City of Los Angeles, Department of City Planning Office of Historic Resources APRIL 2013 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 SurveyLA Releases Findings for South San Fernando Valley Communities The findings for SurveyLA, the Los Angeles Historic toric resources associated with San Fernando Valley his- Resources Survey, continue to be posted on the Sur- tory, notable architecture, the entertainment industry’s veyLA web site at www.preservation.lacity.org/survey/ heritage, and neighborhoods that helped define the early reports Among the suburbanization of Los latest results to be Angeles. posted are those cover- ing the South San Fer- Studio City nando Valley, including the Canoga Park- Major General Walter Winnetka-Woodland P. Story Country Es- Hills-West Hills and tate, 3405 Fryman Rd., Encino-Tarzana Com- a 1923 Spanish Colo- munity Plan Areas. nial Revival home that was the centerpiece of This article, the fourth a 16-acre estate of Ma- in a series detailing jor General Walter P. some of the interesting Story, who was respon- “finds” from Sur- sible for significant veyLA, features high- downtown buildings, lights from the including the Los An- Sherman Oaks-Studio geles Stock Exchange, City-Toluca Lake- Neutra-designed stilt houses in the Platform House Historic District and went on to a distin- Cahuenga Pass Com- guished military career. munity Plan survey. These San Fernando Valley com- munities proved to be particularly rich in potential his- (Continued on page 2) HPOZ Focus: Highlighting Jefferson Park’s Public Engagement Efforts The adoption of the Jefferson Park His- Park and document the community’s toric Preservation Overlay Zone history has had the positive effect of Inside This Issue: (HPOZ) marked a major milestone in further knitting together a community the City’s HPOZ Program. Jefferson of diverse cultural and socio-economic The OHR Congratulates Park is the City’s second largest historic backgrounds. Relying on volunteer ef- Richard Barron and Edgar district which includes over 2,000 par- forts and an inclusive outreach process, Garcia 4 cels. After a decade-long outreach ef- Jefferson Park’s commitment to con- fort, the Jefferson Park HPOZ was tinuous and inclusive community en- adopted in 2011 with strong community gagement serves as an outstanding support. The grassroots effort centering model for HPOZs around the City. L.A.’s Newest Historic-Cultural around historic preservation is also a way of giving community members a Jefferson Park is located within the Monuments 6 greater voice and of further bringing West Adams community and covers the together a diverse neighborhood. area bounded by West Adams Boule- vard to the north, Western Avenue to According to Marina Moevs, a member the east, 7th Avenue on the west, Jeffer- Mills Act Application Deadline of Jefferson Park United, the effort to son Boulevard and Exposition May 23rd 6 preserve the historic charm of Jefferson (Continued on page 5) Page 2 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 SurveyLA South Valley Findings (Continued from page 1) – the work of noted Portland-based architect Robert Harvey 11222 Dilling St., a 1959 contemporary Oshatz, who constructed a similarly-designed residence in Port- ranch house that was used as the exterior for land in 1989 as his own home and office. the Brady residence on the Brady Bunch television series (1969-1974) Oil Can Harry’s, at 11506 Ventura Blvd., a commercial building constructed in 1936 Historic Ventura Boulevard businesses, that has been the long-term home of Oil Can including Art’s Delicatessen, in a 1939 Harry’s since 1968, one of the few remaining Modern/Streamline Moderne building, con- San Fernando Valley LGBT gathering places tinuously operating at 12224 Ventura Boule- from this period. vard since 1957; Du-Par’s Restaurant (pictured) at 12036 Ventura Blvd. since 1948; Tujunga Village Commercial Historic Home Savings and Loan, from 1968, which includes a mural District, along Tujunga Ave. from Moor- depicting local history, by the noted artist Millard Sheets; and the park St. to Woodbridge St., an excellent ex- Studio City Theatre, a 1938 Art Deco/Streamline Moderne ample of a neighborhood commercial dis- theater that was converted to a Bookstar retail store during the trict, with 14 primarily one-story commercial 1990s. buildings constructed between 1937-54, a consistent pedestrian orientation, wide concrete sidewalks, and some original street The American National Academy of Per- lamps. forming Arts, at 10944 Ventura Boulevard, a long-time performing arts studio in Studio The Fantasy Cottage Thematic Group, City; in continuous operation since 1957 and eight non-contiguous cottages, located on originally established as an acting workshop three adjacent residential streets (Denny by actor and longtime Canoga Park resident Avenue, Valleyheart Drive, and Willowcrest Francis Lederer. Avenue) near Universal Studios; constructed in 1950, these cottages display similar whim- Zimmerman House, at 3860 Berry Court, a sical façade designs, including wood board-and-batten