MINUTES

 

MEETING OF THE

LANDMARKS COMMISSION

 

 

 

 

Monday, June 11, 2001

City Council Chambers

7:00 p.m.

1685 Main Street, Room 213

 

1.   CALL TO ORDER         7:10 p.m.

 

2.   ROLL CALL:                  Present:                      Commissioner Genser

                                                                                    Commissioner Lehrer

                                                                                    Commissioner Page

                                                                                    Commissioner Posek

                                                                                    Commissioner Bolton          

                                                                                    Commissioner Alofsin

 

                                                Absent:                       Commissioner Schmidt

 

                                                Also Present:             Donna Jerex, Staff Liasion

                                                                                    Kimberly Christensen, Senior Planner

                                                                                    Arlene Johnson, Staff III

 

3.   REPORT FROM STAFF:

Donna Jerex, staff liaison, informed the Commission that she had resigned from the City and would be leaving at the end of the week.  She stated that Kimberly Christensen would temporarily take over the Landmark Commission meetings until the City finds a replacement.  She then turned the remainder of the meeting over to Ms. Christensen. 

 

Ms. Christensen stated that the Courtesy Review process regarding Demolition applications is being discussed with the City Attorney.  She also stated that staff has not come up with a resolution of the issue as it will probably require amending the landmark regulations.  She stated that it may take a while longer before implementing.

 

Chair Pro Tem Bolton mentioned that the City of Malibu has a similar application process that the City of Santa Monica may be interested in looking at.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.   APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

      Public Input Permitted

     

      A.  May 14, 2001

 

Commissioner Genser moved to approve the minutes.  Commissioner Page seconded and the motion passed by voice vote with Commissioner Lehrer abstaining.

 

5.   CONSENT CALENDAR:

      Public Input Permitted

 

A.     Findings and Determination:  Landmark Designation Application for a structure located at 1333 Ocean Avenue.

 

Commissioner Bolton moved to approve the findings and determination.  Commissioner Genser seconded, and the motion passed unanimously by the following vote:

 

      Ayes:        Genser, Page, Posek, Bolton, Alofsin,

      Nayes:      None

      Abstain:    Lehrer

      Absent:     Schmidt

 

Commissioner Posek mentioned that since the property was designated a landmark, the siding was torn off the front of the home. 

 

Staff stated that city enforcement is involved and a stop work order was placed on the property.  The building is also being monitored to ensure that no further work is done.  She also stated that staff has scheduled the meeting for the landmark appeal which will be going to City Council on June 26, 2001.

 

6.   DISCUSSION ITEMS:

      Public Input Permitted

 

A.     Demolition Permits

 

1.         2263 28th Street (PC011742)

            R2/Low Density Multiple Residential

            Back unit; Guest House

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

2.         420 Alta Ave (PC011637)

            R1/Single Family Residential

1 Story, Single Family w/detached garage

            Structure Identified in Historic Resources Inventory (5D)

Chairperson Alofsin objected to the demolition.  She stated that the house has some merit.

 

Commissioner Posek stated that the house does have merit, even though there have been some alterations.

 

Commissioner Page didn’t have a problem with the demolition.  He stated that because of the alterations, it doesn’t have the appeal as when it was originally built.

 

Commissioner Lehrer stated the structure has been compromised a lot by alterations.  She stated it has some nice historic detailing, however in totality, she feels it doesn’t have much merit. 

 

Commissioner Genser stated he would like to investigate further and not dismiss it at this point.

 

Chair Pro Tem Bolton stated that the alterations make the structure ambiguous and it is not worth saving.

 

No action was taken on this property.

 

3.            1027 Pearl Street (PC011684)

R2/Low Density Multiple Residential

Duplex in front, Single Family Apt. in rear w/ detached Garage

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

4.            1443 12th Street (PC011831)

R3/Medium Density Multiple Family

1 Vacant Wood House; 2 Vacant Guesthouses

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

            5.         1024 Yale Street (PC011817)

            R1/Single Family Residential

            Single Family Residence w/detached Garage

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

6.         522 17th Street (PC011802)

            R1 Single Family Residential

            Single Family Residence w/detached Garage

            Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

           

 

 

7.         1020 Pine Street (PC011797)

            R1/Single Family Residential

Single Family Residence w/detached Garage

Structure Not Identified in Historic Resources Inventory

 

      B.     Civic Auditorium

Presentation by City Staff regarding Civic Center Planning Process.

 

Andy Agle gave a presentation on the Civic Center process.  He spoke on various issues regarding the Civic Center area and the Civic Center Plan.

 

Commissioner Page stated he doesn’t understand the parking revenue issue when the City has an opportunity to use the Civic Auditorium for weekend parking.  Stated he doesn’t see the Civic Center Auditorium as part of the study of the Civic Center Plan.  He is concerned about the Auditorium being torn down.

