Santa Monica Conservancy

ensuring that the past has a future january 2006 vol 3 no 4

In November 2005, one of the cityʼs oldest buildings is moved to the former Fisher Lumber site at 14th and Colorado.

santa monica’s shotgun house: the house that needs a home Cities, like their residents, have varied section of Santa Monica, is still in search of a personalities, fi ngerprints and signatures permanent site. Due to the efforts of community that are revealed through their distinctive preservationists, the home has been saved architecture. One of our last remaining intact twice from demolition—the most recent save shotgun houses is part of what makes Santa occurred this past November. Built in the Monica the distinctive city it is. The house late 1890s, it was designated a Santa Monica serves as a social and cultural chronicle Landmark by the city’s Landmarks Commission of an early time in our city’s history when in 1999. More than 100 years ago, there were laborers lived in them and tourists used them about 200 such cottages inhabiting the streets a historic preservation as temporary homes, building a foundation few blocks west of the beachfront when Santa is green by John Zinner so that our city could grow and prosper. Monica was more of a frontier town. These My wife and I recently renovated a 1936 Cecil Gale-designed home while incorporating a The unassuming, wood-frame shotgun homes were the dominant architectural form in Ocean Park for its fi rst quarter century. number of “green” (environmentally-friendly) house, formerly located on private property building elements. When I participated on a at 2712 Second Street in the Ocean Park continued on page 4 panel in conjunction with the City’s fi rst green home tour, all of the other panelists presented ANNUAL MEETING AT CASA DEL MAR new green homes. The fi rst thing I pointed meeting and board of directors election, out was that our greenest strategy was to followed by a brief talk by historic consultant preserve the existing house. The audience Christy MacAvoy about the rehabilitation of reaction was audible. Most were unaware of Casa Del Mar. Ms. MacAvoy’s company, this simple and elegant, yet often overlooked Historic Resources Group, assisted the hotel truth. One of the other panelists, an architect owners in their restoration plans and in who has made a career of designing green obtaining a signifi cant fi nancial benefi t in the homes, commented privately afterward that he form of a historic rehabilitation tax credit for the had never thought about preservation or green photo: roger genser collection restored building. building in this way. The Conservancy will continue its tradition for meeting reservation: Historic preservation and the green or [email protected] or of holding its annual members-only meeting phone (310) 485-0399 sustainable building movement are natural allies, in an important, local historic building. Valet parking is available for $5 and yet this strategic advantage is frequently missed. This year Hotel Casa del Mar will host the there is limited street parking A better understood partnership between the meeting on Sunday, January 29, 3-5 pm Participants may tour the public areas of the two movements would strengthen the goals of at the hotel, 1910 Ocean Front Walk in hotel. Light refreshments will be served with a both the environment and their occupants Santa Monica. no-host bar available in this lovely setting. through a wide range of strategies that The program will include a short business continued on page 2 continued on page 3 www.smconservancy.org page 2 NEW LANDMARKS ANNUAL MEETING TO BE HELD AT HISTORIC HOTEL CASA DEL MAR COMMISSIONER continued from page 1 The hotel re-emerged to its storied past as In 1926, when the Hotel first opened as one of the most luxurious hotels on the West Ruth Shari, a resi- Club Casa Del Mar, it was the grandest of the Coast in October, 1999, when more than dential real estate opulent Santa Monica beach club/hotels. Built $50 million was spent to restore the historic agent who serves in a Renaissance Revival style by noted architect landmark to its former grandeur. Though none on the Santa Mon- Charles F. Plummer, Club Casa Del Mar, with of the original furnishings remain, the traditional ica Conservancy’s its plush interior, became the Grande Dame of look and feel from the ‘20s was recreated. Program Commit- Santa Monica, the place to see and be seen. tee, was recently The seven-story building features a brick The party lasted until World War II when appointed to fill and sandstone façade; red-tile roof; brown- Casa Del Mar was converted to a military an opening on the iron balconies; elaborate relief work with hotel. After the war, it continued as a beach Landmarks Com- escutcheons over the front door; and a variety club and hotel but never regained its former mission after Colin of sculpted figures throughout the façade glory. Starting in 1959, it served for 20 years as Maduzia resigned. including cupids, angels, and Renaissance the headquarters for the Synanon drug therapy A longtime resident of Santa Monica, Shari personalities. It houses 129 elegantly appointed program; and then from 1978 to 1997, as the has more than twenty years’ experience in guest rooms and suites. Pritikin Longevity Center. For a time it was sales and marketing as well as publicity and Many thanks to Hotel Casa del Mar for closed due to earthquake damage and seismic promotion. generously hosting the Conservancy’s Annual safety work. “Helping the City of Santa Monica--its Meeting in its beautifully restored building. homeowners and residents--to preserve our grant elementary city photo quiz: heritage while managing the quality of our school turns 100 the early santa monica built environment is a challenge I greatly home of the fogel family look forward to as I serve in this capacity,” Santa Monica’s oldest public school turned 100. said Shari. It all began when the Santa Monica Women’s Club raised a $60,000 bond to establish Grant, Shari is active in Friends of Sunset Park Garfield, and McKinley Elementary Schools neighborhood group, her condominium here in Santa Monica. Until then, forty children association, and St. Monica Church’s outreach had been taught by one teacher in one room. program to the sick and homebound. She is a certified lector and a choir member at the The original Grant School was at Virginia Church. Her current term as a Landmarks Avenue and 22nd Street. It consisted of four Commissioner ends on June 30, 2008. rooms, including an office, a large central Santa Monica Public Library Image Archives Image Library Public Monica Santa hall, and a basement that was later used for f

