Local News in Brief : Church Landmark Urged

The First Baptist Church of San Pedro is one step closer to becoming a Los Angeles historic landmark--a designation that could thwart church members’ plans to tear down the 67-year-old structure and build a new one.

On Monday, the Los Angeles City Council’s Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee recommended that the council approve the landmark status, with three conditions: That city building officials, who say the church does not meet earthquake safety standards, allow the congregation to continue using it; that local preservationists submit monthly progress reports on their plans to restore the building, and that the designation be withdrawn if there is no progress after six months.

The First Baptist congregation has twice voted to demolish the downtown San Pedro church, with its broad columns and stained-glass windows, rather than bring it up to the city’s earthquake code. But three weeks before work was to begin on the new church, the preservationists, headed by Gary Larson, nominated First Baptist to be a historic landmark.