2005 fall

T HE WHITTIER CONSERVANCY

T HE P RESERVATIONIST Fall 2005

C ONSERVANCY TO H OLD A NNUAL C ANDLELIGHT W ALK D ECEMBER 12 TH

S PECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST :

B Y K AREN B ENNETT

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If there is a property, residential or commercial, that you would like to have considered for the 2006 Conservancy Awards, please call Karen Bennett at 562-6964458

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Silent Auction donations needed for 2006 Awards Dinner! Please contact Charles & Maria Claver for more information at 323651-0524

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Reach over 800 Preservationist readers! To place an ad in the Conservancy newsletter, please contact Charles & Maria Claver. Rates are $50.00 for business card size for one issue.

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Check out the Whittier Conservancy website: www.whittierconservancy.org

Victorian Visions: Variations on a Theme Each year, the Conservancy conducts a free Candlelight Walk as a holiday gift to the community. Monday, December 12 is the date for this year's Candlelight Walk. Attendees will meet at 7:00 P.M. at 6202 Friends Avenue (at the corner of Friends and Broadway).

As we walk through the surrounding historic area, we will enjoy the Christmas lights as Sally Schacht and Karen Bennett show us the exteriors of a surprising number and variety of Victorian houses that dot the area.

We will return to our starting point for refreshments, seasonal music, and a warm fire.

There is no charge for this event. Just bring a smile and a comfortable pair of shoes.

Green Dot?

Former Nixon Home Saved!

Former President Nixon's onetime residence has been saved from the wrecking ball by a local businessman.

Robert Salamone, owner of ReMax Classic Real Estate in Whittier purchased the deteriorating structure in May of this year and began the long process of restoring the former home of President Nixon's

By heather crawford

parents. Nixon, who was raised in Whittier and attended Whittier High School and Whittier College, lived there a short time when he filed papers to run for Congress in 1948 and the Senate in 1950.

The elder Nixons attended the Friends Church that is still located across the street on Whittier Blvd., and had nu-

merous relatives in the area.

The house, built in 1928, had been the home of Dashwood A n t i q u e s s i n c e 1975. Many residents were worried that a developer would purchase the building and demolish it for the commercial potential.

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The Whittier Conservancy depends on and appreciates your continued support. If you have not yet paid this year's membership dues, you will find a GREEN DOT reminder on your mailing label. Payment of your dues will ensure that funds are available to help us continue our work to preserve the historic and unique character of our community.

T HE P RESERVATIONIST

P AGE 2

P RESIDENT ’ S M ESSAGE One of the delights of living in Whittier is the hills overlooking the tree-lined streets of the city nestled below.

Dorothea Boyd, President, Whittier Conservancy

W HITTIER CONSERVANCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2005-2006 P RESIDENT - D OROTHEA B OYD V ICE PRESIDENT - K AREN B ENNETT S ECRETARY – J UDITH GARCIA T REASURER – S COTT N EAL K AREN B ENNETT C HARLES C LAVER H EATHER C RAWFORD S COTT C RAWFORD L ILYAN N EAL S AMANTHA G UYAN M ELVIN S TURR M ICHAEL TACCONI P. O. Box 9114 Whittier, CA 90608 www.whittierconservancy.org

N IXON H OME

For the hills we have to thank the expertise and perseverance of people such as Bob Henderson and Mary Hansen and the hundreds of hills supporters. For the trees we can thank the City of Whittier Park Department that takes such pride in being a member of the National “Tree City U.S.A.” In the midst of a burgeoning population and housing demands, Whittierites have

BY

D OROTHEA B OYD

formed a neighborhood association bent on the preservation of historic houses adjacent to the once delightful uptown area. A recent Saturday event opened five of these homes to public viewing, attracting over six hundred people.

immediate future and wise decisions must be made. The Conservancy will remain vigilant and participate in planning where possible as future projects develop at Nelles, Uptown, Whittier Boulevard, and as future use of the historic Bank of America and the general redevelopment of the city With so much beauty in our is considered. town it is incumbent on us, the citizens, and the city We hope, with a wise city govcouncil and the city employ- ernment, enthusiastic citizens, ees to keep a watchful eye on good planning and forethought, new developments and reno- and adherence to city codes, vations of historic homes. that our city will reach its potential as one of the gems of New development is very Southern California. much a part of Whittier’s

W HITTIER G ATEWAY P OSSIBILITIES This past summer, Whittier officials heard redevelopment proposals from four highlyesteemed teams with regard to 13.8 acres at Philadelphia and Whittier (Rasmussen property and adjacent lots).

While each plan differed in terms of the variety of mix of commercial, residential, and

BY

C HARLES C LAVER

retail, each was exciting with Greenway Trail, Whittwood, new possibilities of Whittier's and Uptown Whittier, we future and that of Uptown. now are piecing together an intricate puzzle that brings This proposal is just the most with it the promise of revirecent of several proposed talization for our community redevelopment plans slated for and consequently an increase Whittier. With the adoption in Whittier's tax revenues of the Whittier Blvd. Corridor and property values.

