2015 City of Los Angeles Mills Act Workshop

The Mills Act Program is California’s leading financial incentive for historic preservation, providing potential property tax reduction to owners of qualified historic buildings. This informative event will provide an in-depth look at the review and approval process and provide tips for preparing successful applications.  

Join Chattel and representatives of the City of Los Angeles, Office of Historic Resources (OHR) and County of Los Angeles, Office of the Assessor for a Mills Act Workshop on Saturday, April 25 at 10:00 AM. The workshop is free, but reservations are required.

 R.S.V.P. at this link. 

Chattel Senior Associate Shane Swerdlow discusses Priority Consideration Criteria at the 2014 Mills Act Workshop

Pecha Kucha at the Getty

On December 9, 2014, Robert Chattel was one of six presenters at the inaugural "Powered by Pecha Kucha" event sponsored by the Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative at the Getty. Robert presented a 6 minute 40 second presentation entitled Medicinal Masterpiece: Rehabilitation and Adaptive Reuse of the Stuart Building. Check it out!

A Torrance Icon Day and Night

The Torrance City Council presented a Proclamation to those involved in rehabilitating the bridge.  Pictured from left, front row:  Jamie Ruth Watson (President, Torrance Historical Society), Shane Swerdlow (Associate, Chattel, Inc.), Pat Furey (Mayor, City of Torrance), Elizabeth Overstreet (Engineering Manager, City of Torrance, Department of Public Works), and Andy Perez (Director, Port Affairs, Union Pacific Railroad).

On December 2, 2014, the Torrance City Council kicked off its weekly meeting with an official lighting ceremony for the 1913, Irving Gill-designed Pacific Electric Railway - El Prado Bridge. Chattel Associate Shane Swerdlow spoke at the event, accepting a Proclamation from the City Council on behalf of the team involved in the bridge’s rehabilitation. Watch the Proclamation presentation and lighting ceremony.

Torrance Historical Society members gathered at the bridge while Mayor Pat Furey flipped a switch at City Council Chambers to officially illuminate the structure (source of photo: Torrance CitiCABLE 3)

Chattel worked with structural engineer Krakower & Associates, concrete specialist Preservation Arts, and City of Torrance, Department of Public Works to develop a project that brought back the modern elegance of the arched, reinforced concrete bridge, which had suffered years of deferred maintenance. Work included removing paint, graffiti, and dense vines, patching damaged concrete, reconstructing wood guardrails, and adding clear anti-graffiti coating. Chattel also consulted with the Torrance Historical Society to come up with the official Pacific Electric Railway – El Prado Bridge name approved by the Torrance City Council—the structure was previously called “the bridge” and several other colloquial names. Read more about Chattel’s presentation to the City Council on the bridge’s name in the Torrance Tribune. Chattel also worked with City staff to develop the new lighting scheme, which consists of in-ground uplights accentuating the iconic arches.

Chattel worked with City staff to develop the new lighting scheme.  Pictured here is Lea Reis (Associate Engineer, City of Torrance, Department of Public Works) with a sample in-ground uplight.

Built in 1913 by the Pacific Electric Railway, the bridge originally served trains passing over tracks used by southern California's famous Red Cars. It is one of the first bridges to use arches purely for decoration, disguising an otherwise simple structure of concrete girders and beams. Southern Pacific Railroad later took over ownership of the bridge and donated it to the City of Torrance in 1986. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. At a 100th birthday celebration on May 23rd, 2013, the American Society of Civil Engineers presented a plaque commemorating the bridge as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, joining the ranks of the Golden Gate and Brooklyn bridges. Today, it serves as Torrance’s eastern gateway and an icon of civic identity, prominently featured in logos and seals of City departments and organizations.

From top: bridge in 1913, soon after construction (Torrance Historical Society); 2012, before rehabilitation; 2013, after rehabilitation; and 2014, during lighting ceremony.

