California Preservation Foundation Conference, San Francisco

Here's to a successful 2016 CPF Conference, held at the Presidio in San Francisco. This week, we had the chance to tour the Willis Polk designed  Bourn Mansion in Pacific Heights and attend several sessions on California related preservation topics.

Robert Chattel and Christi Di Iorio In front of the Bourn Mansion in Pacific Heights, in San Francisco 

The Bourn Mansion designed by Willis Polk, in Pacific Heights, in San Francisco

Reuniting with friends and former colleagues at the conference receptions was equally as enjoyable!

Left to Right: Shannon Ferguson, Robert Chattel, Pilar LaValley, Marissa Moshier, and Justin Greving at the CPF Conference at the Presidio, in San Francisco

Robert Chattel and Valerie Nagel at the Presidio, in San Francisco. 

It's events like this that remind us how much Chattel loves SF!

Chattel Receives John Wesley Powell Prize

Building 209 at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center Campus after rehabilitation and seismic upgrade. This view shows the integration of the new ADA accessible ramp with new landscape design. 

Last month, Chattel received the John Wesley Powell Prize from the Society for History in the Federal Government for its work on Building 209 at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center (West LA VA) Campus. The building was rehabilitated and now serves as transitional housing for 65 homeless Veterans. The project is one of only two award winners that were honored by the Society for History in the Federal Government in Baltimore, Maryland on March 17, 2016, during the Joint Annual Meeting of the National Council on Public History and the Society for History in the Federal Government. The award recognizes exceptional achievement in the field of historic preservation projects. The committee judged the project “to be an outstanding contribution to furthering the understanding of the history of the Federal Government on the basis of significance of subject matter, depth of research, rigor of methodology, clarity of presentation, and quality of style.”  

Chattel was the recipient of the 2016 John Wesley Powell Prize, awarded by the Society for History in the Federal Government. 

Building 209 is Mission Revival in style and was constructed in 1945 as a hospital and canteen; it is a contributing resource to National Register-listed West LA VA Historic District. As historic preservation consultant, Chattel worked with architect Leo Daly to fully rehabilitate and seismically retrofit the building. Through research, rehabilitation, and evidence-based design, Building 209 was transformed and is now home to male and female Veterans who were formerly homeless. Comprising 51,500 square feet of space, the three-level building supports a functional program of specialized accommodations and provides residents with stable housing as well as the services necessary to aid in their recovery.

The John Wesley Powell Prize is the latest honor for the West LA VA Hospital Homeless Veterans Transitional Housing project. The project will also receive a Los Angeles Conservancy award at the Annual Preservation Awards Luncheon on May 5, 2016.

Building 209 at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center Campus after the rehabilitation and seismic upgrade project. 

Better Late than Never... Chattel HOLIDAY Party 2015

Chattel  celebrated the holiday season on December 18, 2015 at Terroni, an established restaurant housed in a historic banking hall at 802 S. Spring Street in downtown Los Angeles. In the setting of a sleek private dining room which was once the mezzanine of National City Bank, our team enjoyed a multi-course meal of southern Italian food and wine, exchanged holiday gifts, and reflected on our firm’s growth and accomplishments.

Although it's already February (how time flies), we just wanted to thank you for making 2015 so memorable. Can't wait to see what this year brings. From us at Chattel, Inc.

Straight Out of Compton: A Late Modern City Hall Gets an Energy Upgrade

FREE Lecture at the Getty Center: Tuesday, December 8th at 7:00 pm. Tickets Required

Compton City Hall (Chattel, 2012)

Chattel is honored to be presenting on the rehabilitation of Compton City Hall, part of the Getty Conservation Institute's second annual event celebrating modern architecture in Los Angeles, entitled "Modern Snapshots From the Field."  

Interior of Compton City Hall (Chattel, 2012)

City Hall opened its doors to the citizens of Compton in 1977. It represented a new civic identity for a community that had recently witnessed a dramatic change in demographics, evolving from exclusively Anglo prior to World War II into a majority African-American city in the decades following the war.  Designed by local African-American architect Harold L. Williams, FAIA (1924-2015), the City Hall was the result of Williams’ desire to create an architecturally significant landmark for the residents of Compton. Williams has been recognized for his involvement and leadership in a number of organizations throughout his lifetime, including the AIA, the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) and as the chairman of the Committee for Simon Rodia's Towers in Watts that have earned him the reputation as the “People’s Architect.”

In 2009, the City of Compton received a grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to replace glazing of windows and doors and provide weatherstripping. Chattel was brought on in 2012 to perform Section 106 review including preparing a determination of eligibility for the property and finding of effect for the project.

