One of the duplexes on
Kelton discussed by Sam Hall Kaplan on KCRW. Photo by Ken Lee. Historical Preservation
Media: Sam Hall Kaplan "City Observed", KCRW
|
One of the duplexes on
Kelton discussed by Sam Hall Kaplan on KCRW. Photo by Ken Lee. |
KCRW 89.9 FM/NPR
SAM HALL KAPLAN "CITY OBSERVED"
TRANSCRIPT FOR 2.26.03 (3:55 PM, 89.9
FM)
The City of Los Angeles also has an opportunity to preserve a
distinctive landmark on its waning West Side, and in doing so,
and more importantly, preserving the remnants of one California's
more noteworthy planning and design efforts.
Lending Kelton Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard scale,
character and a sense of history are three Spanish Mediterranean
styled duplex apartment buildings (on the 1800 block of
Kelton). They were developed in the late 1920s by the
Janss Company as part of its master plan for Westwood out of
which grew UCLA.
The duplexes are currently up for landmark designation before the
city's Cultural Affairs Commission. The hope in the neighborhood,
and here, is that the designation would block their demolition,
and encourage the owner to save them, or sell them to
someone who will.
What the neighborhood doesn't want, and what the neighborhood
doesn't need, is the duplexes to be replaced by another four
story boxy apartment building, which the owner has indicated it
wants to build.
These mid block monstrosities are bad enough, destroying the
scale of streetscapes, but here it also will destroy a piece of
L.A.'s history.
This is the City Observed, and I'm Sam Hall Kaplan, for KCRW.
Sam Hall Kaplan "City
Observed" - KCRW
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