Malaga Cove Plaza Historic District
Transcript of Malaga Cove Plaza Historic District
Who is submitting the nomination?
• The nomination was initiated by the Malaga Cove Plaza Beautification Project, Inc. and the Motley Living Trust in honor of Morynne Motley, who formed the Malaga Cove Plaza Beautification Project, Inc. in 1987 to improve the Plaza• The nomination was prepared by Chattel, Inc., Historic
Preservation Consultants of Los Angeles
What is the National Register of Historic Places?• The National Register of Historic Places
(National Register) is the official list of historic properties in the United States worthy of recognition and preservation
• Enabled by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended
• Administered by the National Park Service, maintained by the Keeper of the National Register
• Historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, and districts may be listed
• Historic districts contain a collection of buildings, structures, sites and objects that retain a sense of time and place from an early period
Are there other National Register-listed properties in Palos Verdes Estates?
• Malaga Cove Library, 1930, Myron Hunt, listed in 1995 (upper left)
• Farnham Martin Park, 1926, listed in 1996 as a boundary increase to Malaga Cove Library (lower image)
• Mirlo Gate Lodge Tower, 1926, Clarence E. Howard, listed in 2019 (upper right)
How are properties evaluated under the National Register?
The National Register utilizes four criteria to evaluate potential historic properties
• Criterion A – Event• Criterion B – Person• Criterion C – Design and
Construction• Criterion D – Potential
Archaeological Information
Why is Palos Verdes Estates historic?
• Palos Verdes Estates was part of a master plan for the peninsula developed in the 1920s by owner/developer Frank Vanderlip, landscape architects Olmsted Brothers, city planner Charles Cheney and architect Myron Hunt
• Malaga Cove Plaza was the first of three commercial centers envisioned for the peninsula constructed
• Palos Verdes Estates is one of the oldest master planned communities in the United States
What is the Malaga Cove Plaza Historic District?• A historic district consisting of 14 contributing
features and 1 non-contributing feature• 11 buildings (1-3 and 5-12)• 2 sites (Malaga Cove Green 14, and
Olmsted Place 13)• 1 object (Neptune Fountain 15)• 1 non-contributing site (4, unoccupied
lot)• The period of significance of the historic
district is 1926-1964, beginning with the first building constructed on the Plaza, and ending with the last
• It is a key element of the unique and influential Palos Verdes Estates master plan by developer Frank Vanderlip, landscape architects Olmsted Brothers, planner Charles Cheney, and architects Myron Hunt and Webber, Staunton and Spaulding
• One of three commercial centers envisioned including Lunada Bay and Valmonte
Why is Malaga Cove Plaza historic?
Malaga Cove Plaza is eligible under
• Criterion A – For association with the founding of Palos Verdes Estates as a master planned community
• Criterion C – As an excellent, cohesive collection of Mediterranean Revival architecture with arcades fronting on a plaza and central fountain
How does National Register listing process work?• Submit a completed National Register nomination to the California Office of
Historic Preservation (OHP)• OHP staff reviews the nomination and can ask for additional information, as
necessary • When the nomination is deemed complete, OHP staff notifies property owners
and City regarding the time and place of the State Historical Resources Commission (SHRC) meeting • SHRC meets quarterly and will consider the nomination at an upcoming meeting• If the SHRC recommends approval of the nomination, the State Historic
Preservation Officer (SHPO) forwards it to the Keeper of the National Register• Listing is made approximately 45 days after receipt by the Keeper when it is
published in the Federal Register
What are the benefits of National Register listing?
• Listing in the National Register is an honor that recognizes the important history of the property
• Properties so listed are qualified to use the California Historical Building Code (Part 8 of Title 24) that provide relief from the prevailing building code
• Contributing properties are eligible to seek the federal historic tax credit of 20% of qualified rehabilitation expenditures
• A charitable deduction is available for an easement contribution to a qualified non-profit or governmental agency
• Periodically, federal and state grants are available for rehabilitation and restoration work
• National Register listing would help in marketing to businesses and residents to experience the special architectural qualities and historic importance of the peninsula
Are there any restrictions in having a property listed on the National Register?
• Under federal law, National Register listing places no new federal restrictions on what a property owner may do with their property including demolition, unless the property is involved in a federal project
• Under state law, National Register listing provides some protection from demolition or alteration that could cause ineligibility
• Under local law, alterations and additions will continue to be reviewed by the City, Palos Verdes Homes Association, and Art Jury as they have since 1923
Palos Verdes Drive West Corridor Feasibility Study• Initiated by the City and
prepared by Michael Baker International
• Proposes four alternatives to improve traffic circulation on Palos Verdes Drive West and Palos Verdes Drive North
• Received and accepted by City Council on December 10, 2019