Smart Aleck

The question Feb. 1: The city of L.A. is spending up to $300 million to renovate and earthquake-proof City Hall. For that figure, what sort of City Hall would you design from scratch?

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Since City Hall is a landmark, I would just add a roller coaster around and through the structure like the Stratosphere and New York-New York in Las Vegas. Charge $5 for a ride and sell T-shirts saying “I survived City Hall.” That should cover the cost of renovation in a year or so!

Donna Lewis, Los Angeles

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Since our present City Hall is more than just a building, but an identifying landmark for the city, I vote for renovation.

Jesse Davis, Los Angeles

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Your implication, that “starting from scratch” is preferable to spending money to renovate L.A.’s great buildings, is the problem, not the solution. Save the city’s historic architecture!

David Steinberg, Los Angeles

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One-story city halls for Los Angeles and the three new cities of San Fernando, Wilmington-San Pedro and Westside for $100 million.

SusHump@aol.com

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A sprawling complex of single-story Spanish Deco bungalows set around a pillory reserved for any L.A. city official who promotes or authorizes high-density development.

Robert Peoples, Brentwood

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Tear the sucker down and build an earthquake-friendly structure of a sprawling nature that urbanizes the landscape into approachable, walk-through openness.

Joanna De Borse, Los Angeles

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I would foresee: first floor--swings, seesaws, slides, video games and a wading pool; remaining floors--reading rooms with soft, plush comfortable couches and a recliner. That way, employees won’t get back strain on those uncomfortable chairs.

John McMahon, El Sereno

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It should have clean, wide lines for space. Blue-green as our heavens and waters. Warm woods as our mountains. Most important--thought and sensibility for the arts.

Erlinda Zubia Casady, West Toluca Lake

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I’d use an earthquake-proof, California ranch-style design to build a new City Hall. I’d also use recyclable materials in the construction, provided they are environmentally safe.

Irma Sandoval, Los Angeles

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A shiny City Hall built for $300 million, sure. But it would have all the character of the glass boxes downtown; $300 million maintains our city’s heart.

Bruce Whidden, Reseda