City Hall Landmark Bid Leads to Larger Questions : Thousand Oaks Dusts Off Shelved Historic Preservation Agenda

One man’s crusade to have the 32-year-old former City Hall declared a historic landmark has called into question the way Thousand Oaks handles the issue of historic buildings.

Eight years ago, the city seceded from the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board. Since then, no buildings in the city have been declared landmarks, primarily because there is no governing body in Thousand Oaks with the power to do so.

The city Arts Commission serves in a dual role as the local Cultural Heritage Board, but because its makeup does not meet state guidelines, members have no authority to act on requests for historical designations.

Previous and current members say they have long been frustrated by the situation. Even though Thousand Oaks is mostly a new suburb, there are several buildings, trees and sites that deserve protected status, local experts say.

Resident William Maple discovered this dead-end for the preservation agenda when he began his quixotic campaign to have the former City Hall at 401 W. Hillcrest Drive declared a historic landmark. He filled out all the proper forms, sent them to the county’s Cultural Heritage Board and then was told to bring the paperwork to the city.

Last week, he made an appeal to the Arts Commission, only to learn that the commission’s hands are tied.

Maple’s enthusiasm for the old City Hall, abandoned in 1989 and since overrun by vandals, is not shared by all.

But even those who disagree with his contention that the building is a vital symbol of the city’s beginnings say his efforts are at least calling attention to a bigger problem: neglect of the city’s history.

“I don’t agree with Mr. Maple on the old City Hall,” said Daryl Reynolds, who represents the unincorporated areas around Thousand Oaks on the county Cultural Heritage Board. “But I must give him credit because he has sparked the city into doing something finally.”

Mayor Jaime Zukowski also applauded Maple’s efforts.

“I’m glad this got under the skin of someone like William Maple,” Zukowski said. “That is what it takes.”

Calling the city’s lack of interest in historic preservation a “short-sighted philosophy,” Zukowski has requested that city staff draw up a plan to create a local heritage board. The report is to be presented at Tuesday’s council meeting. But she is now leaning toward returning to the county’s jurisdiction.

“My preference would be to return under the county’s umbrella because of the failure to fulfill this responsibility,” Zukowski said. “It does not look like we are ready or able to do this.”

Former arts commissioner Dan Witting was part of an effort several years ago to establish a separate cultural heritage board for Thousand Oaks. He said the Arts Commission realized they did not meet state standards for historical review boards, which require membership of historians, architects, archeologists or planners. So they submitted their findings to the city attorney’s office.

Current commissioners say they are still waiting for a reply.

“There has been a proposal in the city attorney’s office for at least four years now to determine who has jurisdiction,” said Arts Commissioner Rudyard Beldner. “The city attorney is worried about property rights.”

City Atty. Mark Sellers confirmed that he is concerned about lawsuits over property rights. He also said he believes the Arts Commission already has the legal power to make recommendations to the City Council on historic designations.

But city staffer Carole Williams said it isn’t quite that easy.

“In a sense, they have been designated as [a cultural heritage board],” Williams said. “But there have been no means put in place for them to do anything.”

Zukowski said she is going to do what she can to change that.

“We have some real jewels that we are not protecting,” Zukowski said.

Some of the most frequently mentioned potential landmarks include the Oakdale Market on Thousand Oaks Boulevard and homes on Skyline Drive and in the Greenwich Village section of the city.

Charlie Weiss, whose father bought the Oakdale Market in 1945, said historic landmark designation would probably be more trouble than it is worth. “I question if it could even be here in another 70 years,” he said. “I remember as a little kid my dad saying, ‘Oh, the old store isn’t going to last much longer.’ ”