Linda Brucker California

Richard Neutra's Kronish House gets a reprieve

Bowing to community pressure, the owners of Richard Neutra's Kronish House in Beverly Hills have agreed to postpone its demolition until at least Oct. 10 to give preservationists a chance to devise a plan to save the residence.

In a related and groundbreaking action, the Beverly Hills City Council early Wednesday asked the community's Planning Commission to devise a historic-preservation ordinance.

Photos: Homes of architect Richard Neutra

It would be the first such ordinance for a city that has seen many culturally or architecturally significant structures fall to the wrecking ball.

An attorney for Soda Partners, the limited partnership that in January bought the Modernist Kronish House out of foreclosure for $5.8 million, agreed to the postponement early Wednesday after a three-hour public discussion about historic preservation in general -- and the Kronish residence in particular -- at a sometimes testy council meeting.

At nearly 7,000 square feet, it was one of the largest homes the renowned Midcentury architect designed in Southern California. The house is now in severe disrepair.

The owners' plans to demolish it sparked an outcry in Beverly Hills, which, unlike Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Pasadena and other communities, has failed to pass a preservation ordinance. Many residents have bemoaned the loss over the years of structures that belonged to celebrities or were designed by master architects.

Mayor Barry Brucker and other council members acknowledged that a preservation ordinance was long overdue.

Preservationists applauded the developments. "Two good things happened tonight," said Linda Dishman, the conservancy's executive director.

newsletter – june 27, 2009

End of 2009-2009 School Year!

So here we are at the end of the 2008-2009 school year.  What a year it was!!  We welcomed our first African American President, saw three terrific musicals from our 5th grade class, suffered through the worst economy for some time, had a swarm of minor earthquakes, fought hard to keep teachers in classrooms and had a wonderful culmination ceremony with the 5th grade.  I look back on the year as one that went by very fast and kept me very busy.  I thank the teachers and the teacher assistants that continually put children first and give all they have for the students of Marquez.  I thank everyone on the Governing Board, the extraordinary parents that worked behind the scenes on fundraisers and Kids For Kindness programs, the Green Team, as well as all the parents that volunteer to make this school an especially happy and great place to learn.  Thank you Marquez!!

With thanks to Friends of Marquez, we will begin the 2009-2010 school year with small class size increases in kinder through 3rd grade, and a decrease in our class size in the upper grades.  Especially important is the continuance of our class size reduction strategies and the return of enrichments back into the hands of the teachers here at Marquez.  With that being said, I must remind you all that The Friends of Marquez budget assumes no decline in Circle of Giving and other key fundraisers for the upcoming school year.  Your ongoing generosity is the cornerstone of the Marquez programs and are absolutely necessary in order to continue to realize our vision for Marquez.

As everyone already knows, Vida Brucker, our Assitant Principal is retiring.  As a direct result of budget cuts and constraints our AP position has been decreased to a part time position.  The AP will concentrate specifically on special education.  I have met our new AP and really like her.  I am sure you will as well.  Linda Brookover has been an AP for 5 years at Canfield Elementary School in mid-city Los Angeles. Prior to that she was a Literacy Coach for two years at West Hollywood, a teacher at Saturn for 12 years and before that, she taught in a two-way bilingual Spanish immersion program at Edison in Santa Monica USD.  She also has colorful work experiences outside the school system, in film production, market research and in the utility industry.  Her interests include food, travel, walking and kayaking. On the weekends you can find her in her garden, perhaps reading a magazine or plucking at her plants or walking around Santa Monica where she lives with her husband and a calico cat named Frida.  She is very happy to be  our .5 APand will look forward to meeting all the people of Marquez in September.  
I wish her a warm Marquez welcome.

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