Public Buildings for Hire : Several San Gabriel Valley Cities Offer Scenic Facilities That Residents May Rent for Parties, Weddings or Other Occasions

The Monrovia Municipal Plunge made a big splash when it opened in 1925. And by next summer, the narrow, Spanish-style building may once again be swimming with people.

“It’s a sort of kissing-cousin arrangement,” explained Joan Bonholtzer, president of the Monrovia Historical Museum, which will move into the structure, once the site of Monrovia’s only public swimming pool. “We’ll rent the building out for parties and use the money we raise to help pay for exhibits and for the museum’s upkeep.”

Whatever the reason--raising money, providing a service, or both--many cities in the San Gabriel Valley have public buildings that they rent to residents for private affairs.

Some are down-home, such as El Monte’s log cabin, which rents for $25 a day and is used for family picnics, scout meetings and children’s birthday parties. Others are elegant, such as San Gabriel’s Grapevine Park and Adult Recreation Center, which is part of the ornate Civic Auditorium complex and can be rented for about $500 a day.

Renting municipal buildings is easy, but knowing what’s available can be difficult. As the holiday party season approaches, here is a sampling of public buildings for hire in the San Gabriel Valley:

* The Monrovia Municipal Plunge, with its arched entryway, red-tiled roof and narrow wings on either side of the central lobby, was built just after World War I. It is bordered by a residential neighborhood and by Recreation Park, and it is the only city structure in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.

What was once the outdoor pool was filled with dirt after the facility closed in 1983. Under a 50-year contract, the historical society will rent the facility from the city for a dollar a year.

The society plans to plant a garden on what was once the pool and use it, along with the building’s lobby, for weddings, reunions and parties. Kristin Mariconda, a historical society volunteer in charge of raising money to restore the structure, said several groups and individuals already have expressed interest in renting the facility.

* The War Memorial Building in South Pasadena, built in 1923, has two rooms where parties and weddings are often held. Both rooms look provincial with large stone fireplaces, wood floors, exposed beams and big windows, some of which face the bougainvillea-covered Oaklawn Bridge. The rooms, which are connected, are decorated with old war-bond posters.

Jim Bowers, a member of the South Pasadena American Legion Auxiliary Post 140, which uses the city-owned building as its headquarters, says the city is spending about $190,000 to refurbish the kitchen, and to install heating and a new air-conditioning system.

* La Casita Del Arroyo in Pasadena, which has a beautiful view of the old Colorado Street Bridge, was built in 1933 by the Pasadena Garden Club, which later gave it to the city. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood, the small wood-and-stone building was constructed as part of the Works Progress Administration, the New Deal program that provided jobs for laborers and artists.

La Casita Del Arroyo was virtually a no-budget project. Boulders for the walls and fireplace were carried up from the Arroyo Seco. The original roof shakes were split from nearby fallen oaks, and wood timbers and siding came from the bicycle race track of the 1932 Olympics. Even the building’s hinges and other hardware were forged from discarded streetcar rails.

With its exposed beams, picture windows, stone footpaths and stairs, the house is in a tranquil setting overlooking the east bank of the Arroyo Seco. Recently refurbished, it has been designated a city Cultural Heritage Landmark.

* The courtyard at City Hall in Pasadena is one of the San Gabriel Valley’s more popular places for weddings and parties. Surrounded by the Mediterranean-style building, the courtyard has a large fountain at its center, old-fashioned street lamps and blooming bushes and small gardens.

City Hall, which was opened in 1927, is a rectangular-shaped building. The east side is a one-story arcade, whereas the other sides are three stories high, each with a small tower at the corner. A large dome over the west side distinguishes the entrance to the building.

“People really like getting married here,” said Trini Lopez, who is in charge of renting the space for the city. “It’s a very pretty spot that has a lot of character.”

Another distinguished Pasadena building, the recently refurbished Central Library, was rented out to City Director Chris Holden for his wedding reception, but library officials said that was an experiment that will not be repeated because it took too much staff time.

* Grapevine Park and Adult Recreation Center in San Gabriel is part of the San Gabriel Civic Auditorium complex and, like Pasadena City Hall, its grassy courtyard is the main attraction.

The patio and garden, billed as having the oldest grapevine arbor in California, is where most weddings and parties are held. Behind the grapevine area, and connected by a wrought-iron passageway, is a second courtyard, which has picnic tables beneath an arcade and two large barbecue grills. Wine and champagne are the only alcoholic beverages allowed on the property.

Run by the Parks and Recreation Department, the building has two rooms with high ceilings, exposed beams and wooden floors. The rooms are primarily used for San Gabriel’s senior citizen services, community group meetings and classes ranging from ballroom dancing to karate. But when not in use for city activities, the rooms can be rented along with the courtyard area.

* The Mounted Posse Building in Arcadia has a rustic atmosphere. Built in 1956 for the city’s mounted police--equivalent to today’s civilian police reserves--the building is a long, narrow room with wagon-wheel light fixtures, a fireplace and outdoor barbecue.

The mounted posse represented the local police in parades and other public events. “They donated their time, horses and equipment,” said Police Chief Neal Johnson. “This was a chicken ranch area. A lot of people were horse owners, and they used to have a bridle path right up Santa Anita Avenue. But times have changed, and this area changed from a rural atmosphere to a real city.”

The Mounted Posse turned its clubhouse over to the police in 1980. The corrals have been torn down to make way for a parking lot, but the building still maintains its cowboy flavor.

* The log cabin in El Monte is not really appropriate for a wedding or fancy affair. Located in Pioneer Park, it is a small cabin with split logs on the outside, a wood-shingle roof and a concrete floor. Outside is a picnic table and barbecue grill. The windows are barred to protect the building from vandals, and that, unfortunately, detracts from the frontier fantasy the park tries to foster.

WHAT’S AVAILABLE

Here are some of the San Gabriel Valley’s public buildings-for-hire. For more details about these and other city-owned buildings for rent, call the City Hall, Parks and Recreation Department or local historical society in each city. The Monrovia Municipal Plunge 742 E. Lemon Ave. Monrovia Expected to open as the Monrovia Historical Museum in June, 1991. No fee has been set. Can hold up to 300 people and will have kitchen facilities. (818) 359-8800. War Memorial Building 435 Fair Oaks Ave. South Pasadena Fee is $300. A $75 deposit is required. Can hold up to 300 people and has kitchen facilities. (818) 799-9101. La Casita Del Arroyo 177 S. Arroyo Blvd. Pasadena Fee is $300; a $133.50 deposit is required. Can hold up to 100 people and has kitchen facilities. (818) 794-0581. City Hall Courtyard 100 N. Garfield Ave. Pasadena Fee is $150, plus $13.26 an hour to keep restrooms open. A $50 deposit is required. Can hold about 75 people. No kitchen. (818) 405-4660. Grapevine Park and Adult Recreation Center 320 S. Mission Drive San Gabriel Fee varies depending on amount of time and space used, but is about $500 for five hours. There is a $200 deposit. Can hold up to 200 people and has kitchen facilities. (818) 308-2875. The Mounted Posse Building 630 E. Live Oak Ave. Arcadia Fee is $400. A $100 deposit is required. Can hold up to 200 people and has a small kitchen. (818) 574-5182. The Log Cabin 3535 Santa Anita Ave. El Monte Fee is $25. No deposit is required. Can hold up to 50 people and has a stove and refrigerator. (818) 580-2200.