Banking on History: Five Incentives for Preservation Projects

CPF Workshop - Thursday, December 11th

Castle Green in Pasadena

Join Shane Swerdlow, Associate at Chattel, Inc. as he discusses the Mills Act at a special, day-long workshop on historic preservation financial incentives presented by the California Preservation Foundation at Pasadena’s historic Castle Green.

The Mills Act Program is California’s leading financial incentive for historic preservation, providing potential property tax reduction to owners of qualified historic buildings.  Owners must commit to a substantial scope of rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance work described in a Mills Act Contract that is executed with a local city or county government.

The workshop will also focus on Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives, easements, and a variety of grant programs.

Register

Other speakers include: 

• Kevin Sanada, National Trust for Historic Preservation
• Tara Hamacher, Founder and President, Historic Consultants, Inc.
• Diana Letsinger, Partner, Novogradac & Company LLP
• William Huang, Director of Housing, City of Pasadena
• Jesse Lattig, Preservation Director, Pasadena Heritage
• Shane Swerdlow, Associate, Chattel, Inc.
• Kevin Johnson, City of Pasadena, Planning & Community Development Department
• Patricia Johnson-Conner, Los Angeles County, Office of the Assessor
• Charles Loveman, Executive Director, Heritage Housing Partners
• Christopher Smith, Architectural Resources Group
• John LoCascio, Senior Architect, AIA, Historic Resources Group

Conserving Southern California's Modern Architecture

FREE Lecture at the Getty - Tuesday, December 9th at 7:00 PM

Stuart Company Building in Pasadena

Robert Chattel, AIA will highlight the preservation challenges and successes of his work on the Stuart Company Building at a FREE event sponsored by the Getty Conservation Institute's Conserving Modern Architecture Initiative, which seeks to advance the practice of conserving twentieth-century heritage. The presentation will be "Powered by PechaKucha," a simple presentation format in which speakers show 20 images, each for 20 seconds, making for a fast-paced and lively evening.

Please join us.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 7:00 PM

Museum Lecture Hall, Getty Center

R.S.V.P.

The Public Landscapes of Ralph Cornell

FREE Tour of Harvey Mudd College - Sunday, November 9th at 2:30pm

Harvey Mudd College Great Mall with new Center for Teaching and Learning at right.

As part of The Cultural Landscape Foundation's program What’s Out There Weekend Los Angeles - The Public Landscapes of Ralph Cornell, Robert Chattel, AIA will lead a tour of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont. Chattel evaluated the campus master plan amendment and identified a potential historic district with the period of significance 1957-1972. Chattel also reviewed a proposed replacement building by Portland-based Boora Architects, a center for teaching and learning, for conformance with the Secretary’s Standards.

Los Angeles-based landscape architect Ralph Cornell is known for his design restraint and thoughtful use of indigenous plantings. His work at Harvey Mudd College was in collaboration with landscape architect Thomas Church, and architects Earl Heitschmidt and Edward Durrell Stone. The upcoming What's Out There Weekend features free, expert-led tours of more than a dozen significant Cornell-designed landscapes in greater Los Angeles.

LA Conservancy Garden Apartment Tour

Saturday, November 1st; 10am to 4:30pm

Imagine living in a low-density, garden oasis like Chase Knolls (above) in the middle of America’s second-largest city.  Los Angeles has one of the largest collections of garden apartments in the nation, with nearly 40 built between the late 1930s and the mid-1950s.  Here’s a chance to see what life is like in historic garden apartments.

Robert Chattel, AIA will be available to discuss the careful analysis and development of a prioritized approach to phased rehabilitation of Chase Knolls buildings and landscape.  Join theLA Conservancy for this special one-time-only overview and tour of Village Green in Baldwin Hills (1941), Chase Knolls in Sherman Oaks (1948), and Lincoln Place in Venice (1951).

State Historic Tax Credit Act: What's Next?

Help AB 1999 cross the finish line!

Put your coffee down and email Governor Jerry Brown and encourage him to sign the legislation for AB 1999. It’s simple, enter your name and email address, scroll down to AB 01999 and enter your email text, then press send.

Here’s sample email text.  It’s just a start, make it yours!

