Politics & Government

Should BH Add the Saban Theater, City Hall to Its Register of Historic Properties?

The Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage Commission takes up that matter at its quarterly meeting Wednesday.

 

The Beverly Hills Cultural Heritage Commission holds its quarterly "regular" meeting Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.

Watch the meeting live here.

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The commissioners will hear testimony on whether to nominate four properties for the city's register of historic properties:

  • The Fox Wilshire - Saban Theater at 8440 Wilshire Blvd.
  • The Edmund C. Locke House at 801 N. Rodeo Dr. 
  • Beverly Hills City Hall at 450 N. Crescent Dr.
  • Greene and Greene Craftsman at 910 N. Bedford Dr.

The Locke house was built in 1914 and, according to city documents, is one of the early examples of Craftsman architecture in the then newly-developing Beverly Hills.

Find out what's happening in Beverly Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Saban Theater was built in 1930. It was designed by noted theater architect S. Charles Lee. According to a report prepared for the commission, it is considered an important early example of the Art Deco style that went on to dominate 1930s movie houses.

The Beverly Hills City Hall debuted to great public acclaim in 1932. According to city documents, the Los Angeles Times noted at that time that the Spanish Mediterranean Revival structure was “the largest and most costly City Hall of any municipality its size in the country.” 

The Greene and Greene designed Craftsman home at 910 N Bedford Drive was built in 1909 for a radio and auto entrepreneur. Originally located in what is today's Koreatown, the home was moved to Beverly Hills in 1923 by actor Norman Kerry under the supervision of the Greene and Greene firm.

Reports documenting the architectural significance of each property were prepared for the city and can be seen here.

The City Council must also approve all designations before they become final.

At its meeting Wednesday, the commission is also slated to hear a report from the firm conducting its citywide Cultural Resources survey.

It could also discuss a strategy for encouraging historic preservation among property owners, which can be costly and limiting. 

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