Tribal Cultural Resources Assessment for the 1024 Mateo Street Project, Los Angeles, California MAY 2019 PREPARED FOR Mateo Arts, LLC PREPARED BY SWCA Environmental Consultants This page intentionally left blank. Tribal Cultural Resources Assessment for the 1024 Mateo Street Project, Los Angeles, California Prepared for Mateo Arts, LLC 1875 Century Park East, Suite 1750 Los Angeles, CA 90067 Attn: Daniel A. Abrams and Sammi Shaaya Prepared by Chris Millington, M.A., RPA and Trevor Gittelhough, M.A., RPA SWCA Environmental Consultants 51 West Dayton Street Pasadena, California 91105 (626) 240-0587 www.swca.com SWCA Project No. 055465.00 SWCA CRRD Report No. 19-224 May 2019 Keywords: CEQA; tribal cultural sensitivity assessment; City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning; Arts District; 2018 E Bay St, 2016 E Bay St, 2010 E Bay St, 2006 E Bay St, 2006 1/2 E Bay St, 1000 S Mateo St, 1000 1/4 S Mateo St, 1010 S Mateo St, 1012 S Mateo St, 2023 E Sacramento St, 2023 1/2 E Sacramento St, 2019 E Sacramento St, 2019 1/2 E Sacramento St, 2015 E Sacramento St, 2015 1/2 E Sacramento St, 2011 E Sacramento St, 2009 E Sacramento St, 2007 E Sacramento St, 2005 E Sacramento St, 2001 E Sacramento St, 1026 S Mateo St, 1024 S Mateo St, 1020 S Mateo St, 1018 S Mateo St, 1014 S Mateo St; Los Angeles; Hollywood quadrangle; Township 1 South, Range 13 West, Section 9 Tribal Cultural Resources Assessment for the 1024 Mateo Street Project, Los Angeles, California MANAGEMENT SUMMARY Purpose and Scope: Mateo Arts, LLC (the Applicant) retained SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to conduct a tribal cultural resources sensitivity assessment in support of the proposed 1024 Mateo Street Project located in the city of Los Angeles, California, within the Arts District neighborhood. The Applicant proposes to construct a mixed-income, eight-story mixed-use development containing approximately 106 Live/Work condominiums units and approximately 119,843 square feet of commercial space that includes 13,978 square feet of retail and 13,126 square feet of restaurant space (the Project). The Project site fronts along Mateo, Bay, and Sacramento Streets, and consists of 62,111 square feet (1.43 acres) of lot area. The following study addresses tribal cultural resources for purposes of compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), specifically Assembly Bill 52 (AB 52), but also including relevant portions of Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections 5024.1, 15064.5, 21074, 21083.2, 21084.1, and 21084.2. The City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning (City Planning) is the Lead Agency under CEQA for the Project. CEQA requires a lead agency to analyze whether a tribal cultural resource is present, supported by substantial evidence, and may be adversely affected by a proposed project. This report documents the methods and results of a confidential records search of the California Historical Resources Information System (CHRIS), sacred lands file (SLF) search through the Native American Heritage Commission (NAHC), and archival research used to evaluate the presence or likelihood (i.e., sensitivity) of tribal cultural resources within the Project site and to inform the analysis of potential impacts in accordance with Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines. Dates of Investigation: On March 18, 2019 SWCA conducted a confidential search of the CHRIS records at the SCCIC on the campus of California State University, Fullerton. On April 25, 2019, SWCA received the results of a SLF search from the NAHC. Summary of Findings: No tribal cultural resources were identified in a CHRIS records search within the project site and a 0.5-mile radius. The SLF records search did not identify any sacred lands or sites in the project site. The closest known sites with Native American-affiliated materials on file at the CHRIS are mapped in approximately 1.5 miles north of the Project site, between the Los Angeles Plaza, Union Station, and MWD Headquarters building. The Gabrielino village known as Yaanga and several other important Historic-period Gabrielino sites (e.g., Pueblito. Rancheria de los Poblanos, and two unnamed rancherias) were located in the same approximate area, more than 1 mile from the Project site. The general proximity of the Project site to areas of known habitation, the river, and broad travel corridors has the effect of an overall increase in the sensitivity for unknown tribal cultural resources, particularly for the physical remains of temporary open camps. Such camps are typically identified by the presence of hearth features, ground stone and other types of artifact assemblages. Archival research indicated that at least by 1849, the Project site or at least portions were likely plowed and planted as a corn field. Subsequent development as a residential block between the 1890s and 1910s, and multiple episodes of redevelopment through the twentieth century would have displaced any former tribal cultural resources affiliated with Native Americans that were once present on the surface or near surface. This significantly reduces the sensitivity for the preservation of any tribal cultural resources within the Project site but does not preclude the potential for tribal cultural resources to be preserved as more deeply buried sites. Soils within the Project site were assessed on the basis of samples taken for the Project and more generalized soil studies. Sediment profiles in the Project site are typical of deposits within the Los Angeles River floodplain and reflects a mixture of high- and low-energy deposition. Although subtle variations may exist within the alluvial substratum that were not distinguished here, which could have relevance for tribal cultural resource preservation potential, SWCA interprets the disturbances from flood events represented in the soil profiles as having a net reduction in the sensitivity for tribal cultural resources. To the extent that the proposed ground disturbance extends into undisturbed alluvial soils buried beneath previously disturbed SWCA Environmental Consultants i Tribal Cultural Resources Assessment for the 1024 Mateo Street Project, Los Angeles, California sediments, there may be some potential for preservation, but it is considered very unlikely for any tribal cultural resource to be present. Based on these considerations, SWCA finds a low potential for encountering tribal cultural resources within the Project site. Conclusion: Ground disturbances for the project will occur during the proposed demolition, site preparation, and grading phases. Grading is estimated to require up to 25 feet of excavation below the surrounding street elevation that will extend into the underlying alluvial soils. The CHRIS search identified no previously recorded tribal cultural resources within the project site or 0.5-mile radius. An ethnographic literature review and archival research identified several former Native American communities located between 0.5 and 1.5 miles to the east-northeast of the project site, near the Los Angeles Plaza, Union Station, and eastern portions of the downtown area. The NAHC’s search of the SLF did not identify any sacred lands or sites. SWCA assessed the potential for an unidentified tribal cultural resource to be present below the surface that could be encountered during the proposed ground disturbing activities. The potential for unidentified tribal cultural resources within the project site is found to be low. The project is subject to the City’s standard condition of approval for the inadvertent discovery of tribal cultural resources, which requires construction be halted and California Native American tribes be consulted on treatment. Though unlikely, if present, any unidentified tribal cultural resources have the potential to be significant under CEQA. However, based on the condition of approval, any potential impacts would be reduced to less than significant. Therefore, SWCA finds that the project will have less-than-significant impacts to tribal cultural resources. Disposition of Data: The final report and any subsequent related reports will be submitted to Mateo Arts, LLC; the Los Angeles Department of City Planning; and the SCCIC at California State University, Fullerton. Research materials and the report are also on file at the SWCA Pasadena Office. SWCA Environmental Consultants ii Tribal Cultural Resources Assessment for the 1024 Mateo Street Project, Los Angeles, California CONTENTS MANAGEMENT SUMMARY ................................................................................................................... i CONTENTS................................................................................................................................................ iii TABLES ................................................................................................................................................ iv FIGURES .............................................................................................................................................. iv APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................ v INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 1 PROJECT DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 REGULATORY SETTING ......................................................................................................................