Hollywood's Most Endangered Sites
.From the Preservation Issues Committee of Hollywood Heritage, Inc. A casual glance at the state of Hollywood's historic resources shows good signs and much progress toward determining the number and kind of extant resources. Two long awaited and thorough historic surveys of the Hollywood Community Redevelopment Area and the greater Hollywood Community Plan Area have identified scores of structures and broadened our understanding of the region's history and architectural heritage. The recent downturn in the economy has slowed demolitions of historic structures due to redevelopment, and a ban on supergraphics has largely halted the expansion of that physically and aesthetically damaging practice. However there continue to be growing threats to many of Hollywood's most significant landmarks, which although they are less imminent, are often more complex. In an effort to encourage good stewardship of Hollywood's irreplaceable historic resources and to inform our members of these issues, Hollywood Heritage has launched its list of the Most Endangered Sites.
Hollywood Studios: Hollywood studios are the essential element of historic Hollywood, the economic engine and the most endangered of our resources after Hollywood Blvd. Studios created our town and continue to be important to its well being. Hollywood Heritage is aware that there are expansion and development plans being prepared for Hollywood Center, Paramount, Sunset Gower, and the Sunset Bronson Studios. Within each of these studios are historic structures; each of these studios were participants in the Hollywood Studio Task Force put together by former Councilman Michael Woo. Hollywood Heritage cooperated with the formation of this group as it promised surveys of the participating lots and notification whenever a historically significant building was affected by plans. We do not know whether historic structures are threatened by these various studio development plans at this stage, but we naturally are concerned by the scope of the large scale developments described by the media. We hope that current Councilman Eric Garcetti will be supportive of discussions between the studios and Hollywood Heritage so that we can continue to work cooperatively with the studios concerning their development plans.
Hollywood Plans: “The City of Los Angeles has no staff to conduct planning efforts with in the City.” Not so. The Planning Department of the City is currently circulating a Hollywood Community Plan Update which proposes changes to the underlying zoning and which may encourage more development. The Office of Historic Preservation has just conducted a survey of the Hollywood area. The Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA/LA) is currently considering Hollywood Boulevard Urban Design Guidelines and the Sunset Boulevard Urban Design Guidelines and has completed a survey of the redevelopment area. Hollywood Heritage is currently working with the CRA/LA, the Planning Department, and the Office of Historic Preservation to ensure cohesion and adequate mitigation in these plans and encourage policies and new development that seek to preserve the character of Hollywood.
Hollywood Boulevard: “Hollywood Boulevard is back!” or so conventional wisdom would have it. However, with the Boulevard’s success has come a growing pressure on the resources of this nationally recognized historic commercial and entertainment district. Hollywood Heritage is aware that there are development plans being proposed for several sites including Grauman’s Chinese Theater, the Sardis Building, and the property at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Hudson across from the recently restored Hillview Hotel. Hollywood Heritage is attempting to monitor all of these sites in an attempt to encourage sensitive changes to preserve the historic character of this National Register District. Everyone’s alertness to changes on the Boulevard is appreciated.
The Great Hall/Long Hall, Plummer Park in West Hollywood
Hollywood Heritage has placed West Hollywood’s Plummer Park (“Park”) on its Watch List. The Park located at 7377 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood includes the 1938 Works Progress Administration (“WPA”) funded Great Hall/Long Hall building. In the current plan for West Hollywood Plummer Park improvements, this classic building is slated for demolition. A group organized as Protect Plummer Park (“PPP”) is working to convince the city of West Hollywood that the destruction of this building is not in the best interest of neighbors or park users as it is a significant contributor to the character and history of the park.
Through grassroots outreach, PPP gained support, and continues to gain support, from neighbors and park users and has caught the attention of the City Council of West Hollywood. Although the council has made moves toward mitigating the concerns voiced by the public, the fate of Great Hall/Long Hall still remains uncertain.
