Historical Assessment of Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium

Transcription

1 Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium Prepared for: Los Angeles Unified School District Office of Environmental Health & Safety 1055 West Seventh Street, 9 th Floor Los Angeles, CA Prepared by: Jones & Stokes 811 West 7th Street, Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90017

2 Jones & Stokes Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium. July. (J&S ) Los Angeles, CA.

3 Contents Introduction... 1 Methodology... 1 Previous Surveys and Reports... 2 Neighborhood Context... 3 Tract History... 3 Construction History... 3 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Identification of Historical Resources... 4 Application of Historical Resource Criteria... 8 Findings... 9 Bibliography Attachment A. Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) Form 523 Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium i

4 Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium Introduction The purpose of this report is to prepare a the school auditorium building located at 500 South Humphreys Avenue, Los Angeles, California. The assessment is intended to determine whether the property is a historical resource for the purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), according to the criteria set forth in Section of the CEQA Guidelines. This evaluation includes application of the criteria for eligibility for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources (California Register) and the Historic-Cultural Monument list of the city of Los Angeles. Methodology In order to support a determination of the building s eligibility for the California Register, Historic-Cultural Ordinance of the City of Los Angeles, or qualification as a historical resource under Section (a) of the CEQA Guidelines, information was assembled from various sources, including: 1. previous historic surveys completed in the City of Los Angeles; 2. building permit records and/or Assessor s improvement records; 3. historic city directories; 4. the California Historical Resources File System maintained by the State Office of Historic Preservation; 5. TRW/Experian property data records; 6. Riordan Los Angeles Public Library Catalog; 7. Riordan Los Angeles Public Library California Index; 8. ProQuest: Historic Los Angeles Times; 9. Los Angeles Public Library photo database; and 10. Internet. Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 1

5 Los Angeles Unified School District Historical Assessment This information is presented on the State of California s forms for recording historical resources, along with a detailed description of the building and a statement of its significance. The forms are required by the Regulations for California Register of Historical Resources that were formally adopted by the State Historical Resources Commission on January 1, At a minimum, these regulations require that a qualified architectural historian complete a Primary Record (DPR 523A) and a Building, Structure, and Object Record (DPR 523B). David Greenwood, Architectural Historian III, who meets the Secretary of the Interior s professional qualification standards in the disciplines of architecture and architectural history, evaluated the interior and exterior of the building on January 18, Dr. Portia Lee, Senior Architectural Historian, and David Greenwood prepared the written report. In addition, architectural/historic resources were examined in order to identify significant local historical events and personages, development patterns, and unique interpretations of architectural styles as applicable to the historic, cultural, and architectural evaluation of the subject Auditorium Building at Humphreys Elementary School. The following inventories and sources were consulted: The National Register of Historic Places, National Register Information System; 1 California Historical Landmarks and California Points of Historical Interest; 2 City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument list. 3 The building, located at Fifth Street and South Humphreys Avenue, has not been included in any of the above federal, state or local registers of historical resources as defined in Sections (a)(1) and (2) of the CEQA Guidelines. Previous Surveys and Reports Three buildings at Humphreys Elementary School were previously evaluated as significant through a survey conducted by Leslie Heumann Associates between 2000 and In that survey, the 1925 Main Administration (West Building), the 1923 Central Building, and the 1923 Auditorium Building, were given a California Register 3CS rating, denoting property eligible for the California Register as an individual property through survey evaluation. LAUSD considers these buildings historical resources for the purposes of CEQA. 1 Properties listed in the National Register of Historic Places are automatically listed in the California Register of Historical Resources and, therefore, are historical resources for the purposes of CEQA. 2 California State Historical Landmarks, from No. 770 onward, are automatically listed in the California Register, and are historical resources for the purposes of CEQA. 3 Resources included in a local register of historical resources are historical resources for the purposes of CEQA pursuant to Section (a)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines. Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 2

