Conservancy News

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

Third Street Neighborhood Historic District

2621 2nd Street, built in 1875.

Explore Santa Monica’s first historic district neighborhood, designated in 1990, which protects a high concentration of historic structures exemplifying the early development of Ocean Park. The area preserves many circa-1900 bungalows as well as four structures from the late 1800s, including landmarks like the 1893 Hostetter House as well as what may be the oldest wooden structure in Santa Monica.

Our digital downloads enable you to view architectural and historical highlights of the district and learn about the evolution of the neighborhood 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.

Members and Friends,

Thank you for your ongoing support. It is because of your interest in preservation that we have been able to achieve the many accomplishments that define the Conservancy. Your feedback has kept us focused and your support–whether it is financial, volunteering, speaking up when historic properties are at risk, or all three–has enabled us to do our work and introduce more people to our organization and the urgency of our mission.

The Board of the Conservancy elected new leadership at its retreat in November 2019.  The new officers are: 

Tom Cleys, President, was the Conservancy’s founding President and has served as Treasurer over the last 17 years. He recently retired as Vice President, Asset Management at Mesa West Capital and is now spearheading a vigorous effort to implement the Conservancy’s Strategic Plan.  He is currently a member of the Santa Monica Urban Forest Task Force and a former Board member of Friends of Sunset Park. 

Carol Lemlein, Vice President, served as Conservancy President for the past 12 years.  She is Co-Chair of the Conservancy’s Advocacy Committee and will volunteer as acting Executive Director until the position is filled. Shechaired the Steering Committee of the 2011 California Preservation Foundation Annual Conference in Santa Monica and was co-developer of the Conservancy’s Downtown Walking Tour. 

Liz Coughlin, Treasurer, joined the Board in 2018 as a member of the Conservancy’s Communications Committee.  She co-founded the real estate brokerage HD Properties, Inc. and was a former digital media executive at Yahoo and Edelman. She also volunteers with IndiLab, a dog rescue. 

Mario Fonda-Bonardi, AIA, Board Secretary, is the founder of Fonda-Bonardi & Hohman Architects, specializing in residential design, and was the architect for the renovation of the Shotgun House. He is a member and former Chair of the Santa Monica Planning Commission and a former member of the Third Street Historic District Community Participation Committee. 

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.