By Tom Larmore and Eric Parlee
In the city where the rights of the “community” are quickly superseding individual freedom, a single-family homeowner cannot assume that the “collectivist” mentality will be limited to business and landlords.
Local activists will assure you that the north of Montana residential neighborhoods are under siege from those who wish to replace homes built before 1960.
Their answer to this “problem” may be the creation of “historic districts” in which homeowners will be unable to replace, alter or remodel without leave of the Landmarks Commission. In other words, “We like your home the way it is, so we’ll prohibit you from changing it without your approval.”
The city has hired a consultant to update the “historic resources inventory” for the single-family area north of Montana. This report will be used to determine whether portions of that area should be classified as “historic districts.” While the commission has waited for this report, it has taken action on at least three 18th street homes to prevent their demolition so that they can be evaluated as part of a potential historic district on that street. This report is expected to be presented to the commission on March 11.
Unquestionably, many of Santa Monica’s homes have historical or architectural merit and their owners should be acquainted with state and local financial incentives and with architectural methods to maintain them, if they desire to do so. For those who do not, the city already has established special design standards for north of Montana that require additional setbacks, limit height and lot coverage, and restrict overall area. These relatively new standards are a much more appropriate and freedom-p r e s e r v i n g approach than forcibly freezing the past into the future.
If the residents who would be affected by the establishment of “historic districts” were the ones asking for the designation, there would be little reason to object. However, that is not the case, as was made quite clear at a recent meeting of the Landmarks Commission.
We suggest that the commission make a clear and unequivocal public statement at its Feb. 11 meeting that no home will be considered to be within a “historic district” and no home will be classified as a “landmark” or a “structure of merit” unless specifically requested by the owner.
Given the past record of the Landmarks Commission and the city council, we doubt that such a statement will be forthcoming. In its absence, we urge all homeowners to attend commission meetings, pay attention to its action and regularly speak and write letters to both the commission and the council advising them of your concern over the issue. Otherwise, you may find that the council has adversely affected your house at 2 a.m. some Wednesday morning. (Tom Larmore is a local attorney and a resident in the north of Montana neighborhood. Eric Parlee is a local architect and a former member of the city’s plan-ning commission.)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 8, 2002. Read the original PDF.