This same home won in 1993 for sensitively restoring brickwork that had been damaged in the 1987 earthquake. Through the years this home has been lovingly maintained and was again nominated this year. This single story Craftsman is highlighted by four large brick piers that support the front entrance. The concrete porch has a rounded edge that sits above a brick foundation. The earth tone that covers the entire house harkens back to the original Craftsman ideal that tried to blend the structure into the surrounding land. The simple elegance of this home has been lovingly cared for and is truly deserving of the 2014 award.
This 1886 Queen Anne Victorian sat vacant and almost invisible for many years. Through the efforts of the Garvanza Improvement Association and the complete dedication of the owner, the Dr. Smith House has been returned to its turn of the century glory. Visible once again are the tall Italianate windows, decorative fretwork surrounding the numerous gables, and the spindled porch columns. The concrete Tuscan columns that lined the main entrance are once again standing proud. A cottage that was built in 1920 was also lovingly restored. The tremendous undertaking that went into the sensitive restoration of one of the highlights of Garvanza is truly deserving of the 2014 award.
This double gabled Craftsman is surrounded by a beautiful arroyo stone wall that is topped by a simple wooden picket fence. The avocado green clapboard siding has a horizontal one over two pattern. A darker green and crimson trim set off its many architectural features which include a gabled roof and a gabled porch roof which are highlighted by three knee braces on each gable. Button purlins embellish the top of the porch and the original first door features beveled glass. An archway leads to a beautifully landscaped yard. The care and commitment to this charming property is quite evident and is well deserving of the 2013 award.
This well maintained Victorian with Second Empire influences was the home of William Lees Judson. The home still sits across the street from Judson Studios, which at one time housed the USC School of Fine Arts and Architecture. The zany eclectic nature of the house stems from the fact that some of the students were involved in the design. The house features an arroyo stone ground floor and an alternating shingle pattern on the second story. A turret sits toward the rear of the right side of the house. The owners scrapped unsightly excess mortar off the arroyo stone wall and returned it to its original state. The yard has also been upgraded by planting Cypress trees and a jasmine vine. The owner’s dedication to the historic integrity of this Garvanza gem is definitely deserving of the 2014 award.
Linda Phelps says she never set out to be an activist. Taking a clue from her mother, Linda naturally became active in the community and, when the Highland Park Heritage Trust was formed, she volunteered to serve in whatever capacity was needed. She has been a member all these years and has served on the board of directors for most of those years. As Linda says, “I never thought much about it, I just did it.”
Café de Leche owners Matt and Anya Schodorf have provided a gathering place. In the scheme of things, by being innovative, seeking to use the space to the fullest, uncovering the beautiful amber leaded glass along the top part of the windows, and opening up the interior ceiling and walls to expose the ducts and the brick, they created a space that is welcoming and current in a historic setting.
When one enters the Barras Salon they are entering a world of urban chic, right here on Figueroa Street. Mr. Barras took an older building and adapted it to the needs of a contemporary market. He bestowed an urban sophistication on an this structure while being respectful of its historic roots. Barras has been operating his salon for approximately one year. In this short time he has transformed a building that had too many walls, a low suspended ceiling and a linoleum floor into an excellent example of adaptive reuse that respects the architectural integrity of the past and meets the needs of the present. He opened up the space by removing non-historic walls, by polishing the cement floors until they shone, and exposing the original arched windows that show what the building would have looked like even though they are still sealed with cinder blocks. He also revealed the ducts and ceiling joists to give it a more open feeling. Amazingly, he did all of this himself while maintaining a full time job. The tremendous amount of time and energy that went into this adaptive reuse within the heart of the Highland Park Overlay Zone is to be applauded and is well deserving of the 2009-2010 award.
The Pisgah Church, also known as Christ Faith Mission, began in 1895 and included eleven historic structures that housed Reverend Finis E. Yoakum and his followers. Pisgah has been a continuous part of the Highland Park community, at times serving the homeless and always a way station for its followers. A few years ago it was decided to rehabilitate Pisgah Village and create 47 units of quality, affordable housing. By using irregular massing, low-pitched roofs and the addition of front porches, the new housing blends in well with the neighboring structures and still allows the Pisgah Home to maintain dominance on the site. The new buildings are not only respectful of the existing architectural integrity, but are sensitive to the environment by using finishes and materials that are eco-friendly. In keeping with the historic layout of the property, a lovely, new courtyard was created for the residents and an existing courtyard shaded by a large California Oak was retained. The use of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties allowed Pisgah Village to be listed as a National Register Historic District. The tremendous amount of time and energy that went into the project and its sensitivity to the historic fabric is truly commendable and well deserving of the 209-2010 award.
In 1984 the statue of Chicken Boy was removed from the roof over the Chicken Boy restaurant, which had recently closed. Amy Inouye campaigned to save the roadside icon and eventually acquired it and put it into storage. Unable to find a proper new public home for him, he languished in storage for 23 years. Upon moving to Highland Park, plans and permits were secured to install Mr. Boy on top of her office on Figueroa Street, where he found a permanent roost in 2007. A true grassroots preservation effort, the Story of Chicken Boy won first place as the 2009 California Preservation Foundation’s Three-Minute Success Story. The dedication to preserving this icon on Route 66 – where it originally had its home – is truly commendable and very well deserving of the 2009-2010 award.
Antiqua Cultural Coffee House has preserved the past while basking in the present. The business owner took a former ice cream parlor that had much of its architectural integrity intact and adapted it to the needs of a community that serves both a grade and middle school. The neighborhood received a much needed eating establishment and the schools acquired a place to gather. This endeavor was a challenging undertaking and is to be commended. The owners’ foresight has preserved the historic fabric of the building and at the same time serves hundreds of students and the residents of the surrounding area. The owner’s actions are to be praised and he is very well deserving of the 2009-2010 award.
