Parking structure does its job

Re “Built not to last -- yet still standing,” Column One, March 25

This “Erector set” parking lot at the corner of Olive and 1st streets (L.A. County Parking Lot 17) has been criticized as ugly and too utilitarian. That’s perhaps thought important to the ivory-tower set but seems silly to me and certainly to my Honda, which shows no concern for the aesthetics of where I park it.

A low-cost, reliable parking structure that can be erected and taken down and moved as needed is actually a beautiful concept. If it is to be replaced by an architectural gem, may I suggest that this structure be moved to the North Hollywood subway station, where parking is embarrassingly inadequate. For those commuters now unable to use public transportation because there isn’t enough parking, this Erector set parking structure would be declared positively gorgeous by some multiple of the added 1,062 spaces.

Harvey Barkan

Studio City