City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: JUNE 13, 2023 FROM: COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WARD: 1
DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: PLANNING CASE DP-2022-01794 – REQUEST BY FABIO AND CAREN SILVEIRA TO DESIGNATE THE PAUL A. LEWIS RESIDENCE - LOCATED AT 3881 LORING DRIVE - AS A CITY LANDMARK AND AMEND THE ZONING CODE MAP TO APPLY THE CR – CULTURAL RESOURCE OVERLAY ZONE TO THE SUBJECT PROPERTY ISSUE:
Adopt a Resolution to designate the Paul A. Lewis Residence, located at 3881 Loring Drive, as a City Landmark and adopt an Ordinance amending the Zoning Code Map to apply the CR - Cultural Resources Overlay Zone to the subject property.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Determine that Planning Case DP-2022-01794 (Historic Designation), to designate the Paul A. Lewis Residence as a City Landmark, is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and 15308 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment), as the proposal will have no significant effect on the environment, identifies the structure as a cultural resource, and preserves the historic character of a cultural resource; Approve Planning Case DP-2022-01794 (Historic Designation) based on, and subject to, the Cultural Heritage Board facts for findings outlined in the attached Cultural Heritage Board staff report; Adopt the attached Resolution designating the Paul A. Lewis Residence as a City Landmark; Approve the attached findings for the Zoning Code Map Amendment to apply the CR — Cultural Resources Overlay Zone to the subject property; and Introduce, and subsequently adopt the attached Ordinance to rezone 3881 Loring Drive from the R-1-7000-Single Family Residential Zone to the R-1-7000-CR – Single Family Residential and Cultural Resources Overlay Zones.
CULTURAL HERITAGE BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
On April 19, 2023, the Cultural Heritage Board (CHB) unanimously voted (7 ayes and 0 noes) to recommend that the City Council approve Planning Case DP-2022-01794 and designate the Paul A. Lewis Residence as a City Landmark.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A “Landmark” is defined in Section 20.50.010 (U) of Title 20 of the Riverside Municipal Code as “Any improvement or natural feature that is an exceptional example of a historical, archaeological, cultural, architectural, community, aesthetic or artistic heritage of the City, retains a high degree of integrity, and meets one or more of the following criteria:
Exemplifies or reflects special elements of the City's cultural, social, economic, political, aesthetic, engineering, architectural, or natural history; Is identified with persons or events significant in local, state or national history; 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; Represents the work of a notable builder, designer, or architect, or important creative individual; Embodies elements that possess high artistic values or represents a significant structural or architectural achievement or innovation; Reflects significant geographical patterns, including those associated with different eras of settlement and growth, particular transportation modes, or distinctive examples of park or community planning, or cultural landscape; Is one of the last remaining examples in the City, region, State, or nation possessing distinguishing characteristics of an architectural or historical type or specimen; or Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in history or prehistory.” DISCUSSION:
Property owner, Fabio and Caren Silveira, is requesting approval of a Historic Designation request to designate the Paul A. Lewis Residence as a City Landmark.
The Mid-Century Modern Style residence and two-car garage was constructed in 1948 by notable builder Harry Marsh for Paul A. and Frances K. Lewis. Paul A. Lewis was a prominent local and regional businessman, serving as president of Alfred M. Lewis Inc. and the Orange Empire Stores co-op association from 1939 until his death in 1963. The Orange Empire Stores association was made up of independent local grocers that used collective buying to purchase goods at lower wholesale costs in an effort to compete against the growing trend of larger corporate grocery chains during the mid-20th Century. During his tenure, the service area of the association expanded from mainly Riverside, Orange, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and San Diego Counties to include areas as far north as Fresno and as far east as New Mexico, including over 1,700 independent retail grocers.
The Lewis Residence was designed and built by prominent local builder Harry Marsh, who designed and constructed many of the higher-end residences in Riverside during the mid-20th century. The residence also embodies the character-defining features of the Mid-Century Modern Style of architecture, including simple rectangular massing, a rolled asphalt-topped flat roof with wide open overhangs, solid walls with clerestory windows, floor to ceiling glass walls, and stacked stone accents on both the exterior and the interior fireplace.
Therefore, the residence is eligible for City Landmark designation under Criterion 2 of Section 20.50.010 (U) of Title 20, as it is identified with a person significant in local and regional history, Paul A. Lewis. The residence is also eligible for designation under Criterion 3 as an excellent example of Mid-Century Modern style residential architecture in the City. The residence is further eligible for designation under Criterion 4, as it represents the work of the prominent local designer Harry Marsh. Despite a 485-square-foot addition completed in 1976, the residence also retains a high degree of integrity required for Landmark designation.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Prior to the CHB and City Council meetings, public notices were mailed to property owners within 300 feet of the site.
As of the writing of this report, no responses have been received by staff regarding this historic designation request.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 2 – Community Well-Being and Goal 2.3 – Strengthen neighborhood identities and improve community health and the physical environment through amenities and programs that foster an increased sense of community and enhanced feelings of pride and belonging citywide.
This item aligns with the following Cross-Cutting Threads:
Community Trust - The Landmark Designation request is being reviewed during a Public Hearing before the City Council and the public is able to provide comments.
Equity - The Landmark Designation will require a landmark plaque be placed so that they are visible from the public right-of-way, providing information about the historic property to all residents.
Fiscal Responsibility - The Landmark Designation will require no City General Funds.
Innovation - The Landmark Designation request includes a historic property from the recent past, which relates to new clarifications of historic properties.
Sustainability and Resiliency - The Landmark Designation will help to preserve the City’s collective history for future generations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund resulting from the Landmark designation.
Prepared by: Jennifer A. Lilley, Community & Economic Development Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Rafael Guzman, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachments:
Resolution
Ordinance
Recommended Findings for CR Overlay Zone
Legal Description
Cultural Heritage Board Staff Report – April 19, 2023
Cultural Heritage Board Draft Minutes – April 19, 2023
Notice of Public Hearing
Presentation
DP-2022-01794 (HD) – 3881 Loring Drive ● Page 3