Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House could close due to city budget cuts
The architectural landmark, perched atop Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood, is managed by the city's Department of Cultural Affairs, with two full-time staffers running tours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays as well as handling the maintenance of the building, which is an early example of California Modernist architecture.
The mayor's proposed budget, which attempts to close a nearly $1-billion shortfall in part by laying off more than 1,600 city employees, eliminates one of those two staff positions and also cuts two vacant positions at Hollyhock House.
Read more: Bass proposes laying off about 1,650 city workers, a quarter of them civilians at LAPD
The Cultural Affairs Department had been interviewing candidates for the vacant positions and had made an offer for the job of arts manager. But after the mayor released her proposed budget, the department had to rescind the offer and pause other job interviews.
"A single full-time staffer would not be able to manage both the tour program and preservation, necessitating the suspension of public tours until additional full-time staff could be restored," said Juan Garcia, a spokesperson for the department.
Amid the massive budget shortfall caused in large part by rising personnel costs, soaring legal payouts and a slowdown in the local economy, department heads have been testifying before the City Council's budget committee about how the mayor's proposed cuts would affect city services.
The Cultural Affairs Department would face 14 layoffs and the elimination of 10 vacant positions, out of 91 total positions. The cuts also could lead to the closure of the Lincoln Heights Youth Arts Center, said Daniel Tarica, the department's general manager.
Oil heiress Aline Barnsdall commissioned the Hollyhock House in 1918. She never lived in it, donating it to the city in 1927.
In 2019, it was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the only man-made World Heritage Site on the West Coast.
The house was closed for more than two years during the COVID-19 pandemic, reopening in August 2022 after undergoing major renovations.
The monumental fireplace, which brings together the four classical elements of earth, air, fire and water, was restored, as were the art-glass balcony doors in the master bedroom.
Read more: Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House will soon reopen to the public
Two Wright-designed sofa tables, which the architect had said he considered 'part of the house design itself,' were reinstalled.
The improvements also included a major restoration of the guest house.
The UNESCO designation required the house to have four full-time staffers, said Garcia, the spokesperson. The department has requested that the City Council restore the three positions in its final budget, which it must pass by June 1.
"The proposed staffing cuts will severely impact the management of Hollyhock House and subvert the baseline staffing commitments made by the City of Los Angeles as part of the site's 2019 World Heritage List inscription," Garcia said.
The proposed cuts shocked preservationists.
"UNESCO World Heritage status is a great honor that needs to be nurtured, not lost by taking public access away," said Kim Cooper, one of two people behind Esotouric's Secret Los Angeles, a tour company and preservationist blog. "Hollyhock House is the only one of Wright's Los Angeles houses that people can tour, recently restored at great cost."
Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez, who represents the area, said it's imperative to keep the house's UNESCO status in light of the upcoming Olympic Games and World Cup.
"We're exploring all options through the budget process to save our dedicated Hollyhock House staff and preserve its protected status," he said in a statement.
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
Ukraine is pumping millions of dollars into drones built to kill the Russian ones attacking its cities
Russia is regularly hammering Ukrainian cities with one-way attack drones. Kyiv, however, intends to meet that threat by pouring millions of dollars into interceptor drones designed to engage Russian threats. In a statement posted to Telegram on Wednesday, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal announced four contracts for drone intercept technology worth over $72 million. "Special attention was given to drone interceptors capable of countering Russian Shaheds," Shmyhal said in the statement, which noted that Ukraine is also pursuing international partnerships for additional purchases. Earlier in the month, the director of Ukraine's Defense Procurement Agency, Arsen Zhumadilov, told local media that the agency had contracts for tens of thousands of interceptor drones, weapons which are now being mass-produced. Zhumadilov did not provide a value for those contracts. Interceptor drones have become an inexpensive option for defeating front-line loitering munitions and higher-end uncrewed reconnaissance assets, but the drones are increasingly being seen as an option for countering Shaheds, a term for a family of Iranian-designed attack drones that Russia also makes domestically. Russia frequently deploys homemade versions of the Iranian-designed Shahed, called the Geran-2, to bolster its strike packages, mixing them in with decoy activity and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Such employment creates a more complicated threat for Ukrainian air defense systems, already stretched thin. Ukraine has reported that Russia is arming its drones with bigger payloads and thermobaric warheads, increasingly operating them in ways that make them difficult to shoot down with inexpensive solutions, like mounted machine guns. Ukraine has more sophisticated air defenses, but limited availability and prohibitive costs are pushing the country to find more innovative solutions. Ukraine is believed to have about half a dozen operational Patriot batteries among its other air defenses. A Patriot battery consists of as many as eight launchers, which can hold up to 16 missiles. These weapons are useful for countering aircraft and ballistic missile threats. US lawmakers approved a decision to send more Patriot air defense systems to Germany last week after agreeing that Germany would frontload Patriot systems to boost Ukrainian defenses. Each Patriot interceptor missile costs over $3 million. Missile production is limited, and overuse strains already limited stockpiles. That makes them less than ideal for combating drones. Defensive interceptor drones function similarly to interceptor missiles, though drones are drastically cheaper and more easily produced. Without other options, the continuous barrage of Shahed-style drones flooding Ukrainian airspace, coupled with missile strikes, is bound to overwhelm Ukraine's air defenses. Recent assessments by Western military experts suggest Russia is poised to overwhelm Ukrainian cities with thousands of drones in a single night. In an effort to tout domestic drone production, Russian state media recently broadcast modified American-designed pickup trucks featuring a launch configuration for Shahed-style drones, which are capable of loitering in the air before diving onto a target. Russia began using the Iranian-manufactured drones three years ago, but it quickly turned to its own domestic industries for producing the drones.
