Razing of Historic Bakery Urged at Hearing

Glassell Park residents and preservationists squared off at a public hearing Friday over whether the historic Van de Kamp’s Bakery, the Taj Mahal of bakeries, which became an eyesore after closing in 1990, should be demolished.

Of the more than 80 people at the Los Angeles hearing, most supported a plan to demolish the bakery and replace it with a home improvement store and a Burger King, because those uses would provide jobs and eliminate a graffiti-covered hangout for gang members.

But preservationists and others argued that the once-distinctive building should be restored. At the very least, they argued, the facade, which faces Fletcher Drive near San Fernando Road and is reminiscent of a 16th century Dutch townhouse, should be saved and incorporated into another project.

The city’s Cultural Heritage Commission designated the facade a historic structure in 1992, but subsequently voted not to stand in the way of demolition.

Roger K. Van Wert, a consultant for the developer, said saving the facade isn’t feasible, because it’s a five-story slab of concrete, not reinforced, that cannot be integrated into any new building. As it is, he said, the cost of preserving it would be $2.4 million.

The developers, Larry and Ralph Cimmarusti, estimate the cost of building the home improvement store alone at $4.24 million, not including demolition.

HomeBase recently dropped out of the project, citing escalating costs and the problem of dealing with the hulking 1930s building that once housed the bakery and offices.

Lowe’s, another home improvement chain, now wants to build an outlet at the site, although no representative from the firm was at the Planning Department hearing.

Resident Joan Lundy urged officials to go ahead with the plan.

“We support this project,” said Lundy, a past president of the Glassell Park Improvement Assn. “We need the jobs and a shopping [area that will] rid us of an eyesore.”

One Glassell Park resident, 73-year-old Luigi Dal Ponte, brought applause and laughter when he stepped forward and said loudly, “My father worked [at the bakery]! My brother did. My sister did. We loved Van de Kamp. But Van de Kamp is dead. We want something there . . . [to] put a diamond on the ring.”

But Gretchen Spence of the Lincoln Heights Neighborhood and Preservation Assn. said residents might regret the move toward stores like HomeBase.

“We don’t want that situation to happen,” she said.

Although the developers said the building could not be salvaged, Cesar Portillo of Atwater Village insisted otherwise.

Citing other old buildings, such as the Uniroyal tire plant in Commerce, which became an outdoor shopping area, Portillo said, “People didn’t give up. We’ve had enough of big boxes.”

A report on the hearing will be submitted in two weeks to the city Planning Commission, which has jurisdiction.