Santa Monica : Landmark Label Denied

Beauty, it is said, is in the eye of the beholder. And so, it appears, is the significance of historical architecture.

The City Council voted Tuesday to overturn a Landmarks Commission decision that designated an 18-unit apartment building known as Rivington Place as a city landmark. The building at 701 Ocean Ave. is the work of California architect John Parkinson and his brother, Donald, in 1932.

Some council members and architectural experts called the building ugly and a “pitiful” sample; others said it was a celebration of art that paid homage to the ocean.

Tenants had sought successfully to have the single-story building declared a landmark as a last-ditch attempt to prevent the owners, Taico Properties, from using the Ellis Act to evict residents and demolish the building. Taico for 10 years has planned to replace Rivington with condominiums.

The tenants contended that the building deserved preservation because it was a rare example of Parkinson’s work. The architect is better known for “civic architecture,” including the city halls of Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

While several members lamented seeing more condominiums built, the council finally decided, 5 to 2, that Rivington Place did not meet the criteria for designation as a landmark. Councilmen Dennis Zane and David Finkel dissented.

talization for a year. For more information, call (213) 824-6637.