Fire Station No. 1 (1444 7Th Street), Santa Monica, CA Landmark and Structure of Merit Assessment Report
Fire Station No. 1 (1444 7th Street), Santa Monica, CA Landmark and Structure of Merit Assessment Report
Prepared for:
City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department 1685 Main Street, Room 212 Santa Monica, CA 90401
Prepared by:
Architectural Resources Group 360 E. 2nd Street, Suite 225 Los Angeles, CA 90012
March 5, 2019
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ...... 2 1.1. Executive Summary ...... 2 1.2. Preparer Qualifications ...... 3 2. Architectural Description ...... 4 2.1. Context and Setting ...... 4 2.2. Site ...... 5 2.3. Building Exterior ...... 5 3. Development Chronology and Alterations ...... 12 4. Historic Contexts ...... 15 4.1. Post‐World War II Civic & Institutional Development (1945‐1977) ...... 15 4.2. Late Moderne Architecture ...... 16 5. Regulations and Criteria for Evaluation ...... 20 5.1. City of Santa Monica Landmarks and Historic Districts Ordinance ...... 20 6. Evaluation of Significance ...... 22 6.1. Previous Evaluations ...... 22 6.2. Evaluation of Local Significance ...... 23 6.3 Period of Significance ...... 26 6.4. Integrity ...... 26 6.5 Character‐Defining Features ...... 27 7. Conclusion ...... 28 8. Bibliography ...... 29
Appendix A: DPR form
Appendix B: Building Permits
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1. Introduction
1.1. Executive Summary At the request of the City of Santa Monica’s Planning and Community Development Department, Architectural Resources Group (ARG) has prepared this Landmark and Structure of Merit Assessment Report for the property at 1444 7th Street, Santa Monica, known as Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1. The property contains a two‐story, Late Moderne style fire station designed by architect J.H. Melstrom and built in 1954 for the City of Santa Monica Fire Department.
ARG evaluated the subject property to determine whether it appears to satisfy one or more of the statutory criteria associated with City of Santa Monica Landmark and Structure of Merit eligibility as listed in Chapter 9.36 (Landmarks and Historic Districts Ordinance) of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. Preparation of this report involved the following tasks related to research, documentation, and analysis:
Visited the property on January 22, 2019 to assess existing conditions and document the building’s exterior with digital photographs;
Reviewed pertinent federal and state technical bulletins, local ordinances, and other reference materials related to the evaluation of historical resources;
Reviewed applicable background materials including historical building permits and Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) data for the subject property;
Conducted supplemental research to glean additional information about the property’s development history, occupancy, and historical significance;
Developed applicable historic contexts and themes; and
Evaluated the building against the City of Santa Monica’s Landmark and Structure of Merit criteria.
Research materials were culled from the following sources: Los Angeles Public Library; Santa Monica Public Library; the archives of the Los Angeles Times, Santa Monica Outlook, and other local periodicals; building permits obtained from the City of Santa Monica’s Planning and Community Development Department; online repositories; and ARG’s in‐house collection of architectural books and reference materials. It should be noted that historical drawings for the building’s 1954 construction and 1978 alterations are no longer on file at the City of Santa Monica building department, historic photographs showing the full extent of the primary façade could not be found, and attempts to contact the Santa Monica Fire Department’s de facto archivist Dominic Smith were unsuccessful. As a result, assessments of the building’s original condition are based largely on the information from building permits, historic photographs showing portions of the south and center primary façade, and historic aerial photographs. A complete list of sources is included in Section 8: Bibliography of this report.
In summary, ARG concludes that Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1 appears to be eligible as a Santa Monica Structure of Merit, however it does not appear eligible as a Santa Monica Landmark. The
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following sections provide a contextual basis for analysis and a detailed discussion of how this determination was made.
1.2. Preparer Qualifications This report was prepared by Mary Ringhoff, Associate, and Lakan Cole, Architectural Historian and Preservation Planner, with oversight by Katie E. Horak, Principal. Ms. Horak, Ms. Ringhoff, and Ms. Cole meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards, 36 CFR Part 61, in the discipline of Architectural History.
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2. Architectural Description
2.1. Context and Setting Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1 at 1444 7th Street is located on the west side of 7th Street, on Block 168, Lots I and H. The block is bound between Santa Monica Boulevard (north) and Broadway (south), within the original town site and Downtown neighborhood of Santa Monica. Like much of Santa Monica, the streets adhere to an orthogonal grid that is skewed slightly west of the cardinal directions, reflecting the contour of the adjacent coastline.
The fire station sits upon a flat, rectangular parcel near the center of the block. The parcel is bound by a five‐story multi‐family residential building to the north and a two‐story multi‐family residential building on the south. To the west, between 7th and 6th Streets, is a vehicular alleyway that provides access to the rear of the building, through a security gate enclosure.
Location map. The subject property, 1444 7th Street, is outlined in red (base map: City of Santa Monica).
The area surrounding the fire station is mixed‐use, primarily developed with one‐ to five‐story multi‐ family residential properties on 7th Street and neighborhood commercial properties on Santa Monica and Broadway. The majority of the surrounding development dates from the post‐World War II period to present‐day, and the properties feature various iterations of Modern and contemporary styles. Only a few nearby properties date to the early decades of the twentieth century.
In keeping with the mix of uses and development periods, the surrounding properties retain a variety of setbacks. Most of the Modern or contemporary mixed‐use residential buildings abut one another and are constructed close to the street wall. These buildings are accessed by a combination of street‐facing
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pedestrian walkways and driveways that lead to below‐grade parking lots, or alternatively, parking lots are located and accessed off of rear alleyways. Buildings of an earlier vintage typically have deeper setbacks, preceded by landscaping, driveways, and/or parking lots in front of the building. A uniform sidewalk and narrow lawn with street trees, contemporary metal street lights, and parking meters intervene between the roadways.
2.2. Site The site is mainly covered in hardscape with minimal landscape features. At the front (east) side of the building, a wide concrete driveway leads to the fire engine garage at the center of the building. Concrete walkways parallel the driveway and lead to pedestrian entrances within the north and south wings. A sidewalk runs perpendicular to the driveway at the east. All of the concrete hardscape is un‐tinted gray and scored in a rectangular grid pattern; except at the north entrance vestibule where it contours to the building and is painted black.
Two small, square plazas frame the north and south ends of the eastern site. The plazas are paved in red brick, and edged along the building wall with curved planters constructed of red brick and concrete coping. A metal flagpole stands at the center the northern plaza, and a tree is planted at the center of the southern plaza. The planters are filled with low shrubs. A narrow strip of lawn and street trees are planted along the east property line, between the sidewalk and street. At the rear (west) side of the building, there is a gray, poured concrete parking lot enclosed by a red‐tinted concrete block wall and chain‐link rolling gate. Access to the parking lot is provided by a one‐way alley.
