The recent approval of the Millenium Hollywood project, which will put 39 and 35 story high rise buildings on the surface parking lots adjacent to the Capitol Records Tower, has understandably stirred many emotions.  Neighbors have raised hell over the potential affects on traffic.  NIMBYs in the hills have complained that they may lose their view of the 1956 Welton Becket masterpiece.

Personally, I do not think it's the city's responsibility to preserve the views from mansions in the Hollywood Hills.  As if Los Angeles should freeze itself in time so people who have deliberately isolated themselves from the urban facric of the city don't have to bear witness to change.  LA is on the cusp of a bright new era where we finally accept our identity as one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan cities.  Where transit isn't "just for poor people," and density based around transit is accepted.

I admittedly had concerns of my own about the Millenium Hollywood project.  While I'd never consider myself a NIMBY, I was happy to see the LA City Council make the wise compromise of shortening the development from 55 and 45 floors to 39 and 35.  The height fits in so much better within the context of the surrounding buildings that I wonder if this is what Millenium Partners wanted all along.

With that in mind, the developers did seek to ensure that views of the iconic Capitol Records Building were preserved from the most important perspective: street level.  They've crafted the open space of this development to emphasize at all times that the visual centerpiece is the Capitol Records Building.








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