CommentsVIDEO INTERVIEW--Ken Bernstein (photo above), Principal City Planner and Manager of the Office of Historic Resources, [[http://preservation.lacity.org/ ]] was recently interviewed for the Miracle Mile Residential Association’s “MMRA Channel on YouTube.”
The Office of Historic Resources in the Department of City Planning coordinates the City’s historic preservation activities, which include oversight of 30 HPOZs (Historic Preservation Overlay Zones or historic districts) and the Historic Cultural Monuments Program (1,100-plus landmarks).
In the interview, Bernstein provides a brief history of historic preservation in Los Angeles that dispels the well worn cliché of LA as a city with a cavalier attitude towards its past. He credits the Los Angeles Conservancy, the largest non-profit preservation organization in the country, for their pioneering efforts and relates how Los Angeles’ 1963 landmark ordinance preceded the more celebrated landmark law in New York City, born of the infamous demolition of Penn Station – which is often cited as the catalyst for the architectural preservation movement in the U.S.
Bernstein summarizes the ground-breaking “Survey L.A.” project, a comprehensive program funded by the Getty to identify significant historic resources throughout Los Angeles. The digital database created by this innovative survey will serve as a centerpiece for future preservation programs.
Bernstein also delves into the challenges of managing the city’s existing 30 HPOZs and shepherding the seven pending HPOZs that are winding their way through adoption process (including the Miracle Mile). In an effort to streamline and improve these administrative duties, the Office of Historic Resources has recently proposed changes to the HPOZ ordinance. They have also proposed amendments to the Historic Cultural Monument ordinance to smooth out the bumps in the landmark application process.
The Miracle Mile Residential Association supports the reforms to both ordinances and encourages the City Council to adopt these amendments. It is crucial that residents of other HPOZs – existing and/or pending – and other history minded residents of LA demonstrate their support for these reforms by reaching out to their council members, too.
As Los Angeles matures, more and more neighborhoods will seek HPOZ status to preserve their history and protect their communities from mansionization and high-density development. The efficient management of historic districts and improvements to the landmarks application process are critical to the overall efforts to preserve and celebrate the rich history of Los Angeles.
NEED TO KNOW
- On Saturday, July 9, at 10 AM, a combined Informational Open House and Public Hearing on these proposed amendments will be held at the City Council District 10 Field Office, at 1819 S. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90006. The Informational Open House will be held at 10 AM and the official Public Hearing will begin at 11 AM.
- Principal City Planner Ken Bernstein: HPOZ protect against mansionization and high density development.
(Ken Hixon is the Vice-President of the Miracle Mile Residential Association and editor of the MMRA Newsletter.)