PRESERVATION UPDATE 

 

Dear Members & Friends of Claremont Heritage,

Please find our monthly Preservation Update and the work that Claremont Heritage is involved in. May is PRESERVATION MONTH and there is a lot happening in Claremont right now and our hope is to engage the community in a way that is forward thinking and productive and will preserve the cultural, architectural and natural attributes that make Claremont such a special place.

In this Issue - I recently attended a public meeting held by Pomona College regarding their proposed master plan - please see notes and comments below.  Renowned architect Cliff May (considered the "Father of the Ranch House") is seeing some recent activity in Claremont - some good and some possibly not so good;  We also look at some of our local architectural resources that are not so well known, our annual Bess Garner Preservation Award and upcoming events relating to our Heritage.

  

Sincerely, 
david shearer
David Shearer, Executive Director
 


POMONA COLLEGE MASTER PLAN REVEAL
 Plans Revealed for New Pomona College Museum of Art

View of proposed new museum - College Ave between 2nd St and Bonita -  
Rendering by Machado and Silvetti Associates Architects

As many of you who have been following this project for the last couple of years know, one of the more controversial elements of the plan has been the proposed location for the new Pomona College Museum of Art.  I think everyone agrees that Pomona desperately needs a new museum complex as the current facility is just not adequate to facilitate the exhibitions and programming that Pomona is capable of bringing to the community.  

 

This last Tuesday evening, Pomona held a public forum to introduce the concepts and encouraged those in attendance to ask questions or make comments on what was presented.  The meeting may have been in response to the recent Planning Commission decision to not recommend a zone change to the area where the new museum is proposed to be sited (west side of College Ave. between Second Street and Bonita).  Currently the site is zoned residential and includes the west side of College Avenue from First Street to Fourth Street.  The site is on one of the most culturally important avenues in Claremont and is home to a wonderful selection of historic residential structures, now being used by the colleges for various programs and events.

BACKGROUND

The 1987 Village Design Plan defines this as Area III, which is established as a residential-scale buffer between the Village and College: "It is the City's intention to maintain the residential character and appearance of Area III."  Here in lies the dilemma.  How do we preserve an important germane element of our cultural and architectural heritage and also integrate an institutional building that has significant massing and scale.

Scott Smith, an experienced campus planner and principal of Artichoke Design, presented the over-all master plan and proposed that the new museum would be the cornerstone project that would create a significant gateway to Pomona College at Bonita and College Ave.  This may be a reasonable concept if you are looking at the plan on a piece of paper, but given the current transportation and parking issues that plague the Village, such a plan would only acerbate an already logistical nightmare.

 

 QUESTIONS ADDRESSED AT THE PUBLIC MEETING  (paraphrased somewhat)

 

1.  "Why not move the new museum to the site at the northeast corner of First Street and College Ave.?  This would be a much more natural gateway to the College and offer substantial parking while still being connected to the village and closer to public transportation". Note: The site is currently a women's softball field and also includes Wig Beach, an open grassy area.

 

Response: "The softball field is a Title Nine athletic field that is required."

 

CH Notes - This makes a lot of sense in many ways - College and First St. is already an existing Gateway to the campus. The existing softball field could be moved closer to other athletic areas - there is open space between Haldeman Pool and the tennis courts, also just to the east of the men's baseball field. The First and College site would be closer to parking and transportation (including the new Gold Line Station). A pedestrian bridge might also be considered from the new Gold Line parking structure to the museum if sited here.

 

2.  "In the proposed plan, the entrance to the new museum would be on Bonita. Wouldn't this cause traffic and parking issues when events are taking place, especially with the new performance stage currently being built across the street at Shelton Park?"

 

Response: "Pomona has more parking than it needs and people will just have to walk from the parking lots."

 

3.  "In the proposed final plan, the renderings show Renwick House is non-existing. What happens to this important historic resource?"

 

 Response: "Renwick will be moved to another site yet to be determined"

    

CH Notes - If the museum were moved to a different site this would enable Renwick to stay and because the cottages have not been deemed architecturally significant, they could be replaced with another historic structure (such as Pomona's own Kenyon House - a beautiful Victorian currently barely visible off First Street) that would maintain the historic residential feel of College Ave.

 


View of proposed new museum down College from the north - note the massing and scale that would disrupt the current historic residential feeling of one of the most significant and historic Avenues in Claremont.  Rendering by Machado and Silvetti Associates.

4.  "What will happen to the Heritage Trees?  In the rendering a significant existing Eucalyptus is missing in front of the proposed museum."

  

Response: "The City of Claremont has recently removed a number of Eucalyptus trees on Foothill Blvd. and will be consulted regarding this issue."

Conclusion: Claremont would be delighted to welcome a new Pomona College Museum of Art, a museum that will interact with the community in many positive ways!  The only real question is why put the museum in an area that requires a zone change and will forever change the character of one of our most historic Avenues in Claremont.  We urge Pomona College to listen to the community input and to evaluate alternative sites.  This could truly be a win/win for everyone.

Please send your comments on this project to Pomona College at: newPCMA@pomona.edu 

CLIFF MAY  - LOST & FOUND

One loss could be your gain - and another find just came on the market

 

Early prefab design by Cliff May and Chris Choate 1952 on Via Padova in the Padua Hills.  Currently threatened with demolition.  

