Item 6-A
Appeal of Landmarks
Commission Designation of
1125 18th Street
City Council
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation
1125 18th Street as a Structure of Merit
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 • Approve Appeal 25ENT-0135, appeal of the Landmarks Commission’s decision to designate the property located at 1125 18th Street as a Structure of Merit
• Deny Designation Application 25ENT-0069 to designate the property located at 1125 18th Street as a Structure of Merit.
Alternatively
• If the City Council disapproves the appeal and approves the designation application to designate the property as either a City Landmark or Structureof Merit, as described in Alternative Actions, adopt the Landmarks Commission findings and alternative findings under “California Environmental Quality Act Compliance”.
Recommended Action
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Background
• The property owner filed a demolition permit application. • The Santa Monica Conservancy filed an application to designate the property as a Structure of Merit.
• The City hired Page & Turnbull to provide a Historic Resource Assessment (HRA) as part of the review process.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Background
• Page & Turnbull found the property does not meet the criteria for Structure of Merit and is therefor ineligible for designation. Staff agrees and recommends denial.
• The Landmarks Commission designated the property as a Structure of Merit in a 4-2 vote.
• Commissioner Pam O’Connor appealed the designation.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 1125 18th Street Description
• Located on the east side of 18th
Street north of Wilshire Boulevard,
South of California Avenue
• 50 x 175 lot / R2 Low Density
Residential Zone
• Constructed in 1923
Vernacular/Craftsman Bungalow
• 952 SF One-story wood frame
building with wood siding and
composition shingles
Aerial View of property at 1125 18th Street
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Building Analysis
• Single-family wood-frame residential structure with a lowpitched front gable roof with an intersecting side gable projection
• Building is set back from the street on the property
• Smaller residence on property behind
• Wood Siding, Wood Windows, Asphalt Shingle Roofing
• Building is a modest/ Vernacular example of a Craftsman Bungalow
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Craftsman Bungalow in Santa Monica
84710thStreet.Built1919, identified bythe 2018
surveyas eligible for designation as a
Landmark.
91819th Street. Builtin1924, identified by the
2018surveyas eligible fordesignationas
a Structure of Merit.
811 5th Street. Built in1912, identified by the
2018surveyas eligible fordesignation
as a Structure of Merit
908California Avenue.Builtin 1922,
identified by the 2018 survey as eligible for
designation as a Landmark.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Craftsman Bungalow in Santa Monica
Based on a review of the 2018 Historic Context Statement survey results:
• 178 properties in Santa Monica identified as “Craftsman” style
• 30 individually significant properties identified in the Wilshire Montana neighborhood
• 18 potential Landmarks
• 12 potential Structure of Merit
• 20 properties represent modest bungalow-style homes
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Designation Criteria
SMMC 9.56.080 establishes that an improvement may be designated as a Structure of Merit Criteria if it has one of the following characteristics:
(a) The structure has been identified in the City’s Historic Resources Inventory
(b) The structure is a minimum of 50 years of age and meets one of the following criteria:
1. The structure is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type
2. The structure if representative of a style in the City that is no longer prevalent
3. The structure contributes to a potential Historic Districts Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Designation Criteria – Staff Recommendation
SMMC 9.56.080(a). The structure has been identified in the City’s Historic Resources Inventory.
• Residence is identified in the 2018 Historic Resources Inventory (HRI) and technically meets wording of criterion
• Considerations in applying criterion
• Residence was not identified prior to the 2018 Historic Resources Inventory (HRI)
• HRI is a “windshield survey”
• Upon further analysis, property does not appear to meet criteria for Structure of Merit
Therefore, the property does not appear eligible under this Criterion • Landmarks Commission has not previously designated a Structure of Merit based solely on this criterion
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Designation Criteria – Staff Recommendation
SMMC 9.56.080(b). The structure is a minimum of 50 years of age and meets one of the following criteria
• The subject property was built in 1923 and, therefore, satisfies the 50-year age threshold.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Designation Criteria – Staff Recommendation
SMMC 9.56.080(b)(1). The structure is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historicaltype.
• 178 properties in Santa Monica identified as “Craftsman” style • 30 individually significant properties identified in the Wilshire Montana neighborhood
• 18 potential Landmarks
• 12 potential Structure of Merit
• 20 properties represent modest bungalow-style homes
• 1125 18th Street does not appearto represent a rare or unique example of its type.
