We Spoke To Soon

We Spoke To Soon
Originally uploaded by ephs.

Our previous post had expressed some hope that a small, wood-sided cottage on Lucretia (see photo below) was on the verge of getting a well-deserved renovation. Wrong.
The illegal demoltion at 1600 Lucretia Ave. was caught today by one of our EPHS board members while it was underway. He immediately took a photo, checked online to see if a demolition permit had been filed (it had not) and reported it to the building & safety department and police. The contractor and property owner will now have to file for the proper permits for public review and ensure public safety.

This demo is probably legal (with permits) but we cannot allow property owners and developers to knock down our old and historic homes and buildings on a whim and without proper approval. Our vigilance lets people know that they can't get away with this and perhaps make them think twice about "scraping" these structures and replacing them with what will probably be a big, boxy building.

If you think you are seeing an illegal demo in process, first check to see if the proper permits have been filed by going to the Building & Safety website and enter the street address. If no permits have been filed, call the department right away (use the city operator at 311) to register a complaint. If the demo is in process and no inspector can come out, call the police as well (use the non emergency number at 877-ask-lapd) to report the activity.

In addition to be vigilant, we need city laws that require special public hearings for any demo involving an old building to make sure it has no historic value in addition to ordinances that make it more difficult to build a "mc mansion" where a a small home used to stand.

An "Emotional Spanish"

Emotional Spanish
Originally uploaded by ephs.

An "Emotional Spanish"
Originally uploaded by ephs.

Walk west from Echo Park Ave on Delta St. and go up the stairs to the top of the hill to Lucretia. Here (besides great views) you will find a 1920s Spanish Colonial home that was recently restored to its period glory (some real estate agents refer to these super-cute homes as "emotional spanish," hoping buyers will give up common sense to make an offer.) . New and repaired wood windows and a fresh coat of smooth stucco (not that lumpy stuff that collects dust) give this home a refined look. Hope the wood-sided cottage across the street and next to the stairs gets an equally impressive renovation.

Do It Right on Sunset

Do It Right on Sunset
Originally uploaded by ephs.

Do It Right on Sunset
Originally uploaded by ephs.

The Do It Right Hardware Store on Sunset Blvd near Marion Ave is going to be developed into more than 150 affordable apartments and some for-sale condos. This is still in the early stages, and the developer, Mercy Housing of San Francisco, met with EPHS for feedback. We encouraged them to try and avoid a giant box and instead echo the nearby hillside courtyard apartments (pictured) that climb up the hills in terraces. There is a large and relatively unique cluster of these kind apartments on this section of Sunset that we would like protected from destruction with special zoning that would encourage similar new buildings.

Craftsman Copy

Craftsman Copy
Originally uploaded by ephs.

This newly built home on Cerro Gordo St. near Echo Park Ave. is perhaps the most extreme example (at least in EP) we have seen of new construction trying mirror earlier styles, Craftsman in this case. The builder gets extra points for some nice details and great windows. However, the big garage door at the front does dominate the house and there is no way to disguise this modern convenience. The Craftsman era peaked around 1920, well before two-car garages became the norm.

Temple of Doom?

Temple of Doom?
Originally uploaded by ephs.

High density zoning on this section of Temple Street on the south end of Echo Park probably means this cute bungalow is soon going to be demolished to make way for new development. This Victorian-transitional cottage near Boylston Street is probably 90 years old. Similar homes like it were destroyed suddenly a few blocks west for a housing project. A creative developer would find a way to restore this cottage and include this home in a new project.