I'm writing to express my personal support for AB 1999, the state historic tax credit bill authored by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins. The bill is truly a landmark that was passed unanimously and with bipartisan support in both the Senate and Assembly. The proposed legislation will provide an incentive to rehabilitate historic commercial income-producing and owner-occupied residential properties in urban and rural areas across California. We need to encourage property owners to retain and reuse important touchstones of our history as older downtowns are revitalized, former military bases are reused and affordable housing is provided. The bill was co-sponsored by the California Preservation Foundation and California Council of the American Institute of Architects and supported by thoughtful cities, astute developers, preservation organizations and caring individuals like me statewide. I urge you to sign the bill into law and make California the 35th state to enact a state historic tax credit. Thank you for your consideration.

What will AB 1999 do?

The bill amends several sections of the state tax code to allow for a basic 20% or, in certain limited areas, 25% investment tax credit for qualified rehabilitation of income-producing commercial and owner-occupied residential properties. 

When would it take effect?

January 2015.

How can you learn more?

Visit the California Preservation Foundation website.

For those who care about our history and preservation of California’s rich and diverse built environment, the long-awaited State Historic Tax Credit is in the final stage of adoption. AB 1999 was just unanimously passed with bipartisan support in both the California Senate and Assembly and now heads to Governor Jerry Brown for signature.  The bill was authored by Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), co-sponsored by the California Preservation Foundation and California Council of the American Institute of Architects, and supported by like-minded organizations statewide including the California Historical Society, Los Angeles Conservancy and San Francisco Heritage.

Neon Museum: A Mid-Century Case Study

FREE Webinar on September 9 at 12pm

Join Robert Chattel, AIA and Shane Swerdlow for a webinar about the trials and tribulations of saving the Mid-Century Modern La Concha Motel lobby from demolition, its move to a new site, and rehabilitation as the Visitor Center for Las Vegas’ highly successful Neon Museum. Learn how a team of advocates for its protection, a structural engineer, and a consulting preservation architect worked together to save the iconic structure. The webinar is the third and final part of a California Preservation Foundation (CPF) series on architecture and urbanism in the mid-twentieth century.

Robert Chattel, AIA, Historic Architect, will moderate the webinar. Other speakers will include Nancy Deaner, Director, City of Las Vegas, Office of Cultural Affairs; Mel Green, Structural Engineer, Melvyn Green & Associates, Inc.; Shane Swerdlow, Project Manager, Chattel, Inc.; Mara Jones, Architectural Historian, Nevada State Historic Preservation Office; and Danielle Kelly, Executive Director, The Neon Museum, Las Vegas.

Register for the webinar

Registration is free for members of CPF and partner organizations, including Restore Oregon, Nevada Preservation Foundation, Preserve Nevada, Nevada Architectural History Alliance, and The Neon Museum. $15 for Non-members.

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Robert Chattel, AIA, Moderator

Robert Chattel, AIA is a licensed general contractor and architect in California with more than 30 years’ experience in historic preservation. He established Chattel, Inc. in 1994 and has been involved in achieving creative changes to diverse historic properties throughout the western United States, including a notable array of Modern buildings. For the 1958 Edward Durell Stone-designed Stuart Company Plant and Office Building in Pasadena, Robert consulted on design and construction of an adaptive reuse project integrating the historic New Formalist building within a compatible new apartment community and performing arts venue. He worked closely with public agencies and Los Angeles Conservancy Modern Committee when consulting on rehabilitation of the 1957 Googie-style Harvey’s Broiler, now Bob’s Big Boy, in Downey. As consulting historic preservation architect for the Neon Museum Visitor Center, he collaborated with Westar Architectural Group to develop plans for rehabilitation of the La Concha Motel lobby and a new addition housing museum support spaces. He serves as President Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the San Francisco-based California Historical Society.

