Planning & Community Development Department 180 South Euclid Avenue Demolition of Existing Structure Consolidated Design Review (Appeal) City Council June 6, 2016

Planning & Community Development Department City Council Direction City Council reviewed an appeal on April 18, 2016 and continued the hearing for further study of possibility of retaining portions of the front of the house as part of a future development project. Majority of Council members agreed that the building no longer retains integrity and could be demolished. The public hearing was continued to allow applicant to evaluate whether any portions of the street façade could be retained and incorporated into a future development project. 2

Planning & Community Development Department Project Location 3

Planning & Community Development Department Studies Conducted 4 Applicant consulted with a structural engineer and an architect experienced with historic structures. Found that structural issues with the porch will not allow features on the front of the house to be retained, relocated and incorporated into a new project. Significant, likely complete, reconstruction of the façade features would be required. Staff reviewed and concurs with the structural report.

Planning & Community Development Department Staff Analysis Retention of features on the front of the house would be design exercise rather than a preservation exercise. Staff understands Council’s direction was to retain as part of a new development project a residential character that recalls the existing building. Character elements of the façade would include, the front porch and dormer above (particularly the scale of these features), the porte cochere and, the missing pergola. The new project could be designed to include these features, in a way that would be compatible with the architecture of the new project, subject to Design Commission review during the required design review process. 5

Planning & Community Development Department Key architectural features - recreated 6

Planning & Community Development Department Recommended Conditions 1.The existing conditions of the building shall be documented in photographs as specified in the archival photographic requirements for the Planning Division, which are adapted from the Historic American Building Survey and copies of the photographs shall be submitted to the Planning Division prior to issuance of a demolition permit. 2.The applicant shall study the incorporation into any future development project, the site features on the street-facing elevation that recall the scale, covered and elevated front porch, porte cochere and former pergola of the existing house on the property. Such features need not be exact replicas of the existing features, should be stylistically compatible with the design of the new project, and shall be subject to review and approval by the Design Commission. 7

Planning & Community Development Department Staff Recommendation 1.Find that project is exempt from CEQA under class 1, existing facilities; 2.Acknowledge that no protected trees are proposed to be removed; 3.Find that the project is consistent with the purposes of design review and the applicable design guidelines and will not cause a significant adverse effect on a historic resource as defined in the State CEQA guidelines, and; 4.Based on these findings, approve the application for consolidated design review to demolish the house at 180 South Euclid Avenue, subject to two conditions. 8

Planning & Community Development Department 180 South Euclid Avenue Demolition of Existing Structure Consolidated Design Review (Appeal) City Council June 6, 2016

Planning & Community Development Department Project Description Demolish existing potentially historic building to allow for development of the site. Pursuant to the Zoning Code, an application for design review is required to demolish a potentially historic building in the Central District. Application submitted to obtain an official determination from the City as to the historic status of the building based on previous and current evaluations by architectural historians and staff. If approved for demolition, a future application would be submitted for development itself – no demolition would be authorized until a building permit is issued for a proposed new development. 10

Planning & Community Development Department West (Euclid Ave.) Elevation Built in 1906; Designed by C.W. Buchanan

Planning & Community Development Department Historical Image 12 Source: The Architect & Engineer of California, February 1908

Planning & Community Development Department Application Background Design Commission disapproved application on November 24, 2015 Applicant appealed decision on November 30, 2015 New information was submitted on January 14, 2016 In light of new information submitted, City Council remanded the appeal to the Design Commission on February 1, 2016 Design Commission reviewed new information on February 23, 2016 and did not change its previous determination to disapprove the application City Council reviewed appeal on April 18, 2016 and continued hearing for further study of possibility of retaining portions of the front of the house as part of a future development project. 13

Planning & Community Development Department Presentation Overview Project location & description Application background Current and historical photographs of street facade City Council direction from April 18, 2016 meeting Information from applicant Staff analysis Staff recommendation 14