Specific Plan, Nelles property, CONT P. 4

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Everyone breathed a sigh of relief when it was discovered that Mr. Salamone intended on keeping the existing structure and restoring/upgrading it for office space.

The exterior received a major facelift, and now sports a new coat of paint. The interior of the house shows off the refinished hardwood floors and original interior doors, and the Nixon's

lone bathroom. Moneyline Escrow is now the proud occupant of this historic gem. This is just another example of someone caring enough to save an outstanding historic structure that ties the past to the present, and on to the future.

Our hats are off to Mr.. Robert Salamone for making the right choice!

F ALL 2005

P AGE 3

C OUNCIL ’ S C ORNER Exciting Changes in Whittier The housing boom has created an enormous demand for new housing. With the completion of the Whittier Boulevard Specific Plan a number of developers are proposing several sizable new developments.

The largest of these proposed projects, of course, is the potential redevelopment of the Fred C. Nelles property.

We have had several public meetings to assess public opinion on possible development and I believe we have a good idea of the type of project the City wants. We are currently in negotiations with the State for acquisition of the property. If this is successful it could mean a major development with a substantial number of new homes as well as commercial development that will bring important new tax revenues.

In addition, the Olsen Com-

BY

B OB H ENDERSON

pany recently was authorized to attempt to assemble properties in a 14-acre site at the corner of Philadelphia and Whittier Blvd. for another “mixed-use” development.

They are currently negotiating with owners to buy properties at fair market value and have much of the property under contract. All actual development plans will still have to be approved by the Design Review Board, Planning Commission and City Council, with input from the community.

In Uptown, the Council has circulated Requests for Proposals for updating the Uptown Specific Plan. This work will start in the near future and the city will hold public meetings to get opinions as to any changes needed in the present plan. It is vital that organizations like the C o n s e r va n cy , h i s t o r i c neighborhood associations, property owner associations, the Uptown Association, and

the public at large, stay involved in the process. Development brings the promise of reinvigorating our historic Uptown but it must be done in a way that honors the character of our city.

In east Whittier, the redevelopment of Whittwood is nearing completion, bringing with it new stores and restaurants as well a new highend condominium project.

Other housing projects should soon be filed for properties in the new “Neighborhood Spine” area (most eastern area of Whittier Blvd.) as well as some new commercial development near Whittwood.

These are exciting times that offer great hope for the future of Whittier but as always, we need to be sure that development improves and fits in with this community. Please continue to monitor these developments and give your opinions at the public hearings.

Bob Henderson, Councilmember, City of Whittier

“D EVELOPMENT BRINGS THE PROMISE OF REINVIGORATING OUR HISTORIC UPTOWN BUT IT MUST BE DONE IN A WAY THAT HONORS THE CHARACTER OF OUR CITY .”

- BOB HENDERSON

J OIN N OW !

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Please return this form with your membership fee (checks payable to the Whittier Conservancy) to: Whittier Conservancy, PO Box 9114, Whittier, CA 90608

Whittier Gateway Possibilities The largest of these redevelopment projects is the former Nelles property. While it's still far too early in the planning process, a balanced approach with residential, retail, office, historic preservation and green space would serve the area well. The Council's adoption earlier in the year of the Whittier Blvd.

Corridor Specific Plan could not have come at a more critical time. From the 605 freeway to the Nelles property,

Continued

Whittier Boulevard is extremely blighted with notable exception being the Pio Pico Mansion and the two parkway areas at Norwalk. The current blight will pose a serious, but not insurmountable challenge to the success of both the Nelles & Whittier/ Philadelphia redevelopment projects. Will prospective new homebuyers and businesses receive the wrong impression of our community as they travel along Whittier

Boulevard?

Undoubtedly, there will need to be significant cooperation between the City and County of Los Angeles, as many of the blighted properties along the southern portion of Whittier Blvd. are not in Whittier city limits. In the short term, mature trees, landscaping, and thematic lighting could be very beneficial for the entire area in setting the stage for the emergence of a real western "Gateway to Whittier."

“Will prospective new homebuyers and businesses receive the wrong impression of our community as they travel along Whittier Boulevard?”

Conservancy/ Community Calendar of events Whittier's Grand Illumination Saturday 12/3/2005 (10 am to 12 noon) Uptown Whittier

52nd Annual Christmas Parade Friday 12/2/2005 (6:30 pm to 9 pm) Uptown Whittier

The Holiday Sonata Saturday 12/10/2005 (5 pm to 9 pm) Uptown Whittier

Whittier Conservancy Candlelight Walk Monday 12/12/2005 (7 pm) 6202 Friends Avenue

T HE

WHIT TIER

CONSERVANCY P. O. Box 9114 Whittier, CA 90608 www.whittierconservancy.org

Mural of Nixon Service Station at Oil Can Henry’s

PRESERVING OUR HISTORIC AND NATURAL RESOURCES

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID WHITTIER, CA PERMIT NO. 177