DEPARTMENT OF CITY PLANNING CiTY OF Los ANGELES EXECUTIVE OFFICES OFf-ICE Of- HISTORIC: RESOl.RUS CALIFORNIA S, CAlL COLDBeRC, AIO' 20D N. SPRI,,C SIRfrT, ROUM 620 DIRECTOR Los Ai'ULfS, LA ')0012-4801 (213) 97/J-127: i2131971l-1200 leVA YUAi'-McDi\NIH CULTURAl HERITAGE COMMISSION OfPLTYDIRfOOR (113:978-1173 MARY KI.ALS-MAR i IN PRf,IIDf¡"T FAX: (213: 978-1275 RICH/\RLJ Bi\RROi' VICE PRlSIOFNI ,ALM.'\,'v, C\RLiSU ANTONIO R. VILLARAIGOSA I"JFORMA i ION ci FN C. DAKE MAYOR I:!U)9781no MI/\U:HRFR www_lacity,org/rLI'J COMMISSION ol-rlCE (2i:) 978-1:00 DATE: SEP 2 i 2007 Los Angeles City Council Room 395, City Hall 200 North Spring Street Los Angeles, California 90012 ATTENTION: Barbara Greaves, Legislative Assistant Planning and Land Use Management Committee CASE NUMBER CHC-2007-2577 -HCM CASTERA RESIDENCE 651 NORTH SIENA WAY At the Cultural Heritage Commission meeting of August 16, 2007, the Commission moved to include the above property in the list of Historic-Cultural Monuments, subject to adoption by the City CounciL. As required under the provisions of Section 22.126 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, the Commission has solicited opinions and information from the office of the Council District in which the site is located and from any Department or Bureau of the city whose operations may be affected by the designation of such site as a Historic- Cultural Monument. Such designation in and of itself has no fiscal impact. Future applications for permits may cause minimal administrative costs. The City Council, according to the guidelines set forth in Section 22.125.1 of the Los Angeles Administrative Code, shall act on the proposed inclusion to the list within 90 days of the Councilor Commission action, whichever first occurs. By resolution, the Council may extend the period for good cause for an additional 15 days. The Cultural Heritage Commission would appreciate your inclusion of the subject modification to the list of Historic-Cultural Monuments upon adoption by the City CounciL. The above Cultural Heritage Commission action was taken by the following vote: Moved: Commissioner Dake Seconded: Commissioner Barron Ayes: Commissioners Lehrer and Martin Absent: Commissioner Carlisle \I",i",. VVLC;. 4-0 ( ---H-. i" \1,1 \, \,,'.. "It'((\, / \-,' Sheldred Alexander, Commission Executive Assistant Cultural Heritage Commission SA Attachment: Staff Report with Findings SEP 2 4 2007 c: Councilmember Jack Weiss, Fifth Council District PLANNING & LAND Sandy Gallin, Owner Los Angeles Conservancy, Applicant USE MANAGEMENT O/(,/ S AN EqUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER flecyclaDiard-iadelro'l'ec¡;ledwast~.!J ~-t , ---- ---Ló~fArigéles OépartmenfofCity Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT ITEM 8 CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION CASE NO.: CHC-2007-2577-HCM HEARING DATE: August 16, 2007 Location: 651 N. Siena Way TIME: 10:00 AM Council District: 5 PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 Community Plan Area: Bel Air-Beverly Crest 200 N. Spring Street Area Planning Commission: West Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Neighborhood Council: Bel Air-Beverly Crest 90012 Legal Description: Lot 6 of Block 5 of MB 119- 70/76 PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the CASTERA RESIDENCE REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument APPLICANT: Los Angeles Conservancy 523 West 6th Street, Suite 826 Los Angeles, CA 90014 OWNER: Sandy Gallin c/o Bill Sobel Edelstein, Laird and Sobel LLP 9255 Sunset Blvd. Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90069 RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.7 2. Adopt the report findings Ke Bernstein, Manager Office of Historic Resources ~hi!.,iOffce of Historic Resources gar Garcia, ;res . n' Pi:n~ ~~Office of Historic Resources Attachments: May 28, 2007 Historic-Cultural Monument Application 651 N. Siena Way CHC-2007 -257. -HCM Page 2 of 3 FINDINGS 1. The building "embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction" as an example of French Provincial style residential architecture. 2. The building is associated with a master builder, designer, or architect, as a work by the architect Paul Williams. CRITERIA The criterion is the Cultural Heritage Ordinance which defines a historical or cultural monument as any site (including significant trees or other plant life located thereon) building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles, such as historic structures or sites in which the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community is reflected or exemplified, or which are identified with historic personages or with important events in the main currents of national, State or local history or which embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction, or a notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influenced his