Here is a place for discussion. We invite members-only to post about important and often sensitive topics and then we invite members-only to respond. Our Facebook group can be seen in a different light: there you might spot a coyote, ask for a recipe, complain about noise, or rapsodize about a sunset. Here we call for intelligent, informed, open, polite opinions on critical matters of safety, trust, value, and tranquillity in Hollywoodland. We begin with two opposing views of the sign itself.
OPEN LETTER FROM GREG WILLIAMS, owner business Real Estate in the Village
I am all for saving everything that is left of historic Hollywood. And the Hollywood sign isn’t one of them.The original sign read Hollywoodland and was known as the Hollywoodland sign. It was constructed to encourage homeowners to live in Hollywoodland beginning in 1923. It’s gone.
The Hollywoodland sign fell down so many times, they removed the “land” forever in 1949 and rebuilt only the “Hollywood”part. Ever since then, it has been attached and represents another area directly south of us. In 1973, this sign was declared a Los Angeles Cultural Monument. This sign is gone too.
In 1978 it was completely rebuilt on a new foundation. This sign has nothing original nor historic to it. It’s a billboard that sells a brand that is not associated with Hollywoodland. It represents the Hollywood to the south where much of the historic neighborhood has disappeared since 1986– especially around Highland and Vine. The sign represents this “new” Hollywood, our local Manahttan where no one can see the sign because of all the over-development. (Although I suppose if you move into one of the new luxury apartments you could pay for a great view of the sign.)
It makes more sense to move it where people may access and see it safely and more easily. Especially since it no longer represent the neighborhood it is destroying. Why not move it near a local subway stop? Visitors can even climb on it if they sign a release.
Then we could dedicate the hole it leaves on the hill to parkland for our precious wildlife.
ALTERNATIVE VIEW FROM NEW RESIDENT, Doran Ofir (reprinted from a post on Facebook)
Hi – I don’t want to start a whole thing but I just wanted to add my voice. There are a lot of posts regarding the sign and proclamations to move it. I love the sign – it’s why I moved here. It was the actual draw that brought me to the neighborhood. It was my childhood dream. A poster of the sign hung over my bed on the east coast. Today it’s outside my window. Maybe I’m the only one, but if it weren’t for the sign and the unique hollywoodland gate then this neighborhood becomes less unique, less special, less magical!! It becomes just the Hollywood Hills. I for one didn’t want to live on lookout mountain. I still don’t. I wish the sign was lit up at night till like 11pm. This neighborhood means dreamed fulfilled for me and millions of people worldwide equate the sign with their dreams. So many in this group seem to hate it and what comes with it. I for one embrace it. I wave at the tourists, I redirect them when lost, I’ve taken my share of photos for them. I’m proud to live here.