DOCSLIB.ORG

Los Angeles City Planning Department

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Los Angeles City Planning Department 2103 S. COLBY RESIDENCE 2103-2107 S. Colby Avenue CHC-2016-373-HCM ENV-2016-374-CE Agenda packet includes 1. Final Staff Recommendation Report 2. Categorical Exemption 3. Under Consideration Staff Recommendation Report 4. Nomination 5. Letter from Property Owner 6. Draft Assessment Provided by Consultant for Property Owner Please click on each document to be directly taken to the corresponding page of the PDF. Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION CASE NO.: CHC-2016-373-HCM ENV-2016-374-CE HEARING DATE: April 21, 2016 Location: 2103 -2107 S. Colby Avenue TIME: 9:00 AM Council District: 11 PLACE : City Hall, Room 1010 Community Plan Area: West Los Angeles 200 N. Spring Street Area Planning Commission: West Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA 90012 Neighborhood Council: West Los Angeles EXPIRATION DATE: May 3, 2016 Legal Description: TR 6238, Lot 1 and 2 PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the 2103 S. COLBY AVENUE RESIDENCE REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument OWNER(S): Kathryn and Robert Nakamura 32502 Campo Dr. Temecula, CA 92592 APPLICANT: Stephen Woodward 2735 Westwood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90064 PREPARER: Margarita Jerabek, Ph.D., PCR Services 201 Santa Monica Blvd. Ste. 500 Santa Monica, CA 90401 RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Declare the subject property a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.7. 2. Adopt the staff report and findings. VINCENT P. BERTONI, AICP Director of PlanningN1907 [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, AICP, Manager Lambert M. Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Office of Historic Resources [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Shannon Ryan, City Planning Associate Office of Historic Resources Attachments: Historic-Cultural Monument Application CHC-2016-373-HCM 2103 S. Colby Avenue Residence Page 2 of 4 FINDINGS The 2103 S. Colby Residence reflects “the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community” as an example of early residential development associated with pre-consolidation Sawtelle and represents the earliest pattern of development in the area. The 2103 S. Colby Residence "embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural-type specimen, inherently valuable for study of a period, style or method of construction” as an example of a Folk Victorian residence. CRITERIA The criterion is the Cultural Heritage Ordinance which defines a historical or cultural monument as any site (including significant trees or other plant life located thereon) building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles, such as historic structures or sites in which the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community is reflected or exemplified, or which are identified with historic personages or with important events in the main currents of national, State or local history or which embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction, or a notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influenced his age. SUMMARY The 2103 S. Colby Residence is a Folk Victorian house located in the portion of West Los Angeles that was originally the City of Sawtelle. Directly adjacent to the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, also known as the Old Soldier’s Home (now the Veteran’s Administration Hospital) the City of Sawtelle benefitted from its proximity to the campus that drew many tourists and locals to the area. The City also had an agricultural industry and was easily accessible via an interurban rail line on Santa Monica Boulevard that connected it to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood. As residential development expanded in Sawtelle in the 1910s, less intensive agricultural uses such as nurseries and vegetable farms became popular. These businesses attracted many Japanese immigrants and Japanese-Americans to the area and became a point of entry for the Japanese-American community. By the 1920s, a large Japanese commercial district was established on Sawtelle Boulevard and today it is still known as Little Osaka. The 2103 S. Colby Residence is one of few intact houses that remains from the period of pre- consolidated Sawtelle (1896-1922), which was annexed to Los Angeles in 1922. The house sits on the north portion of a large double lot on the southwest corner of Colby and Mississippi Avenues. Noble H. Snyder bought the lots in 1906 from Robert F. Jones and R.E. Gillis of the Pacific Land Company. Research conducted by the applicant suggests that Snyder may have also been the builder of the house and that the house contains such craftsmanship and wood work because Snyder was a carpenter. Likely built around 1906 based on when Snyder purchased the lots (though the County Assessor’s Office dates the construction to 1908), the house is remarkably intact from the exterior and reflects the period of its original development. The house is one and a half stories CHC-2016-373-HCM 2103 S. Colby Avenue Residence Page 3 of 4 in height with a rectangular plan and a front facing gable roof with gable porch. It is clad in clapboard siding and has diamond cut shingles in the attic portion of the gable. Other decorative elements include exposed rafter tails, S-curve wooden brackets, ornamented bargeboards, and fixed picture windows with diamond patterned leaded transoms. Small alterations have been made to a few windows and the rear porch has been enclosed. The condition of the interior is unknown and was not made available to tour. The survey of the West Los Angeles Community Plan Area for SurveyLA, the citywide historic resources survey, found the subject property eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, the California Register of Historical Places, and eligible for designation as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument under the context of Pre-Consolidation Communities of Los Angeles, 1850-1932. The house is an excellent and intact example of early residential development associated with pre-consolidation Sawtelle that represents the earliest pattern of development in the area. DISCUSSION The 2103 