Lawry’s site being bought

The former Lawry’s Gardens restaurant near Taylor Yard is coming back to life. Under a newly approved agreement involving the city, county, state and private developers, the Santa Monica Conservancy will acquire the gardens and buildings for divisional offices and an educational academy.

Meanwhile, a new Home Depot outlet will be built on an adjacent parcel, along with a public park, said Ed Reyes, chief of staff for City Councilman Mike Hernandez. A culinary school might also be established at the Lawry’s site, he said.

Alfonso Salazar, director of Mayor Riordan’s L.A. Business Team, said the project will give a boost to the area, because the Lawry’s site once a sprawling tourist attraction has been sitting idle for the last six years.

Taylor Yard, an old railroad switching station and maintenance yard, is along the east bank of the Los Angeles River north of downtown. Irvine-based Legacy Partners plans to build a 750,000-square-foot business park geared to entertainment and technology companies at Taylor Yard.