2.3. Building Exterior The building is positioned towards the east side of the parcel, flush with the sidewalk, and has a rectangular footprint. It is constructed on a concrete foundation. The envelope is framed in metal and wood, and has a complex massing comprising three sections: a central one‐story garage flanked by two, two‐story north and south wings. According to building permits and historic aerial photographs, the north wing was originally one story, comprising a corner volume, recessed bay, and a canopy that extended north from the center garage bays. The north wing was subsequently altered in 1978 with a rectangular, concrete second‐story addition, and it now mirrors the design of the south wing.1 The south wing, twice the width of the northern wing, retains its original volume.
The building has multiple flat roof planes. The roofs are not fully visible from the street but are presumably sheathed in a composition membrane; aerial views show three gable skylights at the center of the garage. Low, unarticulated parapets with concrete coping span the roof edges. From the street, various mechanical units, satellite equipment, and flues are visible across the garage and north wing, and a tall metal mechanical screen is visible at the center of the south wing. A cream‐colored concrete rectangular tower with a flat roof and louvered wall vents rises from the rear.
1 Original building plans and aerial views from HistoricAerials.com show that the north wing was historically one‐story, composed of a 10’‐8” corner volume and a canopy that extended north from the center garage bays. In 1978, an approximately 22’ by 60’ foot rectangular addition was constructed at the second floor of the north wing, which is reflected in the existing conditions. See Section 3, Development Chronology and Alterations, for illustrations.
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The primary façade looks east onto 7th Street. It is asymmetrically configured into three sections. As is typical across all facades, the exterior walls are clad in a combination of brick and concrete. Brick covers most of the ground floor and concrete covers the second floor and parapets. The brick is red and laid up in running bond with gray mortar. The concrete is cream‐colored, and scored in a grid pattern at the primary façade and portions of the secondary façades.
Two large bays form the one‐story fire engine garage at the center of the primary façade. The bays are framed by square, painted concrete piers and the southern opening is twice the width of the northern. Within the openings are non‐historic, multi‐light metal roll‐up garage doors. The doors are painted black, and decal letters reading “E1,” “T1,” and “E6” are applied across the windows. A cream‐colored concrete rectilinear canopy projects over the recessed façade.2 It is supported by a scored concrete parapet and bookended by the north and south wings.
The north and south wings stand proud of the garage and align with the canopy in a unified plane. Similar in design, the north and south wings have ground floors composed of partial‐width brick walls counterbalanced by round concrete columns, and recessed entrances open between the two. The brick wall at the north wing is unarticulated, except for aluminum pin‐mounted letters reading “Santa Monica Fire Department Headquarters” that are attached at the upper register. The brick wall at the south wing is minimally articulated with geometric fenestration including: a horizontal window band at the center, and three, vertically oriented square voids punched through the north side of the wall. The center window is tripartite steel with two fixed lights flanking a center operable awning sash. The window has a steel lintel and concrete sill, and is painted red. The square voids are surrounded in thick, beveled cream‐colored concrete frames, and act as a screen for a recessed entrance vestibule behind the wall.
The primary façade contains two entrances. One is located within a recessed bay at the north wing.3 A vestibule consisting of a historic brick wall to the south and a non‐historic curved brick wall with black‐ coated aluminum windows to the north, precedes the entrance. The entrance contains a non‐historic fully glazed aluminum framed swing‐door, sidelight, and transom. A bronze dedication plaque is adjacent, pin‐mounted to the southern wall.
The second pedestrian entrance is located within the recessed bay of the south wing, next to a single garage door. It is shielded from the sidewalk by the brick wall with punched square voids, projecting from the south. Both the southern entrances (pedestrian and garage) are framed by square, cream‐ painted concrete piers, a continuation from the central garage volume. The pedestrian entrance, to the south, contains a red‐coated metal door set within a cream‐painted wood frame with a hopper transom. North of the pedestrian entrance is a non‐historic, single‐width garage door, that is smaller but similar in design to those adjacent. A metal mailbox is attached to the southern vestibule wall.
Scored concrete walls hover over the ground floor recessed areaways and cover the full width of the second floor, north and south wings. Both second floor façades are arranged with red‐painted, horizontal window bands at the center. The window bands are composed of four, wood‐framed double‐
2 The existing canopy is presumed to be original, although it was likely shortened with the north wing alteration in 1978. 3 The existing configuration and materials of the northern recessed entrance do not appear to be original, but the original condition and alteration dates are unknown.
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hung aluminum sash with horizontal mullions, and a steel lintel frames the southern band. The southern windows are replacements post‐dating 1989, while the northern windows likely date to 1978.
Due to its complex massing, the building has multiple secondary façades. The north façade is partially engaged with the adjacent five‐story building and obscured from public view. However, building plans indicate that it is unarticulated.4 The south, interior, and rear (west) façades are visible to varying degrees, but building plans provide some clarity as to the ground floor conditions.5
The south façade is open to the neighbor’s parking lot. It has a brick ground floor and concrete second floor, which is partially scored at the east corner and then smooth beyond. Fenestration consists of six to eight, single and paired punched windows. The windows toward the east are double‐hung metal sash with horizontal mullions and translucent glazing, and similar to the primary façade, are likely replacements. Windows towards the west are multi‐light, steel sash with translucent glazing and an awning operation, and likely original. The south façade windows are framed in white‐painted steel lintels and concrete sills. Various exhaust pipes, downspouts, and vents are prevalent across this façade.
The interior façades, at the second floor of the north and south wings, are partially visible over the primary and rear façades. Overall, smooth concrete walls give way to punched fenestration. The south wing appears to have original, multi‐light steel sash with translucent glazing and an awning operation, while the north wing windows are two‐light aluminum sliders that likely date to 1978. A single door is also visible at the east end of the north wing’s interior façade.
The rear (west) façade is partially visible above a concrete block security gate that encloses a rear parking lot. Unlike other façades, the rear has multiple planes due to an original one‐story, bump‐out volume at the south wing and the 1978 second floor addition to the north wing. The ground floor is clad entirely in brick and stands proud of smooth concrete, recessed second floor façades. The second floor façades are minimally visible, but fenestration is presumed to match other secondary façade conditions. Fenestration at the ground floor consists of large, multi‐light windows and a single door, flanking a central garage. The garage comprises a non‐historic garage door matching those at the primary façade and a red‐coated metal door set within a cream‐painted wood frame. A cream‐colored concrete rectilinear canopy shelters the garage. Two non‐historic red canvas awnings are installed above the flanking fenestration at the north and south ends, and various appurtenances are attached across the façade.
4 Site Plan, Fire Station #1 at 1444 7th Street, City of Santa Monica Civil Engineering & Architecture, 2018. 5 Ibid.
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Historic Photos
Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1, 1444 7th Street, ca. 1960 (Santa Monica Public Library).