6 Los Angeles Unified School District Historical Assessment The Central Building and Auditorium Building were built in 1923 and the Main Administration (West) Building was constructed in Following the Long Beach Earthquake of 1933, all three buildings were reinforced and redesigned in the Art Deco/PWA Moderne Style. On October 17, 2005, David Greenwood of Jones & Stokes prepared an analysis to determine impacts on historic architectural resources for the Humphreys Elementary School Modernization Project. The report also contained a California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination of eligibility for a categorical exemption. The report found that the changes analyzed in the report, Fire Alarm Upgrades and Security Yard Lighting, would not materially alter in an adverse manner the historic character-defining features of the West Building, Central Building or Auditorium Building. 4 Neighborhood Context Humphreys Elementary School is sited on an irregularly shaped lot with frontage on Humphreys Avenue, Ford Boulevard and Betty Avenue. It is adjacent to the Long Beach Freeway. The immediate neighborhood context is generally mixeduse residential with commercial usage to the east approaching Arizona Avenue. Tract History 500 South Humphreys Avenue comprises Assessor s Parcels and in Tract 4190, recorded on December 28, 1921 and June 10, 1968 respectively. Construction History The October 22, 1922 edition of the Southwest Builder and Contractor reported that Walker and Eisen had been chosen as architects for Humphreys Elementary School, and on February 5, 1923 a notice in Southwest Builder and Contractor, which detailed the contractor and bid for the structure, reported that Walker and Eisen had been appointed as architects of record. 5 On October 7, 1923, the Los Angeles Times reported the opening of Humphreys Grammar School at Fifth and Humphreys Street. Lawrence B. Burch Company had been the general contractor for the two-story structure, which cost $84,000. and was described as brick with Pioneer red jumbo heavy duty staso slatesurfaced shingles covering the roof, as a fire resistant for protection of the 4 See Humphreys Elementary School Modernization Projects CEQA Analysis, addressed to P. Dean, LAUSD, October 17, Los Angeles Unified School District Archives. Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 3

7 Los Angeles Unified School District Historical Assessment pupils. 6 The architecture department of the Board of Education was credited with the design. No architect was named in the article. The Humphreys School Auditorium also appears on Board of Education records as having been built in 1923 also, although again no architecture firm was named. A larger classroom and administration building was constructed in In an article that appeared on February 22, 1925, the Times reported that the Board of Education had awarded general contracts for the erection of the Humphreys Avenue school building to Chester R. Hovey, a South Pasadena contractor. The new building of brick construction would contain eleven classrooms and a kindergarten room. 7 Buildings on the Humphreys Elementary school site were severely damaged in the 1933 Long Beach earthquake and subsequently declared unsafe. The Los Angeles Times reported a total of 435 of such school projects would be under way by June 1, The 1925 portion of the Humphreys main building and the school auditorium section were among those scheduled for reconstruction rehabilitation and strengthening. Original pictures in the collection of the school district show the a925 building as an Arts and Crafts Walker and Eisen, the original designers of the school were once assigned to the site as architects. The listed costs of the repair work amounted to 60, Seven months later the Times reported that the Los Angeles School District had awarded another group of contracts and bid calls. Humphreys Elementary School had been awarded $125,634 for the construction of a new two-story classroom building with ground dimensions of 90x60 feet. Part of the sum was designated for the reconstruction of a portion of the main building, presumably a section not covered by the earlier bid. The architects of the project were listed as Walker and Eisen, and Peter B. Shelby was the designated general contractor. 9 California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Identification of Historical Resources The CEQA statute and Guidelines provide five basic definitions as to what may qualify as an historical resource. Specifically, Section of the CEQA statute (Division 13 of the California Public Resources Code), in relevant part, provides a description for the first three of these definitions, as follows: an historical resource is a resource listed in, or determined to be eligible for listing in, the California Register of Historical Resources. Historical resources 6 Humphreys Grammar School Opened. Los Angeles Times, October 7, 1923, Pt. V, p.9. 7 Builders Busily Engaged. Los Angeles Times, February 22, 1925, Pt. F, p School Rehabilitation Program Given Impetus. Los Angeles Times, January 19, 1936, Pt. E, p School Building Group Will Cost Over Million. Los Angeles Times, August 23, 1936, PTE, p. 2. Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 4

8 Los Angeles Unified School District Historical Assessment included in a local register of historical resources, as defined in subsection (k) of Section , 10 are presumed to be historically or culturally significant for purposes of this section, unless the preponderance of the evidence demonstrates that the resource is not historically or culturally significant. The fact that a resource is not listed in, or determined to be eligible for listing in, the California Register of Historical Resources, not included in a local register of historical resources, or not deemed significant pursuant to criteria set forth in subdivision (g) of Section shall not preclude a lead agency from determining whether the resource may be an historical resource for purposes of this section. To simplify the first three definitions provided in the CEQA statute, an historical resource is a resource that is: 1. Listed in the California Register of Historical Resources (California Register); 2. Determined eligible for the California Register by the State Historical Resources Commission; or 3. Included in a local register of historical resources. Section of the CEQA Guidelines (California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3) supplements the statute by providing two additional definitions of historical resources, which may be simplified in the following manner. An historical resource is a resource that is: 4. Identified as significant in an historical resource survey meeting the requirements of Public Resources Code (g); 5. Determined by a Lead Agency to be historically significant or significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of California. Generally, this category includes resources that meet the criteria for listing on the California Register (Pub. Res. Code SS5024.1, Title 14 CCR, Section 4852). The building located at 500 South Humphreys Avenue has been evaluated below in light of each of the above definitions. Definition 1 Listed in the California Register 10 PRC (k): "Local register of historical resources" means a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution. 11 PRC (g): A resource identified as significant in an historical resource survey may be listed in the California Register if the survey meets all of the following criteria: (1) The survey has been or will be included in the State Historic Resources Inventory. (2) The survey and the survey documentation were prepared in accordance with office procedures and requirements. (3) The resource is evaluated and determined by the office [of Historic Preservation] to have a significance rating of Category 1 to 5 on DPR Form 523. (4) If the survey is five or more years old at the time of its nomination for inclusion in the California Register, the survey is updated to identify historical resources which have become eligible or ineligible due to changed circumstances or further documentation and those which have been demolished or altered in a manner that substantially diminishes the significance of the resource. Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 5

