Campo de Cahuenga

Re Campo de Cahuenga historical site.

The Native Daughters of the Golden West Parlors in the San Fernando Valley wish to go on record as being in full support of preserving the original foundations and floors of the Don Tomas Feliz Adobe of 1845 and support alternative No. 2 with regard to the widening of Lankershim Boulevard adjacent to Campo de Cahuenga.

This is the site of one of the most historic moments in California history and its integrity must be preserved. We support 4(f) of the National Transportation Act of 1966. “If there is a prudent and feasible alternative to using land that is part of a historic resource the agency is obligated to use the alternative.” It seems like government institutions in California place little value on historic preservation . . . constantly sacrificing it to the interests of commerce and greed! How are we supposed to teach our children to have respect for the past if we plow it under and pave it over?

The Native Daughters of the Golden West, an organization of California-born women founded in 1886, asks that the local, state and federal government authorities not allow further impact on these historical grounds by the widening of Lankershim Boulevard to extend 22 feet into the foundations of the adobe, and stop further impact on this very significant national historic site.

BETH PERRIN

Past grand president,

Native Daughters

of the Golden West

Tarzana

*

I am writing in response to your recent articles regarding the dispute over the widening of Lankershim Boulevard to provide two left-turn lanes for access to the Universal Studios property.

The Aztec Club of 1847, founded in Mexico City in 1847, is composed of male descendants of Army, Navy and Marine Corps officers who served in the Mexican-American War.

We join the Conference of California Historical Societies, the San Fernando Valley Historical Society, Studio City Residents Assn., Cahuenga Pass Property Owners Assn., Leonis Adobe Assn., various other organizations and numerous private citizens in strongly opposing the Los Angeles Department of Transportation’s proposal to pave over the original Campo de Cahuenga foundation and floor so it can widen the west side of Lankershim Boulevard to provide for two lanes turning into Universal Studios.

Immediately, two issues come to mind.

First and foremost is the fact that Campo de Cahuenga is undoubtedly one of the most significant historic sites in the western United States. Its importance in American history is at least equivalent to the historic battlefields of the American Revolution or the Civil War. Events there in 1847 ending the Mexican-American War in the West make it uniquely significant, rich in heritage and history to California. A registered historical site, it must be preserved.

Second, Alternative Plan No. 2, endorsed by the MTA and the Federal Transportation Department should not be abrogated by the whim of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation, particularly as its position is contrary to the public interest and intended to benefit a private corporation, Universal Studios. LADOT should not be allowed to change the letter or the spirit of the plan at this late date. The National Transportation Act (1966) provides that: “If there is a prudent and feasible alternative to using land that is part of a historic resource the agency is obligated to use the alternative.”

If Lankershim Boulevard needs to be widened for a second left turn lane, let that occur on the east side (Universal Studios’ side); I suspect we will then see just how critical the widening truly is.

RICHARD BREITHAUPT Jr.

President,

Aztec Club of 1847

Van Nuys