HomeMy WebLinkAbout305 E Lemon Ave
COD_____________ CERTIFICATE OF DEMOLITION
COD -1- 10/23
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION (REQUIRED):
PROJECT ADDRESS
DATE STRUCTURE BUILT ZONE CLASSIFICATION
NAME OF HOA: PROJECT FILED WITH ARB (DATE):
APPLICANT(S) NAME
MAILING ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
E-MAIL ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NO.
PROPERTY OWNER(S) NAME
MAILING ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP
E-MAIL ADDRESS
TELEPHONE NO.
THE APPLICANT AND PROPERTY OWNER HEREBY DECLARE UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY THAT ALL
THE INFORMATION SUBMITTED FOR THIS APPLICATION IS TRUE AND CORRECT.
APPLICANT’S SIGNATURE DATE
PROPERTY OWNER’S SIGNATURE DATE
ACTION TAKEN
APPROVED DENIED
CONDITIONALLY APPROVED
NOTE: A DEMOLITION PERMIT WILL NOT BE ISSUED PRIOR TO ISSUANCE OF A BUILDING PERMIT FOR A
NEW RESIDENCE.
BY: DATE: EXPIRATION:
THERE IS A TEN (10) CALENDAR DAY APPEAL PERIOD FOR THIS APPLICATION. APPEALS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO THE
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIVISION WITH A $713.00 APPEAL FEE BY _______________ P.M. ON _______________________.
DATE FILED RECEIPT NO. PAID RECEIVED BY
ERIC TSANG
440 E HUNTINGTON DR STE 323
ARCADIA CA 91006
MAIL@ERIC-DESIGN.COM
9095693737
JAMES LIEU
305 E LEMON AVE ARCADIA CA 91006
JMSLIEU@yahoo.com
1/31/2025
SEE AFFIDAVIT BELOW
10/22/24 (P:\20242007-305 E. Lemon Ave\Memo-305 E. Lemon Ave.docx)
CARLSBAD
CLOVIS
IRVINE
LOS ANGELES
PALM SPRINGS
POINT RICHMOND
RIVERSIDE
ROSEVILLE
SAN LUIS OBISPO
1500 Iowa Avenue, Suite 200, Riverside, California 92507 951.781.9310 www.lsa.net
MEMORANDUM
DATE: October 22, 2024
TO: James Lieu, Property Owner
FROM: Casey Tibbet, M.A., Associate Cultural Resources Manager/Architectural Historian
SUBJECT: Historic Resources Evaluation – Primary Record and Building, Structure, and Object
(BSO) Form for 305 E. Lemon Avenue in the City of Arcadia, Los Angeles County,
California (LSA Project Number 20242007)
LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) completed a historical evaluation of the property at 305 E. Lemon Avenue
(Assessor Identification Number 5790-014-015) in the City of Arcadia. In support of this effort, LSA
conducted research and an intensive-level field survey. The evaluation was documented on
Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) 523A (Primary Record) and 523B (Building, Structure, and
Object Record) forms and the property was identified on a DPR Location Map.
As a result of LSA’s evaluation of this property, it was determined that although the 1950 Minimal
Ranch style residence retains integrity, it does not appear to be eligible for listing in the California
Register of Historical Resources under any criteria or designation under the local ordinance. In
summary, it is not representative of any important historical events and research did not positively
identify any people associated with the residence. As a common example of a common style, it does
not rise beyond the level of the ordinary and is not iconic.
For these reasons, the property at 305 E. Lemon Avenue does not qualify as a “historical resource” as
defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and, for purposes of this project, the City
may make a finding of “no impact” regarding built environment historical resources.
If the residence is proposed for demolition, the owner is encouraged to offer intact historic-period
features, such as windows, doors, and fixtures, to architectural salvage companies for reuse. Two such
companies are the Old Riverside Foundation and Pasadena Architectural Salvage.
Attachment: DPR Forms
DPR 523A (1/95) *Required information
State of California The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI # PRIMARY RECORD Trinomial
NRHP Status Code 6Z
Other Listings
Review Code Reviewer Date
Page 1 of 6 Resource Name or #: 305 E. Lemon Avenue P1. Other Identifier:
*P2. Location: Not for Publication Unrestricted *a. County: Los Angeles and (P2b and P2c or P2d. Attach a
Location Map as necessary.)
