As Hermosa Beach considers what it wants the future to look like, it may increasingly be forced to consider how it wants to remember its past.
Development and planning issues are already playing a big role in the upcoming city council race, with downtown revitalization and the approval of a new general plan looming. Closely related to such land use questions, though, will be how the city chooses to deal with some of the older, smaller commercial properties that contribute to the city’s heritage.
The Existing Conditions Report, prepared for the city’s general plan, identifies over 200 properties with potential historical significance. Most of the properties are residential, but the list includes about 10 commercial properties, such as 901 Hermosa Ave., currently home of retailer Meg. Co, and 1501 Hermosa Ave., now the location of Chef Melba.
The connection between preservation and development emerged in last week’s candidate debate sponsored by the Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Association. In answering a question about potential incentives to replace some of the older single-story commercial buildings in the downtown area, candidate Justin Massey noted that the The Los Angeles Conservancy gave Hermosa Beach a D+ in the “report card” it issues on the preservation efforts of Southern California municipalities.
The issue has come up as he has canvassed the town.
“I’m hearing about it from lots of voters,” Massey said in an interview.
Although many residents pointed to the loss of homes, such as the historic Matteson house near 19th street and Manhattan Avenue that was torn down last year, commercial properties will be a part of any strategy, he said.
Candidate Jeff Duclos also came prepared to discuss the historic value of older commercial properties in the development process, bringing along a black-and-white painting of the old Either/Or Bookstore. (The Pier Avenue location that once housed Either/Or was also listed among the properties of potential historic value in the Existing Conditions Report.)
The conservancy’s report card gives neighbor Redondo Beach an A-, saying that “historic structures from the city’s early days as a seaside resort community continue to shape its character.”
Officials say the report card can be a guide on how cities can improve or, in the case of a poor grade like Hermosa’s, a tool to spur change.
“Since the most effective protections often lie in the hands of local government, the goal of the report card is to improve historic preservation at the local level by suggesting areas of improvement and recognizing communities with solid programs in place,” said Linda Dishman, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Conservancy, in an e-mail.
Manhattan Beach earned a grade of F from the conservancy, but subsequently adopted a Mills Act Program. Such programs enable California cities to form contracts, under which property owners agree to restore and maintain historic properties in return for discounts in their property tax bills.
Hermosa Beach does not have a Mills Act program in place, but it is one of the things the city is considering as it formulates its new general plan over the coming year, said Community Development Director Ken Robertson.
One of the attractions of the program is that it is voluntary.
“The Mills Act is certainly not too cumbersome on the property owner,” Robertson said. “The bigger challenge would be in designating properties.”
Political challenges associated with such a process have tripped up previous preservation efforts.
Rick Koenig, director emeritus of the Hermosa Beach Historical Society, said that he and others attempted to create a robust preservation ordinance about 10 years ago, but were unable to pass a program “with teeth.”
“Unfortunately it didn’t work,” Koenig said. “We under-lobbied, I guess.” ER
