Retainer Given to Architect

Today is a big day! A retainer was given to Olympia Greer, our architect, to start work.

Architect Selection

After interviewing several people, we chose to go with Olympia Greer. We chose her because she has a great design sense and lives and works in Palos Verdes Estates.

The Permit & Construction Process

Before I get into the daily details, it would first be beneficial to tell you how the construction process works in Palos Verdes Estates. I found a great picture on their web site that is posted below. Basically, all construction needs to go through the Art Jury, part of the PVE Homes Association, and the the City's Planning Commission.

The first step is to get your drawings approved for aesthetics by the Art Jury. After their blessing, you can then go to the Planning Commission where they will weigh in on neighborhood compatibility, and listen to any neighbor's concerns. If there are concerns, you go before the Planning Commission and defend or compsomise on your position. The 5 members then vote to approve or deny your request for a permit. A majority of 3 members is required to grant approval.

Architect Selection Criteria

We had certain criteria that we wanted met when we started to interview for an architect. They are, not necessarily in this order:

• Must be local in case here are problems and we need to meet.
• Must be intimately familiar with the Palos Verdes Estates Art Jury and Planning Commission processes as the requirements and hoops to jump through are very complex for the novice.
• Must be able to understand what I want and run with it. I can describe only so much of the feel and expect the architect to elaborate on it and interject original ideas. For example, take a look at Olympia Greer's vision of a Craftsman staircase railing.