DOCSLIB.ORG

Communication from Public

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Communication from Public Communication from Public Name: Jim Childs, ADHOC Date Submitted: 07/29/2021 07:47 AM Council File No: 19-1603-S1 Comments for Public Posting: Adams Boulevard is a significant city scenic highway and contains many historic resources. This project at 806 W. Adams treats Adams Boulevard as a side yard, with reduced setbacks. I'm have sent under separate cover via e mail a visual study of the numerous significant Adams Boulevard sites. The LACouncilComment.com does not allow for a visual of this size. The determination letter evaluates whether a state scenic highway is affected. In its clever misuse of a CEQA regulation, they assert a claim we never made yet omit evaluation of impacts on the officially designated City Scenic Highway. That this project TREATS Adams Boulevard as a SIDE YARD, wallowing reduced setbacks, was never evaluated by the City because there was no environmental review. Clearly the case has been made that this is an exception to the exemption and the CE should be rescinded and environmental review commence. The case is replete with facts showing unusual circumstances and illustrating damaging effects; to understand the impacts of seven towering four story buildings in this fragile site requires environmental review. There has been none. The project will not enhance the built environment in the surrounding neighborhood nor perform a function nor provide a service that is beneficial to the community, city or region nor can the calculation that the project will “increase the supply of off-street parking by 259 spaces” be tallied as a benefit when it is adding approximately 800-1000 new tenants, most of whom have cars. No less an authority that USC’s Director of Planning found: “…the Project is likely to accommodate upwards of 800 students. The Project includes 259 on-site parking spaces. We believe the majority of students living in this project would own cars, based on our experience with students living in off-campus student housing. The cars not parked on-site would need to park in the adjacent neighborhood, materially impacting an already-congested street parking scenario.” Letter from Brian League, USC Executive Director, Planning and Land Use, January 10, 2019, to Henry Chu A categorical exemption should not be the level of review for this project. Communication from Public Name: Ed Conery, Adams Severance Coalition Date Submitted: 07/29/2021 08:06 AM Council File No: 19-1603-S1 Comments for Public Posting: The Adams Severance coalition is an unincorporated association of stakeholders that have come together to voice the community concerns about the negative impacts of this project. The record shows that what the built form encourages here is a student housing facility that will be incompatible with its surroundings and disrupt the quality of life for the residents and stakeholders. 2. The project will not contribute to the revitalization goals of the plan. 3. The project will not contribute to a desirable residential environment, neighborhood stability, and will adversely impact the neighboring environment. 4. The project will not provide units with adequate living area and avoid excessively dense development. 5. The project will not provide adequate parking. We support a development on this site that meets the goals of the community plan and redevelopment plan. We submit the comments by Brian League, Executive Director, Land Use and Planning, USC to add to the substantial evidence in the record of the impacts of this off campus student housing development on the University Park community. We support the Redevelopment Plan goals to make provisions for housing as is required to satisfy the needs and desires of the various age, income and ethnic groups of the community, maximizing the opportunity for individual choice. The current plan creates an off campus student housing enclave that will negatively impact this very diverse and historic neighborhood. Communication from Public Name: Mitzi March Mogul Date Submitted: 07/29/2021 09:37 AM Council File No: 19-1603-S1 Comments for Public Posting: Attached is my letter noting the negative impacts of this development on a historic area. As Preservation expert Jim Childs noted in his letter of January 4, 2019 to AZA Henry Chu, regarding the Auto Club map: “What is not revealed on the map (see letter) however are the various underlying historic districts including Overlay Zones, of both local & federal Historic Districts. Immediately to the north, just across Adams Blvd., from the proposed project is the UNIVERSITY PARK HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY ZONE established in 2000. Within the UNIVERSITY PARK H.P.O.Z. and directly across Adams are two National Register Historic Districts: the ST. JAMES PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT (1991) and the CHESTER PLACE NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT (eligible 1986). Less than two blocks to the west and just across Hoover Street is the NORTH UNIVERSITY PARK SPECIFIC PLAN (1981) which, coincidently, also has two National Register Historic Districts. The most eastern one, the NORTH UNIVERSITY PARK NATIONAL REGISTER