Council Calls for Historic Preservation Ordinance, Delays Demolition of Kronish House

During an emotionally charged portion of Tuesday's City Council meeting, owners of the designed by famed architect Richard Neutra agreed to hold off on plans to demolish it and sell the property until Oct. 10 as preservationists try to figure out a way to prevent the home's destruction.

The council then directed the Planning Commission to come up with an ordinance that provides guidelines for a process to determine how to preserve in Beverly Hills.

"I don't understand the logic of why the rush [to demolish] ... this particular house," said Councilwoman Lili Bosse, who referenced one of many letters from Beverly Hills residents she had received in opposition to the demolition. "What this woman said was ... 'honestly our 6-year-old son said it best: If they keep tearing down the old, beautiful things we won't have anything left to get our great ideas from.' "

A motion put forth by Councilman John Mirisch and seconded by Bosse to enact an emergency ordinance that would have prohibited the home's owners from razing it in advance of having a buyer for the lot was defeated by "no" votes from Mayor Barry Brucker, Vice Mayor William Brien and Councilman Julian Gold.

"This is a subversive way to try to take somebody's property when we don't have a historic preservation program in the city right now," Brien said. "To start blocking people's ability who have bought a home ... and tell them that they're not going to be able to [demolish] it, they're not going to be able to sell it the way they want ... when they haven't violated any rules, any laws, any ordinances in the city of Beverly Hills ... is an insane way to govern."

Many Beverly Hills residents and architectural preservationists from various parts of the Los Angeles area attended the council meeting to help prevent the demolition of the home, which was completed in 1955 and spans nearly 7,000 square feet on a two-acre lot at 9439 Sunset Blvd.

"As one of only three Neutra houses ever built in Beverly Hills, the Kronish House is the only one that remains," said Linda Dishman, executive director of the Los Angeles Conservancy, a historic preservation organization. "The potential loss of a Neutra design is huge and would be a preservation issue in any community. Piece by piece Beverly Hills is losing its rich architectural heritage through what we believe is a disturbing growing trend of unnecessary demolition."

Opponents of the demolition painted the owners' motives as financially driven in order to attract a buyer for the property's post-demolition empty lot.

Mitchell Dawson, a lawyer representing the property owners, Soda Partners, said the home's original design is not intact, claiming only "40 to 60 percent" of the home's original Neutra design remains.

Dawson said asbestos was found throughout the residence, more than half the lumber was ruined by rot, termites and mold, and that the property's sewer, electrical and heating systems, as well as the roof, must be replaced.  

"Homes are often historically preserved because they're part of a community for people to understand and treasure," Dawson said. "This is a flat lot with an approximately 30-foot entrance on Sunset Boulevard, with a 250-foot-long driveway, and the home is in the back. No one sees that, no one will see that."

Dawson claimed an emergency ordinance preventing the demolition would have "unintended consequences" and cause financial harm to the more than 30 owners of the property who've invested in Soda Partners.

Ken Ezra, a real estate investor and Beverly Hills resident, asked the council for time that would allow him to find potential investors to buy the property with the intent of preserving the structure. 

"There are people who care about this kind of property," Ezra said. "I for one take my daily walks in front of the property and I love it. I think it's a very significant property."

Design Review Commissioner Arlene Pepp urged the council to deny or delay the demolition permit, stating "unfortunately many beautiful homes in Beverly Hills have been destroyed, which has definitely negatively altered the character of our city."

Ronald Richards, an attorney representing Soda Partners in litigation with the Kronish House's former owners but who initially commented on the matter as a private citizen and Beverly Hills resident, called the public outcry over the proposed demolition "a knee jerk reaction." He cited "extraordinary carrying costs" the owners have incurred since acquiring the property in January as justification for their decision to demolish the home and seek a buyer for the lot.

"It's amazing to me how everyone has these fantastic suggestions but nobody wants to foot the bill except for the owners," Richards said.

Be sure to follow Beverly Hills Patch on Twitter and "Like" us on Facebook.