the do you know what’s on this o ourtesy spot today? Answer appears on page 7.

conservancy board c Photo President Joel Brand new membership dues Vice President David Kaplan The Board of the Conservancy recently Treasurer Tom Cleys revamped the membership dues structure Secretary Anne Troutman for the organization in order to better board members: acknowledge those who support our mission Ken Breisch Bruce Cameron at higher contribution levels and to allow the organization to substantially grow our Mike Deasy Nina Fresco ambitious list of programs. The membership Arlene Hopkins Ruthann Lehrer Grant Elementary School, 1906 categories are below: Doris Sosin John Zinner additional classrooms and bathrooms. With Individual Membership $35 an increase in population in the 1920s due in Household Membership $45 the news staff part to the development of the Douglas Aircraft Company, the school became overcrowded. Low Income Membership $15 Sherrill Kushner Dick Orton Susan Zinner Ruthann Lehrer The building was expanded in 1924 and then Sustaining Membership $100 Nina Fresco Jeff Sturges moved to a bigger lot--its current site at Pearl Conservancy Supporter $250 and 24th Streets. Grant PTA parents recently discovered old school photos and newspaper Those interested in supporting the let us hear from you clippings in a time capsule. These will be put Conservancy at the higher Patron or Circle PO Box 653, Santa Monica, CA 90406-0653 on exhibit throughout the school year. levels can learn more by calling our president, Joel Brand at 310-401-6619. 310-485-0399 • [email protected] Source: Santa Monica Daily Press, Sept. 5, 2005 page 3 green building continued from page 1 ural resources. The key concepts common 2006 LECTURE SERIES address site, water, energy, materials, and to both movements are reusing both existing BEGINS WITH PHILLIPS indoor environmental quality. As a result buildings and building components such as CHAPEL SPEAKER of this powerful combination, the green windows and doors. Both are recognized By Ruthann Lehrer and Sherrill Kushner building movement is growing very quickly. in LEED. Two of the greenest buildings in the One of the movements’ shared and salient country are local: Santa Monica’s own Natural concepts is embodied energy. It takes an Resources Defense Council Robert Redford enormous quantity of energy to extract raw Building on 2nd Street, and the Autobahn materials, manufacture components, ship them Center at Debs Park, just off the Pasadena to a building site, and incorporate them into a Freeway north of downtown Los Angeles. building. It also takes a lot of energy to demolish Both are rated LEED Platinum, the highest (or more properly in the green building world, level awarded under LEED, the most widely “deconstruct”) a building and either haul the adopted green building rating system. Tours are refuse to the landfill or recycle it into new offered at both venues. product. Preserving a building saves that Santa Monica in fact is one of the nation’s energy as well as the materials themselves. leading “green” cities. The Santa Monica The bottom line of green building is The first of four Conservancy-sponsored Sustainable Cities Program was one of the first productivity. Quite simply, people who work lectures will begin on Sunday, February in the nation and has been recognized as a in spaces where they enjoy spending time and 26, 2 - 4 pm with “Revelations of Phillips model by the United Nations. As part of this in which they feel good—because there’s Chapel C.M.E. Church--Forgotten African- program, the City requires that all new projects plenty of daylight and views of nature, along American History in Santa Monica.” Alison in the city meet specific green requirements, and with healthy indoor environmental quality— Jefferson, who researched the church as that its own buildings achieve LEED Silver (the are more productive. People enjoy being in part of her master’s degree study in historic four possible levels are Certified, Silver, Gold, beautiful historic spaces as well. preservation at the University of Southern and Platinum). The Public Safety Building Though the connections between the two California, will lead the discussion, illustrated has already met this mandate; the soon-to-be movements are all too frequently overlooked, with a power point screening. completed Main Library is nearing the same my wife and I found the tremendous response Jefferson and Reverend James C. Raymond, goal. to the City’s first green home tour encouraging. Jr., Pastor of the Phillips Chapel, were Unfortunately, historic preservation hasn’t More than 200 people toured our home. responsible for bringing the Chapel to the received a similar level of local recognition. Best of all, many of our visitors recognize the Landmarks Commission for designation. Connecting historic preservation & green connection: their goal is to both restore and Jefferson will speak about this Christian Where do historic preservation and green green their existing homes. Many homeowners Methodist Episcopal Church and the history buildings intersect? Both movements empha- therefore “get it.” The City “gets” the green of the African-American community in Santa size preservation, whether of historic or nat- piece; it also needs to recognize the equal Monica at the Chapel, located at 2001 4th importance of historic preservation. Street (at the corner of Bay Street). The church has begun a year-long wilshire boulevard tour in october celebration leading up to its centennial anniversary in July 2006. The building that houses the church was originally a schoolhouse that the church acquired and moved to its present site in 1908. One of the Chapel’s notable features is its 11 stained glass windows commemorating some of the prominent church families. Conservancy members pay $10; non- members $15. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.smconservancy.org or by phoning (310) 485-0399. A list of Western check-in for the tour was at the Miles Playhouse participants will be held at the door where The Los Angeles Conservancy’s tour, “Curating tickets will also be sold that day. the City: Wilshire Blvd.” kicked off a month- long program starting on October 2, 2005 with We need a movie screen an architectural tour of six historic sites on the Got a for use in presentations. boulevard. The Santa Monica Conservancy Movie Screen If you could donate one to Donate? partnered with the L.A. Conservancy in or know someone who could, please call: organizing and staffing one of the historic sites, People entering the Miles Memorial Playhouse in Santa Monica. Miles Memorial Playhouse (310) 485-0399