Therefore, the subject property does not appearto be eligible under this criterion.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Designation Criteria – Staff Recommendation
OR SMMC 9.56.080(b)(2). The structure is representative of a style in the City that is no longer prevalent.
• 1125 18th Streetis an example of a modest Craftsman bungalow • Building type prevalentin the City of Santa Monica through the firstthree decades ofthe 20th century
• Remains prevalent in the city
• Structure was first listed in the 2018 HRI and through research does not appear to meet this criteria
• 178 properties in Santa Monica identified as “Craftsman” style • 30 individually significant properties identified in the Wilshire Montana neighborhood • 18 potential Landmarks
• 12 potential Structure of Merit
• 20 properties represent modest bungalow-style homes
Therefore,the subject property does notappearto be eligible underthis criterion.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Designation Criteria – Staff Recommendation
SMMC 9.56.080(b)(3). The structure contributes to a potential Historic District. • The subject property has not been identified as a contributor to a potential Historic District.
Therefore, it does not appear to be eligible under this criterion.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 1125 18th Street Landmarks Commission Action
Structure of Merit Designation
Criterion A. The structure has been identified in the City’s Historic Resources Inventory as eligible for Structure of Merit designation.
Criterion (B)(1). The structure is a minimum of 50 years of age, and the structure is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type.
• The building is a relatively intact example of a modest Craftsman bungalow
• It remains a relatively uncommon building type within the neighborhood, specifically the Green Acres Tract of the Wilshire Montana neighborhood.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Criterion (B)(2). The structure is representative of a style in the City that is no longer prevalent.
Specifically, the Craftsman Home represents a style that is no longer prevalent in the Green Acres Tract of the Wilshire Montana Neighborhood. 1125 18th Street Landmarks Commission Action
Structure of Merit Designation
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Appeal Statement
1. Findings for Structure of Merit cannot be met
• Commissioner’s findings based on the rarity of the building type in the Green Acres Tract
2. The Structure of Merit Designation is flawed.
• This is outside the scope of the appeal before the Council Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Appeal Analysis
Staff agrees that the Structure of Merit findings cannot be met • Vernacular/Modest Craftsman was never prevalent in the Green Acres Tract
• Green Acres Tract is a very small area within the Wilshire Montana Neighborhood
• Staff and the City’s consultant found that the property type and modest bungalow style is not unique or rare in the city or in the Wilshire Montana neighborhood.
• It is not consistent with professional practice or past practice to identify the rarity of a property based on the small area of a single development tract.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 • Approve Appeal 25ENT-0135, appeal of the Landmarks Commission’s decision to designate the property located at 1125 18th Street as a Structure of Merit
• Deny Designation Application 25ENT-0069 to designate the property located at 1125 18th Street as a Structure of Merit.
Alternatively
• If the City Council disapproves the appeal and approves the designation application to designate the property as either a City Landmark or Structureof Merit, as described in Alternative Actions, adopt the Landmarks Commission findings and alternative findings under “California Environmental Quality Act Compliance”.
Recommended Action
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Questions
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Alternative CEQA Finding
• Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that approving an application and designating the property as a Landmark will result in any significant effect on the environment. This determination is based on the record as a whole, which
includes, but is not limited to, evidence that the designation of the property as a Landmark will promote the retention and preservation of historic resources, the designation would not result in any physical change to the property, and any future physical changes would be subject to
subsequent CEQA review.
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025 Appeal of Landmarks Commission Designation
1125 18th Street as a Structure of Merit
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025
1. The Structure of Merit Designation is flawed.
• There are other cities with tiered systems of designation, • The Code defines a Structure of Merit criteria therefore Landmarks Commission may designate a property as a Structure of Merit if it meets required findings
• Structure of Merit Criteria allows for a different and lower threshold than the Landmarks Designation Criteria
• A designated Structure of Merit is eligible for demolition after a certain waiting period. Any modifications to a Structure of Merit are reviewed by staff or the Architectural Review Board for compliance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards.
Appeal Analysis
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Appeal of Landmarks Commission SOM Designation 1125 18th Street| City Council | 11.18.2025
1. The Structure of Merit Designation is flawed.
• A designated Landmark may not be demolished with the
exception of an approved Certificate of Economic Hardship.
In the history of the preservation program, no designated Landmark structures have been demolished
• Any modifications to a designated Landmark must be
reviewed by City staff or the Landmarks Commission for
compliance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards.
Appeal Analysis
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025
Item 12-A
November 18, 2025