Landmarks Commission Applicant Mr. Roger A Genser Application Date: 06/02/18 Reside in Santa Monica: yes If yes, number of years: 41 Licensed architect: no Local historian: yes Architect historian: no California real estate licensee: no WRITTEN REQUEST TO SERVE ADDITIONAL TERM/S If you are a current Board or Commission member, have served two full terms, and wish to submit your written request to serve a third term, please state this in the box below: INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE Current or prior service on city boards/commissions: Member Santa Monica Landmarks Commission 13 1/2 years, 2001-2014, Chair 2 years, Chair Protempore 2 years. Member Arts Commission 11 years, 1987-1995 Chair 2 years, Vice Chair 2 years. Current Member Santa Monica Arts Commission 2015-8 Community activities: I currently serve on the Arts Commission. I am involved with many other citywide and neighborhood issues. I attend various Commission, Board, Community and Council meetings. In particular, I attend all Landmarks meetings and Pier Corporation meetings (a former liaison). Member of SM Conservancy, The SM History Museum and Venice Historical Society. Board member American Historical Print Collectors Society (AHPCS), member and former Board member of the International Fine Print Dealers Association, (IFPDA). I was recently elected as a member of the American Antiquarian Society founded in 1812. I am working on several Santa Monica history research projects some involving the Huntington Library where I am a Reader, as well as other institutional archives containing SM documents and historic photos. I have explored many private archives in search of SM images. I have attended SM Conservancy advocacy meetings. There I endeavor to add my perspective regarding current Certificates of Appropriateness, development of planning and advocacy issues including the
development of the new zoning ordinance and the much needed and long overdue landmarks ordinance revisions. Although my Landmarks term expired 4 years ago, my interest in historic preservation issues remains keen. I continue to attend all the Landmarks Commission meetings until the end, usually 11pm or later. Therefore, I am fully aware of all current and pending issues and actively contribute to the discussion from the public podium. Qualifications, experience, education, and technical or professional requirements: BA in Fine Art, minor, Economics. In my professional life, I am a 41 year long dealer in works of art on paper from 1490 to contemporary. My nearly 14 years as a Landmarks Commissioner has given me a first hand working knowledge of our legal structure, application of the landmarks ordinance, our architectural history and its context within SM neighborhoods. As a result of my professional and local experience I have expertise in researching the history of Santa Monica. Through my professional activity, I work with many museums and curators across the country. I have placed items in 49 museum collections. I have an extensive Santa Monica historical reference library. From time to time I contribute images of buildings and neighborhood history to members of the community. Areas of demonstrated expertise: SM resident for 41years, I have been a community activist since 1979. Member OPCO (pre OPA) Board early 80 s. Helped organize early OPCO arts activities including the 1981 Celebration of the Arts Festival on Main Street. I served on the 1st Main Street Specific Plan Committee in the early 80 s. In 1990-92 I served as the Arts Commission liaison to the Civic Center Task Force. Served on the organizing committee for the Wilshire Blvd Design workshop ca.1992. I helped develop the City's early mural policy and the City s original % for the arts program & policy. In 1989-90, I was a strong supporter of the initial acquisition of Paul Conrad's Chain Reaction and its approval by the City Council. I supported its successful Landmarking and the recent reaccessioning through the Arts Commission. Concurrent with my early arts involvement, I have had a long time interest in historic preservation. In 1987, I was one of several Santa Monicans who helped save the now Landmarked Victorian Gussy Moran House on Ocean Ave from demolition. I worked for 17 years to help return the Stanton MacDonald-Wright WPA mural to the SM Public Library after it languished at the Smithsonian in Washington for decades. Member of the 3rd St. Historic District Committee in 2000. I currently Chair that Committee as a neighborhood member.