www.smconservancy.org page 4 a variety of preservation events around town and around the country

restore america home & murals at the new cocktails in historic places garden tour of charleston, SC santa monica public library Date: Friday, Feb. 27, 6 - 8 pm Dates: March 22-26, 2006 Date: Saturday, January 28, 2 pm Society of Los Angeles National Trust for Historic Preservation Santa Monica Public Library Art Deco Dimensions and The Vintage Collective 601 Santa Monica Blvd. 2122 E. 4th Street, Long Beach This is the first of the National Trust’s tours exploring Call: (562) 433-8699 America’s diverse and rich heritage by focusing on Call: (310) 458-8600 historic homes and gardens, wine and cuisine, and Curator of American Art at the L.A. County Museum exclusive private home visits, unattainable to the of Art, Ilene Susan Fort will talk about the Stanton individual traveler. Groups of 25 maximum will be No-host cocktails. Reservations not required. Look for McDonald-Wright murals that have been returned the greeters wearing boutonnieres. accompanied by esteemed study leaders and local on permanent loan to the new Main Library from guides, with accommodations at leading National Trust storage at the Smithsonian Institution. Renowned artist Historic Hotels of America properties. McDonald-Wright painted the murals for the original Visit charming Charleston and explore The Battery Main Library, funded by the U.S. government during on a walking tour led by a dynamic native of the city. the in an effort to put Americans Spend an afternoon at two exquisite Ashley River back to work. Lecture is free and open to the public. plantation homes and meet with the head gardener. Parking available on-site.

