Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT

Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HEARING DATE: June 3, 2010 TIME: 10:00 AM PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 200 N. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 CASE NO.: CHC-2010-520-HCM ENV-2010-521-CE Location: 7901-7909 W. Beverly Blvd. Council District: 5 Community Plan Area: Wilshire Area Planning Commission: Central Neighborhood Council: Mid City West Legal Description: Lot 338 of TR 6790 PROJECT: REQUEST: APPLICANT: OWNER: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the FAIRFAX THEATER Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument The Friends of the Fairfax Theater Brian Curran Jr. 855 S. Highland Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 B & F Associates 710 Wilshire Blvd, #409 Santa Monica, CA 90401 RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.7 2. Adopt the report findings. S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, AICP, Manager Office of Historic Resources [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Lambert M. Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Prepared by: [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: March 11, 2010 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report

Fairfax Theater CHC-2010-520-HCM Page 2 of 5 FINDINGS 1. The building embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction as an example of Art Deco-style neighborhood movie theater. 2. The property reflects the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community for its association with the development of the Fairfax District. CRITERIA The criterion is the Cultural Heritage Ordinance which defines a historical or cultural monument as any site (including significant trees or other plant life located thereon) building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles, such as historic structures or sites in which the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community is reflected or exemplified, or which are identified with historic personages or with important events in the main currents of national, State or local history or which embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction, or a notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influenced his age. SUMMARY Built in 1930 and remodeled in 1940, 1981, and 1986, this two-story commercial building exhibits character-defining features of Art Deco-style architecture. The subject building is located at the northwestern intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in the Fairfax District. The building is rectangular in plan with a flat roof and exhibits two primary facades along the intersection. It is constructed of poured concrete. The elevation lining Beverly Boulevard is divided into six bays with five serving as commercial storefronts. Flanked by two shop fronts, an off-center theatre entry with marquee occupies an extended and ornamentally distinguished bay consisting of a stepped parapet which comes to an apex at its center. The parapet lies between two fluted rectangular pilasters, with the east pilaster rising twenty feet above the roofline to become a stepped tower feature capped with an electric light globe. The western pilaster is truncated and is capped with a small rounded dome. The marquee is a large fluorescent light box with neon lights and Plexiglas lettering as well as a coffered ceiling inset with sunburst pattern and recessed lights. The set back entrance creates a large open vestibule area surfaced with red tile and fluted pilasters and contains a terrazzo floor exhibiting a starburst pattern. A Regency-style ticket booth fronts the vestibule space. Five pairs of continuous metal doors provide the entrance to the interior. Flanking the theater entrance, the ground floor storefronts are covered by projecting canopies and framed by continuous fluted pilasters which divide the façade into bays. At the second story, the pilasters are offset on both sides by smaller, engaged, fluted pilasters which terminate at the roofline. These smaller pilasters form the proportioned window bays that contain sliding aluminum windows. The subject building s roofline is articulated with shallow gables in a regular serrated rhythm, reaching an apex at the center of each bay and descending towards the pilasters, which rise slightly above the parapet. The western storefront section is single story, while the rest of the elevation is two stories. The Fairfax Avenue east-facing elevation consists of ten one-story bays flanked by four twostory bays to the south and a two-story bay to the north. The east facing bays resemble those

