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Mar 10, 2010 at 11:48 AM |
 Washington Square Option A WAHA recently commented on a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for Washington Square , a mixed-use project proposed for a nearly 8-acre site at Washington Boulevard and 10th Avenue . As a historic preservation advocacy organization, WAHA routinely responds to land-use initiatives, particularly when projects such as Washington Square appear to be out of character with their surroundings and/or threaten historic resources.
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Sep 15, 2009 at 12:57 AM |
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By Jim Robinson, President
 WAHA members should be very proud of the role they played in persuading the Planning
Commission to continue protecting monument interiors through the city's Cultural Heritage
Ordinance.
Many WAHA members were among the dozens of preservationists who spoke at the
commission's final hearing Thursday in the City Council Chamber, arguing that historic
interiors can be just as important as exteriors – sometimes more so.
Over the previous two months, WAHA members Rory Cunningham, Laura Meyers, Mitzi Mogul
and David Rapoza joined me and other preservationists in a Working Group formed by the
Planning Department that spent more than 12 hours trying to persuade some of the city's
most powerful interests to withdraw their opposition.
Opponents at Thursday's commission hearing included the Los Angeles Chamber of
Commerce, a consortium of film studios, and the Central City Association, representing
hundreds of major businesses.
In the end, our reasoned arguments – in dozens of emails and one-minute speeches
– prevailed. We owe tremendous thanks to all our members – and those of other
preservation organizations – who lent their support to this vital effort. |
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May 09, 2009 at 12:56 AM |
 Ken Bernstein of the City's Office of Historic Resources writes: The Department of City Planning is partnering with the Los Angeles Conservancy for the eighth straight year to organize this special event focused on the City's historic districts, the 24 HPOZs. The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Angelica Lutheran Church, 1345 S. Burlington Ave., in the Pico Union HPOZ.
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May 06, 2009 at 05:47 PM |
 Biltmore Hotel By Jim Robinson
The debate on Los Angeles’ new historic preservation ordinance has been taking so long that, by the time a decision is made, the ordinance itself may qualify as historic. In June, the city's Planning Commission again postponed its vote on amendments that would protect L.A.'s historic-cultural monuments from demolition. The next meeting has been set for September.
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Mar 18, 2009 at 12:57 PM |
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By Laura Meyers
Amending a decades-old historic preservation ordinance is not proving to be a smooth ride for city officials. After some vocal opposition by some owners of major historic properties, including the Biltmore Hotel, the Pacific Mutual Building and the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the previously scheduled public hearing on the matter has been deferred to May. The City Planning Commission's consideration of amendments to the Cultural Heritage Ordinance, originally scheduled for March 12, has been continued to the Commission's meeting of May 14. The City Cultural Heritage Commission voted on November 20, 2008 to recommend these amendments, which represent a significant overhaul of the City's historic preservation ordinance.
The Office of Historic Resources (OHR) is proposing important changes, including increasing the size of the Cultural Heritage Commission from five to seven, clarifying criteria for historic designation, and changing the notification process for property owners. The revised ordinance would also create an application process -- similar to that used by property owners in Historic Preservation Overlay Districts -- when owners of Historic Cultural Monuments propose any work that requires a building permit. |
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