SPRING 2018
THIRTY YEARS OF COMMUNITY ACTION LOOKS LIKE THIS…
What do you get when you combine historic preservation with urban forest protection, quality development, affordable homes, and the beautification of Uptown? You get Penn Court, the magnificent project that has just opened at the corner of Comstock Avenue and Penn Street. This project is the result of nine years of Conservancy activism, ideas, consultation, fundraising, and perseverance that ultimately resulted in the only affordable housing project in the city in years and the only one that has included the preservation and restoration of an important piece of Whittier’s history. Guilford Hall, the landmark cornerstone of the project, once stood as a single family home on the northwest corner of Bailey and Bright. It was built by a pioneer family circa 1893 and became neighbor to the much-revered Carnegie Library that was erected at Bailey and Greenleaf in 1905. In the 1920’s the large Queen Anne
was purchased by Dr. William F. Kroener and served as both his home and his office, where he practiced as the first obstetrician in town. In 1938, during the economic downturn of the Great Depression, the Kroener family donated the great home to Whittier College. It was moved to Earlham Drive where it housed the college’s music program from 1939 through the 1960’s. Its landmark status derives from its association with Dr. Ruth Haroldson, cont. on pg. 2
URBAN FOREST SAVED IN THE NICK OF TIME The chain link fences speak for themselves. They are there to protect the four mature Canary Island pines that grace the city-owned parking lot next to Rite-Aid in Uptown. But, their protected status did not come easy. Last fall the city decided to re-pave the parking lot the way they always have: by taking down every tree, filling in the holes, and paving over every square inch of the property. They were also going to remove the jacarandas in the parking lot on Bright Street two blocks to the east. That 1972 approach, not permitted under the city’s own Tree Ordinance policy, was brought to the Conservancy’s attention by astute resident, Nina Kuka. With only hours to spare, Nina and the Conservancy appealed to the City Council, providing them with the exact code specifications that require the City to preserve and protect trees on city property and incorporate them into city projects. In conformance with twenty-first century urban forest procedures and the visionary rules already in place within the Tree Ordinance, the trees will remain in place, providing essential shade and beauty to Uptown for years to come.
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THE PRESERVATIONIST
Dedication, October 2017
founder of the Rio Hondo Symphony. The following decades saw the old home turned into a dormitory, a mail room and a printing shop. Finally, in 2008, the college sought to demolish it to make room for fifteen parking spaces behind the Campus Inn. That’s when the Conservancy, whose board of directors includes many Whittier College alumni, went into action and did what it does best: stopped the demolition of the historic home and compiled all the research necessary to qualify it for landmark status. With the help of Councilman Bob Henderson, we worked with the city housing authority, representatives from the college’s Finance Dept., and archive personnel from the public The Great Move, March 2016
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library and the Whittier Museum to find a solution that would benefit all the stakeholders. We brought in Heritage Housing Partners of Pasadena and the result was a plan that ultimately took another seven years to complete. The wait was worth it. The old gal had to be moved again, but instead of the landfill, which had been her destination eight years ago, she was on her way to a complete renovation and restoration. It was a grand sight in March of 2016 when the four-thousand square foot lady made her way up Painter, down Wardman, onto Comstock, and on her way to her new life at Comstock and Penn. The historic giant is now a duplex, its two units sold at market
SPRING 2018
1904, Fensom House 1927, Kroener House ~ Bright & Bailey
Whittier Conservancy 30th Anniversary Celebration! To receive your official invitation, sign-up at: www.whittierconservancy.org/events
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2015, Mailroom ~ Whittier College Campus
rate to offset the cost of the new units that surround Guilford Hall. This beautiful courtyard setting includes features not often found in today’s cookie-cutter condos. Each unit includes individual outdoor living space coupled with a wonderful interior courtyard for communal open space and interaction. Most unusual is the preservation of mature landscape, like the grand avocado in the center of the courtyard that was protected in-place during construction. The shaded communal center includes a bench dedicated to late Conservancy President Ted Snyder, a fierce defender of preservation and open space. Guilford Hall and Penn Court were dedicated exactly thirty years after the Conservancy was formed to preserve and protect the very best of Whittier. We are proud to showcase this development as the crowning jewel of our 30th Anniversary. Come see for yourself.
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1940, Guilford Hall - Music Building ~ Whittier College Campus
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September 29 3
THE PRESERVATIONIST WHITTIER’S LANDMARK HOMES
The Plaque Project In a joint venture with the Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association, the Conservancy has begun the ambitious plan to provide plaques to all city-designated landmarked structures in Whittier. On March 17th, armed with drills, screw drivers, and cement screws, members of both organizations installed the plaques at qualifying residences. The idea for this visual identification originated from Conservancy board member Gwen Woirhaye after she observed similar contextual labels in Europe. A companion book detailing the history of all 100 landmarks will be produced by the Conservancy as a readable addition to the inventory of Whittier’s rich history. Homeowners in the Hadley/Greenleaf and Central Park Historic Districts were the first to receive these distinctive markers and the second wave is soon to come. Any landmarked home, Mills Act residence, or commercial building already designated can receive a plaque free of charge. It is our gift to the community.
