Gilmore and his business partner, Jerri Perrone formed an independent development firm, Gilmore Associates, to embark upon the redevelopment of the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles.

Developments

Gilmore Associates redevelopment efforts began with the city long-neglect historic core, an impoverished area with the highest unemployment and crime rates in the city. Gilmore purchased nearly an entire city block of historic buildings and within a few years converted the abandoned structures to loft-style residences. Now called “The Old Bank District,” the area is now home to thousands of residents and hundreds of commercial tenants.

In addition to The Old Bank District, Gilmore Associates purchased the city’s first cathedral, (formerly) St. Vibiana Cathedral, which was damaged in the Northridge earthquake and scheduled for demolition. Now called simply Vibiana, the former cathedral is now home to a thriving performance venue, event space, award-winning restaurant and host to weddings of all denominations.

His vision for Downtown Los Angeles as a thriving, self-sustaining urban community led him to purchase four abandoned historic buildings: the Continental, the Hellman, the San Fernando, and the Farmers and Merchants National Bank—all of which are located in Downtown Los Angeles and collectively renamed by Gilmore and Perrone as the “Old Bank District.” [1] Gilmore was the first developer to utilize the newly minted Adaptive Reuse Ordinance of 1999, which enabled him to convert historic commercial buildings into mixed- use residences, ultimately catalyzing the widespread redevelopment and revival of Downtown.[2]

His ingenuity and tenacity has been recognized through major projects he has spearheaded— notably— Vibiana, as a performing arts center, event facility, and restaurants. Gilmore’s most recent ongoing project is the transformation of the historic spaces within the Hellman Building and the former Farmers and Merchants National Bank into a contemporary museum showcasing Los Angeles based art on S Main St in Downtown, aptly named The Main Museum.

Since Gilmore's first historic building opened to residents in 2000, more than 60,000 new residents now call downtown Los Angeles home and more than $10 billion in residential, business, entertainment and arts projects have been introduced to the city center.

Civic Activities

Gilmore and the Old Bank District work in conjunction with the Downtown Art Walk to lend support and help cultivate the artistic culture of the community which takes place in the district and other Downtown neighborhoods.[3]

Community Affiliations

Current roles

Chairman of the Board of Trustees - SCI-Arc

Board Member - CaLARTS

Mayoral appointed Chairman - Sister Cities of Los Angeles

Chairman - Central City Association of Los Angeles

Executive Committee - LA Tourism

Board Member - LA Parks Foundation

Founding Board Member - The Main Museum

Former roles

Commissioner Chair - LA Homeless Services Authority

Awards

References

  1. ↑ Frances Anderton, "Swank Plans In Skid Row Los Angeles", "The New York Times", January 25, 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  2. ↑ Richard Guzman, "Adapting the Adaptive Reuse Ordinance", "Los Angeles Downtown News", January 31, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  3. ↑ Justinian Jampol, "The Wende Museum", "The Downtown Art Walk", 2011. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  4. ↑ "Central City Association Names Treasures", "Los Angeles Downtown News", April 2, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ "OBD-X Block Party", "DTLA Buzz", August 19, 2010. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Past Award Winners - Citizen of The Year", "Woodbury University", 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  7. ↑ "The AIA| LA Presidential Awards", "American Institute of Architects". Retrieved February 2, 2012.
  8. ↑ "Charlie Awards", "Hollywood Arts Council", 2008. Retrieved February 7, 2012.
  9. ↑ Emily Young, "Reinventing The Past, One Chair at a Time", "Los Angeles Times", March 21, 2002. Retrieved February 7, 2012.

[1][2]

  1. ↑ Jones, Robert (October 1999). "Reclaiming the Badlands" (PDF). Los Angeles Times.
  2. ↑ Holland, Mary (January 5, 2018). "Where to Eat, Sleep and Shop in Downtown LA". Bloomberg.
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