VENICE — The California State Historical Resources Commission in Sacramento unanimously decided on Aug. 5 that the Lincoln Place Apartments in Venice are eligible to be listed as a historical resource based on objective criteria. 

The decision came a week and a half after a court order to halt demolition of the apartments, in an attempt to stop the property owner from evicting tenants and destroying the half-century old garden apartment complex. However, the owner, AIMCO, still plans to move forward with redevelopment of the property. 

The state commission determined the complex, built between 1949 and 1951, to be a prime example of the “garden apartment” style and Modernist architecture. The complex's unique geometric design was praised along with the historical impacts of creating low-and moderate-income residential units that addressed the housing shortages following WWII. As a designated historical resource, state law and local ordinances would protect Lincoln Place from destruction unless an EIR (Environmental Impact Report) finds no feasible alternatives to demolition.

AIMCO previously interfered with the state commission's schedules in February and May to make a decision on the complex's nomination. AIMCO first claimed that the commission did not give it enough time to respond to the application, and then that the nomination was incomplete. Patti Shwayder, senior vice president of AIMCO, noted that by law, a property cannot be designated as a historical resource without the owner's permission. AIMCO, which wants to demolish the buildings to make way for new development, feels that the property is not a historical resource based on an environmental analysis by the city of Los Angeles.

Shwayder stated “We are still moving forward with our plans to demolish the buildings. The state commission's decision only determined the buildings eligible for listing on the register. However, the complex is not a historical resource and this does not hinder our right to redevelop the property.”

The owner has already filed an act to take the property off the rental market and is admittedly continuing to serve eviction notices to tenants. Shwayder mentioned that residents were asked to vacate the property by July 18 of this year or March 18 of 2006 if they are seniors or disabled.

She noted, “Eviction notices are being sent to tenants who remain on the property illegally and are not paying rent.” 

However, Amanda Seward, who is associated with the L.A. Conservancy and submitted the nomination to the California Register, was reportedly pressured by AIMCO. She alleges they offered to stop the eviction notices if she withdrew the nomination.

Seward did not withdraw and stated, “There were so many dirty tricks played and to see a commission stick to the merits of the application in the face of heavy political and legal bullying, was heartening.”

While AIMCO intends to proceed with its plans despite the commission hearing, the decision is seen as a huge victory for preservationists and residents. Seward noted, “I'm thrilled with the decision on so many levels. One, of course it means Lincoln Place is recognized as a significant historical resource and therefore the public has a right to be involved in the process of determining its redevelopment.”

Laura Burns of the Lincoln Place Tenants Association expressed feelings of relief and joy after the commission's decision: “When I had my breakfast coffee on my patio this morning, looking out on the courtyard gardens, I couldn't stop thinking; I'm living in the middle of a cultural historical monument.”