Residents upset over Dome’s new look

Wednesday, November 25, 1998

Residents upset over Dome’s new look

WESTWOOD: Painting over gold leaf may violate law protecting
landmarks

By Andy Patel

Daily Bruin Contributor

The historic Dome building in Westwood Village might be a step
closer to looking like its old self.

This past summer, a new tenant, Michael Chow, painted the dome
white in preparation for the December opening of his restaurant,
Euro Chow.

This move angered Westwood residents since the paint covered the
24-karat gold leaf and colored ceramic tiles on the dome, the
building’s most prominent architectural feature.

The department of building and safety has ruled Chow’s painting
of the dome is a violation of the Westwood Village Specific Plan, a
document that regulates changes made to buildings.

Both Chow and Ira Smedra, the owner of the building, were issued
an order of compliance early last week.

"The Dome building qualifies as a cultural site under the
ordinance," said Gary Klein, a city department of planning
official. "Before you can demolish, destroy, or significantly alter
a part of the building, you must get a certificate of
appropriateness."

Within two weeks of the date of issuance, Smedra and Chow have
to either restore the dome or obtain a certificate of
appropriateness from the city.

If they choose the latter, they would be required to be reviewed
by a board that can give them the certificate or force them to
restore the building.

According to Chris Chun, Chow’s spokeswoman, they have followed
the appropriate guidelines for remodeling the building and see no
reason for the controversy surrounding this issue.

"In my opinion, the approval they gave us is (the certificate of
appropriateness)," Chun said. "During the hearing, our expediter
did point out that it included the dome. At the time, they issued
(their approval) very generously," she said.

But Klein said the plans were passed on the assumption that
Chow’s request to paint the Dome building did not include the dome
itself.

"We had no inclination to believe the dome would be painted.
Maybe in his mind painting the dome is insignificant, but in our
minds painting the most prominent building in Westwood is
significant," Klein said.

Approval from the Westwood Design Review Board is required for
any improvements made to buildings in the village.

Chun also argues that the paint job was needed in order to fix a
severe leak. The white paint they used contained a special
waterproof sealer, she said.

"There was a leak in the dome and there would have been damage
to the tiles if we were to try to fix the leak without the paint
job. The paint job was the only way to do it," Chun said.

"We have not been treated fairly. They apparently made it sound
like the tenant and owner did things without approval, which is not
true," she continued.

Chow will present his case to the design review board in hopes
of acquiring a certificate of approval.

The Dome building, one of the two oldest buildings in Westwood,
was constructed in 1929 by Allison and Allison, a distinguished
firm which also designed UCLA’s Royce, Kinsey and Kerckhoff
halls.

As a tribute to UCLA, the ceramic tiles on the dome were chosen
to be blue and gold. In 1988, the building was officially declared
a historical and cultural monument by the City of Los Angeles’
Cultural Heritage Commission.

In Klein’s opinion, there is a good chance that the Dome
building will return to its original appearance.

"It is very likely that the board would tell them to restore the
building and deny them the certificate of appropriateness, since
the dome is a designated building and since it is a prominent
architectural structure," he said.

The Dome building is still as prominent as it was 10 years ago,
if not more, said Terry Tippit, chair of the design review
board.

"It is a focal point of the village," she said. "When people
come into Westwood Village, they see the dome. It was more distinct
when there were blue tiles up there. Everyone would agree that it
needs to be restored, because it is a historical and cultural
landmark."

Despite opinion to the contrary, Chun said the public will be
satisfied if the construction and remodeling is allowed to
finish.

"That when they see the rest of the building painted, they will
see that it is quite beautiful. Right now it sticks out. But once
the whole building is painted, it will look very cathedral-like,
clean and beautiful," she said.AARON MICHAEL TOUT

Arguments continue over whether covering the old ceramic tile
and gold leaf with white paint violated the Village Specific
Plan.

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