cladding, 1965 residential work of master architect steeply-pitched roofs with flared eaves and a brick chimney John Lautner, with Expressionistic influences. placed prominently on the primary façade, each with its own unique design. Gene and Jacky Autry Estate, at 3171 Brookdale Road, a 1949 Monterey Revival Sherman Oaks house on a property known as the “Flying A Estate” where the “Singing Cowboy” Gene Casa de Cadillac/Don Lee Cadillac, con- Autry resided until his death in 1998. structed in 1949, an excellent example of Mid-Century Modern commercial architec- The Little Brown Church, 4418 Coldwater ture with eye-catching neon signage, all de- Canyon Boulevard, an example of an early signed by noted architect Randall Duell, who San Fernando Valley vernacular religious was an art director at MGM Studios from structure, opened in 1939, which was the site 1937 to 1959 and designer of the Avalon of Ronald and Nancy Reagan’s wedding in Casino. 1962. Kerry’s Coffee Shop (now Mel’s Drive-In), Pacific Electric Substation, at 4475 Vine- at 14848 Ventura Boulevard, an excellent land Avenue, an excellent example of an example of a Googie coffee shop, designed early Los Angeles streetcar substation, con- by the noted firm of Armet and Davis. structed in 1911. 15204 Ventura Boulevard, a rare example of Stevens-Harnell House, at 3692 Berry Dr., late Hollywood Regency commercial architec- a remarkable example of Late Modern resi- ture. dential architecture with Expressionist details (Continued on page 3) Page 3 VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2 SurveyLA South Valley Findings (Continued from page 2) Theatre West, at 3333 Cahuenga Blvd., in The Platform House Historic District, 17 continuous operation as a theater since 1962; homes built in 1962-66 on stilts for steep believed to be the oldest continuously opera- hillside lots along Knobhill Dr. and Oakfield tional theater company in Los Angeles. Dr. (roughly the 3600-3800 blocks), designed by noted architect Richard Neutra and struc- Bella Lewitsky Home and Studio, at 3594 tural engineer Art Levine. Multiview Dr., the residence and studio of internationally-renowned modern choreogra- Casa Vega (pictured) at 13301 Ventura pher Bella Lewitzky, who founded the Dance Blvd., a 1939 building that has been in con- Theater of Los Angeles in 1946. In 1966 she tinuous operation as Casa Vega Mexican created the Lewitzky Dance Company, nota- restaurant since 1958, with a free-standing ble for popularizing international modern dance; the Bella neon pole sign; and Antonio’s Pizzeria at Lewitzky Foundation still operates out of the house. 13619 Ventura Blvd., which has been in con- tinuous operation in this 1939 building since its founding in The Baked Potato Jazz Club at 3787 Ca- 1957 and includes a highly distinctive example of a 1950s roof- huenga Blvd., in a building constructed in top neon sign in the shape of Italy. 1924 – the long-time home of one of the few remaining independent jazz clubs in Los Copa Tower, (pictured) at 14208 Dickens Angeles, in operation at this site since 1970. St. and The Fountainhill at 4216 Mary Ellen Ave., both excellent examples of Oak-crest Market, 3315 Cahuenga Blvd; a stucco box/Dingbat apartment buildings in 1939 Art Deco building that is a rare exam- Sherman Oaks, displaying applied decoration ple of a 1930s neighborhood market, includ- and distinctive signage conveying the build- ing a notable neon sign. ing’s name. The David Hockney Residence at 2907 Cahuenga Pass Montcalm Ave., the 1947 Mid-Century Mod- ern home of internationally renowned artist Hanna-Barbera Studios, at 3400 Cahuenga David Hockney, who moved to the property Blvd., one of the first studios to produce in 1979. cartoons specifically for television, and the leader in television animation production in 6853 W. Pacific View, a 1912 Craftsman the 1960s and 1970s, producing the Flint- home that pre-dates most of its surrounding stones, Yogi Bear, the Jetsons, and many development by several decades. others; the building is also an excellent example of New Formal- ist architecture, designed by architect Arthur Froehlich. (Continued on page 4) What Is SurveyLA? SURVEYLA: THE LOS ANGELES HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY PROJECT is the first-ever comprehensive inven- tory of our city’s historic resources. The survey findings will have a multiplicity of benefits and uses: it will help direct future growth, shape the revision of Los Angeles’ 35 Community Plans, streamline environmental review processes, provide opportunities for public educa- tion, assist in disaster planning, and spur heritage tourism and the marketing of historic neighborhoods and properties. The J. Paul Getty Trust and the City of Los Angeles have entered into a grant agreement for SurveyLA under which the Getty has committed to providing up to $2.5 million to the project, subject to matching requirements by the City. Field surveys and evaluations will occur through 2014. The Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) is also providing technical and advi- sory support for SurveyLA.