FINDINGS AND DETERMINATION
OF THE LANDMARKS COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA IN THE MATTER OF
THE DESIGNATION OF A LANDMARK
_____________________________________________________________________
DESIGNATION OF A COMMERCIAL BUILDING
LOCATED AT 3355 BARNARD WAY (SANTA MONICA BAY
TELEPHONE COMPANY BUILDING)
AS A CITY LANDMARK
15ENT-0339
SECTION I. An application was filed by the property owner on December 15, 2015 to
designate the commercial building at 3355 Barnard Way (formerly 155 Marine Street), the
Santa Monica Bay Telephone Company building as a City Landmark. The Landmarks
Commission, having held Public Hearings on March 14, 2016, hereby designates the
commercial building located at 3355 Barnard Way as a City Landmark and the property
commonly known as 3355 Barnard Way (Assessor’s Parcel Number 4288-027-024) as a
Landmark Parcel based on the following findings:
(1)
It exemplifies, symbolizes, or manifests elements of the cultural, social, economic,
political or architectural history of the City.
The 1926 Santa Monica Bay Telephone Company building is associated with the early
commercial development of the Ocean Park area of Santa Monica, and played a pivotal
role in connecting Santa Monica and surrounding area via telephone over a 60-year
period. Built to house telephone offices and switchboard equipment, it served as a key
component of the growing telephone infrastructure of the area. Initially built for and
operated by the Santa Monica Bay Telephone Company, then Associated Telephone and
finally General Telephone, it operated as a telephone building until 1987 and represents
the growth of the area during this time. Adding to its significance is the fact that the
building is the lone survivor of the original, historic neighborhood impacted by the Ocean
Park Redevelopment Project, established in 1959.
(4)
It embodies distinguishing architectural characteristics valuable to a study of a
period, style, method of construction, or the use of indigenous materials or
craftsmanship, or is a unique or rare example of an architectural design, detail or
historical type valuable to such a study.
The building is an excellent example of the Beaux Arts style with Renaissance Revival
details. Though somewhat altered, it retains most of the essential characteristics of its
historic appearance, materials, and workmanship, especially on the primary front façade.
Overall, it retains most of the essential characteristics of its historic appearance,
especially on the primary front façade. It exhibits character-defining features consistent
with Beaux Arts, specifically a symmetrically arranged façade with a distinct base, middle,
and top, a rectangular plan and form, and typical decorative elements such as arched
apertures, a tall decorative cornice, the suggestion of an arcade or portico at the street,
and decorative brickwork. The building’s decorative terra cotta was designed and
manufactured by Gladding, McBean, the company that pioneered the production and
development of ceramics technology. The building marries its architectural style with
several early-20th century industrial characteristics in keeping with its use as a telephone
building, specifically tall floor-to-floor heights, reinforced concrete slab floors, and
oversize multi-light windows.
(6)
It has a unique location, a singular physical characteristic, or is an established and
familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City.
The subject property is visually prominent as the only extant building dating from the
period prior to the area’s redevelopment. Due to its size, height and isolation, the 90-year
old building has become a prominent visual feature within the neighborhood’s current
context of large parking lots and lower scale multi-family residential buildings, evoking a
character now long gone. As such, it has become an established visual feature of Barnard
Way, the former Marine Street, and of the Ocean Park area of Santa Monica.
SECTION II. The property commonly known as 3355 Barnard Way (formerly 155 Marine
Street) (Assessor’s Parcel Number 4288-027-024) is designated as a Landmark Parcel
in order to preserve, maintain, protect and safeguard the Landmark building.
SECTION III. The following building elements and features shall constitute the historic
character-defining features of the Santa Monica Bay Telephone Company building:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Symmetry
Monumental ground story
Large, arched openings
Paired, fluted pilaster with capitals
Piers extending from the second through fourth floors
Terra cotta architectural and decorative scheme
SECTION IV. I hereby certify that the above Findings and Determination accurately
reflect the final determination of the Landmarks Commission of the City of Santa Monica
on March 14, 2016 as determined by the following vote:
AYES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
NAYES:
Kaplan, Lambert, O’Neill, Shari, Sloan, Chair Bach
None
Berley
None
Each and all of the findings and determinations are based on the competent and
substantial evidence, both oral and written, contained in the entire record relating to the
Project. All summaries of information contained herein or in the findings are based on
the substantial evidence in the record. The absence of any particular fact from any such
summary is not an indication that a particular finding is not based in part on that fact.
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Respectfully Submitted
April 11, 2016
____________________________________
Margaret Bach, Chairperson
Attest:
____________________________
Scott Albright, AICP
Landmarks Commission Secretary
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