The 'heartbeat' of the city

This past decade has been a golden age of construction for civic centers in our area. Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village- three cities that were once slated to become a single, Las Virgenes entity- have defined their individual character and strength of purpose with the public buildings they've chosen to construct. The crown jewel in this picture is the new Civic Center that had its grand opening last weekend in Calabasas.

In 2001, Agoura Hills completed a modern, Craftsman style city hall and library that blended current architectural themes with a touch of the Old West. Westlake Village followed in 2002 by building a sleek government complex that promises to serve the city far into the 21st century. In January 2007, Calabasas broke ground on a stunning, $41-million civic hall, library and amphitheater to complete the triple play. When the Calabasas Civic Center opened last weekend, residents were impressed by the facility's beautiful architecture, top-notch materials and attention to energy conservation.

Positioned next to the popular Commons shopping center, the 7.7-acre project is linked by strolling paths and native plant gardens, and anchored by an attractive public plaza that will serve as the heartbeat of the city. The construction is brand new, but looks like it's been there a hundred years.

The placement of three libraries within such a short distance of each other had been criticized in the past. The Westlake Library seems small and underutilized- Agoura Hills a bit more relevant. But the new library in Calabasas carries more than 90,000 volumes and is so lush and comfortable you could spend a full day there. We're confident it will do a brisk business.

Paradise wasn't built overnight. Calabasas officials agonized for 10 years over how the new city hall and library should look. Plan changes, bidding delays and financial concerns kept the dream from become a reality. But once the final project was approved and construction got underway, the complex was completed on time and on budget, a rare feat in the public sector.

Congratulations to the city and all those employees who worked tirelessly to give Calabasas a true government center. The taxpayers have gotten their money's worth.