INFORMATIONAL REPORT ON HISTORIC BUILDINGS LOCATED WITHIN THE "SALINAS LINCOLN AVENUE CORRIDOR" RECOMMENDATION OF THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD OF SALINAS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY • The Historic Resources Board has been tasked by City Council "to protect Salinas' architectural heritage assets for education, community revitalization and the promotion of heritage tourism." An important role of the Board is to "Provide guidance to property owners on the restoration, alteration and maintenance of Salinas' historic resources." • To fulfill this role, the Historic Resource Board is providing the City Council information on the historic buildings in the future development area of the Salinas Lincoln Avenue Corridor Development project. • The purpose of this informational report is to address the revitalization project of the City's historic downtown “Salinas Lincoln Avenue Corridor.“ This is part of and complimentary to the Salinas Downtown Vibrancy Plan. THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD • The Historic Resources Board (HRB) was created on April 27, 2010, by the City Council’s adoption of ordinance # 2505. The HRB was tasked by council to protect Salinas’ architectural heritage assets for education, community revitalization and the promotion of heritage tourism. The Board works to protect Salinas’ historic assets listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the State Historic Landmark Register, and the California Register of Historic Resources. The HRB also identifies historic and cultural heritage sites in Salinas which can be featured as visitor or local attractions. • Communities that protect their architectural heritage show higher property values and attract visitors who stay longer and spend more. • In 2012, the Board was successful in obtaining state designation as a certified local government; such designation can facilitate the receipt of federal and state resources available to encourage historic preservation. • In June 2016, the City adopted a five-year Mills Act property tax savings program for designated historic properties. This program grants tax savings to owners of designated historic properties who contract for 10 years to maintain their property's historic characteristics according to the Secretary of Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. • As set out in the enabling ordinance, the Board makes recommendations to staff and to the planning commission and City Council regarding the designation, preservation, alteration, and demolition of local historic resources. THE HISTORIC RESOURCES BOARD Serving this role the Board: • Implements City policies pertaining to historic resources located in the City. • Promotes public education pertaining to historic resources. • Considers the use of economic incentives encouraging investment in local historic resources and promoting heritage tourism. • Provides guidance to property owners on the restoration, alteration and maintenance of Salinas’ historic resources, e.g. Mills Act. • Some members of the seven-member Board are qualified historians with professional qualifications or credentials in Prehistoric Archeology, Historic Architecture, or Architectural History. • All members of the Board have demonstrated interest, competence, or knowledge in historic preservation, heritage preservation, or heritage tourism. BACKGROUND The City of Salinas proclaims it's “Rich in Land, Rich in Values”—it too is rich in history. Over time, development of the City has too often failed to value the architecture and landmarks that reflect our local history. The historical architecture reflects Salinas' history, residents and their stories—and is an important link to their collective past. The properties discussed in this report should be thoughtfully preserved as critical pieces of Salinas' story. HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE "SALINAS LINCOLN AVENUE CORRIDOR" REPORT INCLUDE: • Armory, 100 Howard Street • Salinas Women's Club, 215 Lincoln Avenue • City Hall Rotunda, 200 Lincoln Avenue • Recreation Center Gym, 320 Lincoln Avenue • John Steinbeck Library, 350 Lincoln Avenue All these buildings were identified in the Cultural Resource Survey completed in 1989 and qualify for listing in the California Register of Historic Resources. Buildings listed are eligible for listing in the California Register and are subject to CEQA review (Title 14, Chapter 3.15064.5(2). Properties eligible for listing in the California Register must meet one of the following criteria and retain integrity: • Criterion 1: Is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage. • Criterion 2: Is associated with the lives of persons important in our past. 1 • Criterion 3: Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values. 2 • Criterion 4: Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. 3 4 THE NEW CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING October 15, 1896, the day that Troop C Cavalry first occupied the new Armory at the corner of Alisal and Salinas streets. PRESERVED AND RESTORED FOR COMMERICAL USE THE NEW CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING On August 5, 1895, ninety-three locals join to form the third Cavalry troop in California (hence the letter “C”), the National Guard of California, Troop C, Cavalry, Salinas. The original Armory was their home and training center. The troop’s first officers were: Captain M. J. Burke; First Lieutenants, John L. Mathews, Frederick William Winham; Second Lieutenant, Frank M. Vierra. Other than training, their only action before 1916 was during the San Francisco earthquake on April 18, 1906. In this 1908-1909 photograph, "Troop C" training at nearby Santa Cruz. THE NEW CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING The Salinas National Guard Armory was built at 100 Howard Street, between Salinas Street and Lincoln Avenue. Construction of the Armory began in 1932 to replace the old Armory which still stands at the corner of Alisal and Salinas Streets. The first Armory had insufficient space to house personnel and the armored vehicles and tanks required by the 40th National Guard Tank Company, requiring the construction of a larger facility and the move to the current Howard Street location. The 1932 ground breaking ceremonies were attended by Governor James “Sunny Jim” Rolph, Jr. of California. Pictured right: Salinas Mayor, Dr. Edmund James Leach (left); the Governor (center); and Ray Joseph Duddy, Fox Theater manager and president of the Chamber of Commerce. THE NEW CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY BUILDING Salinas City purchased the land using city funds of $40,000 and $10,000 in cash from the community, then gifted the four lots of land to the state. The federal government and the state provided the balance of funds to construct the building. A total of $250,000. The Howard Street Armory was one of four Works Progress Administation (WPA) construction projects undertaken by the National Guard. The first plan was drafted by Campbell & Koepp and was designed by Moderne Architect, Guy Koepp. It is an Art Deco style building that is unique for pre-World War II armories. Its' steel framed reinforced concrete structure is supported by massive steel trusses. These add visual interest from the center area of the Armory. The two-story ceremonial section features a wooden (shock absorbing) gymnasium floor, a stage, and a balcony with eight rows of wooden theatre style seating. Wings on either side of the center area were constructed for offices, restrooms, and ammunition storage. After World War II, a sally port tank garage was constructed at the rear of the Armory. CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY Significant Functions: Pre-World War II In 1895, The California National Guard established Troop C Cavalry with Salinas as its headquarters. By 1916, the Troop was merged into the 1st Squadron of the California Cavalry and were involved in the fight against the famous Francisco “Pancho” Villa. The Salinas 40th Tank Company was called into service in 1906 to support the civilian needs created by the San Francisco earthquake. The Troop fought in World War I and during that time were reorganized to become Company B, 145th Machine Gun Battalion of the 40th Infantry Division. In 1917, Troop C saw action in France during World War I, post-World War I, the Troop again reorganized and became the 40th Tank Company. Throughout the pre-World War II years, the 149th Armored Unit from Salinas, played an important role in assisting during times of natural disasters and riots in California. On Thanksgiving Day in 1927, the 184th Infantry and the 149th Armored Battalion from Salinas was dispatched to Folsom Prison to put down an inmate riot that involved hostages, injuries to correctional staff and inmates and significant facility damage. In 1934, the 40th Tank Company was called into service by the California Governor to help quell the violent longshoreman's strike at the San Francisco docks. CALIFORNIA NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY World War II With the onset of World War II, Salinas became a military hub in part due to the proximity of the 2,000 acre Camp Ord (named for Union Army Major General Edward Otho Cresap Ord) and its importance as a troop training grounds for the Pacific campaigns. Named Camp Ord in 1933 and renamed Fort Ord in 1940. The community rallied around the war effort. In September of 1941, the 194th Tank Battalion left Salinas for