AGAINST RAZING THE `EYEBROWS' : OLD CITY BUILDINGS DECLARED LANDMARK.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

The government center known as the ``eyebrows on the hill'' because of its distinctive setting above Hillcrest Drive is getting what preservationist William Maple contends is overdue respect - landmark status.

While the twin buildings dedicated in 1973 are not old enough to meet state historic preservation standards, nearly two years of lobbying by Maple led the City Council on Tuesday to make the civic center the 13th landmark in Thousand Oaks. The county Cultural Heritage Board designated the other landmarks before the city took over the preservation process nine years ago.

``I was very surprised. I think they finally acknowledged the building's public value,'' said Maple, who designs interpretive exhibits for a living. ``It's very important to the city of Thousand Oaks because we have so few icons of our early history that remain standing.''

Whether the civic center remains standing depends on what development the city allows on the surrounding oak-studded property.

After the unanimous council vote in favor of local landmark status, the council voted 3-2 to approve a specific plan calling for more moderate development than originally envisioned for the 31-acre site.

The city has tried, unsuccessfully, to sell the property to help repay the construction debt on the Civic Arts Plaza that now houses city government offices.

Landmark status would not prevent the new owner from tearing down the two buildings. The ultimate protection is a six-month waiting period before a historic property can be altered or removed, officials said.

``So it was a nice warm and fuzzy historic designation, but the reality of the situation is that, particularly with the specific plan, there's no commitment on the city's part to recognize it as a landmark,'' said Councilwoman Linda Parks, who voted with Councilwoman Elois Zeanah against the specific plan.

Mayor Judy Lazar, however, said the council clearly wants to preserve the two buildings that housed city and park district offices until 1988.

``There should be a use of the site that is in keeping with what's there and one that hopefully will preserve the architecture that's there,'' Lazar said.

The hope is that the simple, yet powerful design, with minimal alteration of the hillside and oak trees, would be incorporated into the new development.

The late Robert Houvener, a San Diego architect, designed the 55,000-square-foot civic center for a national competition sponsored by the city. Houvener was awarded $10,000 for a design the jury described as ``a very powerful and memorable scheme.''

Houvener's two daughters spoke in favor of landmark status at Tuesday's meeting and urged the council to keep the buildings intact.

Fences surround the two buildings, erected several years ago to keep out vandals and transients.

``It does look a lot better than it was,'' said Maple, who produced a short video to push for repairs and security. ``There's still graffiti going up, but not nearly as much as before.''

More important, he said, would be the city's efforts to preserve the buildings.

``I know they said this had value and deserved protection and now I'm waiting for them to prove they actually mean that,'' he said.

The best hope for preservation so far could be a lease-to-purchase agreement with the National Park Service, which has outgrown offices in Agoura Hills.

The mayor said the Park Service would be expected to preserve the site that overlooks the Santa Monica Mountains, which the Park Service helps protect.

``It would be a wonderful combination. It was meant for public use and it could still be used that way,'' Maple said.

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Photo: (color) William Maple is fighting to preserve the buildings above Hillcrest Drive, which housed Thousand Oaks city government until 1988.

Andy Holzman/Special to the Daily News