did the seesion on the LAsurvey. Great info went over some of my favorite architectural neighborhoods in LA. Especially Los Feliz and Hollywood neighborhoods.
On Tuesday morning, I attended a Special Session entitled "Get Your Kicks on the Preservation of California Route 66: part 1."
Presented by Danelia George from Partnerships & Outreach in Sustainable Tourism, Bureau of Land Management, it was an overview of the National Scenic Byways Program and where we are with California Historical Route 66. Ms. George discussed the grant criteria for American Byways and the six intrinsic values: scenic, archaeological, cultural, natural, recreational and historic.
She then gave us some background on Route 66 and how it meets those criteria. I learned that Route 66 covers over 300 miles and runs from Chicago to Los Angeles. Originally called Beale’s Road, it was created in l916 by the push to get a transportation system across the U.S. Route 66 connects the rural and urban areas in America and was generated by the automobile culture.
Discussion turned to efforts to preserve the road. Ms. George believes that the future of Route 66 depends on green energy and how we can weave it to the historic needs. She says the State has to designate Route 66’s signs, features and structures as worth saving. In conclusion, she stated that the first step is to get support from local communities, which can lead to a renewed spirit of optimism about preserving this unique road.
Since Rancho Cucamonga is along Route 66, I stuck around to listen to “Get Your Kicks on the Preservation of California Route 66: part 2.” The speakers were: Darleen Bitter, President, California Route 66 Association; Danelia George (she also spoke in Part 1), Nicole Possert, The Arroyo Guild and Arroyo Seco Parkway National; and Dan Rice, California Route 66 Association. They focused on the importance of promoting the route through history, music, books, films, photos, signage, family tales and storytelling.
A brief history of the Route 66 Association was discussed: the first US Highway 66 Association was started in l927, and in l928 the first Annual Trans-Continental Foot Race was held along the Route. In l970, the group changed its name to Main Street of America Association, disbanding in l976. On September 22, l978 at 2pm, an interstate highway was built which bypassed the Arizona town of Seligman. This was important because Seligman was long considered to be the birthplace of Route 66. Angel Delgadillo, a resident of Seligman, was so angry about this incident he started a grass roots effort to get the Route 66 Association started again. He created the Route 66 Alliance, an eight-state association. In l990, the California Route 66 Association was begun as a nonprofit group dedicated to the preservation, promotion and enjoyment of Route 66. The group’s goals are to identify properties, seek Scenic Byways status, network and educate people about Route 66. They believe the future of Route 66 requires the need to move as a group with a sincere desire to share historic resources. New volunteers must be recruited who have a genuine passion for preservation.
The session touched briefly on efforts to save the historical l915 Richfield Service Station on Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga. The WigWam Motel in San Bernardino is another interesting property being preserved along the route. These historical sites are among the reasons why many foreign tourists consider Route 66 to be a destination for their vacations.
On Tuesday afternoon, I attended the session titled “Nonprofit Developers Getting the Job Done in Underserved Communities.” The moderator was Martha Groves, a staff writer with the LA Times. Speakers were: Esther Torrez, Founder, Community Enhancement Corp; Christy McAvoy, Managing Principal, Historic Resources Group. They presented two cases where nonprofit developers moved forward as the best preservation partners for projects involving historic resources in two of LA’s multicultural neighborhoods.
The first case focused on the Angelus Funeral Home project in South Los Angeles. It involved a property designed by architect Paul Williams in l930 and how it has been reworked to meet community needs. The once pristine building had been allowed to sit abandoned for 40 years. By developing partnerships with business, government and community groups, the property has been turned into a childcare and healthcare facility. In a neighborhood where there are 267,527 residents under 20 years of age, and with the highest diabetes rate in the nation, these services fit the urgent needs of the community.
The second case featured Pisgah Village in Highland Park. By adapting an historic church compound, a nonprofit team of dedicated people created affordable senior housing. They used Federal Investment Tax Credit Certification, Resource Evaluation, National Register Nomination, Mills Property Tax Reduction, Design and Construction Monitoring and Community Outreach/Preservation Education. Funding sources included regular grants, fundraising, state tax credits, endowment, low interest loans and Redevelopment Agency support.
In both projects, the nonprofit developers tailored the product to meet the needs of the end user and made the community feel part of the project.
I finished out the afternoon by attending a session called “How Saving a Landmark Transformed a City: The Norconian.” The moderator was Kathy Azevedo, Councilmember, City of Norco. Speakers were: Bill Wilkman, Cultural Resource Consultant, City of Norco; Kevin Bash, Councilmember, City of Norco.
The topic of the session was the Grand Norconian, an amazing landmark built in l920 by Norco City founder Rex Clark. The Norconian was a huge resort built around a sulphurized water spring on 700 acres in Norco. Besides the hotel building, it also included a Pavilion, a Tea Room, a golf course, a man-made lake and a pool, as well an numerous lavishly decorated dining rooms and parlors. The movie “Love in the Rough” was filmed on location and VIPs (i.e. Walt Disney) held parties in the hotel.
In l941, the U.S. Government bought the hotel and confiscated it as the first naval hospital, with a rehab center and tuberculosis wards. Wounded soldiers from Pearl Harbor were sent there to recover from their wounds. In l943, Eleanor Roosevelt visited the naval hospital. Later, as Weapons Lab was added to the property and it became a U.S. Naval Ordinance Laboratory. Finally, it was turned into a state prison.
