COMMUNITY PLANNING
General Plan
Historical /Cultural Element
INTRODUCTION
Historic and cultural preservation represents a
responsibility of the present generation to maintain unique and significant structures and
areas established in the past for the use. edification and enjoyment of future
generations. Pasadena, because of its rich history and legacy of architecturally
significant buildings has a particularly handsome endowment to protect and retain. The
Historic and Cultural Preservation Element seeks to identify and protect areas, sites and
structures having architectural, historical or cultural significance and to reaffirm their
continuing value as a resource contributing to the vitality and diversity of the present.
To insure that the concerns of this element not be isolated from the concerns of other
elements to which it is so clearly related urban design, neighborhood enhancement,
circulation. zoning, land use, conservation - and to eliminate the possibility of conflict
and contradiction among the various elements, concerns of this element shall be
cross-referenced to pertinent sections of the other elements.
BACKGROUND
Issues and Problems
1. Efforts to preserve and protect historic and
cultural landmarks have been hindered by the following:
a. Their location in transitional areas
b. Development pressures on their sites
c. Lack of effective response to impending loss of
landmarks
d. Disincentives built into existing codes and
policies that discourage continued use of older buildings
e. Failure to develop programs to take advantage of
funding sources
2. Maintenance of the character and integrity of
existing historic and cultural buildings. streets and districts.
3. Determination of an equitable distribution of the
costs and responsibilities for historic and cultural preservation.
4. Conflict, between economic development and
historic preservation.
5. Historic preservation versus building and safety
code requirements.
6. Failure of government to recognize historic and
cultural assets and the assumption that age alone is a factor on the determination of
blight.
Opportunities
1. The preservation of Pasadena's unique cultural
and historically significant buildings, streets and districts can be aided by increased
concern and changing attitudes which grasp the necessity of making use of these no longer
expendable resources. These resources represent a key factor in relating Pasadena's future
economic and social well-being to its roots in the past.
2. Pasadena is actively pursuing a historic
preservation program through its Cultural Heritage Committee.
3. Reflecting a national mood, potential resources
for historic preservation have become increasingly available.
4. Promising new legislation and innovative
concepts, such as Transfer of Development Rights and Tax Incentive Programs provide
precedent and guides which could be utilized to preserve historic and culturally
significant buildings and districts.
5. Use of older buildings may not only offer
cultural heritage advantages, but also economic benefits due to increasing new
construction costs.
6. Cultural heritage can increase community appeal
and stabilize property values.
Goals and Objectives
Goal:
Preservation and enhancement of the City's cultural
and historic buildings, streets and districts, not merely as gentle reminders of a
pleasant past but also as relevant and unique alternatives for the present and the future
- a source of community identity, social, ecological and economic vitality.
Objectives:
1. Identification, maintenance and protection of
buildings. streets or districts having historic and cultural significance.
2. A program of public awareness and support for
historic and cultural preservation as a key to Pasadena’s uniqueness and future
economic vitality.
3. A positive philosophy of preservation as a valid
and necessary component at every phase of governmental decision making.
4. Relating new development to existing environment
in scale, material and character so that Pasadena's inherent human scale, visual
and functional diversity may be maintained and enhanced.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
AND POLICIES
Strategy:
Establishment of an equitable process for
maintaining and perpetuating historical and cultural landmarks through a combination of
public and private efforts.
Policies:
1. Private preservation and restoration efforts
shall be encouraged and facilitated. and incentive programs to further such efforts shall
be studied and developed.
2. Cultural and historic preservation at the
neighborhood level shall ensure the opportunity for the full range of citizen
participation and relate the intent of preservation activities to local cultural
diversity.
3. The City will act as a resource of last resort
when all other options and opportunities for preservation have been exhausted. if the
landmark in question is deemed to have sufficient historic or cultural significance to
warrant City intervention.
4. Where restrictions on permitted uses make it
unlikely that worthy structures can be preserved. such restrictions may be relaxed.
particularly if the proposed use would not adversely affect surrounding properties.
Programs:
1. Adoption of a strong Cultural Heritage Ordinance.
2. Identification of significant buildings, streets
and districts.
3. Development of an educational program in cultural
heritage. drawing on and supplementing school programs. expanding contact with historical
experience throughout the community and region.
4. Establishment of an information exchange network
coordinated by the Historic Preservation Officer.
5. Development of historic preservation overlay
zone.
6. Utilization of the redevelopment agency as a
vehicle for preservation activity. The agency is currently empowered to acquire, hold.
restore, and resell buildings.
7. Creation of a rehabilitation loan program.
8. Develop programs in the areas of tax relief,
transfer of development rights, and building code relaxation, as these apply to historic
buildings and districts.
9. Establishment of a program to relocate reusable
older buildings from or into redevelopment projects as a means of historic preservation.
REFERENCES
"The California Historic Preservation Plan, Vats.
1-3", State of California, The Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation,
(Sacramento, 1975).
"Historic Preservation in California: A Legal
Handbook". Grady Gammage, Jr.. Philip N. Jones. Stephen L. Jones. Stanford
Environmental Law Society and The National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Leland
Stanford University Press. 1975.
"What Time is this Place", Kevin Lynch, MIT
Press. (Cambridge, Mass. - 1972).
"California Design 1910", Tim Anderson, Eudorah
Moore and Robert Winter (editors), California Design Publication. (Pasadena, 1974).
"Historic Preservation Today," Essays presented
to the Seminar on Preservation and Restoration at Williamsburg, Sept. - 1963. University
of Virginia Press. (Charlottesville. 1966).
"Old Glory: A Pictorial Report on the Grass Roots
History Movement". Warner Paperback Library, 1973.
"The Presence of the Past: A History of the
Preservation Movement in the United States before Williamsburg", Putnam, (New York,
1965).
"The Death and Life of Great American Cities",
Jane Jacobs. Random House. (New York, 1961).
"Historic Preservation in Inner City Areas: A Manual
of Practice". Allegheny Press. (Pittsburg, 1971).
"With Heritage So Rich", U.S. Conference of
Mayors. Random House, (New York. 1966).
General Plan
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Last modified on
November 16, 2007
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