SR-406-004 (9)
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CA:RE~l:BB:l
Councll Meetlng 5/12/81
Santa Monlca, Callfornla
STAFF RLPOrtT
TO: Hayor and C1 ty Councll
FRO~: Clty Attorney
SUBJECT: Addltlonal Proposed Flndlngs for Land~ark
Deslgnatlon of 2424 4th Street
Clty Staff has recomnended that the Counell afflrD
the Landmarks COmr.lsslon's deslgnatlon of 2424 4th Street as a
landnark. Should the Councll follow that recommendatlon, the
followlng flndlngs are proposed and lnclude those adopted
by the Landnarks CO~lSSlon.
1. The subject property 18 a two-story slngle fam1ly
dFell1ng located at 2424 4th Street. The ground floor level
conslst5 of flve rooms plus bathrooms. On the second story 15
the master bedroom and a sunrOOffi.
2. The house, bUllt at the highest p01nt on a double
lot rneasur1ng 100 feet by 150 feet covers approxlmately one-half
the lot area. A small detached bungalow garage lS also situated
on the lot.
3. The structure was built In 1910 and 1S an exanple
of what 15 often referred to as a Callfornia bungalow style house.
Th1S style lncludes such detall characterlstlcs as broad overhangs,
open eaves and custom work on rafters, large concrete porch wlth
tapered pll1ars, extenslve use of wood for both structural and
exterlor ele~ents.
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4. The subJect structure and garage are wood-s~ded.
Anong the s1ngle fam~ly d\lell~ng I s notable features are a large
double columned front porch wh~ch extends around the l~v~ngroom
to the left slde of the house, several large p~cture w1ndows, a
"wldo\V's walk ,. wh1ch faces the ocean, a glassed-1n J1l0rnlng room,
stalned and other art glass throughout the house.
5. Several letters of support, 1nclud~ng a pet~tlon
s~gned by more than 100 people and letters from an art h1storian,
the architecture crit1c for a Los Angeles newspaper, a professor
and noted author on arch1tecture, were subm~tted ~n su?port of
landmark designation for the subJect structure.
6. Des~gnat10n of th~s house as a landmark w111 preserve
an example of an early 20th Century arch1tectural perI-od ~n an
area now ~l'1proved wlth a::>artI'lent houses, condon1n1lli'Us and a few
older slngle fa~ily dwell~ngs. Preservatlon w1l1 enhance the
aesthet~c a~peal of the commun1ty for the benefit of the cODnmn~ty.
7. \'fuile the owners claln that the value of the property
wlll dlmln1sh as a result of landmark des1gnatlon, the property
can cont1nue to be used as ~t always has been and no eV1dence has
been subm1tted to prove that a sale of the property \llth such
deslgnatlon would Yleld less than a reasonable return.
8. Owners' claim that landnark des1gnat~on 1S unnecessary
to malntaln the house on the property S1nce there are other
regulatory agencles such as Rent Control and Coastal Corrum~sslon
wh~ch would prevent denol1tlon has no bear1ng on the a?prOprlateness
of the Landp1arks COnMiSS10n's declsion to des1gnate the subJect
structure as a landMark.
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9. The subJect structure exemp11fles, synbollzes or
manlfests elenents of archltectural hlstory of the Clty.
10. The subJect structure has aesthetlc and artistlc
lnterest and value.
11. The subJect structure enbodles olstlngulshlns arch-
ltectural characterlstlcs valuable to the study of a perlod, style
and method of constructloni and the use of lndlgenous TIaterlals
or craftsmanshlp make It one of the flnest survivlng examples ln
the Clty of the Callfornla bungalow style of resldence.
12. The subJect structure exempllfles, symbo11zes or
manlfests eleMents of the polltlcal hlstory of the City ln that
lt is ldentlfled with an historic personage In local history.
It was bUl1t for Mr. and Mrs. John W. George and Hr. George was
a mer.~er of the Clty CounCl1 representing the 3rd ward from 1914
through 1916.
Prepared by: Robert M. l~ers, Acting Clty Attorney
Bettylou Borovay, Deputy Clty Attorney
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