HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION JUNE 9, 2021 MULTI-FAMILY SURVEY AD-HOC COMMITTEE NEW BUSINESS SUBJECT: DRAFT HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMENT UPDATE FOR THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES IN THE R2, R3, AND R4 MULTI- FAMILY ZONING DISTRICTS INITIATED BY: PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT (Jennifer Alkire, AICP, Planning Manager, CHPP) (Doug Vu, Senior Planner / HPC Liaison) (Antonio Castillo, Senior Planner) _____________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT The Historic Preservation Commission Ad-hoc Committee will review the draft Historic Context Statement (HCS) update of residential properties in the R2, R3, and R4 multi- family zoning districts and provide comments to staff and GPA Consulting before a final HCS update is presented to the Historic Preservation Commission. RECOMMENDATION Review the draft Historic Context Statement update and provide comments to staff before the final HCS is prepared and presented to the Historic Preservation Commission. BACKGROUND Multi-family properties in the City of West Hollywood were initially surveyed during the citywide historic resources survey in 1986. In 2008, the City updated the HCS and completed a historic resources survey of residential properties in the R2, R3, and R4 Zoning Districts. Since the 2008 update, residential neighborhoods have experienced incremental changes that have shaped current conditions. The subject draft HCS was prepared by GPA Consulting for the City of West Hollywood as Phase 1 of an update to the City’s HCS, and a Historic Resources Survey update will be completed as Phase 2 of this project that will include a comprehensive review of approximately 2,400 properties. The HCS and subsequent survey update will contribute to the City’s overall goal of identifying, evaluating, and protecting historic and cultural resources in light of increasing development pressures within the residential neighborhoods. The HCS and survey updates will also further the City’s goals of expanding the base of information on the City’s history (Goal HP-1) and to continue to identify and evaluate cultural resources (Goal HP-2). The HCS update is an accessible and thorough document that can be used as a framework to evaluate multi-family residential development in the City of West Hollywood during Phase 2 of the project. Page 1 of 2 ITEM 5.A. Staff and GPA Consulting will provide the HPC Ad-hoc Committee with an overview of the contents in the draft HCS update (EXHIBIT A) that contain the following sections: 1) Executive Summary 2) Introduction 3) Regulatory Framework 4) Historical Overview 5) Architectural Styles 6) Associated Property Types 7) Conclusion 8) Bibliography EXHIBITS A. Draft Historic Context Statement Update 2 City of West Hollywood DRAFT Historic Context Statement of Residential Properties in the R2, R3, & R4 Multi-Family Zoning Districts Prepared for City of West Hollywood Planning and Development Services Department 8300 Santa Monica Boulevard West Hollywood, CA 90069 Prepared by GPA Consulting 617 S. Olive Street, Suite 910 Los Angeles, CA 90014 Phase 1 First Draft, April 2021 ITEM 5.A. EXHIBIT A This page intentionally left blank Phase 1 FIRST DRAFT This draft is intended for review, edits, and comments. For ease of commenting, there are minimal photographs, figures, maps, and illustrations. All sections noted with an *asterisk* will be completed in the final draft following Phase 2. *Executive Summary [to be completed at the conclusion of Phase 2] Contents *EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................................... I CONTENTS ......................................................................................................................................................... II INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................................. 1 PURPOSE* .................................................................................................................................................................... 1 TEAM* ......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 Research ................................................................................................................................................................ 1 Organization .......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Fieldwork* ............................................................................................................................................................. 2 REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ............................................................................................................................... 3 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES ........................................................................................................................... 3 Criteria ................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Integrity ................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Criteria Consideration G ......................................................................................................................................... 4 Period of Significance ............................................................................................................................................. 4 CALIFORNIA REGISTER OF HISTORICAL RESOURCES ................................................................................................................ 5 WEST HOLLYWOOD REGISTER OF CULTURAL RESOURCES ....................................................................................................... 6 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW ...................................................................................................................................... 8 SHERMAN, 1895-1925 ........................................................................................................................................ 8 OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................................................... 8 COMMUNITY BEGINNINGS ................................................................................................................................................ 8 THE BIRTH OF THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY .................................................................................................................. 11 SHERMAN BECOMES WEST HOLLYWOOD .......................................................................................................................... 12 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN SHERMAN, 1895-1925 ................................................................................. 12 Eligibility Standards ............................................................................................................................................. 13 Integrity Considerations ....................................................................................................................................... 14 WEST HOLLYWOOD, 1926-1945 ......................................................................................................................... 15 OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................................................. 15 THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY AND WEST HOLLYWOOD’S EARLY LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY ....................................................... 15 ZONING EFFORTS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY ....................................................................................................................... 17 MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN WEST HOLLYWOOD, 1926-1945 .................................................................... 18 Eligibility Standards ............................................................................................................................................. 19 Integrity considerations ....................................................................................................................................... 19 POSTWAR WEST HOLLYWOOD, 1946-1965 ........................................................................................................ 21 OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................................................. 21 THE RISE OF WEST HOLLYWOOD’S INTERIOR DESIGN INDUSTRY ............................................................................................. 21 WEST HOLLYWOOD’S LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY .................................................................................................................... 21 ZONING IN THE POSTWAR PERIOD 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