ForumJournal summer 2010 | Vol. 24 No. 4 modernism + the recent Past The NaTioNal TrusT For hisToric PreserVaTioN (www.PreservationNation.org) is a non-profit membership organization bringing people together to protect, enhance and enjoy the places that matter to them. By saving the places where great moments from history—and the important moments of everyday life—took place, the National Trust for historic Preservation helps revitalize neighborhoods and communities, spark economic development and promote environmental sustainability. With headquarters in Washington, Dc, eight regional and field offices, 29 historic sites, and partner organizations in 50 states, territories, and the District of columbia, the National Trust for historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of america’s stories. Contents summer 2010 | Vol. 24 No. 4 Introduction Christine Madrid FrenCh . 5 The “Modern” Challenge to Preservation theodore h .M . Prudon . .9 50 Years Reconsidered elaine stiles . 15 Coming to Terms with the Sixties alan hess . .23 When in Rome Paul GoldberGer . 31 Preserving the Birthplace of Hip-Hop david Gest . .35 Preservation Is Child’s Play: Saving a Mid-century City Park senya lubisiCh . .42 Earthworks: Art and Landscape in Washington’s Green River Valley Cheryl dos reMédios . 49 2 Summer 2010 ForumJournal ForumJournal national trust ForuM VALECIA CrIsAFULLI Acting Vice President, Programs elIzAbeth byrd Wood Editor KerrI rubman Assistant Editor ChrIstine mAdrId French Guest Editor nicole vann Associate Director, Forum national trust For historiC Preservation stephanie meeKs President TabIthA AlmquIst Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Communications David J. brown Executive Vice President GreG A. Coble Vice President, Business and Finance David Cooper Vice President, Development VALECIA CrIsAFULLI Acting Vice President, Programs Paul edmoNdsoN Vice President and General Counsel LaurI Michel Vice President for Community Revitalization dolores McDonagh Vice President, Membership JAmes VAuGhan Vice President, Stewardship of Historic Sites emIly WAdhAms Vice President, Public Policy national trust ForuM advisory board Paul bruhN Preservation Trust of Vermont prAtt W. CAssIty university of Georgia Alan downer National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers e. reNee IngrAm African American Heritage Preservation Foundation, Inc. bruCe d. Judd, FAIA Architectural Resources Group Ann McgloNe National Alliance of Preservation Commissions David mertz National Council for Preservation Education David morgan Former Kentucky State Historic Preservation Officer MarCel quImby National Trust Board of Advisors Nancy Miller SchAmu National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers donna J. seifert Society for Historical Archaeology JohN SimoNe Connecticut Main Street Center de teel PattersoN Tiller Goucher College Forum Journal, a Journal of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, (ISSN 1536-1012) (uSPS Publication Number 001-715) is published quarterly by the Center for Preservation Leadership at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 as a benefit of National Trust Forum membership. Forum members also receive 12 issues of Forum News, and six issues of Preservation magazine. Annual dues are $115. Periodicals paid at Washington, D.C. Postmaster: Send address changes to National Trust Forum, 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036. Copyright ©2010 National Trust for Historic Preservation in the united States. Printed in the united States. Of the total amount of base dues, $6.00 is for a subscription for Preservation magazine for one year. Support for the National Trust is provided by membership dues; endowment funds; individual, corporate, and foundation contributions; and grants from state and federal agencies. National Trust Forum Journal is a forum in which to express opinions, encourage debate, and convey information of importance and of general interest to Forum members of the National Trust. Inclusion of material or product references does not constitute an endorsement by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The National Trust for Historic Preservation is concerned about the responsible stewardship of the environment and has published this journal on Chorus Art Silk paper which is 50% recycled with 25% post consumer fiber. It is manufactured with non-polluting, wind generated energy and is FSC certified and supported by the Rainforest Alliance. Norwalk County building in Norwalk, Calif., Kistner, Wright and Wright, Architects, 1968. photo by JOHN ENG Introduction Christine Madrid FrenCh Over the past several years, preservationists have finally begun to devote serious attention to the immense challenge of documenting, evaluating, and conserving cultural resources from the twentieth century. This attention occurs not a moment too soon: it is clear that these are the issues that preservation professionals will be grappling with for the remainder of this century and well into the next millennia. H. WARD JANDL, 1995 n 1995 the National Trust for Historic and the recent past, the National Trust has Preservation published its firstForum followed up with two more journals dedi- Journal dedicated solely to the issue cated to the same topic, in 2000 and 2005. In of “Preserving the Recent Past.” In his that tradition, the National Trust is honored Iintroduction, Jandl, deputy chief of the Pres- to produce the fourth journal exploring this ervation Assistance Division at the National concern. It expands upon the work featured Park Service, made the prescient observation previously while focusing on new ideas that inscribed above. Indeed, as he predicted, will influence preservation policy today and preservationists continue to debate the in the upcoming years. All told, the four merits of saving buildings and landscapes journals include the writings of nearly 40 less than 50 years old, and argue over the prominent scholars, activists, architects, and historic significance of modernist designs, practitioners, in essays discussing strategy, some dating from as early as the late 1920s. evaluation, and preservation of a diverse mix Yet Jandl also noted that “the serious of American resources whose historical asso- study of the recent past is a relatively new ciations range from the Cold War to hip-hop phenomenon; there have been few scholarly culture to the internet age. books on the subject, and articles in profes- sional journals are few and far between.” the ChallenGes today That, fortunately, is no longer the case. A In theory, saving modern and recent past proliferation of articles, in popular news resources should be no different than pre- outlets such as USA Today and profes- serving architecture from an older era, but sional journals from organizations such persistent challenges exist. As architect Theo as the Society of Architectural Historians, Prudon asserts in his essay, the critical markers have provided both the scholarly informa- and baseline information that preservationists tion that is needed to prove significance have used for decades are losing relevance for and the public exposure required for suc- our time. He notes that “shifting environmen- cessful historic preservation efforts. tal, technical, and economic expectations,” In the 15 years since that firstForum are rapidly compressing the cycle of design, Journal focusing on preserving modernism construction, and demolition. The end result is ForumJournal Summer 2010 5 a marked loss of our modern architectural the wonderfully diverse architectural and heritage and a chronological imbalance in social legacy of the U.S. Her essay ends the cultural landscape that we present to with a challenge to preservationists: We succeeding generations. must “confront controversy” and question The first hurdle to accurately docu- the validity of these restrictions. Doing so menting and preserving architecture of the will realign current guidelines to ensure recent past is a proliferation of temporal the equitability of eligibility standards guidelines (at federal, state, and local throughout the country. levels) that hinder the designation and A persistent public reluctance to protection of buildings and landscapes less acknowledge buildings, landscapes, and than a certain age. These time-sensitive structures from the previous generation as historic is an in theory, saving modern and recent past resources equally difficult should be no different than preserving architecture issue that must be from an older era, but persistent challenges exist. addressed. Selec- tively excising policies have produced a distortion in our parts of our built environment obscures national list of significant structures and historic context and damages our long- also obstruct grassroots efforts. term memories of a site. In some cases, Elaine Stiles investigates the origins of subjective aesthetic arguments, rather the “50-year rule” and determines that, than objective analyses, guide preliminary despite the assertions of critics, a revision evaluations of a resource’s significance. of the age criteria for determining historic Those buildings and landscapes that do significance will not result in the wholesale not appear consistent with a community’s inclusion of sites of mediocre importance, currently favored