  

One of the exciting things about being involved with Claremont Heritage is the opportunity to help discover important architectural resources in our own backyard.  Recently we have learned of previously unknown designs by noted architects such as Paul R. Williams (residence on 11th Street),

 

Victor Gruen, who is known as the "Father of the Shopping Mall" (Chase Bank in the Village) and the subject of this piece, Cliff May.  Cliff May became known for his custom designed hacienda style ranch homes in the 1930s and following WWII developed pre-fab designs that addressed the need returning war Vets had for affordable housing.  Claremont is lucky enough to have examples of both the early style and the later prefabs.

 

Recently an early version of the prefab style was sold in the Padua Hills.  This house is significant, not just because it is designed by a noted architect, but also that it was part of the planned Padua Hills Art Colony developed by Herman Garner with architectural oversight from Millard Sheets.  The plans for the homes in this planned community had to be approved by an Art Jury comprised of Millard Sheets and Foster Rhodes Jackson, who was one of the first Fellows to graduate from Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West.

 

 
 

 The original plans exist for the Cliff May - Chris Choate design submitted to the Padua Hills Art Jury - courtesy Claremont Heritage 

  

The house was also home to Millford Zornes for a time and he had a studio added in which to paint.  The house is small and is in need of some restoration - the couple who bought the property are interested to build a new home to accommodate their family and have been working with a local architect to create a 4,000 + sf home on the site.  Unfortunately this means that the Cliff May home may be demolished  - The owners have agreed to consider giving the house to anyone with the means to move it.  Because it is a prefab and based on a panel system, moving it is much easier than a traditional house.  Please let Claremont Heritage know if anyone is interested in this possibility - info@claremontheritage.org or call 909.621.0848

 

FOR SALE  

We were recently notified that a wonderful Cliff May prefab just came on the market in the Village.  Three bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a pool make this a desirable find.  Please contact Geoff Hamill of Wheeler Steffen | Sothebys International Realty if you are interested 909.621.0500 or by email: geoff.hamill@sothebysrealty.com

  

Courtesy of Wheeler Steffen | Sothebys International Realty


 
MILLARD SHEETS REVISITED
Raymond Alf Museum at The Webb Schools

 
Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology by Millard Sheets 1968

Millard Sheets is responsible for many valued architectural treasures in Claremont.  From the Garrison Theater at Scripps to the Pomona First Federal Bank (now US Bank) on Foothill Blvd.

One of the lessor known projects designed by Sheets is maybe one of his most unique.  As far as we know the Alf Museum is possibly the only round structure designed by Sheets.  Inspired by a teaching tool that Alf utilized called the Time Spiral, Sheets envisioned a round museum and the result is breathtaking.  Documentary filmmaker Paul Bockhorst recently visited the museum for possible inclusion in the "Claremont Modern" film he is producing for Claremont Heritage.

 
NOTE: The mosaic above the front door represents Mr. Alf's first fossil find, an unkown species of Peccary.  The find inspired Alf to pursue collecting fossils which ultimately was the reason for building the museum




Early study for the Alf Museum by Millard Sheets


2015 CLAREMONT HERITAGE ANNUAL GALA EVENT 

BESS GARNER  PRESERVATION AWARD 

 

At the Claremont Heritage Annual Gala held last Friday at the Padua Hills Theatre, we bestowed our highest award to the City of Claremont.  The Bess Garner Preservation Award celebrates the best of preservation by recognizing individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in historic preservation in the City of Claremont.  Claremont's history is embodied in buildings, structures, sites and objects that provide a tangible link to the people, events and patterns that have shaped Claremont's growth and development.

  

The City of Claremont, through its elected, appointed and staff leadership, has embraced a culture of preservation that has enhanced the aesthetic, natural and built environment of the community.  through its General Plan, Historic Register, Village Design Guidelines, Planning Department, its Commissions, ordinances and resolutions, the City has distinguished itself by what it holds important and has preserved.  From the Depot to the Padua Theatre, the Village to the Old School House, and from the Wilderness Park to the Garner House, the commitment of our leaders has created a community with a deep sense of place, belonging and connectedness. 

 

The Beautiful Padua Hills Theatre site of the 2015 Annual Claremont Heritage Gala.  L-R David Shearer, Executive Director, Honorable Mayor Cory Calaycay (accepting the Bess Garner Preservation Award on behalf of the City of Claremont) and John Neiuber, President  

 
Check out this beautiful short film that Phillip Jimenez produced for our Gala at Padua Hills Theatre last Friday night. It shows just a small fragment of the breadth of Cultural and Architectural attributes that make Claremont a very special community - All the buildings shown in the film were at one time in danger of being demolished to make way for new development.  Bravo Claremont!



PLEASE CONTACT CLAREMONT HERITAGE Executive Director, David Shearer, if you have any questions on historic preservation or need additional information on how you can be involved: 

  

(909) 621.0848 or director@claremontheritage.org 
    
PO Box 742 (mailing)
840 N Indian Hill Blvd (office)
Located in the Historic Garner House in Memorial Park
hours: Monday  - Friday 9:00 am  - 1:00 PM

(909) 621-0848