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RICI-IARD BARRON JANE BLUME NFELD PRES IDFNT ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR RUE LLA H . LOUIE CllJI 971! -1 272 \I ICt. -PRESIDENT EVA YUAN-MCDANif L GL EN C. DAKE DEPUTY DIR ECTOR CAll KFN NARD ozscon ANTO N IO R. VILLARAIGOSA (213) 978-"1273 MAYO I~ FAX : 12 131 971!-1 275

FE\ Y C. PI NGOL INFORMATION COMMiSSION EXECU TI VE ASSISTANl (21)) 97/l-1270 12131 978-1 "94 www.plann ing.laci ty.org Date APR 0 8 2010 City Council Room 395, City Hall 200 North Spring Street Los Angeles, California 90012

ATTENTION: Patrice Lattimore, Legislative Assistant Planning and Land Use Management Committee

CASE NUMBER: CHC-201 0-71-HCM GLESS FARMHOUSE 131 S. BOYLE AVENUE

At the Cultural He ritage Commission meeting of April 1, 2010, the Commission moved to include the above property in the list of Historic-Cultural Monument, 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 opin ions and information from the office of the Council District in wh ich 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 Cod e, shall act on the proposed inclusion to the list with in 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 Scott Seconded: Commissioner Barron Ayes: Commissioner Louie Absent: Commissioners Dake and Kennard

Vote: 3-0

Fey C. P(l gol, Commission Executive Assistant Cultural Heritage Commission

Attachment: Staff Repo rt with Findings

c: Councilmember Jose Huizar, Fourteenth Council District Diana 0 . Ybarra Cora Mendez John D. Mendez •= >•: • ' • '• "c 0 ~ ..! • • • •,• •" • :"••

DEPARlMENt Of EXECUTIVE OFFICES CITY PLANNING CllY OF LOS ANGELES OFFICE Of HISTORIC RESOURCES S, GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP · CALIFORNIA OIIIEcrOR 200 N. SPRING SlREET, ROOM 620 LOS ANG~LES, CA 90012-4601 (213) 978-127l (2U) 978-1200 VINCENT P. BERTONI, AIO' DEPUTY DIRKTOR CULTURAl HERITAGE COMMISSION (213) 978-1272 R!GIARO OAARON jANE BLUMENFElD PI!ISIDfNf AcnNGO~b~BQUR ROELlA H. lOUIE (213)97!1-1272 YICWRISIDENT EVA YUAN-MCDANIEL GlEN C. DAKE DEPUJY DIRECTOR GAIL KENNARD ozscon ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA {213) 978·1273 VACANT . MAYOR FAX: (213) 978-1275

INFORMATION F.El.YC.PINGOL ~ION fXH'1!ll\IEA.WSf.ANf (213) 978-1270 (2131978-12!14 www.planning.ladty.org Date APR 0 8 2010

Cora Mendez 131 S. Boyle Avenue

Los Angeles 1 CA 90086-0274

John D. Mendez 12032 Crystal Ct Chino, CA 91710

CERTIFIED MAIL RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

CASE NUMBER: CHC-201 0-71-HCM GLESS FARMHOUSE 131 SOUTH BOYLE.AVEI"-JUE

As you will note from the attached copy of our communication to the , the Cultural Heritage Commission has moved to include the above-referenced property in 1he list of Historic-· Cultural monuments, subject to adoption by the City CounciL

In due course, our transmittal will be given a council file number and will be referred to the Council's Planning and Land Use Management Committee for review and recommendation. If you are interested in attending the Council Committee meeting, you should call Patrice Lattimore at (213) 978-1074 for information as to the time and place of the Committee and City Council meetings regarding this matter. Please give Ms. Lattimore at least one week from the date of this letter to schedule this item on the Committee Agenda before you call her.

