RPVCCA_CC_SR_2015_02_17_G_Designate_Historical_Harden_Estate_Building_&_PropertyCITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
MEMORANDUM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL EMBERS
FROM: JOEL ROJAS, AICP, DIREC F COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
DATE: FEBRUARY 17, 2015
SUBJECT: DESIGNATION OF THE HARDEN ESTATE
GATEHOUSE AT 5500 PALOS VERDES DRIVE SOUTH
AS A QUALIFIED HISTORIC BUILDING AND
PROPERTY, PURSUANT TO CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NO. 51
REVIEWED BY: CAROLYNN PETRU, AicP, ACTING CITY MANAGER
Project Manager: Kit Fox, AICP, Senior Administrative Analyst,
RECOMMENDATION w')
Adopt Resolution No. 2015-_, thereby designating the Harden Estate gatehouse at 5500
Palos Verdes Drive South as a "Qualified Historic Building and Property," pursuant to City
Council Policy No. 51.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council recently adopted a City Council policy for the designation of qualified
historic buildings or properties, for the purposes of applying the State Historic Building
Code (SHBC). The owners of the Harden Estate gatehouse at 5500 Palos Verdes Drive
South, the location of the recently -approved "Palos Verdes Heritage Castle Museum,"
have requested designation of the property under this new policy. Staff believes that the
property qualifies for such designation and presents a resolution for the City Council's
adoption to memorialize this designation.
BACKGROUND
On December 9, 2014, the Planning Commission approved the land use entitlements
(Planning Case No. ZON2014-00332) for the Palos Verdes Heritage Castle Museum,
which will be located in a portion of the Harden Estate gatehouse at 5500 Palos Verdes
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MEMORANDUM: Historic Designation for Harden Estate Gatehouse
February 17, 2015
Page 2
Drive South. The Mitigated Negative Declaration certified for the project included the
following mitigation measure regarding the project's potential impact upon cultural
resources:
CUL -1: Prior to the issuance of a building permit for any modifications to
the building, the City and the applicant shall agree to designate the property
and structures as a historic site for the purposes of utilizing the State
Historic Building Code (SHBC). The means to accomplish said designation
shall be determined and approved by the City Council.
In order to fulfill this mitigation measure, the City Council adopted City Council Policy
No. 51 (Designation of Qualified Historic Buildings or Properties) on February 3, 2015.
The property owners, Dr. Allen and Mrs. Charlotte Ginsburg, have now asked the City
Council to so designate the property (see attached e-mail). Therefore, Staff presents the
attached draft resolution for the City Council's consideration and adoption.
DISCUSSION
City Council Policy No. 51 lays out the
criteria for the City Council to formally
designate qualified historic buildings or
properties to allow the application of the
SHBC. Only structures that are at least
seventy-five (75) years old are eligible for
designation.
In addition to a minimum age criteria, the
policy also spells out the criteria that a
building or property must meet in order to
be considered for designation. These
include at least two (2) of the following
criteria:
Figure 1: Harden Estate gatehouse in the 1930s
1. Buildings or properties associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural heritage.
2. Buildings or properties associated with the lives of persons important in the City's
past.
3. Buildings or properties that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period,
region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative
individual, or possesses high artistic values.
4. Buildings or properties that have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information
important in prehistory or history.
5. Buildings or properties eligible for or listed on the National Register of Historic
Places.
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MEMORANDUM: Historic Designation for Harden Estate Gatehouse
February 17, 2015
Page 3
6. State historic landmarks.
7. Points of historic interest.
8. Individual historic resources.
9. Historical resources contributing to the significance of an historic district.
In addition, any building or property currently designated as a historic site by the Rancho
de Los Palos Verdes Historical Society shall qualify for designation under this policy.
The 2.06 -acre property includes the Harden Estate gatehouse, constructed in 1926 for
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Harden. Mr. Harden was a friend and business associate of Frank
A. Vanderlip, Jr., who envisioned the original development plan for the Palos Verdes
Peninsula in the early 20th century, and Mrs. Harden was Mr. Vanderlip's sister. The
Hardens enlisted Gordon Kaufmann as architect and Frederick Olmsted as landscape
architect for their estate, which was originally intended to occupy the entirely of
Portuguese Point. Unfortunately, with the onset of the Great Depression, the Hardens
were only able to complete the gatehouse for their grand estate. However, it remains
very well preserved and maintained to this day.
