Manhattan preservation law to allow owners to opt out
A refurbished Victorian-style home built in 1918 on Ardmore Avenue. Photo by Bruce Hazelton On Tuesday night, the council had been poised to officially adopt the historical preservation ordinance that would allow the city to prevent demolition of landmarked structures. The council had unanimously approved the law, in the making for over a year and a half, at the first reading on Jan. 5. But responding to a large group of residents concerned about their property rights, the council revised the law to allow owners to be able to opt out of any potential landmarking. “This ordinance represents a real taking of property without my consent, which is prohibited under the Fifth Amendment and the laws of the state of California,” said one Strand resident. “I worked hard all my life. I should be able to enjoy my property.” Another resident, Jack Cummings, called it “the most incredible overreach of government in the 23 years I’ve lived in Manhattan Beach.” Marcello Vavala of the Los Angeles Conservancy, a historic preservation organization, who consulted on the drafting of the law, said he wasn’t aware of any other cities with similar ordinances having an “opt out” clause. He worried that…
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