HomeMy WebLinkAbout7605RESOLUTION NO. 7605
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, APPROVING HISTORICAL LANDMARK NO. HL 24-01
WITH A CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION UNDER THE CALIFORNIA
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT ("CEQA") TO DESIGNATE THE EARLE
L. AND MADY G. BROD HOUSE DESIGNED BY MASTER ARCHITECT
RICHARD NEUTRA AS A HISTORICAL LANDMARK AT 1203 OAKWOOD
DRIVE
WHEREAS, on August 2, 2024, a Historical Landmark application No. HL 24-01
was filed by the Property Owner, Chris Karlen ("Applicant'), to designate his house, the
Earle L. and Mady G. Brod House ("Brod House") designed by notable Master Architect,
Richard Neutra, as a historical landmark at 1203 Oakwood Drive; and
WHEREAS, on September 19, 2024, Planning Services completed an
environmental assessment for the designation of a historic resource in accordance with
the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") and determined that the designation
of a historic resource is exempt under Section 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines pertaining
to actions by regulatory agencies for the protection of the environment; and
WHEREAS, on October 8, 2024, a duly noticed public hearing was held before the
Historic Preservation Commission on said application, at which time all interested persons
were given full opportunity to be heard and to present evidence. The Historic Preservation
Commission voted 4-0 with one Commissioner absent, and recommended that the City
Council approve the Brod House as a local landmark; and
WHEREAS, on November 19, 2024, a duly noticed public hearing was held before
the City Council on said application, at which time all interested persons were given full
opportunity to be heard and to present evidence.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The factual data submitted by the Development Services Department
in the staff report dated November 19, 2024, are true and correct.
SECTION 2. This City Council finds, based upon the entire record, pursuant to
section 9103.17.060 of the Development Code, that the potential resource is eligible to
be designated as a landmark based on one of the four criteria for designation and that as
an individual resource, the building must also comply with one of the two additional
requirements listed in the Local Eligibility and Designation Criteria of the Development
Code to be eligible for designation. Those required findings are set forth below:
1. It is associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the
broad patterns of Arcadia's or California's history;
2. It is associated with the lives of persons important to local or California
history;
3. It embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region, or
method of construction, or represents the work of master, or possesses high artistic
values; or
4. It has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the
prehistory or history of the city or state.
FACT: The potential historic resource meets criteria no. 3. The Brod House is
significant under this criterion because the house embodies the distinctive characteristics
of the Mid -Century Modern architectural style, is an excellent example of a renowned
architect, and possesses high artistic values. The design of the home is completely true
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to the characteristics of Mid -Century Modern architecture. While many of the surrounding
homes in the neighborhood are designed in a more traditional Ranch style, the Brod
House was ahead of its time in providing design features new to the period in which it
was constructed and now are common architectural features seen in many homes.
Today, the house remains one of the few examples of extraordinary execution of the Mid -
Century Modern design in the entire City. Some of the features that embody the distinctive
characteristics of the Mid -Century Modern during this period and are present on the
design of the Brod House are:
• The flat roof and long, horizontal profile of the home
• Post -and -beam construction
• Use of simple modern materials such as concrete, stucco, glass, brick, and wood
• Integration of the home with the outdoors through the use of glass and materials
that continue from the inside to the outside
• Sliding, casement, and clerestory windows and sliding glass doors
• Functional and thoughtful built-in furniture
• Many paths of travel throughout the house
Furthermore, the residence is an excellent example of Richard Neutra's work in
retaining a high number of signature character -defining features associated with his
residential architecture in the postwar years including features such as walls that project
above the roof line to provide alternating heights on the home, "spider leg" beams which
are a trademark Neutra feature, "Factorlite" glass windows, and his execution of
connecting the interior space with the outdoors through the use of vast amounts of glass.
The large expanses of glass windows and doors along the northeast corner of the house
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in conjunction with the garden room, which can be opened and combined with the interior
space, is the most exceptional design element of Neutra's work on the Brod House and
not seen on many other of his works. It is evident that The Brod House has not been
significantly altered since it was first built, therefore maintaining it in Neutra's original form
and retaining its architectural integrity. Additionally, it is the only house in Arcadia that
was designed by Neutra and is one of the best examples of his work.
SECTION 3: In addition to the requirements listed above, an individual resource
must satisfy at least one of the following requirements:
1. It is listed on the National and/or California Register of Historic Places
FACT: The subject site is not listed on the National or California Register of Historic
Places but has been determined to be eligible for listing by the historical architect, as the
Brod House meets the criteria for listing and rises to level of state and national historic
designation. The City of Arcadia's historic preservation ordinance mirrors the criteria of
the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historical
Resources. The subject property retains all seven aspects of integrity for consideration
as a historic landmark, as defined by the National Park Service, including location,
workmanship, design, materials, feeling, and association. As for the setting component
of integrity, the Brod House has had few changes over the years similarly to many of the
homes within the vicinity in the Highlands and the neighborhood has maintained its
architectural integrity over the years. The house has also retained a high degree of
integrity due to the minimal changes that have been done to it throughout its history. Many
of Neutra's other homes have been altered in some form making this home a rare,
preserved example of Neutra's Mid -Century Modern work. Therefore, the subject property
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is an excellent candidate for designation as a historic landmark at the local, state, and
national level.
2. It is an iconic property
FACT: The Brod House is an iconic property within the City of Arcadia because
the residence is the only home in Arcadia designed by Richard Neutra, is an excellent
example of Mid -Century Modern architecture, and has undergone relatively few changes
in the last 75 years.
SECTION 4. Pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality
Act ("CEQA"), the proposed historic landmark designation qualifies as a Class 8
Categorical Exemption. This is because the project consists of actions taken by the City
to assure the maintenance, restoration, enhancement, and protection of the environment,
and the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment per
Section 15308 of the CEQA Guidelines.
SECTION 5. For the foregoing reasons, the Historic Preservation Commission
determines that the proposed historic landmark designation is Categorically Exempt
under the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") Section 15308, Class 8, and
recommends that the City Council approve a historic landmark designation for the Earle
L. and Mady G. Brod House at 1203 Oakwood Drive.
SECTION 6. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
[SIGNATURES ON THE NEXT PAGE]
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Passed, approved and adopted this 17th day of December, 2024.
ATTEST:
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City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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Michael J: Maurer
City Attorney
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Mayor of the City of Arcadia
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES) SS:
CITY OF ARCADIA )
I, LINDA RODRIGUEZ, City Clerk of the City of Arcadia, hereby certifies that the
foregoing Resolution No. 7605 was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of
Arcadia, signed by the Mayor and attested to by the City Clerk at a regular meeting of said
Council held on the 17th day of December, 2024 and that said Resolution was adopted by
the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Cheng, Fu, Wang, Kwan, and Cao
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
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City Clerk of the City of Arcadia