Central City West

Any “big plans” for downtown’s Central City West must include some acknowledgement of its historic importance to Los Angeles (“Downtown Neighborhood Awakening to Big Plans,” Part I, Feb. 3). Oil from beneath this neighborhood fueled the city’s first industrial boom in the 1890s, and provided hundreds of men and women with the opportunity to “strike it rich.” Even though the area’s distinctive wooden derricks are gone, the mix of Victorian houses and oil wells remains largely intact today, and the wells are still maintained by family-run operators.

If Councilwoman Gloria Molina and her constituents proceed with foresight, Central City West will be not only a nice place to live, but also a poignant reminder of Los Angeles’ modest beginnings.

DRUMMOND BUCKLEY

Palms