Mr. Kaufmann was a well-known architect of the era, whose other major projects included
the Hoover Dam, the Los Angeles Times building, the Hollywood Palladium and the
Doheny mansion (Greystone) in Beverly Hills. The Harden Estate gatehouse is a good
example of his early work in the Mediterranean Revival style. Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.
and the firm founded by his father were responsible for the overall designed and layout
of Frank Vanderlip's vision for the Palos Verdes Peninsula, including what is now the City
of Palos Verdes Estates and the Miraleste area of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. is generally considered to be the father of American
landscape architecture. The firm's most well-known work is New York City's Central Park,
and it also had a hand in the design of many early master -planned communities across
the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The picturesque, natural and
rambling form of the drives, walkways and gardens of the Harden Estate gatehouse are
common characteristics of Olmsted designs.
Figure 2: Historical Society plaque on the
Harden Estate gatehouse
In recognition of the historic significance of the
building and property, the Rancho de los Palos
Verdes Historical Society formally designated the
Harden Estate gatehouse as a historic site in 1990.
It is identified as Site 14 on the 1993 map attached
to City Council Policy No. 51.
CONCLUSION
Staff believes that the Ginsburgs' request for
designation of the Harden Estate gatehouse as a
qualified historic building and property is warranted,
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MEMORANDUM: Historic Designation for Harden Estate Gatehouse
February 17, 2015
Page 4
based upon the required findings under City Council Policy No. 51. Specifically, the
Harden Estate gatehouse is associated with the lives of persons important in the City's
past (Criterion No. 2); and embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period,
region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an important creative
individual, or possesses high artistic values (Criterion No. 3). Furthermore, the Harden
Estate gatehouse has been designated as a historic site by the Rancho de los Palos
Verdes Historical Society. Therefore, Staff recommends that the City Council grant the
Ginsburgs' request and adopt the attached draft resolution.
ALTERNATIVES
In addition to Staff's recommendation, the alternatives available for the City Council's
consideration include:
1. Approve the requested designation for the Harden Estate gatehouse, with
additional or revised findings either read into the record of tonight's meeting or
brought back for adoption in a revised resolution at a subsequent City Council
meeting.
2. Deny the requested designation for the Harden Estate gatehouse, and direct Staff
to prepare a revised resolution for adoption at a subsequent City Council meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT
The City Council's designation of qualified historic buildings or properties is intended
solely for the purpose of applying the California State Historic Building Code (California
Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 8) to the review and permitting of modifications to
designated buildings or properties, when such modifications are voluntarily sought by a
property owner in order to modernize buildings or properties in a manner that will minimize
adverse impacts upon their historic character. Designation as a "Qualified Historic
Building or Property" does not confer upon the property or property owner any additional
rights or benefits beyond eligibility to apply the California State Historic Building Code.
More specifically, designation as a "Qualified Historic Building or Property" does not have
the effect of conferring upon the property or property owner any rights to property tax
relief pursuant to the Mills Act (Government Code Section 50280, et seq. and Revenue
and Taxation Code Section 439, et seq.). Therefore, aside from the minimal amount of
City time and resources necessary to prepare this Staff report, there will be no significant
fiscal impact as a result of the City Council's adoption of the draft resolution.