9 Los Angeles Unified School District Historical Assessment There are several ways in which a resource can be listed in the California Register, which are codified under Title 14 CCR, Section A resource can be listed in the California Register by the State Historical Resources Commission. If a resource is listed in or determined eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (National Register), it is automatically listed in the California Register. If a resource is a California State Historical Landmark, from No. 770 onward, it is automatically listed in the California Register. The building located at 500 South Humphreys Avenue has not been listed in the California Register of Historical Resources. Definition 2 Determined Eligible for the California Register The building located at 500 South Humphreys Avenue has not been determined eligible for the California Register by the State Historical Resources Commission. Definition 3 Listed in a Local Register of Historical Resources A property listed in a local register of historical resources is considered an historical resource for the purposes of CEQA. By definition, local register of historical resources is a list of properties officially designated or recognized as historically significant by a local government pursuant to a local ordinance or resolution. In order for a building to be included in a local register in the City of Los Angeles, the building must be designated as a Historic-Cultural Monument (HCM) or identified as a contributor to a Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ). The building located at 500 South Humphreys Avenue has not been designated a Historic-Cultural Monument of the City of Los Angeles, nor was it identified as a contributing feature of an adopted Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ). Therefore, the building located at 500 South Humphreys Avenue has not been listed in a local register of historical resources. Definition 4 Identified as Significant in an Historical Resources Survey According to Section (a)(2) of the CEQA Guidelines, a resource identified as significant in an historical resource survey meeting the requirements [set forth in] section (g) of the Public Resources Code, shall be presumed to be historically or culturally significant. Public agencies must treat any such resource as significant unless the preponderance of evidence demonstrates that it is not historically or culturally significant. The requirements set forth in PRC (g) for historical resources surveys are: Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 6

10 Los Angeles Unified School District Historical Assessment A resource identified as significant in an historical resource survey may be listed in the California Register if the survey meets all of the following criteria: (1) The survey has been or will be included in the State Historic Resources Inventory. (2) The survey and the survey documentation were prepared in accordance with office [of Historic Preservation] procedures and requirements. (3) The resource is evaluated and determined by the office [of Historic Preservation] to have a significance rating of Category 1 to 5 on DPR Form 523. (4) If the survey is five or more years old at the time of its nomination for inclusion in the California Register, the survey is updated to identify historical resources which have become eligible or ineligible due to changed circumstances or further documentation and those which have been demolished or altered in a manner that substantially diminishes the significance of the resource. The building located at 500 South Humphreys Avenue has been identified as significant in an historical resource survey done by historian Leslie Heumann for the Los Angeles Unified School district from Definition 5 Determined Significant by the Lead Agency The fifth and final category of historical resources are those that are determined significant by a lead agency. This usually occurs during the CEQA compliance process. According to Section (a)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines, Any object, building, structure, site, area, place, record, or manuscript which a lead agency determines to be historically significant or significant in the architectural, engineering, scientific, economic, agricultural, educational, social, political, military, or cultural annals of California may be considered to be an historical resource, provided the lead agency's determination is supported by substantial evidence in light of the whole record. Generally, a resource shall be considered by the lead agency to be historically significant if the resource meets the criteria for listing on the California Register of Historical Resources (Pub. Res. Code SS5024.1, Title 14 CCR, Section 4852) The CEQA Guidelines only quote a small portion of the California Register criteria; therefore, Title 14 CCR, Section 4852 (b)-(c) are quoted below to include all of the California Register criteria relevant to this property: (b) Criteria for evaluating the significance of historical resources. An historical resource must be significant at the local state, or national level under one or more of the following four criteria: (1) It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history, or the cultural heritage of California or the United States; Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 7