City and County of San Francisco preservation planner Justin Greving will be presenting on behalf of Chattel, highlighting our role in preserving this local landmark.  Justin served as Chattel project manager for the City Hall and spearheaded the successful effort to gain approvals and implement the project on a tight schedule. The lecture will take place at the Museum Lecture Hall at the Getty Center, Tuesday, December 8th at 7:00 pm. The event is free but tickets are required. RSVP. 

Compton City Hall (Chattel, 2013)

Coming Home: West LA VA’s Building 209 Rehabilitated to House Veterans in Need

Building 209 after rehabilitation (Chattel, 2015)

Chattel consulted on the rehabilitation and seismic retrofit of Building 209 at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center (West LA VA) Campus. Collaborating with a team of architects and engineers, Chattel completed Section 106 review, consulting with the SHPO, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and Los Angeles Conservancy. The building was rehabilitated to accommodate a long term therapeutic supportive residential program housing homeless Veterans. Chattel advised the team in developing a project that conformed with the Secretary’s Standards to streamline concurrence from SHPO.

Interior of residential unit after rehabilitation (Chattel, 2015)

Constructed in 1945, Building 209 is Mission Revival in style and was constructed as a hospital and canteen; it is a contributing resource to National Register-listed West LA VA Historic District. Through research, rehabilitation, and evidence-based design, Building 209 has been fully restored and transformed into housing for 65 homeless men and women. Comprising 51,500 square feet of space, the three-level building supports a functional program of specialized accommodations and provides residents with stable housing as well as services necessary to aid in their recovery.

Original steel sash windows in the process of restoration and reglazing (Chattel, 2014)

As part of the project, steel sash double hung windows were stripped of lead-based paint on site, reglazed to increase energy efficiency, and painted their historic color based on paint analysis. The building achieved LEED Gold certification. In November, Building 209 was awarded the Innovation in Design Merit at the Los Angeles Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC-LA) Sustainable Innovation Awards. 

TAP into History - ULI Technical Assistance Panel on Historic Wintersburg

On June 3-4 2015, Robert Chattel participated in an Urban Land Institute (ULI) Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) to provide recommendations on the reuse of Historic Wintersburg, a former Japanese community located in Huntington Beach, California.  The goal of ULI’s TAP program is to provide pro bono planning and development assistance to public officials, local stakeholders and nonprofit organizations who have requested assistance in addressing unique land use challenges. This TAP was sponsored by the National Trust of Historic Preservation in collaboration with the Historic Wintersburg Preservation Task Force.

The Historic Wintersburg TAP consisted of nine panelists, each of whom specialized in a development-related profession. Robert Chattel provided input on identification of the essential historic features to be retained in order for the rehabilitation program to conform with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, while allowing for adaptive reuse and supportive new development. 

Furuta family at home circa 1923 (Furuta Family collection)

The property was originally purchased and developed as agricultural land in 1908 by Charles Furuta and Reverend Hisakichi Terasawa, founder of the Wintersburg Mission. The original mission was constructed in 1910 and a subsequent church was built in 1934 and the property quickly transformed into a community gathering space for the growing first and second generation Japanese populations. In the 1920s, Furuta established a goldfish farm, which soon became the main goldfish distributor for the West Coast. Although the entire Wintersburg community was forcibly removed during World War II, the property remained largely intact and after the war, the original Japanese community returned. The property was sold to Rainbow Environmental Services/Republic in 2004; the property is currently unused and closed off to the public.

In 2014, representatives of the National Park Service visited the property, evaluated it and found it in a preliminary assessment to be eligible for listing for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A: Japanese American Settlement of the American West. Six historic features were identified including the 1910 mission, the 1934 church, the pastor’s house, the 1912 and 1947 homes of the Furuta family, and the circa 1910 pioneer barn, all within agrarian setting. The National Trust for Historic Preservation identified Historic Wintersburg as one of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places of 2014. 

Furuta home (Chattel, 2015)

The TAP identified seven scenarios for adaptive reuse of the property and recommended a preferred scenario that maximized economic return, community use, and preservation of essential historic features. As described in the preferred scenario, the TAP recommended preservation of three of the historic structures within a landscaped setting, and compatible new construction with shared parking, public gathering area and open space. To read the TAP report, click here.