Register online at: www.nationaltrust.org www.smpl.org www.adsla.org the continuing story of the shotgun house –a piece of ocean park history by Sherrill Kushner continued from page 1 case of the shotgun house of the American however the shotgun house is a New World Shotgun Houses in General South. In this country, the shotgun house had hybrid that developed in the West Indies and Typically are one story high, one room its beginnings in in the early 19th entered the United States via New Orleans in wide (12 feet) and usually two or three rooms century after thousands of free Blacks came the early 19th century. Shotgun Houses are deep (36 feet), one behind the other, and there from following the revolution of found in both rural and urban southern areas, connected by doorways that line up. Hence Toussiant L’Overture. mainly in African-American communities and the name shotgun house: you could shoot a neighborhoods. The name of the house type shotgun in through the front door and the shot may be an altered form of “togun,” the African would come out of the back door without ever Yoruba word for “house.” touching a wall. As the shotgun house evolved through the The shotgun house is a freestanding 19th century, it was embellished with decorative structure with no windows on its side walls. elements borrowed from popular tastes of the Houses were generally sited so close together time, from Greek revival to Victorian gingerbread. that windows would have been impractical for About OUR Shotgun House light or ventilation let alone personal privacy. The Santa Monica shotgun house is a white, They were often graced with a covered front On wheels at Santa Monica Airport, ready for the wood-frame structure, approximately 12 or rear porch. move, one might easily see how it could have been delivered on a flat car by rail. feet wide, 36 feet long and 14 feet high. It is The origins of this type of house have comprised of three contiguous rooms. It has a always been a bit mysterious despite the large The original source of the shotgun house gable-entry door on the side with one adjacent number of shotgun houses built in the U.S. design was the need for instant field housing window and a front porch that used to be Architectural historians have often chosen in the Civil War, in boomtown mining camps decorated with gingerbread elements that were either to ignore the question of the structure’s and in disaster areas (hundreds were delivered apparently taken by an admirer at some point origin or label it an appearance of Greek to San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake). in its history. revival style adopted from the urban storefront The entry to the shotgun house is on the In Santa Monica in the 1870s Santa Monica or shop into a dwelling. More recent studies gable end of the house with adjacent windows and Ocean Park were separate towns. Real by folklorists and cultural geographers make overlooking the street. Gable-entry houses estate developers who sold lots in the newly strong arguments for African beginnings in the were known in some parts of central , page 5 a variety of preservation events around town and around the country

california impressionist style victorian home tour history and culture of the slide lecture Date: Sunday, March 26 gabrielino-tongva indians Date: Wednesday, February 1, 7pm Pasadena Heritage Date: Thursday, January 26 California Heritage Museum Call: For location and times, (626) 441-6333 ex. 17 Manhattan Beach Historical Society 2612 Main Street, Santa Monica 1601 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach Call (310) 392-8537 From the time Pasadena was incorporated in 1886 until Call: (310) 374-7575 the turn of the last century, elaborate Victorian homes Jean Stern, Executive Director of the Irvine Museum, with intricate details appeared throughout the city. Linda Gonzales will give an interpretive, hands-on will present slides from the museum’s extensive Though many have disappeared, celebrate the remaining lecture about the first indigenous peoples of the Los collection as part of the exhibit “Behold, the Pacific! heritage of this bygone era. Angeles basin. Learn how they lived through artifacts California Coastal Views” which is on view until Feb. and visual materials. As a Gabrielino-Tongva/Yaqui 26th. The exhibit features 50 works, mainly oil, from Indian, Linda has been active in her community as a 1960-1973 sharing California artists’ responses to our cultural educator, speaking on the history and plant uses ocean. The Museum is located in an 1894 Historic of the Tongva. Landmark house. Admission is free with a prior reservation.

