Appendix 2. Evaluation of Modifications to Specific Plan

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1 Appendix 2

2 To: Eyestone Environmental 1 From: Christine Lazzaretto Date: February 26, 2016 INTRODUCTION This memo addresses modifications to the proposed Paramount Pictures Specific Plan, 1 and updates the analysis in the Paramount Pictures Historic Assessment Technical Report (Historic Assessment Report) 2 regarding buildings proposed for demolition on the Main Lot. The Historic Assessment Report identified two potential historic districts on the Main Lot, the Paramount Pictures Historic District and the RKO Studios Historic District. As discussed in the Historic Assessment Report, the identification of potential historic resources on the considered the defining characteristics of historic motion picture studio lots, and specifically studios that comprised the Big Eight during the Major Studio Era, which included Paramount Pictures and RKO Studios. The Big Eight are the eight companies that controlled the American film industry by the 1920s, and are differentiated from other studios by their fully integrated business model in which production, distribution, and exhibition were all part of a single corporate entity. The studios maintained all the necessary facilities for the production of films, support services such as food commissaries and medical clinics, and infrastructure such as water, power, and transportation systems. This resulted in the development of studio lots that functioned as self-contained film factories. The collection of disparate property types, range of building uses, street grid, and landscape features all organized behind the studio wall are important features of a historic motion picture studio lot. The significant historic property types associated with the motion picture industry as identified in the Historic Assessment 1 Paramount Pictures Specific Plan, August Attached as Appendix B to the Paramount Pictures Master Plan Project Draft Environmental Impact Report, City of Los Angeles, September Historic Resources Group, Paramount Pictures Historic Assessment Technical Report, August Attached as Appendix F to the Paramount Pictures Master Plan Project Draft Environmental Impact Report, City of Los Angeles, September 2015.

3 Report are: actor services; entry gates/entry points; landscape/open space; post-production facilities; pre-production and studio services; stages; and utility and storage buildings. 3 2 The proposed Specific Plan identifies buildings within both potential historic districts for possible demolition as part of implementation of the Project. As discussed in the Historic Assessment Report, with demolition of the contributing buildings as proposed in the Specific Plan, both potential historic districts would retain sufficient historic integrity following implementation of the proposed Project to remain eligible for historic designation. Nevertheless, in response to comments received on the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed Project, 4 the proposed Specific Plan is being modified to retain the Hans Dreier building (a contributor to the potential Paramount Pictures Historic District); and the William S. Hart and Josef Von Sternberg buildings (contributors to the potential RKO Studios Historic District). However, in order to still accommodate the proposed new construction and circulation improvements, the proposed Project would demolish B-Annex buildings 1 and 2, which are both contributors to the potential RKO Studios Historic District. This memo analyzes potential impacts associated with these modifications to the proposed Specific Plan. PARAMOUNT PICTURES POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT The Specific Plan as originally proposed identifies the Hans Dreier building for potential demolition. As discussed in the Historic Assessment Report, the Hans Dreier building was constructed circa It is two stories in height, and 8,211 square feet. It originally served as dressing rooms and office space for art directors, and therefore represents the actor services property type associated with historic motion picture studio lots. It was identified as a Category 1 resource as part of the 1990 MOU, which categorized buildings and structures on the Main Lot based on their relative significance. 5 It is a contributor to the potential Paramount Pictures Historic District. 3 Note that the historic property type refers to the original use of the building, which may differ from the current use. 4 Paramount Pictures Master Plan Project Draft Environmental Impact Report, City of Los Angeles, September Memorandum of Understanding: Hollywood Studios Preservation Coalition, December 12, 1990.

