City Council votes to save Ocean Avenue apartment complex
CITY HALL An aging and architecturally historic apartment complex north of Montana Avenue, once almost doomed to be reduced to rubble, will be preserved after the City Council denied an appeal challenging the building’s landmark status.
The council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to deny what was a more than one-year-old petition to revoke the landmark designation of an American Colonial Revival style apartment at 423-431 Ocean Ave., the appeal papers filed by its property owner, Harry Wu of SM Ocean Star, LLC.
Wu’s attorney, Toy Fields, declined to comment for this article. Neither Wu nor Fields were present at the public hearing to present any new evidence supporting the appeal, waiving their oral arguments, unusual for a public hearing.
In denying the appellant’s request and upholding the designation, the council concurred with the Landmarks Commission’s vote in October 2006 to proclaim that the 71-year-old building is worthy of the historic status, a decision based on the structure meeting four of the six criteria applied to whether buildings should be designated.
The city Landmark Ordinance states that a building is eligible for landmark status if it meets any one of the six criteria.
The building also received support from both city staff and consultants, all agreeing the apartment complex is significant in that it was designed by a notable architect in William E. Foster, who was also responsible for the Shangri-La Hotel, at Arizona and Ocean avenues, and because it exemplifies elements of the architectural history in Santa Monica, particularly the second wave of residential development along Ocean Avenue from 1930-1950.
“This appeal seems equivalent to the Hail Mary pass,” said City Councilmember Kevin McKeown, referring to the strong support the building received from both the commission and consultants.
A group of current and former tenants and neighbors in support of preserving the courtyard-style apartment building turned out for the public hearing, though only a few addressed the council in the interests of keeping discussion short.
Many of the tenants have called the Ocean Avenue complex home for the past few decades, including Ron Lachner, who has lived in the ocean-view apartments for more than 20 years.
“It’s a special experience to live in a landmarked building,” Lachner said. “We hope this history and expanded awareness will make this even more valuable to the public and Santa Monica history as part of what we have contributed to our sense of community.”
In his appeal, Wu argued that the building does not possess any significance that would qualify it for designation, adding it does not meet any of the six criteria. The appellant has stated that the architectural style of the apartment is common and is neither the best nor last remaining example of its type in Santa Monica, said City Planning Manager Amanda Schachter at the council meeting. The addition of the south wing of the complex in 1950 also detracts from its architectural significance, the appellant argued.
The complex consists of three, two-story buildings on the east side of Ocean Avenue between Georgina and Marguerita avenues. It was originally constructed in 1936 with the north and east wings, arranged in a “L-shaped” orientation. The addition of the south wing 14 years later — also designed by Foster — created the courtyard.
The landmarking proposal first came up in early May 2006, when the commission met to review a demolition permit application to take down the complex. A few days following that meeting, several residents, led by long-time tenant Anthony Carr, filed a landmark nomination application. The commission designated the property on Oct. 9, 2006 and Wu filed an appeal one week later.
The apartment complex,though appearing in bad shape, includes unique features that aren’t typically found in some of the more modern complexes in Santa Monica, such as a brick fireplace, large kitchen and separate bathtub and shower in the bathroom.
Tenants praised the building not only for its architectural style but its scenic location, with immediate access to both the beach and Palisades Park.
“If you ever stroll down Palisades Park and look at the various buildings on the street, one would agree this building would stand out and is unique,” said 22-year tenant Leslie Sherman.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 29, 2007. Read the original PDF.