www.californiaheritagemuseum.org www.pasadenaheritage.org http://history90266.org the continuing story of the shotgun house –a piece of ocean park history by Sherrill Kushner holiday party a chance to meet & greet subdivided cities knew that people coming to ters. Privacy was limited because each room live or vacation from nearby Los Angeles sought was a hallway leading to the next room. The alternatives to tents or hotels to live in. If the cit- walls consisted of single vertical board, leaving ies were to have a permanent population, the no room to hide unsightly plumbing, insulation, developers needed to dampen the boom-bust wiring and utilities that were being incorporat- cycles that periodically devastated the area. So ed into the more modern, turn-of-the-century they started selling lots with homes. homes. Typically they had no foundations since New buyers couldn’t afford Victorian, Ed- they were to be erected quickly and inexpen- wardian, or Queen Anne homes that were sively. Posts and sills were placed directly onto popular at that time. To make purchasing more the ground where the beach moisture attracted affordable, something simpler was needed. termites. And, they were very small, no larger Thanks to Event Chair Kitty Bartholomew (right), Nancy than today’s small two-car garage. Inevitably Feinberg (left), the Program Committee, Dick Orton, and They looked for a structure that could be the vendors who graciously donated refreshments: erected easily, quickly and inexpensively. The they sprouted add-ons to their backs, fronts and Mrs. Bʼs-Miss Grace Lemon Cake, Bobʼs Market, shotgun house filled the bill. The rail depot sides to enlarge the otherwise cramped living Pavillionʼs and Whole Foods. in Ocean Park was soon unloading shotgun space. houses from downtown Los Angeles by the Sites in Ocean Park are currently under re- dozens. The $100 homes came either in kit view. In the next two years one will be selected form or were prefabricated, preassembled and and the house will be restored for a new com- then dragged into place by horses. The shotgun munity use while also ensuring its preservation. house may be one of the seeds from which the For those interested in joining the campaign to entire real estate and tourism industry sprouted choose a permanent site, raise funds, and work in Santa Monica. on other conservation activities pertaining to the The very qualities that made the shotgun shotgun house, contact Sherrill Kushner, (310) houses attractive as instant housing tended to 394-4835. For more information, please visit the doom them in the long run. In time they be- Friends of the Shotgun House website at www. Conservancy members enjoyed gathering in the home of Anne Troutman and Aleks Istanbullu. Their home was came unlivable as permanent homes though shotgunhouse.org. once a church and is one of the two oldest buildings in they were fine as temporary, vacation quar- Santa Monica.

www.smconservancy.org page 6 conservancy walking tours coming soon docents needed for 1893 keller block: one of the highlights of the walking tours by Ruthann Lehrer downtown walking tour by Dick Orton

The Conservancy is making plans to offer 1893 2005 two new, docent-guided tours next year. Docent volunteers are needed for tours of Palisades Park and downtown Santa Monica; training classes will be offered. The tours and training will be held on weekends. If you are interested, contact Ruthann Lehrer, (310) 828-0692 or [email protected]. Oral Histories Needed The Conservancy is also soliciting oral When 22-year-old H. W. Keller opened the Keller Block* in 1893, it was just one more adventure histories from those who might have for the wealthy young man who had sold Malibu to Frederick Rindge for almost $150,000 knowledge of old Santa Monica, especially in In the 1800s Don Matteo Keller was one of intervene in a brawl at a nearby saloon run by regard to the city’s downtown and Palisades the most prominent members of Los Angeles Charles Kimball. As Keller entered the saloon Park. If you have any information or know of Society. He was the region’s leading wine Kimball, at the bar, raised a double barrelled someone who does, please contact Ruthann producer and he owned property all over shotgun to shoot, but Keller shot first and 30- Lehrer at the contact information above. town, including the fabulous Malibu Ranch year-old Charles Kimball was dead. Sadly 13,300 acres from Topanga to Pt. Magu. Kimball and Keller had been friends. Keller was 60 when his son was born and Keller was taken into custody, and brought as the eldest child and only son, Henry was to Los Angeles for a legal hearing where he likely to control a major fortune at an early age. was cleared of any wrongdoing, having acted At the age of 8 he was sent to Europe to be in his capacity as Deputy Sheriff. educated and never saw either of his parents Later that year, for reasons unknown now, again. When he returned to California as a Henry Keller, age 21, sold the Malibu Ranch cultured young man, fluent in French and to Frederick Rindge for just over $10 an acre, Spanish, the estate was his but there were approximately $1.3 million. In 1893, Henry Nina Fresco (left) with future docents Carol problems. built the stylish Keller Block still found on the Lemlein (center) and Ursula Kress (right). In the 1890s California was still the wild west south end of the Santa Monica Promenade Palisades Park Tour Booklet and the Malibu ranch had cattle rustlers. Henry today. By 1894 he was married with a Thanks to Nina Fresco, Sherrill Kushner, and had himself deputized to deal with bad guys. beautiful house at 310 Ocean Avenue and by Ruthann Lehrer who developed an attractive That was fine until the early morning hours 1900 Henry and his wife Addie lived on Third and informative self-guided tour booklet of Pali- of Sunday, January 10, 1892. Deputy Sheriff Street with their four children, two servants and sades Park which was distributed at the Curat- Keller was spending the night in town at the as far as we know, lived happily ever after. ing Wilshire Boulevard event in October. Jackson House when he was awakened to *Block” is an 1890s term for mixed-use building.

