CITY LANDMARK ASSESSMENT REPORT 305 ALTA AVENUE, SANTA MONICA, CA Preparedfor: CityofSantaMonica CityPlanningDivision 1685MainStreet,Room212 SantaMonica,CA90401 Preparedby: JanOstashayPrincipal Ostashay&AssociatesConsulting POBOX542 LongBeach,CA90801 AUGUST2015
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CITYLANDMARKASSESSMENTREPORT MelUhlHouse 305AltaAvenue SantaMonica,CA90402 APN:4239008011 INTRODUCTION This landmark assessment and evaluation report, completed by Ostashay & Associates Consulting(OAC)fortheCityofSantaMonica,documentsandevaluatesthelocalsignificance andlandmarkeligibilityofthemeluhlhouselocatedat305altaavenueinthecityofsanta Monica, California. This assessment report includes a discussion of the survey methodology used,asummarizeddescriptionoftheproperty,abriefdescriptionandhistoryoftheproperty, evaluationofsignificanceunderthecityofsantamonicalandmarkcriteria,photographs,and applicablesupportingmaterials. METHODOLOGY ThelandmarkassessmentwasconductedbyJanOstashay,principalwithOstashay&Associates Consulting.Inordertoidentifyandevaluatethesubjectpropertyasapotentiallocallandmark, an intensivelevel survey was conducted. The assessment included a review of the National RegisterofHistoricPlaces(NationalRegister)anditsannualupdates,theCaliforniaRegisterof Historical Resources (California Register), and the California Historic Resources Inventory list maintained by the State Office of Historic Preservation (OHP) in order to determine if any previousevaluationsorsurveyassessmentsofthepropertyhadbeenperformed. Forthiscurrentassessmentasiteinspectionandareviewofbuildingpermitsandtaxassessor recordswerealsodonetodocumenttheproperty sexistingconditionandassistinevaluating the residence for historical significance. The City of Santa Monica landmark criteria were employed to evaluate the local significance of the property and its eligibility for landmark designation.inaddition,thefollowingtaskswereperformedforthestudy: Searched records of the National Register, California Register, Library of Congress archives,u.s.censusrecords,andohphistoricresourcesinventory. Conductedafieldinspectionofthesubjectpropertyfromthepublicrightofway. Conducted sitespecific research on the subject property utilizing Sanborn fire insurance maps, city directories, voter s registration cards, newspaper articles, historicalphotographs,andbuildingpermits. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page1
Reviewed and analyzed ordinances, statutes, regulations, bulletins, and technical materials relating to federal, state, and local historic preservation, designation assessmentprocedures,andrelatedprograms. EvaluatedthepotentialhistoricresourcebaseduponcriteriaestablishedbytheCity ofsantamonicaandutilizedtheohpsurveymethodologyforconductingsurveys. BACKGROUNDINFORMATION The305AltaAvenuepropertyislocatedalongthenorthsideofAltaAvenuemidblockbetween Ocean Avenue to the west and 4 th Street to the east. within the Palisades tract on lot 12 of BlockG.Itissitedonarectangularshapeparcelthatmeasuresroughly102feetwideby210 long.thelegaldescriptionofthesubjectpropertyislot12ofblockginthepalisadestract.the residence fronts south onto Alta Avenue and is located in a singlefamily residential neighborhoodwithimprovementsdatingfromasearlyas1912throughto2005. The period revival style dwelling at 305 Alta Avenue has been previously identified and recorded under the City s ongoing survey process. It was initially identified in 19851986 HistoricResourcesSurveyInventoryasacontributortoapotentialCityofSantaMonicahistoric district called the Palisades Tract. At that time, it was assigned an OHP status code of 5D, eligibleforlistingasalocaldistrictcontributor.the SantaMonicaCitywideHistoricResources Inventory Update survey from 2009 identified the property as individually eligible for local landmark designation. Its association with the Palisades Tract potential historic district; however,wasremovedasaltaavenuewasremovedasacomponentofthegroupingdueto thelossofnumerouscontributors.thesubjectpropertywasassignedanohpstatuscode5s3, indicatingindividualeligibleforlocaldesignation. PROPERTYDESCRIPTIONANDCONSTRUCTIONHISTORY Description.Thesubjectpropertycontainsatwostory,singlefamilyresidencewithaonestory