Fairfax Theater CHC-2010-520-HCM Page 3 of 5 on the Beverly Blvd. façade with some minor design variation. Acrylic signage and/or projecting canopies sit above the storefronts. There are three building entrances on the east side: the northern and center entrances are gated, open-air portals which are announced by a variation in the roofline, while the southern entrance is a door at the façade leading directly into the building. The west façade is an unadorned concrete wall articulated only by concrete buttresses with an entrance to the basement and backstage area. The north façade is a sheer concrete wall rising to a height of four stories at the west (the curtain tower) and descending to two stories where it meets Fairfax Avenue. The theater interior consists of a lobby and three theatres. In the lobby, an Art Deco-style skylight defined by an irregular grid motif forms the focal point of a hipped ceiling. Crown molding surrounds the room while tiered Art Deco-style light fixtures are set within recessed bays. A concession stand sits atop a pink and black tile floor. A long sloping hallway from the lobby leads to the main auditorium which is flanked by two smaller theatres. The main auditorium features Art Deco-style light fixtures, painted stylized flower motifs, and a skylight similar in design to the lobby skylight. The screen is flanked by two molded plaster screens of a repeating diamond and chevron pattern, over which a large scroll decoration is attached. The storefront interiors are utilitarian in design, with some featuring terrazzo flooring. The proposed Fairfax Theatre historic monument was originally designed by architect W.C. Pennell in 1930. During this period, Pennell was the partner of eminent Los Angeles architect John C. Austen. Pennell and Austen designed many civic and industrial projects together as well as landmarks such as the West Adams Methodist Episcopal Church at 1864 W. Adams (1914), the Hotel Leighton formerly on MacArthur Park (demolished), and the Bronson Block at 527 W. 7 th Street in Downtown Los Angeles (1913). Pennell also designed the Strand Theater, located at 4407 S. Broadway in South Los Angeles (demolished). Significant interior alterations include the truncating and subdivision of the main theatre into three smaller theatres. Exterior alterations include removal of the original marquee, replacement of original storefront doors and windows with standardized metal doors and windows, tiling of the vestibule space, and addition of commercial billboard signage. DISCUSSION The Fairfax Theater property successfully meets two of the specified Historic-Cultural Monument criteria: embodies the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction, and reflects the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community. As a significant Art Deco-style neighborhood movie theater associated with the development of the Fairfax District, the property qualifies for designation as a Historic-Cultural Monument based on these criteria. The staff of the Office of Historic Resources (OHR) acknowledges some obvious integrity issues with the subject building stemming primarily from the subdivision of the auditorium and some exterior alterations to its storefronts and windows. OHR staff finds, however, that enough significant character-defining historic fabric remains to enable the subject building to express its architectural significance and reflect its association with the development of the Fairfax District area. While the architectural integrity of the auditorium space is compromised by the 1981 partitioning, major character-defining features such as the proscenium, plaster-fluted grillwork, Rococo-style scrollwork, zig-zag style banding, decorative ceiling skylight, and painted ceilings remain intact. Exterior alterations appear to be largely reversible and consist of frequent

Fairfax Theater CHC-2010-520-HCM Page 4 of 5 modifications done to commercial storefronts. With a total of 16 storefront bays that have been actively used by various business since 1930, it is expected that this building type will exhibit some alterations to its storefronts. The subject building appears to be the oldest and most prominent of the pre-wwii neighborhood-scale movie theaters that were constructed in the general area known as the Fairfax District. Fairfax Theater, 7901 W. Beverly Blvd. 1929-1930 New Beverly Theater, 7165 W. Beverly Blvd. 1929-1930 Esquire Theater, (now Canter s Deli), 419 S. Fairfax Blvd 1931 Regent Showcase Theater, 614 N. La Brea Ave. 1937 Silent Movie Theater, 611 N. Fairfax Blvd. 1941 Based on a review of building permits, the New Beverly Theater located at 7165 W. Beverly Blvd and constructed in 1929-30, appears to have opened at roughly the same time as the Fairfax Theater. However, the New Beverly Theater appears to be a much smaller scale theater and has a significantly altered exterior and marquee. Based on its construction date, prominent location, design, size, and integrity, the Fairfax Theater is the most significant pre- WWII era movie theater in the Fairfax area. Although not a catalyst to the development of the area in the same way that large-scale movie theaters affected the growth of areas such as Westwood, Carthay Circle, and Hollywood, the subject building was a significant commercial development for the Fairfax and Beverly Blvd thoroughfares. Anchoring the most prominent intersection of one of the city s most noteworthy commercial corridors and providing extensive commercial frontage, the contribution of the subject building to the late 1920s development of the Fairfax District is noteworthy. The subject building is also significant for its Art Deco style and its utlilization on a neighborhood-scaled movie theater. While other more lavish and ornate Art Deco-style theaters exist, such as the movie palaces of Hollywood, Westwood, and Downtown, it is inappropriate to evaluate the significance of the subject building within the context of this building type. Working on a more modest scale, the subject building successfully incorporates a distinctive Art Decostyle design for its long commercial frontage and culminates with the theater entrance bay, capped by a unique slender, stepped Art Deco-style tower. The subject building appears to be the most prominent Art Deco style building in the general vicinity of the Fairfax commercial corridor. The Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC) has previously designated pre-wwii neighborhoodscale movie theaters with similar interior alterations as the subject building. In 1991, the CHC approved designation of the Spanish-Moorish style Highland Theater as HCM #549. Constructed in 1924 and located in the community of Highland Park, this neighborhood movie theater was the last and most prominent movie theater in the area s commercial corridor. Prior to the HCM designation in 1982, the Highland Theater s auditorium was subdivided into three theater spaces and its marquee and lobby were altered, much like the Fairfax Theater s alterations. Nonetheless, the CHC at that time approved designation for its architectural significance as revealed through its exterior.

