Hilton Headquarters Not Looking So Vogue

While Agoura does not have the well defined residential architectural style of Carmel or Santa Barbara, we do have a personality and some pretty clear preferences. I for one believe that the architecture of a community adds to its appeal. Its inhabitants, its visitors and its real estate value are all affected by its character.

You can be sure that when Steve Hilton hired Frans Bigelow of Bigelow Development Associates in Malibu, he told him that when it came to building in Agoura Hills, it was necessary to reflect the city's sensitivity to the natural environment and its open spaces in order to get development approval. We love our open spaces and our natural surroundings and know that you can't use earthmovers to make what Ladyface has always provided. 

The only place here in Agoura where we have a mandated architectural style is in our shopping malls and commercial buildings along the Highway 101 corridors at Calabasas and Westlake. This is what the thousands of cars that pass by every hour see on their way into and out of Los Angeles, and it determines their view of our community. 

My neighborhood is private and has a governing board and a set of covenants, conditions and restrictions that I help enforce as a member of that board. Not too long ago, we had a new homeowner inform us that she could paint her house purple with green polka dots, if she so felt. The board informed her that she could not do that. She eventually saw that this was in poor taste and is now a little more sensitive to the values of our neighborhood. Perhaps this kind of sensitivity is a good thing for members of our larger community as well.

It happens that large corporations can now be treated legally like individuals, in terms of their privileges. What about their individual responsibilities? The architects hired by the new Hilton Foundation team appear to me to be more concerned with their LEED Platinum status than Agoura's architectural style. 

I am all for "green building," but what precedent will Hilton's decision to ignore our architectural standards set forth for future developers in Agoura Hills? The Gupta Project was a recent exception to the strict Ladyface Specific Plan. Positioned on the flank of Ladyface, it had a far more limited number of square feet and an appearance consistent with the nature of Ladyface, in comparison to the Hilton Foundation's .

It's great that Hilton has concern for the environment and their platinum LEED Certification, but we are all going to have to live with their buildings, lighting and traffic. What effects will what they bring us have on our wilderness neighbors?Hilton needs to bring more than just their name to our community. They need to bring what it takes to win approval.