VOLUME 27, No. l CALIFORNIA Spring 2002 ISSN 1521-1576 PRESERVATION® A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE CALIFORNIA PRESERVATION FOUNDATION Preservation Goes Public by Karin D. Martin In the middle of bustling urban Santa important recognition that California's first Monica, is a vibrant yet tranquil public space: integrated high-speed (45 mph!) freeway should Douglas Park. Beyond the remarkable renova­ be documented in the best way possible. tion that rejuvenated the park's pastoral Remarkable community efforts were made This issue: ambiance, lies something equally remarkable- by large institutions as well. USC met with the unmistakable contribution of the public to great success in its work on the Doheny Library 2 the great success of the project. The public and San Diego County developed a commend­ 2002 California helped to develop the Douglas Park Design able Master Plan for its beautiful Administra­ Guidelines by participating in an exemplary tion Center. The cities of Oakland and Berkeley Preservation public input process. both completed Conference Everyone from fly fishers innovative rehabilita­ Preview and skaters to parents and tions of civic center their children took part in buildings, while a 4 activities such as commu­ small adobe in Moun­ nity meetings, a walking tain View has been 2002 Preservation tour and a user survey to given a renewed place Design Award help develop and review in its community's life. Winners the guidelines. Is such And, a Pasadena non-commercial coopera­ congregation com­ tion and success a grow­ St. Peter's Catholic Church restoration. pleted a project to ing trend? If this year's restore the city's first Preservation Design Awards are any indication, reinforced concrete church that meets the most then the answer is "Yes." exacting and beautiful standards. The three Many of this year's award-winners are a award-winning commercial projects - testament to the growing strength of Oakland's Rotunda Building, Sacramento's Hall Californian's civic, educational, charitable and of Justice, and San Francisco's Fairmont Hotel - cultural commitments. The San Diego Historical while privately owned, for-profit ventures, all Society executed a meticulous plan to return the have very strong places in their community's Villa Montezuma to its original brilliant Victo­ civic hearts and histories! rian colors and Berkeley's Town and Gown From 1990 to 2000, privately-owned and Club members' took exquisite care in retrofit­ commercial properties consistently comprised ting their Maybeck treasure. An engaged and 50% of the projects receiving a California resourceful community was the driving force Preservation Foundation Preservation Design behind the restoration of Temple of Kwan Tai Award- given each year to acknowledge and of St. Peter's Catholic Church - both excellence in preservation taking place state­ exhibiting fine craftsmanship. The commitment wide. In the past two years, this percentage has made by the City of Los Angeles and the Los dropped to an average of 15%. This year, fully Angeles Housing Partnership to reuse their eighteen projects are non-commercial. CPF historic places for community child care and Executive Director Roberta Deering offers some affordable housing was a great success; while insight into the possibility of an intriguing San Bernardino and Santa Barbara did tremen­ trend, "Perhaps it is that our culture today is dous work to revitalize their splendid railroad more responsive to the connections that preser­ depots. The City of Riverside has developed a vationists have long been touting between a new model for all cities in ensuring the record community's significant historic and cultural of their historic resources is the most intercon­ resources and desires for 'quality of life."' nected it can be with the planning process. And Indeed, the public sector is not only recognizing Santa Rosa has demonstrated just how much it the value of preserving these resources, it is cherishes its beautiful High School and its doing so with an impressive standard of famed acoustics. Finally, Cal trans has made an excellence. cal:�· The California Preservation Foundation, City of Santa Rosa, California Office of or!//a-71:::::.. Historic Preservation and the Sonoma County Landmarks Commission invite you to PRESERVATION 2/)/)f.Jf.J. CONFEREN E attend the- z7tTi Annual California Preservation Conference in "Vintage Sonoma County." The Conference's Educational Sessions and Mobile Work­ Vinla<Je <Sonoma Counh; shops will focus on four program tracks: Cultural Landscapes, Technology Toolkit, -MAY;.z• �· ·�JAROSA- Engaging Change - The Development Process for Preservation, and California Issues plus a Special Introduction to Sonoma County by historian Gaye Le Baron. The Conference Registration brochure is available on-line at: http://www.cahforniapreservation.org/calender.html Keynote Speaker Vintage Sonoma County One of the country's leading proponents of Sonoma County is a region of historic and cultural landscapes preservation spectacular natural beauty, dramatic and the Coordinator of the National Park