From: thomas s. hines [hines@history.ucla.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 11:44 AM
To: Robinson, Delinda x5198
Cc: dale@lomgil.com; tridder@yahoo.com; jelomax@sbcglobal.net;
raymondneutra@gmail.com
Subject: NEUTRA'S CONNELL HOUSE

Dear Delinda Robinson: I am writing with dismay and with a sense of  
urgency of my concern that Richard Neutra's fine Connell house in  
Pebble Beach is in danger of being demolished. I wrote the first full  
study of Neutra and his work [RICHARD NEUTRA AND THE SEARCH FOR MODERN  
ARCHITECTURE, 1982/2005]and had the pleasure of visiting the house in  
the late 1970s. Then and now, I consider it an important work that  
needs protection, support, and appreciation. It is perplexing to me  
that people who could afford to buy such houses are not able to find  
another desirable property for demolition that is less historically  
significant. Though the house clearly needs work, it is very  
restorable and would continue to constitute another important work of  
architecture in your area. I STRONGLY disagree with the opinion of  
Sheila McElroy [whom the owner brought in to attempt to refute  
previous assessments of the building's importance] that the Connell  
house is of "marginal significance." Different observers may have  
differing opinions of which buildings of a great architect they  
PREFER, but at this point in time, I would argue that few, if any,  
Neutra buildings are of "marginal significance" any more than any  
building by Frank Lloyd Wright or any painting by Cezanne would be.  
Besides preserving such works as important regional cultural legacies,  
there is also the negative side to be considered, since any demolition  
of such a structure, will, I am CERTAIN, garner national and  
international publicity, such as the recent controversy over Neutra's  
Kronish House in Beverly Hills and Kraigher house in Brownsville,  
Texas. I hope you will check out those cases for examples of  
preservation movements that had a positive outcome. Since your region  
has recently suffered an international black eye over the selfish and  
short-sighted demolition by the otherwise visionary Steve Jobs of the  
important house by George Washington Smith, you can hardly afford  
another such debacle. I trust you and your office will do everything  
possible to save the Connell house for future owners to inhabit and  
for future generations to admire and learn from. Sincerely, Thomas S.  
Hines, UCLA Professor of History and Architecture, Emeritus


----------------------------------------------------------------
This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.