Last Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council deadlocked, thus letting stand a Landmarks Commission “OK” to demolish a “turn of the century” style house and allow the construction of a "modern” single-family residence in the heart of the Ocean Park Third Street Historic District.
On Dec. 10, 2007, The Landmarks Commission approved demolition of a small “period style” 1953-era duplex with garage and construction of a new, 2,365 square foot, International style/modern, single-family home at 2642 Second St. Neighbors concerned that another non-period structure would forever alter the “turn-of-the-century" feel of their historic district, appealed the commission’s decision to City Council.
With council person, Pam O’Connor absent, Mayor, Herb Katz, and Council persons, Bob Holbrook and Richard Bloom voted to deny the appeal and against remanding the project back to Landmarks Commission for review, proving that they aren’t any more sensitive to the concept of a historic district than, apparently, the Landmark’s Commission is.
The appeal boiled down to whether the proposed “modern” house would be compatible with district character or consistent with district design guidelines for new construction. The dominant character of the contributing structures in the district can be best described as early California Beach, California craftsman/bungalow, Queen Anne or Victorian, although not all of the buildings in the neighborhood are "period." And, the Ocean Park Neighborhood Development Guide specifies that new construction in the district must be designed in historical style which includes International style/modern.
I don’t think International/modern architecture is compatible with “turn-of-the-century," no matter how much one tweaks massing, setbacks, heights and architectural details. Maybe it’s time to amend the zoning codes to outlaw “modern” or “International style” in historic neighborhoods where we’re trying to preserve the quaint feel of Santa Monica’s early days as a beach town.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 18, 2008. Read the original PDF.