94 Buildings in Hollywood Join Preservation List

Hollywood High School and 93 other Hollywood buildings won increased city protection from demolition and change Thursday as the Community Redevelopment Agency doubled the number of local structures protected under its preservation policy.

The massive expansion of the agency’s preservation policy, which comes at a time when Hollywood is set to undergo a billion-dollar redevelopment effort, was hailed by Los Angeles city officials and private preservation activists alike.

In another development action, Walt Disney Co. and Pacific Theatres Corp. have agreed to completely rehabilitate the landmark El Capitan (now the Paramount) theater on Hollywood Boulevard and restore its East Indian-style auditorium to its original splendor.

The companies had drawn criticism for their plans to only partially restore the theater and split the auditorium into two theaters, covering the ornate cast-plaster designs.

“We think it has gone from a good project to a great one,” said Dan Chernow, vice president of Pacific Theatres. He said more details will be released at a news conference at the theater set for 9 a.m. today.

The CRA board’s vote to add Hollywood High, the historic Nelson Dunning House at 5552 Carlton Way and 92 other buildings to its preservation list will not entirely protect the structures. But the CRA can now require extensive environmental studies before issuing building and demolition permits.

“It allows us to potentially save some buildings, relocate some buildings or provide for mitigation measures,” said Bob Tague, CRA operations chief. He said the CRA can now stall demolition of architecturally or historically significant buildings in the 1,100-acre redevelopment area for up to 360 days while alternatives are sought.

“We think it’s an excellent idea,” said Jay Rounds, executive director of the Los Angeles Conservancy. “Those buildings are of equal significance to those that have already been afforded the protections.”

For instance, Hollywood High, at the corner of Highland Avenue and Sunset Boulevard, is architecturally and culturally significant, yet could have been demolished without a thorough review of its significance, Rounds said.

CRA Board Chairman Jim Wood said historic preservation will form the cornerstone of the Hollywood Redevelopment Plan, a project marked by bitter clashes between pro-development business leaders and anti-development homeowners fearful of being forced out to make way for high-rise hotels.

“The board’s action today further cements CRA’s commitment to preserving the historic fabric of Hollywood,” Wood said.

Some community activists, however, remained skeptical. “This protection is not really protection,” Norton Halper said. “It might throw a little roadblock into demolishing them, but there is no guarantee that they will be saved.”

The vote by the CRA commissioners officially extended the preservation protections afforded under its Hollywood Redevelopment Plan to structures deemed “potentially eligible” for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Previously, the preservation policy covered only buildings listed as cultural historic monuments by the city and those “determined to be eligible” or that “appear to be eligible” for such listing.