The speakers were also going to talk about how the City of Norco is making plans to create the rebirth of the Lake Norconian Historic District, but I had to leave to make the drive back to RC.
did the seesion on the LAsurvey. Great info went over some of my favorite architectural neighborhoods in LA. Especially Los Feliz and Hollywood neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteOn Tuesday morning, I attended a Special Session entitled "Get Your Kicks on the Preservation of California Route 66: part 1."
ReplyDeletePresented by Danelia George from Partnerships & Outreach in Sustainable Tourism, Bureau of Land Management, it was an overview of the National Scenic Byways Program and where we are with California Historical Route 66. Ms. George discussed the grant criteria for American Byways and the six intrinsic values: scenic, archaeological, cultural, natural, recreational and historic.
She then gave us some background on Route 66 and how it meets those criteria. I learned that Route 66 covers over 300 miles and runs from Chicago to Los Angeles. Originally called Beale’s Road, it was created in l916 by the push to get a transportation system across the U.S. Route 66 connects the rural and urban areas in America and was generated by the automobile culture.
Discussion turned to efforts to preserve the road. Ms. George believes that the future of Route 66 depends on green energy and how we can weave it to the historic needs. She says the State has to designate Route 66’s signs, features and structures as worth saving. In conclusion, she stated that the first step is to get support from local communities, which can lead to a renewed spirit of optimism about preserving this unique road.
Since Rancho Cucamonga is along Route 66, I stuck around to listen to “Get Your Kicks on the Preservation of California Route 66: part 2.” The speakers were: Darleen Bitter, President, California Route 66 Association; Danelia George (she also spoke in Part 1), Nicole Possert, The Arroyo Guild and Arroyo Seco Parkway National; and Dan Rice, California Route 66 Association. They focused on the importance of promoting the route through history, music, books, films, photos, signage, family tales and storytelling.
ReplyDeleteA brief history of the Route 66 Association was discussed: the first US Highway 66 Association was started in l927, and in l928 the first Annual Trans-Continental Foot Race was held along the Route. In l970, the group changed its name to Main Street of America Association, disbanding in l976. On September 22, l978 at 2pm, an interstate highway was built which bypassed the Arizona town of Seligman. This was important because Seligman was long considered to be the birthplace of Route 66. Angel Delgadillo, a resident of Seligman, was so angry about this incident he started a grass roots effort to get the Route 66 Association started again. He created the Route 66 Alliance, an eight-state association. In l990, the California Route 66 Association was begun as a nonprofit group dedicated to the preservation, promotion and enjoyment of Route 66. The group’s goals are to identify properties, seek Scenic Byways status, network and educate people about Route 66. They believe the future of Route 66 requires the need to move as a group with a sincere desire to share historic resources. New volunteers must be recruited who have a genuine passion for preservation.
The session touched briefly on efforts to save the historical l915 Richfield Service Station on Route 66 in Rancho Cucamonga. The WigWam Motel in San Bernardino is another interesting property being preserved along the route. These historical sites are among the reasons why many foreign tourists consider Route 66 to be a destination for their vacations.
On Tuesday afternoon, I attended the session titled “Nonprofit Developers Getting the Job Done in Underserved Communities.” The moderator was Martha Groves, a staff writer with the LA Times. Speakers were: Esther Torrez, Founder, Community Enhancement Corp; Christy McAvoy, Managing Principal, Historic Resources Group. They presented two cases where nonprofit developers moved forward as the best preservation partners for projects involving historic resources in two of LA’s multicultural neighborhoods.
ReplyDeleteThe first case focused on the Angelus Funeral Home project in South Los Angeles. It involved a property designed by architect Paul Williams in l930 and how it has been reworked to meet community needs. The once pristine building had been allowed to sit abandoned for 40 years. By developing partnerships with business, government and community groups, the property has been turned into a childcare and healthcare facility. In a neighborhood where there are 267,527 residents under 20 years of age, and with the highest diabetes rate in the nation, these services fit the urgent needs of the community.
The second case featured Pisgah Village in Highland Park. By adapting an historic church compound, a nonprofit team of dedicated people created affordable senior housing. They used Federal Investment Tax Credit Certification, Resource Evaluation, National Register Nomination, Mills Property Tax Reduction, Design and Construction Monitoring and Community Outreach/Preservation Education. Funding sources included regular grants, fundraising, state tax credits, endowment, low interest loans and Redevelopment Agency support.
In both projects, the nonprofit developers tailored the product to meet the needs of the end user and made the community feel part of the project.
I finished out the afternoon by attending a session called “How Saving a Landmark Transformed a City: The Norconian.” The moderator was Kathy Azevedo, Councilmember, City of Norco. Speakers were: Bill Wilkman, Cultural Resource Consultant, City of Norco; Kevin Bash, Councilmember, City of Norco.
ReplyDeleteThe topic of the session was the Grand Norconian, an amazing landmark built in l920 by Norco City founder Rex Clark. The Norconian was a huge resort built around a sulphurized water spring on 700 acres in Norco. Besides the hotel building, it also included a Pavilion, a Tea Room, a golf course, a man-made lake and a pool, as well an numerous lavishly decorated dining rooms and parlors. The movie “Love in the Rough” was filmed on location and VIPs (i.e. Walt Disney) held parties in the hotel.
In l941, the U.S. Government bought the hotel and confiscated it as the first naval hospital, with a rehab center and tuberculosis wards. Wounded soldiers from Pearl Harbor were sent there to recover from their wounds. In l943, Eleanor Roosevelt visited the naval hospital. Later, as Weapons Lab was added to the property and it became a U.S. Naval Ordinance Laboratory. Finally, it was turned into a state prison.
The speakers were also going to talk about how the City of Norco is making plans to create the rebirth of the Lake Norconian Historic District, but I had to leave to make the drive back to RC.