‘Common Ground’

It was interesting to read Leon Whiteson’s article “Creating Common Ground” (Aug. 11) concerning the new design for Pershing Square seeking to create an urban oasis. The common ground resembles the rich-client syndrome, that it is necessary to bring internationally famous architects, who can do no wrong to Los Angeles, to undertake our major designs.

These international big-name architects are thought to be necessary because of the lack of competent Los Angeles architects when, actually, the vast pool of local, talented architects is simply ignored and overlooked.

Can anyone believe that a 120-foot tall, overbearing concrete tower, painted purple, visible above the grove that will border Pershing Square will “encourage the social revitalization of Pershing Square, or attract families”? We already have tons of excess concrete downtown, why more? This “vivid tower, highly colored” is representative of the new brutalism, not “Latinismo.”

As the article says, white flight has taken place, and Anglos will not come back. Anglos do not like Pershing Square. But “the stubborn social membrane that isolates Latinos from Anglos” mentioned by Whiteson is further exacerbated by dividing the park in two sections. It seems like two segregated parks side by side, one for Anglos and one for Latinos.

This will further isolate Latinos and relegate them to the rear of the bus. Can the community support such a provincial and backward concept? The next step might be to build a fence around Pershing Square and charge admission.

Local Hispanic architects and artists are ignored and betrayed by city fathers and decision makers. We are treated just like the people who stand on the sidewalks begging for work. We live and work in Los Angeles, we struggle to make an impact on our communities but are given little opportunity by architectural selection committees.

The Los Angeles power structure prefers to bring out-of-town, highly paid, rich-and-famous architects to design a plaza for the struggling working-class Latinos of Los Angeles, who are the users of Pershing Square and adjacent streets.

Whiteson rightly questions if this is intended to be the solution for “creating common ground.” This does not bridge the wide gap that exists in our local environment but, rather, widens it. It seems that “the complex social tensions” will be further tightened by this Pershing Square park design.

FERNANDO JUAREZ

Architect

Los Angeles