Fire Station No. 1, 1971 (Santa Monica History Museum Online Collections Database)
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Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1, 1444 7th Street, ca. 1989 (Santa Monica Public Library).
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Existing Conditions Photos
Primary (east) façade, overall view southwest (ARG, Primary (east) façade, overall view northwest (ARG, 2019). 2019).
Primary façade, view west at the north wing recessed Primary façade, view southwest at the south wing entrance vestibule (ARG, 2019). recessed entrance vestibule (ARG, 2019).
Primary façade, detail view of the tripartite window at Primary façade, detail view of the punched square the ground floor, south wing (ARG, 2019). voids at the ground floor, south wing (ARG, 2019).
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Interior south façade, view northwest at the second South facade, overall view northwest (ARG, 2019). floor north wing addition with aluminum slider windows (ARG, 2019).
Rear (west) façade, view southeast at the concrete Rear (west) façade, overall view southeast (ARG, block wall and security gate that separates the rear 2019). parking lot from the rear alley (ARG, 2019).
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3. Development Chronology and Alterations
The following development chronology for Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1 was compiled from a variety of archival sources, including historical building permits from the Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department; Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps; historic photos and aerial images; parcel data from the Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor; the collections of the Santa Monica Public Library and other local and online repositories; and other archival sources of information.
1954 Permit issued to construct a new fire station at 1444 7th Street. The building is listed as a 2‐story, metal and wood frame masonry building, measuring 95’‐11” by 76’‐6”, 36‐ feet in height, and valued at $140,000. J.H. Melstrom is listed as the architect and City of Santa Monica as the owner (Permit No. B15818).
1958 The two existing red canvas awnings at the rear (west) façade are replacements, according to views of the rear façade in a 1958 video that shows metal awnings at these locations.6
1971 A decorative screen fronting the windows at the second‐story south wing of the primary façade and a metal awning at the second‐story south wing interior elevation both existed at the time of a 1971 photograph. The decorative screen was removed sometime between 1971 and 1989, and the metal awning was removed sometime after 1989.7
1978 Permit issued to construct a second‐floor addition for administrative offices at the north wing of the building. The addition is listed as a wood frame masonry building, measuring 60’‐9” by 22’‐10”, culminating in a height of 25’‐1” feet, and valued at $80,000. Joseph W. Eubanks is listed as the contractor, and City of Santa Monica is listed as the architect and owner (Permit No. B50960).
1986 Permit issued for the remodel of the second floor of the fire station to provide facilities for male and female occupancy. Jack Marion of the Santa Monica Engineering Department is listed as the architect/engineer; E.I. Co. Construction as the contractor, and City of Santa Monica as the owner (Permit No. 58373).
Post‐1989 Garage doors and windows at the south side of the primary (east) façade replaced (comparison of present doors and windows with a 1989 photograph).
1997 Plan check for construction of interior partitions in the office area. City of Santa Monica is listed as the contractor and owner (Plan Check No. PC05951).
6 Gary Goldsmith, A Day with Firefighter Bill (1958), Vimeo video, 10:32, posted by “HMH Archive” USC School of Cinematic Arts Hugh M. Hefner Moving Image Archives, 2017, https://vimeo.com/179922041. 7 1971 photograph, Santa Monica History Museum Online Collections Database, https://santamonica.pastperfectonline.com/; and ca.1989 photography, Santa Monica Public Library.
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2004 Plan check for demolition of an existing non‐bearing partition wall to construct a new N.B.P.W., new sleeping quarter, and restroom; and to reopen a new doorway through an existing brick wall. Alex Parry, Santa Monica City Architect is listed as the applicant (Plan Check No. PC016516).
2005 Plan check for interior improvements in the office area. Alex Parry, Santa Monica City Architect is listed as the applicant (Plan Check No. PC013178).
Several other alterations that are not explicitly reflected in the permit record for the property were also noted during a recent site visit conducted by ARG and, whenever possible, were corroborated by historic photos and other documentary sources. These alterations include the following:
The north entrance, including the aluminum door, sidelight and transom, and curved brick vestibule wall with aluminum windows seem to be non‐historic, possibly dating to the 1978 north wing alteration.
Some windows at the south façade appear to be replacements.
North Wing Addition
Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1, 1444 7th Street, 2019 (ARG), with the 1978 north wing addition outlined in red.
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Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1, 1444 7th Street, 1954 (Building Permit B15818, 6/10/54), dashed red line outlining the original one‐story north wing configuration with longer canopy.
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4. Historic Contexts
4.1. Post‐World War II Civic & Institutional Development (1945‐1977)8 Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1 is associated with the pattern of post‐World War II civic and institutional development in Santa Monica, a pattern of development which was assigned a period of significance 1945‐1977 in the Santa Monica Citywide Historic Context Statement. The building was constructed in 1954, commissioned and operated for a civic purpose, as a fire station, and reflected civic progress at the time of its dedication in 1955.
Typical of many Southern California cities, Santa Monica grew exponentially in the postwar period. The population during the war was already on the rise as workers drawn from across the country sought out jobs at Douglas Aircraft. In the years following the war, returning service personnel, newcomers traveling to the end of Route 66 at Santa Monica Pier, and expanding families were also making the city their permanent residence. This, coupled with the expansion of the business district and leisure industry in the downtown area, was pushing the city to its limits, not just in terms of space for the growing population, but in the demand for public services. For example, at Sears’ grand opening in 1949, approximately 40 police officers were called to duty to manage a crowd of some 2,200 shoppers.9
At that time, the city government consisted of a three‐person commission and proved inadequate to meet the growing needs. In 1946, a new charter was voted in and promised to improve governance with a new city council‐manager form of government.10 The seven‐member City Council would set policy and an appointed City Manager would direct city staff and administration in executing those polices on a day‐to‐day basis. The new government and the first City Manager, Randall Dorton, were installed in 1947 and yielded quick improvements.
In addition to new libraries, a new civic auditorium, and a new water reservoir and treatment plant, improvements to the city’s fire services were prioritized during the postwar period. For over 40 years prior, the Fire Department had evolved from a citizen volunteer unit “armed with axes, ladders and a mere 1,000 feet of hose” known as the Santa Monica Hose and Ladder Company, to a professionalized service in 1916, to driving gasoline engine vehicles.11 Santa Monica had three fire stations by 1925 including: Station No. 1 that was located at 4th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard behind the original City Hall, Station No. 2 at 2528 Washington Avenue, and Station No. 3 at 1501 20th Street.12 Fire Station No. 1 was the headquarters, occupied by the commanding officers, and served as the administrative center for the department.
