-liTY OF LOS ANGELE __~ DEPARTMENT OF EXECUTIVE OFFICES CITY PLANNING CALIFORNIA S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP 200 N. SPRING STREET, ROOM 532 DIRECTOR LOS ANGELES, CA 90012-4801 (213) 978-1271 CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION EVA YUAN-MCDANIEL DEPUTY DIRECTOR MARY KLAUS-MARTIN PRESIDENT (213) 978-1273 RICHARD BARRON FAX: (213) 978-1275 VICE-PRESIDENT ALMA M. CARLISLE GLEN C. DAKE INFORMATION MIA M. LEHRER (213) 978-1270 - ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA www.planning.lacity.org COMMISSION OFFICE MAYOR (213) 978-1300 January 25, 2008 Los Angeles City Council Room 395, City Hall 200 North Spring Street Los Angeles, California 90012 ATTENTION: Barbara Greaves, Legislative Assistant Planning and Land Use Management Committee CASE NUMBER: CHC-2007 -4269-HCM VAN NUYS BRANCH LIBRARY 14555 SYLVAN STREET At the Cultural Heritage Commission meeting of November 15, 2007, the Commission moved to include the above property in the list of Historic-Cultural Monuments, subject to adoption by the City Council. As required under the provisions of Section 22.171.10 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, the Commission has solicited opinions and information from the office of the Council District in which the site is located and from any Department or Bureau of the city whose operations may be affected by the designation of such site as a Historic-Cultural Monument. Such designation in and of itself has no fiscal impact. Future applications for permits may cause minimal administrative costs. The City Council, according to the guidelines set forth in Section 22.171 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, shall act on the proposed inclusion to the list within 90 days of the Council or Commission action, whichever first occurs. By resolution, the Council may extend the period for good cause for an additional 15 days. The Cultural Heritage Commission would appreciate your inclusion of the subject modification to the list of Historic-Cultural Monuments upon adoption by the City Council. The above Cultural Heritage Commission action was taken by the following vote: Moved: Commissioner Carlisle Seconded: Commissioner Barron Ayes: Commissioner Dake, Lehrer, Klaus-Martin Vote: 5-0 LES:Ies with Findings Attachment: Staff Report (JAN 2 8 2008 · c: Councilmember Tony Cardenas, Sixth Council District PLANNING & LAND City of Los Angeles, Owner Richard Hilton, Applicant USE MANAGEMENT m AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY- AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER Recydable and made lrom recyded wasle. ~{Y ITEM 7 Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION CASE NO.: CHC-2007-4269-HCM HEARING DATE: November 15, 2007 Location: 14555 Sylvan Street TIME: 10:00 AM Council District: 6 PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 Community Plan Area: Van Nuys- North Sherman 200 N. Spring Street Oaks Los Angeles, CA Area Planning Commission: South Valley 90012 Neighborhood Council: Van Nuys Legal Description: Lot 31 of Block 40 of TR1200 PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the VAN NUYS BRANCH LIBRARY REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument APPLICANT: Richard Hilton 5924 Varna Ave Valley Glen, CA 91401 OWNER: City of Los Angeles RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.7 2. Adopt the report findings. S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Direct r of Planning Ke Bernstein, Manager ~.Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Office of Historic Resources ~redby: ~ Ed~,' !?reservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: August 22, 2007 Historic-Cultural Monument Application 14555 Sylvan St. CHC-2007 -4269-HCM Page 2 of3 FINDINGS 1. The building "embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction" as an example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. 2. The property reflects "the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community" for its association with the development of Van Nuys. 