Preservation and Neighborhood Improvement in Action

HPHT salutes new Montecito Heights homeowners Heather and Jason, who have created a wonderful blog documenting their rehabilitation and restoration of a neglected and altered bungalow in the HPOZ. Just two weeks into the project a dramatic transformation has already taken place. Welcome to the neighborhood, and keep up your great work! 

http://4001berenice.wordpress.com/

Galco's Soda Tasting #4 is Sunday July 20th 2014!

Please join HPHT for the latest installment of one of our favorite annual events, which benefits Friends of the Southwest Museum.  Get ready, this time it's all about Root Beer!  You can purchase advance tickets here.  Hope to see you there!

Interesting article from Claremont Heritage on some common misconceptions about window replacement, and how retrofitting original windows can actually save you money and efficiency while maintaining the historic character of a structure.  Very relevant to us in Highland Park: https://www.claremont-courier.com/mobile/article/t6620-heritage

Summer Soda Tasting #2 to Support the Friends of the Southwest Museum

Celebrate the summer enjoying sodas with the “King of Pop” when Galco’s Soda Pop Stop hosts its second annual Summer Soda Tasting from 5-8 p.m. on July 22. 2012.

• All proceeds to support Friends Of Southwest Museum
• Humorist Charles Phoenix Serves Poptails and a Seven-Layer Soda Pop Rock Cake
• Dublin Bottling Works will launch its new line of sodas, their West Coast debut
• New White Rosa soda will also be announced and sampled
• Performance By Native American Comic/Actor Dakota Black
• Music By Artichoke, Mele Ohana Ukulele Ensemble, Greger Walnum Blues Band and Genesee Hall

http://www.sodapopstop.com/

Buy tickets online at:

http://www.friendsofthesouthwestmuseum.com/soda2.html

John Nese in 2011 proudly showing off his White Rose Soda

Hendrik Stooker -May he rest in peace

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Hendrik Stooker.  In honor of Hendrik, there is an open house at the studio of Carol Collin and Ted Waltz tonight at 6pm at 5400 Monte Vista Street, corner of N. Ave. 54. Hendrik started the Arroyo Arts Collective and was heavily involved with the art culture of Highland Park. He was a major preservation advocate for the community and an active member of Highland Park Heritage Trust. He will be missed. Photo courtesy of Antoinette Miller

Update on Autry CEQA Litigation

The Highland Park Heritage Trust (OR MWHA) does not take lightly the responsibilities of our duty to uphold the mission of our organization.  For the past 30 years, 99% of our advocacywork has been successfully handled by working out a preservation solutionthrough the community process, working with elected officials and agency staffand on technical merits and the law.   Itis the option of last resort to even contemplate litigation for our all-volunteerorganization.  So, for only the second time in the history of Highland Park Heritage Trust (or MWHA), the board decided last year that there was no other choice.  With another organization and with the guidance of a great legal team, we retained the law firm of Otten & Joyce to represent us with this important case.  As you can see by the summary below, we are finally looking at the hearing in late May with a decision shortly thereafter.

Summary of the Litigation and Process
On July 26,2011, the Highland Park Heritage Trust and the Mount Washington Homeowner’sAlliance (“Petitioners”) jointly filed a Petition for Writ of Mandamus and Complaint for Injunctive relief in the Los Angeles Superior Court relating to Autry National Center’s Expansion Project described by Autry as “Facility Remodeling of Exhibit Space for Interpreting Native American Environmental Stewardship.” 

Petitioners are asking the court to set aside the agency approvals and June 21, 2011 Notice of Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) on various grounds including that: 1. the Project has been improperly piecemealed and isin fact just a segmented portion of a much larger project, 2. The Project is not subject to an exemption under CEQA and therefore further environmental review is mandated and, 3. the Project violates the provisions of the Northeast Community Plan specifically protecting the Southwest Museum at its Mt.Washington location.  Petitioners contend that Autry’s underlying motive is to move all collections off the SouthwestMuseum site and to dispose of the historic location at Mt. Washington altogether.

Petitionersfiled their Opening Brief with the court on March 5, 2012 and just recently received the City’s Opposition Brief.  Petitioners’Reply Brief is due in early May with the hearing on the matter currently set forMay 17, 2012 before the Honorable Judge James Chalfant.

Blacksmithing on Second Saturday

Sat. May 12th from 2 to 9 PM
Adam's Forge, a school & cooperative of artist blacksmiths celebrate the beginning of a new adventure with a new community at the Compound (Los Angeles Industrial Arts Compound) 2640 N. San Fernando Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Enter on Media Center Drive.
Demonstrations of blacksmithing, team striking and foldforming will be ongoing in the forge. Throughout the afternoon and evening there will be demonstrations of wood turning and stone carving.  Food trucks in case you get hungry. Live music. There will be a gallery with fine examples of metal art, wood turning, stone carving and other industrial arts. We will be a part of NELA art 2nd Saturdays when local galleries are open. There will be several artists in other media on display. Other surprises will be happening throughout the afternoon & evening. More fun than a barrel full of hot forging monkeys!
Admission is free.
Come see what's going on.
http://www.adamsforge.org/Adams_Forge/News_Blog/Entries/2012/5/12_Save_that_Day!.html
Here is a link to a map:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=203057544486961315251.0004b6469e9e0c911f003&msa=0

Heather McLarty

www.steelcrazy.biz
www.adamsforge.org