Conservancy News

Our March Newsletter is now available. Discover exciting preservation events, the latest preservation issues, features on the people and places of historic Santa Monica and much more. To view past issues, click here.

In this issue:

• Annual Meeting & Awards on May 2
• New Board Leadership and Strategic Plan
• Letter from Wallis Annenberg
• Celebrating Marion Davies
• Native Plant Garden Tour on March 28 & 29
• Conservancy Achieves Challenge Grant
• and more news and events!

Our newsletter is published quarterly and is a great way to stay updated on all the latest Conservancy news. Conservancy members receive a copy of each new issue in the mail. If you’d like to become a member, please join today!

by Ruthann Lehrer and Carol Lemlein, Advocacy Co-Chairs

The Landmarks Commission voted, in November 2019, to designate the residence at 1531 Georgina Avenue as a landmark. Built in 1942, it is one of two known residences in Santa Monica designed by pioneering female architect Edla Muir. During her teenage years, Muir worked for John Byers, a Santa Monica architect renowned for developing the Spanish Colonial Revival style and for reviving adobe construction. Self-taught like Byers, Muir rose from clerical assistant to working on projects and becoming a fully licensed architect and a partner at Byer’s firm in 1934. The residence on Georgina Avenue was built just as Muir was setting up her independent architectural firm. The house reflects Monterey Revival design, consistent with her association with Byers, and is listed on the Historic Resources Inventory.  Muir’s later work evolved to mid-century modern ranch style homes and was highly respected by her peers.   

1531 Georgina Avenue. Photo: Ruthann Lehrer

The house was reviewed by the Landmarks Commission as a requested demolition permit. City staff and the City’s historic preservation consultant report recommended against designation, on the basis that the residence did not reflect Muir’s mature mid-century modern style.  The Santa Monica Conservancy strongly endorsed designation because denying the importance of Muir’s early work and tutelage under John Byers seemed arbitrary.  The Commission agreed with our position.  The applicant has filed an appeal to the designation, which is scheduled for a City Council hearing in March. 

In December 2019, approval was granted to a development project on the site of the designated deodar cedar tree at 918 5th Street.  Because the entire parcel was designated and the tree is protected, deviations from normal code requirements allowed the architect some advantages in his design of a new three-story condominium. Such incentives, available in Santa Monica, serve to compensate property owners who are developing their site but constrained by the presence of designated landmarks. The Major Modifications approved by the Planning Commission include increasing the building height to 36 feet (consistent with adjacent buildings on the street), and building three rather than two stories with additional parcel coverage. 

Two downtown projects were also reviewed last December: the iconic Rapp Saloon at 1438 2nd Street will be renovated as part of an expansion project at Hosteling International; and the former J.C. Penny Building on Wilshire Boulevard and the Promenade will be remodeled in a manner respectful of the original Streamline Moderne style.  Finally, the rehabilitation of the historic Julia Morgan-designed pool at the Annenberg Community Beach House was approved. The tiles have deteriorated and some marble on the deck need to be replaced in kind. 

The Conservancy now offers monthly and yearly-renewing memberships in addition to our one-year memberships. When you sign up for automated renewals, you help reduce our environmental impact, protect and preserve Santa Monica’s historic places and sustain our community programs.  

Members receive free admission to our Annual Holiday Party and discounts to events like our Summer Speaker Series and special architectural tour in the fall. You’ll also receive our quarterly newsletter with events, advocacy and preservation issues. Monthly memberships start at $5 a month and can be cancelled any time. Join, renew or gift a membership today at smc.givecloud.co. 

At the Happy Birthday, Marion! event at the Annenberg Community Beach House on January 26, 2020, Wallis Annenberg, President and Chairwoman of the Board of The Annenberg Foundation, sent a personal message honoring the Santa Monica Conservancy and our work. A grant from her foundation was instrumental in transforming the site into the Annenberg Community Beach House, which opened to the public in April 2009.

Wallis Annenberg. Photo: The Annenberg Foundation

“[We] mark the hard-to-believe tenth anniversary of the Annenberg Community Beach House—as well as the 123^rd birthday of Marion Davies, whose marvelous home now hosts this gathering. . .

This glorious stretch of eternity once known as the Gold Coast is one of a kind. It’s no wonder that Marion and William Randolph Hearst once rubbed swimsuits here with everyone from Charlie Chaplin to Greta Garbo. It’s a rich part of Hollywood history.

As a young girl, some years later, my own family cherished our time here, when it was the Sand and Sea Club. . .That’s why it was so important to me to open it up to the world, for everyone to enjoy. And that is why I am so deeply grateful to the Santa Monica Conservancy—

for making this cause your concern, and for working so hard to make this Beach House belong to all Angelenos. Without your incredibly devoted docents, and your tireless volunteers, so much precious California history would be lost. Without your caring and commitment, this beachfront would lose its beating heart. . .

Marion was right about this: in all your efforts to preserve our landmarks and share our storied history, the Santa Monica Conservancy is an innovator, not an imitator—which means it’s the best example I can think of.

Thank you for all you do—and here’s to our next decade of partnership at the Community Beach House.”

Thanks to our preservation community and generous donors, the Santa Monica Conservancy met the $15,000 fundraising challenge! We raised a total of $17,980 between November 1 and December 31, 2019 and received an additional $5,000 from generous donors, totaling $22,980 to support our community programs and protect our architectural heritage. 

We are deeply grateful to our donors and their impact on historic preservation!