1 FINDINGS AND DETERMINATION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA IN THE MATTER OF
THE DESIGNATION OF A LANDMARK
DENIAL OF A MULTI-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL BUILDING 22ENT-0015 LOCATED AT 631 COLORADO AVENUE
AS A CITY LANDMARK OR STRUCTURE OF MERIT
SECTION I. On March 19, 2021, 500 Pounds of Dog, Inc., the owner of the property at 631 Colorado Avenue, filed a demolition permit application. On May 20, 2021, Nina Fresco, on behalf of the Santa Monica Conservancy, submitted historic resource designation application 21ENT-0125 to nominate the property at 631 Colorado Avenue as a Landmark, with a revised application submitted on January 9, 2022.The Landmarks Commission, having held a Public Hearing on January 10, 2022 found that the subject property at 631 Colorado Avenue and building located at the corner of Colorado Avenue and 7th Street met one or more the of the criteria for designation as a City Landmark as enumerated in SMMC 9.56.100. On January 20, 2022, 500 Pounds of Dog, Inc. filed a timely appeal of the Commission’s decision. The City Council, on appeal, having held a Public Hearing on June 14, 2022 hereby denies the designation of 631 Colorado Avenue as a City Landmark or Structure of Merit based on the following findings:
LANDMARK CRITERIA
SMMC 9.56.100(a)(1). It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic, political or architectural history of the City.
The property does not exemplify, symbolize, or manifest elements of the cultural, social, economic, political, or architectural history or development of Santa Monica.
The existing buildings were constructed in what was once an African American residential neighborhood, replacing four residential cottages and two outbuildings. As such, the residential and outbuildings related to the cultural and social history of this area during that period are no longer extant, and the existing buildings do not share the same association.
The subject property is one of the first industrial buildings built in this specific southeast area of downtown but does not appear to be a significant aspect of the larger trend of industrial development in Downtown or Santa Monica as a whole. Industrial buildings were being built throughout the City in the pre-war era, particularly in the nearby Pico neighborhood, in large groupings around and adjacent to transportation outlets. Furthermore, the property’s original use as a distributor for the Aztec Brewing Company does not exemplify the economic development patterns Santa Monica was experiencing at this time. As mentioned above, Santa Monica’s aviation industry was the primary source of industrial development prior to World War II. The City of Santa Monica was not known for its alcohol distribution nor is this building the headquarters or a notable location for the Aztec Brewing Company’s operations, which included various distribution warehouses throughout the Southwest. Additionally, the two existing buildings on the parcel were built as part of a collection of three buildings with a wood-framed platform that all served a specific purpose in the distribution of alcoholic beverages. As a result of the loss of the 2 third building and rear platform, as well as the infill of the Auxiliary Building that was originally a loading canopy and addition of fencing along Colorado Avenue, the site no longer reads as an alcohol distribution center.
Constructed in the industrial vernacular style, the Main Building lacks the primary character defining features that would qualify it as a light industrial building, such as loading docks and doors, and oversized bays of continuous industrial steel sash on two or more façades. Both buildings appear to be built in the vernacular style with minimal Streamline Modern styling, and neither building on the site is a notable example of the Streamline Moderne style, and there is no evidence to suggest this building was influential to the architectural development of the city.
Therefore, the property at 631 Colorado does not appear significant under Criterion 1.
SMMC 9.56.100(a)(2). It has aesthetic or artistic interest or value, or other noteworthy interest or value.
Both buildings located at 631 Colorado Avenue were constructed for industrial, utilitarian purposes. Thousands of industrial buildings were constructed throughout Southern California during pre- and post-World War II building booms. As such, the buildings do not possess special aesthetic or artistic interest or value, and do not appear to be significant under Criterion 2.
SMMC 9.56.100(a)(3). It is identified with historic personages or with important events in local, state or national history.
The existing buildings were constructed in what was once an African American neighborhood, replacing four residential cottages and two outbuildings. The City of Santa Monica Landmark Designation Application for the subject property notes that Etta Moxley, a prominent figure in the African American community, lived in one of the four residential cottages. Since the residential and outbuildings related to this cultural and social history are no longer extant, the existing buildings on the property do not share the same association.
The Aztec Brewing Company obtained the permits for both buildings currently on site. Following the end of Prohibition, the Aztec Brewing Company had various distribution warehouses throughout the Southwest. Research did not reveal any evidence to suggest that the Aztec Brewing Company was owned or operated by any historic personages. Research did not reveal any evidence to suggest that the remaining businesses associated with the site were owned or operated by historically significant individuals. Research also did not reveal any evidence of association with an important historic event.
Therefore, neither building at 631 Colorado Avenue appears to be significant under Criterion 3.
SMMC 9.56.100(a)(4). It embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type valuable to such a study.
Both buildings located at 631 Colorado Avenue are examples of industrial vernacular construction in the years prior and during World War II. Industrial buildings constructed during this time featured limited exterior details as they were not intended to attract pedestrians for commercial use and were utilitarian by nature. While the modest use of Streamline Moderne 3 elements is visible on both buildings, the few features alone do not make these buildings notable examples of the Streamline Moderne style. The construction and features of both structures are not notable in any way and have been modified over time. Lastly, as indicated on 1950 Sanborn Maps around Santa Monica’s industrial cores, such as along rail lines or present-day freeways, brick industrial buildings were not a rarity for the City.
