Conservancy News Feed | Santa Monica Conservancy

Discover the Neighborhood: Spectacular Vernacular

May 23, 2020

The Santa Monica Conservancy will be providing a weekly newsletter while much of our world is shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Each week, we will bring you digital resources related to preservation with the aim of helping you connect with our community and beyond. Sign up here, if you’re not already on our mailing list.

As part of our weekly offerings, we are bringing you Discover the Neighborhood, free digital downloads of our tour brochures and booklets so that you can explore our city from the comfort of your home.

829 25th Street. Photo: Joshua White

Discover the Neighborhood

Spectacular Vernacular

Discover the architectural qualities and charm of five vintage homes throughout Santa Monica with our Spectacular Vernacular Tour brochure. Explore a cottage from 1897 as well as Craftsman and Spanish Colonial Revival residences. Learn how these homeowners chose to retain their historic homes and modify them for contemporary living rather than demolish and start anew.

If you haven’t already, check out our 6 other booklets and brochures! Our digital downloads enable you to view architectural and historical highlights and learn about the evolution of Santa Monica from the comfort of your home. If you do go outside for a walk to view the sites listed, please remember to put six feet of distance between you and others. The latest COVID-19 updates for Santa Monica can be found here.

Downloads are free. Donations are welcome and appreciated.

The Workman’s Cottage, 1521 16th Street; Photo credit Shooting LA

Discover the Neighborhood

Stop Santa Monica from Suspending the Landmarks Commission!

May 14, 2020

In response to the anticipated $224 million deficit in the City budget over the next two years, Santa Monica City Council has approved plans that include suspension of the Landmarks Commission. See the full press release here.

Stand with the Santa Monica Conservancy and send a strong message to the City to make sure they know how much the community values our Historic Preservation Program in Santa Monica. Read the Santa Monica Conservancy’s May 4 Response to City Council’s proposed plan and our May 9 Response to City Council’s plan to suspend the Landmarks Commission.

Send the sample letter below or show your support in your own words. Click the button to send a message or email council@smgov.net, clerk@smgov.net, david.martin@smgov.net, lane.dilg@smgov.net and copy us at advocacy@smconservancy.org. Please also forward this message to your friends and group lists.

Dear Council Members,

We all know, the City of Santa Monica is in dire financial straits and is looking to find ways to cut costs. Erasing the future important work of the Landmarks Commission, however, is too drastic.

Instead the City should streamline processes to keep the Historic Preservation Program viable and working.

Since its establishment by ordinance nearly 50 years ago, Santa Monica’s preservation program has safeguarded 137 historic sites, 13 structures of merit and 5 historic districts!

The members of the Commission are experts who not only designate landmarks and districts and oversee changes made to them, but also review demolition applications for unprotected historic resources. The loss of the Landmarks Commission means that all of our historic resources are at risk; landmarks that define Santa Monica’s unique identity and character.

Once a historic structure or site is lost, it is lost forever.

Please work with the Santa Monica Conservancy and other volunteers to find ways to streamline and reduce the cost of City procedures, support the Landmarks Commission and continue to implement historic preservation in our city. Preservation is one of our core community values. Don’t erase the Commission and risk demolition of our historic resources.

Sincerely,

[your name here]

Discover the Neighborhood: The Architecture of John Byers

May 11, 2020

The Santa Monica Conservancy will be providing a weekly newsletter while much of our world is shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Each week, we will bring you digital resources related to preservation with the aim of helping you connect with our community and beyond. Sign up here, if you’re not already on our mailing list.

As part of our weekly offerings, we are bringing you Discover the Neighborhood, free digital downloads of our tour brochures and booklets so that you can explore our city from the comfort of your home.

The Armstrong-Cobb residence.

Discover the Neighborhood

The Architecture of John Byers

Discover six historic locations built in Santa Monica by master architect John Byers. Inspired by the traditional architecture of Latin America, Byers was self-taught and opened his own tile factory at 26th Street and Colorado Boulevard. Byers designed more than 200 homes in Southern California, influencing the architectural landscape of Santa Monica and the Westside.

The brochure includes early homes exemplifying Byers’ mastery of the Spanish Colonial Revival style and his private residence on La Mesa Drive, where he lived for nearly 30 years before he died in 1966.

Our digital downloads enable you to view architectural and historical highlights and learn about the evolution of Santa Monica from the comfort of your home. If you do go outside for a walk to view the sites listed, please remember to put six feet of distance between you and others. The latest COVID-19 updates for Santa Monica can be found here.

Downloads are free. Donations are welcome and appreciated.

2101 La Mesa Drive.

Discover the Neighborhood John Byers

Discover the Neighborhood: South Beach

May 4, 2020

The Santa Monica Conservancy will be providing a weekly newsletter while much of our world is shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Each week, we will bring you digital resources related to preservation with the aim of helping you connect with our community and beyond. Sign up here, if you’re not already on our mailing list.

As part of our weekly offerings, we are bringing you Discover the Neighborhood, free digital downloads of our tour brochures and booklets so that you can explore our city from the comfort of your home.

Discover the Neighborhood

South Beach

This seaside neighborhood features an eclectic mix of architecture from American Foursquare, Craftsman and Dutch Colonial to Italian Revival, Mission Revival and more. Constructed largely between 1901 and 1905, this section of Ocean Park was the impetus for a seaside housing boom on our City’s south side. Learn why much of the area was razed in the 1960s and how residents successfully advocated to protect the properties that remain today. See how these historic homes have been updated for modern life.

Our digital downloads enable you to view architectural and historical highlights and learn about the evolution of the city from the comfort of your own home. If you do go outside for a walk to view the sites listed, please remember to put six feet of distance between you and others. The latest COVID-19 updates for Santa Monica can be found here.

Downloads are free. Donations are welcome and appreciated.

Horatio West Court at 140 Hollister Street was designed by architect Irving Gill.

Discover the Neighborhood

Discover the Neighborhood: Adelaide Drive

April 27, 2020

The Santa Monica Conservancy will be providing a weekly newsletter while much of our world is shut down due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Each week, we will bring you digital resources related to preservation with the aim of helping you connect with our community and beyond. Sign up here, if you’re not already on our mailing list.

As part of our weekly offerings, we are bringing you Discover the Neighborhood, free digital downloads of our tour brochures and booklets so that you can explore our city from the comfort of your home.

Photo: Steve Loeper

Discover the Neighborhood

Adelaide Drive

Explore the contemporary and historic homes of Adelaide Drive, built in the early 20th century by wealthy pioneer families. Early residents included silent screen star Anita Stewart as well as Roy Jones, son of Santa Monica co-founder Senator John P. Jones. Today, five of these residence are still standing as designated landmarks, and the area remains popular with artists and writers, including architect Frank Gehry, cartoonist Matt Groening and author Mona Simpson.

Our digital downloads enable you to view architectural and historical highlights and learn about the evolution of the city from the comfort of your own home. If you do go outside for a walk to view the sites listed, please remember to put six feet of distance between you and others. The latest COVID-19 updates for Santa Monica can be found here.

Downloads are free. Donations are welcome and appreciated.

Discover the Neighborhood