Mission Accomplished! October WCAPT Event at the Santa Barbara Mission

Chattel has been managing historic preservation projects at the Santa Barbara Mission as part of a National Park Service (NPS) Save America’s Treasures (SAT) grant since 2011. This summer, the projects have wrapped up and the Association for Preservation Technology, Western Chapter (WCAPT) will be holding a tour and presentation of the recently completed work. Presentations will be made by representatives of the Mission and Chattel, Conservator John Griswold and representatives from Restoration Contractor Spectra. The event will take place at the Mission on October 9th, 2015 starting at 1:30 pm. For more information check out the  WCAPT website and don't forget to register for the event here.

Our work at the Mission included preparing a Historic Structure Report, prioritizing work items within a limited budget, as well as managing a team of consultants consisting of Structural Engineer Nels Roselund and Conservator John Griswold along with an archaeologist, hydrologist, cost estimator and plumber. The SAT grant was implemented over four phases of work, each of which was competitively bid to pre-qualified contractors and required NPS approval prior to commencing work. Chattel is currently in the final stages of drafting an easement required under the SAT grant to protect character-defining features of the Mission.

WCAPT Event Invitation

Check out these selected before & after pictures of the completed work and join us at the event to learn more about the transformation! 

Mission Church - Before - 2011

Mission Church - After - 2015

Convento Wing - Before - 2011

Convento Wing - Nearing Completion - 2015

Solstice Window - Before - 2011

Solstice Window - After - 2011

Chattel at the LA Conservancy Preservation Awards

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Credit: Gary Leonard

On May 7th, 2015, Chattel staff joined a large gathering of preservation professionals for the 2015 Los Angeles Conservancy Preservation Awards, held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. This annual event recognizes outstanding work in the field of preservation for projects completed throughout the greater Los Angeles region.

This year, Chattel received an award for work performed on the Pacific Electric Railway - El Prado Bridge. Chattel was part of a comprehensive project team, which included the City of Torrance, Torrance Historical Society, Old Torrance Neighborhood Association, Krakower & Associates Structural Engineers, and Preservation Arts.  

The bridge, a signature work of architect Irving Gill, was a focal point of the city's original plan for the central core, now known as Old Torrance.  The project team was recognized for its efforts in revitalizing an icon of civic identity for the City of Torrance, fittingly, just in time for the bridge's centennial.  The project also exemplifies strong civic stewardship and community partnership, while expanding the public's understanding of the meaning and value of preservation.  

Council member Kurt Weideman accepted the award on behalf of the project team, which was able to celebrate their accomplishments over a delicious lunch, while learning about other noteworthy works of historic preservation.

Two Tales of Striking Black Gold

Spectra representative Ruben Lombardo and Valerio representative Elfa Gomez inspect new foundation and exterior finishes under contruction.

"Eureka! Two Tales of Striking Black Gold: From attendants pumping gas to baristas serving coffee" was the title of Robert Chattel's Three Minute Success Story presentation at the 40th California Preservation Conference. The rousing evening at the former Naval Training Center in San Diego had a Bob Hope-theme and featured indomitable host Tim Brandt in several roles including that of Phyllis Diller in a Mondrian inspired dress (woo hoo!). Costumed as a Gilmore Gas Station attendant, Robert presented the first black gold strike by AF Gilmore in 1905, when he struck oil while drilling for water on his nearby dairy farm; the second black gold strike by Starbucks occurred in 1971, when it opened the first store across from Pike Place Market in Seattle. On March 29, 2015, the Starbucks store at Highland and Willoughby in Hollywood opened to thunderous applause in social media. According to the rare press release for a single store opening, "Starbucks real estate and design teams are always looking for unique locations that connect us to the past...Sometimes we stumble on a gem like this one, and are honored to get the chance to bring it back to life." Kudos to the team and lattes all around!!!

A Window into Santa Barbara History

The fourth phase of construction at Mission Santa Barbara is well underway! The project team met on April 17, 2015 to see the work in progress.  "Windows" have been opened through exterior, Portland cement cladding on the convento wing to reveal a mix of underlying, early California building materials like sandstone, adobe, terra cotta, and brick.  These materials will be repaired, and a new overlay of lime-based plaster and paint will be applied. 

Project team members in front of the convento wing south elevation.  From left:  Napoleon Gallardo (Spectra), Troy Parry (Spectra), Nels Roselund (Roselund Engineering), Shane Swerdlow (Chattel), Tina Foss (Old Mission Santa Barbara), John Griswold (Griswold Conservation Associates), Brother Brian Trawick (Old Mission Santa Barbara), and Gabby Gonzalez (California Missions Foundation).

Project sign.

Project conservator John Griswold discusses mix of underlying building materials.  

Convento wing south elevation with "windows" showing underlying sandstone.  

Convento wing north elevation with "windows" showing underlying building materials.  

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!