4 3 Hans Dreier building, The proposed Specific Plan would be revised to retain the Hans Dreier building; no building is recommended for demolition in its place. Revising the proposed Specific Plan to retain the Dreier building would benefit the potential Paramount Pictures Historic District by: Retaining an additional contributing building constructed in the 1920s, seen as the Golden Age of the Major Studio Era; Retaining all of the Category 1 historic resources within the potential Paramount Pictures Historic District as identified in the 1990 MOU; Retaining an additional example of the actor services property type associated with historic motion picture studio lots; and Retaining additional historic square footage. The Specific Plan as originally proposed would retain twenty-nine (29) of forty-seven (47) contributors within the potential Paramount Pictures Historic District, or approximately sixty-two percent (62%). The retention of the Dreier building would result in the retention of thirty (30) of forty-seven (47) contributors, or approximately sixty-four percent (64%). In the potential Paramount Pictures Historic District, the forty-seven (47) contributors comprise 727,283 square feet. Under the Specific Plan as originally proposed, there would remain twenty-nine (29) contributors comprising 513,108 square feet. This corresponds to

5 retention of approximately seventy-one percent (71%) of the historic square footage within the potential historic district. The retention of the Hans Dreier building would result in the retention of 521,319 square feet, or approximately seventy-two (72%) of the historic square footage within the potential historic district. 4 RKO STUDIOS POTENTIAL HISTORIC DISTRICT The Specific Plan as originally proposed identifies the William S. Hart and Josef Von Sternberg buildings for potential demolition, and retains B-Annex 1 and B-Annex 2. As discussed in the Historic Assessment Report, the William S. Hart building was constructed in 1936 as an office building. It is four stories in height and 9,171 square feet. It was identified as a Category 1 resource as part of the 1990 MOU. The Josef Von Sternberg building was constructed in 1929 as an office building. It is two stories in height and 4,412 square feet. Both Hart and Von Sternberg are contributors to the potential RKO Studios Historic District. L: William S. Hart building, R: Josef Von Sternberg building (shown in the left portion of the photograph), 2014.

6 The B-Annex buildings were both constructed in They are identically designed, utilitarian, one-story office buildings (1,170 and 1,062 square feet respectively). The B- Annex buildings are contributors to the potential RKO Studios Historic District. 5 L: B-Annex 1, R: B-Annex 2, The proposed Specific Plan would be revised to retain the William S. Hart and Josef Von Sternberg buildings, and to demolish B-Annex 1 and B-Annex 2. These modifications to the proposed Specific Plan would have a net result of the same number of contributors and non-contributors to the potential RKO Studios Historic District, and the same number of the administrative/office property type. The modifications to the proposed Specific Plan would benefit the potential RKO Studios Historic District by: Retaining two additional contributing buildings constructed in the 1920s and 1930s, seen as the Golden Age of the Major Studio Era; Retaining all of the Category 1 historic resources within the potential RKO Studios Historic District as identified in the 1990 MOU; Demolishing two utilitarian buildings and retaining in their place two more distinctive and prominent buildings; and Retaining additional historic square footage. The modifications to the proposed Specific Plan within the boundaries of the potential historic district would have a net result of the same number of contributors and noncontributors to the potential RKO Studios Historic District. However, it would result in the retention of additional historic square footage. In the potential RKO Studios Historic

7 District, the forty-three (43) contributors comprise 487,784 square feet. Under the Specific Plan as originally proposed, there would remain thirty (30) contributors comprising 388,208 square feet. This corresponds to retention of approximately eighty percent (80%) of the historic square footage within the potential historic district. The retention of the Hart and Von Sternberg buildings and the demolition of the B-Annex buildings would result in the retention of 399,559 square feet, or approximately eighty-two (82%) of the historic square footage within the potential historic district. 6 CONCLUSION The modifications to the proposed Specific Plan would include the retention of the Hans Dreier building within the potential Paramount Pictures Historic District; the retention of the William S. Hart and Josef Von Sternberg buildings within the potential RKO Studios Historic District; and the demolition of the B-Annex buildings within the potential RKO Studios Historic District. These modifications do not affect the conclusions in the Draft EIR, and would result in less than significant impacts with regard to historic resources.