Fel ngol, Commission Executive Assistant Cultural Heritage Commission

Attachment: CHC Declaration Letter to Council, staff Report with Findings, and Additional Finding

C: Notification List GIS Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT

CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION CASE NO.: CHC~201 0~71-HCM ENV-2010-71-CE

HEARING DATE: April 1 r 2010 Location: 131 South Boyle Avenue TIME: 10:00 AM Council District: 14 PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 Community Plan Area: Boyle Heights 200 N. Spring Street Area Planning Commission: East Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Neighborhood Council: Boyle Heights 90012 Legal Description: PT4, Block 60 of Tract 35 Acre Lots of the Los Angeles City Lands ~Hancock Survey"

PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the GLESS FARMHOUSE

REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument

APPLICANT: Diana 0. Ybarra Boyle Heights Historical Society PO Box 86274 Los Angeles, CA 90086-0274

OWNER: Cora Mendez 131 S. Boyle Avenue v Los Angeles, CA 90033

John D. Mendez 12032 Crystal Ct. Chino, CA 91710

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 Direc .o of Planning

\ K Bernstein, AICP, Manager Lam ert . Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Office of Historic Resources

~ar arciatPreservation PI~ Office of Historic Resources

Attachments: March 18, 2008 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report 131 S. Boyle Ave. CHC-201 0-71-HCM Page 2 of4

FINDINGS

1. The building uembodies 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 Queen Anne style residential 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 Boyle Heights.

3. The property is identified with historic personages, with several members of the Gless, Amestoy, and Oxarart family, land owners and developers associated with the early growth and development of Boyle Heights.

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 1887, this two-story residential building exhibits character-defining features of Queen Anne style architecture. The proposed Gless Farmhouse monument is rectangular in plan with a high centrally located hipped roof covered in composition shingles. The subject building has a slightly off-center entrance covered by a raised wraparound porch supported by narrow wooden supports and enclosed by a low wooden railing. The porch exhibits decorative spindlework and brackets. An additional wraparound porch is located on the second floor and exhibits the same decorative elements as the ground floor porch. A two-story square tower lighted by cutaway bay windows and capped by the front-facing gable is located at one corner of the front fagade. A pentoid shaped attic ventilator decorates the front gable. The subject building's exterior features clapboard siding interrupted by a band of fish-scale siding extending around the building between the two floors. Windows are double-hung sash with simple wooden surrounds.

The proposed Gless Farmhouse monument was designed by an unknown architect or builder. Records indicate that the subject building was likely erected in 1887. Built by Simon Francois Gless, the subject property is associated with three families who figure prominently in the early development of Boyle Heights and Los Angeles. The property was first owned by Gaston Oxarart, Gless's uncle, and used for sheep grazing. Oxarart bequeathed his land holdings in Boyle Heights to Gless, including Rancho Los Encinas. Gless constructed the subject building in the new suburb of Boyle Heights. Gless married Juanita Amestoy, whos family purchased Rancho Los Encinas from Gless. The property was located adjacent to the homestead of the Workman family (now demolished). By 1916, the building became property of the Hebrew Shelter Home and Asylum, serving as its office. 131 S. Boyle Ave. CHC-2010-71-HCM. Page 3 of4

· Alterations to the subject property include the addition of a dormer window (1908), a second story sleeping porch (1916) and a rear addition (1919). The original stained-glass front door and transom have been replaced. More recent alterations to the subject property are the addition of a steel security door on the main entrance, metal awnings on the second floor, and the partitioning of some interior spaces.

DISCUSSION

The Gless Farmhouse property successfully meets three of the specified Historic-Cultural Monument criteria: 1) "embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction," 2) reflects "the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community," and 3) is associated with historic personages. As a residential building designed in the Queen Anne style for prominent land owning families and reflective of the development of Boyle Heights, the property qualifies for designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument based on these criteria.

Alterations to the Gless Farmhouse are chiefly a result of its use as a boarding house; it also suffers from deferred maintenance. Nonetheless, the staff of the Office of Historic Resources believes that the subject building retains sufficient integrity and that some alterations are easily reversible. Staff is available to provide assistance to the property owner regarding any future rehabilitation work on the subject building.

