Historic Preservation

If you’ve been keeping up with recent preservation news in Monrovia, you’re probably aware of the moratorium proposed by Councilman Joe Garcia. In an effort to prevent the demolition of any homes built prior to 1940, the Council is considering a delay time in issuing demolition and/or building permits for those structures. By doing so, it will allow City staff to review the builder’s plans and determine if the home is on the potential historic list. This list contains over 1,300 addresses of homes that could be potential landmarks within the City due to their architecture or their historic significance to the community.

This issue was discussed at a recent meeting between the City Council, the Historic Preservation Commission, and the Planning Commission. While it was the consensus that not all homes built prior to 1940 are significant, everyone did agree that demolition of older homes should be reviewed before any permits are issued.

One of the many great ideas brought to this meeting was the creation of Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (“HPOZ”). According to the Los Angeles Conservancy, an HPOZ is a City-designated historic district composed of a group of buildings (either an entire neighborhood or part of a neighborhood) that are related to one another historically, architecturally, and/or culturally. Individual buildings within an HPOZ need not be of “landmark” quality, as the uniqueness, cohesiveness, and architecturally integrity of the area as a whole serves to make it eligible for HPOZ status.

As areas with historic and aesthetic significance representative of the City’s cultural and architectural history, these districts are unique and irreplaceable assets. The destruction of these communities can pose a significant loss of our City’s historic communities.

Benefits of creating an HPOZ include control over inappropriate alterations and/or demolition; an enhanced sense of community within the neighborhoods; an increase in property values; and possible tax savings. These Zones would allow us to retain the character and fabric of our neighborhoods, which is something that is very important to our preservation community.

No doubt, there will be a great amount of discussion on the subject of saving our older homes in Monrovia. Currently, the City Council has established a moratorium on issuing any permits to builders proposing demolition or alteration of these houses. If this issue is important to you, please let your voice be heard. Contact your City Council members and let them know you support the preservation of our homes. Their contribution to the history of our community is one of the things that makes Monrovia one of the best places to live.

Stay tuned for further developments!