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The book lover’s dilemma: When to unpack my library?
My foot on that brake was more urgent than I intended. I jumped out of my Volvo and rushed to the boîte of the local Little Free Library. I popped open its tiny-hinged double doors — but my book was gone. My beautiful book by Maggie Keswick, “The Chinese Garden: History, Art and Architecture.” I […]

Brookside and the varied, winding paths to preservation
Last month, we began a report on the possible creation of additional historic districts in the Greater Wilshire area — [“Room to Grow?: Preserving not-yet-designated historic districts”]. Let us begin our exploration of the undesignated historic districts of Greater Wilshire with a closer look at what SurveyLA refers to as the Wilshire Crest – Mullen […]

Room to Grow?: Preserving not-yet-designated historic districts
I was having lunch with my friend, James Dastoli, who has newly moved with his family into a historic house located in the Wilton Place National Historic District. We had originally met through a group which was looking to set up an historic district in Los Feliz. James was successfully shepherding an historic district in […]

Modernism in our midst: Masterpieces and McMansions
October 13-16 is “Modernism Week October” in Palm Springs, a celebration of the desert city’s history and heritage as a laboratory for modern, mid-century and contemporary design. Really a Modernism weekend, the festivities serve as a warm-up for the fall 2023 Modernism Week from Feb. 16 to 26. The exciting schedule for the October weekend […]

Proposed changes to the Mills Act spark opposition
Recently released recommendations for proposed changes to Mills Act contracts have sparked opposition throughout the preservation community and beneficiaries of Los Angeles’ premier economic incentive program for historic preservation. A recent review of the Mills Act Program by the City of Los Angeles resulted in a series of recommendations, including the controversial proposal of non-renewal […]