Stiff Penalty Proposed for Destroying Historic Sites

A proposed ordinance that would bar new construction on a piece of property for five years if a building on the site has been demolished without proper permits got tentative approval from a Los Angeles City Council committee Monday.

The measure, aimed at preserving historic buildings, was prompted by an incident last January in which the McKinley Mansion in Lafayette Park was partially demolished in an attempt to make way for an apartment complex.

The demolition was stopped after a neighbor alerted authorities. Several months later, six people, including a couple who owned the mansion at the time, were charged with violating numerous city codes and with using a demolition permit issued for another address.

Under the proposed ordinance, the Department of Building and Safety could refuse to grant building permits for five years for any property on which a building was improperly demolished. The measure must be approved a second time by the council’s Arts, Health and Humanities Committee, then by the full council and the mayor.