Tom Gilmore - Downtown LA Developer of Residential, Commercial and Retail Properties

Behar On The Block

In this episode I interview Tom Gilmore, a pioneer-developer of residential, commercial and retail properties in Los Angeles. Originally from New York, Tom moved to Los Angeles in 1996 and founded Gilmore Associates, a real estate development firm committed to urban revitalization and renewing the city's long neglected historic core.

Tom first purchased an entire city block of vacant office buildings in an area which had some of the highest unemployment and crime rates. Within a few years he converted the abandoned buildings to loft-style residence with retail stores and restaurants on the ground floor. Know as "The Old Bank District," the area is now home to thousands of residents and numerous commercial tenants.

On the brink of demolition from the Northridge earthquake Tom purchased the city's first cathedral, St. Vibiana. The former cathedral is now home to a thriving performance venue, event space and the award winning restaurant Redbird.

Tom shares his vision, passion and drive for taking an urban waste-land and making it a place to live, work and play.

Please enjoy this episode.