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 Built in 1927, this one-story building exhibits character-defining features of Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture. The side-gabled building is U-shaped with a centered recessed entrance. The roof is covered in clay tile and the finish is stucco. Windows are wood-framed casement windows with diamond-shaped patterns. The main entrance and west fa<;ade window are flanked by decorative terra cotta consisting of Corinthian columns, simulated rusticated stone, and a coat of arms. A side entrance has a covered arched porch. Other character-defining features include a rounded vent portals and low chimney. Significant interior features include an exposed wood beamed ceiling with stenciling, fireplace, and library counter. The proposed Van Nuys Branch Library historic monument was built in 1927 by the firm of Allison & Allison. The firm designed the Variety Arts Building (Historic-Cultural Monument #196), the Beverly Hills and Hollywood Post Office, .and campus buildings for UCLA. Other projects in the Van Nuys area are the Bank of Van Nuys (1912), Van Nuys High School (1922), and Central Christian Church (1925). The subject building was built as the 11th branch library of the Los Angeles Branch library system. The library may have been the first stand-alone library building in the San Fernando Valley. Serving the Van Nuys community, it remained a library until 1963, when after it housed the Bureau of Fire Prevention until 2003. The property has remained vacant and is set to be auctioned by the City of Los Angeles. Later alterations to the subject property include the addition of handrails, security bars, and modern metal awnings. DISCUSSION The Van Nuys Branch Library property successfully meets two of the specified Historic-Cultural Monument criteria: 1) "embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type 14555 Sylvan St. CHC-2007 -4269-HCM Page 3 of 3 specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction" and 2) reflects "the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community." As a building designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style and reflective of the development of the Van Nuys community, the property qualifies for designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument based on these criteria. BACKGROUND At its meeting of September 20, 2007, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted to take the application under consideration. On November 1, 2007, the Cultural Heritage Commission toured the subject property. HISTORIC.. CULTURAL MONUMENT APPLICATION TYPE OR HAND PRINT IN ALL CAPITAL BLOCK LETTERS IDENTIFICATION LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY- ORIGINAL VAN NUYS BRANCH 1. NAME OF PROPOSED MONUMENT ----------- 2. SlREET ADDRESS ---- ____ 14555 SYLVAN STREET CITY __________!V:.!._A!!..:N!-!N...!.:U~Y!....:S~------ZIP CODE ---=-9..:...14.;...;:;0...:-1 __ COUNCIL DISTRICf ____,6..__ __ 3. ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NO. _____________2""2-.::4u1.l.I.OlL!05.o9u.Ol.loLO 4. COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION: TRAer .u12iLliO~O_______________ _ BLOCK _______4.:..::0:..._ ______LOT(S) _ ___::2:...::9.!.., -=-30;:....!.,-=3....:..1•:.-3:...::2;..___ ARB. NO. __-~.N.130..uN..11E __ _ 5. RANGE OF ADDRESSES ON PROPERTY 14555 SYLVAN STREET -------------------------·---- -------------- 6. PRESENT OWNER __ CITY OF LOS ANGELES STREET ADDRESS 200 NORTH SPRING STREET, ROOM LACITY.ORG 410 E-MAIL ADDRESS: ---- CITY _______;.l.;_O.;_S.;_A.;_N_G::...:E:::.:L::..::E::..::S ____ STATE~ ZIP CODE 90012 PHONE (213) 473-3231 OWNERSHIP: PRIVAT....__ __________ PUBLIG_________ .:._:.X ______ 7. PRESENT USE _____.....;.V...:..A::..::C.;_A;;...:N...:..T _____ OIUGINAL USE ------=L=IB=RA~R...:..;Y,____ DESCRIPTION 8. ARCHITECTURAL S1YLE _______,;;;S~P.;_,;A.;...;.N;.;;:;IS...;...;H~C:..;;O;.,;:;L:...;:;.O.:...:N.::...IA=L....:....R=E....:....V:....:.IV..:....:A=-L .J,.;..(M:..:..:.I..::..SS~I...::.O.:...:N....:..../..:..:.;M:.=E=-D.:....:.IT-=E::....:R:.....:RA:...:.:N:...:..:EA=-:.:..N:.L) __ (SEE STYLE GUIDE) 9. STATE PRESENT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF TiiE SITE OR STRUCfURE (SEE OVTIONAL DECRIVTION WORK SHEET. I PAGE MAXIMUM) (SEE "DESCRIPTION WORKSHEET") -----------------------·----·------ ·----- ------ ------------ ·- ------------ ------------· ----------------- ------------ ----------------------------- HI!;TOAIC-CULlURAl MONUM!;NT APPUCATION HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENT APPLICATION NAME: OF PROPOSED MONUMENT LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIB~RY- ORIGINAL VAN NUYS BRAN~~ 10. CONSTRUCTION DATE: _______1_a_?_R-_ 1_a_?7______ FACIUAL: 0 ESTIMATED: 0 11. ARCHITECf, DESIGNER, OR ENGINEER Allison and Allison 12. CONTRACTOR OR OTHER BUILDER Gustav