11 Los Angeles Unified School District Historical Assessment (2) It is associated with the lives of persons important to local, California, or national history; (3) It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or method of construction, or represents the work of a master or possesses high artistic values; or (4) It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or history of the local area, California, or the nation. (c) Integrity. Integrity is the authenticity of an historical resource's physical identity evidenced by the survival of characteristics that existed during the resource's period of significance. Historical resources eligible for listing in the California Register must meet one of the criteria of significance described in section 4852 (b) of this chapter and retain enough of their historic character or appearance to be recognizable as historical resources and to convey the reasons for their significance. Historical resources that have been rehabilitated or restored may be evaluated for listing. Integrity is evaluated with regard to the retention of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association. It must also be judged with reference to the particular criteria under which a resource is proposed for eligibility. Alterations over time to a resource or historic changes in its use may themselves have historical, cultural, or architectural significance. It is possible that historical resources may not retain sufficient integrity to meet the criteria for listing in the National Register, but they may still be eligible for listing in the California Register. A resource that has lost its historic character or appearance may still have sufficient integrity for the California Register if it maintains the potential to yield significant scientific or historical information or specific data. Application of Historical Resource Criteria An architectural description, together with an application of California Register and Los Angeles City Historical Cultural Monument Criteria to the Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium building located at Fifth and Humphreys Avenue, can be found on the attached DPR forms. In sum, the building was found to be eligible for the California Register of Historical Resources under Criterion 3 because it has retained substantial integrity, embodies the distinctive characteristics of the PWA Moderne/Art Deco style, represents the work of a master architects Walker and Eisen, and possesses high artistic values. To qualify as a Historic-Cultural Monument of the City of Los Angeles, the building would have to show a particular significance or association with persons or events important in the history of Los Angeles. While the Humphreys School buildings are the work of master architects Walker and Eisen, and are excellent examples of their work in the PWA Moderne style, they are school buildings that do not have particular importance in the broad history of Los Angeles schools, Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 8

12 Los Angeles Unified School District Historical Assessment school buildings, or the Los Angeles School District necessary to qualify for monument status in the field of architecture. Findings In conclusion, the Humphreys School Auditorium Building, located at Fifth and Humphreys Avenue in East Los Angeles, qualifies as an historical resource because it meets at least one of the definitions of historical resources in Section (a) of the CEQA Guidelines, as outlined above. Within the period of significance for seismic school building upgrades in Los Angeles, , the building exemplifies the work of well-known Los Angeles architects Walker & Eisen in seismic reconstruction. As a result the architectural composition displayed the distinctive PWA/Moderne Art Deco influenced architectural style of the period of significance. The 3CS criterion established for the building in previous surveys is still applicable as no changes were found in a recent survey that have impaired its stylistic integrity or ability to convey its historical architectural significance. The Humphreys auditorium building retains its integrity and significance from its construction by architects Walker & Eisen Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 9

13 Bibliography Greenwood, David Humphreys Elementary School Historical Resources CEQA Analysis. Jones & Stokes. Los Angeles, CA. Prepared for Los Angeles Unified School District. Los Angeles Times Builders Busily Engaged. Los Angeles, CA. February 22, School Rehabilitation Program Given Impetus. Los Angeles, CA. January, 19, School Building Group Will Cost over Million. Los Angeles, CA. August 23, Los Angeles Unified School District School Construction Records. On file: Los Angeles Unified School District. Southwest Builder and Contractor Los Angeles, CA. October 27, 1922, p Los Angeles, CA. February 5, 1923, p Los Angeles, CA. July 4, 1924, p Los Angeles, CA. October 14, 1924, p. 34. Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium 10

