Craftsman Homes Could Get Historic Status

The West Hollywood Historic Preservation Commission voted 4-3 Monday to recommend historic status for two vintage homes on Palm Avenue.

The Craftsman bungalows, located at 927 and 931 Palm Ave., were built in the early 20th century and are considered part of Weho's Old Sherman Thematic District. Sherman is the original name of the area that now comprises West Hollywood.

"These two homes are 111 years old and by a small miracle, they have survived with few alterations that were done prior to 1910," said Kristin Gosney, who with Katherine Eggert nominated the homes for the historic resource designation.

"These buildings are important additions to the Old Sherman Thematic District, as they help to further define West Hollywood's origins as the City of Sherman," said Jen Dunbar of the West Hollywood Preservation Alliance. "We have lost so many of these bungalows in the past to massive developments, especially along Palm Avenue, that we must try to protect the few that are remaining. ... It is possible to develop these properties without destroying them."

The owner of the the properties including adjacent 923 Palm Ave., which was not given historic status, seeks to demolish the homes and replace them with condominiums.

"If the city council finally votes to include 927 and 931 Palm Avenue in the Old Sherman Thematic District, then that means they are officially historically designated at the city level," Eggert said. "This, however, does not mean that the owner cannot raze the houses. It simply means that it will be expensive and require more commission hearings ... to overturn the decision as well as going back to city council to overturn the decision."

Property owner David Vayner could not be reached for comment.

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