Arcadia City Council Hears Public Concerns Over Historic Preservation

Arcadia City Council heard from supporters and opponents of the Historic Preservation Ordinance. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News

By Galen Patterson

Many Arcadians voiced their opinions on the matter at the City Council meeting on the evening of Feb. 19.

Marcello Vavala, a member of The Los Angeles Conservancy, a county-wide non-profit organization focused on educating and promoting historic preservation within the county, told the city that in his professional opinion, the proposed ordinance was fair.

An example Vavala gave Arcadia Weekly is that the ordinance requires the consent of the homeowner to officially designate the home a historic entity. Vavala says that in other cities in the county, the owner does not need consent, but that people can circumvent the owner, and apply for historic status anyway. Vavala says the proposed ordinance is a “very balanced ordinance.”

Public comments lasted for hours, late into the evening, at 3 to 5 minutes per person. Many people spoke for and against the ordinance.

Several speakers seemed legitimately concerned that the passing of the ordinance would take their home-owning rights away from them. Other speakers appeared to think the city would just take their home and land from them. A claim Vavala says is unfounded.

The spreading of false information on historic preservation seems to mimic the clandestine tactics used during the recent city official elections to garner support over false claims of racism from council members.

One person threatened to sue the city and everyone who votes for the ordinance.

Concerned Arcadians at last night’s City Council meeting. – Photo by Terry Miller / Beacon Media News

A descendent of Lucky Baldwin, Margeaux Viera, spoke in favor of the ordinance, in an effort to save one of her last family homes still standing, Twin Oaks in Arcadia, which she believes is going to be demolished by its current owner. “Please vote yes and save the Arcadia my family founded in 1903,” she said.

Local historians Carol Libby and Ed Anderson spoke in favor of the ordinance. “What would Athens be without the Acropolis? Or Rome without the Colosseum?,” said Libby.

Retired Sherriff’s deputy, and State Assembly candidate Burton Brink says his house in on the list of possible historic resources. Brink spoke in favor of the ordinance, but thinks it should be on a voluntary basis.

Overall, more than 150 people turned out to see the results and voice their opinions on Feb. 19. They were on opposing sides of the historic fence, but met the challenge with relative civility and moved Arcadia forward on its path to a decision preserving itself for the future.

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