Historic preservation coming to Arcadia. City is in process of drafting ordinances on historic preservation aimed at safeguarding historic districts, structures and buildings. Ordinances are expected to provide defined procedures and criteria for property owners and communities to judge their historic relevance. Correction: see Arcadia Weekly, p. 10, February 22, 2018 and another correction Arcadia Weekly, p. 13, March 1, 2018. Correction to the Historic preservation coming to Arcadia article. Arcadia Weekly recently ran an article about the Arcadia City Council drafting a historic preservation ordinance. It incorrectly read, "The draft would demand the consent of 60% of property owners along with Planning Commission review and City Council adoption." The corrected statement reads, "The Draft Historic Preservation Ordinance proposes that at least 60% of properties within the district must contribute to the historic significance of the district and 75% of the property owners within the district need to consent to the designation."
Arcadia City Council makes changes to Historic Preservation Ordinance. Council member Tom Beck speaks about saving Clara Baldwin Stocker's home, which is facing possible destruction. See hard copy in VF City Council (2010-2019).
A tale of two cities: Arcadia and bygone Arcadia. Noted historians Carol Libby and Sandy Snider slighted by longtime Councilman Roger Chandler's remarks about Anoakia, Anita Baldwin's mansion, and the historic preservation issue. See hard copy in VF City Council 2010-2019
The Los Angeles Conservancy opposes The Shops at Santa Anita mall, saying the proposed project may threaten the historic integrity of the 1934 race track. Conservancy officials are most concerned about the 1938 saddling barns and the historic grandstand.
Representatives of the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that Santa Anita Park race track has been named to their list of the country's most endangered historic places. Efforts mount to preserve Santa Anita's architectural integrity.
View north toward mountains from Huntington Drive near Golden West at the time of the opening of Santa Anita Village Tract. Note on the large sign the price of $695 for a lot. Tract opened March 29, 1939. See also History Room Box A and History Room Box 2.
The Los Angeles Conservancy graded local cities on their efforts to preserve historic buildings. Arcadia was deemed a preservation truant and received a report card grade of F.
An armed man barricaded himself in his trailer at Santa Anita Village mobile home park in a daylong standoff ending with the man's shooting. His name was not released, and he was taken to the local hospital.
Arcadia City Council is divided over preservation vs. development. Should the city update a 2001 historic preservation survey of buildings and homes in Arcadia? Council members held a lively discussion about merits and costs of preserving Arcadia's historical commercial buildings and homes, designed by renowned architects.
Is historic preservation important to Arcadia? Arcadia City Council recently met and considered the most recent historic preservation proposal. It did not pass but was not entirely dismissed. Several city council members agreed that the City should adopt some sort of historic preservation policy, but the citizens fear homeowner's rights will be infringed upon. See hard copy in VF City Council 2010-2019.
Raising a failing preservation grade. The Los Angeles Conservancy has given Arcadia an "F" in historic preservation. The city is working to remedy this with a preservation effort started over a year ago. A city-wide intensive level survey will enable the city to gain a better understanding of where significant historic resources are located and to plan for their preservation. The next step would be to pass a historic preservation ordinance.
The Los Angeles Conservancy gave an F grade to Arcadia, Bradbury, Diamond Bar, El Monte, Industry, La Habra Heights, La Mirada, Monterey Park, Rosemead, Santa Fe Springs, Temple City and Walnut, in a report card of local cities. The cities were judged on whether or not they had an ordinance allowing designation of historic landmarks, how many landmarks are designated, if cities provide for implementation of the Mills Act and other criteria.
Westfield Group has nominated Santa Anita Park to the National Register of Historic Places, claiming development plans by Caruso Affiliated constitute a threat to the racetrack. Magna Entertainment, owner of the race track, would have to agree to the track being placed on the register. However, placement on the list would not restrict development on the site.
Owners of recreational vehicles (RV) have been given 3 months to move from Santa Anita Village, a trailer park on unincorporated land on East Live Oak Avenue. The trailer park does not have permits for RVs.
Arcadia City Council hears public concerns over historic preservation on February 19. In 4-1 vote City Council agreed not to accept the current ordinance as is, but instead to have city staff revise it. Councilman Roger Chandler took some angry digs at local historians such as Carol Libby about the proposed ordinance. Marcello Vavala, of the Los Angeles Conservancy, said the proposed ordinance was fair because it would require consent of the homeowner to officially designate the home a historic entity.
Arcadia City Council puts restructure of zoning on hold; exempts Highlands from historical preservation due to ongoing lawsuit that Highlands residents filed against City Council. The lawsuit, filed in March by a group called Save the Arcadia Highlands, seeks to force the City Council to rescind its approval of two construction projects that would replace existing mid-20th century homes with significantly larger homes. Council members Tom Beck, Sho Tay, and Mayor Gary Kovacic voted to move forward with establishing historic preservation guidelines and exempt the Highlands HOA territory from the forthcoming ordinance.