Attachments:
• Draft Resolution No. 2015-
• Property owners' request for historic designation (received 02/04/15)
• City Council Policy No. 51
MAPlanning Cases\ZON2014-00332 (Ginsburg, 5500 Palos Verdes Dr S)\20150217_StaffRpt _CC.docx
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RESOLUTION NO. 2015-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, DESIGNATING THE HARDEN
ESTATE GATEHOUSE AT 5500 PALOS VERDES DRIVE
SOUTH AS A QUALIFIED HISTORIC BUILDING AND
PROPERTY, PURSUANT TO CITY COUNCIL POLICY
N O. 51
WHEREAS, on December 9, 2014, the Rancho Palos Verdes Planning
Commission approved the land use entitlements (Planning Case No. ZON2014-00332)
for the "Palos Verdes Heritage Castle Museum," which will be located in a portion of the
Harden Estate gatehouse at 5500 Palos Verdes Drive South, and said approval was final
effective January 22, 2015; and,
WHEREAS, the Mitigated Negative Declaration certified for the project included a
mitigation measure stating that "[prior] to the issuance of a building permit for any
modifications to the building, the City and the applicant shall agree to designate the
property and structures as a historic site for the purposes of utilizing the State Historic
Building Code (SHBC). The means to accomplish said designation shall be determined
and approved by the City Council"; and,
WHEREAS, on February 3, 2015, the City Council adopted City Council Policy
No. 51 "Designation of Qualified Historic Buildings or Properties" for the purpose of
allowing property owners to utilize the State Historic Building Code when proposing to
modernize historic structures in the City that are at least seventy-five (75) years old; and,
WHEREAS, on February 4, 2015, the owners of the Harden Estate gatehouse,
Dr. Allen and Mrs. Charlotte Ginsburg, requested the designation of the building and
property by the City Council, in accordance with City Council Policy No. 51; and,
WHEREAS, at a regularly -scheduled meeting on February 17, 2015, the City
Council considered this request, and all interested parties were given the opportunity to
be heard and present evidence.
NOW BE IT, THEREFORE, RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES:
Section 1: The Harden Estate gatehouse and grounds are associated with the
lives of persons important in the City's past. The 2.06 -acre property includes the
gatehouse, constructed in 1926 for Mr. and Mrs. Edward Harden. Mr. Harden was a
friend and business associate of Frank A. Vanderlip, Jr., who envisioned the original
development plan for the Palos Verdes Peninsula in the early 20th century, and
Mrs. Harden was Mr. Vanderlip's sister. The Hardens enlisted Gordon Kaufmann as
architect and Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. as landscape architect for their estate, which
was originally intended to occupy the entirely of Portuguese Point. Unfortunately, with
G-5
the onset of the Great Depression, the Hardens were only able to complete the gatehouse
for their grand estate. However, the building and grounds remain very well preserved
and maintained to this day.
Section 2: The Harden Estate gatehouse and grounds embody the distinctive
characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represent the work
of an important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values. Gordon Kaufmann
was a well-known architect of the era, whose other major projects included the Hoover
Dam, the Los Angeles Times building, the Hollywood Palladium and the Doheny mansion
(Greystone) in Beverly Hills. The Harden Estate gatehouse is a good example of his early
work in the Mediterranean Revival style. Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. and the firm founded
by his father were responsible for the overall designed and layout of Frank Vanderlip's
vision for the Palos Verdes Peninsula, including what is now the City of Palos Verdes
Estates and the Miraleste area of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. Frederick Law
Olmsted, Sr. is generally considered to be the father of American landscape architecture.
The firm's most well-known work is New York City's Central Park, and it also had a hand
in the design of many early master -planned communities across the United States in the
late 19th and early 20th centuries. The picturesque, natural and rambling form of the
drives, walkways and gardens of the Harden Estate gatehouse are common
characteristics of the Olmsted firm's designs.
Section 3: The Harden Estate gatehouse and grounds were formally
designated as a historic site by the Rancho de los Palos Verdes Historical Society in
1990.
Section 4: The City Council's designation of qualified historic buildings or
properties is intended solely for the purpose of applying the California State Historic
Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 8) to the review and
permitting of modifications to designated buildings or properties, when such modifications
are voluntarily sought by a property owner in order to modernize buildings or properties
in a manner that will minimize adverse impacts upon their historic character. Designation
as a "Qualified Historic Building or Property" does not confer upon the property or property
owner any additional rights or benefits beyond eligibility to apply the California State
Historic Building Code. More specifically, designation as a "Qualified Historic Building or
Property" does not have the effect of conferring upon the property or property owner any
rights to property tax relief pursuant to the Mills Act (Government Code Section 50280, et
seq. and Revenue and Taxation Code Section 439, et seq.).
Resolution No. 2015 -
Page 2 of 3
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PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED THIS t" DAY OF FEBRUARY 2015.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
State of California )
County of Los Angeles )ss
City of Rancho Palos Verdes )
I, CARLA MORREALE, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, hereby certify that
the above Resolution No. 2015-_ was duly and regularly passed and adopted by the
said City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on February 17, 2015.