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SUMMER 2018
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THE PRESERVATIONIST
Motel 6 Turn the Lights Off
Envision Whittier, Together! JUNE 20
If you’re concerned about the future of Whittier and want to make a difference, now is your chance. About every 20 years the city updates its General Plan, which is a state-mandated blueprint for how the city will look and what will be built for the next The neighbors were out in force when the City Council took generation. It includes priorities that come directly from the public up consideration of the Motel 6 project proposed for Whittier that shape the city’s goals and policies going forward. Blvd. next to the old Polly’s Pies site. Citing concerns about noise, Components such as zoning, infrastructure, parks, open space, lights, drugs, seedy clientele, and an inappropriate use adjoining a residential and commercial development, conservation and historic residential neighborhood, residents were galvanized in opposition preservation will all become part of the cohesive plan that should to the motel. reflect the needs and desires of the residents. But without input The Conservancy quoted the Whittier Boulevard Specific Plan from everyday citizens, these plans can and will be crafted by those Center District development and design standards and was able to whose interest may conflict with and actually interfere with those prove that the project did not meet either the intent or the language of us who live, work and play in Whittier. of the municipal code in several important areas. It was squeezed To make the most of this opportunity, let your voice be heard onto the site with no amenities, minimal parking, and poor quality attending “Envision Whittier” at 5 pm on Wednesday, June design. Presenting the decision makers with parking requirements 20th at Parnell Park (Lambert and Scott). There will be other from nearby cities, it was clear that the project did not meet opportunities to weigh in during public hearings later in the year, minimum parking standards. It also did not provide usable public but this is the final public event that will influence the findings of open space, as required, and did not have a grand entrance facing the consultants prior to the release of the draft document. the street, also a requirement in the code. GO TO: www.envisionwhittier.org Fortunately, the city council agreed, citing the Conservancy’s testimony as legal parameters under which they denied the project. We were pleased to have helped to empower another THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT group of civic-minded residents to stand up for their neighborhood in the face of corporately-modeled, cookie-cutter, sub-standard development that only serves investors, not the area residents who have to live with the fallout.
EMBODIES
Nelles Developer & Conservancy Reach Agreement The seven-year battle to save the historic Nelles School has ended. In an agreement brokered by Councilman Bob Henderson, the Conservancy agreed to drop its legal challenges to both the State of California and the City of Whittier through a compromise solution that required give-and-take on all sides. The Nelles School site, along with eight magnificent historic buildings and its iconic track and field, is registered California Landmark # 937. The plaque calling out its prominence in California history still graces the entrance on Whittier Blvd. Since it is a state-owned property, our argument has always been that its assets belong to the people of California and that any new development should respect the historic fabric of the site while providing much-needed open space to the community upon its redevelopment. 6
OUR MOST SUSTAINING
CULTURAL MEMORIES
Nelles, 1922
The settlement among the Conservancy, the State, and the City protects four of the eight buildings in perpetuity, requiring them to be incorporated into any future development of the site. It also establishes a preservation mitigation fund for work on future projects to ensure the protection and enhancement of the remainder of Whittier’s historic resources and provide seed money for matching grants.
SPRING 2018 Mission Statement
The Whittier Conservancy is committed to the preservation and enhancement of Whittier’s unique character and quality of life. The Conservancy promotes awareness and appreciation of Whittier’s historic, aesthetic, and natural resources. The Conservancy works for the preservation and sensitive use of Whittier’s significant residential structures, landmark commercial buildings, and notable landscapes, including its valuable cultivated trees, public parks, and the natural beauty of the Whittier Hills.
Join The Whittier Conservancy Please consider making a tax deductible contribution. Kindly complete and send this form with your tax-deductible donation to: $25.00
Student
$50.00
Friend
$100.00
Patron
$250.00
Preservationist
$500.00
Heritage Circle
$1000.00
Environmental Steward
_________
Other Contact me
The Whittier Conservancy, P.O. Box 9114, Whittier, CA 90608-9114
Yes, I want to support our cultural heritage! Name Address Phone Email
I want to volunteer!
* If you would like to consider making a Planned Giving donation to the Whittier Conservancy as
part of your estate planning, please contact us to schedule a meeting with your financial advisors.