*b. USGS 7.5' Quad: El Monte, CA Date: 1994 T1N; R 11W; S.B.B.M.
c. Address: 305 E. Lemon Avenue City: Arcadia Zip: 91006
d. UTM: Zone: 11; mE/ mN (G.P.S.)
e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, etc., as appropriate) AIN: 5790-014-015
*P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries)
This one-story Minimal Ranch style residence is situated on the north side of E. Lemon Avenue in a residential neighborhood with
a mix of modern and historic-period (50 years of age or older) homes. It is rectangular in plan and rests on a raised foundation. It
has a moderately-pitched, hipped roof sheathed with composition shingles and has narrow eaves. The exterior walls are clad with
horizontal boards and stucco. The asymmetrical, south-facing façade has a pair of metal-framed casement windows, a metal-
framed ribbon window with casement end vents, an east-facing wood and glass door, and a metal-framed ribbon window with end
vent casements. The façade also features a partial-width, covered entry porch with a wood railing and a single wood post that
supports the eave overhang. A detached garage is located northeast of the house. The property is in good condition and retains a
high degree of integrity.
*P3b. Resource Attributes: (Original uses) HP2-Single-family property
*P4. Resources Present: Building Structure Object Site District Element of District Other (Isolates, etc.)
P5b. Description of Photo: (View,
date, accession #) Façade, view
north (10/8/24)
*P6. Date Constructed/Age and
Sources: Historic
Prehistoric Both
1950 (Los Angeles County Office
of the Assessor n.d.)
*P7. Owner and Address:
James Lieu
305 E. Lemon Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91006
*P8. Recorded by: (Name,
affiliation, and address)
Casey Tibbet, M.A.
LSA Associates, Inc.
1500 Iowa Avenue, Suite 200
Riverside, CA 92507
*P9. Date Recorded:
October 8, 2024
*P10. Survey Type: (Describe) Intensive-level CEQA compliance
*P11. Report Citation: (Cite survey report and other sources, or enter "none.") None.
*Attachments: NONE Location Map Sketch Map Continuation Sheet Building, Structure, and Object Record
Archaeological Record District Record Linear Feature Record Milling Station Record Rock Art Record
Artifact Record Photograph Record Other (List):
P5a. Photo or Drawing (Photo required for buildings, structures, and objects.)
DPR 523B (1/95) *Required information
State of California The Resources Agency Primary #
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION HRI# BUILDING, STRUCTURE, AND OBJECT RECORD
Page 2 of 6 *NRHP Status Code 6Z *Resource Name or # (Assigned by recorder) 305 E. Lemon Avenue
B1. Historic Name:
B2. Common Name:
B3. Original Use: Single-family residence B4. Present Use: Single-family residence
*B5. Architectural Style: Minimal Ranch
*B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations)
This residence was built in 1950 (Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor n.d.). The city does not have a building permit
file for this address. City telephone directories from the 1950s and 1960s include listings for 301 E. Lemon and 309 E.
Lemon, but not 305. A search of area newspapers did not find any references to 305 E. Lemon in Arcadia. Currently, there is
no property with the 301 E. Lemon address. The property at 305 E. Lemon is flanked by 303 on the west and 309 on the
east. For this reason, no information about the architect, builder, or owners/occupants during the historic period (pre-1975)
was found.
*B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location:
*B8. Related Features:
B9a. Architect: b. Builder:
*B10. Significance: Theme: Area:
Period of Significance: Property Type: Single-family residence Applicable Criteria: NA
(Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.)
This 1950 Minimal Ranch residence retains a high degree of architectural integrity but does not meet the criteria for listing in
the California Register of Historical Resources (California Register) or designation under the city’s preservation ordinance. It is not
a “historical resource” for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
Historic Context: Originally owned by the San Gabriel Mission and then a part of Rancho Santa Anita, the land that includes
present-day Arcadia was also owned by Scottish immigrant Hugo Reid (Architectural Resources Group 2016). Reid was the first to
make a modern impact on the land, raising cattle and building the first structure. After a succession of owners, in 1875 Elias J.
