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Recent Past Endangered List: Western U.S.
Format Change at
RPPN On-Line. Due
to an enormous response, and to make your world easier to navigate, our
"Endangered" section will be
rolled into the National Windshield Survey
for all future submissions. Instead of geographic listings, you will find
"Endangered" buildings and structures at the top of the page
under their "type" within the NWS. If you have not seen your
submission on-line yet and wish to politely remind the webmaster, please
send a note to submit@recentpast.org.
Immediately
Endangered: The
Monrovia Public Library. Built
by notable local architects Eugene Fickes and Dewey Harnish, it was
heralded in major newspapers as "one of the most outstanding buildings
of its kind in Southern
California" when it opened in 1957. Surrounding it are a number of
other mid-century modern buildings forming a cluster within the city's
core, including the City Hall, Post Office, TzuChi, GTE, Masonic Temple,
and Fire Station. The city wants to tear the MPL down and build something
"bigger and better." One plausible alternative: use the
mid-century modern structure as a children's library and build a new
addition for today's users. The website
says it all. Of particular interest: list
of historic criteria fulfillment and Letter
to the City of Monrovia that you can print and send. The MPL needs
your support. Act Today! |
| Memorial
Coliseum, Portland, Oregon, by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, 1960 |
 "Built
in 1960, the Memorial Coliseum was an instrumental piece of the plan
to elevate Portland into a major player on the West Coast entertainment
and conference scene. Despite great success in this regard, the Coliseum’s
importance to the cultural and economic development of Portland has
since been taken for granted, consequently masking the structure’s
undeniable historic significance and status. As to its future, City
politicians appear to be taking a "wait and see" stance, the architectural
community has been noticeably quiet, and the preservation community
at large has not yet championed it. Forlorn on the big-time entertainment
scene and stuck in a state of indecision, the Coliseum has come a
long way from what was once a very enthusiastic start." See more
information at Historic
Preservation Northwest. |
| Ambassador
College: Administration Building, Physical Education Building, Fine
Arts and Science Halls, and Garrett Eckbo-designed landscape, Pasadena,
California, ca. 1967 |
 Anyone
familiar with Southern California and Pasadena knows how many unique
modern structures remain--at least for now. The L.A. Conservancy,
L.A. Conservancy Modern Committee, Pasadena Heritage, and West Pasadena
Residents' Association. needs your help to sway the City of Pasadena
with opinions supporting the preservation of modern architecture.
At this time, a massive development is being planned for 49 acres
of west Pasadena. The distinctive honeycomb buildings are considered
ineligible for recognition based on a 1997 survey. Link
here for more information. |
| Historic
Roadside Santa Claus Threatened! Santa Barbara, California, ca. 1948 |
 Southern
California's most prominent example of roadside vernacular architecture
is merely a supervisorial decision away from becoming a memory as
early as June. The jolly, rotund Santa Claus figure which sits atop
Santa's Candy Kitchen on Santa Claus Lane, along Highway 101 in Carpinteria,
has entertained travelers and locals since 1948, when the figure was
added to a roadside juice stand. The new owner of the Santa Claus
Lane property would like to destroy the recently renovated landmark
in order to create an upscale Cape Cod-style retail strip. There has
been a prolonged campaign advocating preservation of Santa from the
Pearl Chase Society, the leading preservation group in Santa Barbara,
the public, and architectural historians. |
| The
Raymond Theater, Pasadena, California |
| We
are an organization who's goal is to advocate preservation of the
Raymond, Pasadena's oldest live entertainment venue. The Raymond has
been threatened with redevelopment many times over the past 10 years.
However, through the efforts of our community based group, Friends
of the Raymond, we have been able to keep this landmark theatre standing.
Unfortunately, the Raymond is once again under threat of redevelopment.
It's owners have submitted plans to convert the theatre to an apartment,
retail, parking complex. Plans are currently working their way through
Pasadena City Hall. Friends of the Raymond are working hard advocating
preservation of the theatre through this process. Our goal is to preserve
the Raymond and keep it standing for future generations to enjoy.
On Thursday, February 7, 2002 Friends of the Raymond Theatre and Spirit
of the Sage (another Pasadena-based non-profit organization) filed
a lawsuit against the City of Pasadena for violations of the state
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). |
| Azusa
Foothill Drive-In |
| "The Azusa
Foothill Drive-In Theatre, located on Route 66 in Azusa was built
in 1961 and operated through December, 2001. The theatre was added
to the California Register of Historic Places wih a unanimous vote
on February 1, 2001. Neighboring Christian College Azusa Pacific University
has purchased the land and is currently working with the Conservancy
on preservation options for the 17-acre site. |
|
Hollywood Star Lanes |
| "Since
1960, the Hollywood Star Lanes has been a place of community and entertainment.
For the past 40 years, this bowling alley has been open 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week... it's neon sign beckoning to travelers and the
local community alike. Well, the years have not been good to many
a ten pin alley, and word has it that the Hollywood Star may be next
on the demolition list. Yes, the Los Angeles Unified School District
wants to build a school district on the propert Hollywood Star Lanes
5227 Santa Monica Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90029-1209 Phone: (323) 665-4111" |
| Cerritos
College, Norwalk, CA |
| "This
magnificent Mid-Century Modern campus at 11110 Alondra Blvd. in Norwalk
maintains a very high level of integrity from the 1950s. Many fine
examples of Modern architecture remain. Like a petting zoo of Modern.
Plans call for a major overhaul soon. We would like to influence them
to retain and revitalize portions of the original campus." |
| Holiday
Bowl |
| "Holiday
Bowl is a 1958 bowling complex by architects Armet & Davis which includes
a coffee shop which was declared a City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural
Monument in 2001. Located at 3730 Crenshaw Blvd. in what was once
a Japanese relocation zone after WWII, the Bowl enjoyed over 40 years
of business. Current owners plan a shopping center on the site. The
Conservancy is working with a local neighborhood group to preserve
the Holiday Bowl and work it into any redevelopment plans. To become
involved or to learn more, please contact the MODCOM."
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c |
Los
Angeles County's last and largest intact drive-in restaurant was
the supporting actor in countless movies, commercials and photo
shoots over the last 44 years. But it may soon be over for the iconic
drive-in. RPPN California rep. Chris Nichols writes: "Auto
Nation Outlet filled the Drive-In lot with used cars...Reportedly
without permission, the tenants began removing the cantilevered
counter stools, jackhammering out terrazzo floors and demolishing
the interior. Soonafter, they started attacking the massive rooftop
sign, removing the neon 'Coffee Shop' letters before being cited
for performing demolition work without a permit." 