As a member of the Landmarks Commission I helped develop the Historic Preservation element in 2002. This important land use plan and its relationship to LUCE remains the guiding document for maintaining the current historic fabric of the City and into the future. It is the foundation for preservation, community interaction and education. Along with many others, I helped fight and defeat the anti-landmarks Prop A in 2003. This fight inspired the formation of the Santa Monica Conservancy. I was Landmarks liaison to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation for 6 years covering its transition from the Pier Restoration Corp to Pier Corporation. I am a strong advocate for maintaining the Landmark Pier s historic integrity. I continue to attend Pier meetings. I helped develop the now landmarked Post Office Conservation Covenant as a member of the LC. Goals: In 2001, my original Landmarks appointment was as a community activist for an at large seat. This was a result of my long time neighborhood involvement. I wish to continue that role to the extent that activism is permissible on a Commission that is is quasi-judicial body. My prior position as the designated Landmarks local historian came later in my tenure. This application is to fill the Local Historian seat once again. This upcoming vacancy will coincide with the requisite 4 year absence from the Landmarks Commission. Several major current and upcoming projects will be before the LC. These will have a profound impact on historic sites, resources and context. These include but not limited to: The Frank Gehry project on Ocean Ave is in its conceptual development phase. This major project involves the adaptive reuse of two landmarked buildings and the potential demolition of another historic building. I hope to add my perspective when it comes before the LC. The proposed major development of the Historic Miramar site project involves the landmark NE corner building, the Landmark Founder s tree as well the entire block that is a landmark parcel. Our historic Post Office needs to be protected while allowing adaptive reuse. It will once again come before the Commission with a new owner.
The Landmark Civic Auditorium must be celebrated and protected, but requires upgrading and earthquake retrofitting. Future public/private partnerships must be economically viable but create a Civic Center with low scale, required parking, and open space accessible to all ages and not walled off from the neighborhood. Bergamot Station is a complex project but future development should acknowledge that it sits on a rail line that dates to the beginning of Santa Monica in 1876. The name Bergamot Station dates to around 1906. This firmly establishes its place in Santa Monica Railroad history. As a member of the Arts Commission, I supported maintaining its now historic Art Center status. Bergamot Station has unique properties aside from being a rare oasis for contemporary art. In the course of the debate over its future, issues like housing, hotel revenue, union jobs & open space are fundamental, but I hope it's role as railroad center and art center are not forgotten, but celebrated. The Landmark Sears building will no doubt need additional Certificates of Appropriateness. Although affordable housing is not an issue over which the LC has purview, protection of the appropriate historic housing stock is. Courtyard housing for example, is an opportunity to maintain historic fabric, open space and protect what is now a diminishing supply of architecture built for the working class. With renewed ability to do so, the Landmarks Commission can now approve and recommend to Council new historic districts. I support the ability to protect neighborhood character through historic districts and overlays. The historic downtown core should be protected through adaptive reuse and other means. The new Downtown Community Plan reflects this goal but needs to be properly implemented. The LC must be an effective steward of the history of our built environment. However I also support and acknowledge our cultural heritage and history. For example, I supported and voted for landmarking the Village Trailer Park reflecting its unique role as a cultural landmark. This does not preclude all development on such a site, but maintains neighborhoods and low scale. I recently supported the Japanese Cultural Center landmark designation. The Carousal Hippodrome recently celebrated its 100 year birthday. It is the last remaining relatively intact structure on the Landmark Pier and is on the National Register. As a non-commissioner I have been an advocate for the restoration of the original Onion Dome and parapets and returning it to its original glory. The Historic Pier Bridge replacement project is fundamental to the Pier. Although not deemed a landmark, it connects the Landmark Pier with the Landmark Pier sign, the Landmark Palisades Park and the adjacent Landmark beachfront structures. It needs to be thoughtfully replaced. The EIR has serious shortcomings. I continue to monitor the progress.
The Historic Resources Inventory (HRI), the fundamental reference point for evaluating our built environment is in its final stages of upgrading. It needs to be properly developed & implemented. I hope to use my several decade experience in Santa Monica, the arts, historic preservation and use of development standards to help formulate, guide and implement preservation policy through the badly needed upgrading of the Landmarks ordinance. These documents will guide and protect the City for the next several decades. And of course and most importantly as a Commissioner, I will apply the Landmarks ordinance in a fair and objective way with respect to any findings required by the Commission. Vision: For the most part, this is covered and integrated into my comments in the above section. Personal Qualities: After nearly 25 years on Commissions including 4 as chair, I have a keen understanding of the roll of Commissioners and the staff and the mutual respect they must have for one another. I understand the roll of Commissions within the City structure. I listen to all sides and strive to develop consensus decisions. During public hearings I listen intently to community input and strongly consider those comments. However, sometimes one has to vote passion and conviction. A cooperative working relationship with other Commissions with overlapping jurisdictions in required. Will you be able to commit the necessary time to perform your duties if appointed to the board? yes BUSINESS INFORMATION Occupation: Art Dealer Business name: Roger Genser Business address: PO Box 5133 Santa Monica CA 90409 Business phone: (310) 392-5582