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Shane Swerdlow, Speaker

Shane Swerdlow is a historic preservation planner at Chattel, Inc. involved in design collaboration and environmental review for projects involving historic resources. His work on Modern buildings includes a historic resource assessment of the 1955 National Register-eligible, Welton Becket and Associates-designed Schoenberg Hall at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), which houses the Herb Alpert School of Music, and consultation on design of a new addition. He also consulted on and monitored construction of stabilization and rehabilitation work at the 1913 National Register-listed Pacific Electric Railway – El Prado Bridge in Torrance, designed by Irving Gill, a pioneer in Modernism. For the Neon Museum Visitor Center, he managed implementation of National Scenic Byways Program grant funding and worked closely with the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, Federal Highway Administration, and Nevada Department of Transportation to successfully complete Section 106 environmental review. He serves as Vice President of the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy Alumni Association Board of Directors and member of the Board and Planning and Land Use Committee of Los Angeles’ Mid City West Community Council. 

La Concha Motel Lobby disassembled at donor site before relocation in 2006.

Chattel consulted on design of the new addition housing offices and support spaces.

The Neon Boneyard is home to over 150 neon signs.

Chattel turns 20

Chattel is celebrating its 20th anniversary!  As part of our celebration, we thought it would be fun to look back on how Chattel has grown over two decades and catch up with former "Chattelites."  

Chattel Staff

Since its founding in 1994 by Robert Jay Chattel, AIA, President, the firm has grown from two employees to include eight full-time staff members, with seven meeting the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards in architectural history, historic architecture, history, and architecture. We enjoy working and hanging out together, especially when good food and drink are involved. In February 2010, Esther joined our staff as a full-time compassionate listener and part-time surveyor. Esther provides an often unheard of ground-level perspective and insists on participating in every conference call and meeting.

Chattel lunches at Le Figaro in Los Angeles

Esther stays up to speed on the latest fashion trends reading Modern Dog magazine

Chattel Offices

After moving in 2004 to a storefront office on Ventura Boulevard in the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles, we expanded in 2011 to occupy space on the second floor of our building.  In 2012 Chattel opened its second California office in downtown San Francisco at Stevenson Place,  staffed by Shannon Ferguson and Justin Greving.

Chattel LA office expansion

Chattel SF is located at Stevenson Place

Chattel Projects

Chattel, Inc. works on projects throughout California, in Las Vegas and most recently, in Seattle.  We have worked on many large-scale, complex projects. Each project presents unique challenges, but our approach is always consistent: balancing continuity and change. On most projects, we work closely with the project reviewers with whom we have developed long term relationships based on mutual respect. Our recommendations reflect that experience and are aimed at streamlining reviewer approval.  For the past several years, Chattel has been managing historic preservation projects at Santa Barbara Mission, including work being implemented under a federal Save America's Treasures (SAT) matching grant, administered by the National Park Service with the help of California Missions Foundation. And since 2010, the firm has served as consultant to the City of Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources, reviewing Mills Act application materials and conducting pre-approval inspections of 50-70 eligible properties each year. Chattel also prepares Mills Act contract applications for private property owners including 1772 Vallejo Street (Burr House) in San Francisco and 128 Hollister Avenue in Santa Monica.

Kathryn McGee and Robert Chattel with Saint Barbara conserved by Griswold Conservation Associates on the 1820 Mission church facade

1878 Burr House in San Francisco received a Mills Act Contract in 2013

Where are they now?

Many of our former colleagues have gone on to do great work in preservation and related fields.  Here we highlight some of the exciting work they’ve been pursuing recently. 

David and his 2 year-old son Leo in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum

David Gest

After my time at Chattel, I moved back to the East Coast to get degrees in law and city planning.  I worked at a law firm doing land use and zoning work in New York City for a few years, and last summer I moved to Philadelphia, where I practice land use and real estate law at Ballard Spahr.  I was recently involved in a preservation project, representing the redeveloper of the Art Deco style Boyd Theater (1928) in Center City.  Most of my free time is spent chasing my two kids, who will soon be old enough to play ultimate frisbee with me.

