Santa Monica votes to preserve 11th Street bungalows

Thirty years after it was first proposed, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously voted to designate a group of Craftsman bungalows as the city’s fourth historic district.

The 11th Street Bungalow Historic District includes 10 buildings between Wilshire Boulevard and Arizona Avenue, seven of which were built between 1905 and 1925, the Santa Monica Daily Press reported. The city will now craft strict regulations on exterior alterations or renovations of the designated properties.

The decision goes against the recommendation of a city staff report in November which said the bungalows lacked historic merit. After reviewing the report, the city’s Landmarks Commission deemed that the houses were worth preserving, and recommended the city council adopt the historic district.

Local community groups have been trying to get the street designated since 1989, when one of the bungalows was demolished to make room for an apartment building. The commission voted against recognizing 11th Street as a historic district in 1989, but the groups initiated the process again one year ago.

Some homeowners opposed the creation of the district, arguing it would restrict their property rights. One homeowner intended to convert her property to multi-family housing, the Daily Press reported. She argued that the council members should have followed the recommendations made in the original staff report.

Alicia Bartley of Gaines & Stacey LLP, said land use decisions should be based on objective findings and “not be based on popularity contests.” [Santa Monica Daily Press] — Gregory Cornfield