The Santa Monica Conservancy will be recognizing exemplary contributions to the preservation of Santa Monica’s architectural and cultural heritage by honoring individuals, building owners and architectural firms at its Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 24.
“Preservation is frequently an ongoing process representing dedication and investment over many years,” said Carol Lemlein, President of the Board of the Conservancy. “We are delighted to showcase these accomplishments, some of which began a decade or more before the Conservancy was founded in 2002.”
President’s Award
The Conservancy’s President’s Award will be presented William and Lenore Lambert for the example set by their stewardship of the Biedler-Heuer Building at 2701-2705 Main Street, home of businesses Jadis, Paris 1900, and the Chinois-on-Main banquet hall. The Lamberts, second generation owners, approached the Landmarks Commission about the building during a discussion about the historic structures on Main Street. After it was designated, they wondered how anyone would know it is a City landmark and recently erected a historic plaque describing its significance.
Restoration Award
Paul Attanasio and Katie Jacobs, owners of the Isaac Millbank House at 236 Adelaide, and their architect, Kelly Sutherlin McLeod, will receive a Restoration Award for their comprehensive restoration of this distinguished landmark home. The Millbank residence is a shingle-clad Craftsman designed and built in 1911 by the notable architectural firm, the Milwaukee Building Company.
Photo Courtesy of Kelly Sutherlin McLeod Architecture
Renovation Award
The Renovation Award will go to 2240 6th Street, a modest, single-story Craftsman home, built in 1915, which was carefully restored on the exterior. The interior was beautifully modernized with a contemporary open plan. Owners John Given and Daphne Dennis collaborated with architects Hank Koning and Julie Eizenberg (KEA) to create an inspiring example for other homeowners. The Given/Dennis and KEA collaboration first began in 1984 with an equally transformative addition that has become a studio apartment.
Adaptive Reuse Award
The Adaptive Reuse Award will be given to NMS Properties and their architects, Killefer Flammang, for preserving a unique historical artifact, a World War II Quonset hut, keeping its historic exterior intact while the interior was remodeled, making it a focal point for its new mixed use complex at 8th and Broadway.
Stewardship Award
The owners of the Horatio West Court in Ocean Park, Bill Creber, Margaret MacLean, Wende Watt and Barbara Whitney, will receive a Stewardship Award for their exceptional dedication to the preservation of this significant multiple-unit project by architect Irving Gill. The successive owners of the Court have, for over four decades, restored, preserved and maintained the four units in pristine original condition and have created a landscape setting that is compatible in spirit.
Photo by Brian Thomas Jones
Rehabilitation Award
The Rehabilitation Award will be given to Community Corporation of Santa Monica for rehabilitating a significant number of older multi-family homes over several decades, both historic and non-historic, thereby giving renewed life to the city’s existing housing stock while fulfilling their mission of expanding access to affordable housing. The example below is 2303 5th Street, a 6-unit Craftsman built in 1912.
Advocacy
Jerry Rubin and David Conrad will be recognized with the Advocacy Award for their leadership in the campaign to protect and preserve the “Chain Reaction” sculpture created by Paul Conrad, a signature part of the Civic Center and Santa Monica’s first landmark work of public art.
Service Awards
Hostelling International in Santa Monica will receive the Conservancy’s Outstanding Service Award for its ongoing support of the Conservancy’s weekly Downtown Walking Tour. The Hostel offered use of its facilities for the initial docent training in 2007. Management and staff have continued to provide use of the lobby and the Rapp Salon as gathering places for the tours and have always welcomed our docents and tour guests. The Hostel partnered with the Conservancy in one of its most important educational programs.
This year’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service goes to Stephen and Christy McAvoy. Although not residents of Santa Monica, this couple has given extraordinary service to the Conservancy. Steve has devoted considerable energy, leadership and expertise as Vice Chair of the Conservancy’s current capital campaign. Christy has been invaluable to the Conservancy’s docent program at the Annenberg Community Beach House, providing both written materials and lectures to train docent volunteers and to educate the public about the history of the Beach House.
The Meeting
The Conservancy’s Annual Meeting, which is free and open to the public, will be held on Sunday, February 24 from 2 – 4 pm in the Associated Telephone Building at 1314 Seventh Street, just north of the Main Library in Downtown Santa Monica. Better known as the GTE building, this Art Deco structure will soon showcase a restored exterior and interior spaces accommodating creative office uses.
Conservancy member Philip Orosco has generously provided the space, enabling Conservancy members and guests to witness the transformation of this important historic building by his firm, Pacshore Partners. Jenna Snow of Chattel Inc., Historic Preservation Consultants, will give an overview of the building’s history and current renovation plans.
For more information and to make reserve seats, see www.smconservancy.org or call 310.496.3146. Reservations are requested by Wednesday, February 20.