HISTORIC DISTRICT (2005) occupies the south-side of West Adams Blvd. from Hoover St. to Magnolia and south from Adams Blvd. to 28th Street along the west-side of Hoover St. To the south and at the rear of the subject property is the USC FRATERNITY/SORORITY ROW DISTRICT (eligible). As part of their administrative authority the LA/CRA was required to complete Historic-Cultural Resource Assessment Surveys to determine the condition of those resources and their potential for certification as a historic-cultural resource either individually or collectively. Such a survey was completed by LA/CRA for their Hoover Project Area known now as the University Park-Exposition Park Project Area in 2006.” What is clear from the extensive information is that this mini-campus of six dormitory buildings and a four story recreation building are in the heart of an historic area and to which this development will be totally incompatible. MITZI MARCH MOGUL HISTORIC PRESERVATION CONSULTANT 1725 Wellington Road Los Angeles, CA 90019 323/734-9980 [email protected] July 29, 2021 Re: 806 West Adams, ZA-2018-2453-CU-DB-SPR, ENV-2018-2454-CE-1A Appeal of the CE to City Council West Adams Heritage Association (WAHA) Related Case DIR-2020-4338-RDP, ZA-2018-2453-CU-DB-SPR 806 W. Adams Boulevard and 2810 S. Severance Via email Los Angeles City Council and Planning & Land Use Management Committee 200 N. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 Re: CF 19-1603-S1 Honorable Members of the City Council PLUM Committee Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Chair Bob Blumenfield, Vice-Chair Members Gilbert A. Cedillo, Mark Ridley-Thomas, John S. Lee Dear Commissioners: I have been asked by the West Adams Heritage Association (WAHA), the North University Park Community Association (NUPCA) and the Adams Severance Coalition (ASC) to address the issues regarding the project located at 806 W. Adams Boulevard and 2610 Severance Street. I am a Historic Preservation Consultant with more than 30 years in practice in Los Angeles. The project has apparently been erroneously approved without understanding the impacts the project will have on the many historic resources surrounding the project location. Two buildings have already been demolished in anticipation of approval of the project; one building remains, as well as a parking lot, both of which are part of the project site. Although the property is not located within an HPOZ and neither the remaining building nor the parking lot are designated historic in any way, does not minimize the impact of the project as currently proposed on adjacent historic properties. In the CPC Decision Site Plan Review Findings, #7, Pages 5-6 it is stated: The project is not within a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. The subject property is comprised of four lots at 758 – 832 West Adams Boulevard and 2610 South Severance Street. The project site is currently occupied by a two-story plaster building used by the University of Southern California as an office, childcare, and classroom facility, as well as a surface parking lot and ornamental trees and landscaping. The project site previously contained a separate two-story office, childcare, and classroom facility that was demolished in 2017 as a separate action that is not part of the currently proposed project. The existing building was constructed in 1971. None of the existing structures on the project site are designated as historic cultural monuments and the project site is not located within a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. While the above description of the actual site is accurate, it fails to mention the proximity of a number of significant historic properties within close range and which would be substantially damaged in terms of their context, ambiance, environment (ie shade/shadow) and in some cases, quality of life. When a project directly involves a listed historic property, certain regulations apply because of direct impact. In this case, even though the parcels for construction do not involve historic resources, those parcels are located in an area that is rich in historic resources. The secondary impacts to those resources have been completely ignored in examining the project. The City documents as well as the Historic Resources Report do not even acknowledge that these other historic properties exist. The City only looked at the parcels intended for construction, however they do not exist in a vacuum. A 4-story contemporary building looming over a 2-story historic building is a major impact. Issues of traffic, noise, and other human-induced actions and effects will alter the quality of life for those occupying the historic structures as well as the way that others will experience the historic resources. One of the reasons that we (Society) have developed mechanisms for preserving, restoring, and maintaining properties which have been determined to have historic value is that we recognize that these properties enhance our built environment and contribute to our understanding of history and our appreciation of outstanding design.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Late 19Th and Early 20Th Century Residential Architecture, 1885-1910
