Creative Approaches to Community Outreach

Chattel loves buildings AND people! Our team enjoys engaging community stakeholders in historic preservation projects. From workshops, to presentations, to one-on-one consultation sessions with property owners, Chattel participates in a wide range of public outreach.

Our approach when meeting with community groups includes:

Discussing why a building is important and what character-defining features contribute to its significance

Describing project objectives and rationale for selected approach

Explaining how a project will be implemented and how character-defining features will be protected and preserved

Answering questions and discussing options

Open House for the Hollywood Historic Resources Survey Update with Jenna Snow, Principal Associate (left) and Kathryn McGee, Senior Associate (right)

A few highlights of our recent activities are below.

Robert Chattel gave a presentation at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, featuring fascinating discussion on preservation of mid-century modern architecture in a presentation titled The Atomic Wild Wild West.

Jenna Snow spoke about rehabilitation plans for the Associated Telephone Company Building at the Santa Monica Conservancy’s Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards. This included an enthralling history of telephone use in the United States!

Jenna Snow, Principal Associate speaks about the Associated Telephone Company Building at the Santa Monica Conservancy’s Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards

Marissa Moshier gave a webinar on innovative approaches to identify, protect, and plan for continued use of industrial resources. Titled Industrial Archaeology: Roads, Bridges, Manufacturing, and More, the presentation was part of the California Preservation Foundation’s popular webinar series.

Shane Swerdlow met with the Old Torrance Neighborhood Association to discuss work in progress at two iconic properties: Irving Gill’s 1913 Pacific Electric Railroad Bridge and the Torrance High School Main Building.

Left to right: Santa Monica Landmarks Commissioners Margaret Bach and Ruthann Lehrer, Robert Chattel, masonry restoration specialist Charles Kibby and project manager Jim Suhr at the Mayfair Theater

Kathryn McGee presented on Chattel’s ongoing work at Mission Santa Barbara at a recent Santa Barbara Historic Landmarks Commission meeting, including discussion of repair of the crypt located in the Mission church.

Finally, the Chattel team provided consultation to about fifty Los Angeles homeowners on historic property maintenance to facilitate implementation of the City of Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources Mills Act program.

Robert Chattel (right) discusses Mills Act program with Arlington Heights homeowner