detachedgarage/dwellingandalargebackyardsurroundedbyfencingalongthesideandrear portionsoftheparcel.designedwithinfluencesfromboththemediterranean/classicalrevival styles the dwelling and garage were erected in 1913. This twostory stucco house has an L shapeplan,iscappedwithalowpitchedhippedroof,andissheathedinstucco(plaster).with itsprimaryelevationfacingsouthtowardsaltaavenueitisnearlysymmetricalwithaonestory baycontainingawindowsetbeneathaflattenedarchonthewestsidebalancedbyaprojecting portecochereontheeastside.woodframed,multipanedcasement,fixedandsashwindows tendtobegroupedintriosalongthefaçade.therearetwoidenticalmultipane,woodframe frontdoorswithglazingandflankedbysidelightsthatopentoaraisedconcretefrontporch deck area. The deck and entry doors are approached from the public side walk via a long concretewalkwayandstepsaswellasbyconcretestepswithintheportecochere.bothentries aretoppedwithawoodenlatticehoodshapedinapalladianconfiguration.awide,bracketed boxedcornicefurtheraddscharactertothehouse. 1 Thesideandrearelevationsofthehouse 1 HistoricResourcesInventoryform,1983. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page2
are punctuated by various type and size woodframe windows with wood sills, surrounds, lintels,andcasings;somearemultipane.anengagedstuccoedchimneyisattherearofthe houseandhasbeenreplacedinkindfollowingthenorthridgeearthquakeof1994. Thedetachedgaragesetbehindthedwellingalongtheeastsideoftheparcelisofwoodframe constructionlikethehouse.sheathedinstuccoitsdesign,shape,form,hippedroof,andstyle arecomplementarytothearchitectureofthemainresidence.aonestoryadditionwasadded totherearofthegaragein1985.cappedwithahippedroofandalsocladinstuccothisnew improvementsharessimilarmaterials,scaleandproportions,anddesignelementsastheolder historicproperty.thisnewworkisnotvisiblefromaltaavenueandhasminimalvisibilityfrom thealley. Landscaping surrounding the main residence consists of a grassy front lawn, several mature trees, and other vegetation bisected by a scored concrete entry path. In reviewing the photographincludedontheinventoryformfrom1983,itappearsthepathhasbeeninkindly replaced.theconcretedrivewayleadingtotheportecochereandgaragealsoappearstohave beenreplacedsince1983,butcompletedinacompatiblemanner.thebackyardislargeand includes a grassy lawn, some mature trees, shrubs, and some concrete walkways along the garageandrearaddition. BuildingPermitHistory.Ingeneral,theresidenceitselfhasminorexterioralterationssinceit was erected in 1913. An addition of an accessory structure with living quarters and storage shed was at the rear of the garage in 1985. The replacement of the brick chimney due to damagecausedbythenorthridgeearthquakewasmadeinkindin1994.otherchangeswere madetotheinteriorofthedwelling.therecordedpermithistorythatisonefilewiththecityof SantaMonicaincludesthefollowing: YEAR 1913 1940 1985 1986 1994 1999 DESCRIPTIONOFWORK ConstructHouse,ledgerbookpermit Makerepairs(interior) Additionofaccessorystructurelivingquartersandstorageshed Replacesectionofnonbearingwall;replacekitchencabinets(interior) Removeandreplaceearthquakedamagedfireplace Kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, master bedroom remodel; replace patio pavers; repair fireplace;finalizeworkfrom1995issuedpermit,$48,000. Any additions and relevant exterior alterations appear to have been made to secondary elevationsoutofviewfromthepublicrightofway.suchevidentchangesasdiscussedherein havenotadverselycompromisedtheproperty soriginalarchitecturaldesignintent,historical integrity,orimportantcharacterdefiningfeatures. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page3
