> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Making room for city’s landmarks - URL: https://www.smdp.com/making-room-for-citys-landmarks/ - Published: 2007-05-01T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T00:40:08.000Z - Author: Melody Hanatani - Tags: Government & Politics, Main St, #archive-import *FROM LANDMARKS PAGE 9 Santa Monica history one building at a time* CITYWIDE Sitting amongst the high rises and mixed use developments popping up throughout the city are pieces of Santa Monica’s past. The city might only be 132 years old, but with buildings like the old Zephyr and Jeff Ho Productions surf shop on Main Street (expected to receive landmark status next month) and the old yellow beach cottage on Ocean Avenue (whose landmark status might be repealed next month) Santa Monica does have its share of historic structures. More than 60 buildings in Santa Monica have been designated as landmarks since the city began saving these historic structures in 1975, with its first designations being the Rapp Saloon/Old Town Hall on Second Street and the Miles Playhouse on Lincoln Boulevard. One year later, the City Council adopted the Landmarks and Historic District Ordinance in March of 1976, paving the way for preservationists to save some of the city’s oldest and most significant structures. Almost 20 years later, the City Council established the Landmarks Commission, charging it with the responsibility to nominate and designate landmarks. Since landmarking began in 1975, structures like the Marion Davies Estate, the Looff Hippodrome on the Santa Monica Pier,and the old Mayfair/Majestic Theatre in Downtown Santa Monica have been rescued from a fate of rubble. The Shotgun House, the Ocean Park Library and the Bay Cities Guaranty Building — commonly known as the skyscraper clock tower looming above Santa Monica Boulevard — have also been spared. Landmarking can also help the property’s value. “Perception is everything and I know with architectural properties, there is a great value assigned to them because they have the design and structural integrity,” said Landmarks Commissioner Ruth Shari,a real estate licensee. The next structure that could be added to this list is the old Zephyr and Jeff Ho Production surf shop at 2001-2011 Main Street, currently the home of Horizons West Surf Shop. The Landmarks Commission nominated the structure, known as the birthplace of modern skateboarding, at its April 9 meeting and is expected to vote for designation at its May 14 meeting. The building and its history in changing the world of skateboarding inspired two motion pictures — “Dogtown and Z-Boys” and “The Lords of Dogtown.” Santa Monica’s most famous park — Palisades Park — is also up for designation and has been for a while. The landmarks nomination was filed in October 2006 and has been continually postponed from hitting the commission’s agenda. “There’s quite a bit of coordination \[needed\] in terms of getting input from Recreation and Parks,” said Jing Yeo, the city’s senior planner.“The park is being evaluated in the context of it being a cultural landscape. It’s been an integral part of the city for a very long time.” Palisades Park is scheduled to go before the board at its May 14 meeting. Anyone can file an application to nominate a structure as a landmark, though the majority of applications are filed by the Landmarks Commission because it reviews all demolition permits for buildings older than 40 years. After an application is filed to nominate a structure as a landmark, the commission has 60 days to schedule a public hearing for the application.The city’s historical resources consultant compiles an assessment report to determine whether the structure meets any of the six criteria required in qualifying a structure for historic preservation. The staff then makes a recommendation to the Landmarks Commission based on the consultant’s report. A structure is eligible if it meets any one of six criteria — the building has cultural significance; architectural significance; artistic significance; historic personages; sense of location and/or was built by a significant architect. The commission’s decision is not always final. That power rests with the City Council, which has repealed some of its designations On May 8, City Council will hold a public hearing to consider repealing a landmarks designation for a three story vernacular modern style garden apartment at 130 San Vicente Blvd., formerly known as the Teriton Apartments. The property owner, Khaim Hashalom, is also the appellant. “The main point of the appeal is he felt that the property does not meet the criteria,” said Elizabeth Bar-El of the city of Santa Monica. Also coming before City Council next month is a possible repeal of a landmarks designation for a yellow beach-facing cottage at 2219 Ocean Ave, for which the commission voted 6-0 in favor of the designation in August 2006\. City staff is recommending the council uphold the appeal, believing that the cottage does not meet the criteria listed in the Landmarks ordinance. “It’s disappointing as a commission of the public body,” said Landmarks Commissioner Ruthann Lehrer. “We would hope the staff would support our decision. As a unanimous decision, we all felt it did meet standards.” Known as the last beach facing cottage of its kind in Santa Monica, the 109-year-old structure was owned by philanthropist William Hobson until his death in June 2005, when it was then deeded to the University of Illinois Foundation. The foundation filed an appeal with the City Council to strip the cottage of its landmark status. he City Council was scheduled to decide on the matter at its April 24 meeting, but the agenda item was postponed to June 26 because city staff had received material from cottage preservationists at the last minute. “There was additional information submitted at the last minute, which included a fairly detailed report from another consultant,” Yeo said. The Save the Cottage organization, which formed in response to the appeal of the landmark’s designation, was responsible for the late submission, which included a petition containing 2,000 signatures, letters from community members and a report from a consultant hired by the organization. The report by Galvin Preservation Associates to Save the Cottage found that the cottage was eligible as a city landmark and met four criteria under the city’s landmark ordinance. This is contrary to the original report by PCR — the city’s consultant — to the Landmarks Commission last year, which did not see the cottage as historically significant. “We’re hoping staff reverses the decision in light of all evidence that has come up,” said Erin Maynes. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 1, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/050107.pdf?ref=smdp.com)