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Long Beach Heritage Advocacy Report

         John Thomas Fall 08

 

While the Advocacy Committee continues to monitor several projects and programs that involve local historical and cultural resources, there are a few which are important enough to provide an update.

 

Historic Preservation Element (HPE)

The city is developing a Historic Preservation Element for the General Plan, This is the first HPE in the City’s history and Long Beach Heritage played a critical role in highlighting the need. The city has held several public outreach sessions. During these sessions, work groups were formed to evaluate and discuss impediments to and programs for preservation of historic and cultural resources. The HPE will be the “constitution” developers and city staff will refer to when dealing with or assessing historic buildings and other resources. Members from the Advocacy Committee have attend each meeting and will monitor and announce future community meetings. We strongly encourage your input and attendance at the meetings to show your support of the HPE.

 

Julian Ship Supply Building

With the help and support of the Advocacy Committee, the Redevelopment Agency agreed to release a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the relocation and reuse of the Julian Ship Supply Building. The building is a significant historical and cultural resource. It continues to be threatened by the reality of a new court house development on the site.  As of the date of this report, the proposals are being evaluated by the RDA. We will continue to monitor the process and stay tuned our web site for updates.

 

Civic Center/Court House

With the discussion of a new court house, the spot light has been focused on the Main Library, Civic Center (City Hall) and existing Court House. Members of the Advocacy Committee are interested in ensuring transparent process of determining the need to replace the Civic City Center and Court House and possible adaptive uses for the Court House in particular. We are currently reviewing documents and building/site analyses and  we will begin to solicit input from our members and others. We will post a position paper on our web site once it is endorsed by the LBH Board. Stay tuned and monitor the web site for up to date information and an opportunity to share your views.

 

Mills Act

As reported in past Advocacy Reports, the Mills Act (MA) program was suspended for new applications early in 2006. The Long Beacg Office of Historic Preservation has been studyting other cities that offer the MA. The objective is to develop a comprehensive, fair MA Program which can be monitored to ensure that money saved in property taxes is reinvested in preservation /maintenance programs to secure the historic integrity of the property. However, during the outreach sessions for the Historic Preservation Element, we reminded the city officials that the need to offer the MA is vital as an incentive toward preservation. Members of the Advocacy Committee recently met with them and will continue to push to restore the MA program by the end of the year.

 

For more information on many projects and developments that the Advocacy Committee is monitoring which involve historical and cultural resources, go to the Long Beach Heritage web site and email LBH with your comments.

 

 

 

Long Beach Matters

             John Thomas Summer 08
 

Long Beach Heritage is pleased to announce that May is National Preservation Month sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). Since 1971, during the month of May, the NTHP has promoted various educational opportunities and week long events designed to educate Americans and preservationists about historic preservation trends, advocacy and development models.

 

“This Place Matters” is the theme for May 2008 and the theme is very appropriate in the current historic preservation climate in Long Beach. Through the efforts of the Advocacy Committee, Long Beach Heritage continues to work with City leaders, staff and members of the City Council to address concerns and issues and develop responsible public policy positions related to historic preservation.

 

The objective of the Advocacy Committee is to educate and advocate for current historic preservation models and apprise policy makers in Long Beach about opportunities to enhance and further develop practical and proven historic preservation programs that will further the cause of historic preservation. In order to maintain our precious historic resources, the Advocacy Committee continues to encourage our elected and appointed officials to protect and preserve current incentives for responsible historic preservation.

 

To this end, Long Beach Heritage would like to encourage our local elected and appointed officials to seriously consider the following:

 

*Continue to offer incentives for thoughtful historic preservation by immediately re-establishing the Mills Act for qualified properties. In spite of the current economy, all cities offering the Mills Act have not suspended or discontinued the program.

 

*Revisit the recent fee increase for historic preservation related processes that results in discouraging volunteer compliance of the preservation permitting process.

 

*Support the current outreach process for the Historic Preservation Element of the City’s General Plan.

 

*Support efforts toward an Adaptive Reuse Ordinance similar to the successful model established by the City of Los Angeles.

 

*Support Long Beach Heritage and groups who advocate for the reuse of existing commercial buildings which are deemed historic or potentially historic rather than continuing the practice of default demolition.