WHITTIEr CONSERVANCY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2018
INTERIM PRESIDENT
MARY GORMAN-SULLENS VICE-PRESIDENT
FRED KERZ TREASURER
MEL STURR SECRETARY
GWEN WOIRHAYE CHARLES CLAVER TANIA CRUSE DAVID DICKERSON CONNIE MILLER JUDITH PRATHER THERESA RIVAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
HELEN RAHDER P. O. Box 9114 Whittier, CA 90608
www.whittierconservancy.org info@whittierconservancy.org
Help Us Keep Whittier Special 30 Years & Counting! In our work to protect Whittier’s quality of life—whether it’s saving a historic building, an entire neighborhood, or a single tree—nothing comes easy. Thirty years of non-stop action on our part has put Whittier on the map as a community that cares about both its heritage and its future. The Conservancy has become the go-to organization for community members who recognize the need for cooperation and continued vigilance in order to protect the integrity of existing neighborhoods, while allowing for appropriate development to succeed in order to serve the needs of the next generation. People move to Whittier because of its tree-lined streets, its incomparable housing stock, and the beauty and ambiance of our most visible asset: the Whittier Hills. But none of these would still be intact without the on-going, trail-blazing work and courage of our greatest asset: the people; volunteers who tough it out to ensure that these accomplishments are not unraveled, unremembered, or undone. Look around you. This is our legacy. We invite you to join our effort, contribute with your energy, your talent, and your money and help us keep Whittier special for future generations to enjoy.
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NONPROFIT ORG.
THE PRESERVATIONIST
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The Whittier Conservancy P.O. Box 9114 Whittier, CA 90608-9114
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Whittier Conservancy Application inside! Support Whittier’s uniqwue history and quality of life!
COMMUNITY CALENDAR / EVENTS / NOTES City of Whittier CONCERTS IN THE PARK CENTRAL PARK - MONDAYS 7PM June 25 / Moonlightexpress - Big Band July 9 / Clapton Road - Eric Clapton July 16 / Kings of 88 - Piano Rock July 23 / Identity Theft - 80s July 30 / The Society - Top 40s August 6 / Einstein Band - Reggae
PARNELL PARK - THURSDAYS 7PM June 28 / Smokin’ Cobras - 50s & 60s July 12 / Trinty-Styx, Foreigner & Journey July 19 / My Generation - British Invasion July 26 / Lascolibri - Mariachi August 2 / Cold Duck - Latin & Top 40s August 9 / Time Bomb - 1975 - 1985 Hits
JULY 4 - City of Whittier Fireworks Spectacular FIREWORKS SHOW! Safe, family fun with inflatables, food vendors, live music by Stone Soul | 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM York Field, 9110 Santa Fe Springs Rd. Gates open @ 5PM Fireworks show @ 9PM Info: 562-567-9430 Fees/Admission: $5 per adult, children under 18 Free! JUNE 26 - Whittier Central Library Let’s Read Together with Dogs Children are welcome to practice their reading skills with friendly, certified therapy dogs. Studies show that practicing reading aloud to these sweet, non-judgmental animals, helps kids gain confidence and boosts their reading skills. 6:30PM - 7:30PM Contact: 562-567-9900 Whittier - CA Grown - Farmers Market Vegetables, fruits, flowers, breads, fresh fish, and more. Parking lot on the corner of Philadelphia & Bright. 8AM - 1PM, every Friday
Look around town and see what’s happening in your neck of the woods! This fall, the Conservancy will be
honoring the best of Whittier by presenting awards for renovation, rehabilitation, restoration, adaptive re-use, new construction, and outstanding landscape. To nominate a property for consideration, submit your ideas to us at: www.whittierconservancy.org. All properties will be considered by the Awards Committee and winners will be announced in our publications and in the Whittier Daily News.
Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats Each event includes special extras, including onstage entertainment, photo booths, afterparties at Clifton’s, and more! Info: www.laconservancy.org Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988), Saturday, June 16, 2PM The Birds (1963), Saturday, June 16, 8PM Step back in time at the Los Angeles Theatre, the most lavish of Broadway’s great movie palaces.
Friends of the Whittier Public Library Support your library, donate and shop at the “Friends” bookstore, corner of Comstock & Bailey. Hours: Tues 10-2, Fri 9-12, Sat 10-12 562-696-4498
Whittier Conservancy 30th Anniversary Celebration! Sept. 29, 2018. To receive your official invitation, sign-up at www.whittierconservancy.org/events
Band shell at Central Park Creator/Contributor: Unknown Image from Calisphere. Calisphere is a service of the UC Libraries, powered by the California Digital Library. Copyright © 2007, The Regents of The University of California. Contributing Institution: Whittier Public Library, from the Whittier Library History Room, photograph collection Contributor: Unknown
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JULY 15TH.
SPRING 2018