Five Properties Designated Historic Landmarks

The volunteer effort of the Landmark Task Force successfully brought five properties before the City Council for a public hearing Tuesday night. All of the properties were approved as culturally significant landmarks.

The buildings included two beach cottages: 224 5th Street, built in 1921, and 216 4^th Street, a Dutch-style cottage built in 1912. The historic "Red House" in Polliwog Park, built in 1907 and now home to the Manhattan Beach Historical Society, also received landmark status as did 3301 Highland Avenue. Howard Zahn built the 1929 Highland structure, fondly known as the Beach Pizza restaurant, which has distinctive Spanish style and was the first commercial drive-up store in Manhattan Beach.

The final property designated to be of great cultural significance was Bruce's Beach, which was established as a lodge and resort in 1915. The site's past, however, is a painful one: Initially a beach resort for African Americans, the city condemned the area and forced out the black community in the 1920s as hostility from the white population swelled. The area was renamed Bruce's Beach in 2007 in honor of its founders, Charles A. and Willa Bruce.

Owners and representatives of the respective properties were presented with plaques of recognition. Carol Sue Schoenfeld, owner of the beach cottage on 5th Street, said she would be proud to display the bronze plaque on the front of the building for residents and tourists to admire.

Local historian Jan Dennis, who heads the Landmark Task Force, said that the 10 volunteers were to thank for the new additions to Manhattan Beach's historical treasures. The task force, which meets once a month, has been composing an inventory of local historic points of interest since 2006. Dennis says that they hope to expand the official list beyond properties to include a variety of entities with cultural significance, such as people and trees.

Mayor Pro Tem Richard Montgomery voiced concerns about the cost to the city of preparing landmark petitions, but Dennis countered that volunteers and donors had freed the city of financial responsibility. "It's not costing the city a dime," Dennis said.

The first local property to be considered a historic landmark at the state level, aside from the pier, was John Scott's steel house on the Strand. Two of the properties designated at Tuesday's meeting will also be recognized by the state, Dennis said.

"To be recognized at the state level, a building has to be at least 50 years old,"  Dennis explained. "It has to be an original building—at least the façade—and it has to be signed off by the owner of the property."

Dennis reminded the council and the public that designation of cultural significance has no effect on the property owner's rights, despite popular thinking. "It's all positive," she said. "There is nothing negative about this."

Property owners can request landmark designation by contacting the Community Development Department of the city of Manhattan Beach or contacting Jan Dennis directly through the form available on the Web site.

Residents and tourists will also be able to enjoy the city's array of culturally significant landmarks (both recognized and unrecognized) this summer during a walking tour being created by the Historical Society. Dennis said a brochure on the tour will be available soon.