“Lucky” Baldwin purchased 8,000 acres of the rancho along with much of the surrounding area (Ibid.). He established the Baldwin
Ranch in the area that now contains the Los Angeles County Arboretum in what would become Arcadia (Ibid.). Residential
development from 1875 to 1909 is one of the first important themes in the City’s history (Architectural Resources Group 2016). See
Continuation Sheet
B11. Additional Resource Attributes: (List attributes and codes)
*B12. References:
Ancestry.com
Var. A variety of records were accessed online in October 2024 at: http://home.ancestry.com/. These include city directories,
voter registration records, and United States Census Data.
Arcadia Historical Society
2021 Arcadia History. Our History. Accessed online in September 2021 at: https://arcadiahistoricalsociety.org/arcadia-history/
Arcadia Tribune
1965 Miss Northrup to be Bride of Arcadian. June 13, page 17.
Architectural Resources Group
2016 “City of Arcadia Citywide Historic Context Statement.”
Accessed online at:
https://www.arcadiaca.gov/government/city-
departments/development-services/historic-preservation
See Continuation Sheet
B13. Remarks:
*B14. Evaluator: Casey Tibbet, M.A., LSA Associates, Inc., 1500 Iowa
Avenue, Suite 200, Riverside, CA 92507
*Date of Evaluation: October 2024
(This space reserved for official comments.)
(Sketch Map with north arrow required.)
Refer to Location Map
DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information
State of California - The Resources Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET
Primary #
HRI #
Trinomial
Page 3 of 6 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) 305 E. Lemon Avenue
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: October 2024 X Continuation Update
*B10. Significance: (continued from page 2)
In 1883, Baldwin subdivided 3,000 acres into the Santa Anita Tract (Architectural Resources Group 2016). The townsite included
“town lots, villa sites, and larger 30-acre farm parcels (Architectural Resources Group 2016:27). Despite the construction of the Los
Angeles & San Gabriel Valley Railroad (LA&SGVR) and one of its depots in the new townsite, sales were slow and “Baldwin deeded
the remaining acreage of the Santa Anita Tract to his ranch manager Hiram Unruh” who had much greater success selling the lots
(Ibid.). By 1887, the townsite was known as Arcadia and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad (ATSF) had gained control of the
LA&SGVR, bringing more traffic through the area (Ibid.).
The densest development occurred in the core of the town near the intersection of the ATSF and Southern Pacific railroads
(Architectural Resources Group 2016:33). Residential development in this part of town was on small lots, while development further
south was on multi-acre parcels (Ibid.). As late as 1903, when a census was taken to ascertain the population of the proposed City of
Arcadia, the area only had 642 residents, and many lived and worked on the Baldwin Ranch or were temporary residents working for
the railroads (Ibid.). Regardless, with a booming economy increasingly based on entertainment, horse racing, hospitality, and gambling,
Arcadia was incorporated in 1903, with Baldwin as its first mayor (Arcadia Historical Society 2021). In 1907, Baldwin established the
first Santa Anita Park, a horse racetrack that was “billed as the most modern and beautiful in the nation” and quickly became the
biggest attraction to the new city (Architectural Resources Group 2016:31). However, the track’s success was short-lived, as California
banned horse racing in 1909 resulting in the closure of Santa Anita Park (Ibid.).
Moving into the 1910s, Arcadia’s growth remained slow and steady (Architectural Resources Group 2016). However, the city began
shifting away from “its sporting days to more respectable pursuits, as it outlawed liquor licensing in 1912 and embarked on a series of
civic improvements” (Architectural Resources Group 2016:44). By 1915, electric streetlights had been installed in some areas and
streets were graded and oiled (Ibid.). Residential development in the 1910s saw the subdivision of larger parcels into smaller ones (2.5
to 5 acres) that attracted a wider variety of buyers who were interested in a more suburban lifestyle with room for some agricultural
pursuits (Architectural Resources Group 2016:49). Most of the 1910s subdivisions followed a grid pattern with graded and sometimes
paved roads without curbs or sidewalks (Architectural Resources Group 2016). In 1917, Anita Baldwin sold the old 185-acre Santa
Anita Park property to the County who deeded it to the federal government for use as a balloon training school (Architectural Resources
Group 2016). Known as Ross Field, the facility included storehouses, barracks to house approximately 3,500 men, and enormous
hangars for the hydrogen balloons, as well as many other buildings (Ibid.). This property later became Arcadia County Park.
