$5-Million Grant Earmarked for Repair of Historic Buildings

A $5-million federal grant to repair historic buildings damaged in the Jan. 17 earthquake was announced in Hollywood on Friday by Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Places.

About 500 buildings have been designated as eligible by the California Office of Historic Preservation, according to Linda Dishman, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Conservancy.

Officials said $3.5 million will be used for reconstruction work--with the remainder earmarked for planning, design and other paperwork. Part of the money will be available as low-interest loans and part as grants.

The money will come from the President’s Discretionary Fund for Unanticipated Needs, part of the 1994 federal emergency supplemental appropriation for disaster relief.

“Our goal is to make a difference in helping owners save historic homes, commercial buildings and other properties,” Moe said.

One of the commercial buildings deemed eligible is a Spanish-style brick structure at Hollywood Boulevard and Kingsley Drive that could be one of the city’s first mini-malls.

Built in 1930, the L-shaped, two-story building flanks a small parking lot, with a pharmacy, a small market and a storefront garment factory on the first floor and studio apartments on the second floor.

Mark Finfer, owner of the building, led federal, state and local officials on a short tour Friday afternoon, pointing out large diagonal cracks in the walls and a cornice that had tumbled into an alleyway. He estimated damage at more than $500,000.

A number of other older buildings in that Hollywood neighborhood suffered similar damage in the earthquake, and several have been tagged for demolition.

Moe said that while touring the earthquake zone this week, he was “impressed by the number of buildings being demolished that didn’t have to be demolished.”

Turning to Finfer, Moe commended his decision to restore the old structure and recommended that he ask for help under the aid program, telling him: “There are resources available to help you save that building.”

Finfer said he would apply. And when he was told that a total of $5 million is available, he grinned and said: “I’ll take it all.”

Officials chuckled with him, but were quick to point out that the maximum amount available for any project will be $500,000.

The $5-million aid program will be coordinated by the National Park Service, the National Trust, the Office of Historic Preservation and the conservancy. Applications can be made through the conservancy by calling (213) 623-2489.