National Trust for Historic Preservation Announces Grants Aiding Los Angeles County Preservation Projects
Inaugural Los Angeles County Preservation Fund Awards $87,000 to Local Organizations
Posted March 9, 2010 | Contact pr@nthp.org or 202-588-6141
San Francisco, CA (March 09, 2010) –Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the first grant winners for the inaugural Los Angeles County Preservation Fund, awarding money to twelve historic and culturally significant sites and programs across Los Angeles County. Funding was made possible by support from the Getty Foundation, the Ahmanson Foundation and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation.
The first group of grant winners ranges from nonprofit organizations to government agencies that will use the seed monies for preservation, stewardship and community revitalization. The diverse projects that will benefit from the grants include a 150-year old adobe, Richard and Dion Neutra's iconic VDL Studio and Residence, a 1960s playground designed by Mexican-born artist Benjamin Dominguez and the last remaining Art Deco movie palace in San Pedro.
"These first-ever grant awards will inspire other preservation efforts and build public appreciation for the diverse cultural heritage of America's most populous county," said Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. "Communities will reap the many benefits of historic preservation, which in many cases include economic development, job creation and revitalization."
The Los Angeles County Preservation Fund grant winners include:
- Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles: $10,000 to support restoration of the East and West Gateways of Chinatown's Central Plaza.
- Cal Poly Pomona Foundation, Inc., Pomona: $10,000 to support roof repairs to the Neutra VDL Studio and Residence in Silver Lake.
- City of Montebello: $10,000 to support repairs to the Juan Matias Sanchez Adobe.
- Torrance Historical Society and Museum, Torrance: $10,000 to support a survey of historic resources in the City of Torrance.
- Cultural Heritage Foundation of Southern California, Los Angeles: $8,000 to support "Preservation Through Practice," a program training construction workers in restoration techniques.
- La Puente Valley Historical Society, City of Industry: $7,840 for preservation and weatherization of the John Rowland Home.
- Grand Vision Foundation, San Pedro: $7,700 to support a restoration plan for deteriorating interior paint finishes at the Warner Grand Theater.
- Friends of La Laguna, San Gabriel: $7,400 to support repairs to the Benjamin Dominguez –designed playground La Laguna de San Gabriel.
- Pico Union Housing, Los Angeles: $6,500 to train neighborhood residents in basic historic preservation restoration techniques.
- San Fernando Valley Historical Society, Mission Hills: $5,000 to support a geophysical survey mapping graves at the Pioneer Cemetery in Sylmar.
- Pasadena Heritage, Pasadena: $3,500 to support a National Register Historic District Nomination for Pasadena's Markham Place neighborhood.
- Maravilla Historical Society, Los Angeles: $2,000 to support development of a business plan for the historic Maravilla Handball Court.
The twelve grant recipients were determined in early February by a selection committee comprised of historic preservation professionals from the greater Los Angeles area and staff from the Los Angeles Conservancy and the Western Office of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Winners were chosen based on several factors, including urgency of need, geographical distribution, preservation significance and overall project impacts.
"As a third-generation Southern Californian, awarding these initial grants has been very satisfying," said Anthea Hartig, director of the National Trust Western Office in San Francisco. "With the help of our remarkable local partner, the Los Angeles Conservancy, we are meeting crucial needs in a county with 88 cities that lack adequate funding for historic preservation activities."
Additional information about the Los Angeles County Preservation Fund and each project, including photos can be found at: www.preservationnation.org/lapf
The National Trust for Historic Preservation, a privately-funded nonprofit organization, works to save America’s historic places to enrich our future. www.PreservationNation.org