    LOS ANGELES CITYWIDE HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMENT Context: Architecture and Engineering, 1850-1980 Theme: Late 19th and Early 20th Century Residential Architecture, 1885-1910 Theme: Housing the Masses, 1880-1975 th th Sub-Theme: Late 19 and Early 20 Century Neighborhoods, 1880-1910 Prepared for: City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning Office of Historic Resources July 2019 SurveyLA Citywide Historic Context Statement Architecture and Engineering/Late 19th and Early 20th Century Residential Architecture Housing the Masses/Late 19th and Early 20th Century Neighborhoods TABLE OF CONTENTS PREFACE ................................................................................................................................ 1 CONTRIBUTORS ..................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 1 HISTORIC CONTEXT THEME: LATE 19TH AND EARLY 20TH CENTURY RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE, 1885-1910 ....... 2 SUB-THEME: EASTLAKE, 1885-1905 ................................................................................ 11 SUB-THEME: QUEEN ANNE, 1885-1905 ........................................................................... 16 SUB-THEME: SHINGLE STYLE, 1885-1910 ......................................................................... 22 SUB-THEME: FOLK VICTORIAN, 1871-1905 ...................................................................... 26 SUB-THEME:
    [Show full text]
  • West Adams Matters
    December 2015 Number 316 West Adams Matters The Sound of Church Bells by Laura Meyers The West Adams District no doubt has more historic churches than any other one community in Los Angeles, many of them designated landmarks or identified heritage resources. But with aging infrastructures and dwindling congregations, we are faced with the challenge of helping ensure their bells are ringing for decades to come. West Adams area religious buildings represent many firsts and foremosts: our community boasts Los Angeles’s first synagogue erected for a Conservative congregation (Temple Sinai in Pico Union) and the first Sephardic temple (in Exposition Park West). Architect Paul Williams designed one church, First AME in West Adams Heights, for an important African American congregation, and prepared the master plan for another, Trinity Baptist Church in Jefferson Park. The West Adams District is home to mosques, synagogues (most converted now to other religious and cultural uses), Buddhist temples, and an array of both century-old and mid-20th century churches, many by notable architects and in styles ranging from Gothic and Mission Revival to Spanish Colonial and even Art Deco. (continued on page 12) Fraudulent Demolition Dampens Holiday Cheer by Jean Frost For all of the WAHA members who thought we would cheerily enjoy this holiday season without a lump of coal in our stockings, our season’s cheer has been interrupted by a senseless and fraudulent demolition of a historic 1902 cottage. On December 10, University Park developers Henry Fan and Charles Kim, having been informed by Building and Safety that their demolition permit was invalid and was going to be revoked, directed their project manager-contractor Aaron Belliston of BMR Enterprises This classic Victorian era cottage (above) to demolish the Victorian cottage at 1208 West 25th was demolished without warning (rght) Street which had been identified by SurveyLA as a historic resource.
    [Show full text]
  • I-110 Transitway Northern Terminus to Adams Boulevard
    FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT FOR The proposed project to construct the Northern Terminus of the 1-110 Transitway between Jefferson Boulevard and 23rd Street in the City of Los Angeles The FHWA has determined that this project will not have any significant impact on the human environment. This Finding of No Significant Impact is based on the attached environmental assessment which has been independently evaluated by the FHWA and determined to adequately and accurately discuss the environmental issues and impacts of the proposed project. It provides sufficient evidence and analysis for determining that an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. The FHWA assumes responsibility for the accuracy, scope, and content of the attached Environmental Assessment. / Date lkoger vorg Division Administrator State of California SCH No. 90010137 Department of Transportation 7-LA-110 P.M. 20.2/21.2 07221 - 110331 NEGATIVE DECLARATION Pursuant: Division 13, Public Resources Code Description: The proposed project involves revising the proposed 1-110 Harbor Freeway Transitway Northern Terminus south of 23rd Street, between Figueroa and Flower Streets, to a new location south of Adams Boulevard. The city of Los Angeles Department of Transportation's TSM plan on Flower and Figueroa Streets will be incorporated into this proposal. Determination: An Initial Study has been prepared by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans). On the basis of this study it is determined that the proposed action will not have a significant effect upon the environment for the following reasons: 1. There will be no significant effects on businesses, residences, schools, or public facilities, neighborhoods, employment, or the area economy.
