UPDATED: Can Circus Disco be saved from demolition?

Is Circus Disco going to have its last dance?

The venerable 40-year-old nightclub, which has been a cultural haven and dancing hotspot for the LGBT Latino community for decades, is being considered for demolition to make way for a multi-million dollar, mega mixed-use development project that would include 695 residential units and 1,391 parking spaces on the almost 6-acre site.

But LGBT Latino advocates and historic preservationists say time out. They say they were not aware of the project and never given a chance to participate in any public hearings or comment about the project.

They contend that the proposed plan, called The Lexington Project, which also includes bulldozing Circus Disco’s sister club, Arena Cafe, is flawed.


Specifically, they point to The Lexington Project’s environmental impact report – a document required by state law that includes a detailed and comprehensive analysis and public disclosure of all potential environmental impacts for development projects as well as all feasible solutions to mitigate those impacts. The report also must take into consideration historic and cultural resources, such as buildings, at a proposed site and the impact if those structures are demolished. Property owner Gene La Pietra, who has owned both clubs since their inceptions, is the applicant for the Lexington Project and could not be reached for comment.

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