Preservation Issues
One of West Adams’ most visible landmarks has been gutted without permits and is pending an approval for conversion into multiple apartments – so many apartments that the owner/developer simply cannot build them without making major alterations to the historic exterior as well as completely demolishing all the character-defining interior features.
read more...West Adams preservation advocates enjoyed a very brief holiday break (very brief) before being back hard at work advocating to save historic resources throughout the Historic West Adams District. While WAHA makes every effort to designate resources, and avoid potential conflicts, there are times that require an emergency response. Currently WAHA is working to save the historic William T. Bishop Residence (see story, above) while also reviewing and responding to the draft West Adams-Baldwin Hills-Leimert New Community Plan, and evaluating the initial SurveyLA results for the West Adams District (see story, below).
In addition, WAHA is actively working on numerous other preservation advocacy efforts:
read more...Literally dozens of new (pocket) historic districts and individual potential landmarks in West Adams have been identified recently by SurveyLA, including many historic resources WAHA has known about for years -- and some that are surprises to us as well.
SurveyLA -- the Los Angeles Historic Resources Survey -- is Los Angeles’ first-ever comprehensive program to identify significant historic resources throughout our city. After a few test runs, the first phase of SurveyLA was launched several years ago with the goal of documenting Los Angeles’s previously unknown/unrecognized – at least, by city officials! – historic resources. Since then, SurveyLA teams have combed through the Community Plan areas of South Los Angeles, Southeast Los Angeles and West Adams- Baldwin Hills-Leimert – in other words, much of Historic West Adams – along with other parts of the city.
read more...The City’s Office of Historic Resources (OHR) has announced that Los Angeles has reached a major Preservation Milestone: Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1000 has been designated. The following article is reprinted from the OHR newsletter:
On June 1, 2011, the City of Los Angeles reached a significant milestone in its historic preservation program: the approval of City Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1000, the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance building at 1999 West Adams Boulevard in West Adams.
The Golden State Mutual Building is a very fitting recipient of this honor. Built in 1949, this six-story commercial building was designed in the Late Moderne style by architect Paul R. Williams (1894-1980). Williams was the first certified African American architect west of the Mississippi River, the first African American member of the American Institute of Architects, and also served on the first Los Angeles Planning Commission in 1920.
WAHA recently commented on a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for Washington Square , a mixed-use project proposed for a nearly 8-acre site at Washington Boulevard and 10th Avenue . As a historic preservation advocacy organization, WAHA routinely responds to land-use initiatives, particularly when projects such as Washington Square appear to be out of character with their surroundings and/or threaten historic resources.
read more...By Jim Robinson, President
WAHA members should be very proud of the role they played in persuading the Planning Commission to continue protecting monument interiors through the city's Cultural Heritage Ordinance.
Many WAHA members were among the dozens of preservationists who spoke at the commission's final hearing Thursday in the City Council Chamber, arguing that historic interiors can be just as important as exteriors sometimes more so.
Over the previous two months, WAHA members Rory Cunningham, Laura Meyers, Mitzi Mogul and David Rapoza joined me and other preservationists in a Working Group formed by the Planning Department that spent more than 12 hours trying to persuade some of the city's most powerful interests to withdraw their opposition.
Opponents at Thursday's commission hearing included the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, a consortium of film studios, and the Central City Association, representing hundreds of major businesses.
read more...Ken Bernstein of the City's Office of Historic Resources writes: The Department of City Planning is partnering with the Los Angeles Conservancy for the eighth straight year to organize this special event focused on the City's historic districts, the 24 HPOZs. The conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Angelica Lutheran Church, 1345 S. Burlington Ave., in the Pico Union HPOZ.
In the past, the conference has been largely a training session for HPOZ board members. But this year, we're seeking to build broader awareness and understanding of our HPOZ program by inviting any and all who are interested in historic preservation.
We'll be offering a stimulating day of workshops, tours, and networking, including:
● The first HPOZ Awards Luncheon, honoring outstanding projects within the city's 24 HPOZs.
● Pico Union Walking Tours, including the Alvarado Terrace National Register District
● A hands-on workshop on window repair
read more...By Jim Robinson
The debate on Los Angeles’ new historic preservation ordinance has been taking so long that, by the time a decision is made, the ordinance itself may qualify as historic. In June, the city's Planning Commission again postponed its vote on amendments that would protect L.A.'s historic-cultural monuments from demolition. The next meeting has been set for September.
The new protection is part of a package of proposed changes to the city’s Cultural Heritage Ordinance, the first significant overhaul of that legislation since it was passed by the City Council in 1982. Other changes would clarify criteria for historic designation and provide earlier notification to property owners. (For the complete ordinance, go to www.preservation.lacity.org.)
read more...MY HISTORIC L.A.: PRESERVING LOS ANGELES SurveyLA Kickoff Event Saturday, April 4, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Los Angeles Central Library, 630 West 5th St. (Downtown)
West Adams friends and neighbors are invited (urged!) to the citywide kickoff of SurveyLA, Los Angeles' first-ever comprehensive survey of its historic resources. Please join like-minded historic preservation advocates and share your knowledge of L.A.'s hidden gems -- historic and cultural sites in your neighborhood that may otherwise be overlooked. The survey marks a coming-of-age for Los Angeles' historic preservation movement, and will serve as a centerpiece for the City's first truly comprehensive preservation program.
read more...By Laura Meyers
Amending a decades-old historic preservation ordinance is not proving to be a smooth ride for city officials. After some vocal opposition by some owners of major historic properties, including the Biltmore Hotel, the Pacific Mutual Building and the Los Angeles Athletic Club, the previously scheduled public hearing on the matter has been deferred to May. The City Planning Commission's consideration of amendments to the Cultural Heritage Ordinance, originally scheduled for March 12, has been continued to the Commission's meeting of May 14. The City Cultural Heritage Commission voted on November 20, 2008 to recommend these amendments, which represent a significant overhaul of the City's historic preservation ordinance.
read more...