coastlines, picturesque historic towns, Service's Historic Landscape Initiative, and fine vineyards and agricultural Charles Birnbaum, FASLA, will be the landscapes. Northern Sonoma includes Keynote Speaker at the Conference's Plenary the towns of Cloverdale, Geyserville, Session Friday morning. Healdsburg and Windsor and the fine Birnbaum's address will examine preserva­ wine producing regions of the tion and design of urban spaces over the past Alexander Valley and the Dry Creek several decades and suggest what we can do, Valley. The Sonoma Valley to the east, Charles Birnbaum when design is often driven by economics, to also known as the "Valley of the reverse the trends that result in a false sense of Moon," contains dozens of wineries in history, or in either standardized, or pastiche the charming towns of Kenwood, Glen environments. Ellen, and Sonoma. It's also home to Jack London State Park, General Vallejo's home, and the Thursday Sonoma Mission and Historic 11rro11glr May 2nd Plaza. To the south is the historic town of Petaluma with iron­ Sunday front buildings that line the May 5th riverfront. The Russian River region to the west includes the 2002 towns of Guerneville, Sebastopol, Occidental and Freestone. And who can forget & Luther Burbank Home Garden in Santa Rosa - site of the the town of Boedega from the Conference's Opening Reception on Thursday, May 2nd. Hitchcock film, "The Birds?" Mobile Workshops & Tours Santa Rosa with its tree lined streets and Attendees will learn about everything from historic neighborhoods, is the center of the Three Minute the California Historic Resources Informa­ county, and the gateway to Sonoma Wine Success Stories to tion System to historic wineries and vintage country. The City is the proud owner and celebrate its transportation as the workshops and tours caretaker of many historic sites including 25th Anniversary explore the picturesque towns nestled the National Historic Landmark Luther Burbank Home & Gardens, the DeTurk program at this throughout Sonoma County. Round Barn and the Church of One Tree. Conference! The Flamingo Resort Hotel The Historic Railroad Square District, listed Application Conference Headquarters will be the in the National Register in 1979, boasts 12 available on CPF Flamingo Resort Hotel in Santa Rosa. The award-winning restaurants and coffee website. hotel will house the Educational Sessions, houses and many beautiful antique shops. Registration area, Bookstore, Exhibits, and Famous citizens who called Santa Rosa and Silent Auction. Sonoma County home include Luther 2777 Fourth St. in Santa Rosa Burbank, Jack London, Robert Ripley and Phone: 1-(800)-848-8300, Charles Schulz. www. flamingoresort.com. 2 California Preservation Foundation Newsletter, Spring 2002 President's Report- Carolyn Douthat Good news all around - As CPF members surely know, Proposition 40 passed in the th March 5 election, thanks in no small part to the efforts of the California Heritage Coalitio� for Prop. 40, which included CPF as well as other state, local and national preservation organiza­ tions. The Planning and Conservation League, through its Vote Yes on Prop 40 campaign, also contributed significantly to the successful passage of the proposition. As President of the Board of CPF, though, I would like to especially thank the local preservation organizations for contacting their members and local government representatives about endorsing the proposition. Now comes the part about how the money for preservation will be allocated. There are a number of bills in the Assembly and the Senate which affect how this money will be spent. Some are special bills for specific projects; others address a need to place the money in a fund which can be administered to evaluate applications on a statewide basis. I would urge you to contact your local representatives about what their position is on the process for spending Prop. 40 funds. The text of the bill is still available, as of this writing, at californiaheritage.org. Further news is that CPF has hired a lobbyist for CPF in Sacramento, Sande George, to help CPF monitor the bills this session which affect historic preservation, thanks to a generous grant from the National Trust Office in San Francisco. Sande already represents the California Chapter of the American Planning Association and, as would be expected, has considerable experience in land use, regulatory issues and Sacramento machinations. We thank the National Trust, and welcome Sande. is On a less political note, the Preservation Design Awards in Los Angeles at the Getty was a great CaliforniaPreservation published by the Califor­ event - the weather cooperated and we had a record number of attendees at that wonderful nia Preservation Founda­ (though not historic!) venue. tion, Califomia's only Finally - refer to the page opposite on the Statewide Preservation Conference in May. There is a statewide, non-profit wonderful range of tours and venues, and a group of challenging session topics. Having seen education, advocacy and membership organization most of the venues, and reviewed the program, I highly recommend you come.