Smart Aleck

The question Dec. 7: If you had $1 billion to construct a new edifice in L.A.--other than the Getty Center--what would it be?

A world-class Museum of the Moving Image. New York has one; so does London. Let’s put it on those 24 acres at the Ambassador Hotel.

Daniel Nero, Sherman Oaks

A haven for all the struggling artists in L.A. who keep getting rejected by the NEA.

Emmanuel Rustia, Chino Hills

A three-ring courthouse. This way, we could showcase ongoing trials, juries and verdicts in the manner of the O. J. Simpson extravaganza.

Sharon Karp, Los Angeles

With $1 billion to construct a new edifice in L.A., I would:

* Construct 11 high schools.

* Or construct decent low-cost housing for 10,000 homeless people.

* Plant an urban forest to screen the Getty Center from the view from the 405.

Noel Park, San Pedro

I’d buy up Bunker Hill, tear it all down and hire Frank Gehry for a redo.

John Crandell, Westwood Village

The exquisite buildings already exist: Our city’s branch libraries. Keep them open evenings and weekends until the billion runs out.

J. Westmoreland, Los Angeles

What we need is a place to park. I would build a parking structure of biblical proportions.

G.L. Rockmael, Mar Vista

I’d build the Getty, but instead of an isolated mountaintop, I’d choose the inner city, offering jobs and artistic opportunity to those needing it most.

Jack Keady, Playa del Rey

Replace all structures within a quarter-mile of Sunset and Crescent Heights with orange groves.

Robert Peoples, Brentwood

The “Meta” center: a monument to the media capital, made entirely of hype instead of brick.

B.M. Sullivan, Pasadena

I would build a new outdoor, asphalt arena for the Clippers. They would possess the most intimidating home-court advantage with the wind and sun; the latter could be in their opponents’ eyes with strategic scheduling.

Matthew Nagle, Riverside

A series of buildings in an architectural park would showcase the talented, innovative, vibrant young architects and designers we’re lucky to have in Los Angeles.

Julie D. Taylor, Beverly Hills