 

*Continue to fund the Historic Prevention Office as needed, to ensure effective customer service to homeowners and commercial developers alike.

 

*Support the growth and development of historic neighborhood districts by expediting services for Certificate of Appropriateness permits and increase code enforcement in those districts.

 

Recently the City has promoted many “Green” and “Sustainable” building initiatives. Long Beach Heritage would like to suggest to our elected and appointed policy makers that the best way to “go green” is to reuse existing building stock.

 

While we celebrate across the country the National Preservation Month theme “This Place Matters”, let us be thankful that we in Long Beach still have historic and cultural resources such as our historic Ranchos and the Villa Riviera that have not gone the way of the Pacific Coast Club. We should all work collectively as partners in preservation to establish responsible and effective historic preservation public policies!

 

Remember, “Long Beach Matters!”

 

Willmore Historic Homes available for
purchase and restoration!
(Date Sensitive  Deadline August 11, 2008)

The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) has made four historic homes available to the public for purchase and restoration. As part of its Willmore Historic Homes project that relocated three of the four early 20th century homes, the RDA is seeking proposals for the ownership and restoration of the following:

· 539 Daisy Avenue
Built in 1908, this property is a one-story, single family home with 2 bedrooms, one bath, 996 square feet. This home was relocated by the RDA to its current location in 2007, and sits on a 6,000 square foot lot.

· 543 Daisy Avenue
Built in 1903, this property is a one-story, single family home with 2 bedrooms, one bath, 887 square feet on a 5,250 square foot lot.

· 226 West 10th Street
Built circa 1905, this property is a two-story, single family home with 6 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1975 square feet. This home was relocated by the RDA to its current location in 2007, and sits on a 5,000 square foot lot.

· 734 Main Avenue
Built circa 1912, this property is a two-story, single family home with 3 bedrooms, 1 ½ baths, 1,696 square feet. This home was relocated by the RDA to its current location in 2007, and sits on a 6,000 square foot lot.

"This is truly a rare opportunity for individuals interested in owning and restoring a historic home," stated Craig Beck, Executive Director of the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency. "We relocated these homes to the Drake Park/Willmore District because of their historic nature, and are eager to see proposals for their restoration," continued Beck.

The four homes are located in the Drake Park/Willmore District of Long Beach. This District is part of the original 1881 township and contains the highest concentration of early 1900's housing in the city.

Individuals interested in purchasing the homes will be required to participate in a walk-through of the property with the City's Historic Preservation Officer, and will be required to submit a full proposal outlining plans for the restoration and preservation of the home's historic elements Proposals are due to the RDA no later than August 11, 2008.  To obtain a copy of the proposal packet, which includes photographs of the homes in their current condition, proposal requirements, and scheduled tour dates, visit
www.Long BeachRDA.org Proposals are due to the RDA no later than August 11, 2008.

To obtain a copy of the proposal packet, which includes photographs of the homes in their current condition, proposal requirements, and scheduled tour dates,
RFP Cover Pages   Proposal Sheets

For over 45 years, the mission of the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency has been to enhance the quality of life by improving blighted areas of Long Beach, revitalizing neighborhoods, promoting economic development, creating jobs, providing affordable housing and encouraging citizen participation.

 

Partners in Preservation

 

The Art Theatre Spring 2008
Beginning with this year, Long Beach Heritage will feature a spotlight article on people and organizations that have been successful in preservation efforts in Long Beach. We are pleased to profile Sybil and Jan van Dijs of SJvD Design of Long Beach.

Sybil and Jan van Dijs have completed many unique projects in Long Beach which include adaptive reuse and programming of warehouse, commercial residential buildings. Most notable perhaps was the reuse project of the Ebell Theater. Looking to save and program the historic structure formerly the Ebell Women’s Club, SJvD Design and partners successfully transformed the building into beautiful condominiums and a multipurpose area which now serves as a venue for weddings, receptions, meetings and other social gatherings. These events take place in a building constructed in a Spanish Baroque Revival style with extraordinary ornament on the facades.