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Gabrielle Harlan

In 2009, I was offered a position as a Historical Architect with the National Park Service at Yosemite National Park. My most challenging and exciting project at Yosemite to date is my role as both a member of the steering committee and the primary architectural reviewer for the rehabilitation of the historic Ahwahnee Hotel, designed in 1926 by the Los Angeles-based architect, Gilbert Stanley Underwood. In 2010, I was awarded both a Helen L. Bing fellowship and an Andrew W. Mellon Foundation fellowship at the Huntington Library in San Marino. These fellowships allowed me to be in residency at the library for two months as I conducted ongoing research for my doctoral dissertation on the development of Pueblo Revival Style architecture in the American Southwest at the turn of the twentieth century. In the fall of 2013, I successfully defended my dissertation, and received my Ph.D. in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Virginia. In my free time, I enjoy exploring cities and towns throughout California, learning to surf, and teaching human communication skills to my recently adopted puppy named Stella.

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Sylvia working on the Watts Towers

Sylvia Schweri-Dorsch

After working with Chattel from 2009-2011, I worked with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) on the Watts Towers Conservation Project for three years, where I led the site team performing conservation maintenance and conducted research for a long-range conservation plan. I now work on contract to museum, architectural, and archaeological projects, including Boston University’s Central Lydia Archaeological Survey (http://www.bu.edu/clas/) in Turkey in summer 2014.

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Kate at a recent LANI event

Kate Mayerson

Since leaving Chattel 2013, I completed a Masters Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from UCLA, and began working for Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative (LANI) a non-profit organization. As a Program Manager at LANI, I oversee the community outreach, design, and implementation of community improvement projects. I have managed the renovation of three playgrounds and a median, and I'm currently developing a new pocket park and managing an alleyway renovation. 

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Marissa is now working at the City of Orange

Marissa Moshier

I recently accepted the position as an Associate Planner - Historic Preservation at the City of Orange.  The City of Orange has one of the largest National Register of Historic Places-listed historic districts in California, along with three tracts of mid-century Eichler houses that the City is working on designating as local historic districts.  I am also working on improving and updating the City's preservation policies to better protect Orange's diverse historic resources. 

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Edgar in Office of Historic Resources

Edgar Garcia

During my time interning with Chattel, the US-International Council of Monuments and Sites selected me to participate in their 2005 international exchange program, traveling to Yaroslavl, Russia where I worked with local groups to survey and preserve a historic working-class community.  After completing my internship with Chattel, I was hired as the inaugural Preservation Planner for the City of Los Angeles’ Office of Historic Resources in 2006, overseeing the Historic-Cultural Monument landmarks program.  Since then, I have been profiled by KCET’s Departures series for my extensive work on the L.A. River and its historic bridges, was a speaker for both the ALOUD lecture series on the L.A. River and the Bauhaus University’s 2010 International Model Project Forum in Weimar, Germany. In 2012, I curated an exhibition highlighting the 50th anniversary of L.A.’s municipal preservation program and served as a Diversity Scholar for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In 2012, the Getty Foundation awarded me a Leadership in Arts Management professional development grant for my contributions in the field of historic preservation and cultural resource management. Most recently, I was awarded a Diversity Scholarship by Historic New England and was also named a Fitch Scholar by the James Marston Fitch Foundation for my research and study of the Chicano Movement’s contributions to architecture and design. In 2013, I joined the administration of Mayor Eric Garcetti to oversee the rehabilitation of the historic Getty House, the official residence of the Mayor of Los Angeles.

39th Annual California Preservation Conference in Asilomar

Greetings from an unusually sunny, and somewhat warm, Asilomar!

Robert Chattel and staff from the San Francisco office recently attended the 39th annual California Preservation Conference at Asilomar State Beach and Conference Grounds. Located at the southern tip of Monterey Bay, this state park features a unique combination of gorgeous Arts and Crafts facilities designed by master architect Julia Morgan, and later Mid-Century Modern buildings by John Carl Warnecke and Associates.  Asilomar was founded in 1913 by

the YWCA and used for their leadership conferences and Girl Reserves summer camp. College women and men from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and California worked as summer staff.  

