Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION CASE NO.: CHC -2007 -4269 -HCM HEARING DATE: November 15, 2007 Location: 14555 Sylvan Street TIME: 10:00 AM Council District: 6 PLACE : City Hall, Room 1010 Community Plan Area: Van Nuys- North Sherman 200 N. Spring Street Oaks Los Angeles, CA Area Planning Commission: South Valley 90012 Neighborhood Council: Van Nuys Legal Description: Lot 31 of Block 40 of TR1200 PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the VAN NUYS BRANCH LIBRARY REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument APPLICANT: Richard Hilton 5924 Varna Ave Valley Glen, CA 91401 OWNER: City of Los Angeles 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. S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, Manager Lambert M. Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Office of Historic Resources Prepared by: [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] ________________________ Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: August 22, 2007 Historic-Cultural Monument Application 14555 Sylvan St. CHC-2007-4269-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 Spanish Colonial Revival architecture. 2. The property reflects “the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community” for its association with the development of Van Nuys. 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 1927, this one-story building exhibits character-defining features of Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture. The side-gabled building is U-shaped with a centered recessed entrance. The roof is covered in clay tile and the finish is stucco. Windows are wood-framed casement windows with diamond-shaped patterns. The main entrance and west façade window are flanked by decorative terra cotta consisting of Corinthian columns, simulated rusticated stone, and a coat of arms. A side entrance has a covered arched porch. Other character-defining features include a rounded vent portals and low chimney. Significant interior features include an exposed wood beamed ceiling with stenciling, fireplace, and library counter. The proposed Van Nuys Branch Library historic monument was built in 1927 by the firm of Allison & Allison. The firm designed the Variety Arts Building (Historic-Cultural Monument #196), the Beverly Hills and Hollywood Post Office, and campus buildings for UCLA. Other projects in the Van Nuys area are the Bank of Van Nuys (1912), Van Nuys High School (1922), and Central Christian Church (1925). The subject building was built as the 11 th branch library of the Los Angeles Branch library system. The library may have been the first stand-alone library building in the San Fernando Valley. Serving the Van Nuys community, it remained a library until 1963, when after it housed the Bureau of Fire Prevention until 2003. The property has remained vacant and is set to be auctioned by the City of Los Angeles. Later alterations to the subject property include the addition of handrails, security bars, and modern metal awnings. DISCUSSION The Van Nuys Branch Library property successfully meets two of the specified Historic-Cultural Monument criteria: 1) “embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type 14555 Sylvan St. CHC-2007-4269-HCM Page 3 of 3 specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction” and 2) reflects “the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community.” As a building designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style and reflective of the development of the Van Nuys community, the property qualifies for designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument based on these criteria. BACKGROUND At its meeting of September 20, 2007, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted to take the application under consideration. On November 1, 2007, the Cultural Heritage Commission toured the subject property. Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION CASE NO.: CHC-2007-4269-HCM HEARING DATE: September 20,2007 Location: 14555 Sylvan Street TIME: 10:OO AM Council District: 6 PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 Community Plan Area: Van Nuys- North Sherman 200 N. Spring Street Oaks Los Angeles, CA Area Planning Commission: South Valley 90012 Neighborhood Council: Van Nuys Legal Description: Lot 31 of Block 40 of TRI 200 PROJECT: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the VAN NUYS BRANCH LIBRARY REQUEST: Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument APPLICANT: Richard Hilton 5924 Varna Ave Valley Glen, CA 91401 OWNER: City of Los Angeles RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Take the property under consideration as a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171 .I0 because the application and accompanying photo documentation suggest the submittal may warrant further investigation. 2. Adopt the report findings. S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AlCP Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, Manager Lambert M. Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Office of Historic Resources Prepared by: [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: August 22, 2007 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZlMAS Report 14555 Sylvan St. CHC-2007-4269-HCM Page 2 of 2 SUMMARY Built in 1927, this one-story building exhibits character-defining features of Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture. The side-gabled building is U-shaped with a centered recessed entrance. The roof is covered in clay tile and the finish is stucco. Windows are wood-framed casement windows with diamond-shaped patterns. The main entrance and west fa~adewindow are flanked by decorative terra cotta consisting of Corinthian columns, simulated rusticated stone, and a coat of arms. A side entrance has a covered arched porch. Other character-defining features include a rounded vent portals and low chimney. Significant interior features include an exposed wood beamed ceiling with stenciling, fireplace, and library counter. The proposed Van Nuys Branch Library historic monument was built in 1927 by the firm of Allison & Allison. The firm designed the Variety Arts Building (Historic-Cultural Monument #196), the Beverly Hills and Hollywood Post Office, and campus buildings for the UCLA campus. Other projects in the Van Nuys area are the Bank of Van Nuys (1912), Van Nuys High School (1922), and Central Christian Church (1925). The subject building was built as the 1lth branch library of the Los Angeles Branch library system. The library may have been the first stand-alone library building in the San Fernando Valley. Serving the Van Nuys community, it remained a library until 1963, when after it housed the Bureau of Fire Prevention until 2003. The property has remained vacant and is set to be auctioned by the City of Los Angeles. Later alterations to the subject property include the addition of handrails, security bars, and modern metal awnings. 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. Based on the facts set forth in the summary and application, the Commission determines that the application is complete and that the property is significant enough to warrant further investigation as a potential Historic-Cultural Monument. NOMINATION FOR HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENT STATUS THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY - ORIGINAL VAN NUYS BRANCH 14555 Sylvan Street, Van Nuys, CA 91401 August 22,2007 By Richard Hilton 5924 Varna Avenue Valley Glen, California 9 140 1 (8 18) 909-4729 [email protected] HISTORIC-CULTURALMONUMENT APPLICATION TYPE OR HAND PRINT IN ALL CAPITAL BLOCK LETTERS LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY ORIGINAL VAN NUYS BRANCH 1. NAME OF PROPOSED MONUMENT - 2. STREET ADDRESS 14555 SYLVAN STREET CITY VAN NUYS ZIP CODE 91401 COUNCIL DISTRIm 6 3. ASSESSOR'S PARCEL NO. 7741005900 4. COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION: TRACT 1700 BLOCK 40 LOT(S) 29,30,31,32 ARB. N0.A 5. RANGE OF ADDRESSES ON PROPERTY 14555 SYLVAN STREET 6. PRESENT OWNER CITY OF LOS ANGELES STREET ADDRESS 200 NORTH SPRING STREET, ROOM 410 E-MAIL ADDRESS: LACITY.ORG CITY LOS ANGELES STATE CA ZIP CODE 90012 PHONE (213) 473-3231 OWNERSHIP: PRIVATE PUBLIC x 7.