BACKGROUND

At its meeting of January 21, 2010, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted to take the application under consideration. On March 4, 2010, the Cultural Heritage Commission toured the subject property.

CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT ("CEQA") REVIEW

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 Gless Farmhouse 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. 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 irreplaceable historic structures. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards of Rehabilitation are expressly incorporated into the LAAC and provide standards 131 S. Boyle Ave. CHC-201 0-71-HCM Page 4 of4 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 Monuments.

The use of Categorical Exemption Class 31 in connection with the proposed designation is consistent with the goals relating to the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction of Historic buildings 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. Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT

CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION CASE NO.: CHC-2010-71-HCM ENV-2010-71-CE

HEARING DATE: January 21, 2010 Location: 131 South Boyle Avenue TIME: 10:00 AM Council District: 14 PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 Community Plan Area: Boyle Heights 200 N. Spring Street Area Planning Commission: East Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Neighborhood Council: Boyle Heights 90012 Legal Description: PT 4, Block 60 of Tract 35 Acre Lots of the Los Angeles City Lands "Hancock Survey"

PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the GLESS FARMHOUSE

REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument

APPLICANT: Diana 0. Ybarra Boyle Heights Historical Society PO Box 86274 Los Angeles, CA 90086-027 4

OWNER: Cora Mendez 131 S. Boyle Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90033

John D. Mendez 12032 Crystal Ct. Chino, CA 91710

RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission:

1. Take the property under consideration as a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.1 0 because the application and accompanying photo documentation suggest the submittal may warrant further investigation.

2. Adopt the report findings.

~reservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Office of Historic Resources ~:~E9af8rcla~iler Office of Historic Resources

Attachments: March 18, 2008 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report 131 S. Boyle Ave. CHC-201 0-71-HCM Page 2 of 2

SUMMARY

Built in 1887, this two-story residential building exhibits character-defining features of Queen Anne style architecture. The proposed Gless Farmhouse monument is rectangular in plan with a high centrally located hipped roof covered in composition shingles. The subject building has a slightly off-center entrance covered by a raised wraparound porch supported by narrow wooden supports and enclosed by a low wooden railing. The porch exhibits decorative spindlework and brackets. An additional wraparound porch is located on the second floor and exhibits the same decorative elements as the ground floor porch. A two-story square tower lighted by cutaway bay windows and capped by the front-facing gable is located at one corner of the front fa<;ade. A pentoid shaped attic ventilator decorates the front gable. The subject building's exterior features clapboard siding interrupted by a band of fish-scale siding extending around the building between the two floors. Windows are double-hung sash with simple wooden surrounds.

The proposed Gless Farmhouse monument was designed by an unknown architect or builder. Records indicate that the subject building was likely erected in 1887. Built by Simon Francois Gless, The subject property is associated with three families who figure prominently in the early development of Boyle Heights and Los Angeles. The property was first owned by Gaston Oxarart, Gless's uncle, and used for sheep grazing. Oxarart bequeathed his land holdings in Boyle Heights to Gless, including Rancho Los Encinas. Gless constructed the subject building in the new suburb of Boyle Heights. Gless married Juanita Amestoy, whos family purchased Rancho Los Encinas from Gless. The property was located adjacent to the homestead of the Workman family (now demolished). By 1916, the building became property of the Hebrew Shelter Home and Asylum, serving as its office.

The subject appears to have few modifications. Alterations to the subject property include the addition of a dormer window (1908), a second story sleeping porch (1916) and a rear addition (1919). The original stained-glass front door and transom have been replaced.

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.

