SAVE TUJUNGA MANSION, CITY PANEL RECOMMENDS.Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer A Tujunga mansion modeled after a French castle should be preserved as a historic landmark, a city panel recommended Wednesday over the protests of the new owner, who charged he had been sandbagged The word sandbagged is a colloquial expression used to describe a situation in which one is publicly rejected or corrected in the presence of peers, often causing embarrassment. about the status of the 77-year-old house. With the support of Councilwoman Wendy Greuel Wendy Greuel is President Pro Tempore of the Los Angeles City Council representing the 2nd District. Greuel was elected in 2002 to fill the remainder of the term of Councilman Joel Wachs. She was elected in her own right in 2003 and reelected in 2007. and with petitions signed by 1,100 people, the Cultural Heritage Commission urged the city to designate the Weatherwolde Castle as a historic landmark to prevent it from being razed raze also rase tr.v. razed also rased, raz·ing also ras·ing, raz·es also ras·es 1. To level to the ground; demolish. See Synonyms at ruin. 2. To scrape or shave off. 3. and replaced with three houses. Developer Scott Anderson Scott Anderson is the name of:
``I checked with the previous owner. He had owned it for 30 years, and no one ever approached him about this,'' Scott Anderson told the panel. ``I checked with the city, and I did everything the city told me to do before I went ahead with any work. I feel like I was sandbagged by the process.'' While commissioners empathized with Anderson, they still voted 5-0 to urge the City Council to preserve the building at 10629 Commerce Ave. Anderson's attorney, Michael Anderson Michael Anderson is the name of:
``No one knew about this house until Scott started clearing it away,'' the attorney said. ``How can you say it's historic when no one famous lived there, it wasn't designed by a famous architect, and I would even question if it is even in the French-Norman style?'' But Tujunga residents said the house is unique to the history of the community, having served as a gathering place for actors and artists. And in a letter to the panel, Greuel said it is important to preserve the house. ``The Weatherwolde Castle is one of a number of potential historic and cultural homes ... in keeping with the rich character of the Tujunga community,'' Greuel said. ``It is one of only three such castles remaining in Tujunga and represents a style of architecture unique to the Tujunga community.'' Scott Anderson also disputed assertions that he had ordered demolition of any part of the mansion before he went on a summer trip. He said he left explicit instructions on what should be removed -including a carport CARPORT Cardiology A clinical trial–Coronary Artery Restenosis Prevention on Repeated Thromboxane-Antagonism Study that evaluated thromboxane A2-receptor blockade in preventing restenosis after PCTA in Pts with CAD. that city officials said was illegally built - and on cleaning up the property. But, he said, area residents came on to the property and ransacked ran·sack tr.v. ran·sacked, ran·sack·ing, ran·sacks 1. To search or examine thoroughly. 2. To search carefully for plunder; pillage. the home of stained-glass windows Noun 1. stained-glass window - a window made of stained glass window - a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air and other items. One resident said items were taken to protect them, and they would be returned once the historic landmark status is granted. Anderson was skeptical and said he has filed a report with police over the loss. Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): map Map: Weatherworlde Castle |
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