Carolanne Sudderth Tenants win fight to preserve historic courtyard complex, Ocean Park Gazette, 15 June 2004, 1980s, 1940s, 1930s, 1926,1925, 1920s,
"June 15 - . . . residents of 125 Pacific Street celebrated victory last night when the Landmarks Commission voted to grant their building landmark designation that allows them to retain their homes. Owners of the building, an LLC had applied for a permit to demolish the structure's 24 units and replace it.
"Built between 1925 and 1926, Christie Court is one of two surviving (intact) courtyards west of Neilson (nee Trolley) Way, (The other is the landmark Horatio West Courts at 140 Hollister Ave. two blocks away.) The project consists of 24 adjoined units built in a horsehoe around a broad swath of green lawn. The picnic table set therein has served as a gathering ground and meeting place.
". . . Resident Mark Hooker led off by presenting a 271 signature petition in support of saving the building. One by one, tenants related different sections of a carefully traced history of the building based largely on the oral histories of people who had lived there.
"In the beginning, the building's placement was a tale of two piers when Santa Monica was a pleasure resort. In addition to enjoying the beach, people came to dance at the prestigious Santa Monica ballroom on the Santa Monica Pier or gamble at Nat Goodwin's cafe on the Crystal/Bristol Pier at the foot of Hollister Avenue.
"The building provided housing for local trades people. During the 20s, a pair of plumbers lived there and walked across Main to their offices in what is now Star Liquor. In the 30s and 40s, there were salespeople from Henshey's Department Store and a chef at Casa del Mar Club, and Douglas Aircraft workers during the war years. And in the 1980s, the building served as home for bodybuilders Mr. Mexico and Mr. Japan.
"The staff report stated that the replacement of doors, windows and about half the original rough-stucco finish diminished the complex's eligibility for landmark status.
"Resident Rachel White countered claims that there are more and better examples of courtyard architecture in Ocean Park. She compared the Christie's broad grassy court with the concrete walkways separating the two legs of most courts. "If Christie's Courtyard is normal, than the concrete walkways are positively anorexic," she said.
"Michelle Katz agreed. "That's rather like saying we have landmarked four John Byers houses. Let's bulldoze the rest."
"Hired to design the condos that would replace the complex, architect Ralph Mechur claimed that history does not necessarily a landmark make. He reminded the board that they had the right to document the building while still allowing its demolition. "We all have histories that sort of get tied in. The building does not have the architectural features that are historically significant."he said.
"On behalf of the owners, consultant David Moss protested that the consultants who had not done the historic research for the city were not present and that research on the building that had been completed in March had not been made available until recently. "We just don't recognize the right of the commission to go in this direction without their consultant being present.
"Staff liaison Liz Bar-El responded that the report had been part of a larger document and as such, was not released until it became the packet for last night's meeting. "It is our policy that we do not release these reports to others before we release them to our commissions," she said.
"Commissioner John Berley's point that an older building's where suface details had been altered might have inherent value in the future seemed to have an effect on other commissioners. "One wonders if a building going from a mission revival to a mission revival features that have been removed to a fantasy point where an owner wants to restore it," he said.
"Chair Ruthann Lehrer said that the new features would need to be authenticated if they were replaced post-landmark status, but seemed to stand behind Berley's concept. "What I think is that alterations which are relatively minor - as property types with that landscaped court and it's a special location in Ocean Park. I'm troubled with letting that go, and I think that that's neglected in this analysis."
"The commission voted unanimously to make the building Santa Monica's newest landmark."