Historic Complex Faces New Preservation Fight

In a city of boxy, nondescript apartment complexes, the Chase Knolls Garden Apartments in Sherman Oaks stand out.

The buildings themselves are pretty standard, but they are situated amid green gardens of towering Italian pines and rolling grass hills that form courtyards where residents gather. Four years ago, the city designated the complex a historic landmark, saving it from demolition by developers who had wanted to replace the garden apartments with a luxury apartment building.

But today, Chase Knolls is again the subject of a preservation battle.

The owner, TransAction Financial Corp., wants to build 141 new units with underground garages in the middle of the Chase Knolls property, removing some of the green space and some of the old carports.

Such changes appeared to be allowed under the landmark designation Chase Knolls received. City preservation rules make it difficult for owners to tear down the apartment buildings for 10 years. But they do not prohibit changes elsewhere on the 13-acre property.

The proposal has angered preservationists and some residents, who say that it is the low density and park-like setting of Chase Knolls, not the buildings themselves, that make it unique.

“It’s a unique place that creates a sense of community,” said resident Nicholas Oatway. “The buildings aren’t that exciting. But it’s the genius of the site plan, the way people can live. It’s the manner in which it encourages social support from one family to another.”

The developer said that the changes would not hurt the character of Chase Knolls and that the new units would provide Los Angeles with much-needed additional housing aimed at younger families.

“I think a lot of the people there just don’t like the idea of kids laughing and screaming there on a Sunday afternoon,” said consultant Steve Afriat, who represents TransAction. “They won their battle four years ago, and now they want to deny people what they have.”

Garden City Movement

Chase Knolls was built between 1947 and 1949 on what had once been a large farm. Many conservationists consider it a prime example of the Garden City movement in urban design, with low-slung buildings that face away from traffic and ample courtyards with benches, rolling lawns and gardens. Shady areas abound beneath massive pines, eucalyptus, cypress and other trees.

Many of the early residents of Chase Knolls were veterans of World War II, and although rents for newer residents have crept up to market rates, many of the older residents still pay rent-controlled rates.

Although the residents of the 260-unit complex united to fight its demolition, feelings are more mixed about the effort to block the addition.

Take the carports, which would be demolished under the new plan. Some consider them integral to the Garden City look.

“These are community building spaces,” said Susan Jagiello, a 17-year resident of Chase Knolls, of the carports. “I guarantee it’s easier to talk to your neighbor while unloading groceries from the back of your car in an open-air environment than two stories down in a dimly lit place full of fumes you’re going to want to just run out of.”

Others don’t know what the fuss over the carports is about.

“Come on, the carports are ugly, seriously ugly,” said resident Judy Ives, 49, who supports the planned development.

Kenneth Bernstein, director of preservation issues for the Los Angeles Conservancy, said the proposed development was too dramatic for a historic landmark. He said the new units would overwhelm the older ones and could, in the future, weaken the property’s historic integrity enough to make it vulnerable to more radical changes.

“We want to make certain that, at the end of the day, Chase Knolls, which is a unique residential oasis, retains its historical character and sense of place,” Bernstein said.

In 2000, the former owners of the property, Legacy Partners, announced plans to tear Chase Knolls down and build luxury apartments. Many of the residents, especially older ones, took relocation stipends and moved out.

Out of this came the effort to designate Chase Knolls a historic landmark. The Cultural Heritage Commission deadlocked twice on the issue.

Finally, the L.A. City Council unanimously approved designating Chase Knolls Garden Apartments a historic cultural monument.

Before selling the property to another owner, Legacy Partners entered into a contract with the city requiring the current owner to preserve the most significant features of the property in exchange for a tax break.

In a letter to the Planning Department, Bernstein wrote that because TransAction got the tax break, it should be held to the highest standards of preserving a landmark property.

However, an official with TransAction said the company’s proposal has undergone scrutiny at the local, state and federal level. The company has also had numerous meetings, both privately and publicly, with residents.

The federal Interior Department has already said the developer’s proposal meets the standards for rehabilitation for historic properties, said Eric Hoffman, vice president for the company.

“Some people are fearful of change,” Hoffman said. “There’s been a bit of disinformation about the numbers. We heard people were saying there would be a thousand new cars and a thousand new residents. With 141 homes, I don’t know how that’s possible.”

He said the new units would include visitor and handicapped parking, neither of which is currently provided. New and old residents will have access to a Jacuzzi, a spa, a clubhouse, a swimming pool and a gym, Hoffman said.

Differing Views

The new units would be built along what is known as the “Spinal Road” of the property, containing carports and green areas. The new units would have underground parking.

Some residents welcome the change.

“I personally can’t wait for the workout room, and my son wants the pool,” said Ives, who is a member of Chase Knolls Friends, a group of residents who support the proposed new homes.

But others said the changes would ruin the character of Chase Knolls.

Nancy Bard said her grandchildren loved to run through the lush courtyards and buildings adorned with rose bushes.

“I love the quietness, the space, the trees, the openness, the security of letting my children play,” Bard said. “Even if they add new parking spaces, that means so many cars, that means so much pollution, so much noise, so much activity.”

Bernstein of the Los Angeles Conservancy said he understands the need for change at Chase Knolls.

“Chase Knolls is not a museum piece, it needs to evolve sensibly over time,” he said.

“But the new development should be secondary to the historic character of the existing property.”