On the original permit for the Main Building, the construction material is indicated as Groutlock brick, a building material produced by the Simons Brick Company. However, a physical assessment of the site indicates that the brick is not an example of Groutlock, but rather another type of grouted masonry, described as Port Costa Key. A few scattered examples of what appear to be the Port Costa Key bricks are visible and have stepped notching at the top of the brick.
Although this building material is visible, it was not used for the entire building, or if it was, only a few examples of this type of brick are visible from the exterior. As discussed above, many solutions for increasing the earthquake resistance of masonry buildings were explored in the aftermath of the Long Beach Earthquake, including experimentation with new masonry shapes.
These shapes included the Groutlock brick, which had a diagonal or beveled edge, and the Port Costa Key brick, which had interlocking “notches.” However, subsequent engineering studies in the decades after World War II revealed that a special masonry shape was not necessary when good workmanship and an appropriate mortar mix was employed, and the new masonry shapes ostensibly fell out of use. The Groutlock and Port Costa Key bricks were a short-lived experiment in construction technology following the Long Beach earthquake. Research did not indicate that they were ever widely used or influential to later developments in construction technology. As such, it does not appear that the use of these brick shapes was an important building technique.
Therefore, neither building at 631 Colorado Avenue appears to be significant under Criterion 4.
SMMC 9.56.100(a)(5). It is a significant or a representative example of the work or product of a notable builder, designer or architect.
Research into the construction history of 631 Colorado Avenue did not reveal the name of the architect or the builder for the Main Building. The architect for the Auxiliary Building was identified on the 1941 building permit as Frederic Barienbrock. Frederick Barienbrock was a local architect that worked in Santa Monica for 50 years. Barienbrock was responsible for the designs of 1725 Main Street, 827 6th Street, 829 6th Street, and the 1951 addition to the Santa Monica Courthouse and County Building wing of the Santa Monica Civic Center. While Barienbrock appears to have been a successful local architect, his work is not particularly noteworthy and he is not an important architectural figure in the history of the city or the region. Additionally, the utilitarian canopy would not be a notable example of his work, and it no longer conveys its original design intent due to modifications on all elevations.
Therefore, the property at 631 Colorado Avenue does not appear to be significant under Criterion
5. SMMC 9.56.100(a)(6). It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City.
The property located at 631 Colorado Avenue is located in a portion of Santa Monica’s original township that is now referred to as the Downtown neighborhood. The property is surrounded by residential, commercial, and industrial properties ranging from one to four stories in height. The 4 subject property is an unremarkable infill site that, although part of the original township, does not appear to be an established and familiar visual feature of the neighborhood or City.
Therefore, the property at 631 Colorado Avenue does not appear to be significant under Criterion
6. STRUCTURE OF MERIT CRITERIA
9.56.080(A): The structure has been identified in the City’s Historic Resources Inventory.
The property at 631 Colorado Avenue was individually identified in the 2018 Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) Update and assigned a status code of 5S3, indicating that the property appeared to be individually eligible for local listing or designation through survey evaluation for conveying patterns of industrial development in the Downtown neighborhood of Santa Monica and being one of one of relatively few extant industrial buildings in this area from the pre‐World War II period. However, based on further analysis, the property does not appear to merit designation.
9.56.080(B): The structure is a minimum of 50 years of age and meets one of the following criteria:
The subject property is a minimum of 50 years of age as it was constructed in 1914.
Therefore, the structure is eligible for further consideration under the following criteria:
(B)(1). The structure is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type.
The property at 631 Colorado Avenue is over fifty years of age, but it is not a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail, or historical type. As discussed above, the buildings are industrial vernacular buildings with utilitarian purposes that are ubiquitous throughout Santa Monica’s industrial areas, such as the Pico neighborhood, and Southern California as a whole.
(B)(2). The structure is representative of a style in the City that is no longer prevalent.
The subject property represents the industrial vernacular style which is still represented in the City in large numbers. While the resource is one of the few remaining industrial buildings in the southeastern portion of the Downtown, it is not rare when considered with the larger inventory of buildings in the industrial areas of Santa Monica. Industrial development in this area was not as historically prevalent in Downtown as other areas in the city, such as the Pico neighborhood. Further north on Colorado Avenue there are numerous extant examples of similarly scaled industrial development. (B)(3). The structure contributes to a potential Historic District.
The subject property is not located within any previously identified potential historic district, and a historic district is unlikely to exist in the area surrounding 631 Colorado Avenue. The subject property is surrounded by commercial, industrial, and multi-family buildings of various styles, sizes, and construction dates. They are not visually or historically unified and do not form a significant or cohesive grouping. Therefore, the property does not appear significant as a Structure of Merit under this criterion. 5 SECTION ll. Parcel Designation
Because staff is not recommending designation of the structures, staff does not recommend designation of the parcel.
SECTION lll. I hereby certify that the above Findings and Determination accurately reflect the final determination of the City Council of the City of Santa Monica on June 14, 2022 as determined by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT
Each and all of the findings and determinations are based on the competent and substantial evidence, both oral and written, contained in the entire record of the proceedings relating to this designation. All summaries of information contained herein or in the findings are based on the substantial evidence in the record. The absence of any particular fact from any such summary is not an indication that a particular finding is not based in part on that fact.
Respectfully Submitted
June 14, 2022
Sue Himmelrich, Mayor
Attest:
Stephanie Reich,
Landmarks Commission Secretary