Brown Derby's replacement sparks preservation debate.A showdown is shaping up over whether one of L.A.'s former Brown Derby For the liquor stores, see . The Brown Derby was a landmark restaurant in Los Angeles frequented by celebrities during the Golden Age of Hollywood. It was an example of novelty architecture, known for being physically shaped like a brown derby hat. locations should be considered historic. Adler Realty Inc. wants to build a mixed-use project on the roughly 1-acre site, which now holds the Derby nightclub and Louise's Trattoria trat·to·ri·a n. pl. trat·to·ri·as or trat·to·ri·e An informal restaurant or tavern serving simple Italian dishes. [Italian, from trattore, host, from trattare . The project would contain 80 condos above a supermarket--a Whole Foods Market Inc. or a Bristol Farms--and have other ground-floor shops and restaurants. The proposed building, designed in a Spanish architectural style, would span a block along Hillhurst Avenue and rise from three stories at the Avocado avocado (ä`vəkä`do, ăv`–), tropical American broad-leaved evergreen tree of the genus Persea of the family Lauraceae (laurel family). Street intersection to five stories at Los Feliz Boulevard. Richard S Ri·chard , Joseph Henri Maurice Known as "Rocket." 1921-2000. Canadian hockey player. A right wing for the Montreal Canadiens (1942-1960), he led his team to eight Stanley Cup championships and was the first player to score 50 goals in a . Gable gable Triangular section formed by a roof with two slopes, extending from the eaves to the ridge where the two slopes meet. It may be miniaturized over a dormer window or entranceway. , an Adler vice president, said the company had an assessment done in its environmental impact report that found the building didn't merit saving. "Our study found it wasn't designated as a historic landmark," Gable said, "and that it doesn't qualify." The Los Angeles Conservancy The Los Angeles Conservancy is the preeminent historic preservation organization in Los Angeles, California. It works to document, rescue and revitalize historic buildings, places and neighborhoods in the city. and a number of other groups disagree. They have formed the Save the Derby Coalition and launched the Web site SavetheDerby.com. The group has a series of meetings with Adler Realty to discuss ways the developer can integrate the Derby into its project. Jay Platt, a preservation advocate with the L.A. Conservancy, said historic assessments aren't the last word on whether a building should be saved. "We find it to have cultural and historical importance," Platt said. "It's our last chance to save an important connection to the glamour of Hollywood's early years." For now, Councilman Tom LaBonge--whose 4th District includes the site--hasn't taken a stance on the project. Still, the councilman's press deputy, Jane Galbraith, said LaBonge doesn't want to lose the building entirely. "He is a historic preservationist pres·er·va·tion·ist n. One who advocates preservation, especially of natural areas, historical sites, or endangered species. pres ," Galbraith said. "The councilmember would like to keep the Derby facade as part of a new structure." Since Adler Realty and a group of unidentified investors purchased the property in June 2004 for $4.8 million, Gable said the company has been meeting with neighborhood and community groups. So far Adler has drafted three new proposals to satisfy concerns. Staff reporter Andy Fixmer can be reached by phone at (323) 549-5225, ext. 263, or by email at afixmer@labusinessjournal.com. |
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