C I T Y O F S A N T A M O N I C A Historic Preservation Element September 2002 Prepared by P C R S E R V I C E S C O R P O R A T I O N and H I S T O R I C R E S O U R C E S G R O U P Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Planning Process........................................................................................................................ 5 Historic Development................................................................................................................ 7 Legal Basis for Preservation ...................................................................................................... 19 Resource Designations ............................................................................................................. 23 Goals and Objectives............................................................................................................... 29 Santa Monica Historic Preservation Element Implementation Policies ........................................ 37 For More Information .............................................................................................................. 51 Designated National, State, and Local Historic Resources Located in the City of Santa Monica ... 53 Historic Preservation Element i Introduction The City of Santa Monica is strongly committed to The Landmarks Commission meets regularly and historic preservation. This commitment is has played an important role in shaping the reflected in the programs and policies of the City development of Santa Monica’s historic including a Landmarks and Historic Districts preservation program. The Landmarks Ordinance, three major historic resources surveys Commission’s members meet professional criteria and two survey updates conducted since 1982, an established in the City’s Landmark Ordinance established Landmarks Commission, and the which are based on the requirements of the recognition of the City by the State Office of Certified Local Government program. Historic Preservation as a Certified Local Government. Preservation of historic resources has been important to the City of Santa Monica and its These programs and policies represent a residents for decades. The local preservation remarkable start, putting Santa Monica ahead of movement began as the City responded to many cities in its preservation efforts. The increased development pressures during the 1960s Landmarks Ordinance includes key provisions and 1970s. essential to an effective local preservation program such as criteria and processes for designation, One catalyst was the threatened demolition of the regulation of historic resources, and incentives for Santa Monica Pier which led to the formation of preservation. the “Save the Santa Monica Bay” advocacy group and a lawsuit to save the Pier. In 1973, the City Much has been learned about the history of the Council voted not to demolish the Pier. City and the types of historic resources found in Santa Monica. More than forty historic landmarks Preservation politics began to change as the Santa have been designated as well as two historic Monica Centennial approached in 1975, and the districts. In addition, approximately City Council created the Historical Site 1,300 potential historic resources have been Committee. The Committee helped develop identified, an important step in developing a standards and procedures for designating and comprehensive preservation program. preserving historic sites in the City. The City Council, following the community interest in Historic Preservation Element 1 Introduction Aerial view of downtown Santa Monica, c.1930. (HRG) preserving local landmarks, adopted the and policies and creates new avenues for the Landmarks and Historic District Ordinance on preservation of landmarks. March 24, 1976. Support for preservation in Santa Monica Relationship to the General Plan continues. In the past several years, the The purpose of this Historic Preservation Element community has organized to nominate Landmarks is to establish a long-range vision for the protection and a Historic District, oppose demolition of of historic resources in the City of Santa Monica potential historic buildings, preserve historic multi- and to provide implementation strategies to family housing, and prevent demolition of achieve that vision. The Element is part of the earthquake damaged historic resources. Santa Monica General Plan and it is organized into goals, objectives, and policies. The support for preservation in the community and the programs and policies in place are the California cities are required to prepare and adopt foundation upon which a comprehensive comprehensive, long-range general plans preservation program can be built. This Historic consisting of seven mandated elements: Land Use, Preservation Element integrates existing programs Housing, Circulation, Open Space, Noise, 2 Historic Preservation Element Introduction Conservation, and Safety under the California City, and contributes to the City’s economic Governmental Code, Section 65300 (et seq.). The stability. General Plan is intended to describe the City’s vision for future development. The General Plan The Element will serve as a guide for elected sets broad policies; City ordinances and officials, City staff, and citizens for the future. It administrative procedures are used to implement supplements the Landmarks and Historic Districts the plan. The General Plan is legally binding, and Ordinance, originally adopted in 1976 and any new development approved by the City must amended in 1987 and 1991. be consistent with it. The Element is organized into goals, objectives, Historic preservation is an optional additional and policies. element permitted under state law. Santa Monica has decided to prepare and adopt an Historic A goal is a broad statement of intended Preservation Element to focus attention on the direction and purpose. preservation of historic resources and devote special consideration to planning involving these An objective is a statement of a desired resources. With the preparation and adoption of accomplishment within a specific time the Element, historic preservation policies will frame. become equal to policies in any of the mandated elements. A policy is a specific statement guiding action and implying a clear commitment. The preservation of historic buildings enhances the quality of life in Santa Monica. It improves the The Element also includes background information quality of the built environment, encourages on its development, the development history of respect and appreciation for the community’s Santa Monica, and the legal basis for historic history and culture, maintains the character of the preservation. Historic Preservation Element 3 Planning Process The Santa Monica City Council initiated planning The views of the community were expressed in a for the Historic Preservation Element in 1999. The series of public meetings and workshops as the Element was developed through a comprehensive result of an extensive public outreach program. process that included both technical research and The process was designed with multiple public participation. opportunities for discussion. Based on discussions in the public meetings, key issues were identified One of the first steps in the process was the and related to proposed goals for inclusion in the preparation of an Existing Conditions Report. historic preservation element. Further discussion This report documents the current planning and helped to refine the goals and develop subsequent regulatory environment for historic preservation objectives. in Santa Monica. To provide context, the report contains a brief history of Santa Monica; describes During the public workshops, draft goals and past preservation efforts; delineates criteria objectives were discussed in detail and specific regarding historic significance; and summarizes policies for implementing the objectives were the designation programs, regulations and developed. Community issues related to incentives affecting historic resources identified preservation were identified and integrated into in the City. the Element. Historic Preservation Element 5 6 Historic Preservation Element Historic Development Early Inhabitants Islands, the continental interior to the edge of the San Joaquin Valley, and the coastal area along the Human habitation of the Southern California area Malibu coast north to Morro Bay. Santa Monica can be traced back at least 10,000 years, to the end was an area where these cultures may have of the last Ice Age. Little information about these overlapped. early cultures is available due to intensive development of the area and loss of archaeological sites that may have existed. The Colonial Era The first Europeans first arrived California in For the one thousand years prior to the arrival of 1542. A Portuguese navigator, Juan Cabrillo, the Europeans, much of the Los Angeles Basin sailing under the flag of Spain, commanded the was home to the Tongva people, Shoshonean- first expedition along the California coast. As he speaking hunters and gatherers who lived in scores passed Southern California, he named several local of villages scattered throughout the area along the features, including San Pedro Bay, and he visited rivers and marshes and near the ocean. The Catalina Island and Santa Monica. Cabrillo Tongva, whom the Spaniards would later call the dropped anchor