8 Santa Monica’s Historic Context Statement (Historic Resources Group and Architectural Resources Group, 2018) defines 1945‐ 1977 as the period of significance for the city’s post‐World War II civic and institutional properties. 9 Paula A. Scott, The Making of America Series: Santa Monica, A History on the Edge, Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, 2004, 125‐ 129. 10 Ibid. 11 “A Brief History of the Fire Department,” Santa Monica Fire Department, 2019. 12 Historic Resources Group and Architectural Resources Group, “City of Santa Monica Historic Resources Inventory Update: Historic Context Statement,” prepared for the City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department, City Planning Division, March 2018, 199.
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4.1a. Fire Station No. 1, 1444 7th Street Santa Monica dedicated substantial resources to improving its fire department’s reach and abilities during the postwar period. In 1955, City Manager Randall M. Dorton declared “half a million dollars [was] spent on new buildings and equipment for the department plus more than two and a half million dollars for improved fire protection through the municipal water system.”13 The first of the new buildings constructed appears to have been Fire Station No. 1, which left its old location behind City Hall in favor of a new building at 1444 7th Street. New buildings for Fire Stations No. 2 and 3 followed. Fire Station No. 2 was constructed at 222 Hollister Avenue in 1967, and Fire Station No. 3 was constructed at 1302‐08 19th Street in 1970.14 The City selected the site at 1444 7th Street for Station No. 1 as the least contentious of three options amidst complaints from residents who were opposed to hearing the sound of fire engines at their door steps. It appropriated $25,000 for the parcel’s purchase.15 Architect J.H. Melstrom was selected as the architect, and the $165,000 building was constructed in 1954 in the Late Moderne style. At the building’s dedication in 1955, the City Manager commended Fire Chief Charles Carrell and his men for their contribution to the improved fire defense of the city over the previous decades. A reporter observed, “Visiting firemen viewed with envy the modern features of the new building which will house departmental administrative offices, the fire prevention bureau and training and communications center in addition to a truck company, engine company and rescue squad.”16
Over the next 50 years, Station No. 1 continued to serve as the headquarters for the Santa Monica Fire Department, providing fire and rescue service to the continuously growing and developing city. The Department has endeavored to stay on the cutting edge. In 1974, they became the first in the nation to deliver paramedic services via a fire engine company.17 In 1978, Station No. 1 was expanded to accommodate additional administrative offices, and in 1986, rooms for female occupancy were constructed. Today, Chief Bill Walker leads 110 civilian and firefighting staff members charged with protecting more than 92,000 residents within 8.3 square miles.18
4.2. Late Moderne Architecture19 Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1 exhibits characteristics of the Late Moderne style. Late Moderne is a hybrid style of architecture prolific during the 1950s, drawings upon the prewar precedent of Streamline
13 “New Fire Station Reflects Progress of Department,” Santa Monica Evening Outlook, 1955. 14 Assessor’s Recording Date for “222 Hollister Avenue, Santa Monica, CA” and “1308 19th Street, Santa Monica, CA” Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor, accessed January 2019. The 1967 Fire Station No. 2 was replaced with a new building at the same location in the late 1990s (“A Modernistic Firehouse Goes Down in Flames,” Los Angeles Times 1/23/97). 15 “Seventh St. Fire Station Chosen,” Santa Monica Evening Outlook, 1953. 16 “New Fire Station,” 1955. 17 “A Brief History,” 2019. 18 Ibid. 19 Excerpted from Historic Resources Group & Architectural Resources Group, “City of Santa Monica Historic Context Statement,” prepared for the City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department, City Planning Division, March 2018; and, Architectural Resources Group, “Los Angeles Citywide Historic Context Statement: Architecture and
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Moderne and the International style, which had gained popularity in the postwar period. Late Moderne is considered to be the final phase of the Moderne movement in that it “extend[ed] the Streamline Moderne idiom into the post‐war era.”20
In the 1930s, the smooth surfaces, curved corners, and sweeping horizontal lines inspired by the streamlined shapes and efficiency of cars, planes, trains, and ocean liners prevailed. Streamline Moderne was considered to be the first thoroughly Modern architectural style to achieve widespread acceptance among the American public. However, World War II in the 1940s effectively marked the end of both the Streamline Moderne, and associated PWA Moderne styles. The moratorium on building enforced during wartime prevented their proliferation, and during this interlude architects had the opportunity to explore new modes of expression. By 1946, when the nation emerged from the war, it had been years since either style had made a mark upon the built environment. Thus, they were largely seen as outmoded and evocative of a previous Depression and World War II era that Americans wished to leave behind.
However, the fundamental tenets of the Moderne movement did not disappear overnight. In the years immediately after the war, many architects were dabbling in the application of Modernism and specifically the International Style, but also relied on tried‐and‐true aesthetic principles while they were honing and perfecting a new Modern language. After the 1960s, the style gradually fell out of favor as Americans became increasingly familiar and showed a preference for “purer” interpretations of Modern architecture.
Like the Streamline Moderne and PWA Moderne styles, Late Moderne buildings adopted the tenets of horizontality and their massing reflects an ensemble of heavy interlocking volumes with punched fenestration. Materials such as natural stone, Roman brick, and stucco were used to provide buildings with a sense of warmth and texture. Yet, clearly moving forward with the doctrines of the International Style, Late Moderne building forms tend to be angular rather than aerodynamic, and display compositions of solid rectilinear volumes that are placed in balanced contrast to one another. Exterior surfaces are often characterized by large, monotonous wall expanses or continuous horizontal or vertical groups of windows. Common ornamental features include fins, grids, pylons, “bezeled” windows with a flange or fin that surrounds them to creates a heavy shadow line, , and walls with holes or square voids “punched” into them.
Engineering/Los Angeles Modernism,” prepared for the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning, 2019, p.47‐48 & 84‐ 85. 20 National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Bullock’s Pasadena, prepared by Alan Hess, Leslie Heumann and Maggie Valentine, Feb. 1996, 8.20.
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Character‐defining features of the Late Moderne style include:
Heavy massing with a horizontal emphasis Exposed concrete or cement plaster veneer, sometimes brick Flat roofs Horizontal bands windows, particularly “bezeled” windows Operable steel sash windows (casement, awning, or hopper) Projecting window frames Ornamental features such as fins, grids, pylons, and holes or square, “punched” voids Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1 was constructed during the peak of the Late Moderne style in 1954. The building exhibits the character‐defining features of the Late Moderne style in its heavy massing and horizontal expression. A sense of horizontality would have been particularly emphasized in the building’s original design with its elongated one‐story northern volume covered by a canopy, but the second‐floor addition at the north wing altered this expression. The building has a flat roof, “warm” brick and scored concrete cladding, and horizontal bands of windows, including some original metal/steel awning sash windows. The ornamental detail of square, punched voids that are extant at the original south wing primary façade is a signature of the Late Moderne style.