Since 2010, Hollywood Heritage’s Preservation Committee, has voiced concerns with demolishing Great Hall/Long Hall in public comment and letters to the City of West Hollywood during the Environmental Impact Report review period.
The building appears eligible for both state and local landmark status. PPP is gathering information to submit a nomination for inclusion in the California register of historic places. The history of the building is significant in both its connection to WPA, early California culture, and local development of Los Angeles County. As noted in the EIR, Great Hall/Long Hall “retains sufficient integrity to convey its original design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.” The structure is a courtyard building with Great Hall running North/South along the west side and Long Hall running East/West on the south side. Great Hall contains a stage and small auditorium, a service kitchen, and a library area that was, until recently, home to the Los Angeles Audubon Society. Long Hall, until recently housed the Russian Library.
Funding for the Great Hall/Long Hall was split between WPA funding and Los Angeles County Parks for a total amount of $60,000-$65,000 in 1938. This equates to approximately a $1 million dollar construction budget in today’s terms.
PPP believes that this is not just an issue concerning West Hollywood residents surrounding the park. It extends to a much larger audience as it has significant impact in honoring the Depression-era history of Los Angeles County.
Hollywood Heritage will continue to monitor developments in Plummer Park. If you are interested in learning more about the status of issues surrounding Plummer Park, please go to protectplummerpark.com.
For more information, or to get involved contact: protectplummerpark@gmail.com
Trading This |
For This |
The dwindling congregation recently sold this 1959 modern masterpiece of architect Howard Elwell, located at 7107 Hollywood Boulevard. Hollywood Heritage, alerted by the Modern Committee of LA Conservancy, has learned that the new owner has plans to demolish the church and build a hotel at the site. The uncertain fate of the Fifth Church of Christ also represents the wider issue of the preservation of modern architecture in Hollywood. While landmarks such as the Capital Records Building and the Cinerama Dome are widely celebrated and cared-for, other structures such as the William Lescaze early modern CBS Columbia Square and Millard Sheet's 1967 Home Savings & Loan Association of America at Sunset and Vine are somewhat neglected. Others such as Honnold, Reibsamen & Rex's 1963 Sunset and Vine Tower have been radically transformed. A quick look at the surrounding high rise residential gives a preview of what the density on this corner will look like and how it will affect the context of such structures as the Women's Club of Hollywood and the Hollywood School for Girls just north of the WCH.
Hollywood
Boulevard:
“Hollywood Boulevard is back!” or so conventional wisdom would have it. However, with the Boulevard's success has come a growing pressure on the resources of this nationally recognized historic commercial and entertainment district. The recent Hollywood Boulevard Urban Design Guidelines and Hollywood Community Plan Update propose changes to the underlying zoning, which encourage radical redevelopment of the boulevard. Hollywood Heritage is currently working with the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA/LA) and the Planning Department to mitigate these threats and encourage policies and development schemes that seek to preserve the character of Hollywood's most iconic street
Orchard Gables: Is off the list - go here to see why!
Located at 1749 N. La Brea Avenue, this site contains a complex of historic structures including the 1904 Hollywood School For Girls hospitality house and the 1947 Hollywood Women's Clubhouse. The effects of years of deferred maintenance and mismanagement including the demolition of historic structures on the site, have been compounded by recent inter-organizational struggles and legal action which has lead to the neglect of the historic buildings. A recent grant from the National Trust to do much needed roof repairs on the clubhouse was put on hold and recent rains did further damage. The property is now in receivership and its fate remains an open question. In November and December of 2011, work is continuing which potentially negatively affects this structure. Although work is being reviewed by the Cultural Heritage Commission, much work is reputed to be initiated without proper permits, by unqualified workers and without the supervision of anyone qualified to judge appropriate work on a cultural heritage landmark. This site continues to be of concern to preservationists.
