WeHo Will Consider Designating Lexington Ave. Houses as Cultural Resources

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Craftsman style houses on Lexington Avenue in West Hollywood.
Craftsman style houses on Lexington Avenue in West Hollywood.

West Hollywood will survey Craftsman-style houses on Lexington Avenue on the city’s Eastside to determine if any of them warrants designation as a cultural resource.

John Duran
John Duran

The City Council tonight approved the survey, proposed by Councilmember John Duran. It will include houses on Lexington between Genesee and Curson avenues.

A building designated as a cultural or historic resource cannot be demolished unless its owner can prove that keeping it as it is will cause him financial hardship. Any proposed alterations to such buildings must be reviewed by the city’s Historic Preservation Commission.

Craftsman-style homes typically have a low-pitched roof, wide front porches, exposed beams and natural looking materials and earthy colors. According to a report prepared for the council, there currently, there are 16 Craftsman structures designated citywide. Five are in the city’s Craftsman District, an historic district on North Hancock Avenue and North Palm Avenue. Eight are part of the Old Sherman thematic grouping, which covers the area once occupied by the Town of Sherman.

West Hollywood conducted a citywide historic resource survey in 1986 that documented 118 potential resources. A 2008 survey of buildings in multifamily zoning districts turned up 61 additional properties eligible for designation as cultural resources. This year the city will conduct a survey of a survey of commercial buildings. The survey approved tonight will be the city’s first of single family dwellings in residential zoning districts designated for single- family or two-unit low density dwellings.

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Ruth Williams
Ruth Williams
8 years ago

Thank you to Councilmember Duran for placing Item 2.S on the Consent Calendar on Jan 19th. The City recently approved a demolition permit for a 1919 Craftsman at 7724 Lexington that was demolished this week! This loss along with the looming demolition of 7701 has lit a fire under residents who don’t want our neighborhood destroyed. 7701 should not be demolished to be replaced by 2, two story 3 bedroom duplexes similar to what is being erected around our borders in Los Angeles, The existing tenant & his family living there want to remain – It’s a wonderful home &… Read more »

Brian
8 years ago

I own a beautiful Craftsman bungalow on “Poinsettia Circle” (the Poinsettia Place and Poinsettia Drive loop). There are but a true few of us left. It’s sad. Especially considering our connection to old Hollywood. Our neighborhod was literally built to support the housing needs for the Pickfair Studios. All of the Craftsman properties scattered about –not just the Spaulding Squares of WeHo — should be supoorted and encouraged to embrace their historic and significant value to our community.

Todd Bianco
8 years ago

It’s good that most of these bungalows are in tact. They have historical value, are charming and should be preserved. Once designated, the owners will be eligible to enter into a Mills Act contract with the City that requires the exterior to be maintained in its original condition in exchange for reduced property taxes. It will help property values to be part of designated cluster like Spaulding Square. The Old Sherman bungalows where I live were nearly wiped out by developers. We have saved a few, fortunately, to remind us of the original town of Sherman. My bungalow was built… Read more »

Justine Habib
8 years ago

For those interested in more historical background, this neighborhood was once part of a larger parcel called “Cahuenga,” based on County of LA records. Spaulding Square to our north was part of Cahuenga as well. Two subdivision tracts for the area between Gardner and Genesee, north of SM and south of Fountain, were filed with the county in 1910 and 1913. These subdivisions were promoted as idyllic suburban neighborhoods, where families could own a house with a garden at an affordable price, and easily access the nearby trolley system at Fountain Ave/Genesee or Gardner street. How convenient it must have… Read more »

Justine Habib
8 years ago

Homes in the photo are Craftsman colonial revival style built in 1919. The house across from them at 7724 Lexington Avenue was one of a grouping in this style that had been fully renovated by a prior owner. A few years ago, it was lost in foreclosure, and the new owners allowed the property and swimming pool to fall into disrepair, and didn’t live in the house. Most recently the City staff issued a demolition permit for the 7724 property, and today workers are there demolishing it. The Craftsman colonial revival and other Craftsman style bungalows on Lexington Avenue and… Read more »

Is a
Is a
8 years ago

Homes shown in photo are not Craftsman.

Isa
Isa
8 years ago

Homes over 100 years old??!!?! Over 104 years old? Hampton has a fine grouping of homes West of Gardner as does Gardner South of Fountain.

Tony Villanueva
Tony Villanueva
8 years ago

FINALLY!!!! I think this is the first positive response to Preservation in West Hollywood I have seen – so good to see!

Rudolf Martin
Rudolf Martin
8 years ago

much needed!

Rob Bergstein
Rob Bergstein
8 years ago

As I mentioned in my comments at the council meeting last night, while I think doing a historic survey of not only the houses on Lexington is a good idea, but could be done on the Eastside as a whole (and hopefully to include my charming Bungalows on Genesee), I am concerned about limitations that might be forced upon property owners. I’d rather see the City take a carrot approach and offer incentives to property owners, rather than the stick approach by taking away property rights…

Todd Bianco
8 years ago

This is a good first step. It would be a shame to lose these beautiful homes to another developer. Remember The Desmond!

Alison
Alison
8 years ago

They shouldn’t limit it to Lexington. There is a craftsman on Hampton also. The whole neighborhood has them sprinkled about. They should go through the whole neighborhood again.