Here's the first article I've seen in which any reporter has done any digging into the story of the possible preservation of the Hanna-Barbera building at 3400 Cahuenga. It's certainly the first to reveal — assuming this is true — that the building is owned by the real estate developer, William McGregor. Mr. McGregor is talking about putting various kinds of malls and businesses up there, some of which would involve tearing down the structure wherein Dynomutt was birthed. The ownership is significant because if McGregor were assembling a proposal on behalf of other owners — say, Universal or some arm of Time-Warner — it would be a very different issue.
The news story however glosses over the fact that the first H-B shows — the ones that are most beloved and the ones which pioneered television animation — were done at another facility down on La Brea. The building on Cahuenga is not where Bill and Joe did the original Yogi Bear and Flintstones cartoons, as the article implies.
I sympathize with Mr. Barbera's desire to see the place survive and not be replaced by a big Public Storage complex. However, I still think the best answer would be for him to get Time-Warner to buy it — they certainly have divisions they could house there — and not make it a financial burden of the city.