Times, Parent Firm to Keep Headquarters

The Los Angeles Times and its parent, Times Mirror Co., announced Wednesday that they will retain their landmark headquarters at Times Mirror Square in Downtown Los Angeles.

The decision ends the newspaper’s deliberations about relocating, although The Times said some non-editorial employees are likely to be transferred to a suburban location. A Glendale site is under consideration for those employees, a spokesman said.

The Times said it is evaluating a refurbishing program for the Downtown complex that could include infrastructure and office improvements and exterior renovation and preservation.

“This is a win-win situation for The Times and for Los Angeles,” Times Publisher Richard T. Schlosberg III said in a statement. “We will preserve the historic Los Angeles Times buildings and continue to play a role as the major private-sector anchor in the Civic Center.”

The Times and Times Mirror last year offered to renovate and sell the building for $87.35 million to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for use as a headquarters. MWD rejected the offer in November, citing concerns about rehabilitation costs.

The Moderne-style headquarters, designed by architect Gordon B. Kaufmann, opened in 1935 at the southwest corner of 1st and Spring streets, diagonally across from City Hall. It connects to the 10-story Times Building South, erected in 1949. The adjoining Times Mirror Building on 1st Street opened in 1973.