HomeMy WebLinkAbout746 Estrella Avenue
COD_____________
CERTIFICATE OF DEMOLITION
COD -1- 7/24
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 $728.00 APPEAL FEE BY _______________ P.M. ON _______________________.
DATE FILED RECEIPT NO. PAID RECEIVED BY
746 Estrella Ave, Arcadia, CA 91007
1951 R-1 (7,500)
N/A
Pengyuan Chen
600 N Rosemead Blvd, #223
Pasadena CA 91107
perrychan66@gmail.com
(626)861-9064
Evilia Waloejo
721 Val Street
Arcadia CA 91007
evilia@hotmail.com
(818)331-5164
1/17/2024
1/2/25 (P:\2024\20242106-746 Estrella Ave\Memo-746 Estrella Avenue.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: January 2, 2025
TO: Evilia Waloejo, 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 746 Estrella Avenue in the City of Arcadia, Los Angeles County,
California (LSA Project Number 20242106)
LSA Associates, Inc. (LSA) completed a historical evaluation of the property at 746 Estrella Avenue
(Assessor Identification Number 5383-021-034) 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 the altered 1951 residence
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, research did not identify any historically
important people associated with the residence. It is not representative of the post-World War II
pattern of residential development. No evidence was found indicating it is the work of a master
architect or builder. It does not possess high artistic values and is not iconic.
For these reasons, the property at 746 Estrella 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.
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 #: 746 Estrella Avenue P1. Other Identifier: 9902 Estrella Avenue
*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: 746 Estrella Avenue City: Arcadia Zip: 91007
d. UTM: Zone: 11; mE/ mN (G.P.S.)
e. Other Locational Data: (e.g., parcel #, directions to resource, elevation, etc., as appropriate) AIN: 5383-021-034
*P3a. Description: (Describe resource and its major elements. Include design, materials, condition, alterations, size, setting, and boundaries)
This one-story Ranch style residence is situated on the south side of Estrella Avenue adjacent to the western city limit. It is on a
residential block that includes a mix of modern, historic-period (50 years of age or older), and altered residences in the cities of
Arcadia and Temple City. The residence is irregular in plan and rests on a raised foundation. The moderately-pitched, side-gable
roof is sheathed with composition shingles and has narrow eaves and a brick chimney. The exterior walls are clad with horizontal
boards, brick, and stucco. The north-facing, asymmetrical façade has a vinyl-framed bay window, a recessed entry with a modern
door, a wood-framed, diamond-paned, double-hung window, and a small, projecting wing with a wood-framed, diamond-paned,
double-hung window below a small gable. The property is in good condition. Integrity has been compromised by the modern door
and bay window.
*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
south (12/10/24)
*P6. Date Constructed/Age and
Sources: Historic
Prehistoric Both
1951 (Los Angeles County Office
of the Assessor n.d.)
*P7. Owner and Address:
Evilia Waloejo
746 Estrella Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007
*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:
December 10, 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) 746 Estrella Avenue
B1. Historic Name:
B2. Common Name:
B3. Original Use: Single-family residence B4. Present Use: Single-family residence
*B5. Architectural Style: Ranch
*B6. Construction History: (Construction date, alterations, and date of alterations)
No original building permits were found for this residence. According to County Assessor information, the house was built in
1951 (Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor n.d.).
1968 – Permit issued to owners Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mueller to add 180 square-feet to the home.
1975 – Permit issued to owner Mueller to replace heat and air system
*B7. Moved? No Yes Unknown Date: Original Location:
*B8. Related Features:
B9a. Architect: b. Builder:
*B10. Significance: Theme: Area:
Period of Significance: Property Type: Applicable Criteria: NA
(Discuss importance in terms of historical or architectural context as defined by theme, period, and geographic scope. Also address integrity.)
This 1951 Ranch style residence does not meet the criteria for listing in the California Register of Historical Resources
(California Register) or for designation under the local ordinance. It is not a “historical resource” for the 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 December 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
1971 Robert Mueller Funeral Rites. August 25, page 1.
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
California Department of Transportation
2011 Tract Housing in California, 1945-1973. A Context for National
Register Evaluation. Caltrans Division of Environmental
Analysis, Sacramento.
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: January 2025
(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) 746 Estrella Avenue
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: January 2025 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 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. The original architect, builder, and owner were not found. The earliest resident identified for
this property was Robert Mueller in 1954 (Ancestry.com var.). In 1955, city directories list Robert, a right-of-way agent for Pacific
Telephone, and his wife Loneta at 9902 Estrella Avenue (now 476 Estrella) (Ibid.). According to his 1971 obituary, Robert was born in
1923 in Ohio and worked as a Pacific Telephone and Telegraph engineer (Arcadia Tribune 1971). He was survived by his wife and
children: Charlene, Ronald, and Christine (Ibid.). Based on building permits, the Muellers owned the residence until at least 1975 (City
of Arcadia var.). 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) 746 Estrella Avenue
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: January 2025 X Continuation Update
*B10. Significance: (continued from page 3)
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 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. In addition, a reconnaissance-level survey of the block
revealed that many of the homes have been altered or are modern. It does not retain enough cohesion to qualify as a potential postwar
residential historic district. The property is not significant under this criterion.
Criterion 2 - Associated with the lives of persons important to local, California or national history. Based on the research
discussed above, 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. The residence embodies some of the characteristics of the Ranch style such as
the combination of wall cladding materials and diamond-paned windows. However, it has sustained alterations (modern door and bay
window) and does not epitomize the design principals of the style more fully than others of its type. No evidence was found that it is the
work of a master architect, designer, or builder. 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 1951 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 type and style that is common throughout the city
and does not exhibit unique character or history. No evidence was found that it has been extensively photographed or visited. 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) 746 Estrella Avenue
*Recorded by LSA Associates, Inc. *Date: January 2025 X Continuation Update
*B12. References: (continued from page 2)
California Office of Historic Preservation (OHP)
2022 Built Environment Resource Directory for Los Angeles County. Accessed online in December 2024 at:
https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=30338
City of Arcadia
Var. Building permits for 746 Estrella Avenue. Accessed online in December 2024 at:
https://laserfiche.arcadiaca.gov/WebLink/Browse.aspx?startid=537578&cr=1
City of Los Angeles
2011 Jefferson Park HPOZ Preservation Plan, City of Los Angeles. On file at the City of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County Office of the Assessor
n.d. Property information accessed online in December 2024 at: https://maps.assessor.lacounty.gov/m/
National Park Service
n.d.a National Register Database and Research. Accessed online in December 2024 at:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-list.htm
n.d.b Weekly Lists Previous Years. Accessed online in December 2024 at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-
lists-previous-years.htm
Page 6 of 6
*Date of Map: 1994, 1988; 2024
746 Estrella Avenue
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DPR 523J (1/95)*Required Information
*Map Name:*Scale: 1:24000
*Resource Name or
Primary #
HRI #
Trinomial
State of California - Resource Agency
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION
LOCATION MAP
AIN 5383-021-034
746 Estrella Avenue
USGS 7.5' Quad, El Monte, Mt. Wilson; Nearmap
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
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