Music Center Feat

Regarding “Frank Gehry’s Creative Journey” by Barbara Isenberg, April 7:

Isenberg’s article on Gehry’s struggles with the proposed Disney Hall--the $100-million concert hall planned for a site next to the L.A. Music Center--indirectly points out how impressive were the accomplishments of Music Center architect Welton Becket and Music Center “producer” Dorothy Buffum Chandler.

Gehry’s hall and parking structure, half-funded by Lillian Disney, are expected to require at least nine years from initial donation to final completion.

Perhaps we can now appreciate more fully the magnificent feat of the late architect Becket and of Mrs. Chandler in opening the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre atop a 3,000-car parking structure for only $33.5 million in an eight-year period beginning with no money (Mrs. Chandler raised that), no land (L.A. County contributed that) and no plans (Becket produced those).

MARTIN A. BROWER

Corona del Mar