Photos by Adrian Scott Fine/L.A. Conservancy
Saved: Chez Jay
Resolved: Santa Monica Post Office
Watch List: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
Certified Local Government
Santa Monica Conservancy
Santa Monica History Museum
Santa Monica established its historic preservation ordinance in 1976 and has many programs in place to protect its architectural and cultural heritage.
The city became a Certified Local Government in 1992, indicating its strong commitment to a professionalized preservation program.
The city does not require owner consent to designate landmarks, while the Landmarks Commission reviews proposed demolitions to all structures throughout the city that are forty years of age or older.
In addition to the Mills Act property tax abatement program, Santa Monica offers a range of other incentives to owners of historic properties, including priority plan check processing; fee waivers for Certificates of Appropriateness, planning applications, and plan check applications; and exemption from requirements of the city's construction rate program.
If you'd like to get involved in preservation in Santa Monica, we suggest the following resources:
Steve Mizokami
steve.mizokami@smgov.net
Most of the following resources are specific to Santa Monica. For general resources related to local preservation and our Preservation Report Card, please visit our Report Card microsite.
If any of these links are broken or incorrect, or if you would like to suggest other resources for preservation in Santa Monica, please let us know by emailing info@laconservancy.org.
Gehry House
Starting with a Dutch Colonial Revival and building around it, Gehry would strip much of the interior while adding a new exterior of wood clad in plywood, glass, corrugated metal, and chain-link fencing.
100 Wilshire
More than just an entertainer, Lawrence Welk was also a canny developer who put his mark on Santa Monica with the Champagne Towers apartment complex and the General Telephone high-rise office tower.
Pacific Street Townhouses
A Postmodern/High-Tech complex that resembles, at first glance, a piece of massive yellow-and-white machine equipment at a temporary halt.
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
This Corporate International Style auditorium designed by Welton Becket & Associates was recognized by the American Institute of Architects with an Honor Award in 1960.
Photo by Noah Webb
Annenberg Community Beach House at Santa Monica State Beach
William Randolph Hearst's oceanside estate for actress Marion Davies is now a community beach house open to the general public, no membership required.