DOWNTOWN'S GEM; COUNCIL OKS `10-MINUTE DIAMOND' PLAN.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

The ambitious $3 billion plan to revitalize downtown by creating a ``10-minute diamond'' among government buildings received final City Council approval Tuesday, setting the stage for the massive downtown development.

The Los Angeles City Council, without comment, voted 15-0 to approve the program - a critical vote in moving the project ahead to begin changing specific plans for downtown and the construction of buildings by the city, county, state and federal governments as well as the Los Angeles Unified School District.

``This gives us a road map for the future as different government entities have needs and are prepared to come on line,'' said Councilwoman Rita Walters, who represents the area. ``It gives a focus to the Civic Center and we can build upon what we have.''

The plan, which now goes to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors for consideration, calls for the construction of new government buildings all within a 10-minute walk from City Hall, a building undergoing remodeling for earthquake damage and the centerpiece of the diamond plan.

However, some have questioned the wisdom of the proposal and concentrating so many government services downtown at a time when different areas of the city are calling for more responsive - and local - government services.

While Dan Rosenfeld, assistant general manager of the General Services Department, cited the plans to rebuild the Van Nuys Civic Center in a similar fashion, others questioned the city's commitment.

``We've always said they have to decentralize their operation so people don't have to spend the whole day downtown to get something accomplished,'' said Gordon Murley of the Federation of Hillside and Canyon Associations.

``Right now, it's not even fair to developers. We look at this whole thing as being a pork barrel way to spend money out of the taxpayers' pockets when it doesn't make sense to have everything downtown where traffic is now so bad, nobody can move.''

Added Richard Close of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association about the diamond project: ``This is not going to help someone living in the San Fernando Valley, San Pedro or the Westside.''

Questions also have been raised in the past about the concept itself.

Peter Gordon, a University of Southern California professor of planning, said the effort to make downtown a hub has been tried numerous times in the past without success.

However, Rosenfeld, who has been spearheading the project, said the plan is also important for suburban areas.

``I live in Sherman Oaks and it's important to me that downtown matters,'' Rosenfeld said. ``We need a healthy downtown if we are to have a healthy suburban lifestyle.''

Rosenfeld said he expects the plan to emerge over the next 20 years, but the council action allows the city to begin making changes in its existing plans and look at various options to make the one square mile around City Hall more friendly to pedestrians.

``We need to start planting the trees now so they can grow to provide shade,'' Rosenfeld said. ``We need to look at improving our sidewalks and our streets.''

Rosenfeld said he hopes to develop five-year plans within the overall strategy that would identify funding sources and specific proposals to be accomplished in coordination with what other government agencies plan to construct.

For example, the federal government already has announced plans to build a new federal courthouse and headquarters for the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The state is looking to build a new headquarters for the California Department of Transportation. Also, the Los Angeles Unified School District is considering construction of a new headquarters.

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Map: Diamond Plan