    [Show full text]
  • Stimson House
    Los Angeles City HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEWSLETTER VOLUME XLIIII ISSUE 4 November 2011 StimSon HouSe , once L.A.’s most expensive By Don Sloper Traveling south on Figueroa Street Pi Kappa Alpha, a USC between 23rd Street and West fraternity, bought the house for Adams, the Stimson House appears $20,000 in 1940. on the west side of the street as a throwback to a previous era. The Annoyed by the college Richardsonian Romanesque style, fraternity that owned the with a crenelated roof that gives it property behind her Chester the appearance of a castle, is rare in Place mansion, Carrie Estelle Los Angeles. Doheny, widow of oil magnet Edward Doheny, would complain Thomas D. Stimson, a self-made about the fraternity’s parties to lumber tycoon, retired to Los her renter and neighbor, Rufus Angeles in 1890 and purchased a lot among the houses of Von KleinSmid, president of USC (1921 to 1947). the new moneyed elite of Los Angeles who resided on Figueroa Street, to build a house reminiscent of his former Finally, in June, 1948 Mrs. Doheny solved her problem Chicago neighborhood. by buying the house for $75,000. Seeking quiet neighbors, she had the building remodeled for use as a The 12,800-square foot home was completed in 1893 at convent and gave title to the property to the Sisters of St. what is now 2421 South Figueroa Street for the Joseph of Carondolet. astounding cost of $130,000, by far the most expensive house ever built up to that time in Los Angeles. Stimson The Stimson House remains a convent today.
    [Show full text]
  • Historic Resources Report
    Historic Resources Report TECHNICAL REPORT Figueroa and Adams Project - Final Report—2/18/09 - Prepared for: Red Oak Investments 2101 Business Center Drive, Suite 230 Irvine, California 92612 Prepared by: Historic Resources Group 1728 Whitley Avenue Hollywood, California 90028 www.historicla.com 323.469.2349 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction and Project Description...................................................................... 2 2.0 Methodology........................................................................................................... 6 3.0 Regulatory Review.................................................................................................. 7 4.0 Discussion of Historic Resources at and Adjacent to Site.................................... 19 5.0 Analysis of Previously Unidentified Historic Resources...................................... 31 6.0 Project Impacts...................................................................................................... 32 7.0 Mitigation Measures............................................................................................. 44 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................... 47 Appendix A: Chester Place Historic District Identified Resources.................................. 49 Appendix B: Secretary of the Interiors Standards ............................................................ 51 Appendix C: Historic Setting: Contextual Comparison...................................................
    [Show full text]
  • DATA SHEET ^Em UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT of the INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER of HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM
    Form No. 10-300 . \Q-1 DATA SHEET ^eM UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS | NAME HISTORIC Rainier Club AND/OR COMMON LOCATION STREET & NUMBER 810 Fourth Avenue _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY, TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Seattle VICINITY OF 1st - Rep. Joel Pritchard STATE CODE COUNTY CODE Washington 53 King 033 CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE _DISTRICT —PUBLIC X_OCCUPIED _AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM X-BUILDING(S) ^(.PRIVATE —UNOCCUPIED —COMMERCIAL —PARK —STRUCTURE —BOTH —WORK IN PROGRESS —EDUCATIONAL —PRIVATE RESIDENCE —SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE —ENTERTAINMENT —RELIGIOUS —OBJECT _IN PROCESS —YES: RESTRICTED —GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC _BEING CONSIDERED —YES: UNRESTRICTED —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION _NO —MILITARY . -X.OTHER: Men ' S Snrial ann tial club, Rainier Club STREET & NUMBER 810 Fourth Avenue CITY. TOWN STATE Seattle VICINITY OF Washington 98104 ! LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC. King County Administration Building STREET & NUMBER Fourth Avenue at James Street CITY. TOWN STATE Seattle Washington 98104 | REPRE SENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Washington State Inventory of Historic Places DATE 1972 —FEDERAL JCSTATE —COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS Officc of Archaeology and Historic Preservation CITY. TOWN STATE Olympia Washington 98504 DESCRIPTION CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE —EXCELLENT _DETERIORATED —UNALTERED X_ORIGINALSITE X-GOOD __RUINS X_ALTERED MOVED DATE —FAIR _UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE A rare early example of the Jacqbethan Revival Style in Washington, the Rainier Club was designed by Spokane architectsCutier and MaImgren. It was completed and opened for use in _1904.
