LOS ANGELES (CNS) – The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is relocating its base of operations from Chinatown to Olvera Street, and is expected to offer 15 free annual cultural and educational events as part of its public programming.
Mayor Karen Bass announced Monday evening that the Board of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument Authority Commissioners approved a lease agreement on Sept. 24 with UNAM to bring its LA branch office to Olvera Street. Along with producing cultural and educational programs, the institution will make its library available to the public for free.
UNAM, also known by its English name National Autonomous University of Mexico, is expected to bring new activity and visitors to El Pueblo, or Olvera Street. The monument is a living museum that marks the birthplace of LA, celebrating the Native American, African American, Spanish, Anglo, Mexican, Chinese and Italian cultures that contributed to its early history.
The institution is expected to further support the historic district’s merchants and small businesses while bolstering downtown LA (DTLA) as a destination for culture, education and commerce, according to the Mayor’s Office.
UNAM will take over the vacant second floor of the preserved Sepulveda House. The university will also fund the renovation required for its use. The lease will require approval from the City Council before it can be finalized.
“El Pueblo connects Angelenos to the history and culture of our city,” Bass said in her statement. “UNAM’s move to El Pueblo will give new life to the historic Sepulveda House and offer free events where people can gather and learn. I welcome the university’s investment as Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and I look forward to working with Councilmember Ysabel Jurado and the City Council to finalize the partnership.”
Director of UNAM-LA Héctor Zavala Guzmán thanked the city for its welcome.
“We are committed to being an active partner on the campus, as we work together to honor the legacy of La Placita Olvera and strengthen its connection with Latinos across Los Angeles,” Guzmán said in a statement.
The partnership was spearheaded by Bass and the Consulate General of Mexico in LA, led by Consul General Carlos González Gutiérrez.
“I began my diplomatic career here, when the Mexican Consulate was located at El Pueblo. Since my arrival, I have worked to re-establish the Mexican presence at the historic heart of Los Angeles,” Gutiérrez said in a statement. “During the World Cup, we hosted Casa México, adjacent to El Pueblo at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, an event that attracted thousands of Mexican, Mexican Americans and Angelinos to El Pueblo. We celebrate that Mexico’s iconic public university is establishing its presence in the city’s founding site.”
UNAM is a public research university in Mexico, with several campuses in Mexico City and various locations across the country. The institution has expanded its presence in nine other countries as well.
The LA branch serves to promote education, science and cultural exchange between Mexico and the United States. The university also boasts extension schools in Texas, Illinois and Seattle. It operates Centers for Mexican Studies and/or Centers for Teaching for Foreigners in cities across the globe, such as LA. UNAM jointly operates such a center with Cal State Northridge in the San Fernando Valley.