Agenda - City of Santa Monica

HISTORICAL ASSESSMENT REVIEW: 1318-1322 2 nd Street
As originally surveyed, the Central Business District historic district included 119 contributing properties.
Another survey of the area was conducted following the Northridge earthquake in 1994. Referred to as
the 1995 survey inventory update, 14 contributing buildings were removed from the district due to
earthquake related demolitions, historically insensitive remodeling, or commercial development within
the area. At the onset of the 1998 Historic Resources Inventory Update, the Central Business District
had 105 contributing buildings. Upon completion of the survey 19 properties were added and 47 were
removed from the district total, giving a total of 77 contributors remaining.
The 1998 inventory update survey utilized a cutoff date of 1959. Any building constructed after 1959
was removed from the list of potential additions. For those properties constructed on or before 1959,
construction date, architect, and builder name (where available) were recorded. Because of its date of
construction the subject property was one of those included in the Central Business District grouping as
a district contributor and relevant building permit information on the property was added to the inventory
form (DPR523 form).
As previously mentioned, a city-wide survey update was conducted in 2007 with a final report prepared
in 2010. This survey effort re-evaluated the contributing properties to the Central Business District,
including the subject property at 1318-1322 2 nd Street. Upon concluding this survey work the district
was found to have 69 contributors within its boundaries. Eight previously identified contributors were
removed from the district grouping since it was last documented in 1998.
Throughout all of the previous survey efforts, including the most recent survey in 2007, the total number
of properties in the Central Business District and the identification of non-contributing properties were
never identified or calculated. Typically, to qualify as a historic district, besides satisfying applicable
significance criteria, a majority of contributing properties is necessary in order to assess integrity and
visually convey the district’s historic character and significance. The National Register Bulletin: How to
Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation, which is used as an industry standard for the
identification of historic property categories and the understanding of historical significance, defines a
district as one that “possesses a significant concentration, linkage, or continuity of sites, buildings,
structures, or objects united historically or aesthetically by plan or physical development.”
In reviewing all of the previous survey findings, Sanborn map data, and the integrity level of all
properties within the Central Business District and then plotting this information onto a map of the
existing District it appears that there are currently more non-contributing properties than contributors
within this area. Utilizing the City’s GIS information it appears there are approximately 314 buildings
(not including parking structures) within the boundary that currently defines the Central Business
District. Of that number, 69 of those buildings are considered contributors to the historic district. That
information equates to a district that is comprised of roughly 22 percent contributing properties and 78
percent non-contributors. In addition, the “outpost” discontiguous location of some district contributors is
such that it is difficult to associate them with the remaining ‘core’ resources so prominently clustered
along portions of Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica Boulevard or 3rd Street.
Conclusions and Recommendations
As related to the re-evaluation of the subject property for historic significance and in consideration of
this new finding for the Central Business District, it appears that the structure is now situated outside
the revised, redefined boundaries of this historic district. As such, the property is, therefore, no longer a
contributor to the Central Business District historic district. In re-evaluating the subject property for
individual significance, the previous findings of ineligibility for federal, state, and local landmark listing
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