Broad museum plan for downtown L.A. gets mixed reviews

Some say a $1-a-year lease on the site would be well worth it, but others see a giveaway. The billionaire philanthropist would cover construction costs and fund a $200-million endowment.When should officials give a billionaire a 99-year lease on city-owned land worth millions in downtown L.A. for $1 a year?

In the high-stakes game to land a grand art museum proposed by Eli Broad the developer, philanthropist and political force such enticements mark the going rate. Broad has spent several years pursuing a Westside location for a museum to house his coveted 2,000-piece contemporary art collection. In recent weeks, however, downtown Los Angeles has emerged as a leading contender, competing with a lot in the Santa Monica Civic Center.