    [Show full text]
  • Ih^^Iiii HLOCATION
    orm No. 10-300 ^\Q'' *-* UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE iH^^iiii NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES B^^fcililll INVENTORY - NOMINATION FORM ••••ii SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOWTO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS ____________TYPE ALL ENTRIES - COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS______ I NAME HISTORIC STIMSON HOUSE AND/OR COMMON HLOCATION STREET & NUMBER 2421 South Figueroa Street —NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY. TOWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT Los Angeles — VICINITY OF 25 STATE CODE COUNTY CODE California 06 Los Angeles 037 QCLASSIFI CATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE Y _ DISTRICT _ PUBLIC •^OCCUPIED _ AGRICULTURE —MUSEUM J^BUILDING(S) ^.PRIVATE —UNOCCUPIED —COMMERCIAL —PARK —STRUCTURE __BOTH —WORK IN PROGRESS —EDUCATIONAL ^PRIVATE RESIDENCE —SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE —ENTERTAINMENT ^RELIGIOUS —OBJECT _|N PROCESS X_YES: RESTRICTED —GOVERNMENT —SCIENTIFIC —BEING CONSIDERED _YES: UNRESTRICTED —INDUSTRIAL —TRANSPORTATION _NO —MILITARY —OTHER: [OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME _____Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondolet STREET & NUMBER _____11999 Chalon Road CITY. TOWN STATE Los Angeles VICINITY OF California LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS.ETC Los Angeles County Hall of Records STREET & NUMBER 320 West Temple Street CITY. TOWN STATE Los Angeles California 90012 REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Historic Resources Inventory DATE June 197/t —FEDERAL INSTATE —COUNTY —LOCAL DEPOSITORY FOR SURVEY RECORDS office of Historic Preservation P.O. Box 2390 CITY. TOWN STATE Sacramento California CONDITION CHECK ONE CHECK ONE —EXCELLENT —DETERIORATED —UNALTERED ^ORIGINAL SITE X.GOOD _RUINS FALTERED —MOVED DATE- _FAIR _UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE The Stimson House is a three-story structure with basement built of sandstone with a four-story octagonal tower dominating its northeast corner.
    [Show full text]
  • National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet
    NW Form 1MOO-* 0MB Appro** No. 10344018 United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet Section number ___ Page ___ SUPPLEMENTARY LISTING RECORD NRIS Reference Number: 91001387 Date Listed: 9/27/91 St. James Park Historic District Property Name Los Angeles CA County State N/A Multiple Name This property is listed in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with the attached nomination documentation subject to the following exceptions, exclusions, or amendments, notwithstanding the National Park Service certification included in the nomination documentation. 4 fa Signature'of the Keeper Date of Action Amended Items in Nomination: Description: All references to the individual listing of the Durfee Residence, Section 7.3 and 7.40, in the National Register of Historic Places are deleted. This information was confirmed with Marilyn Lortie of the California State Historic Preservation Office. DISTRIBUTION: National Register property file Nominating Authority (without nomination attachment) NPS Form 10400 QMS No. IQ24401I (ftov. 640) United States Department of the Interior _ w t * v b National Park Service FEB 2 6 1991 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form OHP This form is for use in nominating or requesting determinations of eligibility for individual properties or districts. See instructions in Gukfetines for Competing National Register Forms (National Register Bulletin 16). Complete each item by marking "x" in the appropriate box or by entering the requested information. If an item does not appty to the property being documented, enter "N/A" for "not applicable." For functions, styles, materials, and areas of significance, enter only the categories and subcategories listed in the instructions.
    [Show full text]