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How are we to encourage first-class architecture in a city that cares about cars, clothes and the body beautiful, but gives scant attention to the design of its buildings? Who decides what is excellent or at least acceptable-the developer, the architects, the neighborhood, city planners or elected officials?
One way to reach that decision is through neighborhood design review boards. Four of these advisory boards have been established by the Los Angeles City Council: Brentwood-San Vincente, the Wilshire District-Park Mile, Pacific Palisades and Westwood. These boards, appointed by their district representatives on the council, are composed of five to seven volunteers, some with architectural and planning backgrounds. They operate under ordinances that define their duty to ensure compliance with local plans as well as to evaluate the architectural merit of proposed projects.
Until the creation of the Westwood unit in 1988,...