City Clerk
MAPlanning Cases\ZON2014-00332 (Ginsburg, 5500 Palos Verdes Dr S)\20150217_Reso_CC.docx
Resolution No. 2015 -
Page 3 of 3
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Kit Fax
Nom: Lacl5ffoiaano. iIadyto:iaano@gmaiI.com>
Sen11: VI ednesday, Rebruary d 4, 20:19 1:28 Ph
To: Kit Fo)i
Aebraw y 4, 2011
Cil y Council a it Rana ha Palos Varidesi
I would likle lo requa9l that the gatehoum a l 9900 Aalos Vei des 1]niwe South, Rat aho PWosi N orda9 CA be
demignat ed a hi sit oiiic building un der a it council polio y no. V
Thank you,
Chw1oIN and Pllen Ginsibwig
we"•
CITY COUNCIL POLICY
NUMBER: 51
DATE ADOPTED/AMENDED: 2/3/15
SUBJECT: Designation of Qualified Historic Buildings or Properties
POLICY:
To protect the integrity of significant historic resources in the City when
modifications are voluntarily sought to modernize such resources by a property
owner, the City Council may, at its discretion, designate a building or property as
a "Qualified Historic Building or Property," solely for the purpose of applying the
California State Historic Building Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24,
Part 8) to the review and permitting of such modifications. Designation as a
"Qualified Historic Building or Property" shall not confer upon the property or
property owner any additional rights or benefits beyond eligibility to apply the
California State Historic Building Code. More specifically, designation as a
"Qualified Historic Building or Property" shall not have the effect of conferring upon
the property or property owner any rights to property tax relief pursuant to the Mills
Act (Government Code Section 50280, et seq. and Revenue and Taxation Code
Section 439, et seq.).
The City Council shall designate a "Qualified Historic Building or Property" by
resolution. In so doing, the City Council shall find that the building or property
qualifies for such designation based upon evidence presented for the City
Council's consideration. In order to qualify for designation, said evidence must
demonstrate that the building or property qualifies pursuant to at least two (2) of
the following criteria, which are derived from California Public Resources Code
Section 5024.1:
1. Buildings or properties associated with events that have made a significant
contribution to the broad patterns of California's history and cultural
heritage.
2. Buildings or properties associated with the lives of persons important in the
City's past.
3. Buildings or properties that embody the distinctive characteristics of a type,
period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of an
important creative individual, or possesses high artistic values.
4. Buildings or properties that have yielded, or may be likely to yield,
information important in prehistory or history.
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5. Buildings or properties eligible for or listed on the National Register of
Historic Places.
6. State historic landmarks.
7. Points of historic interest.
8. Individual historic resources.
9. Historical resources contributing to the significance of an historic district.
In addition to the above-mentioned criteria, any building or property currently
designated as a historic site by the Rancho de Los Palos Verdes Historical Society
shall qualify for designation at as "Qualified Historic Building or Property" by the
City Council.
In order for a building to be designated pursuant to this policy, it shall not have
been constructed less than seventy-five (75) years prior to the City Council's
action.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes still contains a few examples of the early
residential development of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. These include homes and
other structures built during the early 20th Century under the development plans
originally envisioned by Frank A. Vanderlip, Jr. Many of these structures pre -date
the adoption of the State's first building code in 1929. When current owners decide
to upgrade these structures to modern standards, they may be faced with a difficult
choice between maintaining the historical integrity of the structure and complying
with modern building codes. In order to address this dilemma, California has
adopted the State Historic Building Code (SHBC), which may be applied to
"Qualified Historic Buildings or Properties." The SHBC requires a "Qualified
Historic Building or Property" to be "deemed of importance to the history,
architecture, or culture of an area by an appropriate local or state governmental
jurisdiction." [emphasis added] Therefore, this policy has been enacted in order
to provide the City Council with a policy through which to make such designations
on a case-by-case basis.
This policy only confers the right to utilize the State Historic Building Code Building
for the review and permitting of modifications to existing "Qualified Historic
Buildings or Properties." It does not exempt new construction from the
requirements of the most -recently adopted version of the State Building Code. It
also does not entitle qualifying properties to property tax relief or other financial
incentives.
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