Fairfax Theater CHC-2010-520-HCM Page 5 of 5 BACKGROUND At its meeting of April 1, 2010, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted to take the application under consideration. On May 6, 2010, the Cultural Heritage Commission toured the subject property. The staff of the Office of Historic Resources received and reviewed two reports concerning the subject building: Fairfax Theater, Evaluation of Eligibility for LAHCM, prepared by Galvin Preservation Associates (May 2010) and The Fairfax Theatre in a Historic Community Context (1920-2010) by Lynn C. Kronzek & Associates (May 2010). CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT ( CEQA ) REVIEW State of California CEQA Guidelines, Article 19, Section 15308, Class 8 consists of actions taken by regulatory agencies, as authorized by state or local ordinance, to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, or protection of the environment where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. State of California CEQA Guidelines Article 19, Section 15331, Class 31 consists of projects limited to maintenance, repair, stabilization, rehabilitation, restoration, preservation, conservation or reconstruction of historical resources in a manner consistent with the Secretary of the Interior s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving, Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic buildings. The designation of the Fairfax Theater as a Historic-Cultural Monument in accordance with Chapter 9, Article 1, of The City of Los Angeles Administrative Code ( LAAC ) will ensure that future construction activities involving the subject property are regulated in accordance with Section 22.171.14 of the LAAC. The purpose of the designation is to prevent significant impacts to a Historic-Cultural Monument through the application of the standards set forth in the LAAC. Without the regulation imposed by way of the pending designation, the historic significance and integrity of the subject property could be lost through incompatible alterations and new construction and the demolition of irreplaceable historic structures. The Secretary of the Interior s Standards of Rehabilitation are expressly incorporated into the LAAC and provide standards concerning the historically appropriate construction activities which will ensure the continued preservation of the subject property. The use of Categorical Exemption Class 8 in connection with the proposed designation is consistent with the goals of maintaining, restoring, enhancing, and protecting the environment through the imposition of regulations designed to prevent the degradation of Historic-Cultural Monuments. The use of Categorical Exemption Class 31 in connection with the proposed designation is consistent with the goals relating to the preservation, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction of Historic buildings in a manner consistent with the Secretary of the Interior s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties with Guidelines for Preserving Rehabilitating, Restoring, and Reconstructing Historic Buildings.

Los Angeles Department of City Planning RECOMMENDATION REPORT CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION HEARING DATE: April 1, 2010 TIME: 10:00 AM PLACE: City Hall, Room 1010 200 N. Spring Street Los Angeles, CA 90012 CASE NO.: CHC-2010-520-HCM ENV-2010-521-CE Location: 7901-7909 W. Beverly Blvd. Council District: 5 Community Plan Area: Wilshire Area Planning Commission: Central Neighborhood Council: Mid City West Legal Description: Lot 338 of TR 6790 PROJECT: REQUEST: APPLICANT: OWNER: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the FAIRFAX THEATER Declare the property a Historic-Cultural Monument The Friends of the Fairfax Theater Brian Curran Jr. 855 S. Highland Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 B & F Associates 710 Wilshire Blvd, #409 Santa Monica, CA 90401 RECOMMENDATION That the Cultural Heritage Commission: 1. Take the property under consideration as a Historic-Cultural Monument per Los Angeles Administrative Code Chapter 9, Division 22, Article 1, Section 22.171.10 because the application and accompanying photo documentation suggest the submittal may warrant further investigation. 2. Adopt the report findings. S. GAIL GOLDBERG, AICP Director of Planning [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Ken Bernstein, AICP, Manager Office of Historic Resources [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Lambert M. Giessinger, Preservation Architect Office of Historic Resources Prepared by: [SIGNED ORIGINAL IN FILE] Edgar Garcia, Preservation Planner Office of Historic Resources Attachments: March 11, 2010 Historic-Cultural Monument Application ZIMAS Report