LANDMARKS COMMISSION NEWS By Ruthann Lehrer In October, the Landmarks Commission The 2005 Mills Act contract properties ■ Henry Weaver House, a monumental approved eight new Mills Act contracts represent a range of significant buildings. Craftsman Bungalow at 142 Adelaide Drive for historic landmarks. The Mills Act is a Included among them are designed by the Milwaukee Building Com- powerful economic incentive for owners of ■ Niemeyer/Strick house at 1911 La Mesa pany in 1910 (also listed on the National historic properties, allowing a reassessment Drive, the only residence in the U.S. de- Register of Historic Places); and reduction of property taxes, to signed by world-renowned architect Oscar ■ 2619 East Third Street, a Craftsman compensate for the costs of restoring and Niemeyer in 1963; Bungalow contributing to the Third Street maintaining the original materials and design ■ 331 Palisades Avenue, a pristine Mediter- Historic District, built in 1909; features of the property. In some cases, ranean/Classical Revival home designed by ■ The John Byers adobe at 404 Georgina property taxes may be reduced as much as Frank L. Meline in 1913; was also included, with its restoration 50%. To qualify, a property must be officially and additions approved previously by the designated as historic by a government ■ 710 Adelaide Place, known as the “Zuni Landmarks Commission; agency. The owner of a qualified property House”, designed by Robert Stacey-Judd in may apply for this benefit with Landmarks 1923-24; Two historic homes at 1333 and 1337 Commission staff at City Hall. Ocean Avenue are also approved for Mills Act continued on page 7 page 7 santa monica public library 1890-2006 by Sherrill Kushner A year after Santa Monica officially became or security. If the library learned that the a town in 1875, a Library Association was household of a book borrower had a contagious formed to discuss books and read papers. or infectious disease, the borrower would be Annual dues of two dollars covered the cost immediately notified to return any books to the of buying new books. Community growth Health Officer for “disinfection.” By 1912 the was slow for a number of reasons, but eight collection began to outgrow the building. In years later the Library Association funded a 1914 the building was enlarged and in 1926 a free reading room adjoining Dr. McKinnie’s $50,000 bond issue was passed by the voters drug store. More than ten years later, in 1888, for reconstruction and expansion of the library the reading room was operated by the newly For years, two rooms upstairs at Third and Santa on the same site. Monica Blvd. were home to the cityʼs library. formed Women’s Christian Temperance Oregon Avenue (Santa Monica Blvd.) and It was remodeled into a Spanish-style Union. The women moved the reading room, Fifth Street and the new library was opened design by E.J. Baume. Two wings were with its 400 books and assorted magazines and on August 11, 1904. added on either side; the West wing included newspapers, to a building on Third Street. Use a combined art gallery and re-opened to the The library was open to residents of Santa of the room and materials in it were free, but public on November 18, 1927. if you chose to take out a book there was a Monica and non-residents who owned real twenty-five cent charge. estate in the city if they provided references continued on back cover The expense of operating the reading room proved too much for the women. In city photo quiz answer with 1909 sanborn map 1890, its 800 volumes were turned over to the City of Santa Monica in order to maintain a public library. Two rooms in the Bank of Santa Monica at Oregon Avenue (now called Santa Monica Boulevard) and Third Street were set aside for the library and a librarian was appointed. Three years later it expanded to include another room. In 1903, the library moved to the new City Hall located at Fourth and Oregon Avenue where temporary space was provided. the fogel house at 5th & arizona As the city grew, so did the collection and the The Santa Monica Post Office stands at 5th demand for a dedicated library building. A letter and Arizona now, but once upon a time long was written to Andrew Carnegie requesting long ago it was the magnificent home of the Fogel Family. It shows up very clearly on the funding for a public library. Carnegie had 1909 Sanborn Map to the right. The distinctive been providing funds for such buildings across porte-cochere on the Arizona side and the the United States and he agreed to the Santa wraparound porch are a definite match. The small building on the left side of the property is Monica request. Residents raised $3,982.50 probably a stable or carriage house. to purchase a lot on the northeast corner of