4.2a. Architect John Harold Melstrom The building was designed by architect John Harold Melstrom. Melstrom was born in Ohio in 1896 and died in Los Angeles in 1983.21 During his life and career, he attended The Ohio State University, graduating with a degree in architecture in 1922, and went on to practice in California. Melstrom is known for a few building projects in Santa Monica, including the subject property, an addition to City Hall in 1958 (no longer extant), and a Salvation Army building at 1533 4th Street in 1950 (no longer extant).22 The City Hall addition was a three‐story brick and concrete volume constructed at the rear of the building to provide 36,000 square feet of additional space for the police, traffic engineer, and recreation departments.23 A rendering of the Salvation Army building reflected a brick and concrete structure designed with a Late Moderne aesthetic including heavy, boxy massing, horizontal window bands and square, punched voids.24 In Los Angeles, Melstrom designed another Salvation Army building, the Junior League Girls Club at 1532 West 11th Street in 1953.25 This building also reflected a Late Moderne aesthetic in its heavy massing and vertical banding across the primary façade. These projects suggest that Melstrom specialized in institutional designs in the Late Moderne style, though he does not seem to have been particularly prolific or well known.
21 Information about the life of Melstrom was gleaned from Voter Registration and Death Index at ancestry.com; and The Ohio State Engineer, Ohio State University, 1922. 22 “Salvation Army Plans for New Building Told,” Los Angeles Times, 1950. 23 Historic Resources Group & Architectural Resources Group, “City of Santa Monica Historic Context Statement,” p.223. 24 Ibid. 25 “Ground Breaking Ceremony Set for Junior League Girls’ Club,” Los Angeles Times, 1953.
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4.2b. Contractor Parr Construction Company The building was constructed by contractor Parr Construction Company of Culver City. Under the leadership of John S. Parr, a resident of Cheviot Hills, Parr Construction Company was a prolific builder of civic and commercial projects across the Southern California region in the postwar years. Often the most competitive bidder, the company was awarded contracts for the West Los Angeles Regional Branch Library (1958), John Anson Ford Regional Sports Center in Bell Gardens (1958), County Museum in Exposition Park (1958), and Palms Library (1963), among many others.26 However, research did not yield significant Santa Monica‐based projects by the company beyond the subject property, nor did it indicate Parr was known for innovative or influential approaches.
26 “Sports Center Construction is Under Way;” “New $255,000 Library in West L.A. Started;” “Receive Low Bid on New Museum Wing;” and ”Palms Library Low Bid is $121,980,” Los Angeles Times, 1958‐1963.
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5. Regulations and Criteria for Evaluation
5.1. City of Santa Monica Landmarks and Historic Districts Ordinance Historic preservation in Santa Monica is governed by Chapter 9.56 (Landmarks and Historic Districts Ordinance) of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. The Ordinance was adopted by the Santa Monica City Council on March 24, 1976 and was amended in 1987 and again in 1991.27 Its current version was adopted in 2015. Among the primary objectives achieved by the Ordinance was the creation of a local designation program for buildings, structures, sites, objects, districts, and landscapes in the City that are of historical significance.
With respect to individually significant properties, the Ordinance distinguishes between two tiers of designation: Landmarks and Structures of Merit. Landmarks, outlined in §9.56.100, are considered to exhibit “the highest level of individual historical or architectural significance;” Santa Monica’s designated landmarks include well‐known and highly significant properties like the Rapp Saloon, Santa Monica City Hall, and the John Byers Adobe. Structures of Merit, outlined in §9.56.080, possess a degree of individual significance that is more limited in scope.28 Protections against demolition and alterations are commensurate with the tier of individual designation assigned to a particular resource.
In addition to individual Landmarks and Structures of Merit, the Ordinance establishes statutory criteria and procedures for the designation of Historic Districts, defined in §9.56.030 as a “geographic area or noncontiguous grouping of thematically related properties” that collectively contribute to the historic character of an area within the City. Per a 2014 revision to the Ordinance, district applications may be filed and subsequently approved by City Council with or without a majority of owner support.29
Per §9.56.100(A) of the Ordinance, a property merits consideration as a Landmark if it satisfies one or more of the following six statutory criteria:
(1) It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history of the City;
(2) It has aesthetic or artistic interest or value, or other noteworthy interest or value;
(3) It is identified with historic personages or with important events in local, state, or national history;
(4) It embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail, or historical type valuable to such a study;
27 City of Santa Monica General Plan, “Historic Preservation Element,” prepared by PCR Services Corporation and Historic Resources Group (September 2002), 1‐2. 28 City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department, “Historic Preservation in Santa Monica,” accessed January 2019, http://www.smgov.net/departments/PCD/Programs/Historic‐Preservation/. 29 Steve Mizokami, personal communication March 4, 2019.
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(5) It is a significant or a representative example of the work or product of a notable builder, designer, or architect; and/or,
(6) It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City.
Per §9.56.080 of the Ordinance, a property merits consideration as a Structure of Merit if it satisfies one or more of the following two statutory criteria:
(1) It has been identified in the City’s Historic Resources Inventory; and/or,
(2) It is a minimum of 50 years of age and meets one of the following criteria:
a. It is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type.
b. It is representative of a style in the City that is no longer prevalent.
c. The structure contributes to a potential Historic District.
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6. Evaluation of Significance
6.1. Previous Evaluations Santa Monica Fire Station No. 1 at 1444 7th Street was identified in two iterations of the City’s Historic Resource Inventory (HRI). In the City’s HRI Update in 2010, it was found eligible as a Structure of Merit. In the 2018 HRI Update, it was found eligible as a Santa Monica Landmark.
The 2010 HRI Update concluded that the property appeared to be individually eligible for listing as a Santa Monica Structure of Merit. The findings were as follows:
The structure is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type. The architectural design is attributed to J.H. Melstrom. This property represents a very good example of the Late Moderne architectural style as applied to a fire station in Santa Monica. Given the rarity of the style in the City‐along with its high level of physical and historical integrity‐ the property appears eligible for individual listing as a Santa Monica Structure of Merit.30
In 2018, another comprehensive update to the HRI was completed. The 2018 HRI update elevated the previous finding and concluded that the property appears to be individually eligible for listing as a Santa Monica Landmark. The findings were as follows:
1444 7th Street (Fire Station No. 1) appears eligible for listing as a Santa Monica Landmark. The property is an excellent example of Mid‐Century Modern architecture as applied to an institutional building. Constructed in 1954, it exhibits distinctive characteristics that are associated with the style as expressed by its form, massing, composition, and architectural details. The property is also significant for representing broad patterns of institutional history in Santa Monica. Its construction reflects the expansion of municipal services in the postwar period, as Santa Monica's population witnessed unprecedented growth.31
The current iteration of the HRI reflects this finding, with the California Historical Resource Status Code 5S3 (appears to be individually eligible for local listing or designation through survey evaluation). The two previous HRI evaluations of Fire Station No. 1 appear to have been based upon the assumption that the building exhibited an original condition. These determinations were made on field observations and limited supplemental research. However, more intensive research into the original building conditions and the alteration history seems to indicate that it originally had a one‐story north wing and was subsequently remodeled in 1978 with a second‐floor addition at the north wing to assume its present‐ day appearance.