age. SUMMARY Built in 1936 and located in the Bel Air area, this two-story residential building exhibits character-defining features of French Provincial style architecture. The rectangular plan residential building has an off-center entrance with a Classical-style pediment and flanking shutters and oval windows The high-hipped roof is covered in composition shingles and has eyebrow dormer tops at the eaves. The exterior is a concrete finish with wood trim. Windows are multi-paned double-hung windows. A single tiered chimney is located at the east end of the home. A covered patio and balcony are situated at the rear of the building, with an adjacent bay window and chimney. Significant interior elements include box beamed ceilings, wood wainscoting and paneling, and fireplaces. Landscaping includes extensive gardens and a shrubbery maze. The proposed Castera Residence historic monument was designed by architect Paul Williams (1894-1980). Williams was one of the foremost architects of Los Angeles in the mid-twentieth century, designing thousands of private homes as well as public and commercial buildings. Williams was also the first certified African-American architect west of the Mississippi River, the first African-American member of the American Institute of Architects, and also served on the first Los Angeles Planning Commission in 1920. The subject building was designed for George and Evelyn Castera who in 1945 established the California Institute for Cancer Research. In 1963, they sold the home to Edgar Ward and actress Jane Wyatt. Wyatt is recognized for her role in Frank Capra's "Lost Horizon" in 1937 and for her role opposite Robert Young in the 1950s television series "Father Knows Best." Wyatt would also later appear in the television shows, "Star Trek" and "St. Elsewhere." Alterations include the addition of an exterior stairway in 1967. 651 N. Siena Way CHC-2007 -2577 -HCM Page 3 of 3 DISCUSSION The Castera Residence property successfully meets two of the specified Historic-Cultural Monument criteria: 1) "embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction," and 2) is associated with a master builder, designer, or architect. As a residential building designed in the French-Provincial style by a master architect, the property qualifies for designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument based on these criteria. BACKGROUND At its meeting of June 12, 2007, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted to take the application under consideration. On August 6, 2007, the staff of the Offce of Historic Resources toured the subject property and provided a detailed photographic record to members of the Cultural Heritage Commission. Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION CASE NO.: CHC-2007-2577-HCM HEARING DATE: June 12, 2007 Location: 651 N. Siena Way TIME: 2:00 PM Council District: 5 PLACE: City Hall, Room 10"0 Community Plan Area: Bel Air-Beverly Crest 200 N. Spring Street Area Planning Commission: West Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA Neighborhood Council: Bel Air-Beverly Crest 90012 Legal Description: Lot 6 of Block 5 of MB 119- 70/76 PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the CASTERA RESIDENCE REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument APPLICANT: Los Angeles Conservancy 523 West 6'h Street, Suite 826 Los Angeles, CA 90014 OWNER: California Community Foundation Union Bank Building 445 S. Figueroa SI., Suite 3400 Los Angeles, CA 90071 California Community Foundation The Ward Fund 606 S Olive SI. Suite 2400 Los Angeles, CA 90014 RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Take the property under consideration as a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Section 22.125 because the application and accompanying photo documentation suggest the submittal may warrant further investigation. 2. Adopt the report findings. S GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Directe¡WlanningI\~/'_~ \ li(l'k~ - lambert rì: iessi r, Architect Offce of Historic Resources ~¿ 2k~~ E gcf arci, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: May 28, 2007 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report 651 N. Siena Way CHC-2007 -2577 -HCM Page 2 of 2 SUMMARY Built in 1936 and located in the Bel Air area, this two-story residential building exhibits character-defining features of French Provincial Style architecture. The rectangular plan residential building has an off-center entrance with a Classical-style pediment and flanking shutters and oval windows. The high-hipped roof is covered in composition shingles and has eyebrow dormer tops at the eaves The exterior is a concrete finish with wood trim. Windows are multi-paned double-hung windows. A single tiered chimney is located at the east end of the home. A covered patio and balcony are situated at the rear of the building, with an adjacent bay window and chimney.