A CALL-TO-ACTION For Architects to Get More Involved With Their Neighborhood Councils

I have been serving on the Woodland Hills Warner Center Neighborhood Council and its Planning, Land Use and Mobility Committee for the last two years. I was recently elected to a second term. My experience has taught me that representation from the field of Architecture, Urban Planning, and Landscape Architecture is critical to the success of the Neighborhood Council System. The land use and design issues that arise in our communities need solid professional judgment to evaluate. I encourage more in our profession to participate in this process.

The Silver Lake Neighborhood Council's Urban Design & Preservation Advisory Committee (UD&PAC) has been a beacon with its direct community involvement in quality Urban Design and Neighborhood Character Preservation efforts. This committee has made substantial contributions to City Planning policy making and raising awareness of good design and its consequences for the community. As a founder and a chair of the SLNC-UD&PAC since 2003, I have been constantly encouraging my AIA colleagues to get closely involved in their Neighborhood Councils efforts by contributing their knowledge and experience to the community. I am very pleased to see that AIA/LA has embraced the idea.