15 Buildings Proposed for Historic Status

After two years of study, Whittier officials are proposing that the city designate 15 buildings as historic structures, covered by a special code that prohibits owners from altering the buildings’ appearance without city approval.

The City Council deferred action Tuesday night, and scheduled a study session March 13 to discuss the proposal. Some owners of the buildings complained that the city’s proposal is an infringement of their rights.

“I want to be allowed to get up on a Saturday morning and paint my front steps . . . without getting a work permit,” Barbara Light, the owner of one of the homes, told the council Tuesday night. “I want to be allowed to select the colors of the paint on my home and decide whether my bushes need to be pruned.”

But local conservationists say that regulations are needed to protect the city’s historic resources.

“These are not just resources that belong to individuals,” said Helen Rahder, spokeswoman for the Whittier Conservancy. “These are resources that belong to the community. These are resources that belong to everyone.”