Department of City Planning Recommendation Report
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DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING RECOMMENDATION REPORT Cultural Heritage Commission Case No.: CPC-2014-514-HPOZ CEQA No.: ENV-2014-515-CE Date: June 18, 2015 Council No.: 9-Price Time: 10:00 a.m. Plan Areas: Southeast Los Angeles Place: City Hall, Room 1010 Certified NC: South Central 200 N. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 GPLU: Low Medium I Residential, Public Low Medium II Residential, Hearing: April 3, 2014 Medium Residential, General Commercial Zone: R2-1, RD1.5-1, RD2-1, R3- 1, C2-1VL City of Los Angeles Applicant: PROJECT Properties bounded by East 27th Street to the north; South Central Avenue to the east; East LOCATION: 29th Street to the south, and Griffith Avenue to the west. PROPOSED Certification of the 27th and 28th Streets Historic Resources Survey, establishment of the 27th PROJECT: and 28th Streets Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) and adoption of the 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ Preservation Plan. REQUESTED 1) Certify the Historic Resources Survey, with the recommended changes, as to its accuracy ACTION: and completeness; 2) Recommend that the City Planning Commission approve the establishment of the boundaries for the proposed 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ; 3) Recommend that the City Planning Commission adopt the 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ Preservation Plan; 4) Find that the structures, landscaping and natural features within the proposed 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ meet one or more of the following criteria: • add to the historic architectural qualities or historic associations for which a property is significant because it was present during the period of significance, and possesses historic integrity reflecting its character at that time; or • owing to its unique location or singular physical characteristics, represents an established feature of the neighborhood, community or city; or • retaining the building, structure, landscaping, or natural feature, would contribute to the preservation and protection of an historic place or area of historic interest in the city. 5) Find that the project is categorically exempt under the State CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Section 15308, Class 8 and Article 19, Section 15331, Class 31. MICHAEL J. LOGRANDE Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, AICP, Michelle Levy, Prepared by: Manager, Office of Historic City Planner Shannon Ryan, Resources City Planning Associate (213) 978-1192 PROJECT ANALYSIS Background The proposed 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ is a residential district located in southeast Los Angeles that consists of single and multi-family residences primarily built between 1893 and 1912. The district features excellent examples of late 19th century architectural styles including Victorian Queen Anne, Transitional Arts and Crafts, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Foursquare, and Spanish Revival. The majority of buildings retain their historic design and features representative of their architectural style and period of development. The buildings have retained integrity in design and materials, in large part as a testament to their quality, craftsmanship, and maintenance. The district is also significant for its association with African American history in Los Angeles. The district is part of a larger area along South Central Avenue that served as the center of the black community in Los Angeles between 1926 and 1958. The proposed HPOZ includes several sites associated with African Americans, including Historic-Cultural Monument #851, the former 28th Street Y.M.C.A. building designed by prominent African American architect Paul Revere Williams in 1926 that was founded by and for African Americans. Former City Councilmember Jan Perry introduced a Council Motion on September 23, 2008 (CF 08-2551) that instructed the Department of City Planning to develop an HPOZ for the area as a way to protect its historic resources. That same year, a select number of properties within the proposed HPOZ boundary were nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, the 35 parcels were listed on the National Register. The HPOZ boundaries are larger than the National Register boundaries and include 66 parcels. Project Summary Adoption of the proposed 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ would place the properties on 27th Street and 28th Street between Griffith and Central Avenues and on 29th Street between Paloma and Central Avenue, under the regulations of Los Angeles Municipal Code (LAMC) Section 12.20.3, the HPOZ Ordinance. Adoption of the HPOZ includes the certification of a Historic Resources Survey and boundaries, and adoption of a Preservation Plan to accompany the ordinance. 27th and 28th Streets Historic Resources Survey LAMC Section 12.20.3, the HPOZ Ordinance, requires that a Historic Resources Survey be prepared as part of the HPOZ establishment process. A Historic Resources Survey (Survey) determines the eligibility of an HPOZ and delineates its boundaries with a Survey Map. It also includes a Historic Context Statement that identifies a Period of Significance for the HPOZ and relates the history of the area by theme, place, and time. The Cultural Heritage Commission is responsible for certifying the Survey as to its accuracy and completeness. The Survey also identifies all potential Contributing and Non-Contributing Elements in the proposed zone. Contributing and Altered Contributing Structures date from the HPOZ’s Period of Significance and retain a high level of architectural integrity with some reversible alterations. Non-Contributing Structures include properties that date from the HPOZ’s Period of Significance, but have irreversible alterations, are structures built outside of the Period of Significance, or are vacant lots. In January 2008, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA/LA) commissioned consultants Christopher A. Joseph & Associates (CAJA) to prepare a National Register of Historic Places CPC-2014-514-HPOZ Page 2 of 10 Multiple Property Documentation Form for Historic Resources Associated with African Americans in Los Angeles. The Survey was conducted between June 2008 and January 2009 by qualified architectural historians at CAJA. Department of City Planning staff has field checked and recommended updates to the survey as necessary. The recommendations are listed in the Analysis section below. Based on the findings of the survey, a National Register District was established in the subject area in 2009. The district was established in the context of African American Settlement Patterns in Los Angeles and in the context of Late 19th Century Residential Architecture. The National Register survey data was then used to create the 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ Historic Resources Survey. The boundaries established by the National Register District were expanded for the HPOZ in order to capture additional properties and create a more comprehensive overlay. Please note that when comparing the number of National Register identified resources and the HPOZ identified resources there is a discrepancy because the methodologies in identification are different. The National Register District identifies resources by building, while the HPOZ identifies resources by entire parcel. The 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ Historic Resources Survey prepared by the consultants is comprised of 52 parcels of which 39 were identified as Contributing (75%) and 13 (25%) as Non-Contributing. Of the 39 Contributors, eight were given the status of Altered Contributors due to minor, reversible alterations that were identified at the properties. Based on feedback from the community and additional staff review from site visits, Department of City Planning staff recommends reclassification of two properties from Non-Contributor to Altered Contributor status. The boundaries proposed by the consultant ended mid-block. Staff recommends expanding the boundaries to include six additional parcels on 28th Street as well as nine parcels on the north side on East 29th Street between South Central Avenue and Paloma Street. Fourteen (14) parcels in total would be added to the district. The recommended changes are explained in the Analysis section below. The Survey identified the architectural Period of Significance to be from 1893 to 1912, the time when most of the contributing buildings were constructed. A second Period of Significance related to cultural patterns has been identified between 1930 and 1958 and is representative of the time when African Americans represented the majority of residents in the neighborhood. The Historic Context Statement goes into detail about the settlement of the area, the integrity of the architecture, and the cultural significance of its African American population. The Historic Context Statement can be found in Exhibit B, attached. 27th and 28th Streets HPOZ Preservation Plan Though not required concurrently for the establishment of an HPOZ district under LAMC 12.20.3.F, Department of City Planning staff proposes simultaneous adoption of a Preservation Plan with the proposed HPOZ district. Having a Preservation Plan in place at the time the HPOZ goes into effect provides for a much more efficient implementation of the HPOZ because the Preservation Plan provides clear guidelines, sets expectations for high quality design, and applies review procedures equitably and consistently to all affected properties. The Preservation Plan is used by the Director, Board, property owners and residents in the application of preservation principles within a Preservation Zone. The Plan is the guiding