Historic hacienda becomes landmark
NOMA A shabby hacienda originally crafted by a famed Santa Monica architect was deemed an historic landmark this week, preserving the aging adobe structure that caused an uproar after some preservationists accused the homeowner of illegally exceeding the amount of construction he was permitted to do.
The Landmarks Commission on Monday unanimously designated the one-story house at 2101 La Mesa Dr. as an historic piece of property. The Mexican Colonial Revival style home was designed and built by John Byers, a local architect who was known for his impact on the development of Santa Monica architecture. Byers was credited with designing several structures in Santa Monica during the early 1900s, including the Miles Memorial Playhouse and his first commission — the home of former Santa Monica High School Principal W.F. Barnum on Lincoln Boulevard and Fifth Street.
“Architect John Byers provided our signature colonial revival (style),”Sherrill Kushner,a resident, said.“Byers is our local treasure.”
Some preservationists and neighbors expressed concerns recently about whether the property owner, Cameron Strang, exceeded the scope of work he was permitted to perform on the house. Strang received a permit on Nov. 21, 2007 to demolish the partial roof of the garage and to stabilize the hill side and rear yard of the house.
Among the complainants was neighbor Linda Brown who nominated the property for landmark designation in February.
When he appeared before the commission, Strang, who supported the designation, pointed out that Brown had filed numerous complaints to various regulatory bodies, none of which have resulted in violations or fines. He insisted that the work was done in the spirit of the law, but expressed regret for taking down one of the original adobe walls.
“In hindsight, I wouldn’t have taken down the wall,” Strang said at the hearing. “Was I within my rights? Absolutely.”
Strang spoke of the first time he set foot on the property and how he was enamored by the architecture and its accompanying history. The homeowner, who said he is already 19 months into the rehabilitation process, said it is his goal to restore the structure.
“Since that time, I have undertaken a lot of work and energy and money to restore the property, almost to its original state,”he said.
The hacienda, known as the Zimmers House, was built in 1924 for E.W. Zimmers and underwent a series of renovations and additions over the next 84 years, including a playroom built at the rear of the property in 1949, a bathroom in 1972 and a swimming pool in 1975.Among the previous home owners was Samuel G. McClure, the president of the Santa Monica Publishing Company which owned the Santa Monica Evening Outlook. McClure lived at the home from 1936-1948.
While there was minimal debate as to whether the property qualified as a landmark, there was some discussion as to whether Strang should be granted an exemption from filing for a certificate of appropriateness permit. The reason for the exemption request was that the project is already in the final stages of plan check review. Strang pointed out that the hacienda is being cared for by a design team packed with experts respected in rehabilitation architectural circles.
Among the projects that Strang is proposing is a plan to stabilize and restore the original portion of the adobe residence and to restore the original courtyard configuration. The project also includes the demolition of rear building wing additions. City planners said the project does comply with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties.
The exemption was granted. Several commissioners were reluctant to grant the exemption because they didn’t have enough time to review the proposal before the meeting and wanted to be sure they could still have input as the project progresses.
Chairwoman Nina Fresco said she had just received the plans shortly before the meeting and felt uncomfortable approving the exemption even though she had spent a considerable amount of time on the site.
“I personally feel the need for more time to understand this,” Fresco said.
Steven Jones, an attorney representing Brown, also expressed some reservations with the exemption, complaining that he did not know a hearing was going to take place until last Thursday.
“We just want to make sure that this is done correctly and we want to make sure we know what is being proposed because right now we don’t know,” Jones said.
Kushner, a preservationist, also encouraged the commission to impose the certificate of appropriateness restrictions on the project, noting that any further work should be done with great sensitivity.
Strang responded that he has had an open door policy with this project and that he had extended an invitation to his neighbors, including Brown, to view the plans.
The project itself received support from several architects, including Winston Chappell who owns a firm in the Pacific Palisades and has worked in historic renovations.
“I think this is a case study in how to do a John Byers house,” Chappell said.
William Ryall, who owns an architectural firm in New York City, was in town looking at John Byers houses, an activity he partakes in during vacations.
“I was very favorably impressed with the work going on,” Ryall said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 17, 2008. Read the original PDF.