Statement of Architectural Significance. The property at 305 Alta Avenue is a very good exampleofresidentialarchitecturethemeldstheclassicalrevivalstylewithinfluencesofthe Mediterraneanidiom.Bothoftheseperiodrevivalstyleswereexamplesofsomeofthemost popularstylesofarchitectureappliedtostatelyresidencesinthecityofsantamonicaduring the early decades of the twentieth century. Others included American Colonial Revival and English/Tudor Revival. Combining architectural features of various revival styles was also common during this period as evidenced by the subject property. Common elements of the MediterraneanRevivalstylevisibleinthesubjectdwellingincludethelowpitched,hippedroof (originally wood shake); bracketed boxed eaves; and overall scale and massing. The typical ClassicalRevivalstylefeaturesincorporatedintotheAltaAvenuepropertyincludetheformal arrangement of features on the front elevation, grouping of multipane sash windows with decorativetrimboardsandsills,prominentpalladianfrontdoortrelliselementsatitsfaçade, andoffsetportecocherewhichprovidesoverallsymmetry. HISTORICALCONTEXT SantaMonica.In1875,theoriginaltownsiteofSantaMonicawassurveyed,includingallthe land extending from Colorado Street on the south to Montana on the north, and from 26 th Street on the east to the Pacific Ocean on the west. Between 1893 and the 1920s, the communityoperatedasatouristattraction,visitedbymostlywealthypatrons.thoseareasjust outside of the incorporated city limits were semirural in setting and were populated with scattered residences. After the advent of the automobile in the 1920s, Santa Monica experiencedasignificantbuildingboomwithhomesbeingconstructedinthetractsnorthof MontanaandeastofSeventhStreetforyearroundresidents. Palisades Tract. 2 The Palisades Tract neighborhood offers a remarkably intact ensemble of domesticarchitecture,primarilydatingfromtheyears1906to1930.openedasatractin1905, it was laid out with broad, treelined streets that open onto Ocean Avenue and the Santa MonicaPalisades.SeventhStreetactsasthevisualboundaryontheeast,althoughthetract was extended further inland in 1912 and 1913.Few houses face onto Fourth Street, which bisectsthedistrictandisenhancedbyalandscapedmedian.acircularparkformsanislandin themiddleofthe600blockofpalisadesavenue,apparentlyintendedbythedevelopertobe oneofaseriesofsuchspaces,althoughtheonlyonerealized. Shortlyafterthetractwasopened,theareainwhichitwaslocated,stretchingfromMontana to Adelaide, was annexed to the City of Santa Monica.From that date, March 28, 1906, buildingrecordswerekeptbythecityofficials,andthefirstapplicationtobuildwasissuedto thealtasantamonicacompanyforwhatisnow401marguerita.however,thiswasnotthe firstbuildinginthearea,accordingtowitnesslutheringersollinhiscenturyhistoryofsanta Monica Bay Cities, who assigned the honor of building the first costly and architectural residenceinthepalisadestoh.n.hammond. 2 DescriptionofthePalisadesTractneighborhoodadaptedfromthecontextnarrativewithinthe SantaMonica HistoricalResourcesInventory,19851986:FinalReport, preparedbyjohnsonandheumann,1986. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page4
Several prominent members of the community, as well as residents of Los Angeles and Pasadena in search of a seaside summer home, commissioned residences in the Palisades. DuringthefirstfifteenyearsofdevelopmenthomeswereintheCraftsmanmode.Themore intenseperiodofconstructioninthetwentiesyieldednumerousfinerevivalstylehomes,most ofwhichwereintendedforyearroundoccupation.theworkofseveralrenownedarchitectsis showcased, as well as the efforts of several Santa Monica building contractors who had a profoundimpactonthegrowthofthecity. AmongthearchitectsrepresentedintheareaareJohnByers(240and624Alta,300and404 Georgina,5477th),RobertFarquhar(247Georgina[att.],401Ocean),MarshandRussell(216 Georgina),Webber,StauntonandSpaulding(317Georgina),FrederickRoehrig(325Georgina), Hunt and Burns (525 Georgina), John and Donald Parkinson (701 Ocean), and Greene and Greene(226Palisades).Severalprolificbuilders,manyofwhomproduceddesignsfromtheir ownofficesandotherswhoworkedwitharchitects,wereinvolvedinthedevelopmentofthe PalisadesTract.Duringtheearlyyears,H.Goetz,responsiblefortheconstructionofnumerous residencesandlocalinstitutions(lincolnhighschool,northbeachbathhouse,santamonica City Hall) worked in the Palisades Tract area. Other prolific builders associated with the Palisades Tract included George D. Synder, W.S. Freeman, and C.B. Powell. In later years, severalcontractorswhohadastrongimpactonthecharacteroftheneighborhoodeastof7 th StreetincludedC.L.Freeman(sonofW.S.Freeman),FrankRoden,RoseandRowell,andnoted LosAngelesbuilderFrankL.Meline. Later development in the area includes lowscale Mid Century modern and Ranch style