30 Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) 523 Form, “Fire Station #1 1444 7th Street,” prepared Dec. 2010 by ICF International. DPR forms prepared for the subject property are appended to this report. 31 Appendix B: 2018 Historic Resources Inventory Update ‐ Individual Resources, “1444 7th Street,” prepared September 2018 by Architectural Resources Group.
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6.2. Evaluation of Local Significance
Santa Monica Landmark ARG concludes that 1444 7th Street does not appear eligible for listing as a Santa Monica Landmark due to a loss of integrity. Following is a discussion of how this finding was made.
9.56.100(A)(1). It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history of the City.
The subject property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. Although 1444 7th Street is associated with civic development in Santa Monica during the post‐World War II period, when rapid population growth necessitated more and newer civic service facilities, it has experienced substantial alterations at the primary façade which cumulatively hinder its ability to accurately convey its original condition, date of construction and historical association. These alterations include enlargement of the north wing, alteration of the north wing canopy and primary entrance, and loss of original windows and doors. Due to these alterations, the property no longer exemplifies the patterns of civic development or associated cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history of the City that would render it eligible under this criterion.
9.56.100(A)(2). It has aesthetic or artistic interest or value, or other noteworthy interest or value.
The subject property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. The building is a modest example of the Late Moderne architectural style with few architectural features of aesthetic interest or value, including horizontal framed window bands and square punched voids. Other characterizing elements, including an elongated canopy at the northern entrance, were lost with the 1978 second‐floor addition to the north wing. As a result, 1444 7th Street does not possess the level of aesthetic or artistic interest or value that would render it noteworthy under this criterion.
9.56.100(A)(3). It is identified with historic personages or with important events in local, state, or national history.
The subject property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. The building was commissioned and has been continually owned by the City of Santa Monica. It has operated as the Santa Monica Fire Department’s Headquarters and is identified with a roster of ranking officers, staff, and department‐ wide events. However, research did not indicate that the building is associated with any singularly important individuals or events in local, state, or national history that would merit consideration under this criterion.
9.56.100(A)(4). It embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail, or historical type valuable to such a study.
The subject property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. It reflects characteristics of the Late Moderne style, which was commonly applied to civic and commercial buildings in Santa Monica in the 1940s and ‘50s. However, the building is a relatively modest example of the style. When compared to the pool of extant Late Moderne buildings in the downtown neighborhood, such as the Associated
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Telephone Company Building (604 Arizona Street, A.C. Martin & Associates, 1950) and Christian Institute of Spiritual Science (1308 2nd Street, Roy J. Beck, 1949), the subject property does not stand out as a unique or rare example of Late Moderne design.32 Furthermore, the northern third of the building’s primary façade was significantly altered in 1978, making a full and accurate reading of its original Late Moderne design illegible as a result. In terms of its historical type, the property is recognizable as a postwar fire station, but the alterations to the primary façade have greatly compromised its ability to contribute to a study of the property type in Santa Monica, as well as within the broader context of postwar fire stations in Los Angeles.33 For these reasons, the building does not appear to be eligible for listing under this criterion.
9.56.100(A)(5). It is a significant or a representative example of the work or product of a notable builder, designer, or architect.
The subject property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. The original building permit identifies J.H. Melstrom as the architect. Melstrom is a little known architect, and research only revealed his involvement with two other projects in Santa Monica and one in Los Angeles. In Santa Monica, Melstrom designed an addition to the rear of City Hall (no longer extant) and a building for the Salvation Army (no longer extant). The Salvation Army building was planned for construction in 1950 and renderings showed a similar Late Moderne style with boxy massing and square punched voids as the subject property. In Los Angeles, Melstrom is known for his work on another Salvation Army building, the Junior League Girls Club at 1532 West 11th Street in 1953.34 This building also reflected a Late Moderne aesthetic in its heavy massing and vertical banding across the primary façade.
Parr Construction Company was the contractor for the subject property. The company was active in the postwar years with numerous civic and commercial building projects across Southern California, including the West Los Angeles Regional Branch Library (1958), John Anson Ford Regional Sports Center in Bell Gardens (1958), County Museum in Exposition Park (1958), and Palms Library (1963) to name a few. However, a number of said projects were awarded as the lowest bids, and research did not yield any other notable references about the builder’s work. Additionally, research yielded few examples of Parr Construction’s work in Santa Monica beyond the subject property. No information could be found about the contractor, Joseph W. Eubanks, who was identified in association with the 1978 alteration. For these reasons, there is not sufficient evidence to conclude that the subject property is a significant or a representative work of a notable builder, designer, or architect.
9.56.100(A)(6). It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community, or the City.
The subject property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. The subject property is located on a mid‐ block parcel, and like most fire stations, it is surrounded by a mixed‐use neighborhood. The site was
32 This information was gleaned from a review of the findings of the 2018 HRI Update. 33 City of Los Angeles, “SurveyLA Los Angeles Citywide Historic Context Statement, Context: Public and Private Institutional Development, 1850‐1980, Sub‐Context: Government Infrastructure and Services, 1850‐1980, Theme: Municipal Fire Stations, Subtheme: Post World War II Fire Stations, 1947‐1963,” prepared by Daniel Prosser and Mary Ringhoff for the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning, Office of Historic Resources (2017). 34 “Ground Breaking Ceremony Set for Junior League Girls’ Club,” Los Angeles Times, 1953.
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historically selected as not the best but the least controversial of options. The subject property does not possess a singular physical characteristic that is particularly memorable or noteworthy. Designed to fit within a neighborhood context, it has the typical features of a fire station, including a flag pole, tower, and multiple large garage doors. However, the massing, scale, materials, and architectural vocabulary do not enable it to stand out amidst the surrounding larger scale, boxy, and stucco buildings with garages. The subject property is a public service building that has been located in the same location for 65 years and is most likely a familiar presence to those who are intimately familiar with the neighborhood or have attended an event at the building. However, it does not appear to be a significant visual feature of the neighborhood, community, or the City as would qualify eligibility under this criterion.
Santa Monica Structure of Merit ARG concludes that 1444 7th Street appears eligible for listing as a Santa Monica Structure of Merit as the improvement includes the following characteristics.
9.56.080(A). It has been identified in the City’s Historic Resources Inventory.
The subject property was identified in the City’s Historic Resources Inventory Updates in 2010 and 2018 and thus meets this criterion.
9.56.080(B). It is a minimum of 50 years of age and meets one of the following criteria:
The subject property satisfies this criterion. It was constructed in 1954 and is 65 years old.
