The dispute over the ficus trees, while still alive in court, is over at least on one count.
The City Council is expected to certify a statement denying the historic significance of the ficus trees lining Second and Fourth streets in Downtown Santa Monica. The council in February denied an appeal filed by the Santa Monica Treesavers, challenging an earlier Landmarks Commission decision that the trees are not landmark-worthy.
The Treesavers argued that the ficus have a historic connection to the development of the downtown area as well as the women’s and environmental movement in Santa Monica. The trees were planted thanks to the efforts of Jacqueline Girion, a Santa Monica resident who served on the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce’s beautification committee in the 1960s. The trees meanwhile are being tied up in the court,barring City Hall from removing the ficus as part of a downtown beautification project.
The council is also expected to certify a statement that will allow a new home to be constructed at 2642 Second St., located within the Third Street Historic District. Several district residents filed an appeal to a Landmarks Commission decision in January approving the project to move forward.Opponents to the project have called it in the modernist style and out of character with the district. The home is neither a landmark property nor a contributing structure to the district. The council sided with the commission in February.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 13, 2008. Read the original PDF.