From the MMRA Newsletter, March 15, 2015:

The former Moderncraft Laundry building under demolition.

New Demolition Notification
Law Adopted

In November 2014 the Los Angeles City Council approved a Demolition Notification Ordinance that requires public notification to demolish buildings older than 45 years. Effective January 2015, the City will not issue demolition permits for buildings meeting this age threshold until the applicant has a posted a demolition notice on the property, sent letters to abutting neighbors, and notified the applicable City Council office at least 30 days before demolition.

This 30-day delay gives the community and elected officials additional time to seek historic designation of buildings before they are razed. This will prevent “stealth” demolitions of historic, but undesignated buildings in Los Angeles. Preservationists and other community groups have long complained about demolitions involving buildings that do not require environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) or Los Angeles preservation regulations, but may have historic significance.

If you receive a notification of demolition for a neighboring property or see a notice posted on a property please promptly contact the Miracle Mile Residential Association so we can investigate and make certain that all rules and regulations are being observed.

You can contact us at: info@MiracleMileLA.com

The sudden unannounced demolition last year of the Mole-Richardson building at 900 N. La Brea Avenue – to clear way for a new mixed-use apartment project – triggered outrage in the community. Build in the 1920s for ModernCraft Laundry, it was designed by Morgan, Walls and Clement – architects of many iconic Art Deco Los Angeles buildings, including the Security Pacific Bank and the Dominguez-Wilshire Building in the Miracle Mile.