Culver City : Historically Accurate Lamps

Fay Avenue residents in east Culver City successfully lobbied the City Council to replace their circa 1920s street lamps with historically accurate new lamps rather than a cheaper, energy efficient model.

The City Council also voted 3 to 2 last week to make the new lamps emit white light, rather than yellow light. White light uses twice as much energy as yellow.

The city has already replaced more than 1,500 old street lamps with modern, yellow-light emitting fixtures. Subsequent replacements will be with the historically accurate lamp, which consists of a fluted concrete pole topped by an acorn-shaped globe.

Residents complained that the modern lamps took away from the ambience that existed with the old lamps.

Councilman Steven Gourley agreed, saying the modern lamps “look like they belong on a barbecue grill.” He said the council will look at replacing them with the historically accurate lamps.