Denny's CEO considers firing up the old windmill in 2016. It is atop the Denny's Restaurant at the corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue. It used to be the Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery, founded in 1915, a Los Angeles institution for much of the 20th century. According to Los Angeles Conservancy, the building was completed in 1967 and designed by Pasadena architects Harold Bissner and Harold Zook. Denny's Corporation CEO Stephen Dunn is happy to explore the possibility of activating the windmill.
Denny's windmill spins again. The windmill atop Denny's at northeast corner of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive was designed by Harold Bissner as the template for Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery's coffee shop franchise. It opened in 1967 in Arcadia, the first of 15 built from his designs. Denny's bought the location in 1989. Denny's spent $100,000 refurbishing the windmill.
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."
Historic windmill turns again after long hiatus. George Fasching's original idea spawns huge community pride. The Denny's windmill was dedicated on June 29 after a refurbishment.
Iconic Arcadia windmill atop Denny's to be dedicated June 29, thanks to restoration efforts of former Arcadia mayor George Fasching and Joe Sargis. The windmill's new variable speed motor will run about 6 rotations per minute and it will be illuminated at night. Denny's is at northeast corner of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive. The location used to be Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery and this windmill was its trademark. See also Arcadia Weekly, p. 1, 13, June 23, 2016.
Iconic Arcadia windmill will turn, turn, turn. Former Arcadia Mayor George Fasching spearheaded the effort to get Denny's windmill running again. Restoration work will begin soon, with June as the target for the windmill to run again. The windmill was the trademark for Van de Kamp's Holland Dutch Bakery, which was at this site, at the corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita Avenue, in 1967.
Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden will have its historic buildings upgraded and a new 5-year strategic plan is being drafted for the first time in many years. Among items to be improved are the roof replacement and stabilization of the Hugo Reid Adobe (aka Baldwin Adobe), the rehabilitation of the library, as well as roof replacements for the 126-year-old Queen Anne Cottage of "Fantasy Island" fame, and the Coach Barn. Mitchell Bishop, curator of the historic collections, said he plans to rehabilitate Baldwin Lake.
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.