dwellingsbuiltinthe1950s.sincethe1970s,afairnumberofolderhomeshavebeenreplaced with new contemporary residences. That trend continues today in some instances with the mostrecentimprovementalongthisblockofaltaavenuedatingto2005. MelUhlHouse.TheCityofSantaMonicabuildingpermitledgercontainsanentrynotingthe original construction of the subject property dated from 1913. The ledger indicates that Mr. MelUle(misspelledandshouldbecorrectedtoUhl)appliedforapermittobuildadwelling costing$5,000withw.s.freemanlistedasthecontractor.minimalchangeshaveoccurredto themaindwellingsinceitwasbuiltoverahundredyearsago.theresultingstructureisavery good example of upper middle class housing dating from the 1910s. It is transitional in character, discarding the prevailing bungalow style for a more formal and traditional appearance. 3 ThepropertywasconstructedwithinthePalisadesTractoftheCityofSantaMonica.Situated alongthenorthsideofaltaavenuemidblockbetweenoceanavenueand4 th Street,thelarge singlefamily residence is a melding of two popular period revival styles of the time: Mediterranean and Classical Revival. Sanborn maps and tax assessor records indicate that it wasoneofthefirsttobeimprovedalongthissectionofaltaavenue.asthetractdevelopedin 3 HistoricResourcesInventoryform,1983. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page5
thelater1910sand1920s,thesubjectpropertycomplementedthevariedhousingstockthat appearedintheareainarchitecturalstyling,design,mass,andscale. Intheearlyyears,thepropertyalsocontainedasmalloneroomstructurewithcoveredpatio area at that northwest corner of the parcel. Sanborn maps, census records, and some city directories indicate it had an address of 305½ Alta Avenue. During the ownership and occupancy of the Alta property during the 1920s by Martin C. Marsh, Sr., it appears this secondarystructureservedasaresidenceforhischauffeur.thisstructureisnolongerextant. PriorOwnersandOccupants(potentialpersonsofhistoricalimportance).MelvinUhl(1863 1928) and his wife Elizabeth were the initial owners of the subject property. Having just relocatedtosoutherncalifornia,specificallysantamonica,fromomaha,nebraskameluhlhad just retired from running the local paper there called the Omaha Daily News. He was co founder and president of that paper for many years and took it upon himself to have a residence built to suit his family needs and stature. The Uhl s lived at the Alta property for severalyearseventuallymovingtotheburbankareain1920. The property was then briefly occupied by William and Edna Courleigh, a retired couple. By 1924,MartinC.Marsh(18511930)andhiswifeEdnahadboughttheproperty.Theylivedthere foranumberofyearsandthepropertywaslaterownedandoccupiedtheirdaughtergeorgina and son Martin C. Marsh, Jr. until around 1940. Martin C. Marsh Sr. was a wellconnected contractorbytradewhowasnotedinthewho swhoonthepacificcoast(1913)andthepress Reference Library Notables of the Southwest publication of 1912 for his varied professions including contracting work with the railroad as well as his civic involvement throughout the State in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. After Marsh, Sr. retired from his professionalbusinessandcivicdutiestheypurchasedthepropertyandresidedthereuntiltheir deaths. A review of Santa Monica city directories for owners and residents of the property in subsequentyearsrevealedthatfrom1940upthroughatleastthe1960s,mr.andmrs.francis Kendigownedandoccupiedtheproperty.FrancisKendigwasamusicianandmusicteacher.He latertookaplanningjobatthenearbydouglasaircraftplantinthe1950sand1960s.hiswife Eunicewasahousewife. Statement of Other Significance. No other evidence was discovered in current research to suggestorindicateothersignificance. IsthepropertyrepresentativeofastyleintheCitythatisnolongerprevalent.Thesubject property is a very good early example of a Mediterranean/Classical Revival style residence constructedinthepalisadestract.fromacursorysurveyoftheareaandareviewofpreviously conductedsurveyssantamonicacontainsasubstantialnumberoflargeresidencesthatreflect influences of the Mediterranean, Classical Revival, and other period revival styles from the 1910sand1920s,particularlyintheareanorthofMontanaAvenue.Therefore,itappearsthat thisstructureisrepresentativeofastylethatcontinuestoremainprevalentinthecity. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page6