S. Colby Residence successfully meets two criteria of the Cultural Heritage Ordinance. The property “reflects the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community” as an example of early residential development associated with pre- consolidation Sawtelle. Built circa 1906, it is one of the few extant and intact houses built when Sawtelle was its own city (1896-1922) and it represents the earliest pattern of development in the area. The 2103 S. Colby Residence also "embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural-type specimen, inherently valuable for study of a period, style or method of construction” as an example of a Folk Victorian residence. Remarkably intact, given its age, the house retains many character-defining features of the Folk Victorian style. These include the decorative millwork in the brackets and bargeboards, the gabled roof and gabled front porch, the clapboard siding and diamond shingle detailing, and decorative leaded glass windows. CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (“CEQA”) FINDINGS State of California CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Section 15308, Class 8 “consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.” State of California CEQA Guidelines Article 19, Section 15331, Class 31 “consists of projects limited to maintenance, repair, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, conservation or reconstruction of historical resources in a manner consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic buildings.” The designation of the 2103 S. Colby Residence as a Historic-Cultural Monument in accordance with Chapter 9, Article 1, of The City of Los Angeles Administrative Code (“LAAC”) will ensure that future construction activities involving the subject property are regulated in accordance with Section 22.171.14 of the LAAC. The purpose of the designation is to prevent significant impacts to a Historic-Cultural Monument through the application of the standards set forth in the LAAC. CHC-2016-373-HCM 2103 S. Colby Avenue Residence Page 4 of 4 Without the regulation imposed by way of the pending designation, the historic significance and integrity of the subject property could be lost through incompatible alterations and new construction and the demolition of an irreplaceable historic site/open space. The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation are expressly incorporated into the LAAC and provide standards concerning the historically appropriate construction activities which will ensure the continued preservation of the subject property. The use of Categorical Exemption Class 8 in connection with the proposed designation is consistent with the goals of maintaining, restoring, enhancing, and protecting the environment through the imposition of regulations designed to prevent the degradation of Historic-Cultural
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ca.Fta-Va.Westside Purple Line Subway Extension Project.Moa.1St
    AMENDMENT TO THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER REGARDING THE LOS ANGELES WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Agreement between the Federal Transit Administration and the California State Historic Preservation Officer regarding the Los Angeles Westside Subway Extension Project, Los Angeles, California (original MOA) for the Los Angeles Westside Subway Extension Project (Undertaking), currently known as the Westside Purple Line Extension, was executed on March 7, 2012; and WHEREAS, the Undertaking comprises Sections 1, 2, and 3; and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) held a groundbreaking ceremony on November 7, 2014, for Section 1 of the Undertaking, which is a 3.92-mile section from the existing Wilshire/Western Station to Wilshire/La Cienega with three new stations: Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega; and held a groundbreaking ceremony on February 23, 2018, for Section 2 of the Undertaking, which is a 2.59-mile section from Wilshire/La Cienega to Century City with two new stations: Wilshire/Rodeo and Century City/Constellation; and WHEREAS, Section 3 of the Undertaking is a 2.56-mile section from Century City to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) West Los Angeles (WLA) Campus of the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS) with two new stations: Westwood/UCLA and Westwood/VA
    [Show full text]
  • Adaptive Reuse
    Curating the City: Wilshire Blvd. Lesson 9: Adaptive Reuse What You Need to Know: Grade Level: All Levels Curriculum Connections: English—Language Arts Kids’ Guide Correlation: Use this lesson in conjunction with pages 16-17 and 19 of the Guide. As students explore Johnie’s Coffee Shop on Miracle Mile and the Wadsworth Chapel at the Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles, use this activity to help students understand the issues and possibilities surrounding adaptive reuse. You can modify this activity by having students consider adaptive reuse options for other buildings in your own community. Website Correlation: Go to laconservancy.org/wilshire. Under “Explore Wilshire Blvd.,” use the keyword search to find the pages for Johnie’s Coffee Shop and Wadsworth Chapel for photos and background information. You can also search for these additional examples of adaptive reuse: Pegasus (formerly General Petroleum), Bullocks Wilshire/Southwestern Law School, and May Co./LACMA West. Focus Questions: What is adaptive reuse and how does it serve as a tool of preservation? What are the benefits of adaptive reuse? How can people adaptively reuse historic buildings in a way that best serves the surrounding community? Expected Learning Students will be able to define adaptive reuse as an important element of Outcomes: historic preservation. Students will be able to describe the benefits of adaptive reuse. Students will be able to suggest ways to adaptively reuse buildings that are sensitive to the needs of the surrounding community. Assessment: Write a proposal suggesting an appropriate adaptive reuse of Johnie’s Coffee Shop or Wadsworth Chapel. Essential Vocabulary: Adaptive reuse Materials: Lesson 9 worksheet Poster paper Paper Colored pencils and markers Pencils Lesson 9: Adaptive Reuse Page 1 of 6 Procedure Motivation: Write the phrase adaptive reuse on the board.