Robert Chattel presented an educational session on the history of preservation incentives in California at a session outlining the current push for legislation of a California State historic tax credit. Shannon Ferguson toured the company town Spreckles, which was developed to support what was then the largest sugar beet processing plant when it opened in 1899. While the plant has since closed, there remain hints of the town’s former association with the Spreckles sugar empire - most pf the former worker's bungalows have dovecotes shaped like a stylized sugar beet. For Justin, one highlight of the conference was a tour of the grounds led by Michael Meloy, California State Park Historian who works at Asilomar. Michael detailed the history of Asilomar as well as explained contributions each succession of architects made on the site as it was transformed from a YWCA camp into a Boy Scout retreat, before becoming a California State Park in 1956.

In the office we always joke that the California Preservation Conference is like summer camp for preservationists, and at Asilomar this rang especially true. From a bonfire and s’more roast hosted by Steve Schafer, to the collegiate atmosphere of the dining hall, this year truly felt like “sleep away camp” (thankfully minus the curfew). The 3 Minute Success Stories are always a highlight of the conference and Chattel had front row seats to the event that took place in Julia Morgan-designed chapel. One success story was a ballad sung by Sally Zarnowitz about the rehabilitation of a Mid-Century Modern nursery, while another not-so-successful story was a hilarious photo essay by Steve Schafer chronicling when bad things happen to good buildings. Throughout the night Tim Brandt stole the show as he channeled the various spirits of Asilomar, from the ghost of Julia Morgan to a disheartened camp counselor, and finally, a fabulous canning factory Carmen Miranda.

Tim Brandt as canning factory Carmen Miranda at 3 Minute Success Stories

At the end of the week Christi Di Iorio graciously allowed Chattel to host a lovely cocktails and canapés party for our friends and guests. We served up champagne cocktails and Moscow Mules to celebrate the end of another successful conference and catch up with colleagues from throughout the state. In the end the California Preservation Conference is more than just a series of sessions or workshops taking place in conference rooms. It is a chance to meet up outside of those rooms with old connections, and forge new friendships with those who are passionate about preservation (and won't say no to a stiff drink!).

Chattel Hosts Los Angeles Mills Act Workshop

Chattel collaborated with staff of the City of Los Angeles Office of Historic Resources (OHR) to host a Mills Act Workshop on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at the Barnsdall Art Park Gallery Theatre in Hollywood. Over 100 people, including applicants, consultants, and staff of multiple Southern California cities, attended this informative event. The program focused on the Mills Act Contract review and approval process, common issues faced by applicants, and tips for preparing successful application materials. Presenters included Lambert Giessinger, AIA of OHR, Patricia Johnson-Conner of the Los Angeles County Assessor, and Robert Chattel, AIA and Shane Swerdlow of Chattel, Inc.

Shane Swerdlow of Chattel, Inc. explains Mills Act application requirements.

The Mills Act Program is California’s leading financial incentive for historic preservation, providing potential property tax reduction to owners of qualified historic buildings. Owners must commit to a substantial scope of rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance work described in a Mills Act Contract that is executed with a local city or county government. 716 diverse single- and multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial properties in the City of Los Angeles have Mills Act Contracts. Chattel is entering its fifth year providing consulting services to OHR to process these Contracts and has performed pre-approval inspections of over 200 buildings. 72 property owners are applying for new Contracts this year.

Robert Chattel, AIA of Chattel, Inc. discusses the Mills Act program with an applicant.

The goal of the Mills Act Workshop was to engage property owners early in the application process to establish expectations and improve knowledge of the program. Chattel looks forward to continuing to serve as a liaison between OHR and applicants as the review process progresses.

Download the Mills Act Workshop Presentation (PDF). 

Questions and answers from the Mills Act Workshop are available on the OHR website.

Lambert Giessinger, AIA of OHR, Robert Chattel, AIA of Chattel, Inc., and Patricia Johnson-Conner of the Los Angeles County Assessor answer questions from applicants.