14 Attachment A

15 State of California -- The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION PRIMARY RECORD Page of * Resource Name or #: P1. * P Other Identifier: Other Listings Review Code Reviewer Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium Primary # HR # Trinomial CHRC Status Code Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted a. County b. USGS 7.5' Quad Date T ; R ; 1/4 of 1/4 of Sec ; B.M. c. Address 500 S. Humphreys Avenue City Los Angeles Zip d. UTM: (Give more than one for large and/or linear feature) Zone, me/ mn e. Other Locational Data: (e.g. parcel #, legal description, directions to resource, elevation, additional UTMs, etc. as app Parcels: and CS Los Angeles Date * P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries.) Humphreys Avenue Elementary School Auditorium is a one-story wood frame and stucco building set on a concrete foundation with a step down composition shingle gable roof which shelters flanking narrow wings. The gable end wall features paired small vents and a tall 2-over3 multipaned window. The structure is joined to the main classroom building by an open-roofed arcade accessed by an exterior stairway. Large square pillars with alternating metal guard pickets support the composition shingle arcade roof. At the north end of the arcade, double doors afford access to the auditorium. Stucco walls, a narrow plank hardwood floor and raised stage characterize the auditorium interior; wood benches flank the central aisle. Double wood doors at the auditorium entrance and exit appear to have had multipane glass on the upper half which has been painted over. The main entrance to the auditorium is composed in the Art Deco/Moderne style with a massive square center pavilion whose stucco surface is scored with horizontal parallel lines. Flanking large end pilasters have shallow fluting and square bases. A flat canopy shelters the tripartite paneled double doors. A single circular vent is centered above the canopy. The east and west elevations have similar stucco walls with paired 3-over-4 double hung windows carrying 3-over-2 transoms. HP15 Educational building * P3b. Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes) * P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other (Isolates, etc.) P5a. Photograph or Drawing (Photograph required for buildings, structures, and objects) P5b. Description of Photo: (View, date, etc.) Looking northeast, 1/18/2007, Photo # jpg * P6. Date Constructed/Age and Sources: Prehistoric Historic Both ; Rehabilitation 1936 * P7. Owner and Address: Los Angeles Unified School District 1055 West 7th Street, 9th Floor Los Angeles, California D--Special District * P8. Recorded by: (Name, affiliation, address) Portia Lee / David T. Greenwood Jones & Stokes 811 W. 7th Street, Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA * P9. Date Recorded: * P10. Survey Type: (Describe) Intensive level January 25,2007 * P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report/other sources or "none") Heumann, L. Historical Assessment LAUSD School Buildings Los Angeles Times: 2/23/1925; 1/19/1936 * Attachments: NONE Location Map Archaeological Record District Record Photograph Record Other: (List) DPR 523A (1/95) Sketch Map Linear Feature Record Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record Artifact Record * Required Information

16 State of California -- The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION Page 2 of 4 * NRHP Status Code 3CS * Resource Name or #: Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium B1. Historic Name: Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium Primary # HR # BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD B2. B3. Common Name Original Use: Auditorium B4. Present Use: Auditorium *B5. Architectural Style: Art Deco/Moderne *B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations.) Constructed 1923; reconstruction and strengthening after earthquake damage 1936 *B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date Original Location: *B8. Related Features: Classroom and Administration Buildings 500 S. Humphreys Ave., Los Angeles CA B9a. Architect: Walker and Eisen b. Builder: Peter B. Shelly, General contractor Significance: Theme School Construction Area Los Angeles Period of Significance Property Type School Auditorium Applicable Criteria Criterion 3 (Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.) Humphreys School Building is eligible for the California Register of Historical Resources under Criterion 3 because it has retained substantial integrity, embodies the distinctive characteristics of the PWA Moderne/Art Deco style, represents the work of a master architects Walker and Eisen, and possesses high artistic values. It is an excellent example of their work on school buildings in the PWA Moderne style. The Humphreys Auditorium Building qualifies as an historical resource because it meets at least one of the definitions of historical resources in Section (a) of the CEQA Guidelines, Criterion 3, Design/Architecture. The 3CS criterion established for the building in previous surveys is still applicable as no changes were found in a recent survey that have impaired its stylistic integrity or ability to convey its historical architectural significance. * B10. B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes): * B12. References: Los Angeles Unified School District Archives; Humphreys Elementary School Window Replacement Project Report May 5, 1006, on file, LAUSD "School Rehabilitation Program Given Impetus." Los Angeles Times, January 19m 1936 (Sketch map with north arrow required) B13. Remarks: * B14. Evaluator: Portia Lee, Jones & Stokes, Los Angeles Date of Evaluation: (This space reserved for official comments.)

17 State of California-The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION CONTINUATION SHEET Primary # HR # Trinomial Page 3_ of _4 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium. APN: and * Recorded by: Portia Lee [X] Continuation [] Update Photographs: Looking southeast at the Auditorium and surrounding school area (Figure 1). Looking south at the Auditorium s north façade. Note the flanking large end pilaster with shallow fluting and square bases (Figure 2). DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information

18 State of California-The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION CONTINUATION SHEET Primary # HR # Trinomial Page 4_ of _4 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) Humphreys Elementary School Auditorium. APN: and * Recorded by: Portia Lee [X] Continuation [] Update Photographs: Looking northwest at the south and east elevations of the Auditorium (Figure 3). Looking north at the Central Building at left, and the Auditorium at right. Note the two buildings are connected by an adjoining arcade (Figure 4). DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information