{{section.number}}{{item.number}}
CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: 1504 Bel Aire Drive: Consideration of Glendale Register Nomination and Request for a Mills Act Historic Property Contract.
1. Resolution to designate the residential property at 1504 Bel Aire Drive as a historic resource in the Glendale Register of Historic Resources and authorize the City Manager to enter into a Mills Act Historical Property Contract with the property owner.
2. Motion to deny the request of the property owner to designate the residential property at 1504 Bel Aire Drive as a historic resource in the Glendale Register of Historic Resources.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Public Hearing
Approved for November 12, 2024 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The owners of 1504 Bel Aire Drive request that City Council list the property in the Glendale Register of Historic Resources and authorize a Mills Act historical property contract. The two-story, single-family residence was built in 1926 and is an excellent example of French Eclectic style architecture. It was designed by Robert Stacy-Judd, a prominent Los Angeles architect known for his wide-ranging design sensibility that included the Mayan Revival, for which he is best known.
On September 19, 2024, the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) reviewed the nomination and voted unanimously (3-0) to recommend to the City Council that the property at 1504 Bel Aire Drive be listed in the Glendale Register of Historic Resources.
Because neither the original owner nor any significant people were ever associated with the property, HPC’s naming convention for Glendale Register properties calls for the property address be used in lieu of a specific name. HPC also recommended that the City Manager be authorized to enter into a Mills Act historic property contract with the property owner, including the work conditions approved by the commission, under Section 15.20.070A of the Glendale Municipal Code.
2{{section.number}}{{item.number}}
5 5
9 0
RECOMMENDATION
That City Council list the property in the Glendale Register of Historic Resources under designation Criterion 3 and authorize the City Manager to enter into a Mills Act historic property contract, with the conditions approved by HPC, between the City and the property owner under Section 15.20.070A of the Glendale Municipal Code.
BACKGROUND
Historical Background
1504 Bel Aire Drive is a two-story single-family residence located in the El Miradero neighborhood. The residence is located at the southeast corner of Sonora Avenue and Bel Aire Drive, which is a block north of Kenneth Village. The property is an excellent example of the French Eclectic style that gained popularity upon the return of American soldiers from the First World War. This style is not common in Glendale as are several of the other Period Revival styles popular during the 1920s and 1930s. The construction of the property was announced in the January 15, 1926 issue of Southwest Builder and Contractor. The property was described in the journal as a two-story, ten-room frame and stucco dwelling with a “shake roof, hardwood floors, hardwood and pine trim, automatic water heater, gas unit heating system, tile baths and sink, ornamental iron, garage [and] lawn sprinkler system.”
1504 Bel Aire Road was designed by Robert B. Stacy-Judd in 1926 and built by Walter E. Warne for John W. Roman. Roman lived in Los Angeles from 1925 through 1927, during which time City directories identified him as a “builder,” but it does not appear that he ever lived in the residence. No additional information was found about Mr.
Roman in census or biographical data sources.
Robert Benjamin Stacy-Judd was a prominent Los Angeles architect predominantly knowns for his period revival and pre-Columbian designs that gained popularity in the 1920s. He was born in London on June 21, 1884, and studied at Acton College, Regent’s Street Polytechnic Institute, South Kensington Science and Art Institute, and the Southend Technical Institute in England. His first job in 1905 was as an architect with the surveying department of the Great Northern Railway Company of London. In 1914, he immigrated to Minot, North Dakota to work as the supervisor of housing projects for the U.S. Emergency Fleet Corps in Ohio, Wisconsin, and Michigan. After a brief move to Canada from 1919 to 1922, he relocated to Southern California, where he lived and worked out of 5039 Whitsett Avenue in North Hollywood. In 1928, he became a member of the American Institute of Architects and was an active member of the Architects of the San Fernando Valley. In 1935, Stacy-Judd became a naturalized citizen.
Stacy-Judd was known as an eccentric man and had various other interests besides architecture, including geology, arts, music, and writing. As a well-traveled man, he developed an interest in pre-Columbian architecture during his expeditions in Central America, particularly the Guatemalan jungle. He was recognized as an authority on the subject and would often publish books and articles on the topic, provide lectures, and 3{{section.number}}{{item.number}}
5 5
9 0
speak on the radio on the topics. According to the application, Stacy-Judd preferred to work with pre-Columbian motifs, which he believes were most indigenous to North America. During World War II, he is said to have helped Howard Hughes with plans for the “Spruce Goose” seaplane. In addition, he patented the “American Cottage,” a prefabricated building made of pre-cast concrete panels that can be rapidly erected.
