Oral Histories

Interview of Simon Eisner

Planning architect for the Los Angeles City Planning Department. Private consultant for Eisner and Associates and Eisner-Smith and Associates.
Subtitle:
Seven Decades of Planning and Development in the Los Angeles Region: Simon Eisner
Series:
Seven Decades of Planning and Development in the Los Angeles Region
Topic:
Urban Planning and Land Use
Politics and Government
Urban Planning
Biographical Note:
Planning architect for the Los Angeles City Planning Department. Private consultant for Eisner and Associates and Eisner-Smith and Associates.
Interviewer:
Holden, Edward A.
Interviewee:
Eisner, Simon
Persons Present:
Eisner, Holden, and occasionally Mrs. Eisner.
Place Conducted:
Eisner's home in Los Angeles, California.
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Interviewer Background and Preparation:
The interview was conducted by Edward A. Holden; M.S., Public Administration and CityPlanning, University of Southern California; Consultant in City and Regional Planning; Director of Planning, Southern California Association of Governments (retired); Principal Regional Planner, Los Angeles County (retired); Chairman, Board of Directors, Los Angeles Regional Planning History Group. Holden's early contact with Eisner produced acomprehensive resume of his work history, education, and early family activities. In addition to the resume, Holden consulted reports and documents prepared by Eisner.
Processing of Interview:
David Gist, editor, edited the interview. He checked the verbatim transcript of the interview against the original tape recordings, edited for punctuation, paragraphing, and spelling, and verified proper names. Words and phrases inserted by the editor have been bracketed.Eisner reviewed the transcript. He verified proper names and made minor corrections and additions.Teresa Barnett, senior editor, prepared the table of contents, biographical summary, and interview history.Steven J. Novak, editor, compiled the index.
Length:
4.8 hrs.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Regents of the University of California, UCLA Library.
Series Statement:
Interviews in this series were initiated by the Los Angeles Regional Planning History Group to ensure the preservation of recollections of pioneer planners in both the public and private sectors in the Los Angeles region.
Abstract:
Childhood in Los Angeles; attends Lincoln High School; attends University of California, Berkeley; works with the Los Angeles County Regional Planning Commission; planning parks; becomes planning architect for the Los Angeles City Planning Department; Los Angeles city planning projects; works on the planned Chávez Ravine housing project; Richard J. Neutra; Robert E. Alexander; consulting work with Harold F. Wise; teaches at Harvard University; the Los Angeles civic center; the development of freeways in Southern California; zoning controversy in Claremont; teaching planning at the University of Southern California; Eisner's book The Urban Pattern: City Planning and Design; Arthur B. Gallion; works on the Salt River-Pima Indian reservation; awards received; early planning consultants in California.