Does the property contribute to a potential historic district. The subject property was previouslyidentifiedandevaluatedinpastsurveyworkeffortsconductedbythecityasbotha contributortoacityofsantamonicapotentialhistoricdistrictandasanindividuallandmark resource. This Alta Avenue improvement was recorded in the City s Historic Resources Inventory(19851986)asacontributortoapotentialCityofSantaMonicahistoricdistrictcalled the PalisadesTract. Atthattime,itwasassignedanOHPstatuscodeof5D,eligibleforlisting as a local district contributor. It was also reevaluated and recorded as part of the citywide survey update from 2009 and was identified as individually eligible for local landmark designation.itsassociationwiththe PalisadesTract potentialhistoricdistrict;however,was removed as Alta Avenue was removed as a component of the grouping due to the loss of numerouscontributors.thesubjectpropertywasassignedanohpstatuscode5s3,indicating individualeligibleforlocaldesignation. EVALUATIONOFLOCALHISTORICALSIGNIFICANCE Insummary,basedoncurrentresearchandtheaboveassessmentthepropertylocatedat305 Alta Avenue appears to satisfy the necessary City of Santa Monica Landmark criteria for landmarkconsideration.thepropertywasevaluatedaccordingtostatutorycriteria,asfollows: ApplicationofCityLandmark(Significance)Criteria: SMMC9.36.100(a)(1).Itexemplifies,symbolizes,ormanifestselementsofthecultural,social, economic,political,orarchitecturalhistoryofthecity. ThedwellingisaverygoodexampleoftheMediterranean/ClassicalRevivalarchitecturalstyle as interpreted in domestic architecture in Santa Monica from the early 1910s. The property reflects many distinctive features of the style and period including the general scale and massing, monumental fronting and presence onto the street, hipped roof with overhanging boxed eaves with decorative carved brackets, stucco sheathing, multipane woodframe fenestration with classical style lintels and sills, prominent front door entries of woodframe andmultipaneglasswithwoodenlatticehoodssetinapalladianconfiguration,processional concretewalkwayandopendeckporch,andanoffsetportecochere.additionally,theproperty located at 305 Alta Avenue retains a high level of contextual and architectural integrity to manifestthevariedresidentialdevelopmentandarchitecturalhistoryofthepalisadestractand thecity.further,thesubjectpropertyisoneoftheearliestextantandintactexamplesofthe style along this block of Alta Avenue and in the Palisades Tract to reflect the important architecturalheritageoftheneighborhoodandcommunityingeneral.therefore,thesubject propertyappearstosatisfythiscriterion. SMMC9.36.100(a)(2).Ithasaestheticorartisticinterestorvalue,orothernoteworthyinterest orvalue. Thepropertydoesappeartomeetthecriteriaforhighaestheticorartisticvalueasitisdefined inthenationalparkservicepublicationentitlednationalregisterbulletin:howtoapplythe MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page7
NationalRegisterCriteriaforEvaluation.Thepropertyarticulatesaparticularconceptofdesign, the Mediterranean/Classical Revival style, in its overall form and architectural features. Specifically,thebuilding ssymmetry,lowpitchedhippedroofformwhichwasoriginalcovered in wood shakes, and the numerous carved brackets and trim detail exemplifies the MediterraneanRevivalaspectofthebuilding sdesign.itsclassicalcompositionisrepresented intheprominentpalladianfrontdoorconfigurationatitsfaçade,useofmultipanefenestration and window trim details, and porte cochere.the subject property fully expresses the design theories of both of these traditions as rendered in a singlefamily residence. Therefore, the property at 305 Alta Avenue appears to possess high aesthetic qualities necessary for local designationunderthiscriterion. SMMC9.36.100(a)(3).Itisidentifiedwithhistoricpersonagesorwithimportanteventsinlocal, state,ornationalhistory. ThepropertywasbuiltforMelvinUhlandhiswifeElizabethin1913.TheUhlfamilyhadjust relocated to California, specifically Santa Monica, from Omaha, Nebraska upon Mel Uhl s retirementfromrunningthelocalpapertherecalledtheomahadailynews.theyresidedthere