ATTACHMENT 2 LPC 06-02-2011 PAGE 1 of 44 P RES V A T I O N MEETING OF: March 3, 2011 Property Address: 22 Roble Road APN: 064 425501300 Also Known As: The McDuffie Estate Property Owner: Stewart and Rachelle Owen Action: Landmark Designation Application Number: LM 10-40000019 Applicant: Cora Palmer and Andrew Fischer WHEREAS, on November 15, 2010 the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House at 22 Roble Road was initiated for City of Berkeley Landmark designation by petition. On December 2, 2010, the initiation was confirmed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission and a public hearing was set for February 3, 2011, for consideration of the property as a City of Berkeley Landmark; and WHEREAS, the public hearing for consideration of the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House was opened by the Landmarks Preservation Commission on February 3, 2011 and subsequently continued to the March 3, 2011 meeting; and WHEREAS, the proposed landmark designation of the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15061.b.3 (activities that can be seen with certainty to have no significant effect on the environment) of the CEQA Guidelines; and WHEREAS, the period of significance for the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House is 1909 – 1952, the years that Duncan, and, subsequently upon marriage, Jean McDuffie owned the property. WHEREAS, consistent with section 3.24.110.A.1 Architectural merit: the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House is believed to be the last known residence designed by renowned San Francisco architect Willis Polk before his untimely death in September of 1924; and WHEREAS, consistent with section 3.24.110.A.1b Architectural merit: the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House is a structure worthy of preserving as an outstanding early example of the Mediterranean architectural style; and as a collaborative example of the architectural design of Willis Polk and Willis Polk & Co. of San Francisco, and the Landscape Architectural design of James Frederick Dawson and the Olmsted Brothers firm of Brookline, MA; and 2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7410 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7420 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/landmarks/default.htm ATTACHMENT 2 LPC 06-02-2011 22 Roble Road MarchPAGE 3, 22011 of 44 Page 2 of 5 WHEREAS, consistent with section 3.24.110.A.2 Cultural Merit: the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House qualifies for its owners’ associations with the Sierra Club, Save the Redwoods, the California State Park System, East Bay Parks, the early subdivisions of Berkeley, the Mason-McDuffie Company, Children’s Hospital of Oakland, the California Civic League of Women’s Voters, and the many other activities of the owners, both civic and philanthropic, including but not limited to, the protection of open space and the California Landscape; and WHEREAS, consistent with section 3.24.110.A.4 Historic Value: the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House qualifies under this criterion for its association with Duncan McDuffie, his real estate practice and the special type of residential suburbs which he promoted by his subdivisions. McDuffie’s association with the Sierra Club and other open space protection efforts also qualify it as having significant historic value. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Duncan and Jean McDuffie House and grounds are hereby designated as a City of Berkeley Landmark; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the landmark site is located at 22 Roble Road and that its boundaries are coterminous with those of Assessor's parcel 064 425501300; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the particular features of the house that should be preserved include the following: In general: • Massing in general, with its multiple levels that accommodate the topography and step down the hillside and with its roughly T-shaped plan that frames adjoining garden spaces • Exterior circulation system including stairs and first-story pass-through • Red tile roofs, with eave overhang • Stucco-clad chimneys with tile flues and trim • White, smooth stucco-clad walls • Tile attic vents in gables • Decorative metal hardware and light fixtures • Decorative tile work • Shape and size of window and door openings on south and west walls and all sides of the living room wing At Roble Road street facade and upper Entry area: • Blind window recess, with decorative corner details, in gable • Exposed wood beam over garage entry • Pedestrian gateway opening with tile roof and spindled wooden door • Roof structural members over entry passageway • Tile paving of entry passageway • Decorative rectangular panel on south-facing wall along entry passageway On facades facing Entry Court Garden: • Arched opening, and wood-paneled double doors, of angled courtyard entry 2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7410 