No Rhapsody on Roxbury

"Obviously, this is a significant loss to the musical legacy of our nation and the history of Beverly Hills and its role in shaping American culture. The demolition was wholly avoidable and occurred because Beverly Hills, unlike neighboring cities such as Los Angeles and West Hollywood, lacks a historic preservation ordinance."

"Despite repeated pleas from local residents, Beverly Hills still has no mechanism to protect its historic and cultural treasures. The city is conducting a survey of properties to determine which ones should be considered historic, though mention on the historic roster doesn't necessarily protect a structure from demolition."

Beverly Hills issued a demolition permit for 1019 N. Roxbury Drive, where George and Ira Gershwin composed famous songs and Rosemary Clooney lived for fifty years. Despite preservation efforts and letter-writing campaigns, the property was demolished. The Los Angeles Conservancy director noted this loss was wholly avoidable, attributing it to Beverly Hills lacking a historic preservation ordinance unlike neighboring Los Angeles and West Hollywood. The city is conducting a survey to identify historic properties, though previous surveys failed to include the Gershwin house. Beverly Hills officials cite the challenge of protecting numerous celebrity-associated properties given the city's high real estate values and housing stock considerations.

Read at Los Angeles Times