atthealtaavenuepropertyupthroughtheearly1920s.thepropertywasthenbrieflyoccupied bywilliamandednacourleigh,aretiredcouple.by1924,martinc.marsh(18511930)andhis wifeednahadboughttheproperty.theylivedthereforanumberofyearsandtheproperty was later owned and occupied their daughter Georgina and son Martin C. Marsh, Jr. until around1940.martinc.marshsr.wasawellconnectedcontractorbytradewhowasnotedin the Who s Who on the Pacific Coast (1913) and the Press Reference Library Notables of the Southwest publication of 1912 for his varied professions including contracting work with the railroadaswellashiscivicinvolvementthroughoutthestateinthelatenineteenthandearly twentiethcenturies.aftermarsh,sr.retiredfromhisprofessionalbusinessandcivicdutiesthey purchasedthepropertyandresidedthereuntiltheirdeaths. In considering the property s association with a notable or historic person, there is no documentedinformationtoimplythateithermeluhlormartinc.marsh,c.madeanyspecific, important contributions to local, regional, state or national history while residing at the property.thesubjectpropertyisnotassociatedwiththeproductivelivesoftheseindividuals anddoesnotreflectthetimeperiodinwhichtheyachievedany,ifany,significance. Asfortheotherownersandoccupantsofthesubjectproperty,thecurrentsurveyinvestigation conducted and the research data collected did not reveal any information to indicate these individualswerehistoricallysignificantorimportantinlocal,regional,state,ornationalhistory. Therefore,thesubjectpropertydoesnotappeartosatisfythiscriterion. SMMC 9.36.100(a)(4). It embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail, or historical stylevaluabletosuchastudy. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page8
ThispropertyembodiesanumberofdistinctivefeaturesoftheMediterranean/ClassicalRevival style, including its general scale and massing, symmetry, monumental presence and façade fronting the street, hipped roof form with overhanging boxed eaves and decorative carved brackets,stuccosheathing,multipanewoodframefenestrationwithclassicalstylelintelsand sills, prominent front door entries of woodframe and multipane glass with wooden lattice hoods set in a Palladian configuration, processional concrete walkway and open deck porch, andanoffsetportecochere.givenitshighdegreeofhistoricalintegrity,thesubjectpropertyis a valuable study of the Mediterranean/Classical Revival style in the architectural history of SantaMonicadatingfromtheearly1910s.Therefore,thesubjectpropertyappearstomeetthis criterion. SMMC9.36.100(a)(5).Itisasignificantorarepresentativeexampleoftheworkorproductofa notablebuilder,designer,orarchitect. Thedwellingat305AltaAvenuewastheworkoflocalbuilder/contractorW.S.Freeman(1855 1920).WilliamS.FreemanwasabuilderwhoworkedwithhissonClaude(C.L.Freeman)under thebusinessofw.s.freeman&soninsantamonica.theywereresponsibleforconstructingat leastadozenorsorevivalstyleresidentialimprovementsinthe1910sandearly1920s;manyof which were in the Palisades Tract area. As a builder/contractor current research does not suggesttheeitherfreemanachievedahighlevelofrecognitiontobeconsideredamasteror notable member of his profession. Therefore, the property does not appear to satisfy this criterion. SMMC 9.36.100(a)(6). It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an establishedandfamiliarvisualfeatureofaneighborhood,community,orthecity. Theapplicationofthiscriteriondoesnotindicatethatthatpropertyhasauniquelocationor singular physical characteristic that makes it an established or familiar visual feature.it is situated midblock along the north side of Alta Avenue with a generous setback, within a neighborhood that shares similar scale, massing, proportions, and setbacks in its overall character. CONCLUSION Asdiscussedherein,thesubjectpropertyappearstosatisfytheCityofSantaMonica scriteria for individual designation as a local Landmark. Upon conclusion of the assessment and evaluationprocess,thepropertyretainsitshistoricalintegrityandappearstomeetseveralof the local landmark criteria because of its association with important historical events and patternsofdevelopment;aestheticvalue,andarchitecturalmerit. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page9
MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page10 CITYDIRECTORYRESEARCH(supplementedwithUSCensusrecords) 305AltaAvenue YEAR ENTRYLISTING 1914 MelUhl(Elizabeth),retired 1916 MelUhl(Elizabeth),retired 1920 MelUhl(Elizabeth) 1921 Wm.Courleigh(Edna) 1923 Wm.Courleigh(Edna) 1924 MartinC.Marsh(MaryR.),retired MartinC.Marsh,Jr.,realestate 1925 MartinC.Marsh(MaryR.),retired MartinC.Marsh,Jr.,realestate 1927 MartinC.Marsh(MaryR.) 1928 MartinC.Marsh(MaryR.) EugeneRogge(Martha),chauffeur(rearunit) 19301931 MartinC.Marsh(MaryA) MartinC.Marsh,Jr.,realestate MargaretBernard,maid(rearunit) 1933 MaryMarsh(widowofMartinC.Marsh) Mrs.MaryBernard(rearunit) 1936 GeorginaMarsh Mrs.MaryBernard(rearunit) 1940 GeorginaMarsh MartinC.Marsh,Jr.,realestatebroker Mrs.MargaretBernard(rear) 19471948 F.W.Kendig(Eunice),musicteacher Mrs.E.G.Kendig(widow),musicteacher 19521953 FrancisW.Kendig(Eunice),musicteacher 1954 FrancisW.Kendig(Eunice),musician 19581959 FrancisW.Kendig(Eunice),plannerDouglasplant 19601961 FrancisW.Kendig(Eunice),plannerDouglasplant 1963 FrancisW.Kendig(Eunice)
BIBLIOGRAPHY AssociatedTelephoneCompany.SantaMonicaExchangeCityDirectory,19281937. Basten,FredE.SantaMonica TheFirst100Years.LosAngeles:DouglasWestPublishers,1974 Basten,FredE.SantaMonicaBay:ParadisebytheSea.SantaMonica:Hennessey+Ingalls,2000. Blumenson, John.Identifying American Architecture.New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1989. Carley,Rachel.TheVisualDictionaryofAmericanDomesticArchitecture.NewYork,NewYork: HenryHoltandCompany,1994. CityofSantaMonica.SantaMonicaHistoricalResourcesInventory,PhaseI:1983.Preparedby PaulGleyeandLeslieHeumann,1986. City of Santa Monica. Santa Monica Historical Resources Inventory, Phase II: 19851986. PreparedbyJohnsonHeumannResearchAssociates,1986. City of Santa Monica. Historic Resources Inventory Update, Post Northridge Earthquake. PreparedbyParkinsonFieldAssociatesandJanetTearnen,1995. City of Santa Monica. Historic Resources Inventory Update North of Montana Area 2002. PreparedbyHistoricResourcesGroup,2002. CityofSantaMonica.HistoricResourcesInventoryUpdate.Preparedby,2007. CityofSantaMonicaBuildingandSafetyDepartment,BuildingPermits. Gebhard,DavidandRobertWinter.ArchitectureinLosAngeles.SaltLakeCity,Utah:Peregrine SmithBooks,1985. Gebhard,DavidandRobertWinter.AnArchitecturalGuidebooktoLosAngeles.SaltLakeCity, Utah:GibbsSmithPublishers,2003. Harper,Franklin,ed.Who swhointhepacificcoast.losangeles:harperpublishingcompany, 1913. Heckman,MarlinL.SantaMonicainVintagePostcards.Chicago,Illinois:ArcadePress,2002. Ingersoll, Luther A. Ingersoll s Century History: Santa Monica Bay Cities, 1542 to 1908. Los Angeles:LutherA.Ingersoll,1908. LosAngelesCountyTaxAssessor.PropertySpecificInformationRecords. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page11
LosAngelesPublicLibrary,Onlinehistoricalandimagearchives. LosAngelesTimes,July1,1890. SantaMonica, p.4. LosAngelesTimes,January9,1894. SantaMonica, p.7. Marquez, Ernest. Santa Monica Beach: A Collector s Pictorial History. Los Angeles: Angel City Press,2004. McAlester,Virginia&Lee.AFieldGuidetoAmericanHouses.NewYork:AlfredA.Knopf,1990. McWilliams,Carey.SouthernCalifornia:AnIslandontheLand.SaltLakeCity,Utah:Peregrine SmithBooks,1946,Revised1988. Office of Historic Preservation. Instructions for Recording Historic Resources.Sacramento, California:StateofCalifornia,1995. Polk&Company.Polk ssantamonicacitydirectory.losangelescounty(variousyears). ProQuestHistoricalNewspapers:LosAngelesTimes(18811988). SanbornFireInsuranceMaps,CityofSantaMonica. SantaMonicaPublicLibrary,SantaMonicaIndex. SantaMonicaPublicLibrary,SantaMonicaImageArchives. Scott,PaulA.SantaMonica:AHistoryontheEdge.Charleston:ArcadiaPublishing,2004. Storrs,Les.SantaMonica,PortraitofaCity,18751975.SantaMonica:SantaMonicaBank, 1874. TheLosAngelesExaminer.PressReferenceLibrary:NotablesoftheSouthwest.LosAngeles:The LosAngelesExaminer,1912. United States Department of the Interior. National Register Bulletin, Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government PrintingOffice,1985. United States Department of the Interior. National Register Bulletin. How to Apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation. Washington, DC: National Park Service, InteragencyResourcesDivision,1997. United States Social Security Administration. Social Security Death Index, Master File. Washington,DC:SocialSecurityAdministration,2015. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page12
