'It's not like I'm painting a tiger on my house': Sunset Square squabbles over its HPOZ rules

In 2017, Hollywood’s Sunset Square was named a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone, solidifying its place in L.A.’s architectural history. Four years later, Lady Gaga’s dogwalker was shot in the chest outside a vacant house in the middle of the neighborhood.A small contingent of Sunset Square residents insist the two events are tied together.A clash is brewing in the affluent enclave, where homes typically sell for $2 million or more. Critics of the HPOZ designation claim the rigorous permitting process is a burden, inviting crime as projects stall and houses stay vacant while mired in red tape. Supporters say the HPOZ is a necessary pain in the quest for preservation — the only thing stopping Sunset Square from turning into another flavorless suburb filled with box houses and McMansions. As a result of approvals and reviews that come with HPOZ designation, homes often sit empty for years without construction progress. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) Ultimately, it’s a microcosm of a larger battle playing out across Southern California as cities ask existential questions in an effort to solve the housing crunch. What’s worth keeping? What’s worth tearing down? And how do we bala...