DRAFT Letter

DATE

Members, Cultural Heritage Commission
c/o Gabriel Williams, Commission Executive Assistant
Department of City Planning
200 N. Spring Street, Room 532
Los Angeles , CA 90012

SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE COMMISSION ACTION ON PROPOSED 4,491 SQUARE-FEET, TWO-STORY SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING AT 4274 SEA VIEW LANE THAT WILL ADVERSELY IMPACT THE WOLFORD HOUSE, CITY HISTORIC-CULTURAL MONUMENT NO. 614

CASE NO. DIR-2005-3879 – SPP

Dear Commissioners,

At its Board meeting on October 24, 2005, the Arroyo Seco Neighborhood Council (ASNC) voted unanimously to support the three appeals filed with the Department of City Planning regarding the Letter of Determination that the subject project conforms, as modified, to the Mount Washington/Glassell Specific Plan Ordinance. The ASNC is notifying the East Los Angeles Planning Commission of its position on this matter.

The Determination Report did not consider the project's impacts on the Wolford House, City Historic-Cultural Monument No. 614. Land will be taken away from this Monument to expand the lot area for the proposed project which would degrade this historic resource. The ASNC requests that the Cultural Heritage Commission (CHC), public stewards of over 820 City designated historic buildings and properties take immediate action and schedule this item for a public meeting. We ask the CHC to:

•  Deny the lot line adjustment;

•  Activate the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which protects the historic Wolford House and site from adverse impacts of the proposed project; and

•  Reconsider the eligibility of the Wolford House and site for the Historical Property Program (Mills Act).

As you may know, Sea View Lane is a unique street with four City Historic-Cultural Monuments and a concentration of mid-century modern homes on multiple lots, several of which may be eligible for historic-cultural designation. CHC must protect these historic resources in our community.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this matter. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at (323) 221-9807.

Sincerely yours,

Pat Griffith
President

cc: Krista Kline, Director of Housing and Economic Development, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Monica Garcia, CD14
Charlie Fisher, Highland Park Heritage Trust
James and Marilyn De Long
Mike Estrada, Vice President, Los Angeles Conservancy
Natalie Seaman, President, Mount Washington Association
Eliot Sekuler, Chair, Local Issues Committee, ASNC