Citrus Square to be added to National Register of Historic Places
In January of this year, I wrote an article entitled “Citrus Square’s Time Has Come,” arguing that Greater Wilshire’s largest-remaining Survey LA-identified historic district needed to be officially designated. That article was an effort to not only celebrate the historic significance of the district but also to aid in the public outreach of an intrepid cadre of neighbors who had begun the process of putting together a National Register nomination for Citrus Square.
Well, the time has truly come, and their hard work was rewarded on Aug. 2 when The California State Historical Resources Commission voted 6-0 to recommend the designation, which will go to the National Park Service for approval.
352 NORTH Sycamore Avenue is a two-story apartment house in the Chateauesque style, built in Citrus Square in 1936, according to the district’s federal registration form.
State Commissioner Janet Hansen, who once worked locally for the Office of Historic Resources and Survey LA, commented during the meeting, describing Citrus Square as “outstanding.” “It’s very architecturally cohesive,” she said. “The automobile suburbs … are quite ubiquitous in Los Angeles. The ones that remain intact are a real treasure in the city. The Hancock Park area is one of the most intact in Los Angeles. I do believe that the property meets the criteria for those reasons, and I support the nomination.”
Citrus Square’s eligibility for designation is based not only on its unquestionable architectural significance, showcasing a variety of styles from French Renaissance Revival to Spanish Colonial, but also for its variety of residential types including apartment buildings, duplexes, courtyard housing and single-family homes. The district is also one of the best illustrations of historic urban planning. The developer placed apartment buildings, duplexes and single family homes in waning gradations of density in proximity to the commercial corridor of La Brea Avenue. What makes Citrus Square truly remarkable is how preserved and intact it is given its size and the passage of time.
Greater Wilshire’s own preservationist extraordinaire, James Dastoli, led the effort supported by Greater Wilshire Neighborhood Council Citrus Square representative Jeffry Carpenter and Melrose Neighborhood representative Jesseca Harvey (the effort was not GWNC sponsored).
Dastoli has said that he had wanted to write a nomination for Citrus Square ever since he read the SurveyLA documents about the neighborhood, but it was the beauty of the area that really inspired him. “For me, the most striking aspect of the district is its incredible integrity. These buildings have been so well maintained, it really feels like a postcard.”
The most significant challenge in the nomination process was the size of the proposed district and the sheer number of properties to be documented. While 512 properties were ultimately identified as contributors, the owners of all 785 properties in the district boundaries were contacted about the potential designation. Only 64 letters of opposition were received, far below a level of 51 percent in opposition — which would have triggered a halt to the process. Often owners oppose because there is confusion about the differences between Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (which provide strong demolition protections and often rigorous design standards) and National Register Districts (which are largely honorary with some review and oversight by the City of Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources).
Citrus Square now becomes the fourth neighborhood in Greater Wilshire — after Wilton Place, St. Andrew’s Square and Ridgewood Place — to be included on the National Register of Historic Places. Citrus Square also takes its rightful place as a recognized and historic part of George Allan Hancock’s original vision of Hancock Park. Thank you to all who helped make this possible, and congratulations to the soon-to-be Citrus Square National Register District!
Category: Real Estate