9.56.080(B)(1). It is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type.
The subject property appears to satisfy this criterion, as a rare example of a 1950s fire station in Santa Monica. The city’s already‐small pool of three fire stations constructed as part of postwar civic improvements between 1954 and 1970 was reduced to two when Fire Station No. 2 was replaced, meaning 1444 7th Street is a historical type notable for its rarity. It is the earliest of the three postwar fire stations, constructed 13 years before Fire Station No. 2 (1967, no longer extant) and 16 years before Fire Station No. 3 (1970, extant). As a result, it is more directly reflective of the City’s civic improvements in the first years after World War II, when funding became available and the City dedicated itself to constructing new facilities to service the growing population. The property is not a unique or rare example of the Late Moderne style, as it is a modest expression of the style that does not stand out as an exemplary, unique, or rare example when compared to the pool of extant Late Moderne style buildings in Santa Monica.35 Furthermore, its design has been compromised by substantial alterations to the primary façade after the period of significance. Despite its alterations, the property remains recognizable as a rare example of a historical type – a 1950s fire station – in Santa Monica, and therefore its significance does appear to rise to the Structure of Merit level.
9.56.080(B)(2). It is representative of a style in the City that is no longer prevalent.
35 This information was gleaned from a review of the findings of the 2018 HRI Update.
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The subject property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. The property at 1444 7th Street is representative of the Late Moderne style, which is prevalent in downtown Santa Monica. There are 14 resources identified in the City’s HRI.
9.56.080(B)(3). The structure contributes to a potential Historic District.
The subject property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. The property at 1444 7th Street is located in a neighborhood characterized by a wide range of building types, architectural styles, and dates of construction. Within the immediate environs, between 6th and 7th Streets and Broadway and Santa Monica Boulevard, the majority of the buildings are residential, commercial, or mixed‐use, constructed between the 1980s and 2000s in contemporary styles. Only two other buildings on the block, 1447 7th Street (1949) and 1448 7th Street (1952), have related dates of construction to the subject property, and neither have distinctive features of the Late Moderne style. The neighborhood has not been previously identified as a potential historic district and does not appear to be one. Therefore, the subject property does not appear to be a contributor to a potential historic district.
6.3 Period of Significance The subject property’s period of significance as a historical type is defined as 1954, the date of its construction.
6.4. Integrity Integrity is the ability of a property to convey its significance, and is defined by the National Park Service (NPS) as the “authenticity of a property’s historic identity, evidenced by the survival of physical characteristics that existed during the property’s prehistoric or historic period.”36 NPS identifies seven aspects of integrity: location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.
Both the National Register and California Register enumerate that a resource must retain sufficient integrity to be eligible for listing. The Santa Monica Landmarks and Historic Districts Ordinance does not include specific language about integrity. When evaluating historic resources in municipalities where the historic preservation ordinance does not provide guidance for assessing integrity, in accordance with best professional practices it is customary to use the National Register’s seven aspects of integrity to assess whether or not a resource retains sufficient integrity to convey its significance at the local level.
Following is an integrity analysis for 1444 7th Street:
Location: The building remains on its original site and therefore retains integrity of location.
Design: Original building plans and photographic evidence in historic aerial views as well as photos of the partial primary façade indicate that the subject property was originally designed in the Late Moderne style as a balanced but an asymmetrical volume, which at the primary façade was expressed in a one‐story north wing and central garage covered by an elongated canopy, and a two‐story south wing. However, in 1978 the north wing was altered with a second story, and
36 U.S. Department of the Interior, National Register Bulletin 16A: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form (Washington D.C.: National Park Service, 1997), 4.
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other changes to the primary façade occurred overtime, including the loss of original fenestration. While the building’s essential form, plan, and materials are intact, the cumulative effect of later alterations is a loss of integrity of design.
Setting: When it was constructed in 1954, the subject property was surrounded by many small residential buildings with generous setbacks along 7th Street. Since the 1950s, most of those buildings have been demolished and replaced with larger, five‐story mixed‐use buildings that form a dominant street wall. As a result, the setting in the immediate vicinity as a low‐scale residential district has not been maintained over time. Thus, the building does not retain integrity of setting.
Materials: Most of building’s original brick and concrete cladding remains; however, fenestration at the primary and south façades and the ground‐floor primary entrance vestibule have been replaced in recent years. Due to these alterations, the building’s integrity of materials has been compromised but not lost entirely.
Workmanship: The building was designed with few details of workmanship, but the general construction of the building, including its laid brick, scored concrete, and punched details, are retained enough convey the original 1950s workmanship. For this reason, its integrity of workmanship has been maintained.
Feeling: As discussed above, the building has undergone major alterations to its design and setting, with lesser loss of materials. As a result it is no longer able to evoke the aesthetic or historic sense of its period of development. It does not appear to retain this element of integrity.
Association: The building retains the look, feel, and appearance of a 1950s fire station, and retains notable associative elements including a flagpole, hose drying tower, and period‐ appropriate signage identifying it as Fire Station No. 1. Its integrity of association has therefore been maintained.
6.5 Character‐Defining Features Following is a list of character‐defining features for 1444 7th Street: Site Mid‐block location Shallow setback from sidewalk with broad central driveway Exterior Horizontal emphasis Flat rooflines Vehicle‐size door openings at center of primary façade, shaded by canopy Brick and scored concrete cladding Two‐story volume with horizontal window band at south portion of primary façade Punched concrete decorative openings Recessed entry assemblies at primary façade
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7. Conclusion
Based on documentary evidence, site analysis, the development of historic contexts, and an evaluation against local eligibility criteria, ARG finds that the property at 1444 7th Street does not appear to be eligible as a Santa Monica Landmark. Due to significant alterations at the primary façade, its integrity has been compromised to the extent that it can no longer adequately express the high‐level of associative or architectural qualities required for listing. However, ARG finds that the property does appear to be eligible as a Santa Monica Structure of Merit per §9.56.080(B) and §9.56.080(B)(1) due to its age value, being 65 years old, and as a rare remaining example of a historical type (a postwar fire station). Per §9.56.080(A), the property also appears eligible as a Structure of Merit due to its identification in two previous Historic Resource Inventory updates.
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8. Bibliography
Books, Periodicals, Reports, and Other Published Materials
City of Los Angeles. “SurveyLA Los Angeles Citywide Historic Context Statement, Context: Public and Private Institutional Development, 1850‐1980, Sub‐Context: Government Infrastructure and Services, 1850‐1980, Theme: Municipal Fire Stations, Subtheme: Post World War II Fire Stations, 1947‐1963.” Prepared by Daniel Prosser and Mary Ringhoff for the City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning, Office of Historic Resources, 2017.
City of Santa Monica General Plan, “Historic Preservation Element,” prepared by PCR Services Corporation and Historic Resources Group (September 2002).
