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LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY Pre ser vatio n Report Card | 2008

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

Cities are listed in alphabetical order. Please see the tables at the end of
this report for more information.

The A List: Congratulations to the seven cities who earned an A or A-
Long Beach, Los Angeles, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Santa Monica,
West Hollywood, Whittier

Long Beach
The City of Long Beach is currently reevaluating many of its historic
preservation programs, which have been in place for a number of years.
The city’s historic preservation ordinance is undergoing a revision that
will strengthen protections for the city’s historic resources. The current
version of the ordinance delays the demolition of a designated landmark
for up to one year, but cannot prevent demolition outright. Long Beach
currently has 130 designated landmarks, seventeen historic districts, and
a dedicated Cultural Heritage Commission that meets regularly. The city
has a Mills Act program and currently holds forty-two contracts. Incen-
tives offered to owners of designated properties include relief from cer-
tain zoning and parking requirements, and use of the California State
Historic Building Code. Long Beach has been a Certified Local Govern-
ment since 1992. The city’s General Plan is undergoing a comprehen-
sive update that will include a new Historic Preservation Element. The
first phase of Long Beach’s first citywide survey is underway.

Los Angeles
See Notable Improvements, page 17

Pasadena
The City of Pasadena has many protections in place for its historic re-
sources. Its preservation ordinance allows for the designation of individ-
ual landmarks and historic districts, as well as significant signs and trees.
The city has designated 110 landmarks and a total of twenty-seven his-
Top: Like several other cities throughout Los Angeles toric districts. Although ten of these districts are listed solely in the Na-
County, Long Beach is currently in the process of tional Register of Historic Places (not locally), Pasadena has worded its
updating the city’s historic preservation ordinance aimed
at strengthening protections for the community’s historic historic preservation ordinance to extend preservation protections and
resources. Pictured: The Arts Building (1930), Long Beach. review to those resources as well. The city’s Historic Preservation Com-
Photo by Dean Cheng.
mission has the power to deny both inappropriate alterations and demo-
Bottom: Pasadena is home to a diverse collection of litions that are proposed for designated landmarks and contributing
significant resources, including the Colorado Street Bridge structures in historic districts. Pasadena has an active Mills Act program,
(1913, Pasadena Landmark) and the Vista del Arroyo Hotel
(1903). The city’s historic preservation ordinance is notable with 103 contracts currently held.The city has been a Certified Local Gov-
for providing the same design review and protections to ernment since 1986. Several context statements and related surveys
local properties listed in the National Register of Historic have been prepared for various portions and building types of the city,
Places as to those that are designated as local Pasadena
landmarks. Photo by Dean Cheng. although only about thirty percent of the city has been surveyed to date.

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