Fairfax Theater CHC-2010-520-HCM Page 2 of 3 SUMMARY Built in 1930 and remodeled in 1940 and 1985, this two-story commercial building exhibits character-defining features of Art Deco style architecture. The subject building is located at the northwestern intersection of Beverly Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue in the Fairfax District. The building is rectangular in plan with a flat roof and exhibits two primary facades along the intersection. It is constructed of poured concrete. The elevation lining Beverly Boulevard is divided into six bays with five serving as commercial storefronts. Flanked by two shop fronts, an off-center theatre entry with marquee occupies an extended and ornamentally distinguished bay consisting of a stepped parapet which comes to an apex at its center. The parapet lies between two fluted rectangular pilasters, with the east pilaster rising twenty feet above the roofline to become a stepped tower feature capped with an electric light globe. The western pilaster is truncated and is capped with a small rounded dome. The marquee is a large fluorescent light box with neon lights and Plexiglas lettering as well as a coffered ceiling inset with sunburst pattern and recessed lights. The set back entrance creates a large open vestibule area surfaced with red tile and fluted pilasters and contains a terrazzo floor exhibiting a starburst pattern. A Regency-style ticket booth fronts the vestibule space. Five pairs of continuous metal doors provide the entrance to the interior. Flanking the theater entrance, the ground floor storefronts are covered by projecting canopies and framed by continuous fluted pilasters which divide the façade into bays. At the second story, the pilasters are offset on both sides by smaller, engaged, fluted pilasters which terminate at the roofline. These smaller pilasters form the proportioned window bays that contain sliding aluminum windows. The subject building s roofline is articulated with shallow gables in a regular serrated rhythm, reaching an apex at the center of each bay and descending towards the pilasters, which rise slightly above the parapet. The western storefront section is single story, while the rest of the elevation is two stories. The Fairfax Avenue east-facing elevation consists of ten one-story bays flanked by four twostory bays to the south and a two-story bay to the north. The east facing bays resemble those on the Beverly Blvd. façade with some minor design variation. Acrylic signage and/or projecting canopies sit above the storefronts. There are three building entrances on the east side: the northern and center entrances are gated, open-air portals which are announced by a variation in the roofline, while the southern entrance is a door at the façade leading directly into the building. The west façade is an unadorned concrete wall articulated only by concrete buttresses with an entrance to the basement and backstage area. The north façade is a sheer concrete wall rising to a height of four stories at the west (the curtain tower) and descending to two stories where it meets Fairfax Avenue. The theater interior consists of a lobby and three theatres. In the lobby, an Art Deco-style skylight defined by an irregular grid motif forms the focal point of a hipped ceiling. Crown molding surrounds the room while tiered Art Deco-style light fixtures are set within recessed bays. A concession stand sits atop a pink and black tile floor. A long sloping hallway from the lobby leads to the main auditorium which is flanked by two smaller theatres. The main auditorium features Art Deco-style light fixtures, painted stylized flower motifs, and a skylight similar in design to the lobby skylight. The screen is flanked by two molded plaster screens of a repeating diamond and chevron pattern, over which a large scroll decoration is attached. The storefront interiors are utilitarian in design with some featuring terrazzo flooring. The proposed Fairfax Theatre historic monument was originally designed by architect W.C. Pennell in 1930. During this period, Pennell was the partner of eminent Los Angeles architect

Fairfax Theater CHC-2010-520-HCM Page 3 of 3 John C. Austen. Pennell and Austen designed many civic and industrial projects together as well as landmarks such as the West Adams Methodist Episcopal Church at 1864 W. Adams (1914), the Hotel Leighton formerly on MacArthur Park (demolished), and the Bronson Block at 527 W. 7 th Street in Downtown Los Angeles (1913). Pennell also designed the Strand Theater, located at 4407 S. Broadway in South Los Angeles (demolished). Significant interior alterations include the truncating and subdivision of the main theatre into three smaller theatres. Exterior alterations include removal of the original marquee, replacement of original storefront doors and windows with standardized metal doors and windows, tiling of the vestibule space, and addition of commercial billboard signage. CRITERIA The criterion is the Cultural Heritage Ordinance which defines a historical or cultural monument as any site (including significant trees or other plant life located thereon) building or structure of particular historic or cultural significance to the City of Los Angeles, such as historic structures or sites in which the broad cultural, economic, or social history of the nation, State or community is reflected or exemplified, or which are identified with historic personages or with important events in the main currents of national, State or local history or which embody the distinguishing characteristics of an architectural type specimen, inherently valuable for a study of a period style or method of construction, or a notable work of a master builder, designer or architect whose individual genius influenced his age. FINDINGS Based on the facts set forth in the summary and application, the Commission determines that the application is complete and that the property may be significant enough to warrant further investigation as a potential Historic-Cultural Monument.