It may have taken a little too long, but the drinking fountain in Library Park on Myrtle has finally been restored. MOHPG volunteers completed the roof portion of the structure on Sunday, March 22, 2015, marking the end of the restoration process. It was truly a team effort as many hands played a role in completing the restoration. MOHPG members donating their time were: Gloria Crudgington, Jimi Hendrix, Mark Howard, Alan Morse, Susuan Motander, John Rogers, Robb Stewart, John Watson, Jim Wigton, and Chip Young. In addition Tim Blackburn and Tiny Cherry directed the restoration from the city's side. The project was an excellent example of a volunteer organization working with the city for the benefit of the community.
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UPDATE; On February 11, 2015, MOHPG received word from the City of Monrovia that the owner of the home at 256 N. Encinitas Ave had withdrawn the request for a demolition permit. This means that the house will NOT be torn down. MOHPG applauds the owners of 256 for considering the views of the neighborhood in making this decision.
On Tuesday evening, February 17, 2015, at 7:30 p.m., the Monrovia City Council will make final its decision on the fate of the 1921 Craftsman bungalow, located at 256 N. Encinitas Ave. MOHPG appealed the decision by the Historic Preservation Commission on December 3, 2015 which gave the home the lowest status code possible, paving the way for its eventual demolition. The City Council heard the appeal on January 20, but postponed a final decision until February. In an attempt to highlight the importance of saving all the pre-1940 structures in the 100 and 200 blocks of North Encinitas, MOHPG volunteers having going door-to-door to gauge the interest of residents in creating a historic district on their street. Early results (31 yes, 3 no - there are 65 homes on these two blocks) look promising, and MOHPG hopes that the City Council will factor this interest into their upcoming decision. Community members are urged to once again let their voices be heard at this meeting. Protecting our architectural heritage can't happen once a home is gone. Shown below are the houses on North Encinitas Avenue between Foothill Blvd and Greystone Avenue. Photos with a red border are of homes that are already landmarked. Hope burns a little brighter this morning after last night's City Council meeting. Hearing the MOHPG appeal on the 1921 cottage bungalow at 256 N. Encinitas (the appeal was made to overturn the low status code given by the Historic Preservation Commission December 3 which would have made demolition possible), the City Council once again listened to its residents and voted to temporarily uphold the appeal. The matter will be reconsidered at the February 17 city council meeting. By that time the City hopes to have polled the residents of North Encinitas (between Foothill and Greystone) to gauge the interest in creating a historic district along that portion of the street. The owners of the property at 256 also expressed a willingness to work with the city to reach a mutually beneficial resolution to the dilemma at hand. There are 65 homes along this stretch of Encinitas, 43 of which were built before 1940 (in fact all 43 save one were built before 1931). Many of these homes are Victorian cottages or Craftsman bungalows, and most are of the smaller variety. Nine have already received landmark status from the city, attesting to the rich architectural character of the neighborhood. On December 11, 2014, the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group filed an appeal of the Historic Preservation Commission's decision that would eventually allow the demolition of the 1921 Craftsman bungalow, located at 256 N. Encinitas Ave in Monrovia. That appeal will be decided by the City Council at the Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 7:30 p.m., city council meeting. The recommendation to the city council by city staff is that the appeal be denied. MOHPG would encourage residents who wish to have a say before the city council to attend and voice their opinion. Although there are building/demolition moratoriums in place until November, 2015, once those moratoriums are lifted, this home could be demolished unless the city council overrides the Preservation Commission's decision, rendered last December 3. The prospect that an oversized, bloated home could replace this vintage bungalow is very real. Once a decision has been made by the council, no further preventative action will be possible. To view the city staff report of this agenda item, click below.
On December 16 the City Council voted to extend the current 45-day moratoriums on demolitions of pre-1940 homes and construction of new homes (with conditions) until November 2015. The original 45-day moratoriums were too constrictive and would prohibit development (e.g., Station Square) that all sides agreed should not be halted. However, the moratoriums that are now in place will for the most part prohibit the construction of mansion-sized, two-story homes in most residential areas.
In the meantime members of MOHPG and city staff will work together to find solutions to the threat of "homes that do not fit" being built in vintage neighborhoods. Because the issues are not simple ones (moratoriums were previously enacted in 1985 and 2004 for the same reasons and the essential problems still remain), the City will be seeking input from all members of the community to guide its decision-making and resolution on the key issues. When those opportunities have been scheduled, they will be posted on this site. We will continue to update you on progress. |
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To view the May 2024 newsletter, click here. Walking TourThe next historic walking tour of downtown Monrovia will take place Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 10 am. Meet at the SE corner of Palm and Myrtle Avenues. Cost is $5 per person, and the tour lasts two hours.
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