The SJvD Design group will embark on yet another great example of historic renovation and programming. On March 5, 2008, the Art Theater located on 4th Street closed to allow a thoughtful and detailed historic restoration effort led by Jan van Dijs.

This Art Deco Theater is the last remaining original movie house in Long Beach still in operation. The exterior was the creation of architect Cecil Schilling after the 1933 earthquake in a Streamline Moderne style. Although the interior of the theater has been significally altered, the exterior still displays the Art Moderne design. The marquee and facade will be restored with shops on either side of the auditorium. The lobby, concessions, lighting, stage arcade and seating will be recreated with Art Deco motifs. Details for enhancing and updating the movie sound systems, projection and acoustics are also being evaluated.

What is unique to the SJvD Design group is their philosophy and dedication to programming historic and cultural assets. They plan to keep the Art open as a neighborhood theater that shows foreign and independent films. In addition to movies, ideas for live theater and art shows are being discussed. Working with neighbors around the Art Theater on noise and parking related matters and developing successful strategies will be a tactic deployed during the restoration project.

We salute Jan and Sybil van Dijs and their efforts toward historic preservation of our vital historic assets in Long Beach!

Belmont Heights Spurred to Action Over Increase in Tear-Downs

Spring 2006

The National Trust for Historic Preservation calls it “an alarming epidemic.” A quick search on the Internet produces scores of articles about it. Neighbors stand on street corners, metaphorically wringing their hands about its impact on their community. What is “it”? Tear Downs.

With ballooning real estate prices nearing the popping range, developers and some home owners have scoped out older homes in established neighborhoods where the existing square footage can be maximized by rebuilding a new “lot-to-lot” structure. This scenario is being played out all over Long Beach. In Belmont Heights, the residents decided they had better convene to discuss the future of their neighborhood before there isn’t much neighborhood left to discuss.

Concerned by a near-500% increase in demolitions and major remodels since 2005, at least 100 people packed the auditorium of Fremont Elementary School on February 28, 2007. The Heights Preservation Committee began the Public Forum with an introduction of the committee members: Co-Chairs Marc Coleman and Maureen Neeley, Members Bette McKinney, Dianne Sundstrom, Paul Murname, Marky Morel, Grace Parris, Craig Starnes, and Elizabeth Lambe.

The Committee presented a snapshot of data:
• Since the year 2000, about 3 homes per year were greatly remodeled or rebuilt. In the first two months of 2007, 9 homes were either totally gone or down to the studs.
• The vast majority of the homes affected were built before 1930.
• A power point presentation showed the effect these remodeled/rebuilt homes have on the streetscape and context of the neighborhood.

Seven impacts of “mansionization” were discussed, based on data compiled from sources such as the Wall Street Journal, Business Week and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Initially, the large-scale new homes pull up prices of existing properties, but once the real estate market corrects, these homes denigrate the entire neighborhood because the lasting economic value of the whole community has been reduced by the reduction in charm and livability.

Speculators see the opportunity for a large return on their investments and create homes that are designed for quick resale rather than for neighborhood compatibility. Mixed-income communities can become homogeneous, upper-class enclaves—single people, older couples, young families and renters are priced out of the neighborhood. Older, well-preserved homes, including small ones, maintain a strong market appeal of their own. Architectural detailing, highquality materials, craftsmanship, a historic past and charm still matter to many buyers looking for homes. Once these homes are gone, they cannot be replaced. Out-of-scale homes break the established
building patterns of the area. Livability is eroded in surrounding and adjacent houses (yards become shaded, air circulation is reduced, noise can become “tunneled,” views are degraded). New houses with orientation toward the automobile reduce neighborhood socializing.

Third District Councilman, Gary DeLong, then encouraged the community to study this issue and he offered his support for any recommended actions.
Angela Reynolds, Advance Planner for the city, spoke about the current permit and zoning process. It became quite clear that there are very few controls on demolitions in non-historic designated neighborhoods.

A consensus was reached based on the majority of the audience who spoke and the 70 surveys collected: Belmont Heights needs some type of special zoning that will allow for controlled growth and preservation of the character of the neighborhood. To that end, the BHCA sub-committee is exploring various ordinances and zoning overlay options with the city staff. A plan of action will be presented at the April 11th BHCA meeting.