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From: "Architexturez." <interface.services@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 17:40:36 +0530
Preservation Marks the True Wealth of a City
BY Krishna P. Bhattacharjee
Monday, July 31, 2006
It was an exciting experience to read the Daily Californian's coverage
of the landmarks debate in Berkeley. A proposal, widely supported by the
city's Landmark Preservation Commission, would make only minor revisions
to the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. It would keep the
classification for "structures of merit"-buildings lacking the
historical merit of landmarks, but afforded the same protections-unchanged.
The issue is of great interest to me as an architect and city planner.
About four decades ago, I studied architecture and city planning at UC
Berkeley. On my way back from Vancouver, where I participated in the
World Urban Forum, a U.N. conference, I stayed in San Francisco for some
time. At the conference, many issues related to the development of
cities and the preservation of landmarks and heritage buildings were
discussed. As a matter of fact, professor John Friedman, who taught city
planning for many years at the University of Southern California,
lectured on "Wealth of Cities," strongly advocating for strengthening
the inherent resources of cities and preserving historical buildings,
landmarks and open spaces.
cont'd....
http://dailycal.org/sharticle.php?id=20990