Name Tom Gilmore | Role Property developer | |
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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.
Contents
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, St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, which was damaged in the Northridge earthquake and scheduled for demolition. Now called simply Vibiana’s, 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.” 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.
His ingenuity and tenacity has been recognized through major projects he has spearheaded— notably— Vibiana, a development of the former St. Vibiana’s Cathedral 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.
Community Affiliations
Current roles
Chairman of the Board of Trustees - SCI-Arc
Board Member - CaLARTS
Mayoral appointed Chairman - Sister Cities of Los Angeles
Executive Vice 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