FINDINGS

Based on the facts set forth in the summary and application, the Commission determines that the application is complete and that the property is significant enough to warrant further investigation as a potential Historic-Cultural Monument. SIMON AND JUANITA L .3SS FARM HOUSE BOYLE HEIGHTS

OFFICE OF IDSTORIC RESOURCES CITY HALL 200 N. SPRING STREET, ROOM620 LOS ANGELES, CA 90012

HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENT APPLICATION

1. NAME OF PROPOSED MONUMENT: SIMON GLESS FARMHOUSE 2. STREET ADDRESS: 131 S. BOYLE AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CA 90033 3. APN# 5174013012

Information was taken from MTA Survey conducted in 1994: Los Angeles County Assessor's Map Books, Book 13, Page 27, 1900- 1908.

L. A. Building and Safety alterations:

1908, #94; 1916 #528, 529; 1918 #776; 1919 #5882, 1948 #16301

ALSO SEE ATTACHED

4. LEGAL DESCRIPTION: (REFER TO ATTACHED) 5. RANGE OF ADDRESSES ON PROPERTY: 131 S. BOYLE. 6. PRESENT OWNER: UNKNOWN 7. PRESENTUSE: MULTI-RESIDENTIAL 8. DESCRIPTION: 1886 QUEEN ANNE

Architectural Style: 1886 Queen Anne (see current attached photographs)

STATE PRESENT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE OR STRUCTURE

ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION:

2009: This is a two-story wooden structure with upper and lower porches; porches appear to be original, as well as the windows and doors. The stained glass windows depicted in the background of the attached the family photo of the Amestoy family no longer exists. SIMON AND JUANITA GI S FARM HOUSE BOYLE HEIGHTS

2001: In the 2001 survey alternations are noted as: Minor alterations- dormer ('980); second floor sleeping porch area (1916)- Conversion to Hebrew shelter office (1918) 28' x 20' Rear addition (1919). [Dana Slawson, Greenwood a,nd Associates]

1994: fu the 1994 survey conducted by Richard Starzak, Myra L. Frank & Assoc.: [See below]

1980: fu the 1980 CRA survey it was described: Queen Anne with decorative features: fishscale shingling, pediment, woodwork, dormer and window bay. [Roger G. Hatheway Research]

2009: Condition today: I did a walk through of the property on the exterior and briefly through the main floor; it appears unaltered and in fair condition. [Photographs are attached]

9. STATE PRESENT PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE OR STRUCTURE: REFER TOPARAGRAPHS BELOW 10. CONSTRUCTION DATE FACTUAL: 1886 WITH ALTERATIONS 1 L ARCHITECT, DESIGNER OR ENGINEER: UNKNOWN 12. CONTRACTOR OR OTHER BUILDER: UNKNOWN 13. DATE OF ENCLOSED PHOTOGRAPHS: 2009 14. CONDITION: FAIR 15. ALTERATIONS: MINOR ALTERATIONS-DORMER (1908); SECOND FLOOR SLEEPING PORCH AREA (1916); CONVERSION TO HEBREW SHELTER OFFICE (1918); 28' X 20' REAR ADDillON (1919); 16. THREATS: PROPERTY IS FOR SALE. IT IS ADVERTISED AS "LARGE LOT FOR SALE" --DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THIS PROPERTY TO THE NEW MTA GOLD LINE EXTENSION TO THE EASTSIDE; IT IS RIPE FOR DEMOLITION BY DEVELOPERS WISHING TO REMOVE PROPERTIES ALONG BOYLE A VENUE AND REPLACE THEM WITH NEW RETAIL AND HOUSING. 17. IS THE STRUCTURE ON ORIGINAL SITE: THIS STRUCTURE IS ON ITS ORIGINAL SITE. SIMON GLESS FARJvffiOUSE

18. SIGNIFICANCE

In 1886-1887, Simon Frans;ois Gless built a farmhouse in Boyle Heights on the west side ofBoyle Avenue. In the 1880s Boyle Heights was rapidly transitioning from a rural farm community adjacent to the growing city of Los Angeles, into one of the city's frrst suburbs. The Gless farmhouse was a manifestation ofthis period of growth: a high­ style Queen Anne house on a small farm. The Gless family farmed the land until the early 1 1890s, and lived in the house into the next century. In the second decade of the 20 h Century, the Gless residence became the property of the Hebrew Shelter Home and Asylum. The changing landscape and demographics of Boyle Heights and the growth and expansion of Los Angeles-sheep raising, farming, suburbanization, and ethnic diversity, and the stories of families who are associated with these trends can be read in the 125 year-old history of this historic home.