    [Show full text]
  • Ca.Fta-Va.Westside Purple Line Subway Extension Project.Moa.2Nd
    SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION AND THE CALIFORNIA STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER REGARDING THE LOS ANGELES WESTSIDE SUBWAY EXTENSION PROJECT, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA WHEREAS, the Memorandum of Agreement between the Federal Transit Administration and the California State Historic Preservation Officer regarding the Los Angeles Westside Subway Extension Project, Los Angeles County, California (original MOA) for the Los Angeles Westside Subway Extension Project (Undertaking), currently known as the Westside Purple Line Extension, was executed on March 7, 2012; and WHEREAS, the Undertaking comprises Sections 1, 2, and 3; and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) held a groundbreaking ceremony on November 7, 2014, for Section 1 of the Undertaking, which is a 3.92-mile section from the existing Wilshire/Western Station to Wilshire/La Cienega that is currently under construction and expected to be completed in 2023 with three new stations: Wilshire/La Brea, Wilshire/Fairfax, and Wilshire/La Cienega; and held a groundbreaking ceremony on February 23, 2018, for Section 2 of the Undertaking, which is a 2.59-mile section from Wilshire/La Cienega to Century City Wilshire/Rodeo and Century City/Constellation; and Section 3 is a 2.56-mile section from Century City to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) West Los Angeles (WLA) Campus of the Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System (GLAHS), which began
    [Show full text]
  • Wilshire Boulevard!
    CURATING THE CITY: WILSHIRE BLVD. KIDS’ GUIDE 2 5 2 2 6 1 COLOR BY NUMBERS 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 2 5 8 11 14 17 20 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 About the Los Angeles Conservancy About This Guide The Los Angeles Conservancy is a private nonprofit This Kids’ Guide to Wilshire Boulevard is part of a new membership organization that works through education educational initiative of the Los Angeles Conservancy, and advocacy to recognize, preserve, and revitalize the Curating the City. This program treats the city as a historic architectural and cultural resources of Los living museum, presenting a fresh framework for seeing Angeles County. Formed in 1978 as part of the effort to L.A.’s architectural and cultural heritage in new ways. save the Los Angeles Central Library from demolition, This pilot program encourages you to take a the Conservancy is now the largest local historic new look at one important aspect of Los Angeles – the preservation group in the United States, with more than great Wilshire Boulevard – by touring the boulevard 8,000 members. For more information, visit with this booklet in hand, attending cultural events www.laconservancy.org. along the way, and using new resources such as this guide and a website devoted solely to this project. Visit www.curatingthecity.org to learn about the people, architects, and buildings that made Wilshire the great boulevard it is today. You can also create your own customized tour, browse through photo galleries, read personal stories and contribute your own, and find more educational activities for kids and teachers.
    [Show full text]
  • YEAR 15: Socially Distanced Wilshire MILE 1 Union Ave
    #glaw The Great Los Angeles Walk 2020 Follow @greatlawalk on Twitter to keep up with where we are! Check out www.greatlawalk.com for recaps, and folow the Great LA Walk Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/greatlawalk YEAR 15: Socially Distanced Wilshire MILE 1 Union Ave. MILE 9 Linden Dr. Stay on left -- No sidewalk on right side at country club) MILE 2 Commonwealth Ave. (Lafayette Park) MILE 10 Comstock Ave. MILE 3 Kingsley Dr. MILE 11 Selby Ave. MILE 4 Crenshaw Blvd. (Warning: Sidewalks get tricky around the busy 405 and Veteran’s Affairs area. Stay safe.) MILE 5 Highland Ave. MILE 12 405 Freeway MILE 6 Curson Ave. (La Brea Tar Pits) MILE 13 Bundy Dr. MILE 7 San Vicente Blvd. (Beverly Hills City Limits) MILE 14 26th St. (Douglas Park/Santa Monica City Limits) MILE 8 Doheny Dr. MILE 15 12th St. MILE 15.8 (END) Ocean Ave. YOU ARE WALKING ON YOUR OWN ACCORD. THE GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU OR YOUR ACTIONS ON THE WALK. BE SAFE AND BE SMART! ABOUT THE GREAT LOS ANGELES WALK L.A. journalist and blogger Michael Schneider launched the Great Los Angeles Walk in 2006 as a way to celebrate his tenth year in Los Angeles. Inspired by the book “Wilshire Boulevard,” by Kevin Roderick, he decided to walk the street’s entire length. In 2007, for an encore, he chose another downtown-to-the-ocean route: Pico Boulevard, followed by Santa Monica Blvd. in 2008. In 2009, the event kicked off in the historic West Adams district and walked to Venice Beach via Adams and Washington.
