National Trust for Historic Preservation Announces Grants to Twelve Preservation Projects in Los Angeles County

Awarding More Than $81,000 to Local Organizations

Posted August 18, 2011 | Contact pr@savingplaces.org or 202-588-6141

San Francisco, CA (August 18, 2011) – Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced grants totaling $81,500 to 12 historic and culturally significant sites and programs across Los Angeles County. In the third round of a competitive process open to nonprofit organizations and government agencies, grants from the Los Angeles County Preservation Fund were awarded to projects representing a range of historic preservation, stewardship and community revitalization activities within Los Angeles County.

“As we expand our work to protect more places that mirror the histories of diverse communities, these projects are reminders of the many shapes that stewardship can take. They point to the vibrancy and complexity of Angeleno culture,” said Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Like the 23 projects selected since the Fund’s debut in 2010, the third round’s awarded projects exemplify the rich history of Los Angeles County. Included among the winners this round: a first-ever cultural landscape assessment of Griffith Park’s Fern Dell; the Charles and Ray Eames House and Studio, an iconic mid-twentieth century modern architectural gem; the Far East Building, a community anchor in the Little Tokyo Historic District; and the 1895 barn where Hollywood’s first feature-length movie was filmed. In addition to twelve new grantees, the third round of the Los Angeles County Preservation Fund is providing continuation funding to two prior awardees. Renewing grant support to projects that were funded in earlier rounds ensures momentum towards successful preservation solutions for both resources.

The round three Los Angeles County Preservation Fund grant winners are:

• The Episcopal Church of the Advent, Los Angeles: $9,500 to repair the water-damaged, brick and mortar section of the West Adams District’s Gothic Revival style 1925 Episcopal Church of the Advent. 
• Friends of Griffith Park, Los Angeles: $9,000 to conduct a Cultural Landscape Assessment and Preservation Plan for the Griffith Park’s Fern Dell (1914‐1947), one of California’s few public fern gardens.
• The Charles and Ray Eames House Preservation Foundation, Inc., Pacific Palisades: $9,000 to assess the condition and repair needs of the 1949 National Historic Landmark Eames House and Studio.
• Friends of the Chinese American Museum, Los Angeles: $7,500 for renovation of part of the second floor of the 1890 Garnier Building in El Pueblo de Los Angeles to create a new Historic Chinatown gallery as part of a planned, three gallery expansion of the Chinese American Museum.
• Friends of the Michael White Adobe, San Marino: $7,500 to repair the moisture-damaged lower walls of the 1845 Michael White Adobe. In August 2010, the project was awarded a $5,000 grant to conduct a feasibility study for adapting the adobe into exhibit space for the San Marino High School Hall of Fame.
• Grand Vision Foundation, San Pedro: $7,500 to repair and restore the delaminating paint at the 1931 Warner Grand Theatre following the Decorative Paint Delamination Treatment Plan, which was partially funded by a Los Angeles County Preservation Fund in early 2010. 
• Little Tokyo Service Center Community Development Corporation, Los Angeles: $7,500 to re-point and repair brick walls to prevent further damage to the National Historic Landmark, 1896 Far East Building, one of the most significant buildings in the Little Tokyo National Historic District.
• Santa Monica Conservancy, Santa Monica: $7,500 to support a portion of rehabilitation costs for adaptive reuse of Santa Monica’s 1899 Shotgun House as a Preservation Resource Center.
• Hollywood Heritage Inc., Hollywood: $5,000 for the necessary rehabilitation and mechanical upgrades for the 1895 Lasky DeMille Barn, the building in which Hollywood’s first feature length motion picture – The Squaw Man – was filmed in 1913.
• The Downey Conservancy, Downey: $4,000 to research and survey potentially significant historic, cultural and architectural resources within the city of Downey.
• The Ebell of Los Angeles: $4,000 to develop an Historic Structures Report to guide restoration of the 1927 Ebell of Los Angeles, designed by Sumner Hunt in the Italian Renaissance style.
• North Figueroa Association, Los Angeles: $3,500 to restore and relight the Manning’s Coffee Store sign at 5707 North Figueroa Street, as a first step towards creating a “signage district” in the Highland Park neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Grant recipients were selected in late July by a jury 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. Awards were determined in a process that took into consideration funds available, quality of the application, community impacts, historic significance, and geographical distribution.

“We continue to be encouraged and inspired by the diversity of historic preservation undertakings in the great city-state of Los Angeles,” said Anthea Hartig, director of the National Trust Western Office in San Francisco. “These varied projects evoke only some of the neighborhood and community histories that are always around us.”

Intended to build credibility and public awareness of historic preservation activities, the seed grants give momentum to community preservation projects getting off the ground, providing capital in early stages and at critical junctures. A required dollar-for-dollar match means that the grants act as fundraising catalysts, leveraging additional financial support and community buy-in.

The Los Angeles County Preservation Fund was established in 2009 by a gift from Getty Foundation, with subsequent gifts from the Ahmanson Foundation and the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, and an additional gift by the National Trust Board of Advisors.  Funding for the third round was provided by a further gift from the Ahmanson Foundation, as well as an individual gift.  With the close of this third round, the program has concluded for the time being. Subsequent opportunities will be announced on the National Trust website, www.preservationnation.orf/lapf, if additional funding is secured.

Additional information about the Los Angeles County Preservation Fund and each project can be found at: www.preservationnation.org/lapf.