To identify, protect and preserve the historic, architectural, and cultural resources of West Hollywood
The West Hollywood Preservation Alliance (WHPA), a nonprofit community organization dedicated to historic preservation, is so very pleased to see the Crosby Building in West Hollywood being considered for the National Register of Historic Places. The WHPA collaborated with City staff and the historic preservation firm that conducted a survey of potentially historic commercial buildings in West Hollywood.
Here is WHPA’s statement supporting state and national historic status for the Crosby Building at 9028 Sunset Boulevard. The California State Historical Resources Commission is considering such status at its hearing on May 17, 2018.
West Hollywood Historic Preservation Commission Meeting
Subject: Berman/Kohner Building at 9165-9169 Sunset Boulevard
Wednesday, March 28, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
Plummer Park Community Center, Rooms 1 & 2
7377 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood
At its meeting on March 28, 2018, the West Hollywood Historic Preservation Commission will consider Berman/Kohner Building at 9165-1969 Sunset Blvd.for local cultural resource status.
This strikingly designed building served as the Sunset Strip offices for furrier Louis Berman and high-powered Hollywood talent agent Paul Kohner. The building was identified in the city’s recent survey of commercial properties as being potentially eligible for the trifecta of local, state, and national historic status. Gaining local historic status generally affords a building the greatest level of protection since land use rules tend to be very locally based.
The building was designed in the mid-1930s by Paul R. Williams, one of the most significant — and prolific — architects who worked in Los Angeles in the 20th century. His commercial projects included numerous landmarks, including the Beverly Hills Hotel, Beverly Wilshire Hotel, Arrowhead Springs Hotel, Knickerbocker Hotel in Hollywood and the building at Doheny Drive and Beverly Blvd. that housed Chasen’s Restaurant, among many others.
Williams also designed the residences of actors Frank Sinatra, Barbara Stanwyck, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, ZaSu Pitts, Luise Ranier, Lon Chaney and others, as well as the Sunset Plaza Apartments (1220 Sunset Plaza Dr.), which were demolished in the 1980s despite having been listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The West Hollywood Preservation Alliance will be speaking in support of this designation and encourages all those interested to attend.
For more information, CLICK HERE [PDF].
LOS ANGELES, CA — September 25, 2017 — As a participant of the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets campaign, the Los Angeles Conservancy is encouraging the public to visit VoteYourMainStreet.org/weho to help the organization secure funding to support the rehabilitation of West Hollywood’s beloved Formosa Café.
The Conservancy nominated the iconic site on Santa Monica Boulevard—which is part of Los Angeles’ Main Street, Route 66. The prize—$150,000—would specifically fund the rehabilitation of the Pacific Electric Red Car trolley, the oldest portion of the building.
“Legacy bars and restaurants like the Formosa Café are exceedingly rare today, threatened by development pressure, increasing rents, and ever-changing demographics that make them difficult to survive,” said Conservancy director of advocacy, Adrian Scott Fine. “We’re excited to have this opportunity to bring funding to such an important project, and shed a light on preservation efforts in Los Angeles County.”
Partners in Preservation is a community-based partnership, created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express, to raise awareness of the importance of preserving historic places and their role in sustaining local communities.
Partners in Preservation: Main Streets will award $2 million in grant funding from American Express to Main Street districts in need of preservation support across America. The public will determine which sites will receive funding by voting for their favorite main streets through October 31 at VoteYourMainStreet.org, the online voting portal hosted by National Geographic Travel.
About the Formosa Café
In 1925, a former prizefighter from New York City bought and renovated a retired, turn-of-the-century Pacific Electric Red Car trolley as a luncheon counter called The Red Post Cafe.
In 1945, Lem Quon, a Hong Kong-born chef, became a partner in the business and ran the kitchen. The building expanded, was redecorated in a Cantonese theme, and renamed the Formosa Café.
Located on West Hollywood’s main drag of Santa Monica Boulevard/Route 66, its location across the street from a major movie studio made it a popular hangout for Hollywood stars. The walls were lined with 250 photos of stars who dined here.
The Formosa also had a long association with organized crime. Mobsters Mickey Cohen and Bugsy Siegel were regulars, and Cohen used a secret room in the trolley as a thriving bookmaking operation.