The two-story Queen Anne single-family residence clearly exhibits character­ defining features of the style: an asymmetric plan; horizontal wood siding; partial wraparound front porch supported by narrow turned posts and enclosed by a low railing with a spindlework balustrade; steeply hipped roof with lower cross gables; a square tower with two cutaway bay windows on the projecting south wing; and bands of patterned wood and brick masonry. The house sits back from the street amidst mature trees and shrubs.

The Gless Fannhouse is associated with three French Basque families who figured prominently in the early development of Los Angeles: Oxarart, Amestoy and Gless. The land on which Simon Gless built his farmhouse had belonged to his late uncle, Gaston Oxarart. At the time of his death in 1886, sheep grazing lands were giving way to Victorian homes in Boyle Heights during the real estate boom of the 1880s, when the population of Los Angeles was expanding at a record rate. Oxarart bequeathed his vast land holdings to Simon, including Rancho Los EnCinas (Encino). Soon after his marriage to Juanita Amestoy, daughter of Domingo and Maria Aycaguer Amestoy, Simon sold Los Encinas to his father-in-law, preferring to live with his bride in their Queen Anne home in the fashionable new suburb of Boyle Heights. They raised their family and farmed here, next door to the Workman family homestead ( demolished). 1

1 In the first two decades of the 20 h century, Boyle Heights became the primary destination for Jewish families moving into the region from other states and Europe. The Hebrew Shelter Home and Asylum, formerly the Gless farmhouse, and the Jewish Home for the Aged on the Workman property were community centers. After World War II, Boyle Heights' Jewish population migrated west and new ethnicities moved into the

1 William H. Workman, Los Angeles mayor and "father" of Boyle Heights, and his wife Maria inherited the property from her father, Andrew Boyle, namesake of Boyle Heights. Boyle had purchased the homestead from the widow ofEstevan Lopez in 1858; Estevan's granddaughter Sacramenta and her husband, George Cummings, built the Cummings Block (Boyle Hotel) on the corner of First and Boyle in 1889 (HCM #891). Victorian houses. Today, the Gless farmhouse is home to Mariachi musicians, just steps from Mariachi Plaza de Los Angeles and the 1889 Boyle "Mariachi" Hotel, the heart of Boyle Heights' vibrant Mexican community.

Miraculously, the Gless house still stands essentially unchanged from the late 1800s, an elegant Queen Anne "lady" surrounded by newer buildings and unrecognizable old wood-clad houses now encased in stucco. After 125 years, it is threatened with demolition: a "LARGE LOT FOR SALE" sign beckons developers to buy this "teardown," luring them with the opportunity to build less than one-halfblock from the just-opened Mariachi Plaza Metro station on the Gold Line Eastside Extension.

Earlier surveys done in 1980 (Hatheway), 1994 (Starzak for Frank) and 2001 (Slawson for Greenwood), recommended the Gless farmhouse as eligible for the National Register. In the 1994 Los Angeles East Side Extension FEIS/FEIR, Starzak wrote, "The essentially unaltered Gless Residence appears eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criteria C, "as it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a Queen Anne farm house, a type which is becoming increasingly rare in the City of Los Angeles. Furthermore, it appears eligible under Criteria A, as it is associated with the development of the Jewish community in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles." He noted that "the second floor sleeping porch [1916] and rear addition [1919] represent minor alterations to the st:rllcture." A dormer was added in 1980. The stained-glass front door and transom have been replaced

