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LOS ANGELES CONSERVANCY Pre ser vation Report Card | 2008

NOTABLE IMPROVEMENTS

Congratulations to the following cities, which have made significant
strides in their preservation programs since the release of our first Preser-
vation Report Card in 2003.

Huntington Park: F to B+

The City of Huntington Park has a rich history and many significant re-
sources. Yet it had no protections in place until 2006, when the city
adopted a historic preservation ordinance after carefully
studying effective ordinances in other cities. One of the
ordinance’s most notable provisions is the ability to des-
ignate significant public or semi-public interior spaces
and signage, in addition to landmarks and historic dis-
tricts. It does not require owner consent for landmark
designation. In the two years since adopting its ordi-
nance, Huntington Park has designated six landmarks.
The city has a historic preservation commission that can
deny proposals for demolition or inappropriate alterations.
A citywide windshield survey of historic resources was
conducted in 2006, and the city has just implemented the
Mills Act program. Other incentives available to owners of
historic properties include the reduction of planning ad-
ministrative fees, zoning variances, and a conditional
waiver of parking requirements. The city promotes historic preservation
each May (National Preservation Month) by bestowing awards on a hand-
ful of properties that exemplify historic preservation and good steward-
ship of historic buildings.

Huntington Park has shown a remarkable turnaround, improving its grade
from an F to a B+ in five short years. The city has demonstrated a firm
commitment to establishing a strong set of preservation protections and
programs. Its preservation ordinance earned a 2007 Preservation Award
from the Los Angeles Conservancy. Huntington Park continues moving
forward in its preservation efforts, working to create the city’s first historic
Top: Lane-Wells Company Building (1937),
Huntington Park (Dean Cheng) district and become a Certified Local Government.

Bottom: Huntington Park celebrates historic preservation
each year by issuing historic preservation awards. Los Angeles: B+ to A-
Photo courtesy Huntington Park Planning Department.
The City of Los Angeles has established itself as a preservation leader
on several fronts. The city established an Office of Historic Resources in
2006 to coordinate Los Angeles’ historic preservation activities and sup-
port its Cultural Heritage Commission. Los Angeles became a Certified
Local Government in 2007. The city’s active Mills Act program is the

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