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I\u2019m Josh Cooperman and this is Convo By Design with a conversation unlike any we have had on the show before. And after 9 years doing this podcast, that\u2019s saying something. DISCLOSURE\u2026 opinions voiced by guests appearing on this episode are their own and not necessarily the views of Convo By Design or the host of this podcast.
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\n\xa0I was reading an article recently about another Los Angeles mansion on the potentially slow march to its demise. This one is in Beverly Hills, as many of them are and it\u2019s the same story. Someone with more money than almost everyone else comes in and buys a property for which he possibly has other intentions than living in it, as is. I read this article on dirt.com, and this property sits on North Roxbury Drive and Lexington Road. The Hollywood Regency-style residence was designed by, Carleton L. Burgess.
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\nLet\u2019s stop here for a moment. What makes \u201csignificant\u201d, or \u201cspecial or, more to the point, worth saving? Serious question and one that is really hard to answer for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the rights of a property owner. They worked for the money, or inherited it, whatever, it\u2019s their money. Can they not buy and do with it what they wish. Well, yes, unless there are regulations that prohibit it. This Burgess residence lies within the city of Beverly Hills and unfortunately, Beverly Hills was extremely late to the preservation party and because of that, many architectural gems have been wiped clean, again\u2026 being honest here, is an LA tradition and every architect since the 1940\u2019s knew that going in.
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\nNow, in 2012, the City of Beverly Hills discussed ideas around architectural preservation at a city council meeting. In that meeting, they reviewed a list of significant Beverly Hills architects, calling it \u201cA list of local master architects\u201d and the list included 150 such designers. This list was part of a recent requirement to an ordinance that the city adopted to begin preserving properties it deemed \u201csignificant\u201d.\xa0 It\u2019s important to note that at the time, the city was also compiling a list of original architects for more than 2,900 structures. Using their own mathematical formula, they determined that there would be under 500 structures that would be awarded with a historically significant designation.\xa0 Interestingly enough, the time for significant architecture in the city was crafted by those working in Beverly Hills prior to 1970. Fair enough.
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\nThe city had a pretty solid plan. The list would be used as criteria for preservation designation and designation as a \u201clocal historical landmark.\u201d An interesting note, the criteria verbiage states, \u201cRepresents a notable work a person included on the city\u2019s list of Master Architects or possesses high artistic or aesthetic value.\u201d Now, that last part is tricky. \u201cAesthetic value\u201d to whom? And then it get\u2019s even MORE fascinating with some very specific criteria that includes according to BHMC 10-3-3212:(1)
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\nA.
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\nThe property meets two of the following criteria:
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\nB.
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\nThe property retains integrity from its Period of Significance.
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\nC.
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\nThe property has historic value.
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\n1.
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\nIs identified with important events in the main currents of national, state, or local history, or directly exemplifies or manifests significant contributions to the broad social, political, cultural, economic, recreational, or architectural history of the nation, state, city or community;
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\n2.
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\nIs directly associated with the lives of significant persons important to the national, state, city or local history;
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\n3.
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