LANDMARKS COMMISSION NEWS continued from page 6 contracts, although a development agreement because the Commission is authorized to of architectural and historic integrity. Today, for a hotel project on that site is still pending City review properties 40 years old and older surrounded by modern condominiums, the site Council approval. However, the stipulations of for their historic value prior to issuance of is a window into the past. The original owner the Mills Act contract require adhering to the demolition permit. This small Victorian of this house was Leslie Brand, a prominent strict historic preservation design standards. cottage had been noted on prior cultural civic leader and real estate investor who was Incentives work in persuading owners that resource surveys as contributing to a group of best known for his role in the early growth of the benefits of landmark designation outweigh turn-of-the-century homes in Santa Monica’s Glendale, and who founded the Los Angeles- the perceived burdens! The Santa Monica first residential tract. Because many of those based Title Guaranty and Trust Company. Conservancy supports enhancing the incentives potential contributors to a historic district had While owning this house for five years, Brand package for designated properties as part of the been remodeled or demolished, the few that was one of the founders of the Santa Monica upcoming revision of the landmarks ordinance. remain today have become more significant as Public Library. the last survivors of an important building type. Also approved in October was the The property owner for this parcel Constructed c. 1898-1902, this home was one designation of 1012 Second Street as a has appealed the Landmark Commission’s of the first cottages built in the original town site historic landmark. This property came to designation decision to the City Council, where of Santa Monica and has retained a high level the Commission as a demolition application, it will be scheduled for a public hearing.

www.smconservancy.org Santa Monica Conservancy Nonprofi t Org U.S. Postage PAID look what’s inside! Santa Monica,CA Permit No. 36 Hotel Casa del Mar

welcomes the Santa Monica P.O. Box 653 Santa Monica, CA 90406-0653 Conservancy for its Annual Meeting.

Page 1 Zinner Family fi nds happiness in a “green” house, proving that green is a workable form of preservation.m!

Page 1 Shotgun House moves from Santa Monica Airport to temporary storage at Fisher Lumber.

Page 1 santa monica public library 1890-2006 1 by Sherrill Kushner continued from page 7 purchase of adjacent property for future library As the city grew, the library became more expansion. In 1998 another bond passed to crowded. Additionally, the unreinforced ma- allow construction of new, larger building. sonry building was structurally unsafe and The local architectural fi rm of Moore Ruble its wiring was a fi re hazard. In 1962 another Yudell designed the building which will open bond issue passed and a new library was its doors on January 6, 2006. 2 erected on the corner of Sixth Street and Santa The new Main Library will change its Monica Boulevard. Boxes of books were sent main entrance to Santa Monica Boulevard by conveyor belt from the old library building and will include a large inner courtyard with a one block away. Teams of staff and volunteers café. A subterranean parking garage provides loaded and unloaded the books. The new 500 parking spaces. The Library is the second building opened in 1965. The Macdonald- major facility designed and built with the intent Wright murals were stored in the basement as of signifi cantly reducing negative impact on the 3 there was no place for them in this new library. environment. As a “green” building, the new Eventually they were taken by the Smithson- Library will offer environmental protection, ian Institution. The previous Carnegie library economic advantages, and health and safety building was sold to Century Federal Savings benefi ts. The library will be offering docent and Loan Association and in 1974 was demol- tours. Check its website at www.smpl.org or ished despite protest from local residents. call (310) 458-8600. Twenty-fi ve years later it became apparent Source: The Santa Monica Library 1890-1990 4 by Ellen Braby and Janet Hunt that the Main Library was again too small. Since opening in 1965, the adult book collection had increased by 75%, the children’s collection by 50%, and other collections had 1. Carnegie Library. 2. Same Library remodeled. grown at equally astonishing rates. In 1988 a 3. 1965 Library. bond measure was approved that enabled the 4. January 2006 Library www.smconservancy.org