Quon took over the operation in 1976. Last operated by Quon’s grandson, Vince Jung, the Formosa Café underwent a remodel in 2015 and closed in December 2016.
With its future uncertain, a search began for a new operator. In early June 2017, 1933 Group was selected to take over the operation, with plans announced to reopen in the summer of 2018. Specializing in bars and restaurants that embody L.A.’s rich history, 1933 Group has revitalized a number of historic landmarks, including the Highland Park Bowl and North Hollywood’s Idle Hour Café.
The Café has been featured in iconic films, including L.A. Confidential and Swingers.
As a beloved L.A.-area landmark and legacy business, the Formosa Café is poised to share its cultural and historical traditions with the next generation.
Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Open House Weekend
The Conservancy, in partnership with 1933 Group, will hold an Open House Weekend event for the media and the public on Saturday, October 7 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., highlighting the importance of Main Street preservation efforts in West Hollywood. The Formosa Café is one of twenty-five projects on historic Main Streets across the country participating in the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Open House Weekend.
As part of the Conservancy’s Open House Weekend, members of the public will be treated to food and giveaways, and the first 200 guests will get exclusive access to the closed café. Special guests and detailed information will be announced on the Conservancy’s Facebook page soon.
Delta Air Lines is the sponsor of the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets Open House Weekend. The Open House Weekend event in West Hollywood is one of many local events taking place nationwide between October 6 and 9.
Why Main Street Matters
According to 2016 data from Main Street America, investments in Main Street districts have a significant impact on local economies – encouraging real estate development as well as the creation of new businesses and jobs. In 2016, $4.65 billion reinvested in Main Street improvement programs resulted in 8,042 building rehabilitations, 5,616 business openings, and 27,462 new jobs.
Furthermore, according to a recent study from Morning Consult of 2,201 Americans commissioned by American Express, 79 percent of Americans say that preserving Main Street is important. Additionally, 79 percent of Americans say that the idea of Main Street is what makes America beautiful. Main Street is also seen as vital in connecting Americans to their local community – 82 percent of Americans say that Main Street is important to their ability to socialize with others in a community. A similar amount, 86 percent, say that Main Street is important to the well-being and the enjoyment of a community.
For more information and to vote daily for the Formosa Café through October 31, visit VoteYourMainStreet.org/weho and share the love via social media using #VoteYourMainStreet.
From WEHOville:
West Hollywood’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) on Monday will review a proposal for a project on Palm Avenue whose architect is a member of that same commission.
The fact that Ed Levin, a partner in Levin-Morris Architects who was appointed to the HPC in 2005, is working on the project has angered some of its neighbors and those who will be evicted because of it. Levin will have to recuse himself from a vote on the project, but neighbors assert that his close relationship with other commission members will have an impact on their perception of it. The project also is opposed by the West Hollywood Preservation Alliance.
The project that Levin has designed for Westwood Property Ventures, a part of Jeffrey Damavandi’s Dylan Investments, consists of a four-story, L-shaped building with an underground parking garage that will house seniors and resources for them including a hair salon and recreation space. The proposed project is going before the HPC because it will wrap around and incorporate two existing houses designated by the city as culturally significant parts of the Old Sherman Thematic Group. One of the houses, at 927 Palm, will serve as an administrative and reception area for the building. The bungalow at 931 Palm will be a stand-alone residence. With the 931 Palm bungalow, the project will have 49 units.
COMMENTS BY THE WEST HOLLYWOOD PRESERVATION ALLIANCE
FOR THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING OF MARCH 15, 2017
ITEM 9.B. “LEXINGTON-CURSON RESIDENTIAL HISTORIC RESOURCES SURVEY”
The West Hollywood Preservation Alliance (WHPA) was very pleased when the City Council supported the awarding of a contract last year to the firm Historic Resources Group (HRG) to prepare a historic resources survey of early 20th century residential properties on the city’s Eastside. It was about time to undertake such a survey. Even before our organization’s establishment five years ago, folks on the Eastside would oftentimes bemoan that their part of town seemed to be neglected.
