The will of the residents living in the Third Street Historic District was tested when two controversial development projects — one of which involved moving a bungalow forward — came up before the Landmarks Commission.
Long-time district residents mobilized against the two projects — at 2617 Third St. and 2642 Second St., calling them out of scale and in the modernist style, being inconsistent with the overall theme of the Third Street Historic District.
The project on Second Street, which does not contribute to the historic aspects of the district, would demolish an existing one-story duplex in favor of a new two-story house. The project, considered less controversial than its counterpart on Third Street, was approved by the Landmarks Commission earlier this month, a decision that has since been appealed by neighbors and will now go to the City Council for the final word.
Established in 1990, the historic district is bounded by Third Street to the east, Hill Street to the south, Second Street to the west and Ocean Park Boulevard to the north. The district is characterized by the row of five signature bungalows on Third Street, several American Colonial, Spanish Revival and Victorian houses.
At the heart of the issue in the district is a proposal to move forward one of the five signature bungalows, bringing its setback in line with the adjacent properties, creating space to add to the back house, which is opposed by neighbors that believe the building would stick out like a sore thumb.A public hearing on the property has been continued to January.
“We took a sensitive approach by doing an addition to an already non-contributing building,” Mark Woollen, the property owner, said in November of the back house. “I still believe we are following the guidelines.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 26, 2007. Read the original PDF.