Parts of Old Building Will Be Put Into New One : Culver City to Raze City Hall, Preserve Facade

The Culver City Council this week decided to tear down City Hall, but agreed to preserve portions of the facade and incorporate them into a new building.

In September, the council voted to build a new structure on the site of its existing City Hall but could not agree on whether to demolish the 71-year-old building or construct the new building around it.

Monday night’s unanimous vote to raze the building clears the way for the city to begin work on the new city hall, said Jody Hall-Esser, assistant executive director of the city Redevelopment Agency.

‘Sense of Relief’

“There’s a great sense of relief, now that we can move ahead in the process of getting into the new city hall,” said Councilwoman Jozelle Smith, who previously opposed razing the old building. “Not only that, but we can move our staff out of a potentially dangerous setting.”

The building will be demolished next spring, said Dale Jones, the city’s chief administrative officer. City employees will work in trailers on one or more lots owned by the Redevelopment Agency for about four years until the new city hall is completed. The cost of the temporary quarters will be about $1.5 million, Hall-Esser said.

Mayor Paul Jacobs said that by immediately moving employees into temporary quarters, the city will avoid further debates on earthquake retrofitting of the old building.

In contrast with the previous council discussions, there was no opposition to razing the building. In arguing to raze the building, Ed Little, city hall advisory committee vice chairman, and council members cited the cost of bringing the 1917 building into compliance with the earthquake safety code.

Pleaded With Council

Several members of the audience, however, pleaded with the council to preserve part of the City Hall because it is a part of Culver City’s heritage.

Marti Diviak, president of the Culver City Historical Society, pointed out that City Hall was the first building constructed by the city, and it reflected the style of architecture predominant during the city’s early days.

“The city grew up in the ‘20s and ‘30s, and the civic center should reflect that,” Diviak said. “Our biggest suggestion is to preserve part of the building and incorporate it into what’s going to be there.”

Smith said she was satisfied with the council’s commitment to saving features of the old building. “People want to preserve something physical from the building that they have known for so long as their City Hall,” she said.

Hall-Esser said she thought it would be possible to save the proscenium arch from the center section of the building, along with several raised stone portraits on the outer walls. A final decision on what portions to preserve, however, will have to wait until a staff report is prepared.

The new city hall will be built in an L-shape on the grounds of the present building at Duquesne Street and Culver Boulevard. Hall-Esser said it will provide 30,000 square feet of space, including a larger City Council chamber, and training and conference rooms.