But even before that, the Westside proudly embraced the designation of the Old Sherman Thematic Grouping of historic properties built between 1899 and 1907 that primarily housed workers at the Pacific Electric Railway. The homes in this grouping are representative of West Hollywood’s birth as a distinctive neighborhood, and the character of those homes evoke its modest beginnings. And right now, several of them are being fixed up while still retaining their architectural integrity in a new life as the San Vicente Bungalows/Hotel.
The homes in the Old Sherman grouping are not all next to each other — meaning they’re not contiguous — just like the 30 properties identified as contributors to a new thematic grouping on the Eastside are not all next to each other. Being contiguous is a requirement of a formally recognized historic district like the city’s famous Harper Avenue Historic District. Being contiguous is not necessary for maintaining a sense of place, a sense of time, a sense of cultural and architectural memory.
The WHPA truly appreciates the research and information presented by Historic Resources Group in the 19-page document accompanying the staff report that presents the history and importance of the area being considered for a thematic grouping. But we also appreciate the views of the owners and residents who have raised their concerns about this thematic grouping.
There seems to be some confusion and misunderstanding reflected in some of the comments and views expressed in the attachments to the report. Some commenters appear to think that their apartment buildings and homes are part of or subject to the thematic grouping, but they are not as far as we’ve been able to determine. And still others are concerned that this grouping will result in regulatory intrusion into their lives.
We might benefit greatly if we were to receive input from some owners of properties in the already established Old Sherman Thematic Grouping or the Courtyard Thematic Grouping or the Plummer Park Grouping. Questions still abound and that’s why we’re all here tonight. We all deserve to hear and listen to one another. The conversation has just begun. Before sending this matter on to the City Council for its deliberations, we hope that the Historic Preservation Commission is able to resolve or address concerns and questions currently being raised.
–WEST HOLLYWOOD PRESERVATION ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Laura Boccaletti, Judson Feder, Roy Rogers Oldenkamp, Victor Omelczenko,and Jon Ponder
Access the just issued update of the West Hollywood survey of potentially historic commercial buildings and the proposed Eastside thematic grouping of early 20th century homes at this link.
And please reserve next Wednesday, March 15, 7 p.m., in the Plummer Park Community Center, 7377 Santa Monica Blvd., to attend the Historic Preservation Commission meeting which will be reviewing these two very important preservation topics. The Commission appreciates receiving public comments and your opinions.
Regarding the commercial survey —
– GPA Consulting is maintaining that WHPA’s 6 suggestions and City Council’s other 4 suggestions are still INELIGIBLE for any type of formal historic designation (local, state, federal). A historian did submit additional information on the MACHA Theatre building that’s in an attachment to the city report, but it appears to not have swayed GPA’s final analysis.
Regarding the Eastside thematic grouping of early 20th century homes —
– Thirty (30) properties are identified by the contractor Historic Resources Group as being potential contributors to a historic thematic grouping. HOWEVER, please note this particularly disconcerting section from the staff report:
“PUBLIC CORRESPONDENCE. In addition to all comments and questions during the two community meetings, staff has received various emails from the public expressing opposition to the adoption of a thematic grouping (EXHIBIT C). On March 6, 2017, a petition signed by 43 residents of West Hollywood was submitted in opposition to the adoption of a thematic grouping (EXHIBIT D).”
We’re proud to present our new short film project, LGBTQ Historic Places in L.A.! These three films bring together a diversity of stories, perspectives, and experiences that reveal the layered historic and cultural importance of LGBTQ places throughout L.A. County.
Each 7-minute film spotlights a different location: The Black Cat (Silver Lake), The Woman’s Building (Chinatown), and Plummer Park, Great Hall/Long Hall (West Hollywood).
The Conservancy premiered the films at The Black Cat recently and held a special panel conversation – stay tuned for more screenings and panel conversations in the coming months.
The City of West Hollywood and its Historic Preservation Commission will celebrate the City’s historic preservation accomplishments at an evening event on Thursday, October 27, 2016 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Schindler House/MAK Center for Art and Architecture, located at 835 N. Kings Road.
The event is free and open to the public; RSVP is requested. Parking will be available at the Kings Road Municipal Parking Structure, located at 8383 Santa Monica Boulevard, at the corner of Kings Road.
For more information, click HERE.
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