A large audience of LFIA members and neighbors were at the Autry National Center May 20, to learn about landmarking residences and Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZ). The evening began with a reception in the Autry courtyard featuring refreshments provided by Chi Dynasty Restaurant, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Albertson’s Market. For the first time, the latest LFIA publication, “Los Feliz and the Silent Film Era,” was available for purchase. The Hospitality Committee also organized a beautiful photo exhibit of residential Historic-Cultural Monuments in Los Feliz.
Schools Committee Chair Marilyn Bush announced that Marshall senior Vicky Guan was the winner of the $2,500 Charlotte De Armond Award. After the annual membership business meeting that included the election of a slate of current directors for another three-year term, Ken Bernstein, Manager of the Office of Historic Resources in the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, gave an informative slide show describing the criteria, procedures, and benefits of landmarking private residences.
When the formal presentation was concluded, a panel answered questions from the audience. LFIA History Committee Co-Chair, Marian Dodge showed members the extensive survey that was created by the LFIA History Committee and is available online. Michael Locke described how he recently got his home designated. Scott Larson, who spearheaded the Hollywood Grove HPOZ, elaborated on the benefits to the neighborhood of living in an HPOZ. Ken Bernstein noted that Los Feliz has several historic areas which would be good candidates for an HPOZ.
“Built 1928 Declared 2013, Historic-Cultural Monument No. 1025, Cultural Heritage , Commission, City of Los Angeles”
That’s the wording on the plaque that now hangs on Michael and Donna Locke’s house after it was declared a Historic-Cultural Monument by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission.
The Locke house (3410 Amesbury Road), along with two other iconic period revival residences in Los Feliz, was granted historic designation this year, bringing the total number of homes landmarked in Los Feliz to 29. These are listed on the LFIA website’s History Page (www.lfia.org)
In order to qualify for historic-cultural status a house must meet at least one of these criteria: 1) exemplifies broad history, 2) identified with an important personage or event, 3) has distinguished elements of an architectural type, or 4) is a work of a master architect.
“I always knew our house had all the hallmarks of a sophisticated Spanish Colonial Revival design,” said Locke, who in the process of applying for landmark status learned the architectural firm which built his house also designed Beverly Hills City Hall. “Not only did we gain the opportunity for significant savings on our property taxes (through the Mills Act), but we have gained the confidence that our home will be preserved for the enjoyment of future generations for years to come.”
The 1920s Locke home was built as a marketing tool to promote the Los Feliz Hills subdivison and was whimsically called “The Home of Your Dreams.”
Two other Los Feliz houses were recently named historic-cultural monuments: the English Tudor-style Sherwood House (3435 Amesbury Road) designed by architect Charles M. Hutchinson in 1929, and the Spanish Colonial Revival John Anson Ford residence (1976 Normandie Ave.) built in 1932 by an unknown architect.
Last summer at a neighborhood block party, LA City Councilmember Tom LaBonge presented certificates to the Lockes and Douglases, owners of the Sherwood House, to officially mark the historic-cultural milestones of the residences.