Janes House:
Located at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard, the house is survivor of the era when Hollywood was an actual city. Built in 1903 the house was one of the first model houses built on the Boulevard. From 1911 to 1926 it served as the Misses Janes School of Hollywood. The last Janes sister died in 1983, and the house has gone through several incarnations from the centerpiece of a shopping arcade to a trendy restaurant. Today the house is unoccupied and obscured from view, with its future uncertain. Recent plans involve an upscale boutique hotel and there are reports of unauthorized work taking place at the house, which could potentially damage historic interior features.
Wattles Mansion
and Gardens:
Since the departure of Hollywood Heritage in 2009, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks has managed the house and it has remained closed to the public. While the department has always had plans to reopen the house for weddings and parties and was even allocated Quimby Act funds towards the restoration of the gardens, no work other than the erection of more security fencing has occurred. Left unoccupied and unused, Wattles future remains unclear.
Warner Pacific Theater:
This grand Italianate Beaux Arts movie palace, designed by G. Albert Lansburgh, opened in 1928. It is the last of Hollywood's great movie theaters to remain underutilized and unrestored. Although its offices are still rented and an evangelical group uses the auditorium on Sundays, the theater has remained closed to movie and theater audiences since 1994 after suffering some damage during the Northridge Earthquake. While it is a Historic Cultural Landmark, plans of office towers rising in the lot behind the theater continue to circulate as its neglected façade casts a shadow over the Boulevard. Its issues are further highlighted by the fate and condition of other “lost” theaters along the boulevard, the Fox, the Vogue and the Hawaiian, which have all been radically or insensitively altered for new uses.
Ennis House:
Frank Lloyd Wright's textile block masterpiece, the Ennis House, is among Hollywood's and the nation's greatest treasures. Years of deterioration compounded by Frank Lloyd Wright's experimental construction techniques, neglect and failed restoration attempts, were amplified by severe damage during the Northridge Earthquake and the collapse of retaining walls during heavy rains in 2005. These states of affairs lead to the reorganization of the Trust, which owns the house. The Trust was able to utilize FEMA funds to shore up the house, repair the roof and restore large sections of the damaged textile block. Opposition from neighbors and mounting costs of further restoration prevented the Trust from pursuing a public use for the property, and it has had to put the house up for sale. On the market since 2009, the house was originally listed at $15 million and is now $7.5 million. Without a buyer or alternative scheme the Ennis House remains in limbo.
Historic Residential Neighborhoods:
The recent survey of central Hollywood's historic resources commissioned by the Hollywood Redevelopment Agency as a result of a lawsuit settlement with Hollywood Heritage, brought to light the existence of several intact historic neighborhoods representing various periods and forms of Hollywood's development. These small districts have been eroded over the decades and represent the last of Hollywood's residential communities dating from the first half of the twentieth century. To date, the new survey has not been approved by CRA/LA, nor are there any official boundaries or recognition of these communities by the Planning Department, increasing the risk of further incompatible infill and demolitions.
5346 Virginia Ave./Hollywood
Bungalows:
On November 22, 2010 Hollywood Heritage narrowly prevented the demolition of an intact 1905 vintage bungalow located next to the 101 Freeway. Owned by an absentee landlord who obtained an erroneously approved demolition permit, the house was listed on two historic resource surveys and did not have CRA/LA approval for demolition. Saved from the wrecking crew, the house is still neglected and unsecure, open to vagrants. This case highlights the plight of Hollywood's oldest and then-most common historic housing type, the bungalow, scores of which have been lost in recent decades. Protection of these resources through proper planning is essential for the preservation and rehabilitation of the remaining pockets of central Hollywood's single-family residential neighborhoods.
Congratulations,
Councilman LaBongeWe congratulate Councilman Tom LaBonge for his recent re-election as a Hollywood representative on the Los Angeles City Council. Councilman LaBonge has long been a supporter for various preservation efforts and the creation of several HPOZs in his district. helping keep historic neighborhoods in tact.