    [Show full text]
  • Draft Environmental Impact Report
    Architectural Resources Technical Report for the Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit Project Los Angeles, California Prepared for: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority 1 Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012 Prepared by: ICF International 811 West 7th Street, Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 627-5376 April 2010 This document should be cited as: I C F International . 2010. Architectural Resources Technical Report for the Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit Project. Los Angeles, CA. April. (ICF International 00629.08.) Prepared for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Los Angeles, CA. Table of Contents SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................1 Project Overview .................................................................................................................1 Project Description...............................................................................................................1 Findings................................................................................................................................2 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................3 City and County of Los Angeles Project Components ........................................................3 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act ........................................................5 California Environmental
    [Show full text]
  • D5. the Master Plan
    D5. The Master Plan Site Analysis Existing Building Inventory Vacant Shared a. These are buildings that are primarily unoccupied for a. These are buildings that are primarily utilized by various reasons. program elements that belong to entities outside of b. Square footage total – 176,304,386 ft² the VA system, usually through a sharing agreement. However, the Master Plan is based on direction c. Location from the VA to assume that the campus will not be 1. Building 013 (primary designation) encumbered by any existing land use agreements. 2. Building 020 (primary designation) b. Square footage total – 250,216 ft² 3. Building 066 (primary designation) c. Location 4. Building 111 (primary designation) 1. Building 114 5. Building 156 (primary designation) 2. Building 116 (primary designation) 6. Building 157 (primary designation) 3. Building 207 (primary designation) 7. Building 158 (primary designation) 4. Building 211 (primary designation) 8. Building 199 (primary designation) 5. Building 212 (primary designation) 9. Building 205 (primary designation) 6. Building 220 10. Building 208 7. Building 224 (primary designation) 11. Building 212 8. Building 226 (primary designation) 12. Building 258 9. Building 257 (primary designation) 13. Building 264 (primary designation) 10. Building 258 11. Building 264 12. Building 301 (primary designation) 13. Building 306 14. Building 336 (primary designation) 15. Building 339 (primary designation) 16. Building 506 (primary designation) 17. American Red Cross (primary designation) Building 156 Building 258 174 October 15th 2015 Planning a Community for Veterans A B C DD E F Figure D.11 Existing Buildings G Planning a Community for Veterans October 15h 2015 175 D5.
    [Show full text]
  • Wilshire BRT Final EIR/EA
    Architectural Resources Technical Report for the Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit Project Los Angeles, California Prepared for: Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority 1 Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012 Prepared by: ICF International 811 West 7th Street, Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90017 (213) 627-5376 April 2010March 2011 This document should be cited as: ICF International. 20102011. Architectural Resources Technical Report for the Wilshire Bus Rapid Transit Project. Los Angeles, CA. April. (ICF International 00629.08.) Prepared for the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Los Angeles, CA. Table of Contents SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................................1 Project Overview .................................................................................................................1 Project Description ...............................................................................................................1 Findings................................................................................................................................2 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................................3 City and County of Los Angeles Project Components ........................................................3 Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act ......................................................56 California
    [Show full text]
  • IV. Existing Conditions and Site Analysis IV
    GLA VA Campus Draft Master Plan Section IV. Existing Conditions and Site Analysis IV. Existing Conditions and Site Analysis Contents IV. Existing Conditions and Site Analysis ............................................................................... IV.1 A. Historic Growth Patterns ................................................................................................ IV.3 B. Regional Context ............................................................................................................ IV.6 Connection of GLA Campus with Satellite Sites .............................................................. IV.6 Surrounding Roads & Access Points ............................................................................... IV.8 Transit & Proximity .......................................................................................................... IV.8 Public Transportation ...................................................................................................... IV.8 Surrounding Neighborhoods and Land Uses ................................................................. IV.10 C. Site Analysis ................................................................................................................ IV.12 Introduction ................................................................................................................... IV.12 Site Definition ................................................................................................................ IV.12 Existing Infrastructure
