ABSTRACT
In contentious preservation cases, the relative power of different stakeholders often defines what part of the historic urban fabric is preserved or demolished. Through a comparative case study method, we examine two battles involving the preservation of two historic hotels in Los Angeles—the Ambassador and Century Plaza. We find that four factors influenced the final outcomes: 1) the framing of pro- or anti-preservation narratives; 2) the relative power of stakeholders; 3) urban politics; and 4) city preservation agency involvement. We find that the existence of strong historic preservation departments, the way that they are positioned within the city bureaucracy, and their power vis-à-vis the mayor or city council are important. Additionally, the creation of a framework that aids preservation planners to identify significant historic resources and a forward-thinking and detailed preservation ordinance, that is created with strong community input, can lead towards a more coherent understanding of what is important to preserve.