There do not appear to be any significant changes to the structure since the 2001 recommendation. Therefore, the Gless farmhouse again warrants consideration as a Los Angeles City Historic-Cultural Monument because of 1) Its association with the urban and suburban growth ofLos Angeles during the city's boom years of the 1880s, and for its associations with the settlement patterns of the Jewish community in Boyle Heights; 2) It is a good and representative example of a Queen Anne style farmhouse, essentially unchanged except for minor or reversible alterations; and 3) Its association with three individuals who played key roles in the development of greater Los Angeles in the 19th and early 20th Centuries: Simon F. Gless, Gaston Oxarart and Domingo Amestoy. SIMON AND JUANITA l JSS FARM HOUSE BOYLE HEIGHTS

19. SOURCES:

Website: www.historicparks.org - re: Los Encinos State Historic Park Brochure: Los Encinas State Historic Park Copy of survey conducted in 2001 by Greenwood & Associates Survey sheets from the 12/911980 Community Redevelopment Agency Survey Report for Metro Rail Red Line East Extension, 2004, Myra Frank & Associates.

Architectural Historical Survey of Boyle Heights# l(Mt. Pleasant) conducted by Roger G. Hatheway Research 1980

20. DATE FORM PREPARED: JULY j.9, 2009 PREPARER'S NAME: DIANA 0. YBARRA, PRESIDENT (2009-2010) ORGANIZATION: BOYLE HEIGHTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY P.O. BOX 86274 LOS ANGELES, CA 90086-0274

Email secretary at: [email protected] SIMON AND JUANITA Gl 3 FARM HOUSE BOYLE HEIGHTS

ATTACHMENT.!

This description is from the previous State of California Dept. of Parks and Recreation application completed by Myra L. Frank & Assoc., Section 106 Documentation for the Metro Rail Red Line East Extension 1994:

The Simon Gless Fannhouse was constructed in 1886-87 as a single family farm house for Simon and Juanita Gless. The Gless' tract, which originally extended another 150 feet to the south, was used for farming until the early 1890s, and then for raising sheep in 1894. The Glesses continued to reside at the house into the twentieth century, following their retirement. The property improvement value was assessed at $1,800 in 1900, a rather high value for a residential property at that time. They were neighbors of the descendants of Andrew Boyle whose ranch was located immediately to the south of the Gless Tract. In 1867, Boyle's daughter Maria had married William Workman ( from 1887-88) and their son William Workman, Jr. continued to live on the old Boyle property until turning it over to the Jewish Home for the Aged in the late 1910s. The Gless Farm House had become the property of the Hebrew Shelter Home and Asylumprior to 1916, and then served as its office until the Jewish Home for the Aged was built on the old Boyle/Workman property in 1922. The essentially unaltered Gless Residence appears eligible for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion C, as it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a Queen Anne farm house, a type which is becoming increasingly rare in the City of Los Angeles. Furthermore, it appears eligible under Criterion A, as it is associated with the development of the Jewish community in the Boyle Heights area of Los Angeles.

This two-story Queen Anne house is rectangular ;_shaped in plan with a centrally located hipped roof and asymmetrically placed front-facing and side-facing gables. Its farming history is evidence in the simplicity of the design and the restraint of ornamentation. A two-story square tower lighted by two cutaway bay windows and capped by the front-facing gable is placed at one comer of the front fa<;ade. The exterior wall surface is covered with clapboard siding interrupted by a ban of fishscale siding extending around the house between the first and second stories. Accenting the asymmetry of the floor plan, the first and second story porches, each with open railings and narrow wooden porch supports, wrap around one side of the house. Characteristics of the Queen Anne style, a delicate spindlework frieze extends under the first-story porch roof. A pentoid shaped attic ventilator decorates the front gable. The windows are one-over-one double hung sash with simple wooden surrounds. In sharp contrast to nearby commercial properties, the yard is landscaped with trees and bushes. The dormer, second floor sleeping porch and rear addition all were added in the late 1901s during conversion to the Hebrew Asylum Office and represent minor alterations to the structure. BOYLE HEIC!t.iTS HISTORICAL 30CIETY P.o. Box 86274 LOS ANGELES, CA 90086M0274

December 13, 2009

Mr. Edgar Garcia Office of Historic Resources City Hall 200 N. Spring Street, Room 620 Los Angeles, CA 90012

RE: Historic Cultural Monument Application (Boyle Heights Area) Simon Gless Farmhouse -131 S. Boyle Avenue {Physical Address)

Dear Edgar,

Per our telephone conversation, I have asked our advisory board member, Catherine Kurland Lopez, to rewrite our statement of significance portion of this application. Please find enclosed our revised Statement of Significance and edited application.

