The Morrison Lodge, the well-known backdrop for The Doorways’ 1970 album named after it, was destroyed by an enormous fireplace Thursday whereas being occupied by dozens of homeless squatters.
Virtually 100 firefighters labored for a minimum of two hours from 11 a.m. to manage the hearth on the downtown Los Angeles lodge finest identified for being on the duvet of the legendary rock album.
The blaze destroyed the roof of the constructing now red-tagged as being unlivable.
Henry Diltz, the photographer who shot the album cowl, mentioned he was “very sad” to see the landmark so badly broken, telling CBS Information Los Angeles: “I hope somebody will rebuild it.”
Quickly after the alarm was raised, a number of dozen homeless folks fled the constructing — and fireplace crews rescued three others from the third flooring utilizing ladders, a fireplace division spokesperson informed the Los Angeles Instances. Nobody was injured.
Investigators are nonetheless trying into whether or not the squatters might have triggered the blaze, based on Fox 11
However the homeless folks squatting there have been a continuing downside for its present house owners, the AIDS Healthcare Basis, a nonprofit that purchased the constructing in 2022 for nearly $12 million to remodel it into inexpensive housing.
“Last week when we cleared the building, there were about 15 [homeless people inside],” mentioned Mark Dyer of the inspiration.
“As soon as we secure the building, the homeless come up with power tools within hours and just cut the locks off,” he informed Fox 11.
The constructing was beforehand used as low-income housing till it was vacated in 2008, and had not had any official residents for nearly 10 years. A earlier plan to show it right into a luxurious lodge was nixed when a developer defaulted on a mortgage, the LA Instances mentioned.
“I personally have never seen a big fire like that,” close by enterprise proprietor Juan Jose Gutierrez informed Fox11.
[The affordable housing] would have been good for the neighborhood, however sadly, the constructing is not any extra.”
