...was granted for this empty space -- once 850 N. Echo Park Avenue -- where for eight or nine decades stood a two-story apartment building the front of which faced Echo Park Lake.

Photo: Feb 27, 2007, by Martin Cox.

The empty space depicted above reminds me of a recurring ontological argument I have had with my toddler daughter. It goes something like this:

"Mommy, I want crackers."
Mommy says okay (of course) and goes to the appropriate cabinet to get some, except -- she forgot! -- there aren't any.
"I am sorry, darling, but we don't have crackers. Would you like triple-fudge-peanut-butter cookies instead?"
"I want crackers."
"Unfortunately, we don't have crackers."
"I want to see."
"What would you like to see?"
"Crackers."
"Well, you can't see them because they aren't there."
"I want to see!"
"There is nothing to see, darling."
"Let me see!"
"Okay, I will show you a place where there are no crackers."
Toddler is lifted to look into the black hole where her mother recently saw no crackers. She starts to cry.
"I want crackers!"

On a more serious note, I thought the Angelino Heights HPOZ, which has been extended, protected this bit of lake front. In the middle of active efforts to preserve buildings such as the one you don't see, poof! Gone. Fell into a timeline loophole, I suppose. As did the residents.