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Larchmont Chronicle Neighborhood newspaper representing Hancock Park, Larchmont Village
Miracle Mile, Park La Brea Fremont Place in the Wilshire center area of Los Angeles. Local News and
stories about the local Los Angeles Scene. Historical informattion regarding the Larchmont Chronicle and
Hancock Park area. Founded in 1963 on Larchmont Bouelvard, Los Angeles, CA, California

April 2, 2004

HPOZ

The future of preservation in Windsor Square moved one step closer as residents gave testimony at the City Planning Dept. public hearing at Marlborough School on March 24.

Hearing officer Jim Tokunaga listened as more than 100 people spoke for and against the creation of an Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) for Windsor Square. More than 250 people attended the two-hour-long hearing.

The testimony will be forwarded to the Area Planning Commission for review. Then the zone request goes to the City Planning Commission, the Planning Land Use Management Committee and, finally, to City Council for the final vote.

Proponents for preservation initiated the request for an HPOZ based on the architecture and historic character of the area’s homes. Eighty-nine percent of the 1,239 homes in the neighborhood are architecturally significant, said Mary Klaus-Martin, president of the Cultural Heritage Commission at a recent hearing.

“Voluntary preservation doesn’t work,” said Vincent Bertoni, who was selected to give the opening argument for the pro-HPOZ side. He said the plan, tailored by Windsor Square Preservation Advocacy members, is much less intrusive than many of the other 17 HPOZ’s throughout the city.

Many of the zone’s proponents agreed with Bertoni. Speakers also agreed with Lee Flicker who said “We must respect and protect the past.”

The consensus of most of the pro-HPOZ advocates was the need to have a zone in place to protect the architectural integrity and value of these homes.

“We are custodians of a very special place, added preservation committee spokesman Mary Pickhardt.

Eight-year-old Calvin Muir sat through 90 minutes of testimony at the hearing with his mother Amy Forbes before it was his turn to speak. He received a round of applause when he said, “I want to see these houses still here when I grow up.”

Jim Ham, who gave the lead speech representing the opponents to the zone, said he is concerned about the discretionary authority of the Design Review Board.

He doubted that there is a teardown crisis which the zoning advocates say is happening in the area. Also, Hamm said the HPOZ historic survey didn’t include many houses between Beverly Blvd and Third St., and they should not be subjected to the zone.

Many of the views of the anti-HPOZ speakers concerned the power of the five-member Design Review Board was heard from many of anti-HPOZ speakers. They objected to a select group of people telling them what changes they could make to their home.

Others said the cost would be excessive to replace doors and windows or to hire a consultant to make sure changes were in keeping with the new standards.

Windsor Square boundaries are Arden Blvd. to Van Ness Ave. between Beverly and Wilshire boulevards.

Larchmont Chronicle
542½ North Larchmont Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90004

Editor & Publisher: Jane Gilman
Associate Publisher: Irwin Gilman

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