PRESERVATION UPDATE
Claremont's history of preserving our cultural, natural and architectural heritage is what sets us apart from other communities. This didn't happen by accident! With the General Plan as our guidebook, the City Staff, Commissions and City Council, have all worked together with the citizens of Claremont to ensure that our values reflect and honor our heritage has resulted in a unique and special community. We strive to continue this tradition, and invite you to join us as partners in celebrating, documenting and honoring our past to inform our future.
As Margaret Mead once said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Best regards,
David Shearer Executive Director Architecture+Planning
POMONA COLLEGE ART MUSEUM | Public Support to Put the Museum on the East Side of College Avenue is Gaining
Recent explorations by the City to consider rezoning the west side of College Avenue from First Street to Bonita from the current Residential designation to Institutional have been met with opposition from a number of community groups and residents. One such group, Citizens to Save College Avenue, feel that a zone change would effectively destroy the residential-feeling between the Village and College that our General Plan honors as a historic community value. there is a growing community voice that supports leaving the zoning as is and working with Pomona College to develop new concepts for placement of the museum on the east side of College Ave.
There are a number of viable options including the original Myron Hunt Plan for Pomona College showing a museum where a new Thatcher Music Building is currently proposed.
Courtesy Pomona College
Moving the historic Renwick House (as is currently proposed) from it original building site to the
historically institutional east side of College
and building a large (32 - 40,000sf) institutional building on the historically residential west side of College does not follow the established Village Design Plan or Claremont's General Plan.
A zone change is required to facilitate this plan and would open up the opportunity for Pomona to build other institutional scale buildings in the residential buffer that currently exists between the college and the Claremont Village. At risk is the loss of the small town atmosphere that draws many visitors to our unique and historic Village every year.
Historic Helen Renwick House
Courtesy of Claremont Colleges Digital Library
Artist Conceptual Rendering of a Myron Hunt inspired museum building on the northeast corner of College Ave and First St
Another option would be to put the museum on the northeast corner of College Ave. and First St. as shown in the artist rendering above. This is a natural gate-way to Pomona College and would enable the College to have room for expansion in addition to being closer to parking and public transportation such as the Gold-Line that is expected to bring thousands of additional visitors to Claremont each month.
Heritage Preservation
CLAREMONT HERITAGE CONTINUES TO SUBMIT NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATIONS
Living in a city that has taken care to preserve its architectural legacy is wonderful until it is challenged. We have seen over the years the potential effect that development might bring to our town. If the old Santa Fe Depot or College Heights Packing House had been torn down as was once proposed, our city would lack some of the historic fabric that makes it so great! Although getting buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places does not necessarily ensure their survival, it does bring public attention to the physical and cultural attributes that our community offers.
By preserving our historic structures and neighborhoods, we attract visitors who will positively impact our community financially through Cultural Heritage Tourism! Just ask any Village merchant. Watch the Video HERE
Image Courtesy of Claremont Chamber of Commerce
Claremont Heritage is proud of the recent acceptance to the National Register of the Intercultural Council Houses located in the Arbol Verde neighborhood of Claremont - bringing our list to a total of six sites. Claremont should have many more and we are in the process of submitting a number of other National Register Nominations including the: Claremont U.S. Post Office (above) a 1937 WPA project that contains an exceptional Milford Zornes mural in the lobby.
Other sites on the list include: the Claremont United Methodist Church by Richard Neutra, the Garrison Theater and Pomona First Federal Bank (now US Bank) by Millard Sheets and David Underwood, the Claremont United Church of Christ by Theodore Criley Jr. and more.
Natural Resources+Urban Landscape
TREES REMAIN A CONCERN - Watch the Video HERE
Last summer, Claremont Heritage and other community groups rallied to try and help save hundreds of mature trees that were suffering due to drought and the watering restrictions put in place last year. Forming a Tree Coalition, the group worked with City Staff to implement emergency measures to both educate the public and supply the tools needed to try and keep our signature Urban Forest healthy. Unfortunately, It may have been too little, too late.
In the next few months, residents of Claremont may unfortunately become accustomed to the sound of chainsaws and wood chippers. We have already seen significant deforestation along Foothill Blvd (below) where diseased or dying Eucalyptus Trees were removed.
Even our stately 100 year old Historic Elm Grove on Indian Hill Blvd will not be spared. In the next month or so, almost a dozen of these Heritage Elm Trees will come down. The City has plans to replace them with saplings - unfortunately, until they mature, the canopy of trees that we often take for granted will be significantly reduced.
Claremont Heritage is working with the City to document these Heritage Trees before they come down and also to add additional Heritage Trees and Groves to a local Historic Register in order to bring attention of their value to our community.
DRAFT CLAREMONT HILLS WILDERNESS PARK MASTER PLAN
The recent release of a Draft Master Plan for the Claremont Hills Wilderness Park has brought together members of various community groups that seek to develop a plan that will preserve our open space for future generations. Members of the Claremont Wildlands Conservancy, Sustainable Claremont, the Natural Resources and Urban Landscapes Committee of Claremont Heritage, Tree Action Group and others met and reviewed possible revisions to the plan.
"The San Gabriel Mountains, including their foothills, are an important part of Claremont's cultural and natural heritage.
Art+CultureANNUAL GALA | 40th Festivale` | SAT APRIL 16th 5:00 - 10:00 PM
Padua Hills Theatre - get your tickets HERE
Claremont Heritage is pleased to announce that at our Annual Gala this year we will award our Cultural Heritage Award to FIRST STREET GALLERY an exhibition resource and arts management center for adults with developmental disabilities here in Claremont. If you don't want to wait until April to experience what First Street Gallery Art Center has to offer - you can visit now and see an exhibition curated by David Shearer entitled LINES+SURFACES - the intersection of art + design, on view through March 18th. 250 W. First Street, Suite 120 Claremont, CA 91711 Phone: (909) 626-5455
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