January 12, 2006

Los Angeles Conservancy Receives Top Award

WASHINGTON, DC — For its preservation efforts during the past quarter century and commitment to planning principles, the Los Angeles Conservancy has been named recipient of the American Planning Association's (APA) 2006 Daniel Burnham Award, APA's most distinguished National Planning honor.

"The Los Angeles Conservancy has worked not only to protect historic resources, but also to educate the public about the value of preservation efforts," said Carol Rhea, AICP, chair of the APA Awards Committee. "The Conservancy is the leading advocate of the use of planning tools and techniques — such as historic preservation overlay zones — that provide zoning protection to some 20 neighborhoods," she said.

The Los Angeles Conservancy will be recognized at APA's National Planning Conference during a luncheon ceremony on April 25 in San Antonio, Texas. In addition, a 30-minute video about all of APA's 2006 National Planning Awards recipients will be shown at the luncheon. Accomplishments of the awardees also will be highlighted in the March issue of Planning magazine and on the APA website.

Since its inception in 1978, the 9,000-member Conservancy has intervened in hundreds of cases. Among its successes is the salvation of the 124-year-old Cathedral of St. Vibiana, slated for demolition by the Catholic archdiocese. Today, following two lawsuits instituted by the Conservancy, the church is being transformed into a performing arts facility. In this case, as well as many others, the Conservancy has demonstrated how the adaptive reuse and renovation of historic buildings can contribute to economic revitalization.

Other significant Conservancy rescues include the oldest surviving McDonald's restaurant, the Los Angeles Coliseum; and the Art Deco Wiltern Theater. The group is working to create a new Office of Historic Resources in the Planning Department and to launch the city's first ever citywide survey of historic resources.

With 9.5 million residents and 4,000 square miles of land, Los Angeles County is a treasure trove of cultural, historic, and architectural resources. It also is one of the world's most complex jurisdictional entities with 88 municipalities and a large amount of unincorporated land that falls under the county's authority. Protection of valuable cultural and architectural resources is up to local governments, many of which have neither the necessary expertise nor financial wherewithal. The Los Angeles Conservancy assists local governments, providing information and, when appropriate, advocating for preservation.

"The Conservancy has been a strong advocate, providing expert testimony at countless public hearings throughout Los Angeles to insure that decision makers at all levels understand the value of historic preservation," wrote California planner Vince Bertoni, AICP, in support of the award nomination.

The Los Angeles Conservancy's website provides a wealth of information about preservation issues, walking tours and its various initiatives. Its historical research guide assists in uncovering historic information about public and private buildings as well as private homes.

The APA National Planning Awards are part of a proud tradition established more than 50 years ago. The awards program recognizes outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives, public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning issues.

Contact

Roberta Rewers, APA Public Affairs, 312-786-6395; rrewers@planning.org