Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments are sites which have been designated by the

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wo ...

, Cultural Heritage Commission as worthy of preservation based on architectural, historic and cultural criteria.

History

The Historic-Cultural Monument process has its origin in the Historic Buildings Committee formed in 1958 by the Los Angeles chapter of the

American Institute of Architects The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to ...

. As growth and development in Los Angeles threatened the city's historic landmarks, the committee sought to implement a formal preservation program in cooperation with local civic, cultural and business organizations and municipal leaders. On April 30, 1962, a historic preservation ordinance proposed by the AIA committee was passed. The original Cultural Heritage Board (later renamed a commission) was formed in the summer of 1962, consisting of

William Woollett William Woollett (15 August 173523 May 1785) was an English engraver operating in the 18th century. Life Woolett was born in Maidstone, of a family which came originally from the Netherlands. He was apprenticed to John Tinney, an engraver i ...

FAIA Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) is a postnominal title or membership, designating an individual who has been named a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Fellowship is bestowed by the institute on AIA-membe ...

, Bonnie H. Riedel, Carl S. Dentzel, Senaida Sullivan and Edith Gibbs Vaughan. The board met for the first time in August 1962, at a time when the owner of the historic Leonis Adobe was attempting to demolish the structure and replace it with a supermarket. In its first day of official business, the board designated the Leonis Adobe and four other sites as Historic-Cultural Monuments. In the commission's first decade of operation (August 1962–August 1972), it designated 101 properties as Historic-Cultural Monuments. By April 2018, there were over 1150 designated properties.

Process

The designation of a property as a Historic-Cultural Monument does not prevent demolition or alteration. However, the designation requires permits for demolition or substantial alteration to be presented to the commission. The commission has the power to delay the demolition of a designated property for up to one year.

Notable monuments

File:Leonis Adobe, Calabasas (2008).JPG, Leonis Adobe (HCM #1) File:BoltonHall Tujunga April2008.JPG, Bolton Hall (HCM #2) File:Eastern Columbia Tower - Los Angeles.jpg,

Eastern Columbia Building The Eastern Columbia Building, also known as the Eastern Columbia Lofts, is a thirteen-story Art Deco building designed by Claud Beelman located at 849 S. Broadway in the Broadway Theater District of Downtown Los Angeles. It opened on September ...

(HCM #294) File:Westminster Presbyterian Church Los Angeles.jpg, Westminster Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles) (HCM #299) File:CBS ColumbiaSquare01.jpg, CBS Columbia Square Studios (HCM #947)

Designated LAHCM outside the City of Los Angeles

Lists of L.A. Historic-Cultural Monuments

References

External links

Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources: Designated L.A. Historic-Cultural Monuments (LAHCM) website
— ''with 'ever-updated' LAHCM List via PDF link.''
official Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources website
— ''Homepage''
Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission website

Designated LAHCM Landmarks by Neighborhood
— ''L.A. Department of City Planning website''
Big Orange Landmarks: "Exploring the Landmarks of Los Angeles, One Monument at a Time"
— ''online photos and in-depth history of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments — Website curator: Floyd B. Bariscale.''
Big Orange Landmarks: Floyd B. Bariscale's Flickr Photostream
— ''Big Orange Flickr Gallery of L.A.H.C.Monuments.'' {{LAHMC * . Buildings and structures in Los Angeles Heritage registers in California Locally designated landmarks in the United States California culture Landmarks in California