News & Advocacy

The Conservancy’s plans for the relocation and rehabilitation of the Shotgun House as a Preservation Resource Center moved another step forward with approval of project plans at a joint meeting of the Landmarks Commission and the Architectural Review Board on January 26, 2011.

Overall, every commissioner and board member indicated whole-hearted support. The resolutions approving the project came with minor conditions, asking for the identifying sign to be reduced in size , for the house be painted a creamy white rather than a “pure” white, and for some additional landscaping along the west end of the building and the south side of the trash enclosure to help soften the appearance.

The Conservancy signed a 20-year renewable lease for the Shotgun House with the City of Santa Monica in January 2010. Its rehabilitation as a Preservation Resource Center will serve as a model of adaptive reuse and will provide a base from which we can offer expanded educational programming as well as one-on-one support and technical assistance with historic preservation questions.

The next step is an application for California Coastal Commission approval, to will be filed by the City of Santa Monica as owner of both the house and the lot at 2520 2nd Street where it will be located. The Conservancy’s project team, led by Architect Mario Fonda-Bonardi, is now supporting preparation of the application. This is the last discretionary approval required before the Conservancy can apply for a city building permit. It is estimated that these last two steps will take about 6 – 9 months.

Given the recent progress, the Conservancy’s fundraising efforts will be stepping up in the next 18 months. If you would like to help with the rehabilitation of the Shotgun House and the creation of the Preservation Resource Center, please click here to donate online or send a check to the Santa Monica Conservancy, P.O. Box 653, Santa Monica, CA 90406.

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