Historic Resources Group and Architectural Resources Group. “City of Santa Monica Historic Resources Inventory Update: Historic Context Statement.” Prepared for the City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department, City Planning Division, March 2018.
Historic Resources Group and Architectural Resources Group. “City of Santa Monica Historic Resources Inventory Update: Appendix B: Individual Resources, 1444 7th Street.” Prepared for the City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department, City Planning Division, March 2018.
ICF Jones & Stokes. “Santa Monica Citywide Historic Resources Inventory Update Final Report.” Prepared by ICF Jones & Stokes for the City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department, 2010.
ICF Jones & Stokes. “Santa Monica Citywide Historic Resources Inventory Update Final Report: DPR Form, 1444 7th Street.” Prepared by ICF Jones & Stokes for the City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department, 2010.
National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for Bullock’s Pasadena, prepared by Alan Hess, Leslie Heumann and Maggie Valentine, 1996.
Scott, Paula A. The Making of America Series: Santa Monica, A History on the Edge,” Arcadia Publishing: Charleston, 2004.
U.S. Department of the Interior, National Register Bulletin 16A: How to Complete the National Register Registration Form (Washington D.C.: National Park Service, 1997), 4.
Santa Monica Evening Outlook, various dates.
Los Angeles Times, various dates.
Web Sites and Other Sources California Voter Registration and Death Index records. Accessed online at http://www.ancestry.com.
City of Santa Monica Fire Department. “A Brief History of the Fire Department.” Accessed online at https://santamonicafire.org/Content.aspx?id=28341.
Fire Station No. 1, Landmark and Structure of Merit Assessment Report March 5, 2019 Architectural Resources Group 29
City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department. “Historic Preservation in Santa Monica.” Accessed online at http://www.smgov.net/departments/PCD/Programs/Historic‐ Preservation/.
City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department. “Historic Resources Inventory.” Accessed online at http://www.smgov.net/Departments/PCD/Historic‐Resources‐ Inventory/.
City of Santa Monica Planning and Community Development Department. Building and alteration permits for 1444 7th Street, multiple dates.
Gary Goldsmith, A Day with Firefighter Bill (1958), Vimeo video, 10:32, posted by “HMH Archive” USC School of Cinematic Arts Hugh M. Hefner Moving Image Archives, 2017, https://vimeo.com/179922041.
NETRonline. Historic Aerial Images, multiple dates. Accessed online at http://www.historicaerials.com.
Sanborn Map Company. Fire Insurance Maps, Santa Monica, California, 1950.
Santa Monica Public Library. Historical Maps of Santa Monica. Accessed online at http://digital.smpl.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/maps.
Santa Monica Public Library. Santa Monica Image Archive. Accessed online at http://digital.smpl.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/smarchive.
Santa Monica Public Library. Santa Monica Newspaper Index. Accessed online at http://digital.smpl.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/smfile.
Fire Station No. 1, Landmark and Structure of Merit Assessment Report March 5, 2019 Architectural Resources Group 30 Appendix A: DPR form State of California -- The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HR # Trinomial PRIMARY RECORD NRHP Status Code 5S3* Other Listings Review Code Reviewer Date
Page 1 of 2 * Resource Name or #: Fire Station #1 P1. Other Identifier: Fire Station #1 * P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted a. County Los Angeles b. USGS 7.5' Quad Date T ; R ; 1/4 of 1/4 of Sec ; B.M. c. Address 1444 7th St City Santa Monica Zip d. UTM: (Give more than one for large and/or linear feature) Zone , mE/ mN e. Other Locational Data: (e.g. parcel #, legal description, directions to resource, elevation, additional UTMs, etc. as appro APN(s): 4291020900
* P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries.) Fire Station #1 is a one- and two-story building designed in the Late Moderne style. Rectangular in plan and capped by flat roofs, the building consists of a one-story fire engine garage flanked by a pair of two-story wings. Each wing features a ground floor elevation clad in narrow red brick veneer decorated with Late Moderne style squares in relief. Round concrete posts support second story cantilevered corners with their primary (east) facades characterized by stucco surfaces scored in a grid pattern. A framed band of double hung sash windows punctuates the center of each grid. Low brick planters front the building on each end. The obligatory flagpole stands near the building's north wing. The property exhibits a high level of integrity.
* P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) * P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other (Isolates, etc.) P5a. Photograph or Drawing P5b. Description of Photo: (View, date, etc.) 3/29/2007
* P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: Prehistoric Historic Both 1954 (Factual) Building Permit
* P7. Owner and Address: Santa Monica City
CA
* P8. Recorded by: (Name, affiliation, address) P. Moruzzi, M. Potter, K. Lain ICF International 811 W 7th Street, Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90017 * P9. Date Recorded: 06/01/2008 * P10. Survey Type: (Describe) Reconaissance-Level Survey
* P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report/other sources or "none") Santa Monica Citywide Historic Resources Inventory Update Final Report, prepared for City of Santa Monica by ICF Intl, 2010 * Attachments: NONE Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record Photograph Record Other: (List) * Required Information DPR 523A (1/95) 1444 7th St
State of California -- The Resources Agency Primary # DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HR # BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD Page 2 of 2 * NRHP Status Code 5S3* * Resource Name or #: Fire Station #1 B1. Historic Name: Fire Station #1 B2. Common Name: Fire Station #1 B3. Original Use: Fire Station B4. Present Use: Government Owned Property * B5. Architectural Style: Late moderne * B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations.) 1954: Fire station for City of Santa Monica, J. H. Melstrom Architect, no builder listed. Cost: $140,000 1978: Addition of 2nd story to existing station. Cost: $80,000 1986: Remodel 2nd story of existing station. Cost: $100,000
* B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location: * B8. Related Features:
B9a. Architect: J. H. Melstrom b. Builder: Not listed * B10. Significance: Theme Civic Expansion Area Santa Monica Period of Significance 1954 Property Type Other: Public Applicable Criteria B.1 (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.) B.1 - The structure is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type. The architectural design is attributed to J. H. Melstrom. This property represents a very good example of the Late Moderne architectural style as applied to a fire station in Santa Monica. Given the rarity of the style in the City - along with its high level of physical and historical integrity - the property appears eligible for individual listing as a Santa Monica Structure of Merit.
B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes): * B12. References: (Sketch map with north arrow required) Santa Monica City Building Permits; Los Angeles County Tax Assessor Records; Sanborn maps; Santa Monica Public Library Collections; Gebhard, David and Robert Winter 'Los Angeles: An Architectural Guide;' McAlester, Virginia and Lee. 'A Field Guide to American Houses.'
B13. Remarks:
* B14. Evaluator: P. Moruzzi, M. Potter, K. Lain ICF International Date of Evaluation: 06/01/2008 (This space reserved for official comments.) Appendix B: Building permits