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7420 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/landmarks/default.htm ATTACHMENT 2 LPC 06-02-2011 22 Roble Road MarchPAGE 3, 32011 of 44 Page 3 of 5 • Arched openings in dining room wall and engaged columns between them • Second-floor bracketed iron balcony • Second-floor bedroom window openings • Arched clerestory window openings and column between them • Engaged chimney, with battered sides, on living room wall • Rectangular door openings in living room wall At South end of living room wing: • Arched doorway opening On West side of living room wing: • Loggia, including tile paving and ceiling beams • Arched doorway between north end of loggia passageway and main part of house • Spindled wooden gates in two southernmost arches • Iron-railed balcony with wood corbels and awning bar above • Rectangular openings adjoining the balcony • Linear articulations of the facade at the base, spring line, and balcony line On South and West sides of sitting room wing: • Arcades of window openings, with engaged and/or free columns between them, on each wall • Corbelled overhang at west end BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the particular features of the landscape that should be preserved include the following: In general: • Interplay between formal and naturalistic areas • Generally wooded character of the site's eastern and southern sides • Exposed reinforced concrete retaining and site walls At Roble Road street facade: • Board-formed concrete walls • Spindled wooden gate at pedestrian entry to garden In or beside Entry Court Garden: • Entry stairs • Niche, cast concrete columns, and large urn • Palette of paving materials (tile, concrete, gravel) • Central low concrete basin fountain • Plantings in courtyard • Decorative metal gates to pergola In South garden area: • Steps from living room and a decoratively designed railing • Large rectangular lawn panel 2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7410 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7420 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/landmarks/default.htm ATTACHMENT 2 LPC 06-02-2011 22 Roble Road MarchPAGE 3, 42011 of 44 Page 4 of 5 • Concrete garden walls defining edges of lawn panel • Decorative grille in garden wall on west side • Pergola with concrete columns and wood trellis • Steps from pergola to lawn panel • Stairway from entry gate at street to center of pergola • Curved wall segment at south end of pergola • Curved concrete steps at south end of lawn panel • Paved upper terrace with concrete backdrop wall, niche, pool, and large urn and the arched opening near the wall's west end In West gardens: • Staircase from south garden's lawn panel, with decorative grille at upper landing • Arched recess, with painted, arched wooden door, beneath staircase • Small circular patio with rock wall/bench • Rockwork on slope near circular patio • Lawn panel with strong north-south alignment • Benches alongside lawn panel • Paved open terrace adjoining the house's loggia • Decorative metal gates, to be put back in place at west garden's north end BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that during any renovation of the house, special consideration should be given to potentially restoring the following significant features that are evident in photographs but have been removed: • Tile roof over entry passage, • Rectangular door and surround on second story at west end of entry passageway • Iron balcony's missing segment at northwest corner of entry court garden. • Grille, in front of second-story bathroom, on wall facing entry court garden • Missing shutters in general. Attachments: 1. Revised Designation Report, received February 24, 2011. 2. Staff Report and analysis. VOTE: All in favor (9-0-0-0) ATTEST: __________________________________________________________ Jay W. Claiborne, Secretary, Landmarks Preservation Commission 2120 Milvia Street, Berkeley, CA 94704 ● Tel: (510) 981-7410 ● TDD: (510) 981-6903 ● Fax: (510) 981-7420 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/landmarks/default.htm ATTACHMENT 2 LPC 06-02-2011 22 Roble Road MarchPAGE 3, 52011 of 44 Page 5 of 5 DATE NOTICE MAILED: March 08, 2011 THE APPEAL PERIOD EXPIRES (15 DAYS) AT 5 PM: March 23, 2011 Appeal must be filed with City Clerk by this date. TO APPEAL THIS MATTER: Pursuant to Section 3.24.300 of the Landmarks Preservation Ordinance: “An appeal may be taken to the City Council by the City Council on its own motion, by motion of the Planning Commission, by motion of the Civic Art Commission, by the verified application of the owners of the property or their authorized agents, or by the verified application of at least fifty residents of the City aggrieved or affected by any determination of the commission made under the provisions of this chapter”. Any appeal submitted by the public must be in writing, specifying the reasons for the appeal. The appeal fee if filed by the applicant is $1445. If filed by a person other than the applicant, the fee is $79.