    [Show full text]
  • Westside Subway Extension Historic Properties Supplemental Survey Report
    State of California The Resources Agency Primary #_19-187308 Update__also 19-173043 DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI #__________________________________ BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD Page 2 of 2 *NRHP Status Code 2D, 3S, 3CS *Resource Name or # Wadsworth Theater, Veterans Administration Medical Center – Los Angeles Historic District B1. Historic Name: Wadsworth Veterans Theater B2. Common Name: Wadsworth Theater B3. Original Use: Theater B4. Present Use: Theater *B5. Architectural Style: Spanish Colonial Revival *B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations) The building was constructed in 1940 according to the district nomination. Based on observation, there have been no major alterations or additions. *B7. Moved? X No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location:____________ *B8. Related Features: N/A B9a. Architect: Unknown b. Builder: Unknown *B10. Significance: Theme Government and Architecture Area Los Angeles, Los Angeles County Period of Significance 1940 Property Type Theater Applicable Criteria NRHP Criterion A and C/CRHR Criterion 1 and 3 Wadsworth Theater has previously been determined eligible for listing in the NRHP as a contributor to the NRHP-eligible Veterans Administration Medical Center Historic District under Criteria A and C (1981). The Wadsworth Veterans Theater (Building #226) is significant for its associated with the federal government’s development of veterans’ health care and for its architectural styling.. B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and
    [Show full text]
  • Westside Draft EIS/EIR Chapter 4
    4.13 Parklands and Community Services and Facilities Parklands are protected under Federal and State regulations. Similarly, actions affecting community services and facilities are regulated under State and local policies. Parklands include parks and outdoor recreational facilities, and community facilities include police and fire departments, libraries, educational facilities (including daycare centers), churches, cemeteries, hospitals, and convalescent facilities. This section discusses the potential effects to parklands and community services and facilities that could occur as a result of Project construction or operation. Additional information is provided in the Westside Subway Extension Parklands and Other Community Facilities Technical Report. 4.13.1 Regulatory Setting Federal Section 4(f) of the U.S. Department of Transportation Act of 1966 provides special protection to public recreational lands and facilities. This includes local parks and school facilities that are open and available to the general public for recreational purposes, as well as significant cultural resources and natural wildlife refuges. Federally funded transportation improvement projects are prohibited from encroaching on Section 4(f) lands unless it can be demonstrated that no prudent or feasible alternative exists. An assessment of project impacts related to Section 4(f) resources is addressed in Chapter 5, Section 4(f) Evaluation, of this document. State The California Public Preservation Act of 1971 requires a public agency that acquires public parkland for non-park uses to either provide enough compensation to acquire equal replacement parkland or provide replacement parkland of comparable qualities. Local Parklands, public services, and other community facilities are generally regulated by local agencies. Therefore, the Project alternatives are regulated primarily by the policies of local jurisdictions.
    [Show full text]
  • LA Conservancy, West LA VA Campus Draft Final Master Plan (12 7 15).Pdf
    December 7, 2015 Submitted Electronically Director, Regulations Management (02REG) Department of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue Room 1068 Washington, D.C. 20420 RE: Notice, Preliminary Draft Final Master Plan (West Los Angeles Campus Dear Director, On behalf of the Los Angeles Conservancy, thank you for the opportunity to comment on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Draft Final Master Plan. The Conservancy has previously supported efforts to revitalize and rehabilitate the West L.A. Campus, having most recently reviewed the adaptive reuse project for Buildings 205, 208, and 209. We appreciate VA’s pursuit of an ambitious master plan with a strong historic preservation component, including the identification of the potential West Los Angeles VA Historic District, which is eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Nonetheless, we do have some outstanding questions and concerns over the potential impacts to historic resources on the West L.A. Campus, including the environmental review process and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), National Historic Preservation (NHPA), and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). We strongly recommend that VA adjust its timeline in order to accomplish its due diligence with respect to historic preservation and to streamline its environmental review process. As we state below, we request to be made a “consulting party” under Section 106 of the NHPA at this time. We value the Draft Master Plan’s stated goal of “revitaliz[ing] the West Los Angeles VA campus to support and honor Veterans” and believe that the development of a thoughtful Historic Preservation Plan, with input from interested parties, is part and parcel to achieving this outcome and setting a model standard for other VA campuses.
    [Show full text]