Some of his well-known local works include the Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, the Worrel House at 710 Adelaide Place in Santa Monica, the First Baptist Church in Ventura, the Atwater Bungalows at 1431-1433 Avon Park Terrace, and the Masonic Temple in North Hollywood.
Though Stacy-Judd was at the forefront of exotic architecture in Southern California, the market was limited and heavily impacted during the Great Depression. As a result, he became proficient in Period Revival styles, such as English Tudor, Spanish Colonial Revival, and French Revival, which gained popularity as American soldiers were returning from Europe after World War I. The Sisson House at 515 S. Hudson Avenue, for instance, was designed in 1926 and features many similar character-defining features to the property at 1504 Bel Aire Drive. Stacy-Judd continued working well into his 70s through the 1950s. Stacy-Judd passed away in Canoga Park at the age of 90 on February 10, 1975.
While 1504 Bel Aire’s architectural style is indicative of the broader architectural trends of the 1920s and 1930s and is designed by a prominent Los Angeles architect, the information provided by the application and additional staff research does not indicate that the residence is associated with any important events in national, state, or city history, and does not exemplify significant contributions to the broad cultural, political, economic, social, or historic heritage of the nation, state, or city. Therefore, the residence does not appear eligible under Criterion 1.
Since Mr. Roman never lived at the property, the property was listed for the first time in the Glendale City Directory and described as “vacant” in 1929, under its previous address of 1504 Tenth Street. In the early through the mid-1930s, the property was owned by the Golden State Security Company and later by the Capital Company.
Through the 1930s and 1940s, it appears that the property was occupied by various renters. Prior to its recent purchase by the current owners, Tim and Marian Scully, the house had sat vacant. Neither John W. Roman nor any subsequent owners appear to have made many significant contributions to the history of Glendale or the region, and therefore the property does not appear eligible under Criterion 2.
Based on information in the nomination, attached to this report as Exhibit A and incorporated by reference, staff believes the property is eligible under Criterion 3 as detailed in the “Findings of Eligibility” section below. Staff recommends that, in accordance with the City’s naming protocol, the house be identified by its address in Glendale Register records. This is because no original or early owners appear to have even lived in the house. While tempting to invoke architect Stacy-Judd in the name, this is not appropriate because his association is limited to its design, and we do not know with any certainty that other of his designs may become known in the future. 4{{section.number}}{{item.number}}
5 5
9 0
Architectural Description
The residence is located at the southeast intersection of Bel Aire Drive and Sonora Avenue. The neighborhood is relatively flat and features many other Period Revival single- and two-story residences. Landscaping includes mostly grass, some trees, and a rose-lined original concrete pathway that leads to the primary entrances accessed off Bel Aire Drive.
The one- and two-story residence has a T-shaped, irregular plan and an asymmetrical main façade on a raised concrete foundation. The residence is clad in textured stucco with interesting detailing. The cross gabled roof meets at a centrally located tower with a dramatic conical roof where the primary entrance is located. The primary entrance is an arched wood door that is accessed by two small steps and is slightly recessed into the tower. Narrow divided light arched windows on the first and second stories of the residence follow the route of the interior staircase.
The wing located at the west of the entry tower is the only two-story portion of the house. The projecting second story features an oriel window and a steeply pitched front facing gabled roof. There are two small projecting masses with a shed roof located between the entry tower and the projecting second story. To the west of the two-story wing, a wing wall with a gothic arch entry and a wooden gate provides access to the rear yard of the property. The one-story wing to the east of the entry tower has two sets of eight-paned casement windows with shutters in groupings of three on the north elevation. Each shutter has a different design, adding a whimsical aspect to the overall design. A fixed arched picture window is located on the east elevation of the wing under a steeply pitched gable to provide natural light into the living room. A prominent brick chimney flanked by pairs of four-paned divided light picture windows with shutters is located at the south of elevation of the wing.
The wing at the south of the tower is located along Sonora Avenue. has a two small projecting wings with a steep gable located at the east elevation of the south wing.
Groupings of three divided light casement windows are located under each gabled wing.
The attached two-car garage at the south of this wing has a tri-part decorative attic vent and a steeply pitched front facing gabled roof that continues the roof form of the primary residence. The garage is accessed by a driveway off the alley at the rear of the residence. A medium-height wall clad in rough stucco encircles the rear yard.
