The 1953 Mid-Century Modern 20-unit multi-family residential building at 234 San Vicente Boulevard, a contributor to the San Vicente Courtyard Apartment Historic District, has been rehabilitated. Recipient of a 2020 Santa Monica Conservancy Rehabilitation Award, this is the first of several multi-family buildings on San Vicente with Mills Act contracts to be processed through Certificate of Appropriateness by the Landmarks Commission.

Chattel worked with design architect Corsini Stark Architects, landscape architect KSA Design Studio, and owner United Property Management to develop an exterior rehabilitation plan to revive this two-story 20-unit apartment complex. The project included rehabilitation of aluminum casement windows, exterior paint throughout including Modern Masters silver metallic paint on overpainted windows, wood louvers and sills on the north elevation (street façade) following a pattern popularized by master architect Richard Neutra. Original architect M.L. Riesenberg may been influenced by master architect Marcel Breuer’s widely published exterior stairs at his 1948 House in the Museum Garden at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The exterior metal stairs with their distinctive horizontal ladder features were rehabilitated with new paint and treads of Ipe hardwood that will weather to a warm gray color over time. New landscaping, hardscape and courtyard drainage replaced lawn and overgrown trees with new sustainable elements. The swimming pool was re-plastered with new tile and more energy efficient pool equipment. Original pool restrooms were removed and an open cabana structure with roof trellis takes their place.