 

Commissioner Genser stated he feels very strongly about preserving the Civic Auditorium.  He feels it is a cultural landmark.

 

Commissioner Lehrer stated that the Civic Auditorium is one of the supreme cultural icons of the City.  It is an anchor building for the city’s history and presence and is possibly eligible for the National Register.  She stated that there is probably a lot of community interest in the building and she supported the master plan because there was no threat to this building.  She stated the activities that take place there are very interesting and diverse, and draw regional and local crowds.  Financially, it probably holds its own.

 

Commissioner Bolton stated the building should be brought up to the year 2000 standards to be competitive like the Staples Center, and that the integrity of the front façade should be preserved.

 

Jerry Rubin, Member of the Public, stated that the Landmarks Commission should start the process now for landmark designation of the Civic Center.  He stated that the Civic Center is the best benefit concert facility ever. 

 

Alan Lieb, L.A. Conservancy / L.A. Modernism Committee, stated that this is an incredibly significant structure that should be preserved in its current condition.  He also stated that it is an incredible example of futuristic modernism by a significant architect.  He cannot think of another building in the city more worthy of a landmark designation.

 

Commissioner Genser moved to file a designation application, which he later withdrew for better clarification. 

 

Commissioner Lehrer moved that the Commission has the intention of recommending filing the application to designate this structure a historic landmark, and will draft a letter to be brought forward at the July 2nd meeting of the Civic Center working group explaining the value they see in the building and at the proper time they will take the final action to initiate those proceeding.  Commissioner Genser seconded and the motion passed unanimously by the following vote:

 

Ayes:           Genser, Lehrer, Page, Posek, Bolton, Alofsin

Nayes:         None

Absent:        Schmidt

 

      C.     Discussion of potential La Mesa Drive Historic District.

 

Barbara Schnitzler, Member of the Public stated she is proposing the creation of a historic district involving six John Byers homes as a thematic district, including her own house.  She stated that the La Mesa homes are very marketable and restricting redesign of the front façade will not affect their desirability.  She believes that landmark status will add to the prestige of these properties. 

 

James Meyer, Member of the Public, stated he is a 26 year resident and feels that the area is not a district because the homes are discontinuous.  Stated his property has had 4 major revisions; the previous owners destroyed all of the original plans in the bedroom and he created a modern kitchen.  The façade is similar to the original, however, the interior is significantly different.  He feels the designation would place a major impediment on the ability to sell the house.

 

Commissioner Page stated that creating a district won’t take away from the property.

 

Commissioner Lehrer concurred with Commissioner Page.  She stated the homes are very beautiful and are worth preserving.  However, they should begin with a single designation.

 

Commissioner Genser suggested a community meeting to discuss historic designations and the benefits of it.

 

Commissioner Bolton moved to notify the neighbors and have a community meeting.  Commissioner Lehrer seconded and the motion passed by voice vote.

 

      D.     Status Report from Commissioner Genser regarding Stanton MacDonald-Wright mural currently in storage at the Smithsonian.

 

Spoke with the City librarian regarding the liaison status and the City Manager.  The staff report written by the City librarian gives a summary of the history of the mural. 

 

E.     Status Report from Commissioner Genser regarding Neighborhood Support                  Center meeting held June 2, 2001.

     

Commissioner Genser stated he met with the neighborhood organizations on June 2nd.  Most of them don’t know what it means to have a property designated a landmark.  They don’t know what the advantages or disadvantages are.  Requested staff to come back within 60 days with information that could be given to these neighborhood groups.

 

The Staff Liaison explained to the Commission that due to the shortage of staff, 60 days to research this issue might not be possible at this time.  Staff agreed on a tentative 90 days to come up with a one-page document for the Commission to review.

 

      F.      Planning Commission Case List (Information Only)

 

7.      COMMUNICATIONS: 

 

            A.        Handout from Doris Sosin/North of Montana Neighborhood Association Regarding formation of Santa Monica Conservancy.  “Concerned About the Old Homes and Buildings Being Torn Down all Over Santa Monica?”

 

            Chair Alofsin requested that this item be deferred to next month’s agenda and the Commission will review at that time.

 

8.      FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Status Report on property at 401 Montana Avenue

 

9.      NEXT MEETING DATE AND COMMISSION AGENDA: Monday, July 9, 2001

 

10.    PUBLIC INPUT:  No members of the public were available to comment.

 

11.    ADJOURNMENT: The meeting adjourned at 9:40 p.m.

 

 

            Attest                                                                         Approved

 

__________________________                          _________________________

Secretary                                                                  Chair