Notable character-defining features of 1504 Bel Aire Drive include:
•One- and two-story massing
•T-shaped, complex irregular plan
•Asymmetrical main façade
•Raised concrete foundation
•Steep pitched cross-gabled roof with gabled projecting wings, narrow eaves and exposed rafter tails
5{{section.number}}{{item.number}}
5 5
9 0
•Prominent tower with a high-pitched conical roof where primary entrance is located
•Arched wood door (original speakeasy window enclosed)
•Arcaded wing wall at north façade
•Rough stucco
•Divided light casement windows mostly in groupings of three •Fixed divided light narrow arched windows at tower
•Oriel window at north façade
•Arched picture window at east wing
•Fixed divided light rectangular windows
•Wood shutters with various designs
•Gothic arch wing wall
•Prominent brick chimney
•Synthetic shake roofing
•Attached garage with steep front gable roof and tripart attic vents •Narrow louvered gable vents
•Angled original concrete walkway leading to primary entrance with a reticulated scoring pattern
Alterations and Integrity
The residence at 1504 Bel Aire Road retains a high degree of integrity with only a few minor alterations that do not impact the overall integrity of the residence. Permits were issued in 1937 to build a 240-foot stucco fence, a concrete incinerator, and an 8-inch- thick patio floor at the rear. The building was reroofed in 1970 and 1996. The brick chimney was repaired in 1971. In 2023-2024, the original divided light picture window was replaced with the current single-light picture window due to leakage and water damage. At an unknown time, the original garage door was replaced with a vinyl roll-up door of simple design. In addition, a door on the south façade that leads to the rear yard was replaced at an unknown time. Further, the speakeasy on the front entry door was enclosed at an unknown date. The minor alterations and replacements do not impact the overall integrity of the residence. The character defining features of the property are still retained. Also, openings are not altered or changed, which will allow for the replacement of some of the inappropriate alterations with more appropriate alterations to minimize the impact on the property.
Staff therefore recommends the following Mills Act conditions:
1. Restore the leaded glass window at the large living room opening to match photographs of this portion of the east façade.
2. Restore the original speakeasy at the front door that has been boarded up.
3. Replace vinyl garage door with more compatible wood garage door.
4. Replace inappropriate rear door that leads to backyard with a compatible wood door.
6{{section.number}}{{item.number}}
5 5
9 0
ANALYSIS
Finding of Eligibility
After reviewing the nomination submitted by the owner and its supporting documentation, as well as visiting the site, Planning Division staff concludes that the property appears to meet Criterion 3 of the eligibility criteria for listing on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources.
Architectural Significance [Criterion 3]
To meet Criterion 3, a property must “embody the distinctive and exemplary characteristics of an architectural style, architectural type, period, or method of construction; or represent a notable work of a master designer, builder or architect whose genius influenced his or her profession; or possess high artistic values.”
1504 Bel Aire Drive is an excellent example of 1920s French Revival architecture. The residence was designed by Robert B. Stacy-Judd, a prominent Southern California architect who was well known for his pre-Columbian and period revival style theatres, hotels, commercial, and residential designs. The residence includes many characteristic features of the architectural style, such as the irregular plan, steep gabled roofs, entry tower with conical roof, rough stucco siding, groupings of divided light windows, and shutters, and a prominent oriel window on the second story of the north façade. The residence is a notable work of locally significant architect Stacy-Judd that continues to possess exemplary characteristics of the French Revival style. The property retains high integrity of materials, design, workmanship, location, setting, association, and feeling.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
There are no stakeholders other than the property owner.
FISCAL IMPACT
Listing historic properties in the Glendale Register has no fiscal impact. However, future property tax savings to private owners of listed historic properties under Mills Act contracts will slightly reduce City property tax revenues from the general County tax levy received from each Mills Act property.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The project is exempt from CEQA as a Class 8 “Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment” exemption and a Class 31 “Historical Resource Restoration/Rehabilitation” exemption pursuant to Sections 15308 and 15331 of the State CEQA Guidelines because it involves the designation and restoration of a historic resource.
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
The names and business addresses of the members of the board of directors, the chairperson, CEO, COO, CFO, Subcontractors and any person or entity with more than 7{{section.number}}{{item.number}}
5 5
9 0
10% interest in the company proposed for contract in this Agenda Item Report are attached in Exhibit 4, in accordance with the City Campaign Finance Ordinance No. 5744.
ALTERNATIVES
Alternative 1: Not designate/list 1504 Bel Aire Drive on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources, finding that the property does not meet Criterion 3 or any other criteria, and not authorize a Mills Act contract.
Alternative 2: Any other alternative chosen by City Council.
ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Prepared by:
Ani Mnatsakanyan, Planner
Reviewed by:
Bradley Calvert, Director of Community Development
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit 1: Glendale Register Nomination
Exhibit 2: Photographs
Exhibit 3: Mills Act Application
Exhibit 4: Campaign Disclosure