Warren,CharlesS.ed.HistoryoftheSantaMonicaBayRegion.SantaMonica:Cawston,1934. Warren,CharlesS.ed.SantaMonicaBlueBook.SantaMonica:Cawston,1941. Warren,CharlesS.ed.SantaMonicaCommunityBook.SantaMonica:Cawston,1944. Whiffen,Marcus.AmericanArchitecturesince1780:AGuidetotheStyles.Cambridge:MIT Press,1999. White,Col.CarlF.ed.SantaMonicaCommunityBook(FifthEdition).SantaMonica:Cawston, 1953. MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page13
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APPENDIX LocationMap TaxAssessorMap SanbornFireInsuranceMap DPR523Forms(previoussurveyefforts) EarlyPermitHistory EphemeralMaterial Photographs MelUhlHouse,305AltaAvenue CityLandmarkAssessmentReport page14
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Location Map 0.1 WGS_1984_Web_Mercator_Auxiliary_Sphere Latitude Geographics Group Ltd. 0 0.04 0.1 Miles 1: 2,257 This map is a user generated static output from an Internet mapping site and is for reference only. Data layers that appear on this map may or may not be accurate, current, or otherwise reliable. THIS MAP IS NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION Legend Parcels Notes 305 Alta Avenue Santa Monica, CA
SANBORN FIRE INSURANCE MAP, Santa Monica 1918
SANBORN FIRE INSURANCE MAP, Santa Monica 1918
SANBORN FIRE INSURANCE MAP, Santa Monica 1918, paste-up Feb. 1950
SANBORN FIRE INSURANCE MAP, Santa Monica 1918, paste-up Feb. 1950
State of California -- The Resources Agency DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION CONTINUATION SHEET Primary # HRI# Trinomial Page 1 of 1 Resource Name or #: Mel Ule House Recorded by: Jones & Stokes Date: December 2007 Continuation Update Address on Inventory: 305 Alta Ave Legal Address (Tax Assessor): 305 Alta Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90402 APN: 4293008011 Property Name: Mel Ule House Description: The property contains a two-story single family residence. It was designed in the Mediterranean/Classical Revival style. The resource is recorded in the Historic Resources Inventory with a prior evaluation of 5S - Noma Update. This property does not appear to have been substantially modified since it was most recently surveyed. However, due to the loss of numerous contributors from demolitions and alterations, Alta Avenue no longer qualifies for inclusion in a potential "Palisades Tract District." Nonetheless, this property, as an excellent example of its style and type, appears eligible for listing as a Santa Monica Landmark. Alterations: No significant alterations have occurred since the property was last evaluated. Updated Status Code: 5S3 Historic District(s): (None) Evaluation: The survey evaluated the resource on the property as falling under criterion A.4 - The property embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or historical type valuable to such a study. Santa Monica Citywide Historic Resources Survey Prepared for: Prepared by: City of Santa Monica 1685 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2200 P. Moruzzi, M. Potter, K. Lain ICF International 811 W 7th Street, Suite 800 Los Angeles, CA 90017
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PHOTO 1: Context view of residence, looking northeast PHOTO 2: Façade (south elevation), looking north
PHOTO 3: Fenestration detail at second floor facade, looking north PHOTO 4: Front entry detail and concrete steps, looking north
PHOTO 5: South elevation (front), looking northwest PHOTO 6: Front of house with driveway and porte cochere in foreground, looking nortwest
PHOTO 7: Garage and driveway (south elevation) looking north PHOTO 8: Garage detail (south elevation) looking north
PHOTO 9: Deck along façade with projecting bay, looking west PHOTO 10: Deck along façade with adjacent porte cochere, looking northeast
PHOTO 11: Façade detail (south elevation) PHOTO 12: Façade detail (south elevation)
PHOTO 13: Aerial view (2015, Google Earth)
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