It worked; it could work again

THE elegant architecture of Lorcan O’Herlihy graces West Hollywood [“First Sprouts of a Vertical Cityscape,” May 4] and proves that reasonable increases in density can enhance our urban environment. It is ironic that the City Council in West Hollywood has ignored these lessons and has recently approved plans to develop five- and 10-story “big box” mixed-use projects along Santa Monica Boulevard. O’Herlihy has shown that bigger is not necessarily better and that urban in-fill development need not destroy the character of our neighborhoods.

STEPHEN MARTIN

West Hollywood

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AS the urban designer for the city of Glendale, it’s good to see well-designed and livable solutions to the region’s density issue, and the architects involved get exposure and credit for addressing the subject.

ALAN LOOMIS

Los Angeles