Historical Preservation
LA Independent/The
Westsider
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Commission votes to
designate apartments as landmarks
By Brian Lewis
Congratulating a group of West Los
Angeles residents on their well-organized effort to preserve
their homes, the Cultural Heritage Commission last week voted to
declare three small Kelton Avenue apartment buildings as
historic-cultural monuments. The panel voted unanimously in
support of the renters' efforts to confer landmark status on the
small, Spanish/Mediterranean-style buildings on the 1800 block of
Kelton Avenue. In doing so, the commission brushed aside a
presentation by the owner of the buildings, whose historic
consultant contended that the buildings were no different than
numerous apartment houses that were constructed in thelate 1920s
and early 1930s across the city.
"Individually they don't meet the [city] criteria [for
historic-cultural monument status]. And as a grouping they're
attractive but don't meet the criteria," said Jeanette
McKenna, a consultant hired by Wiseman Development, which bought
the three buildings last fall with plans to develop a condominium
complex in their place. "It would be hard-pressed for me at
any rate...that these would merit monument status." McKenna
disputed the tenants' contention that the buildings were
developed by the Janss Investment Corporation as the first phase
of what would be become Westwood, arguing instead that Janss sold
the lots off to other mdevelopers who then built the apartment
houses. McKenna also contended that the buildings, which she said
were not architecturally significant in the first place, had been
substantially altered over the years and stood out now as sore
thumbs amid a neighborhood full of newer, larger structures.
That last line of thinking set off aside a testy exchange between
McKenna and commission president Mike Cornwell, who said a
building's surroundings have no bearing on the panel's
decision-making. "These buildings have become the odd man
out," McKenna said. "The historic setting has been
significantly impacted by the redevelopment of the area."
"Frankly I have to tell you that makes no sense at
all," Cornwell retorted. "We're here to look at three
apartment houses. Whether they're surrounded by high-rise
buildings is not going to influence my decision."
In the end the commission sided with Kelton Avenue residents like
Gary Kuist, who called the three buildings "an endangered
species." With the commission's vote, the matter now goes to
the City Council's Art, Health and Humanities Committee, which is
chaired by 5th District Councilman Jack Weiss, who has publicly
declared his support for the buildings' designation. If the
committee and council concur with the vote, and it is approved by
Mayor Jim Hahn, the buildings will officially join the city's
list of landmarks.
However, landmark status does not permanently shield a building
from the wrecking ball. It only guarantees at most a year of
protection, at which time the property owner could conceivably go
ahead with his planned condo project and demolish the apartment
buildings.
Brian Lewis can be reached at (323) 556-5773, or by e-mail at
blewis@laindependent.com
Westsider article, March 5,
2003
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