After World War I, the region thrived and the 1920s were a transformative period in Arcadia’s development (Ibid.). Residential
subdivision accelerated with tracts designed in grid patterns like those of the 1910s, but with smaller lots (Architectural Resources
Group 2016:36). Single-family residential construction dominated the period (Ibid.). Most of these were modest in size and the earliest
were constructed in the Craftsman style, with Period Revival styles becoming dominant in the mid-1920s and into the 1930s (Ibid.). The
smaller lot subdivisions were located closer to the original town center, Pacific Electric lines, and the commercial district at Huntington
and First, while the larger multi-acre lots were in what was then the southern part of town (Ibid.).
The 1929 to 1941 period was characterized nationally by massive unemployment and economic uncertainty, but Arcadia was one of
the few places that did not experience a near cessation of construction (Architectural Resources Group 2016:65). The major factors for
this were Anita Baldwin selling off the remaining approximately 1,300 acres of the Baldwin Ranch; establishment of military facilities and
the related increase in demand for commercial businesses; and construction of a county park, which was a large Works Progress
Administration (WPA) project (Ibid.). “In 1933, California re-legalized horse race betting, and Anita Baldwin seized her opportunity to
revive her father’s racetrack dream” (Architectural Resources Group 2016:55). She sold 214 acres to a group of investors who hired
Gordon Kaufman to design the grandstand, Turf Club, and clubhouse and landscape designer Tommy Tomson to design the park’s
lush landscaping (Ibid.). “Santa Anita Park opened on Christmas day, 1934, and quickly became Arcadia’s signature landmark” (Ibid.).
Other Baldwin acreage was parceled out into several residential subdivisions that jumpstarted construction between 1936 and 1941
(Ibid.). Also in the late 1930s, Havenhurst, a development of modest homes on what was once rocky land east of Santa Anita Wash,
was “the first project of mass production of houses in Arcadia” (Architectural Resources Group 2016:70). The Baldwin developments
and Havenhurst were all located in the northern half of the city.
With the end of World War II (WWII) and the return of thousands of veterans, Arcadia and the greater Los Angeles area saw an
enormous increase in the development of affordable housing. Much of this development took the architectural vocabulary of the pre-war
years and combined it into simplified styles suitable for mass developments and small-scale apartments (City of Los Angeles 2011).
Development during the 1945-1970 period transformed the city from semi-rural to suburban, earning it the nickname a “Community of
Homes” (Architectural Resources Group 2016).
People Associated with this Residence. As explained in the construction history (B6 above), the original owner, builder, and architect
are unknown as are the owners/occupants during the historic period. Research did identify Norman F. and Mary D. Wasson at 301 E.
Lemon, which may have been the original address, but this was not verified. The Wassons were associated with 301 E. Lemon from as
early as 1952 to as late at 1969 (Ancestry.com var.). Mr. Wasson was employed as a serviceman and later as a staff instructor at the
Southern California Gas Company (Ibid.). Norman was born in 1919 and married Mary Dortha Hagerman (see Continuation Sheet)
DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information
State of California - The Resources Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET
Primary #
HRI #
Trinomial
Page 4 of 6 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) 305 E. Lemon Avenue
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: October 2024 X Continuation Update
*B10. Significance: (continued from page 3)
in 1943; together they had three children, Norman, Jr., Robert D., and Laurie Lynne (Ancestry.com var.; Longview Daily News 1999;
Arcadia Tribune 1965; Progress-Bulletin 1958). From 1962 through 1965, only Mary, a clerk at Ralph’s grocery store, is listed at 301 E.
Lemon Avenue (Ancestry.com var.). In 1969, only Norman is listed at this address (Ibid.). In 1971, Norman Sr. married Suzanne
Harrison (Ibid.). None of these people appear to be locally important and it was not verified that they lived at 305 E. Lemon.
Significance Evaluation. In compliance with CEQA, this property is being evaluated under the California Register criteria and the City
of Arcadia criteria for Landmarks (Chapter 1, Section 9103.17.060 of the City’s Municipal Code). The California Register criteria and 1-4
of the local criteria are identical, however, in addition to meeting one of the first four criteria, the local criteria also requires that the
property either be listed in the National Register of Historic Places or California Register (criterion 5) or be an iconic property (criterion
6). Because of this additional requirement, the local criteria are more restrictive than the California Register criteria. Therefore, it is
possible for a resource to meet the California Register criteria, but not the local criteria.
