548 & 554 Center Street
MAJCOA 18024-2022
Applicant: Ali Dashti
City Council Meeting – April 17, 2023
Attachment 5
Executive Summary
The request is an appeal of HPC’s decision on Major Certificate of Appropriateness (MAJCOA 18024-2022) requesting to allow for the demolition of pre-1945 structures on properties located at 548 and 554 W. Center Street.
548 W. Center Street is a six-unit multifamily development estimated to have been constructed in 1885 554 W. Center Street is one single family dwelling estimated to have been constructed in 1895.
Location
N. White Avenue
N. Rebecca Street
W. Monterey Avenue
W. Center Street
554
548
Previous Decisions
HPC Meeting September 7, 2022 – HPC made a motion to deny Staff’s recommendation and directed Staff to return to Commission with findings for a denial on a 5-2-0-0 vote.
HPC Meeting October 5, 2022 – Continued public hearing where HPC made a motion to deny the Major Certificate of Appropriateness in that the structures have sufficient integrity and deemed them to be of historic significance on a 4-3-0-0 vote.
October 13, 2022 – Applicant filed for an appeal.
City Council Meeting November 21, 2022 – City Council directed staff to conduct mediation between the property owner and tenants, represented by Pomona United for Stable Housing (PUSH) and continued item to December 5, 2022.
November 30, 2022 – Staff conducted mediation between property owner and tenants.
City Council Meeting December 5, 2022 – City Council continued the item to January 23, 2023 at the request of the Applicant to further review the matter with their legal counsel.
City Council Meeting January 23, 2023 – City Council continued the item to a date uncertain
Background
Planning Staff evaluated the properties against all 10 Historic Landmark Designation Criteria (Sec. 5809-13.D of PZO) and determined that, because of modifications having been made over the years, the subject properties do not meet the criteria nor the integrity requirements for local historic landmark designation or as contributors to a potential historic district.
At the HPC meeting of September 7, 2022, Staff brought forward a recommendation to Commission to approve the Major COA request to allow for demolition. Commission instructed Staff to return to Commission with findings for denial.
At the HPC meeting of October 5, 2022, continued public hearing where Staff brought forward a similar recommendation to approve the request after having re- evaluated all designation criteria and did not find sufficient evidence to support the local historic landmark designation.
HPC made findings that the subject properties met Designation Criteria 3 and 4, therefore denied the request for a COA for demolition and deemed the properties to be of historic significance.
Background (cont.)
On October 5, 2022, HPC coted to deny the permit based on the following Historic Landmark Designation Criterion (Sec. 5809-13.D of PZO):
Criterion 3: “It embodies distinctive characteristics of a style, type, period, or method of construction, or is a valuable example of the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship.” Criterion 4: “It contributes to the significance of an historic area, being a geographically definable area possessing a concentration of historic or scenic properties or thematically related grouping of properties which contribute to each other and are unified aesthetically by plan or physical development.”
Background (cont.)
According to Sec. .5809-13.F.8:
“In making such a determination [regarding demolition of pre-1945 non-designated structures] the [HPC] shall first consider if the property would likely meet the criteria used in historic landmark designation thus deeming it of historical significance.” According to Sec. .5809-13.D:
“A site may be designated an historic landmark by the historic preservation commission and city council…if the building(s) are fifty or more years… and it meets one or more” of the Historic Landmark Designation Criteria.
Site Photographs – 554 W. Center
Site Photographs – 548 W. Center
Similar Houses
Alterations
548 West Center
Addition, porch alteration – 1957-58
554 West Center
Addition, Window Replacement, Stucco – 2004 and 2010
These alterations were made after the property was surveyed
Staff Recommendation
Two options for the Council’s consideration:
Approving Resolution No. 2022-208 would deny the appeal and uphold the Commission’s decision to deny the Major Certificate of Appropriateness (MAJCOA 18024-2022) and not allow demolition to move forward and would deem the properties to be of historical significance. or
Approving Resolution No. 2022-212 would approve the appeal and reverse the Commission’s decision, approve the Major Certificate of Appropriateness (MAJCOA 18024-2022) and allow the applicant to pursue a demolition permit.