I would like to confirm if this application will be reviewed in January or February of 2010. Please let me know via e-mail as soon as you have placed the application on agenda. I would like to have supporters present at the hearings, and also submit letters of support. If you would like to meet or discuss prior to the commission hearing, please let me know.

Thank you very much for all you and the commission are doing to preserve the rich history of Los Angles and especially Boyle Heights.

~ely, ... ''Diana~ President 2009-2010

Encl. Mr. & Mrs. Aric D. Gless 2 Arizona Irvine, CA 92606

January 12, 2010

Mr. Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Los Angeles Department of City Planning 200 N. Spring Street, #620 Los Angeles, CA 90012

Re: Gless House, 131 S. Boyle Avenue

Dear Mr. Garcia:

This letter is to urge that the Gless House at 131 S. Boyle Avenue be included on the Register of Los Angeles City Historic~Cultural Monuments.

This house was once the residence of Simon F. Gless and Juanita Arnestoy Gless, who were my great grandparents. Simon had owned the Rancho los Encinas, which occupied most of the east end of the , and is now a State Historical Park. He had obtained it from Gaston Oxarart, and sold it to Domingo Amestoy, both of whom also owned land in other parts of Los Angeles, including Boyle Heights. He builf this house and preferred living here more than at the Encino Ranch.

Simon had land dealings with the major land holders of his time including the Workmans and the Hollenbecks. Not only was the Workman residence next to the Gless property, but at Simon's funeral in 1903, William H. Workman was one of the pallbearers.

Architecturally, the house has retained its "Queen Anne" character. The exterior board siding with its fish scale shingles, the double-hung windows, the post supporting the balcony, and its corbels and frieze all remain as originally built. The interior doors and casings, the main stair newel posts and balustrades, and even the picture rails are still original. The front yard has the oval walk from its early days. The entire property has great potential for restoration. Just as many other houses and early structures in the area are being brought back to their earlier glory, this jewel has great potential to be part of the ever-renewing architectural fabric of Boyle Heights.

I strongly urge your committee to include the Simon & Juanita Gless house into the Register of Los Angeles City Historic-Cultural Monuments.

Sincerely,

Aric D. Gless l l Easy Peel® labels 1 A~ Bend alo!lg line to 1 I ~ AVERY® 5160® Use Avery® Template 5160® J FeedPaper ...... ,_..., expose Pop-Up Edge™ J 1 Case Number: GIS/Fae Tsukamoto Council District 14 CHC-2010-71-HCM City Hall, Room 825 City Hall, Room 465 Declaration Letter Mailing List Mail Stop 395 Mail Stop 223 MAILING DATE: Apr. 08,2010

CRAIL A CRAIL A Cora Mendez Attn: Cynthia F oronda Attn: Cynthia Foronda 131 S. Boyle Ave. 354 S. Spring St., Ste. 800 [email protected] Los Angeles, CA 90033 Mail Stop 182

Diana 0. Ybarra John D. Mendez Aric Gless Boyle Heights Historical Society 12032 Crystal Court 4931 Birch St. PO Box 86274 Chino, CA 91710 Newport Beach, CA 92660 Los Angeles, CA 90086

Bridget Gless Keller Karina Muniz Aric Gless 32 Haldeman Rd. 523 W. 6th St. 2 Arizona Santa Monica, CA 90402 Los Angeles, CA 90014 Irvine, CA 92606

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