Criterion 1 - Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local or regional history
or the cultural heritage of California or the United States. This residence is associated with the post-WWII residential housing
construction boom that made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of local, regional, and even national history. “More than 40
million housing units were built in the United States during the 30-year period following the end of World War II, and at least 30 million
of these were single-family houses” (California Department of Transportation 2011:2). These homes were typically modest in size and
style and constructed in a short time as part of large tracts marketed to the working class. “The fundamental unit for postwar housing is
not the individual house, but the tract, or a single construction phase within a larger tract or new community” and typically a single home
would not be individually significant in this context (California Department of Transportation 2011:121). As with most homes associated
with this historic context, individually this residence is unimportant and insignificant. It is not significant under this criterion.
Criterion 2 - Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California or national history. Research was unable to
connect any people to this property during the historic period (pre-1975). Based on lack of evidence, the residence does not appear to
be associated with persons important in history. It is not significant under this criterion.
Criterion 3 - Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, region or method of construction or represents the
work of a master or possesses high artistic values. This residence retains a high degree of integrity and embodies characteristics of
the Minimal Ranch style such as the combination of wall cladding, the small front porch, narrow eaves, and lack of architectural details
or ornamentation. However, it is a common example of a very common style and does not rise to the level beyond the ordinary. No
evidence was found that it is the work of a master architect, designer, or builder and it does not possess high artistic value. It is not
significant under this criterion.
Criterion 4 - Has yielded, or has the potential to yield, information important to the prehistory or history of the local area,
California or the nation. This residence was built in 1950 using common materials and construction practices. It does not have the
potential to yield information important to the history or prehistory of the local area, California, or the nation. It is not significant under
this criterion.
In addition to meeting one or more of the above criteria, the local ordinance requires that one of the following criteria be met.
Local Criterion 5 – Is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and/or California Register of Historical Resources. The
online National Register database (current through 2012) and the National Register weekly lists from 2013 through the present, were
searched, but no listings for this property were found (National Park Service n.d.a and n.d.b). In addition, the California Office of Historic
Preservation’s (OHP) Built Environment Resource Directory (BERD) was reviewed to determine whether this property is listed in or is
eligible for listing in either the National Register or California Register (California Office of Historic Preservation 2021). It is not
significant under this criterion.
Local Criterion 6 – Is an iconic property. According to the City’s ordinance, iconic means a property that “exhibits the City’s unique
character, history, or identity and/or has been visited and photographed so often by residents and visitors to the city that it has become
inextricably associated with Arcadia” (9103.17.160 Definitions). This residence is a common type and style; it does not exhibit the City’s
unique character, history, or identity. Online searches of historic images of Arcadia did not reveal any photos of this property. It is not
significant under this criterion.
See Continuation Sheet
DPR 523L (1/95) *Required Information
State of California - The Resources Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
CONTINUATION SHEET
Primary #
HRI #
Trinomial
Page 5 of 6 *Resource Name or #: (Assigned by recorder) 305 E. Lemon Avenue
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: October 2024 X Continuation Update
*B12. References: (continued from page 2)
California Department of Transportation
2011 Tract Housing in California, 1945-1973. A Context for National Register Evaluation. Caltrans Division of Environmental
Analysis, Sacramento.
California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP)
2022 Built Environment Resource Directory for Los Angeles County. Accessed online in October 2024 at:
https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30338
City of Los Angeles
2011 Jefferson Park HPOZ Preservation Plan, City of Los Angeles. On file at the City of Los Angeles.
Longview Daily News
1999 Mary D. Wasson (obituary). March 13, page 10.
Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor
n.d. Property information accessed online in October 2024 at: https://maps.assessor.lacounty.gov/m/
National Park Service
n.d.a National Register Database and Research. Accessed online in October 2024 at:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-list.htm
n.d.b Weekly Lists Previous Years. Accessed online in October 2024 at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-lists-
previous-years.htm
Progress-Bulletin
1958 Cradle Roll. July 28, page 8.
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