Hamilton Spectator
2 hours ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Parkour vaults into Napanee Council's concerns
There is a delicate balance when it comes to parkour, the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee learned this week. Cora Wright, Founder and Head Coach of Pegasus Movement Academy (PMA) , addressed Council at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Jul. 22, 2025, in response to concerns about her youth parkour program, which operates in Conservation Park and Rotary Park. Her deputation came just before Council received the Parks, Recreation & Culture – Park Rental Permits report , which proposes a new facility rental category, 'Passive Park – Commercial/Sport Use,' aimed at businesses using public park space. The report, which refers specifically to PMA's use of municipal infrastructure, states, 'Staff are proposing that council approve the addition of a new facility rental category for Passive Park Commercial/Sport use with a rate of $25/hour. The booking confirmation will be accompanied by a facility rental agreement and proof of insurance naming the Town of Greater Napanee as additional insured.' Wright began her presentation by saying, 'My love of coaching actually began here in Napanee… 30 years ago. I probably coached some of your kids and even some of your grandkids.' In the last three years, she's taught movement classes across Ontario and New Brunswick without incident: 'I haven't had so much as a severely sprained ankle teaching very difficult skills.' Wright described PMA as a program focused on safety, inclusivity, and physical literacy. 'Our classes aren't about stunts or reckless behaviour,' she explained. 'They're about learning how to move safely and confidently through our environment.' Even her youngest participants, as young as three, are trained in falling techniques, body awareness, and assessing their surroundings for safety, Wright explained. She acknowledged that parkour often suffers from misconceptions due to viral videos, but said, 'We don't even resemble them remotely.' Wright said her instructors are certified in gymnastics, parkour, trampoline, and adaptive coaching for youth with disabilities, and then highlighted the program's positive community impact. 'Several spectators, including seniors and youth who live near the area, are enjoying the park,' she said. 'The kids get supported and cheered on by the community. It's great to see.' Wright said her team always leaves parks cleaner than they find them. 'We've picked up trash, raked goose droppings, repaired wilful damage done by others, and even replaced stolen xylophone sticks,' she said. 'We've cleaned up and disposed of alcohol and drug containers, as well as paraphernalia… and we don't do that because we have to. We do it because we care.' She noted that before starting classes, she contacted the Town and was told her use of the parks would be acceptable, just like other groups and camps. But she raised concerns about the new permitting system under review. 'I constantly see wilful damage happening in the park done by people attending camps who aren't being supervised,' Wright said. 'A group of 20 children being monitored by two or three teenagers isn't going to notice everything.' Wright advocated for fairness and accountability, urging that any fees collected through the proposed permit system be used to address general wear and tear, not just damage linked to organized groups. 'What the Town has fixed, other groups have damaged, as well,' she said. Wright also emphasized accessibility, saying, 'We offer low fees, partial and full scholarship options. If a family came to me and said, 'We want to enrol our kids, we can't afford even one,' I would let every single one of those children attend for free.' Aside from church programs, Wright said she wasn't aware of any group in town offering the same level of support. 'Community means everything to me. I grew up here,' she expressed. She thanked the Town for removing a piece of rotting equipment in the parkour area that had posed a safety risk to children. While many councillors expressed support, some concerns remained, chiefly around safety, liability, and insurance. Wright confirmed she carried the required $5 million in liability coverage, but wasn't sure if the Town of Greater Napanee was named directly on the policy. Mayor Terry Richardson and Deputy Mayor Brian Calver stressed that the Town must be explicitly included. 'When somebody gets hurt, your legal stuff falls onto us,' the mayor warned. Councillors Bill Martin and Angela Hicks voiced strong support. 'I can't think of a better use of our park,' said Martin. Both councillors, however, referred to some negative comments on social media, and relations between PMA and the Town. Wright told Council that, while dialogue with staff had since improved, her first contact with the Town felt adversarial. 'The first email I received threatened me with fines,' she said, explaining that Town staff's initial concerns were focused on property damage, later shifting to liability, and then to the fact that she charged fees. 'I make three dollars a class,' she told Council. 'I do this solely for the community.' Councillor Dave Pinnell raised concerns about a Facebook photo showing a child hanging from a park light standard, citing the potential for encouraging unsafe behaviour or damaging infrastructure. Wright explained that, while the child is a student with PMA, the photo in question was taken outside class time when the child was supervised by his mother. With further regard to PMA's use of Town property, Wright said the padded boards used during lessons have been leaned gently against picnic tables and caused no damage. Councillor Mike Schenk offered support, but emphasized the need to minimize the use of benches or light poles. 'Everybody sues everybody these days,' he said. 'We have to protect the tax base and the municipality.' A report from the Town's insurer backed that stance, warning that if the Town knowingly allowed unpermitted or informal activities on its property, it could still be named in a lawsuit —- even if the municipality wasn't directly responsible. The report stressed that passing bylaws wasn't enough; they must also be enforced. Mayor Richardson closed the discussion by reaffirming Council's support for PMA and said the situation had been a learning experience. 'That's the wonderful thing about being in municipal government: every day is a new day,' he said. Council formally received Wright's deputation, then turned to further discussion under the meeting's agenda. That follow-up discussion focused on balancing public access with fairness for groups offering paid programming. Councillors debated the need for affordable permit options for children's fitness programs, with Hicks suggesting a seasonal permit might reduce the administrative burden on small organizations. Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Matthew Grant clarified that Council would ultimately determine the rental rate and could choose to adopt seasonal, hourly, or youth-specific fees. Council voted to approve, in principle, the creation of the new Passive Park – Commercial/Sport Use rental category and directed staff to return to Council with fee structure options. PMA is allowed to continue its programming, pending Wright's providing updated insurance documentation. Meetings of the Council of the Town of Greater Napanee can be viewed virtually (or watched afterward) on the Napanee Town Council YouTube channel or attended in person in Council Chambers at Napanee Town Hall, 124 John Street. Further information about Council meetings, including agendas and reports, is available on the Town's CivicWeb portal . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Minnesota Timberwolves, Lynx Sale to A-Rod, Lore Approved by NBA
The NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved the sale of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx from Glen Taylor to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez, according to an announcement from the NBA. Board approval required at least 23 of the 30 owners to sign off. The deal is expected to close this week. Lore will serve as Timberwolves' governor, with Rodriguez as alternate governor. They will swap roles for the Lynx. More from NBA Playoff Ratings Stay Hot as Knicks Try to Keep the Party Going Napheesa Collier Signs With Jordan Brand After 'Meaningful' MJ Pitch Edwards' NBA Fines Less Than Portis, Embiid Surrendered This Season The approval marks the end of a four-year saga that originated in 2021, when COVID-19 was still a concern. The purchase agreement called for a first payment at a valuation of $1.5 billion, and payments at 4% escalators in three subsequent payments, with Lore and Rodriguez taking control in 2024. The multi-year transaction gave Taylor a few more years to lead the team, as well as time for the buyers to raise money to finance each subsequent transaction, but things blew up in March 2024 when Taylor said the deal was off due to missed deadlines. The following day, the buyers told Sportico that Taylor had breached the terms of their contract. Taylor likely had some seller's remorse as the value of NBA teams doubled since he agreed to sell. In 2024, Minnesota reached the Western Conference finals for the first time since 2004—a 13-year playoff drought followed. The Timberwolves made the final four again in 2025. In February, a three-person arbitration panel ruled 2-1 in favor of Lore and Rodriguez to buy the NBA and WNBA teams. The arbitrators didn't rule that the teams belonged to Rodriguez and Lore. Instead, the panel ruled that the buyers should have another 90 days to continue the four-part transaction, resetting the clock back to where both sides were in early 2024. Rodriguez and Lore owe $942 million for the final two payments, and that money was put into an escrow account held by JPMorgan last October, Sportico previously reported. The purpose of that move was both to signal to the arbitrators that their financing was no longer a concern and to facilitate a smoother closing process when it came time to transfer the money. Lore and Rodriguez were approved as minority owners when the deal was signed in 2021, but the approval process for control owners is more complex and thorough, including an in-depth look at backgrounds, personal finances and fellow investors. Their cap table got a boost with the addition of former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg and ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Bloomberg is worth $105 billion, according to Forbes, while Schmidt checks in at $23 billion. One of the most pressing issues facing Lore and A-Rod is the future of the Target Center, which opened in 1990 and is the second-oldest arena in the NBA. The buyers have expressed interest in building a new venue. Taylor bought the Timberwolves in 1995 for $89 million and has owned the Lynx since they started playing in 1999. Taylor and his wife Becky posted a 'Thank you, Minnesota' letter on the team's website Tuesday and took out a full-page newspaper ad in the Minnesota Star Tribune, which he also owns, to say his time as owner had 'come to a close' and that it had 'been the honor of our lives.' In December, Sportico valued the Timberwolves at $3.29 billion, which included the 2024 Lynx value and ranked 28th overall in the NBA. In Sportico's latest WNBA team rankings, released Tuesday, the value of the Lynx jumped from $85 million to $240 million. Best of Most Expensive Sports Memorabilia and Collectibles in History The 100 Most Valuable Sports Teams in the World NFL Private Equity Ownership Rules: PE Can Now Own Stakes in Teams
